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Post by miltonpotterfan on Feb 13, 2012 11:45:31 GMT
Never have I seen a European manager say this before. more worried of there threat than our threat, making us look like a team who are no body's.
"I spoke to Rafa Benitez about Valencia and he's scared me to death," he said.
"They're a step up in class from anyone we've faced so far in the Europa League, so Thursday night is going to be a special occasion for everyone at Stoke.
"It's a 28,000 sell-out and we really need our supporters to get behind the team.
"I will move one or two of the squad around as I've done in previous European games and I just hope the players respond to the challenge and do themselves justice."
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Post by StokieBoy31 on Feb 13, 2012 11:54:56 GMT
Let them be positive changes, Pennant and Ric to start please.
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Post by SCFC92 on Feb 13, 2012 11:59:11 GMT
One of the biggest matches in Stoke's history and our manager is spending it insulting our team... nice!
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Post by Paul Spencer on Feb 13, 2012 12:06:08 GMT
Never have I seen a European manager say this before. more worried of there threat than our threat, making us look like a team who are no body's. "I spoke to Rafa Benitez about Valencia and he's scared me to death," he said. "They're a step up in class from anyone we've faced so far in the Europa League, so Thursday night is going to be a special occasion for everyone at Stoke. "It's a 28,000 sell-out and we really need our supporters to get behind the team. "I will move one or two of the squad around as I've done in previous European games and I just hope the players respond to the challenge and do themselves justice." Where is this taken from? He surely didn't use the words "scared to death", did he?
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Post by manchesterpotter on Feb 13, 2012 12:10:13 GMT
And how is it a 28,000 sell out? There are a shed load of tickets left.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 12:18:18 GMT
the fact is that they ARE a step up, can't argue with that but it is strange saying he's scared stiff after talking to Rafa because 1) i know TP likes to "Manage expectations" but i've never heard him say this kind of thing before and 2) you would certainly have thought if this was true then he wouldn't have needed Rafa to tell him about it 5 or 6 days before the game?????
i think a source from where this came from could help explain more though, sounds like the OP Paraphrasing more than anything (which can be very dangerous on this site)
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Post by miltonpotterfan on Feb 13, 2012 12:18:32 GMT
Sky Sports so they ain't going use made up qoutes
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 12:18:48 GMT
Surely you could start building up your players Tony? You know give them a bit of confidence instead of smashing it.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Feb 13, 2012 12:20:45 GMT
He's ALWAYS done this. He'll do it for Crawley on Sunday. Where have you been for the last decade?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 12:22:05 GMT
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Post by jarhead on Feb 13, 2012 12:36:48 GMT
Surely you could start building up your players Tony? You know give them a bit of confidence instead of smashing it. Correct. The white flag is well and truly up,can't wait watch Rory,salif,Walters
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Post by stayingupfor GermanStokie on Feb 13, 2012 12:41:05 GMT
Jarhead,
If it is THAT excruciating, don't bloody watch then! Some of us would like to go, but can't....
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Post by sirpineapple89 on Feb 13, 2012 12:41:29 GMT
Surely you could start building up your players Tony? You know give them a bit of confidence instead of smashing it. Correct. The white flag is well and truly up,can't wait watch Rory,salif,Walters Don't fucking bother then.
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Post by sufolkstokie on Feb 13, 2012 12:44:28 GMT
Never have I seen a European manager say this before. more worried of there threat than our threat, making us look like a team who are no body's. "I spoke to Rafa Benitez about Valencia and he's scared me to death," he said. "They're a step up in class from anyone we've faced so far in the Europa League, so Thursday night is going to be a special occasion for everyone at Stoke. "It's a 28,000 sell-out and we really need our supporters to get behind the team. "I will move one or two of the squad around as I've done in previous European games and I just hope the players respond to the challenge and do themselves justice." Dear me - that has really got me fired up for Thursday. The capped one is scared to death when we play Fulham away, the wind, the snow, ref's, anybody else away, teams that play 5 in midfield at the Brit (it is not fair Nige), any of the top 6, anyone more estbalished than us in the Prem and anyone fighting for points at the bottom of the table, and any team below us in another division who has 'nothing to lose' in a cup game, so goodness knows what madness he plans for this game.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 12:44:59 GMT
He's ALWAYS done this. He'll do it for Crawley on Sunday. Where have you been for the last decade? Pre-promotion - We weren't anywhere near favourites to go up, theoretically there were a fair few teams who would have been bigger favourites over us, we were the under dogs to go up and set out a seige mentality. First Prem season - Favourites to go down, building up opposition could lead them into a false sense of security, and get our own players raring to go, underdogs. Second season - Not favourites to go down but still second season syndrome looming, same again applies. Since then we've been favourites quite a lot, there is absoluteloy no reason to build up opposition as much because we have a fair good squad, that can as we've seen, beat anybody on it's day. He should be building up his own squad that he has spent a fortune on, focus on them, we are no longer the under dog for a lot of games, and the pressure shows.
