Jon Walters: Sporting Director's Update ℹ️​

[@XNALAV]

why is every stoke fan saying, “he owed up to his mistakes”. guy’s full of crap. talks a good one, just like what Keane said. he’s completely inexperienced at his job, a lost cause. he’s got JC by the ear, so he obvs won’t step down. all stoke fans are gonna regret this in the long run, sacking JD, SS etc.

[@benbanks6880]

Every stoke fan? He's wank and needs to go.

[@benbanks6880]

Schumacher was terrible also.

[@davidshaw3374]

​@@benbanks6880think he was just getting there, lost three in a row and was sacked, could have turned it around. Ended well last season, lost 3 out of 5 start of this season and was gone. Not given long enough.

[@craoutdoors6827]

Pretty disgusting some of the comments about Walters in last few months, guy was an absolute legend in the modern era for stoke , would literally run through a brick wall for the team and fans as a player. He's got this last appointment wrong and deserves another chance. If it doesn't work then move him on but have some respect for a legend of the club and just generally for a decent guy.

[@DRvids630]

As you said.. " was"

[@NeilPrice-zy2tm]

People make mistakes he's owned up to that so now go put that right get the right manager in..

[@XNALAV]

no man the guy is a fraud. legend yes as a player, but inexperienced as a sporting director.

[@NeilPrice-zy2tm]

@XNALAV he's messed up big time over Pelach. He dosent get the next manager right he's done

[@CalTheDamned]

​@XNALAV no a legend is Gordon Banks, Walters is an Icon maybe at the most but Legend no.

[@estoforte388]

This is what happens when you choose sporting directors based on their record as a player.

[@kimaging1]

Sadly, this club has become a laughing stock. The way they allowed SS a preseason brought in his own players, then a couple of months sack him was poor. Walters then brings in an inexperienced coach, a couple months in they sack him. There is no quick fix for this club, as the problems are deeper than what the supporters know. We are top of the league at bringing players in who seem to be injured or not fit enough to play. If the great Mo Salah came to this club, they would ruin the way he plays & he wouldn't score. I don't know which manager would sort the club out as the problems are deep rooted. I was a Walters fan when he played for Stoke but Sadly I think he has to go.

[@theeuropeancyclepaths8206]

Hughes brought in flair players that worked great on TPs solid backbone. Then he slowly dismantled it. The true demise of the club started when the fans wanted “better football” and hounded Pulis out. It’s never been right since

[@CalTheDamned]

Absolutely right, as I recall Schweinsteiger said it about german football, teams and the national team wanting to play the "Pep way" as if that's the only way to play football, you play football to win tactics mean nothing if players don't give 110% and at the end of the Prem even to now player havnt given 110%.

[@darrylbrown9049]

@@theeuropeancyclepaths8206 what rubbish,Pulis wasn't hounded out by the fans,the owners decided rightly it was the time for change.Some Stoke fans love rewriting history where Pulis is concerned......true demise wasn't it those 3 9th place finishes that TP never got near to achieving

[@theeuropeancyclepaths8206]

@ the fans were calling for his head, booing the football in the end. It was then that the board had to listen. As I said Hughes’s success came with the backbone and four or five flair players that he added in, once he sold the likes of Whelan etc he could never replace them and he’s never done anything since with Stoke or any other club he’s managed

[@Betleyman_7]

It seems a shame to me that Tony Pulis seemed unable to offer a more attractive style of play but for me the big mistake was employing Mark Hughes, he had no track record of success indeed he had a record of failure. Maybe the board couldn't get anyone better but they have shown a consistent failure to appoint a "good fit" manager/coach since then and I fear that the only way relegation will be avoided is if there are three teams worse than Stoke. I'm not holding my breath.

[@darrylbrown9049]

@@Betleyman_7 the mistake wasn't employing Hughes,it was not replacing him at the end of the previous season

[@Adrian-k4r]

