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Post by luke45 on Mar 18, 2012 22:36:46 GMT
Got back about half an hour ago, gutted about the result today but it wasn't to be, the important thing is we did ourselves proud and put in a committed and competitive performance.
I know we are all disappointed tonight, but I think we need to reflect on what we achieved overall really, this campaign has been a real success story.
In the Carling Cup we knocked out the Premier League's 3rd place team Tottenham, and we were eventually knocked out by the tournament winners.
In Europe we have conquered opponents with a wealth of European pedigree and experience, we have travelled over 10,000 miles and lost only 2 games out of 12.
And in the FA Cup, we have yet again put ourselves in a position where we are 90 minutes away from Wembley, having won 3 away games previously in the 3rd, 4th and 5th rounds and conceding only 1 goal in those games.
And in the league, we are 3 points off 8th place, and 1/2 of our remaining league games are against bottom 6 opposition.
We can and we will secure a top 10 finish, I honestly believe that.
Yet again, for the 4th consecutive season, we have surpassed expectations. We are progressing season after season, and we will continue to progress.
Well done Tony Pulis and the lads.
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Post by cousindupree on Mar 18, 2012 22:42:01 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits.
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Post by huuuuuth on Mar 18, 2012 22:46:20 GMT
Got back about half an hour ago, gutted about the result today but it wasn't to be, the important thing is we did ourselves proud and put in a committed and competitive performance. I know we are all disappointed tonight, but I think we need to reflect on what we achieved overall really, this campaign has been a real success story. In the Carling Cup we knocked out the Premier League's 3rd place team Tottenham, and we were eventually knocked out by the tournament winners. In Europe we have conquered opponents with a wealth of European pedigree and experience, we have travelled over 10,000 miles and lost only 2 games out of 12. And in the FA Cup, we have yet again put ourselves in a position where we are 90 minutes away from Wembley, having won 3 away games previously in the 3rd, 4th and 5th rounds and conceding only 1 goal in those games. And in the league, we are 3 points off 8th place, and 1/2 of our remaining league games are against bottom 6 opposition. We can and we will secure a top 10 finish, I honestly believe that. Yet again, for the 4th consecutive season, we have surpassed expectations. We are progressing season after season, and we will continue to progress. Well done Tony Pulis and the lads. This ^^^
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Post by longtonstokie on Mar 18, 2012 22:46:59 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits. Spot on!!!
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Post by luke45 on Mar 18, 2012 22:49:50 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits. Today was our 46th game of the season, and despite such a congestion of fixtures, we are 2 points BETTER off than what we were after 28 games last season. What exactly do you want? If you can't see that as obvious progress then you are obviously refusing to see it. It's very easy to say that it's easy to win away games against Football League opposition in the FA Cup, the fact is season after season Premier League teams come unstuck, we didn't look like losing any of our 3rd, 4th & 5th round games.
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Post by digger on Mar 18, 2012 22:50:44 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits. >:(not that long ago we would have lost to those sort of teams,thats what people like you forget.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2012 22:51:53 GMT
Tell me again were are 2 points better off after the next three games.as I've said all along we will be no where near the top ten come may
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 18, 2012 22:52:47 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits. It could be argued that Europa League exploits weren't 'all that'. Split, Thun and Maccabi were Div 1 at best.
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Post by StokieMatt on Mar 18, 2012 22:54:32 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits. Some people moan for moaning sake. Shut up
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Post by luke45 on Mar 18, 2012 22:59:52 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits. Some people moan for moaning sake. Shut up " Moaning for moaning sake " would be a suitable motto for the Oatcake Forum to be honest. Some people just blindly refuse to acknowledge obvious progress, it's rather sad really. How anyone can review our season at this stage as anything but a success is totally beyond me. We have played 46 games, and we are 2 points better off than we were at this stage last season. I don't care what anyone says, that is something to be bloody proud of.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 18, 2012 23:02:58 GMT
Some people moan for moaning sake. Shut up " Moaning for moaning sake " would be a suitable motto for the Oatcake Forum to be honest. Some people just blindly refuse to acknowledge obvious progress, it's rather sad really. How anyone can review our season at this stage as anything but a success is totally beyond me. We have played 46 games, and we are 2 points better off than we were at this stage last season. I don't care what anyone says, that is something to be bloody proud of. That's 12.5million per point.
