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Post by luke45 on Dec 2, 2011 1:39:19 GMT
Just got back half an hour ago, and all I can think about is my upmost gratitude to Tony Pulis and the players for taking our beloved club to new heights again tonight. Okay we weren't great tonight by any means, but it was objective achieved, and you can't begin to put into context just how bigger achievement it is for us to find ourselves in the last 32 of the Europa League.
We've spent much of the last 5 years pinching ourselves at the rapid success that has continued to come, and tonight is another one of those surreal occasions that we will cherish forever.
This is the first time the club have ever gone beyond the first round in a European competition, so yet again Tony Pulis has re-wrote the history books of this club and taken us to a level we have never seen before in our 148 year history.
I think we all felt as if we could ruffle a few feathers in this tournament with our style of play and never say die attitude, but who could've imagined we would've suffered ZERO defeats after 9 Europa League games? It's a frankly remarkable achievement, especially when you consider a large proportion of our squad are experiencing European Cup football for the first time.
Whatever happens from this stage onwards in our European adventure, I'm very proud at what we have achieved in getting to this stage. We were drawn in a group against a wealth of European pedigree and experience, and we've surpassed expectations yet again and qualified with a game to spare.
These are special times.
GOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRNNNNNNNN STOKE !!! ;D
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Post by macmozzer on Dec 2, 2011 1:58:27 GMT
aye!!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2011 2:07:29 GMT
Just got back half an hour ago, and all I can think about is my upmost gratitude to Tony Pulis and the players for taking our beloved club to new heights again tonight. Okay we weren't great tonight by any means, but it was objective achieved, and you can't begin to put into context just how bigger achievement it is for us to find ourselves in the last 32 of the Europa League. We've spent much of the last 5 years pinching ourselves at the rapid success that has continued to come, and tonight is another one of those surreal occasions that we will cherish forever. This is the first time the club have ever gone beyond the first round in a European competition, so yet again Tony Pulis has re-wrote the history books of this club and taken us to a level we have never seen before in our 148 year history. I think we all felt as if we could ruffle a few feathers in this tournament with our style of play and never say die attitude, but who could've imagined we would've suffered ZERO defeats after 9 Europa League games? It's a frankly remarkable achievement, especially when you consider a large proportion of our squad are experiencing European Cup football for the first time. Whatever happens from this stage onwards in our European adventure, I'm very proud at what we have achieved in getting to this stage. We were drawn in a group against a wealth of European pedigree and experience, and we've surpassed expectations yet again and qualified with a game to spare. These are special times. GOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRNNNNNNNN STOKE !!! ;D I'll never be Pulis' biggest fan. I want to see football that I can enjoy watching. But I've got to say, I can't disagree with anything you've said. This looked a really tough group, but we've got there with a game to spare. Wouldn't have fancied us to get through at all if we'd lost tonight which we nearly did. But we didn't lose, and we've reached a level I never thought I'd see us at. Not much more I can say. Special times indeed. |
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Post by jbstokie on Dec 2, 2011 2:51:00 GMT
I don't think anyone can deny Tone of the credit he deserves for what he's done for this football club. Love him or loathe him, he's made life as a Stoke fan a great experience in the last four years. I've personally grown to love the style of football that we play, if we'd come up with the same attitude as Hull, Burnley, Blackpool and possibly Swansea we'd be nowhere near the success story we are today. Regardless of our recent blip in form we're a formidable side and if we keep progressing at this pace we'll be a real force in coming years.  |
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Post by blackpoolred on Dec 2, 2011 6:28:19 GMT
Totally agree with everything you said, another wonderful acheivment by SCFC.
pin this post, sums up beautifully our achievments.
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Post by vicstokie on Dec 2, 2011 6:41:03 GMT
+1 European football in 2012 guaranteed!