Jon walters is completely out of his depth. Sadly, even though deep down even he knows it and the imposter sydrome is gawnung away at him, he will never be professional enough to do the right thing and step down. No matter how much personal insights work is done, under pressure most revert to type and he has had relative success by bluffing and being emotive, so naturally thats what hes been doing since taking post. He is bemoaning a young squad whilst 3 months ago he was highlighting the squad being "young and hungry" as part of the profile he wanted. He is bemoaning injuries whilst 5 months ago he was bragging how 1 of the major signings had an injury but unlike everyone else he went through with the deal because he knew better, and felt he had time to think longer term. He has just sacked a manager that 3 months ago he was patting himself on the back for unearthing, someone he selected after years of accessing all global options "because thats the role of a sporting director". He gambled in a big way taking a young inexperienced coach and making him a head coach, really a river boat move that he 'hoped' somehow would be seen as a masterstroke to set him apart as an amazing sporting director. This personality type often do these types of things as if it works they get the admiration they lust for, if it doesnt work they can just bluff, be emotive, make lipservice statements, take no real accountability and if they do get what they deserve from their actions, they will simply play the victim. As above its a sad situation for Stoke as its clear it will end badly, its just a matter of when. Not actually being professional enough to sit with the first manager he sacked whilst bluffing him off that he would later is a real sign of a toxic personality. The longer Jon Walters is the sporting director with real responsibilities the worse it will get, it feels that whats best for all is that he is given the same short shift as the managers he's had.

[@martinpye549]

I might be dumb as dirt, but WHAT does a Sporting Director do ? I'm serious , can somebody actually explain it to me? I worked around rugby league and baseball clubs in Australia ( here in rugby league). I never heard of this role, other than a few years ago. I expect it is , what I would call, an Operations Manager ? Also, who makes the calls on when to sack someone ? If it isn't Walters, then what do we need him for in this role? Is he an "actual" director at the club, or is it like a title to sound more official? You can't call yourself a director in business, unless you actually are a director. It's a bit odd. Also why does he keep his role when he's obviously made a huge error bringing this clown in ? Is he above the board? What's really going on here ? This is nothing to do with Jon Walters, mind. Loved him as a player.

[@Vidigalftbl]

Walter’s needs to go now he’s clueless get him gone

[@FredSpade]

I'm tired of Walters yapping between managers.

[@jsgamingtutorials9890]

Narciss was never ready for this job, too young, inexperienced. …

[@robertjamesgreen]

We are a laughing stock and we know whose to blame. It's just a pity that some people at the club can't see it.

[@mattws5784]

Who can’t see it, JC and JW know it’s them, they just don’t have the balls to admit it

[@johnaxon632]

We need graham potter or Southgate big wages for these guys but we can afford it

[@Elchampo123]

"Its going to take time to rebuild"....gives managers 2/3 months before sacking...makes sense 😂

[@XNALAV]

it’s the way of Walters ego, not surprising really.

[@TheRagingTornado]

We need to stop this talk of us being a Premier League club. We might have Premier League facilities but that does not translate to what has happened over the last decade. We are a Championship club now and it took us 23 years to get up last time. We have to be in this for the long haul and people might not want to hear it but that is the reality and people like Walters and Coates need to be reminded of that. The fan expectation that comes with all this narrative is arguably a part of why we are in this position, with the toxicity that has descended on the club over the last couple of years in particular.

[@martinpye549]

Totally agree. The club itself keeps talking up how great we are , with facilities , new training grounds and Premier this , Premier that.....Can't blame the fans for wanting to believe it , if that's what they're being told by the people at the top. Reality is , we're a win away from the relegation zone in the Championship. Words like "rebuilding" , " young squad" etc don't help. I think the average age of our squad is a tad over 24. That's a grown man. It's akin to listening to the Prime Minister talk.

[@TheKisssom]

Mark Robins would be a perfect fit for Stoke, dont expect a miracle, in a season or 2 Robins would take Stoke to the play offs, at a minimum 👍

[@chrisball6345]

just resign , bad decision after bad decision

[@darrylbrown9049]

Exactly, wrong decision sacking Schumacher and even worse decision bringing in Pelach,a nice guy but with absolutely no track record,not what any club of our stature needs

[@Benboult-l1t]

Let's show some Ambition and get the right manager to move us forward instead of chancing it , fair play for owning up to the mistake come on stoke 🙌

[@davidmachin1857]

Why do stoke have to have so-called up and coming managers wheñ you look at the past tony wadington lou macari tony pulis mark hughes all successful so let have an experience one this time

[@nicknewman4027]

Manager or head coach? I hope you know which is which John

[@gametag2518]

That was a big red flag

[@dalebusby8298]

You sacked Steven scheumacher who had the highest win percentage Of any manager Since belive it or not gudgeon thorsdarsson so i want you gone now cheers

[@XNALAV]

funny a few of us stoke fans say this!. but a majority of stokies want SJW to stay because, “he owned up to his mistakes”. honestly they don’t use critical thinking skills, & are gonna regret this in future.

[@hulky20]

Your players, your coach but always falls on those below you....

[@busterbricks]

He actually looks ill i think it's taken its toll on him

[@paul-ok7uw]

You should have never fired Schuey.