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Post by bunnyscfc on Mar 18, 2012 23:05:08 GMT
of course it's been a succesful seaosn, but hand on heart, apart from Europe and the odd game, it's been pretty boring
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Post by philm87 on Mar 18, 2012 23:06:35 GMT
Definitely should be proud of our exploits in Europe and the FA Cup.
I thought we went out of the League Cup with a really poor performance against Liverpool mind.
If we can pick up some form in the next few weeks and break the 50 point barrier then that will be something worth singing about but so far we have been less impressive in the league than were last season or the season before.
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Post by digger on Mar 18, 2012 23:07:35 GMT
" Moaning for moaning sake " would be a suitable motto for the Oatcake Forum to be honest. Some people just blindly refuse to acknowledge obvious progress, it's rather sad really. How anyone can review our season at this stage as anything but a success is totally beyond me. We have played 46 games, and we are 2 points better off than we were at this stage last season. I don't care what anyone says, that is something to be bloody proud of. That's 12.5million per point. please will you go away
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Post by philm87 on Mar 18, 2012 23:11:10 GMT
Pugsley... have you ever said anything good about Stoke City under Tony Pulis?
Many people make valid criticisms and people have different opinions about players and managers etc.... but you just seem to slate Stoke City for the sake of it. It's almost as if you need to do it.
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Post by oldgit57 on Mar 18, 2012 23:13:37 GMT
Some people moan for moaning sake. Shut up " Moaning for moaning sake " would be a suitable motto for the Oatcake Forum to be honest. Some people just blindly refuse to acknowledge obvious progress, it's rather sad really. How anyone can review our season at this stage as anything but a success is totally beyond me. We have played 46 games, and we are 2 points better off than we were at this stage last season. I don't care what anyone says, that is something to be bloody proud of. I suppose its how you measure progress Luke. For example imo we're not playing anything like as well now as at this point last season, when we were playing with two wingers and starting with what most people would have seen at that time to be our best 11. A lot of the " moaning" as you put it is simply frustration because for most of this season that has simply not been the case.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 18, 2012 23:14:34 GMT
That's 12.5million per point. please will you go away
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Post by philm87 on Mar 18, 2012 23:18:15 GMT
" Moaning for moaning sake " would be a suitable motto for the Oatcake Forum to be honest. Some people just blindly refuse to acknowledge obvious progress, it's rather sad really. How anyone can review our season at this stage as anything but a success is totally beyond me. We have played 46 games, and we are 2 points better off than we were at this stage last season. I don't care what anyone says, that is something to be bloody proud of. I suppose its how you measure progress Luke. For example imo we're not playing anything like as well now as at this point last season, when we were playing with two wingers and starting with what most people would have seen at that time to be our best 11. A lot of the " moaning" as you put it is simply frustration because for most of this season that has simply not been the case. I don't think we have progressed this season... if anything we have regressed slightly. However, there is a difference between being frustrated about that and the kind of mindless wristslashing to which some are prone.
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Post by luke45 on Mar 18, 2012 23:20:46 GMT
" Moaning for moaning sake " would be a suitable motto for the Oatcake Forum to be honest. Some people just blindly refuse to acknowledge obvious progress, it's rather sad really. How anyone can review our season at this stage as anything but a success is totally beyond me. We have played 46 games, and we are 2 points better off than we were at this stage last season. I don't care what anyone says, that is something to be bloody proud of. That's 12.5million per point. Doesn't the fact we have played 18 cup games on top of 28 league games count for anything at all to PHW's? If someone had told me at the start of the season we'd play 18 cup games this season, and we'd still be 2 points better off than last season after 28 games I would have snapped their hand off. You continue depressing yourself over the money we have spent, I'm going to sit back and enjoy the progress we have made again.
