pegleg
Youth Player
Posts: 327
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Post by pegleg on May 18, 2011 1:21:26 GMT
Oh, and i took my son too, 76 quid plus transport.
Dead easy to get home afterwards, Cteh stayed back for lap of honour.
The whole night took me back 10 seasons ago, i drove back home with a nasty taste in my mouth.
How much is that donkey from Villa paid?
Get real, i've no time for passengers.
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Post by citypotter on May 18, 2011 2:01:05 GMT
;D ;D ;DBetter home record this season than spurs, scoring more goals and conceding less, if we win on Sunday we will equal arsenals home record ;D
Come on stoke, this is the best season so far ;D ;D
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Post by wuzza on May 18, 2011 3:02:14 GMT
Pop over to the Blue Moon forum and see how highly their fans rated their teams performance tonight. A multi multi multi million pound side plays at the top of its game and beats our injury ravaged side and some people are suprised / outraged by this !!!
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Post by chiswickpotter on May 18, 2011 6:29:17 GMT
As Pulis has already said, expect incremental change in the Summer. We can get outraged on here but just remember we are totally dependent on Bet 365 to improve the squad. In the last 2 years in January we have clearly decided to hang on and spend the minimum needed, this year we left ourselves light up front as a result. fans spend hard earned money but don't kid yourselves that ther eis any right to a better team or that our views wil influence decisions. Tonight, with Demba Ba and in many other circumstances, the club makes hard nosed commercial decisions. Tonight seemed totally rational to me, focus on Sunday, don't risk serious injury to key players, keep the score down to 3-0. Same with away games, we don't have the midfield and full backs to compete on big pitches away so let's defend and hope to sneak a win or 0-0. We may want it to change but it won't and as long as we keep slowly improving we should enjoy the ride
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 6:38:36 GMT
Damo, As someone who dragged his 10 year old lad to Fulham, West Ham, Birmingham, Sunderland, Spurs, Bolton, Liverpool, Everton, Man Utd and a few more to mention, I agree with you. I didn't go tonight mainly as I though that it would be an understrength team, Iand we would get a pasting of the highest order. There is a lot of dead wood at the club which needs moving on. Tom Soares has had 3 x years of Premiership wages and has barely kicked a ball in anger, why we didnt get shot after 18 months is beyond me. Stan the simple fact is that with regards to Tom Soares no bugger wants him. He's content as are Tonge and davies to sit out his big fat contract. We really need to bite the bullet and pay up their conracts to get rid. |
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Post by OldStokie on May 18, 2011 6:44:07 GMT
In truth, I find this thread almost unbelievable. Just three days after the team, the club, and Pulis, have suffered a real blow by being defeated at Wembley by a better team and also by circumstances, 'fans' feel they have the right to put the boot in.
In my world (and I'm a reknowned PHW) I would never dream of saying some of the things I've read on here so soon after that defeat, which will be still hurting like hell.
I think DaveF said it all for me: the only thing he didn't say was that some of you lot should be ashamed to call yourselves fans. You're more like fucking vultures just waiting to pick at the bones of a badly injured animal.
OS.
