'Can he do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke?' has become a well worn footballing cliche since Stoke City won promotion to the Premier League under Tony Pulis in the 2007-08 season and laid the foundations for a decade long stay in the division.
Now, after making the same journey from Home Park to the Bet365 Stadium that Pulis made in the summer of 2006, Steven Schumacher has becomes the latest manager to accept the challenge of leading the Potters back into the top flight following their relegation at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
With a win ratio of 52.78% and after winning the League One title with a record 101 points in the 2022-23 season, it was perhaps only a matter of time before Schumacher was head hunted in the same manner that other Argyle managers such as Paul Sturrock, Tony Pulis, Ian Holloway and his predecessor and good friend Ryan Lowe were in the last two decades.
Since the summer of 2018, several managers have tried to revive the Potters' fortunes, including Gary Rowett, Nathan Jones, former Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill and Alex Neil, but failed to. However, if Schumacher can implement the formula that served him so well with the Pilgrims.
Where does this leave the Pilgrims? One man who will have a say in choosing Schumacher's successor will be Director of Football Neil Dewsnip, who was also responsible for selecting Schumacher as Ryan Lowe's replacement when he left to take charge of Preston North End.
It is unlikely that new boss will be appointed until the New Year, so Dewsnip and first team coach Kevin Nancekivell will be overseeing the first team in the meantime.
Names already mentioned include John Eustace, who was sacked by Birmingham City to make way for Wayne Rooney, Notts County manager Luke Williams and former Pilgrims boss Neil Warnock, who managed the club between 1995-1997, have already been linked with the post.
Whoever the Pilgrims choose to appoint will be inheriting a core of talented young players that include summer signings Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker, goalkeeper Michael Cooper once he returns from injury and young central midfielder Adam Randell.
