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Post by jonnnnny on Feb 24, 2013 11:07:38 GMT
After watching Stoke City more than 1500 times over a 50 year period I now feel as though someone has stolen my priceless possession from me. It has been taken away from me in little pieces, almost without my noticing, but now the full realisation is dawning that its gone.
It started off with the away-day experience being taken from me. There are few better experiences as a fan than standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 2,000 other Stokies at the end of a game, saluting the lads for taking 3 points as the home fans slink out in silence. The journey there was full of expectation and the journey home was the analysis of our performance. Under TP I came to realise that the journey there was more dread than anticipation and the drive home was nothing but massive frustration. I will not even mention the team selction and tactics. It has been done to death on this board already. Just to say that I preferred going to Macclesfield, Mansfield, Torquay and Chesterfield than I do going to Anfield or Old Trafford now.
But there were always the home games at Fortress Britannia to cling to. I left the Brit with a spring in my step on Boxing Day after we humbled Liverpool. TP had, at last, realised that power and pace up front suited us better than a static Crouch (no offence to Crouch, who is a great player, just never a lone target man). How wrong was I? TP decided that I should no longer look forward to home games as well. Square pegs, favouritism, negativity, pig-headedness are all being thrown at me as if to say "Forget your 50 years of loyal support this club belongs to me now and I will do with it exactly as I wish".
So I have lost my away days. I am losing my home days. I have lost my pride in being a Stoke supporter. Perhaps my club was only "loaned" to me for 50 years. It is the turn of of the new younger fans to inherit it now. God knows how but some of them seem to be actually enjoying it. I hope you have as a good a 50 years as I have.
Unless TP is just teasing me. Perhaps, just perhaps next Saturday he might say "Its 2 forwards up top. We will try and score more than 1 goal. Walters is having a rest today. Every player is in his right position. If we score first we won't just try to hang on. Here you go Mate. Have your club back!
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Post by chumley on Feb 24, 2013 11:23:56 GMT
Couldn't have put it better. My interest in going to matches has all but gone and I would rather stand having a point when we,re on sky.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2013 11:27:31 GMT
He said it last year that constant progression makes it difficult for him to manage the fans expectations season after season - he knows that if we finish in the top 10 he will be expected to repeat this in the future seasons and he thinks (and fears) that the fans will then come to expect 9th, 8th etc.
So he is reverting to his default bog standard turgid rubbish so that the fans don't expect any better.
EDIT: Forgot - PULIS OUT !
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Post by ragbone82 on Feb 24, 2013 11:33:47 GMT
After watching Stoke City more than 1500 times over a 50 year period I now feel as though someone has stolen my priceless possession from me. It has been taken away from me in little pieces, almost without my noticing, but now the full realisation is dawning that its gone. It started off with the away-day experience being taken from me. There are few better experiences as a fan than standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 2,000 other Stokies at the end of a game, saluting the lads for taking 3 points as the home fans slink out in silence. The journey there was full of expectation and the journey home was the analysis of our performance. Under TP I came to realise that the journey there was more dread than anticipation and the drive home was nothing but massive frustration. I will not even mention the team selction and tactics. It has been done to death on this board already. Just to say that I preferred going to Macclesfield, Mansfield, Torquay and Chesterfield than I do going to Anfield or Old Trafford now. But there were always the home games at Fortress Britannia to cling to. I left the Brit with a spring in my step on Boxing Day after we humbled Liverpool. TP had, at last, realised that power and pace up front suited us better than a static Crouch (no offence to Crouch, who is a great player, just never a lone target man). How wrong was I? TP decided that I should no longer look forward to home games as well. Square pegs, favouritism, negativity, pig-headedness are all being thrown at me as if to say "Forget your 50 years of loyal