With the club rooted firmly to the bottom of the Championship, some Rotherham United supporters are starting to wonder whether the former Hibernian manager is the right man for the job.
Just a few months ago, Alan Stubbs was a wanted man. After delivering a historic victory in the Scottish Cup Final with Hibernian, against their great old rivals Rangers, Stubbs’ names found itself onto a number of clubs’ managerial shortlists. Stubbs’ stock was high, and many eyebrows were raised when Rotherham United, who had just parted ways with Neil Warnock, announced the former Everton defender’s arrival as their new manager.
However, a lot can change in football in just a few months. After only one win in their last eleven league games, Stubbs has become a man under pressure.
Rotherham United’s Joe Newell (L) in action with Newcastle United’s Jack Colback
A number of dismal performances, combined with their underwhelming league form, has caused some Millers fans to question whether Stubbs has the credentials to manage in the Championship. Despite his success in the cup with Hibernian, Stubbs failed to get the Edinburgh side promoted to the top flight of Scottish football, and some of the football played at the New York Stadium has not been pretty on the eye.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez shakes the hand of Rotherham United manager Alan Stubbs before kick off
But there have been signs of improvement. Newcastle manager, Rafael Benitez, was impressed by the Millers side his team came up against on the 1st of October, and pointed out that they did not look like a team that deserved to be sat at the bottom of the table. The signs of improvement are clearly there, and if Stubbs was to be let go now, that improvement could be put at risk.
Removing a manager from a club always inevitably causes a period of destabilisation: something a team fighting the possibility of relegation do not need to trouble themselves with right now. If Stubbs can get the Millers playing like they did against Newcastle, week in week out, then there’s no reason they can’t stay up once again this year.
What do you think Rotherham fans? Should Stubbs be given more time? Or should the Millers look to make a change at the top?
Rotherham United manager Alan Stubbs
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