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Post by frodekippe on Dec 2, 2011 8:15:25 GMT
Great thread. Captures just how surreal but brilliant it feels to be a Stoke fan! Just a shame that it's all bollocks though because from reading the rest of the board it would appear that Kenwyne is wank and Pulis hasn't got a clue.  |
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Post by beatlestokie on Dec 2, 2011 8:30:13 GMT
Just got back half an hour ago, and all I can think about is my upmost gratitude to Tony Pulis and the players for taking our beloved club to new heights again tonight. Okay we weren't great tonight by any means, but it was objective achieved, and you can't begin to put into context just how bigger achievement it is for us to find ourselves in the last 32 of the Europa League. We've spent much of the last 5 years pinching ourselves at the rapid success that has continued to come, and tonight is another one of those surreal occasions that we will cherish forever. This is the first time the club have ever gone beyond the first round in a European competition, so yet again Tony Pulis has re-wrote the history books of this club and taken us to a level we have never seen before in our 148 year history. I think we all felt as if we could ruffle a few feathers in this tournament with our style of play and never say die attitude, but who could've imagined we would've suffered ZERO defeats after 9 Europa League games? It's a frankly remarkable achievement, especially when you consider a large proportion of our squad are experiencing European Cup football for the first time. Whatever happens from this stage onwards in our European adventure, I'm very proud at what we have achieved in getting to this stage. We were drawn in a group against a wealth of European pedigree and experience, and we've surpassed expectations yet again and qualified with a game to spare. These are special times. GOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRNNNNNNNN STOKE !!! ;D Good thread! nice to read possitve comments instead of all the negative moaning that appear all the time. perhaps people will appreciate pullis more in a few years time.  |
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Post by NG4POTTERS on Dec 2, 2011 11:21:33 GMT
Special times indeed. Well said luke.
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laurie
Youth Player
Posts: 330
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Post by laurie on Dec 2, 2011 12:24:50 GMT
A great time for us Stokies. I've seen it for 50 years and its been no better than this so enjoy it, soak it in and celebrate our success - the world of football are applauding us today. ENJOY
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Post by darksideofthemoon on Dec 2, 2011 12:28:03 GMT
A great time for us Stokies. I've seen it for 50 years and its been no better than this so enjoy it, soak it in and celebrate our success - the world of football are applauding us today. ENJOY ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This......fabulous times to be a Stokie!!  |
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Post by robstokie on Dec 2, 2011 14:23:35 GMT
Absoulutely unbelieveable, especially considering how tough our group was and the (relative) easiness of spurs and fulhams groups (spurs might not qualify, Fulham will just sneak in)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2011 14:28:38 GMT
Well said luke top post mate.
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Post by foxysgloves on Dec 2, 2011 14:30:34 GMT
We really have entered a glorious new era for our proud old club. Here's hoping this is just the start of an incredible journey. Great credit due to the owners, management, players and supporters.
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Post by Trouserdog on Dec 2, 2011 15:26:33 GMT
Big clubs take European competitions for granted, some even look down their noses at it, but for a team like us it really is something special.
I can't wait for the knockout stages and the chance to play some more of Europe's big guns in do-or-die affairs. I never thought we'd see it, but here we are!