support this club belongs to me now and I will do with it exactly as I wish". So I have lost my away days. I am losing my home days. I have lost my pride in being a Stoke supporter. Perhaps my club was only "loaned" to me for 50 years. It is the turn of of the new younger fans to inherit it now. God knows how but some of them seem to be actually enjoying it. I hope you have as a good a 50 years as I have. Unless TP is just teasing me. Perhaps, just perhaps next Saturday he might say "Its 2 forwards up top. We will try and score more than 1 goal. Walters is having a rest today. Every player is in his right position. If we score first we won't just try to hang on. Here you go Mate. Have your club back! Best post i have read on here for sometime. The penny finally dropped for me yesterday its nothing but a waste of money watching us away. Some ppl cant understand the fact that we had better away days at the likes of oldham, notts county, chesterfield etc where at least we went to these places to try and win. |
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Post by bgpotter on Feb 24, 2013 11:38:00 GMT
After watching Stoke City more than 1500 times over a 50 year period I now feel as though someone has stolen my priceless possession from me. It has been taken away from me in little pieces, almost without my noticing, but now the full realisation is dawning that its gone. It started off with the away-day experience being taken from me. There are few better experiences as a fan than standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 2,000 other Stokies at the end of a game, saluting the lads for taking 3 points as the home fans slink out in silence. The journey there was full of expectation and the journey home was the analysis of our performance. Under TP I came to realise that the journey there was more dread than anticipation and the drive home was nothing but massive frustration. I will not even mention the team selction and tactics. It has been done to death on this board already. Just to say that I preferred going to Macclesfield, Mansfield, Torquay and Chesterfield than I do going to Anfield or Old Trafford now. But there were always the home games at Fortress Britannia to cling to. I left the Brit with a spring in my step on Boxing Day after we humbled Liverpool. TP had, at last, realised that power and pace up front suited us better than a static Crouch (no offence to Crouch, who is a great player, just never a lone target man). How wrong was I? TP decided that I should no longer look forward to home games as well. Square pegs, favouritism, negativity, pig-headedness are all being thrown at me as if to say "Forget your 50 years of loyal support this club belongs to me now and I will do with it exactly as I wish". So I have lost my away days. I am losing my home days. I have lost my pride in being a Stoke supporter. Perhaps my club was only "loaned" to me for 50 years. It is the turn of of the new younger fans to inherit it now. God knows how but some of them seem to be actually enjoying it. I hope you have as a good a 50 years as I have. Unless TP is just teasing me. Perhaps, just perhaps next Saturday he might say "Its 2 forwards up top. We will try and score more than 1 goal. Walters is having a rest today. Every player is in his right position. If we score first we won't just try to hang on. Here you go Mate. Have your club back! Exactly how I feel after 37 years of watching stoke (32 years ST holder until moving away) |
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Post by andystokey on Feb 24, 2013 11:38:16 GMT
I think loads of us feel this way, paying my ST and convincing the family that £3k a year son travel to home games is worth it has become really difficult.
So there's the pub, and the craic with my mukkas and pretty much that's what is left.
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Post by sufolkstokie on Feb 24, 2013 11:48:10 GMT
Sadly a very good post from the OP. I mean sadly because it simply should not be like this
Although some posters bang on about our away form (which granted, is truly dreadful) and point to our home form, it misses the point for me
It is turgid stuff at home except for Liverpool and a brief 10 mins against the Toon. It is a grind. If this is what it takes for my son to wear a premier league badge on his replica shirt, than it is not for me
I love my club, but I also go to nogger to be entertained. Not full on ticky tacky, but something to get my bum off my seat once in awhile
Cant remember the last time (Liverpool aside) this happend. We find ourselves making conversation, jokes etc more and more at home, bored to death re what is going on, or not on the pitch
It is nogger by numbers. No pace, no movement, no innovation. Just percentage nogger.
