Despite only 1 win in last 7,

[Claus_SCFC]

Im still pretty confident we'll grab one of the top two spots.
Now we've finally got the players to send out a balanced side with a bit of pace and skill - Ameobi & Pearson has added that. Of cause we need TP to pick the right team, but based on his selection for the Wednesday match, it looks like we will see a team like this v. Palace:

Nash

Griffin
Cort or Shawcross
Riggott
Dickinson or Pugh

Lawrence
Delap
Whelan
Pearson

Ameobi
Fuller

Subs from: Simonsen, Wilkinson, Zakuani, Diao, Gallagher, Cresswell, Sidibe, Bothroyd.

That team must be good enough to ensure the points we need to go up !

[lordb]

a Stoke fan of many decades insisted to me as we watched Stoke roll over @ QPR that we wouldnt win a game in March on the basis that we are always crap in March but that if we were still within touching distance come April we would be fine as April is a much better month for Stoke traditionaly.

I scoffed @ this but he insisted there would be a load of draws.

as it happens we did win @ Norwich but he was very close to the mark

now lets have 3/4 wins & a draw (or 2) & up we go

[Claus_SCFC]

I think we'll need at least 80 points to go up - 4 wins should do the trick

[OldStokie]

We have the players to do the job. Suspensions are done with and we've added two influential players to supplement the push. My only doubt now is that we have a manager good enough to utilise them. There is a reason why the WBA's and Brizzle's are getting last minute winners....it's because they are going for it and not relying on binary results. We need to do a 'Hull'.

OS.

[ted1965]

We have the players now to do the job, we have in Pearson someone who can provide that balance we have been missing, a forward who while not being a goal poacher certainly has it in him to play the Mamma role and grab a few goals which is what we need. I would prefer a different type of striker but seeing how we play he is a step up from Mamma simply on his experience at a higher level and goal ratio at that level, while not spectacular certainly better than the alternatives at the club to play the same role.

It’s now down to the manager to set the side out in a positive way and also to play players where they perform best and sorry again that means not seeing Griffin at right back again this season. That means that Tone will have to admit he got it wrong with Griffin and needs to swallow his pride and change things for those last 5 games.

I hope when we turn out against Palace we see a line up something along these lines.

Nash

Wilkinson- Cort or Shawcross- Riggott Griffin or Dickinson

Lawrence Whelan Delap Pearson

Fuller Ameobi

Pugh Cort or Shawcross, Mamma Simo and Gallagher or Cresswell

I think he should then send them out with the instructions attack, take the game to the opposition and lets win promotion. If that side isn’t good enough to get enough points over the last 5 games then I will be surprised, if they are given licence to express themselves and play we should go up.

[Claus_SCFC]

Ted and OS,

fully agree - it's up to TP to get it right now !

[wedgwood]

Pulis definately have to go for it all the way during games. We see time and time again that if we have a lead and sit back, we end up losing points. I doesn't seem he'll ever learn. We're now back to the old Pulis results with tops one goal to each team. A bad omen if you ask me.

[davejohnno1]

We all know Pulis' approach mate, and he admitted as much in his Championship interview...A draw away is always a decent result. If we win our home games, we will be ok.

That is his mentality, and it is a plan he has been working too since the Preston and QPR defeats. The only problem is that we haven't won our home games since those defeats.

Surely we should simply win games that are there to be won, regardless of being home or away.

Pulis is plotting his way to promotion in the same way that he would have a team plot their way to escaping relegation. He konws no other way!

[tony harrison]

These team suggestions are fine apart from Griffin. I think yesterday showed he is a liability could not pass and his defending was woefull.

Wilko or Zak at right back for me and Dicko at left back.

[Deleted]

The manager will dictate whether we get promoted or not, man for man we probably have the best team and squad in The Championship. There is plenty of experience and know how in the side.
Our midfield as long as it doesn't sit too deep should be able to cope with anything thrown at it.
If Pulis sets the side up correctly we will go up if he reverts to type and sits everyone too deep we will not, its as simple as that.

[PMac]

The key to it all will be an in form Fuller & Shawcross linking up well with the new signings.

Sheffield Wednesday did a reasonable job of stiffling Liam yesterday as it was obvious they saw him as one of the main threats.

As long as Lawrence, Fuller & Ameobi are allowed to play to their abilities through the strucure of the team we "should" start to see goals scored again.

Absolutely agree with Ted too - in terms of playing "our game" of attacking football right to the final whistle.

My Brother in law spelled out the Sheff Wed Season yesterday and it sounded woeful... Conceding goals in injury time on no less than 6 occasions this season....
If they hadn't they'd be mid table right now.

So, it can be done and we should realise that the 60 million carrot is worth playing for during every single second of the remaining fixtures.

I have a feeling we'll be in the playoffs though - The dream of automatic promotion seems far too good to be true.

We always do things the hard way and as long as they're done - you can give it any way you like for me.