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Post by knowingeye on Jan 17, 2011 9:28:47 GMT
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Post by alster on Jan 17, 2011 9:45:29 GMT
A very interesting piece. I'm personally not keen on Europa league football. I think the drawbacks outweigh any potential advantages. Europe can wait for me until we develop into a team that feels it can play in every game, have a real go at the opposition not just set out to fustrate the big boys in the hope of holding out for a point.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2011 9:46:31 GMT
I'm dreaming already  |
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Post by southwalesstokie on Jan 17, 2011 9:59:18 GMT
Get 6 points at Fulham and Liverpool and I'll consider the possibility.
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on Jan 17, 2011 10:40:38 GMT
Playing in that stupid Europa League with it's mountain of extra fixtures would be a disaster for us at this stage of our development IMHO.
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Post by mozzer68 on Jan 17, 2011 10:59:51 GMT
You need a bigger squad nowadays in the europa league.
Maybe in a couple of years we could give it a good go.
Nice steady progress is required.
we are improving year on year with the quality of the side & the players Tone wants to bring in.
We don't need Europa league just yet, it's a loveley thought, but one for the future
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Post by towraytek on Jan 17, 2011 11:24:51 GMT
The Europa League is about as appealing as the Anglo Italian Cup, which, thankfully, died the death some years ago.
I would far rather us use our resources in having a meaningful tilt at the Carling Cup or the FA Cup. Starting tomorrow, hopefully.
Ek
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Post by RINGO STARR on Jan 17, 2011 11:25:24 GMT
It would be an absolute dream to get into the Europa league and travel through Europe following Stoke.
Fulham are proof of what can be achieved if we were to qualify and they did so on a smaller squad than ours and one that managed to reach the quarter finals of the FA cup, whilst finishing 12th in the Premier league.
I do aggree that teh Europa league and the format of the league is nowhere near as good as the old UEFA cup used to be but that said, it would still be the second greatest achievemnt in the clubs history if we were to qualify for the competition.
Imagine the thought of a trip to Italy/Germany/Spain/Holland/Portugal/Greece etc etc following the boys on.......
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Post by Big J on Jan 17, 2011 11:43:22 GMT
My bank balance would disagree, but following Stoke in Europe would be fantastic.
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Post by LGH87 on Jan 17, 2011 11:51:12 GMT
It would be an absolute dream to get into the Europa league and travel through Europe following Stoke. Fulham are proof of what can be achieved if we were to qualify and they did so on a smaller squad than ours and one that managed to reach the quarter finals of the FA cup, whilst finishing 12th in the Premier league. I do aggree that teh Europa league and the format of the league is nowhere near as good as the old UEFA cup used to be but that said, it would still be the second greatest achievemnt in the clubs history if we were to qualify for the competition. Imagine the thought of a trip to Italy/Germany/Spain/Holland/Portugal/Greece etc etc following the boys on....... sod those countries....Steua Bucharest on a thursday night!! ;D i wouldnt look forward to a trip to the colder countries though....russia, ukraine etc! |
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Post by mark71 on Jan 17, 2011 12:05:22 GMT
It would be an absolute dream to get into the Europa league and travel through Europe following Stoke. Flam are proof of what can be achieved if we were to qualify and they did so on a smaller squad than ours and one that managed to reach the quarter finals of the FA cup, whilst finishing 12th in the Premier league. I do agree that the Europa league and the format of the league is nowhere near as good as the old UEFA cup used to be but that said, it would still be the second greatest achievement in the clubs history if we were to qualify for the competition. Imagine the thought of a trip to Italy/Germany/Spain/Holland/Portugal/Greece etc etc following the boys on....... Bang on Ringo. I can't believe people wouldn't want to see Stoke city in such a prestigious tournament. can you imagine how much of a lift our profile would get? |
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Post by apb1 on Jan 17, 2011 12:06:28 GMT
What Ringo said. Unless it triggers relegation, of course. Otherwise I would take a hit of a couple of league places for some European action - imagine welcoming a top European side like Valencia, Roma or Dortmund to the Bearpit! The format is stupid but we would surely get decent crowds and a bit of TV dosh, and also raise our profile across the continent.
This will also prepare us for the Champions League era, which will presumably be in the three year plan after the next one!
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Post by lstokie on Jan 17, 2011 12:10:06 GMT
Playing in that stupid Europa League with it's mountain of extra fixtures would be a disaster for us at this stage of our development IMHO. Agreed, would be nice to see us there but could this could screw us over |
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Post by Clem Fandango on Jan 17, 2011 12:10:54 GMT
I agree that it could be a poisioned chalice if we were to get into Europe next season in this stage of our development. I would though consider it a goal for next season if we can finish in the top ten.
That would give us a bit more time to improve the squad with at least 3 windows. I think the important thing with European football is that we might be able to attract better players if we had a recent European appearance.