At the moment it does not feel like my Stoke City (it even did when we were in the depths of the old 2nd division), but it feels like Pulis City FC, and from an entertainment point of view, the FC does not stand for Football Club
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Post by march4 on Feb 24, 2013 11:51:12 GMT
After watching Stoke City more than 1500 times over a 50 year period I now feel as though someone has stolen my priceless possession from me. It has been taken away from me in little pieces, almost without my noticing, but now the full realisation is dawning that its gone. It started off with the away-day experience being taken from me. There are few better experiences as a fan than standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 2,000 other Stokies at the end of a game, saluting the lads for taking 3 points as the home fans slink out in silence. The journey there was full of expectation and the journey home was the analysis of our performance. Under TP I came to realise that the journey there was more dread than anticipation and the drive home was nothing but massive frustration. I will not even mention the team selction and tactics. It has been done to death on this board already. Just to say that I preferred going to Macclesfield, Mansfield, Torquay and Chesterfield than I do going to Anfield or Old Trafford now. But there were always the home games at Fortress Britannia to cling to. I left the Brit with a spring in my step on Boxing Day after we humbled Liverpool. TP had, at last, realised that power and pace up front suited us better than a static Crouch (no offence to Crouch, who is a great player, just never a lone target man). How wrong was I? TP decided that I should no longer look forward to home games as well. Square pegs, favouritism, negativity, pig-headedness are all being thrown at me as if to say "Forget your 50 years of loyal support this club belongs to me now and I will do with it exactly as I wish". So I have lost my away days. I am losing my home days. I have lost my pride in being a Stoke supporter. Perhaps my club was only "loaned" to me for 50 years. It is the turn of of the new younger fans to inherit it now. God knows how but some of them seem to be actually enjoying it. I hope you have as a good a 50 years as I have. Unless TP is just teasing me. Perhaps, just perhaps next Saturday he might say "Its 2 forwards up top. We will try and score more than 1 goal. Walters is having a rest today. Every player is in his right position. If we score first we won't just try to hang on. Here you go Mate. Have your club back! I wonder if that is how Mrs Venky warbled to her other half about Big Sam. |
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Post by scfcbiancorossi on Feb 24, 2013 11:58:09 GMT
If a letter is sent to Coates, it should be this post. Very good. Feeling the emotion!
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Post by kjpt140v on Feb 24, 2013 12:06:32 GMT
After watching Stoke City more than 1500 times over a 50 year period I now feel as though someone has stolen my priceless possession from me. It has been taken away from me in little pieces, almost without my noticing, but now the full realisation is dawning that its gone. It started off with the away-day experience being taken from me. There are few better experiences as a fan than standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 2,000 other Stokies at the end of a game, saluting the lads for taking 3 points as the home fans slink out in silence. The journey there was full of expectation and the journey home was the analysis of our performance. Under TP I came to realise that the journey there was more dread than anticipation and the drive home was nothing but massive frustration. I will not even mention the team selction and tactics. It has been done to death on this board already. Just to say that I preferred going to Macclesfield, Mansfield, Torquay and Chesterfield than I do going to Anfield or Old Trafford now. But there were always the home games at Fortress Britannia to cling to. I left the Brit with a spring in my step on Boxing Day after we humbled Liverpool. TP had, at last, realised that power and pace up front suited us better than a static Crouch (no offence to Crouch, who is a great player, just never a lone target man). How wrong was I? TP decided that I should no longer look forward to home games as well. Square pegs, favouritism, negativity, pig-headedness are all being thrown at me as if to say "Forget your 50 years of loyal support this club belongs to me now and I will do with it exactly as I wish". So I have lost my away days. I am losing my home days. I have lost my pride in being a Stoke supporter. Perhaps my club was only "loaned" to me for 50 years. It is the turn of of the new younger fans to inherit it now. God knows how but some of them seem to be actually enjoying it. I hope you have as a good a 50 years as I have. Unless TP is just teasing me. Perhaps, just perhaps next Saturday he might say "Its 2 forwards up top. We will try and score more than 1 goal. Walters is having a rest today. Every player is in his right position. If we score first we won't just try to hang on. Here you go Mate. Have your club back! You have articulated my feelings so well. I've been following Stoke since 1968 and I feel lost. I'm not one to call for Pulis' head but I feel despair and yesterday was the breaking point. I argued Stoke were tough but fair now I see the team falling apart. Nzonzi's and Huth's thuggery yesterday and Whelan's tackles in recent home games are embarrassing, when friends criticise I find it hard to defend us.  |
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Post by scarlet on Feb 24, 2013 12:09:28 GMT