[@Matt-f2y]

We should let’s be honest we finished 17 after half a season and 2 transfer windows and we started the season 5 games in 18th again

[@DRvids630]

Hate the fact i dont watch stoke anymore due to him and his girlfriend jon coates

[@kinggamer523]

We need a old head, someone with lots of experience that can steady the ship and eventually move us forward. Moyes is my shout if we can or even beg TP to come back.

[@mathewbayley1770]

It's Walters that needs to go, respect for what he did on the pitch for us but no, he has go, this club is being turned in to a joke

[@PatGoodwin-v2e]

In this interview he's very vague about any money being spent in the January window. So saying that where is the clubs ambition Time will tell if they bring a big name in or if they buy in January. Managers and players come and go. But the supporters are here for ever time for change going forward

[@Spit87]

Seems like he just doesn't want to say specifically what positions he wants to buy for. Probably a smart move so he doesn't upset current players

[@duncanscriven9565]

WALTERS NEEDS TO GO!!!!!

[@SCFCGhost]

Gotta get this one right to get the fans back on your side

[@XNALAV]

he sacked JD out of the blue, appointed LD who’s gone of the grid since his appointment. sacked SS with his high win percentage, out of all previous managers. appointed an inexperienced coach NP. how on earth can the fans get back on his side?

[@SCFCGhost]

@XNALAV by getting the right manager in who has the experience and will take stoke up the table hypothetically speaking we finish 12-15th and in a years time so end of 2025 we have mark Robbins In and we're sat let's say 10th 7 points of top 6 or something you still going want walters out the club

[@XNALAV]

not happening man. you not using your critical thinking skills, I’m trying to be realistic here, u even said “hypothetically” ok lol, we not finishing there, u got unrealistic expectations. & yes I do want him out sacking JD & SS, bad calls.

[@billhilton4916]

Walter's is out of his depth and should resign before he chooses another ineffectual manager

[@pauljabba8873]

Will make alot of the fans happy if Walters does 1 to middle of the road player and as not got a clue in his current roll

[@johnneve6882]

Need a complete board overhaul Total renewal

[@smileneyes]

As we say on this side of the pond: WORD SALAD.

[@raymondmccombie4808]

Confidence is everything in football,you need to get the right manager in with proven track record and that WILL install that confidence to the players, I'd go for cooper or Moyes.

[@XNALAV]

they’re not joining us use your head man. club is cursed from top to bottom.

[@timaddison707]

I feel sorry for Narcis, not sure this squad is good enough, too young and inexperienced and those that could contribute e.g. Enda, Gallagher etc injury prone. Manhoef also a big loss, he's one of our few goal threats outside of Cannon.

[@danielanderson888]

Agreed. We have had two managers come in and try to play a more attractive style of football. Both have failed, not because they aren't good enough, but because the players aren't up to it and good enough.

[@kevinhardy228]

He's full of crap

[@user-fz3sz2dj4r]

good luck Ryan

[@davidfilcher]

Full of crap

[@AndyFozscfc]

Should be digging into their pockets and going for David Moyes and give him a 5 year contract and let him rebuild our club. I'm probably living in dream land though lol. Maybe cooper? Robins maybe 🤷. But I'm just me and a fan and have no choice in the matter. Ctid

[@johnaxon632]

Its down to the owners the coates family need to sell the club as they are dragging us into League one Ryan shawcross looks as fit as a fiddle looks as if he could still play . graham potter would be my choice as next manager and we can afford his wages .

[@darrylbrown9049]

We haven't had the 'right people in the building ' since Hughes !

[@FCB518]

Bring Schuuey back

[@peterrushton4219]

John got to go no matter wot

[@DavidDale-y9s]

No manager alive can get this set of players to the play offs !!!!! Just not good enough

[@matthewyates5210]

Early UTMP

[@DRvids630]

GO AWAY JON. YOU RUINED THE CLUB. AT LEAST SAY SORRY

[@WillAlrx]

He’s obviously not going anywhere, he made a huge mistake sacking Schumacher but it’s done with now. You were all applauding him at the end of the last season when Jon came along. Instead of moaning support his next decision and see where it takes us. If it’s relegation then let’s hope he does us all a favour and resigns but for now just back the bloke

[@Doggomorph]

Definitely mark robins coming in Here we go

[@XNALAV]

another British plodder is the term

[@Henrythekidangler]

First

[@andrewcooper4606]

This bloke needs to start looking over his shoulder, what he has done is now in the past,🫤👎

[@XNALAV]

exactly man

[@andrewcooper4606]

@XNALAV ,👍👌