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Post by jamasa on May 18, 2011 6:48:25 GMT
In truth, I find this thread almost unbelievable. Just three days after the team, the club, and Pulis, have suffered a real blow by being defeated at Wembley by a better team and also by circumstances, 'fans' feel they have the right to put the boot in. In my world (and I'm a reknowned PHW) I would never dream of saying some of the things I've read on here so soon after that defeat, which will be still hurting like hell. I think DaveF said it all for me: the only thing he didn't say was that some of you lot should be ashamed to call yourselves fans. You're more like fucking vultures just waiting to pick at the bones of a badly injured animal. OS. Well said, just can't seem to please some people whatever the team has achieved this season. |
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 6:52:07 GMT
In truth, I find this thread almost unbelievable. Just three days after the team, the club, and Pulis, have suffered a real blow by being defeated at Wembley by a better team and also by circumstances, 'fans' feel they have the right to put the boot in. In my world (and I'm a reknowned PHW) I would never dream of saying some of the things I've read on here so soon after that defeat, which will be still hurting like hell. I think DaveF said it all for me: the only thing he didn't say was that some of you lot should be ashamed to call yourselves fans. You're more like fucking vultures just waiting to pick at the bones of a badly injured animal. OS. Super post OS. We are blowing out of our arse at the minute. The season has caught up with us big time. We had seven first teamers unavailable last night and were playing against the team with probably the biggest squad in the league who were already on a massive high and had a huge incentive to win the game. I slagged Tone off after the Liverpool away debacle but I fail to see what else he could have done last night. Some people need a reality check. Yes of course we have been poor away from home but last night should be treated in isolation because of the circumstances. |
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Post by Lakeland Potter on May 18, 2011 7:15:26 GMT
In truth, I find this thread almost unbelievable. Just three days after the team, the club, and Pulis, have suffered a real blow by being defeated at Wembley by a better team and also by circumstances, 'fans' feel they have the right to put the boot in. In my world (and I'm a reknowned PHW) I would never dream of saying some of the things I've read on here so soon after that defeat, which will be still hurting like hell. I think DaveF said it all for me: the only thing he didn't say was that some of you lot should be ashamed to call yourselves fans. You're more like fucking vultures just waiting to pick at the bones of a badly injured animal. OS. Well said OS - agree 100%. I give the original poster, young Luke, a lift to games from Cumbria and I'll be explaining a few things to him on the way down on Sunday! In fact I might make him write out the word pragmatism a thousand times!  |
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Post by captainsmith on May 18, 2011 7:20:23 GMT
Thought we were OK first half. Second half was woeful. Lets be honest, since we won at Blackburn over Christmas we have been shocking on the road. For me, one of the key reasons for this is our complete inablity to keep the ball for any sustained period of time. We must remedy this next season. I agree and thats why our Summer signings will be vital. We must get centre mids who are not just ball winners but are comfortable with the ball at their feet. We have Ethers and Jermaine who are happy to hold the ball and can pass it and we must find centre mids of a similar ilk. I'm hoping we will buy two centre mids of oustanding quality this summer. That is the key to us moving up another notch next season. Of course, Tone knows this. However, he won't consider anyone he thinks might be an "individual", no matter how skillful they are. It's finding the skill and the work ethic and committment to the club all wrapped up in one (two) players which makes the task a bit more challenging. |
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Post by Will_75 on May 18, 2011 7:48:10 GMT
Two words, one of which has already been coined by Lakeland: Pragmatism and Perspective
Some of you lot are lacking in both.
I work with a Blues season ticket holder who is convinced that they are going down. Having slated Stoke all season, he finally admitted to me that he wishes they had a manager as pragmatic as Pulis.
He cited their 5-0 shellacking at Liverpool, where at 2-0 down, their manager tried to get back into the game, rather than, as he supsected Pulis would have done, parking the bus.
Being thumped away not only fucks your goal difference, but also destroys your morale.
Someone above mentioned picking fights you can win. That's what Pulis does, and given our year on year improvement, I'd say he's pretty good at it.
You'd be a lot better off, and I suspect happier, if you accepted, or at least acknowledged this. Anyone who expected anything other than exactly what we got last night really has not been paying attention.
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Post by sheikhmomo on May 18, 2011 7:51:51 GMT
This thread really is like getting angry with a horse who has broken his leg over the last in the national for not trying hard enough in the last 100 yards.
I was not in the least bit surprised at last nights events, I could give a fuck even less.
A season to be proud, a season I'll never forget.