After watching Stoke City more than 1500 times over a 50 year period I now feel as though someone has stolen my priceless possession from me. It has been taken away from me in little pieces, almost without my noticing, but now the full realisation is dawning that its gone. It started off with the away-day experience being taken from me. There are few better experiences as a fan than standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 2,000 other Stokies at the end of a game, saluting the lads for taking 3 points as the home fans slink out in silence. The journey there was full of expectation and the journey home was the analysis of our performance. Under TP I came to realise that the journey there was more dread than anticipation and the drive home was nothing but massive frustration. I will not even mention the team selction and tactics. It has been done to death on this board already. Just to say that I preferred going to Macclesfield, Mansfield, Torquay and Chesterfield than I do going to Anfield or Old Trafford now. But there were always the home games at Fortress Britannia to cling to. I left the Brit with a spring in my step on Boxing Day after we humbled Liverpool. TP had, at last, realised that power and pace up front suited us better than a static Crouch (no offence to Crouch, who is a great player, just never a lone target man). How wrong was I? TP decided that I should no longer look forward to home games as well. Square pegs, favouritism, negativity, pig-headedness are all being thrown at me as if to say "Forget your 50 years of loyal support this club belongs to me now and I will do with it exactly as I wish". So I have lost my away days. I am losing my home days. I have lost my pride in being a Stoke supporter. Perhaps my club was only "loaned" to me for 50 years. It is the turn of of the new younger fans to inherit it now. God knows how but some of them seem to be actually enjoying it. I hope you have as a good a 50 years as I have. Unless TP is just teasing me. Perhaps, just perhaps next Saturday he might say "Its 2 forwards up top. We will try and score more than 1 goal. Walters is having a rest today. Every player is in his right position. If we score first we won't just try to hang on. Here you go Mate. Have your club back! Excellent post. This is my 40th season supporting Stoke and although I will always retain my season ticket whatever division we are in, I long ago gave up on away games due to the realisation that our sole intention seemed to be to grind out draws in the most basic way possible. Understandable when we first came up but with the players we have now I believe we should be capable of being more positive. I still back the manager based on his achievements up to this point but am finding attending matches to be as much to do with my weekend routine as anything else. |
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Post by sufolkstokie on Feb 24, 2013 12:10:54 GMT
Add in Begovic having a go at the bench, Shawcross a few weeks ago asking the bench who was playing where, Adam hissy fit
He has lost the plot and the players are showing it
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Post by cobhamstokey on Feb 24, 2013 12:11:55 GMT
A great post. I've been a supporter since 1975 and down to moves have probably only chalked up about 250 games taking in Waddington, Eastham, Durban, Barker and Asprey in particular and later the seasonal few games of Mills, Kamara, Boeskamp, Macari and the Icelander thrown in.
Though it's amazing being in in the PL were truly awful to watch and rank alongside Wilkinsons Notts C and bassets Wimbledon as one of the worst footballing sides I've ever seen. The excuse they had was they didn't have the talent or money to change that. we do and should have done and it's a crying shame.
The last 2 seasons have been awful mediocrity. We desperately need a makeover.
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Post by bgpotter on Feb 24, 2013 12:28:23 GMT
March 4 - you are right you have to be careful what you wish for but if you cant see what the sentiments are in this original posting you really must be very thick skinned - or, not wanting to be insulting, just thick. ;-)
Even though you dont agree with these posts and think that everything is rosey in the Stoke/Pulis Garden, others dont and I for one, dare to dream of being 10th in the league AND have got to that position playing "good" football (you know the sort, where players attack the opposition with speed and fair and pass to each other and you get out of your seat all excited when your team is putting more and more pressure on the opposition and you know a goal is going to come and you are away from home!!! And you look around and others are smiling at each other and you all feel as one, rooting for the team because their is hope AND belief that the result will come - you remember those times dont you?)
March - If you cant see that the football offered up yesterday by Stoke was of a very poor standard then I guess there is no hope for you or it must be me whos thick or deluded in wanting something better. ;-)
And you know what - Im not deluded - I WANT BETTER FOOTBALL!!!!!!!
If you dont then YOU may as well go and support any other championship or league one/two team as that the sort of standard we are playing at the moment!!!
Why dont you start by supporting Bradford today - theyve got to a wembley final you know - they are one game away from being in Europe!!!! Where have I heard that before??
I WANT BETTER FOOTBALL - after 37 years, 32 as a ST holder - I WANT BETTER FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2013 12:28:32 GMT
I have e-mailed and also posted a copy of this OP., together with my own comments, to the club marked for Coates attention - i'll let you know IF I get a reply.
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Post by therightside on Feb 24, 2013 12:45:49 GMT
I totally agree with the OP.
My first Stoke match was in October 1962 and I have followed them regularly since.
I can honestly say that I have never felt more depressed about the prospects for our team.