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Post by onionman on Mar 18, 2012 23:22:17 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits. But the Europa League exploits define our season don't they. Your comment is like saying 1972 was an instantly forgettable season if you take away the domestic cup exploits. 1966 was a bad year for English football if you take away the World Cup exploits. 1066 was a bloody terrible year for the Normans if you take away the Hastings exploits.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2012 23:44:05 GMT
If we take away the Europa League exploits, the season would have been instantly forgettable, hardly a memorable performance all season. As for the cup, winning 3 away ties against lower league teams is hardly grounds for such plaudits. Today was our 46th game of the season, and despite such a congestion of fixtures, we are 2 points BETTER off than what we were after 28 games last season. What exactly do you want? If you can't see that as obvious progress then you are obviously refusing to see it. It's very easy to say that it's easy to win away games against Football League opposition in the FA Cup, the fact is season after season Premier League teams come unstuck, we didn't look like losing any of our 3rd, 4th & 5th round games. Yet we've scored less goals and created fewer chances than last season and it's generally been a lot less enjoyable, in the league at least. Agree that a top 10 finish would mark progress, but it was more fun when we played without fear at the back end of last season than relying entirely on set pieces and trying to sneak games 1-0 at home this season after spending another £20m in the summer.
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Post by lagwafis on Mar 18, 2012 23:50:37 GMT
you can sugar coat it all or make it sound like shit in equal measure. People tend to go either side of the spectrum on here with little middle ground.
Fair summary in the original post. Some good cup runs in recent years, people point at some lesser opposition but then we've also knocked out Man City, Arsenal and Spurs too at various points. The Europa League was great progress into the unknown and not something we can just compare to knocking out a couple of 'Division One' teams. At the same time it looks like it's taken its toll on us after such a hectic December. Overall though we're mid table and in no real danger.
I'm also with oldgit57. It does feel we've gone backwards to an extent this season. We haven't looked as balanced as the side compared to the settled unit (minus Matty's injury) that finished last season. Pulis can frustrate me as much as anyone - the pointless tinkering with such a successful defence at the start of the season, no adequate back up to some of our more important players (Pennant and Etherington), the over cautious approach, talk of longer contacts for players we need to replace, money spent /sometimes wasted and the WP signing that hasn't worked out to date.
Overall though, and regardless of how much a cynic I can be of Pulis, some of the knee jerk negative reaction on here does get embarrassing.
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Post by bunnyscfc on Mar 18, 2012 23:53:32 GMT
you can sugar coat it all or make it sound like shit in equal measure. People tend to go either side of the spectrum on here with little middle ground. Fair summary in the original post. Some good cup runs in recent years, people point at some lesser opposition but then we've also knocked out Man City, Arsenal and Spurs too at various points. The Europa League was great progress into the unknown and not something we can just compare to knocking out a couple of 'Division One' teams. At the same time it looks like it's taken its toll on us after such a hectic December. Overall though we're mid table and in no real danger. I'm also with oldgit57. It does feel we've gone backwards to an extent this season. We haven't looked as balanced as the side compared to the settled unit (minus Matty's injury) that finished last season. Pulis can frustrate me as much as anyone - the pointless tinkering with such a successful defence at the start of the season, no adequate back up to some of our more important players (Pennant and Etherington), the over cautious approach, talk of longer contacts for players we need to replace, money spent /sometimes wasted and the WP signing that hasn't worked out to date. Overall though, and regardless of how much a cynic I can be of Pulis, some of the knee jerk negative reaction on here does get embarrassing. good post
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Post by onionman on Mar 18, 2012 23:53:55 GMT
Today was our 46th game of the season, and despite such a congestion of fixtures, we are 2 points BETTER off than what we were after 28 games last season. What exactly do you want? If you can't see that as obvious progress then you are obviously refusing to see it. It's very easy to say that it's easy to win away games against Football League opposition in the FA Cup, the fact is season after season Premier League teams come unstuck, we didn't look like losing any of our 3rd, 4th & 5th round games. Yet we've scored less goals and created fewer chances than last season and it's generally been a lot less enjoyable, in the league at least. Agree that a top 10 finish would mark progress, but it was more fun when we played without fear at the back end of last season than relying entirely on set pieces and trying to sneak games 1-0 at home this season after spending another £20m in the summer. This season wasn't a normal one though, because of Europe - so we can't really compare with previous seasons. The true test will be next season, when we can compare like with like. If our 2012/13 campaign is no better than our 2010/11 campaign, then we've obviously spent 20 million to stand still.