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Post by keasie1863 on Feb 13, 2012 12:48:35 GMT
Never have I seen a European manager say this before. more worried of there threat than our threat, making us look like a team who are no body's. "I spoke to Rafa Benitez about Valencia and he's scared me to death," he said. "They're a step up in class from anyone we've faced so far in the Europa League, so Thursday night is going to be a special occasion for everyone at Stoke. "It's a 28,000 sell-out and we really need our supporters to get behind the team. "I will move one or two of the squad around as I've done in previous wEuropean games and I just hope the players respond to the challenge and do themselves justice." Dear me - that has really got me fired up for Thursday. The capped one is scared to death when we play Fulham away, the wind, the snow, ref's, anybody else away, teams that play 5 in midfield at the Brit (it is not fair Nige), any of the top 6, anyone more estbalished than us in the Prem and anyone fighting for points at the bottom of the table, and any team below us in another division who has 'nothing to lose' in a cup game, so goodness knows what madness he plans for this game. +1. You made me laugh,excellent ;D ;D
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Post by jarhead on Feb 13, 2012 12:49:07 GMT
Never have I seen a European manager say this before. more worried of there threat than our threat, making us look like a team who are no body's. "I spoke to Rafa Benitez about Valencia and he's scared me to death," he said. "They're a step up in class from anyone we've faced so far in the Europa League, so Thursday night is going to be a special occasion for everyone at Stoke. "It's a 28,000 sell-out and we really need our supporters to get behind the team. "I will move one or two of the squad around as I've done in previous European games and I just hope the players respond to the challenge and do themselves justice." Dear me - that has really got me fired up for Thursday. The capped one is scared to death when we play Fulham away, the wind, the snow, ref's, anybody else away, teams that play 5 in midfield at the Brit (it is not fair Nige), any of the top 6, anyone more estbalished than us in the Prem and anyone fighting for points at the bottom of the table, and any team below us in another division who has 'nothing to lose' in a cup game, so goodness knows what madness he plans for this game. Unreal ain't he but at least we are 8th...!
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Feb 13, 2012 12:52:18 GMT
He's ALWAYS done this. He'll do it for Crawley on Sunday. Where have you been for the last decade? Pre-promotion - We weren't anywhere near favourites to go up, theoretically there were a fair few teams who would have been bigger favourites over us, we were the under dogs to go up and set out a seige mentality. First Prem season - Favourites to go down, building up opposition could lead them into a false sense of security, and get our own players raring to go, underdogs. Second season - Not favourites to go down but still second season syndrome looming, same again applies. Since then we've been favourites quite a lot, there is absoluteloy no reason to build up opposition as much because we have a fair good squad, that can as we've seen, beat anybody on it's day. He should be building up his own squad that he has spent a fortune on, focus on them, we are no longer the under dog for a lot of games, and the pressure shows. But that's all just guff for the media to big up the opposition, limit expectation and therefore reduce the pressure on the players. It's basic psychology. Do you really think he's saying privately to the players 'You're shit and don't stand a chance against the world megastars of Valencia or the plucky league two Crawley'?
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Post by stokiejoeofalsager on Feb 13, 2012 12:53:28 GMT
not a good sign... if we go for it we WILL beat them. if we do anything other than that we wont. we need to bombard them and go at them hard tony!!
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Post by skelman on Feb 13, 2012 12:56:43 GMT
"I spoke to Rafa Benitez about Valencia and he's scared me to death," he said.This is fcukkin unbelievable. The guy's psychology is shite & he needs to know we are getting fcukkin annoyed.26,000+ fans have bought tickets for Stoke on Thursday & 5500+ in Valencia the week after & he makes a twat of a statement like that!! Unbelievable. It's that mentality that having an adverse impact on the team & contributing in part to their lack of confidence. For Christ's sake we should be really up for this & every other fcukkin game. That's a major part of his sodding job!!
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Post by sheikh al dubai bin stokie on Feb 13, 2012 13:03:02 GMT
so exactly what should he have said?... something like;
"Whats that Nige?... Valencia? ... do you mean that shower of shite thats won 6 la ligas, 7 coppa del reys, 2 x uefa cups and twice were runners up the champions league?.... pile of wank.. we'll shit 'em"
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Post by manboobs on Feb 13, 2012 13:03:49 GMT
I think maybe its an attempt at humour! Sadly missing on this site at the moment.
