Alex Neil will have no regrets over his Sunderland departure for Stoke City earlier this season, despite a nine point gap between the two sides. That's the view of Stoke Live's Stoke City reporter Pete Smith, who has given Chronicle Live an insight into the first few months of Neil's tenure at the Potters.
The former Black Cats boss left the Stadium of Light in August after guiding the Wearsiders back to the second tier. The Sunderland hierarchy were keen on keeping the Scottish manager on Wearside, offering him a new deal but he turned them down in order for greater control at Stoke City.
Chronicle Live spoke with Smith for an insight into how Neil has fared, having more control at the Potters and expecting a feisty reception this weekend.
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What was the general consensus when Alex Neil arrived?
Pete Smith: "Cautious optimism, perhaps. Optimistic because Neil’s clearly got a decent CV, had just guided Sunderland to promotion and was ready to ditch Sunderland for Stoke.
"Cautious because Stoke had gone through five managers in the previous four-and-a-half years and they had decent CVs too. Everyone knew enough about Neil to hope that he might be a good fit.
"His Preston team could be difficult to play against, he likes to play with wingers and get on the front foot. There is a general acceptance that it might take a bit of time to get everything in order to get in that position, even if patience always has limits."
He spoke about having more control at Stoke, has that been the case?
PS: "Yes, it’s a manager-centric club. The owners back their appointments and it’s the managers who take responsibility for results and recruitment.
"Technical director Ricky Martin and goalkeeper coach Jonathan Gould arrived at Stoke in November having worked previously with Neil at Norwich and Preston respectively.
"It was Neil calling the shots in the January window and he was making decisions for the short and long-term, taking into account Financial Fair Play changes and youth prospects coming through. He’s having a big say in shaping front and back of house."
How has he fared since arriving?
PS: "It would be fair to say he’ll be disappointed with results. Stoke have rarely been blown away in games but they have come up on the wrong side of fine margins too often for it to be a coincidence.
"Home form has not improved as much as anyone would like and it has been a big problem that they have only won back-to-back games once. The point that he’s made is that it’s a big job and he’s looking for fixes that will make a telling difference.
"He’s described it as a chance to ‘look under the bonnet’ and see what really needs doing to make sure everything clicks. He was prepared not to sign players in January, for instance, in the belief that he could get better value and quality in the summer; put up with short-term pain in confidence that it’ll be worth it next season.
"There were still a couple of key signings, albeit on loan. A promising solid keeper in Matija Sarkic and a defensive midfielder in Ben Pearson. Full-backs Dujon Sterling and Ki-Jana Hoever have been encouraging too and they hope to get Axel Tuanzebe fit and firing."
Do you think he'll be looking to get one over Sunderland, his departure certainly marred his relationship with the fanbase?
PS: "He has been very complimentary about this time at Sunderland, talking about the atmosphere and success. But he obviously knows what reception lies in wait when he goes back – he’ll have known it was going to happen since August – and of course when you’re up against that you’ll be desperate to put up a good show.
"But I don’t think he’s got any regrets about the decision he made either. He can see the potential at Stoke, particularly the potential backing for him from a board who wanted to appoint him three years previously.
"History will be the judge in the end and, with Stoke prepared to give a manager time to make his mark, the judgment won’t be passed yet."
Do you think he’s met expectations or under performed since arriving?
PS: "Without wanting to duck the question, this will be something to look back on in six or 12 months’ time. If Stoke are flying next season then the work Neil has done ‘looking under the bonnet’ and putting up with inconsistent results will have been worth it.
"If Stoke are still muddling around in the bottom half of the Championship then, no one will be very happy. This is an important year for Stoke.
"A really difficult three-year Financial Fair Play cycle is coming to an end and, with owners willing to fund up to the limits, they are heading into the summer with their lightest squad in more than a decade hoping to take advantage of that position. It’s an exciting and exceptionally rare situation for a manager, which is why Neil was prepared to give up what he had at Sunderland.
"There will be big expectations that he can make it count."
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