Stoke City sack Narcis Pelach after just three months in charge

by Ged Scott, BBC Midlands Sport

Narcis Pelach made a belated appearance in the Stoke City pressroom late on Boxing Day night – although one of impressive bonhomie.

After being kept waiting by Leeds United boss Daniel Farke, who had just spoken at considerable length about his side’s comfortable victory, their next game, going top of the league, German values, coaching in general and how little activity he expected to have in the January transfer window, Pelach then entered.

The Catalan politely circuited the room, shaking hands with every member of the press corps present and wishing each one a Happy Christmas.

As it turned out, fatefully, these were to prove parting handshakes.

When Pelach finally sat down, it was to defend his constant changes of tactics, while at the same time stating his intention to sign more players in the January window.

But it only took a quick chat with Potters legend Mike Pejic, BBC Radio Stoke’s match summariser on the night, to get another slant on this latest Potters crisis.

Maybe judging any team after just being beaten by the new league leaders is a little unfair.

But possibly the last thing that Stoke need right now is yet another major influx of players, brought on by yet again changing their manager and being cast now as the Watford of the North.

As Pejic said, he already has good players. Maybe he just needed to play them in the right positions.