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Post by Stretfordpotterer on Feb 13, 2012 13:06:10 GMT
so exactly what should he have said?... something like; "Whats that Nige?... Valencia? ... do you mean that shower of shite thats won 6 la ligas, 7 coppa del reys, 2 x uefa cups and twice were runners up the champions league?.... pile of wank.. we'll shit 'em" No, but i don't see the value in building up an opposition which we already know are superior. Why not something to pick the fans up! Why not "yes, they're good side, but they won't have faced anything like this in La Liga, or anywhere else for that matter, we're going to get right up in their faces and get balls flying into the box from all angles. We're going to make sure they leave here knowing they've been in a battle!"
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Post by geoffscott on Feb 13, 2012 13:13:26 GMT
so exactly what should he have said?... something like; "Whats that Nige?... Valencia? ... do you mean that shower of shite thats won 6 la ligas, 7 coppa del reys, 2 x uefa cups and twice were runners up the champions league?.... pile of wank.. we'll shit 'em" What should he have said? How about...... It' games like this, that justify the chairman's £90 million + investment in Stoke City football club. 5 years ago most people in Valencia wouldn't have even heard of Stoke City. Come Thursday night with 28,000 loyal Stoke fans behind us we will show Valencia exactly who we are and why our chairman has backed me to the hilt! Oh wait, we're Stoke City we don't desreve to be on the same pitch as Valencia do we!
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Post by lordb on Feb 13, 2012 13:15:52 GMT
he always talks the opposition up in public
what he says in private to his team is clearly more important
even this season we have played well at home against the 'big sides'
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Post by skelman on Feb 13, 2012 13:17:47 GMT
www1.skysports.com/football/news/11959/7517860/Pulis-wary-of-Valencia-testIt's all there in black & white!! Sorry this is NOT basic psychology - it's totally misguided & there's no way this approach will stand a cat in hell's chance of helping to reduce any pressure on the players - because according to Tone we're just little fcukkin Stoke still after 3.5 years in the PL, a FA Cup final & Europa qualification with excellent progress through the group stage!! I'm not a TP basher but neither am I blindly in love with him. He annoys me greatly over some of the things he says & does. But this is absolutely ridiculous. Come on Pulis, man up for the club & do your job fully
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Post by simpson93 on Feb 13, 2012 13:18:32 GMT
One of the biggest matches in Stoke's history and our manager is spending it insulting our team... nice! at no point did he insult the players, he said rafa said they were better, your a fucking idiot!
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Post by jarhead on Feb 13, 2012 13:18:53 GMT
so exactly what should he have said?... something like; "Whats that Nige?... Valencia? ... do you mean that shower of shite thats won 6 la ligas, 7 coppa del reys, 2 x uefa cups and twice were runners up the champions league?.... pile of wank.. we'll shit 'em" What should he have said? How about...... It' games like this, that justify the chairman's £90 million + investment in Stoke City football club. 5 years ago most people in Valencia wouldn't have even heard of Stoke City. Come Thursday night with 28,000 loyal Stoke fans behind us we will show Valencia exactly who we are and why our chairman has backed me to the hilt! Oh wait, we're Stoke City we don't desreve to be on the same pitch as Valencia do we! Spot on,brilliant
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Post by skelman on Feb 13, 2012 13:23:23 GMT
Spot on jarhead followed by: '& we're going to give them a damn good run for their money'
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Post by Mr Jon on Feb 13, 2012 13:26:20 GMT
Never have I seen a European manager say this before. more worried of there threat than our threat, making us look like a team who are no body's. "I spoke to Rafa Benitez about Valencia and he's scared me to death," he said. "They're a step up in class from anyone we've faced so far in the Europa League, so Thursday night is going to be a special occasion for everyone at Stoke. "It's a 28,000 sell-out and we really need our supporters to get behind the team. "I will move one or two of the squad around as I've done in previous European games and I just hope the players respond to the challenge and do themselves justice." Dear me - that has really got me fired up for Thursday. The capped one is scared to death when we play Fulham away, the wind, the snow, ref's, anybody else away, teams that play 5 in midfield at the Brit (it is not fair Nige), any of the top 6, anyone more estbalished than us in the Prem and anyone fighting for points at the bottom of the table, and any team below us in another division who has 'nothing to lose' in a cup game, so goodness knows what madness he plans for this game. Sufolk, I've just choked on my sandwich reading that! You can actually hear him saying that! ;D
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