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Post by lancer on Dec 2, 2011 15:52:21 GMT
Just got back half an hour ago, and all I can think about is my upmost gratitude to Tony Pulis and the players for taking our beloved club to new heights again tonight. Okay we weren't great tonight by any means, but it was objective achieved, and you can't begin to put into context just how bigger achievement it is for us to find ourselves in the last 32 of the Europa League. We've spent much of the last 5 years pinching ourselves at the rapid success that has continued to come, and tonight is another one of those surreal occasions that we will cherish forever. This is the first time the club have ever gone beyond the first round in a European competition, so yet again Tony Pulis has re-wrote the history books of this club and taken us to a level we have never seen before in our 148 year history. I think we all felt as if we could ruffle a few feathers in this tournament with our style of play and never say die attitude, but who could've imagined we would've suffered ZERO defeats after 9 Europa League games? It's a frankly remarkable achievement, especially when you consider a large proportion of our squad are experiencing European Cup football for the first time. Whatever happens from this stage onwards in our European adventure, I'm very proud at what we have achieved in getting to this stage. We were drawn in a group against a wealth of European pedigree and experience, and we've surpassed expectations yet again and qualified with a game to spare. These are special times. GOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRNNNNNNNN STOKE !!! ;D Quite right, mate, we weren't great, but we were successfull, and being successfull is sometimes more rewarding than being great. Matter of fact, being successfull IS being great. We did what we needed to do. WE got a good result against a very good footballing side. I suppose in a way, you could say that Kiev were great because their football was better, prettier anyway, but the result was still better for us. No time to play other than the way that's effective, so long as we get the right result. |
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on Dec 2, 2011 15:59:35 GMT
Beautifully articulated Luke and even more remarkable considering that you may well have spent 3-4 hours in a car travelling home in the company of Fornside (Lakeland Potter) before writing your piece so eloquently! |
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Post by jarhead on Dec 2, 2011 16:03:51 GMT
Superb effort when all things considered,well done SCFC
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Post by luke45 on Dec 2, 2011 16:47:27 GMT
Beautifully articulated Luke and even more remarkable considering that you may well have spent 3-4 hours in a car travelling home in the company of Fornside (Lakeland Potter) before writing your piece so eloquently! ;D I did indeed! It must've been the company of an Oatcake oracle that provided me with the inspiration to write it. |
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Post by frank63 on Dec 2, 2011 19:32:48 GMT
we were cannon fodder for the big clubs,well done to the lads!
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Post by frank63 on Dec 2, 2011 19:33:13 GMT
We were cannon fodder for the big clubs,well done to the lads!
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Post by TheWiseMaster on Dec 2, 2011 22:11:47 GMT
Whatever happens in the future Pulis and the players have earned their place in the sun - and our gratitude
We know we lack style and maybe we have struggled to mix Europe and the Prem but who can knock nine games unbeaten
Proud of you lads !!
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tomjoneslovechild
Academy Starlet
arate youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posts: 167
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Post by tomjoneslovechild on Dec 2, 2011 22:28:30 GMT
progress.....
the last 32 brings more european awareness of scfc.
attracts players. media. spreads the scfc brand across europe.
its all good for the future.
just remember when you meet someone and they ask.... so who do you support and you reply stoke. nowadays the reply back is good team! think ten or 15 years back!
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Post by curleywurley on Dec 2, 2011 22:33:56 GMT
I never thought I'd see the day either. Thanks to all involved in this remarkable achievement, from a very grateful, old school, SCFC fan.
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Post by Stokiedokie on Dec 2, 2011 22:36:16 GMT
I've got a feeling about this season - I think we can go a long way in the Europa League. We may struggle to rise above mid-table in the prem, but so what? As long as we survive, I'd take that were we to have a shot at Bucharest in May.
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Post by march4 on Dec 2, 2011 22:37:37 GMT
These are indeed wonderful times.
My heartfelt appeal to our younger fans is to enjoy this feeling. It will last a few more years yet (if we are lucky) but the day will come when we are relegated. Appreciate what you have now, don't wait until the harder times and then look back wishing you had immersed yourself more in this success.
Us older Stokies were growing tired of telling our sons and daughters about the legends, like Huddy, Banksie, Smithy, etc, because younger fans didn't have comparable heroes.
Now we all have Ric, Ryan, Sorro, Ethers, Rory, Abdy, even Mama. Names that will spoken about in revered tones to grandchilden.
Enjoy the moment fellow Stokies, history tells us that this will be a finite period for our club.
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Post by stokie12345 on Dec 2, 2011 22:58:41 GMT
He's F*cked up our European dream though...
;D
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Post by staffordstokie999 on Dec 2, 2011 23:10:47 GMT
Fulham and Middlesborough can get to the final so why carnt we? A bit of luck with the draw and who knows?
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Post by march4 on Dec 2, 2011 23:11:37 GMT
Fulham and Middlesborough can get to the final so why carnt we? A bit of luck with the draw and who knows? Exactly. Who ever draws us in the knockout stage will be bricking themselves. |
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Post by blackpoolred on Dec 3, 2011 1:24:54 GMT
utmp - 450 mins away from a certain trophy, nothing in europe is man enough to take on the mite of the potters
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