It is difficult to know where Stoke City have been going under Mark Hughes as they have been tottering along in a mind-numbing state of mediocrity during the Welshman's four years in charge. However, recent Premier League results suggest that Stoke are heading backwards at an alarming speed as the spectre of relegation looms large ahead of a season-defining Christmas period.
There wasn't much festive cheer in the Potteries when Stoke were thrashed 5-1 by Tottenham at Wembley and the chairman, Peter Coates, admitted earlier this week that the games against Burnley and West Ham are huge for a team that appears to be devoid of direction, cohesion and defensive nous. The concession of a late goal in a 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Tuesday night has done little to raise spirits.
Coates wouldn't be drawn on the future of Hughes but the statistics are worrying as Stoke 'boast' the worst defensive record in the top-flight and a team that won ten of their fourteen meetings with the bottom-six last season (drew one, lost three) have already dropped points at the hands of Bournemouth, Everton, Brighton, Newcastle, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace this term.
Hughes is under pressure but is there a ready-made replacement who could do a better job than the 48-year-old? We take a look at four potential candidates for the role...
Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill's future as Republic of Ireland manager is still up in the air and he was recently linked with the Everton job before Sam Allardyce took the reins at Goodison Park. In keeping with the current vogue of appointing managers with Premier League experience, O'Neill has previous in the top-flight after getting the best out of limited resources at Leicester City and Aston Villa, although the 65-year-old hasn't managed in the Premier League since an ill-fated spell with Sunderland.
Aitor Karanka
Aitor Karanka's Middlesbrough were well organised defensively last season and how Stoke would love to tighten up at the back. However, Karanka was widely criticised for his pragmatic approach as Boro were relegated in the end and his style of football is unlikely to set pulses racing.
Tony Pulis
Could Tony Pulis make a glorious (inglorious?) return to Stoke? He took the Potters to an FA Cup final and to the Europa League during his spell with the club from 2006 to 2013 but they failed to kick on and Pulis was shown the door. Pulis is the master when it comes to righting sinking ships, as he has shown with Crystal Palace and West Brom in recent years, but he came in for fierce criticism when the Baggies began to stall and Stoke reappointing their old manager wouldn't exactly be a forward-thinking move.
Michael O'Neill
Michael O'Neill has been offered a contract extension by Northern Ireland but he is understood to be keen on a move to an English club after being linked with Sunderland and West Brom in recent months. O'Neill's experience in club management is limited to Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers though, so the 48-year-old might be seen as a gamble for a club that might be shocked to observe the lack of viable replacements for Hughes.
Has The Managerial Well Run Dry?
The direction Stoke take in the league will depend on their next move - do they want to stick with Hughes in the hope that the more entertaining style of football that he has pursued for the past four years bears fruit or do they go back to the 'Pulis era' of being hard to beat to stay in the division.
A third option is to give a young or lower league manager a chance to impress - Gary Rowett, Gary Johnson, Slavisa Jokanovic or Chris Wilder perhaps?
*Article updated following Stoke's 1-0 loss at Burnley.