Pulis' Spin Doctor likes to quote the cases of clubs, like Blackburn, who have sacked their manager and then failed. The real problem with these clubs is that they left it too long before they sacked their managers. The writing was on the wall, but they left it too late.
The writing is on the wall for Pulis now. He must go at the end of this season.
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Post by thevoid on Feb 24, 2013 12:48:35 GMT
Excellent post and sums it up for me.
I have never been so uninterested in Stoke's results as these days, even at the match. Before, if we lost, I'd sulk for hours, but now I just think, "Oh well, at least I'll seeing the lads for a few beers later".
I just feel numb and anaesthetised to them these days, the passion's gone.
The day TP goes for good will be one of the happiest of my Stoke-supporting life.
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Post by miggo on Feb 24, 2013 13:05:05 GMT
Fantastic post couldn't have summed it up better. Last season I put it down to the Europa games but we are far worse this season. No home game in 3 weeks and do not feel at all excited about Saturdays game Very depressing times  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2013 13:12:00 GMT
Fabulous thread, very articulate OP. I feel exactly the same way. It Pulis FC not Stoke anymore and I hate it, absolutely bloody hate it.
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Post by sage on Feb 24, 2013 13:32:06 GMT
Well said, jonnnny.
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Post by oldmanamow on Feb 24, 2013 13:45:31 GMT
I also feel the same, it's got to the stage where losing does not hurt no more. I've been a season ticket holder since 1986!! We could do so much better, for the money we have spent. Pulis is an arrogant, pig headed dinosaur!! Listen Pulis or get out!!
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Post by harryburrows on Feb 24, 2013 13:50:38 GMT
It always makes me laugh when TPs achievements are compared favourably to waddos , the team waddo built were a match for any team in the top flight and although we had our off days it was always a thrill to watch that marvellous group of players .
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Post by padders01 on Feb 24, 2013 13:51:55 GMT
I have e-mailed and also posted a copy of this OP., together with my own comments, to the club marked for Coates attention - i'll let you know IF I get a reply. Well done, I would be very surprised if you got a reply I will be very interested in that reply |
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Post by borat on Feb 24, 2013 14:00:06 GMT
Brilliant post Johnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyy boy  and I think we should all e-mail the club demanding Pulis out. |
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Post by scfc5 on Feb 24, 2013 14:01:39 GMT
The good news is if we do change the manager, I really do believe the fabled 12th man will return. The Brit will be its electric, hostile, intimidating best again. We will have a new cause to unify behind and the team will need us whilst change takes effect. There is nothing better than that to bring Stokies together. That will take us a long way in protecting against the risk of relegation if we change.
And it will give you and us our club back.
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Post by BristolMick on Feb 24, 2013 14:11:46 GMT
If a letter is sent to Coates, it should be this post. Very good. Feeling the emotion! Its funny you should say that because I thought that I just might do that whether I renew my season ticket or not BUT what is the point the bloke is clearly wedded to Pulis, and what we as long standing fans think makes no difference. Good OP Jonnnny. That is exactly how I feel too. BM |
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Post by greenhoff74 on Feb 24, 2013 14:12:23 GMT
It always makes me laugh when TPs achievements are compared favourably to waddos , the team waddo built were a match for any team in the top flight and although we had our off days it was always a thrill to watch that marvellous group of players . Never a truer word said. I second that all the way it was on most occasions thrilling to watch Waddos team. |
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Post by landofhopeandglory on Feb 24, 2013 14:14:12 GMT
is that the club alan ball nearly took us to the old div 4, and there's plenty more examples of that we've had to put with over the years compared to this, ffs
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Post by kevkj on Feb 24, 2013 14:15:52 GMT
Tony Pulis has ripped the hear out of the bulk of our support now.
Thats why the atmosphere has gone,aas the above poster says we need a change,something new to get behind.Unfortunately i think only relegation would cause this change.Something none of us want.
Catch 22 im afraid.
Thanks for the memories Tony,now shut the door on the way out.
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Post by mark1863 on Feb 24, 2013 14:24:11 GMT
great post agree 100% go now out of habit and my love for the club no enjoyment its woeful gave up on away games about 2 yrs ago wont go another away game while pulis is in charge
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and I think we should all e-mail the club demanding Pulis out.