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Post by TheWiseMaster on May 18, 2011 7:57:03 GMT
Before people starting shooting me down, I'm not a PHW, I'm not losing sight of what we've achieved this season, but tonight was just painful to watch. I very nearly coughed up 38 quid for the ticket and 30 quid on the train to go, and I'm so relieved I didn't. I accept it's hard to motivate the players after the cup final defeat on Saturday, and I accept him resting players, but I don't accept him showing absolutely no intent to win the game at all. It was very similar to how we played at Anfield, a 4-5-1, consisting of long-balls to Carew, with nobody within 30 yards of him. He was completely isolated from start to finish with no support. Why did he wait until the 72nd minute to make a change when the system clearly wasn't working? And why did he then bring a midfielder on for Carew and push Walters up and stick with the 4-5-1? We mustered up two attempts on target, and the best one was a 20 yard effort from Whelan that Hart comfortably dealt with. Tony has spoke of his desire to better last seasons points tally this season, the approach to the game tonight didn't reflect that desire. You very nearly coughed up the dosh - didn't go and you are complaining  I did cough up the money and I am not complaining. Last night was painful to watch - I was counting down the minutes from the off. TP sacrificed last night for the greater good of a win next Sunday Don't like it - don't go - oh you didn't  |
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Post by luke45 on May 18, 2011 8:00:50 GMT
A season to be proud, a season I'll never forget. I completely agree with that, and I very rarely come on here spouting anything negative, I was just so deflated with how we went about the game last-night. It wasn't the fact we lost the game, it was the manner in which we lost it. I like to see us show ambition in every match, no matter what resources we have available, and last-night we had settled for not winning the game before a ball had been kicked. I don't mean we should've gone there and gone all out attack, I just mean commit more men forward. John Carew had nobody within 30 yards of him all-night, and we stuck with a system that was clearly showing no danger to the opposition whatsoever. Maybe I expect too much, but some people on here are almost treating a 3-0 defeat as objective achieved because we maintained 9th place, I just don't see it that way. |
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 8:04:46 GMT
There’s no point getting downbeat over last nights result.
At least it will have reiterated that we need to invest in some creative players as when we are without that nucleus of 2 or 3 we are pretty much devoid of any flair whatsoever.
I was speaking to a lad in the pub last night and we worked out our starting XI cost around 18 Million (I think) and Man City had numerous players that on their own cost more than that. Attacking options they have: Adam Johnson, Silva, Milner, Tevez, Toure, Wright-Phillips, Dzeko, Balotelli etc. When you have that depth in your squad you can afford to lose 2 or 3 and rotate and bring in top-drawer players. When we are without Pennant, Ethers and Jones we had to rely on the likes of Pugh, Diao and Carew and that is the gulf between the 2 clubs.
We can’t let one result allow us to lose sight of what a great season we have had. West Ham have just been relegated and going into the final round of games on Sunday there are 5 other teams fighting to stay up. At the other end you’ve got Chelsea who have won nothing this season and Arsenal who again have won nothing and now look like slipping to 4th in the table.
We are one of only a few teams who can actually say they are taking steps in the right direction. We are on course for a top 10 finish, we’ve just competed in our first FA Cup Final and we venture into Europe next season. This has been a great campaign for us.
The futures bright, the future’s red and white.
Be loyal, be proud, be Stoke.
WD
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Post by southweststokie on May 18, 2011 8:39:53 GMT
Unintended consequence of last night ? Doing Citeh a favour, and seeing Wenger knocked down a peg ? Relationship with Citeh very much improved, and can see us making realistic enquiries either in the summer, or (more likely) Jan window for loan deals to improve the squad without taking the commercial risks. Sounds too fanciful ?, I don't think so...
