It could have been him. Sitting 17th in the table, on the back of a home defeat by Bournemouth and with one league win since August 19, Mark Hughes will be grateful not to have the same employment status as Ronald Koeman on Tuesday morning.
'People can press buttons to get rid of good people,' said Hughes, 'people who have proven themselves over a decent period. They bow to the immediate thinking, rather than looking at the quality you have.'
He's right. If Stoke did sack Hughes, who are the board going to get who would represent a mighty leap forward.