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Post by luke45 on Feb 15, 2012 9:27:54 GMT
I've heard it said a few times since the draw by myself and others, that Valencia home and away will be the biggest games in our 149 year history, but is that an accurate statement? Are these games really the biggest and most high profile games the club has ever been involved in?
The obvious contenders would be the FA Cup Final, the League Cup Final and the Uefa Cup games in the 70's I suppose, but personally, I think these ties are bigger.
It's not necessarily the calibre of Valencia that makes them the biggest games, because we are playing bigger and more high profile opposition when we play the likes of Man United and Liverpool in the league, it's the fact we are competing in a European last 32 knockout tie that adds so much to it's significance.
Thoughts?
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Post by stokecity4life on Feb 15, 2012 9:34:29 GMT
My 2p
I guess you could argue that the FA Cup final was a bigger game because of the end result i.e. we would have won the FA Cup.
Playing Man Utd etc season after season could be considered one of the biggest games due to their size, popularity and success.
The Leicester game, due to the wealth and changes it bring could be considered.
In terms of 'high profile' games you mention then Valencia will be up there, maybe even top because its a cup competition, they are a huge team, we got there by getting to the FA Cup final etc.
I can`t honestly decide but in all the time of supporting Stoke i`d say that Leicester and Bolton in the Semi final were the 'best experiences' nothing will come close to those feelings, even if we beat Valencia.
But in terms of 'high profile' games i`d say it`ll be in the top 10 of all time.
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Post by superjonnywalters on Feb 15, 2012 9:39:05 GMT
Biggest? Probably not. Having the chance to win the FA Cup and having that on our honours list and part of our history forever has to be the biggest game for me.
It might be a bigger draw and certainly something we'll look back on in years to come.
Its a massive occasion.
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Post by wembley4372 on Feb 15, 2012 9:43:31 GMT
Not even close.
It's just another potentially boring european game.
Football played over two legs is shit, it's only done for one reason.
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Post by foster on Feb 15, 2012 10:12:09 GMT
Not even close. It's just another potentially boring european game. Football played over two legs is shit, it's only done for one reason. To give both teams an equal chance of winning? and both sets of supporters equal opportunity to watch the games? oh, you meant the money aspect. |
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Post by eddyclamp on Feb 15, 2012 10:13:19 GMT
The biggest games in our history were a few years back when Pulis staved off relegation,remember when he brought in Mark Crossley?
That was a massive turning point in our clubs history,if we had gone down then I don`t know what would have happened.
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Post by sirpineapple89 on Feb 15, 2012 10:26:17 GMT
I'd say it's immeasurable really. It all depends, doesn't it?
In 1972, our 'biggest ever game' would've been the League Cup Final against Chelsea
In 1974, our 'biggest ever game' would've been the European game against Ajax
In 2008, our 'biggest ever game' would've been the game against Leicester that got us promoted
In 2011, our 'biggest ever game' would've been against Bolton in the FA Cup semi-final
In 2011 a few weeks later, our 'biggest ever game' would've been the FA Cup final against Manchester City
Now, in 2012, our 'biggest ever game' is against Valencia in the Europa League
If we get through that tie then the next round would be then be our 'biggest ever game'.
Similarly, if we get to the FA Cup final again, then that might take the mantle. Or if we continue or bad run and we end up having to fight for our survival on the last day, our game against Bolton could be our 'biggest ever game'.
I don't know how you really place a label on these kinds of things but I'd say the Valencia tie is definitely up there as we're in unchartered territory.
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Post by jeycov on Feb 15, 2012 10:32:01 GMT
I would say yes they are.
Our latest successes are "Europewide" - and possibly making us a more attractive proposition when scouting for new players.
e.g. regardless of whether you think he is good value for money, would Peter Crouch have signed for us?
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Post by Kingswaystokie on Feb 15, 2012 10:33:18 GMT
Valencia is certainly a massive game but it is very disappointing to see so many tickets left.
Obviously a refection of our current form, especially at home.
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Post by kilgore on Feb 15, 2012 10:42:32 GMT
Valencia is certainly a massive game but it is very disappointing to see so many tickets left. Obviously a refection of our current form, especially at home. Or have you not considered the fact people might not be able to afford it?  |
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Post by luke45 on Feb 15, 2012 12:42:36 GMT
The biggest games in our history were a few years back when Pulis staved off relegation,remember when he brought in Mark Crossley? That was a massive turning point in our clubs history,if we had gone down then I don`t know what would have happened. I would agree with that, I don't think the Valencia games are our biggest ever fixtures in terms of importance, but they are certainly one of the biggest if not the biggest in terms of the magnitude of the occasion. |
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