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Post by realstokebloke on Jan 17, 2011 12:22:51 GMT
It would be an absolute dream to get into the Europa league and travel through Europe following Stoke. Flam are proof of what can be achieved if we were to qualify and they did so on a smaller squad than ours and one that managed to reach the quarter finals of the FA cup, whilst finishing 12th in the Premier league. I do agree that the Europa league and the format of the league is nowhere near as good as the old UEFA cup used to be but that said, it would still be the second greatest achievement in the clubs history if we were to qualify for the competition. Imagine the thought of a trip to Italy/Germany/Spain/Holland/Portugal/Greece etc etc following the boys on....... Bang on Ringo. I can't believe people wouldn't want to see Stoke city in such a prestigious tournament. can you imagine how much of a lift our profile would get?
I just think the commitment would require more quality in depth than we actually have right now.
Give us a couple of years.
Incidentally, can you "pass" if you don't want to - or just send out the Academy for the first game? |
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Post by RINGO STARR on Jan 17, 2011 12:23:35 GMT
I can't see how it would be a poisoned chalice. This view is just a pessamistic one akin to people who don't want us to progress in league or FA Cups as they fear it'll have an effect on league positions.
We proved over the Christmas nad New Year period (by losing just two games and one of thos eto the league leaders that we have a decent squad capable of playing a matter of games within a matter of weeks.
We are also in a position financially that would suggest that a Europa qualification would mean extra spendies for the manager at at time when we're already looking like trying to spend big again in the transfer market. Add to this the fact that our profile would be raised overnight meaning we'd bea ble to attract the better calibre of player and I can not fathom why this would be a posione chalice.
Now the last thing i would like to get across is that I don't think we're ready to qualify for the competition. I think we'll narrowly miss out and I'm not predicting or suggesting that we're now a team capable of Europe. However, if the inevitable was to happen and we did qualify it would be a massive achievement and one we should look at doing well in based on Fulhams acheivements only last season.
We have a bigger squad than Fulham and it didn't and hasn't done them any harm has it????
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Post by realstokebloke on Jan 17, 2011 12:26:29 GMT
I can't see how it would be a poisoned chalice. This view is just a pessamistic one akin to people who don't want us to progress in league or FA Cups as they fear it'll have an effect on league positions. We proved over the Christmas nad New Year period (by losing just two games and one of thos eto the league leaders that we have a decent squad capable of playing a matter of games within a matter of weeks. We are also in a position financially that would suggest that a Europa qualification would mean extra spendies for the manager at at time when we're already looking like trying to spend big again in the transfer market. Add to this the fact that our profile would be raised overnight meaning we'd bea ble to attract the better calibre of player and I can not fathom why this would be a posione chalice. Now the last thing i would like to get across is that I don't think we're ready to qualify for the competition. I think we'll narrowly miss out and I'm not predicting or suggesting that we're now a team capable of Europe. However, if the inevitable was to happen and we did qualify it would be a massive achievement and one we should look at doing well in based on Fulhams acheivements only last season. We have a bigger squad than Fulham and it didn't and hasn't done them any harm has it????
They are struggling big time for me.
(Admittedly, Woy and now Hughes haven't helped since though.  ) |
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Post by swampySCFC on Jan 17, 2011 13:06:07 GMT
Another 15 points will do me this season.
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Post by StokieMatt on Jan 17, 2011 13:11:06 GMT
will we need arsenal win carling cup for us to have a better chance?
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Post by RINGO STARR on Jan 17, 2011 13:11:11 GMT
I think the problem with Fulham (this season) is more down to the change in management in the close-season and injuries to players like Zamora and Johnson than getting to the Europa league final.
The problem with th Europa league in general is that so many teams are not interested in competing in the bloody thing. Then when a host of teams get knocked out of the champions league, it then becomes a competition that the likes of Athletico, Man City, Liverpool, Juventus for example will want to win.
The format of the competition is ludicrous but I'd love us to get there one day and why not next season. Once again for the record, I don't think we'll do it this term but who knows what the future holds.
It'll also be good as I don't generally do much on a Thursday night (wink wink)
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Post by jezzascfc on Jan 17, 2011 13:15:59 GMT
Didn't Megson send out second string Bolton teams a couple of years back because he said the Premier League was more important than the Europa League? I could easily see our pragmatic Tone sending a second string out to play Alania Vladikavkaz away on a Thursday night if we had Man Utd at home the following Sunday, couldn't you?
I think we should, of course, try to finish as high up the league as we can, but I would fully understand Tone not totally embracing Europa League football, if we qualified, if it had a potentially detrimental effect on our performance in league games.