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Post by philm87 on Mar 18, 2012 23:54:26 GMT
you can sugar coat it all or make it sound like shit in equal measure. People tend to go either side of the spectrum on here with little middle ground. Fair summary in the original post. Some good cup runs in recent years, people point at some lesser opposition but then we've also knocked out Man City, Arsenal and Spurs too at various points. The Europa League was great progress into the unknown and not something we can just compare to knocking out a couple of 'Division One' teams. At the same time it looks like it's taken its toll on us after such a hectic December. Overall though we're mid table and in no real danger. I'm also with oldgit57. It does feel we've gone backwards to an extent this season. We haven't looked as balanced as the side compared to the settled unit (minus Matty's injury) that finished last season. Pulis can frustrate me as much as anyone - the pointless tinkering with such a successful defence at the start of the season, no adequate back up to some of our more important players (Pennant and Etherington), the over cautious approach, talk of longer contacts for players we need to replace, money spent /sometimes wasted and the WP signing that hasn't worked out to date. Overall though, and regardless of how much a cynic I can be of Pulis, some of the knee jerk negative reaction on here does get embarrassing. Great post. That's exactly how I would sum up our season.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2012 23:57:02 GMT
Yet we've scored less goals and created fewer chances than last season and it's generally been a lot less enjoyable, in the league at least. Agree that a top 10 finish would mark progress, but it was more fun when we played without fear at the back end of last season than relying entirely on set pieces and trying to sneak games 1-0 at home this season after spending another £20m in the summer. This season wasn't a normal one though, because of Europe - so we can't really compare with previous seasons. The true test will be next season, when we can compare like with like. If our 2012/13 campaign is no better than our 2010/11 campaign, then we've obviously spent 20 million to stand still. I take that point to an extent but I think many of our problems have been less to do with the extra games and more of our own making. We've messed around with a successful blueprint and don't look as good a side as a result.
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Post by onionman on Mar 19, 2012 0:46:26 GMT
This season wasn't a normal one though, because of Europe - so we can't really compare with previous seasons. The true test will be next season, when we can compare like with like. If our 2012/13 campaign is no better than our 2010/11 campaign, then we've obviously spent 20 million to stand still. I take that point to an extent but I think many of our problems have been less to do with the extra games and more of our own making. We've messed around with a successful blueprint and don't look as good a side as a result. The blueprint worked mainly because both wingers were firing and Walters played out of his skin. That happened for about a quarter of last season, when we were brilliant. This season, with Ethers out of sorts, Walters either found out or come down from an unnatural high, and Pennant being a prat, we were never going to be as brilliant, no matter what Pulis did. Huth and Woodgate at right-back were stupid decisions by Pulis, but in general the averageness of our performances may just reflect the averageness of our players (in Premier League terms). They hit a high when everything clicked, but it was impossible to sustain.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2012 8:17:34 GMT
I take that point to an extent but I think many of our problems have been less to do with the extra games and more of our own making. We've messed around with a successful blueprint and don't look as good a side as a result. The blueprint worked mainly because both wingers were firing and Walters played out of his skin. That happened for about a quarter of last season, when we were brilliant. This season, with Ethers out of sorts, Walters either found out or come down from an unnatural high, and Pennant being a prat, we were never going to be as brilliant, no matter what Pulis did. Huth and Woodgate at right-back were stupid decisions by Pulis, but in general the averageness of our performances may just reflect the averageness of our players (in Premier League terms). They hit a high when everything clicked, but it was impossible to sustain. At some point every season we play some good stuff and create more though. Even in our first season when Lawrence came back. This season we're yet to see that. It's been pretty turgid. All three of those players benefited from us having more mobility up front last season. Sorry to keep banging on about that, but it's the truth. There's less space and less to aim for now which means we're not creating as much. TP could have got another winger in and could have given Walters a rest and hasn't, so he has to take the rap for those decisions.
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Post by seddonstandviewer on Mar 19, 2012 8:21:58 GMT
Welcome to midtable, Premier League football.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2012 8:44:11 GMT
Welcome to midtable, Premier League football. Absolutely, and the achievement in establishing ourselves as such is no mean feat and everyone from chairman to managers to players to other staff deserve a world of credit (arguably more than they've got so far) for getting us into this position. If we're happy to be that though, and I think most of us are, it's important that we don't stagnate and that we start evolving our style into one that creates more - not just for aesthetic purposes but because teams who regularly finish in the top 10 aren't as one dimensional as we are (Arsenal apart perhaps). Especially if we're going to spend a sizeable chunk of money every summer.
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