SWS
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Post by Trouserdog on May 18, 2011 8:40:44 GMT
A season to be proud, a season I'll never forget. I completely agree with that, and I very rarely come on here spouting anything negative, I was just so deflated with how we went about the game last-night. It wasn't the fact we lost the game, it was the manner in which we lost it. I like to see us show ambition in every match, no matter what resources we have available, and last-night we had settled for not winning the game before a ball had been kicked. I don't mean we should've gone there and gone all out attack, I just mean commit more men forward. John Carew had nobody within 30 yards of him all-night, and we stuck with a system that was clearly showing no danger to the opposition whatsoever. Maybe I expect too much, but some people on here are almost treating a 3-0 defeat as objective achieved because we maintained 9th place, I just don't see it that way. If we'd have gone 4-4-2 last night and "gone for it", we'd have still had no chance of winning due to the poor team that TP was forced to put out. However, we'd have risked a real thumping, as the one thing that the dreadful 4-5-1 formation does achieve is damage limitation. I'd rather see us hold onto 9th with a 0-3 defeat than slip down to 10th or 11th with an embarrassing 0-7 mauling. At no other time during the season would I advocate such an approach- I was fucking livid after we'd done the same at Anfield, but the facts were there in front of us last night- keep the score down we hold 9th, get thumped we slip a couple of places. I don't know how you can have a problem with this to be honest? |
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Post by Will_75 on May 18, 2011 8:43:59 GMT
EXACTLY the point i was trying to make trousers
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Post by jen on May 18, 2011 8:48:26 GMT
I completely agree with that, and I very rarely come on here spouting anything negative, I was just so deflated with how we went about the game last-night. It wasn't the fact we lost the game, it was the manner in which we lost it. I like to see us show ambition in every match, no matter what resources we have available, and last-night we had settled for not winning the game before a ball had been kicked. I don't mean we should've gone there and gone all out attack, I just mean commit more men forward. John Carew had nobody within 30 yards of him all-night, and we stuck with a system that was clearly showing no danger to the opposition whatsoever. Maybe I expect too much, but some people on here are almost treating a 3-0 defeat as objective achieved because we maintained 9th place, I just don't see it that way. If we'd have gone 4-4-2 last night and "gone for it", we'd have still had no chance of winning due to the poor team that TP was forced to put out. However, we'd have risked a real thumping, as the one thing that the dreadful 4-5-1 formation does achieve is damage limitation. I'd rather see us hold onto 9th with a 0-3 defeat than slip down to 10th or 11th with an embarrassing 0-7 mauling. At no other time during the season would I advocate such an approach- I was fucking livid after we'd done the same at Anfield, but the facts were there in front of us last night- keep the score down we hold 9th, get thumped we slip a couple of places. I don't know how you can have a problem with this to be honest? Normally I'd be against this kind of approach BUT last night was a pretty unique circumstance. Pulis probably has enough to do to raise spirits after Satdee - a mauling last night would have made it even more difficult. Diving cheats and a biased ref didn't help either. |
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Post by sheikhmomo on May 18, 2011 8:51:49 GMT
This thread does hint at trouble ahead doesn’t it. A season like this, which, let’s face it, was a massive over achievement when you look at our squad will probably raise expectation beyond what is reasonable. I hate the analogy but I’m going to say one word. Charlton.
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Post by stokerambler on May 18, 2011 8:59:51 GMT
Pulis' approach was totally defensible last night. He could have fielded a stronger team, played the walking wounded, probably still lost and we would face Wigan with the same team as actually started last night. Then fans then would have a right to ask why.
I wrote off last night before I knew the team news. I hoped TP would rest players and look at Sunday's Wigan game as the one to secure a top 10 place. That is what he did.
At the end of the season it's right to look at our away form and ask how we improve it. Because we can't stay in the top flight for ever based on our home form. But last night was not the game to judge us.