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Post by sirpineapple89 on Jan 17, 2011 13:18:06 GMT
The Europa League is about as appealing as the Anglo Italian Cup, which, thankfully, died the death some years ago. I would far rather us use our resources in having a meaningful tilt at the Carling Cup or the FA Cup. Starting tomorrow, hopefully. Ek So what do we do? Does Pulis tell the players to step off the gas so that we don't get into Europe? Don't be daft. I can't believe that any rational Stoke fan would turn their nose up at playing in the Europa League? What the fucking hell is the aim for you, then? Skip the Europa League and go straight for the top four and the Champions League.? Give over. Seeing Stoke in Europe would be fantastic. It may come too soon for us this season but to grumble about the possibility of getting into the Europa League is laughable. |
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Post by RINGO STARR on Jan 17, 2011 13:57:56 GMT
Didn't Megson send out second string Bolton teams a couple of years back because he said the Premier League was more important than the Europa League? I could easily see our pragmatic Tone sending a second string out to play Alania Vladikavkaz away on a Thursday night if we had Man Utd at home the following Sunday, couldn't you? I think we should, of course, try to finish as high up the league as we can, but I would fully understand Tone not totally embracing Europa League football, if we qualified, if it had a potentially detrimental effect on our performance in league games. Isn't this the same Megson and Bolton that beat Bayern Munich in the same competition???? I'm pretty certain that if we'd have played and beaten Bayern Munich it would be classed as the greatest result in the clubs (near) 150 year history. I'll continue to add to each post on this topic that I feel we're nopt ready for this yet and that I don't think we'll push for it this season. However, for anyone to suggest that this is "a poisoned chalice" has no real evidence. It would be the making of Stoke City as a modern day football club. Bolton and Fulham have done it in recent seasons so why not Stoke City. Bigger crowds, better bank balance, bigger squad nowadays. I don't see either of the aforementioned clubs going into some form of administration, relegation etc etc after achieveing European football. Pulis and his team will be doing everything they can to finish as high up the table as possible if only for financial purposes. That said, lets go for Europa as I want to go away for a long weekend with the boys next season. Amsterdam anyone? |
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Post by tnbiscuitswithtone on Jan 17, 2011 15:51:25 GMT
allready booked, royal antwerpen away first leg.
nice little trip over the to belgium.
I've was lucky enough to got all of our euro games.
ALL 4 ajax and k......?? that german team, home and away.
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Post by alster on Jan 17, 2011 16:02:00 GMT
The Europa League is about as appealing as the Anglo Italian Cup, which, thankfully, died the death some years ago. I would far rather us use our resources in having a meaningful tilt at the Carling Cup or the FA Cup. Starting tomorrow, hopefully. Ek So what do we do? Does Pulis tell the players to step off the gas so that we don't get into Europe? Don't be daft. I can't believe that any rational Stoke fan would turn their nose up at playing in the Europa League? What the fucking hell is the aim for you, then? Skip the Europa League and go straight for the top four and the Champions League.? Give over. Seeing Stoke in Europe would be fantastic. It may come too soon for us this season but to grumble about the possibility of getting into the Europa League is laughable. I'm a Europa sceptic but not to the extent of easing off to not qualify. Once completely safe (I say completely because I think we already are) I'd like to see us a little (I mean a lot really) less cautious and to try to play as attacking, expansive football as the manager can cope with (thats more of a dream for me than the Europa). If that leads to a Europa place so be it, I'd be very cagey with the teams put out in that tornament as suggested above the Prem would always have to be top priority. |
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Post by Tubes on Jan 17, 2011 16:06:16 GMT
The foreign away day is like away day plus, the ultimate matchday experience. A couple of days experiencing a foreign city, it's culture and boozers and then the chance to watch your team stuffing it to Johnny Foreigner...bliss! (or alternatively, having followed England around the world in recent years, the chance to have a short foreign holiday ruined by football ) |
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Post by djralphy2k9 on Jan 17, 2011 16:18:03 GMT
and if we qualify next season we can see Rory Delap taking on europe with the missile ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2011 18:34:07 GMT
Two sides to this , the team and supporters
Supporters , away games would present some interesting logistical issues and some fantastic experiences..not to mention expense..and sadly of course there's some iffy places on the European circuit at club level..but it'd be fantastic journey bring it on..
Team...the minute you think about or accept standing still is the day you start going backwards, true as others have said the squad situation and number of games bring issues..but if we want to progress as a club , as a team , develop , retain and attract players and test ourselves against other teams and systems then european football is the way to go.
Will it happen?.. a totally different question
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Post by Stoke_FaN_DaN on Jan 17, 2011 18:47:04 GMT
thing is everytime someone mentions europe we go shit again and lose to teams like fulham at home =/ we are a mid table side so anything above 12th im happy with.
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Post by tuncaysanli20 on Jan 17, 2011 18:55:57 GMT
i cant personally think of anything better than going to watch stoke abroad, dream come true for me personally! out on the piss in a hot country, what could be better?
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