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Post by wandonlodge2 on May 18, 2011 9:01:32 GMT
This thread does hint at trouble ahead doesn’t it. A season like this, which, let’s face it, was a massive over achievement when you look at our squad will probably raise expectation beyond what is reasonable. I hate the analogy but I’m going to say one word. Charlton. I think the majority of Stoke fans are more grounded than that. I think we get more than our share of 'silly' posts on this m/b. |
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Post by luke45 on May 18, 2011 9:03:18 GMT
This thread does hint at trouble ahead doesn’t it. A season like this, which, let’s face it, was a massive over achievement when you look at our squad will probably raise expectation beyond what is reasonable. I hate the analogy but I’m going to say one word. Charlton. Even if we lost on Sunday and didn't finish in the top 10, I'd still view this season as a major success, so it's not a case of me expecting too much. Another mid-table finish next season would represent another successful season too. I don't expect us to go to places like Man City and win matches, as far as i'm concerned any point on the road is a point well earned, I said precisely that when we drew 0-0 at Blackpool the other week. My gripe with last-night wasn't the selection, wasn't the result, it was the approach. I was looking towards last-nights match as an opportunity to give ourselves a chance of finishing 7th, rather than an opportunity to make sure we don't lose by more than 3 goals and stay 9th. Maybe that's why I'm disappointed when most people are pretty content, maybe I hoped for too much. In the grand scheme of things perhaps TP did do the right thing, but I can't help being disappointed when we lose a game 3-0 and resign ourselves to not winning before a balls been kicked. |
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Post by BoxxyTheLost on May 18, 2011 9:06:38 GMT
I can't believe that anyone's shocked at the team put out last night or the approach taken to it.
Every single person on here knew it was going to be that way, in fact some actively encouraged it.
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Post by jarhead on May 18, 2011 9:10:04 GMT
We have injuries and it just highlights how poor the depth of our squad is.In the summer I expect quality and in numbers,a massive 6 weeks again coming up to try and get some deals done ready for next season because hoping that Ethers,Pennant,Huth etc etc stay fit is not realistic. Last night was another reminder of what has to be done eighths squad.
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Post by OldStokie on May 18, 2011 9:36:51 GMT
We have injuries and it just highlights how poor the depth of our squad is.In the summer I expect quality and in numbers,a massive 6 weeks again coming up to try and get some deals done ready for next season because hoping that Ethers,Pennant,Huth etc etc stay fit is not realistic. Last night was another reminder of what has to be done eighths squad. I don't think you're wrong there. But I reckon Pulis also knows the score. I'll always reserve the right to question his questionable tactics at times, but I hope, given what Pulis has achieved, I do it in a way that reflects the year-on-year progress he has made at the club. Although I'm still hurting from Saturday, I can't forget the fantastic season Pulis and the players have given to us. We've had a fantastic season despite being a bit lightweight on backup. At the moment, I can't wait for Saturday, and whatever the result, both the players and Pulis will be applauded by me for what they've done. NB: No, winger, I won't be singing 'There's only one Tony Pulis'.  OS. |
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Post by newportstokieone on May 18, 2011 9:37:41 GMT
Of course we are all happy with the outcome this season, but how many of us are worried about NEXT season - the last 2 games have been typical and normal away form for the second half of this season and I worry that we cannot keep relyoing on superb home form but such negative away form - the mosy negative I have seen for years ?
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Post by french toast on May 18, 2011 9:41:13 GMT
Of course we are all happy with the outcome this season, but how many of us are worried about NEXT season - the last 2 games have been typical and normal away form for the second half of this season and I worry that we cannot keep relyoing on superb home form but such negative away form - the mosy negative I have seen for years ? not worried at all |
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Post by j3st3r on May 18, 2011 9:46:55 GMT
I undertsand and agree with the decision to rest players however call me a cynic, but does anyone think that Tone also used this with half a mind to highlight to PC the reliance the club has on a small clutch of key players. Granted last nights team would be a worst case scenario for injuries but it did highlight the lack of depth that we have which is worrying with European games beckoning....
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Post by foster on May 18, 2011 10:22:43 GMT
Don't blame TP for the tactics he used last night. A draw would be the best we could hope to get against a Man City side that is rapidly becoming the best (if not already) team in the Premier League.
Our physical game just doesn't work against a team which contains players that are bigger, stronger and vastly technically superior to ours. We just don't have the resources to compete with them at the moment.
Not to mention that we have a bunch of tired first teamers and no depth in our squad. We really need to get some more players in or this could be the kind of performances and line up we end up playing on a regular basis next season.
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