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Post by dozintheseventees on Jun 22, 2012 17:07:27 GMT
What an incredibly sad state of affairs and a lesson to all football fans of clubs that long to get to the Premier League. A once-proud club like Stoke spent more than a quarter of a century scraping around the lesser divisions of English football and inflicting some truly dreadful years on a dwindling but proud and loyal core of support. Finally, fate conspires to deliver a Chairman with a vision and a manager able to fulfil that dream and take us all back where we longed to be for almost 3 decades and most of us never believed we would ever live to see it. And look what it brings along with it! I can't remember a time when our support was so split and that is just unbelievable given our dreadful past. I find it utterly depressing that so many on here want to wallow in their own misery at the sad state of our club???????? I'm sorry but I'm beginning to believe that some people simply don't deserve success. Sorry. I agree Doz. The weight of shame hangs heavy on my heart and I imagine on a lot of other supporters too. There's far too much abuse on this board towards fellow Potters. After all, we all want what's best for the club. That's true mate. We ALL love Stoke City and we all have opinions, but I find all this shit just so utterly depressing. FFS these are possibly the best years we'll ever have at the club. I hope not and I hope we play some better stuff next season but. Jesus, we're all supposed to be on the same side.
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Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2012 17:15:13 GMT
I agree Doz. The weight of shame hangs heavy on my heart and I imagine on a lot of other supporters too. There's far too much abuse on this board towards fellow Potters. After all, we all want what's best for the club. That's true mate. We ALL love Stoke City and we all have opinions, but I find all this shit just so utterly depressing. FFS these are possibly the best years we'll ever have at the club. I hope not and I hope we play some better stuff next season but. Jesus, we're all supposed to be on the same side. I've said similar things before. It's just very disillusioning to think this is the reality of what we all dreamed about all those years. I don't think it's over dramatic to say its a pretty depressing state of affairs. Maybe it's just the inevitable consequence of being in a division we have absolutely no chance of finishing in the top 4 of. All those years in the wilderness were grim but at least we believed we could win the divisions we were in.
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Post by peterthornesboots on Jun 22, 2012 17:34:28 GMT
What an incredibly sad state of affairs and a lesson to all football fans of clubs that long to get to the Premier League. A once-proud club like Stoke spent more than a quarter of a century scraping around the lesser divisions of English football and inflicting some truly dreadful years on a dwindling but proud and loyal core of support. Finally, fate conspires to deliver a Chairman with a vision and a manager able to fulfil that dream and take us all back where we longed to be for almost 3 decades and most of us never believed we would ever live to see it. And look what it brings along with it! I can't remember a time when our support was so split and that is just unbelievable given our dreadful past. I find it utterly depressing that so many on here want to wallow in their own misery at the sad state of our club???????? I'm sorry but I'm beginning to believe that some people simply don't deserve success. Sorry. The majority of people are realistic, overjoyed at the progress we've made but tempered by a desire to have a bit more entertainment value next season. This
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Post by Pugsley on Jun 22, 2012 17:38:45 GMT
I would say an FA Cup final and Europe can be defined as glory I agree - FA Cup final was as close to real glory as Stoke are going to get - we even played some good football to get there. Problem was while Man City were bringing on the like of Milner, we were bringing on Danny Pugh to try and change the game. I seem to remember we had a bit of a game changer in the squad earlier but he was let go. Then we spent £25million on footballers and regressed. The real glory in Europe was Valencia - a tie that was thrown by Tony Pulis with his mind blowing non selections. He showed the world he was out of his depth in that company. Thanks for getting us where we are Tony. Now please retire to your Sandbanks mansion with your so called friend Redknapp and let a proper manager coach some football.
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Post by jarhead on Jun 22, 2012 18:11:36 GMT
I would say an FA Cup final and Europe can be defined as glory I agree - FA Cup final was as close to real glory as Stoke are going to get - we even played some good football to get there. Problem was while Man City were bringing on the like of Milner, we were bringing on Danny Pugh to try and change the game. I seem to remember we had a bit of a game changer in the squad earlier but he was let go. Then we spent £25million on footballers and regressed. The real glory in Europe was Valencia - a tie that was thrown by Tony Pulis with his mind blowing non selections. He showed the world he was out of his depth in that company. Thanks for getting us where we are Tony. Now please retire to your Sandbanks mansion with your so called friend Redknapp and let a proper manager coach some football. 100% correct
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Post by stayingupforbigbazza on Jun 22, 2012 18:13:11 GMT
I would say an FA Cup final and Europe can be defined as glory I agree - FA Cup final was as close to real glory as Stoke are going to get - we even played some good football to get there. Problem was while Man City were bringing on the like of Milner, we were bringing on Danny Pugh to try and change the game. I seem to remember we had a bit of a game changer in the squad earlier but he was let go. Then we spent £25million on footballers and regressed. The real glory in Europe was Valencia - a tie that was thrown by Tony Pulis with his mind blowing non selections. He showed the world he was out of his depth in that company. Thanks for getting us where we are Tony. Now please retire to your Sandbanks mansion with your so called friend Redknapp and let a proper manager coach some football. and so this thread will go on with more stupidity are pugsley and jardead the same person?????
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Post by jarhead on Jun 22, 2012 18:14:17 GMT
.....ACTUALLY WITH FACTS!
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Post by sutekh on Jun 22, 2012 18:15:04 GMT
After the turgid shower of shit that we produced from january onwards i'm amazed that he is still here now.
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Post by jarhead on Jun 22, 2012 18:16:54 GMT
After the turgid shower of shit that we produced from january onwards i'm amazed that he is still here now. Tell me about it. no excuses this season though but he is already getting them in early for when we are diabolical again and the lowest scorers IN ALL LEAGUES etc etc etc.....
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Post by peterthornesboots on Jun 22, 2012 18:18:20 GMT
After the turgid shower of shit that we produced from january onwards i'm amazed that he is still here now. Yes, because a few months of bad form completely nullifies the previous 5 or so years of success ...
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Post by MarkWolstanton on Jun 22, 2012 18:42:47 GMT
I agree Doz. The weight of shame hangs heavy on my heart and I imagine on a lot of other supporters too. There's far too much abuse on this board towards fellow Potters. After all, we all want what's best for the club. FFS these are possibly the best years we'll ever have at the club. I hope not and I hope we play some better stuff next season but. Jesus, we're all supposed to be on the same side. A personal view is within that is the heart of the problem. We should be entering a golden age of watching Stoke City on the pitch and the future as a Premier League club being assured as far as these things can be for years to come. What I'm seeing is short term stumbling from one season to the next propped up with expenditure above our means and a football style that is regressing. I don't think he should be sacked on the basis of he has delivered progress to date overall. However it is not progress much more than could have reasonably been expected given the backing and there is a good argument it has foundations in sand. Pulis has form in this respect. When he was booted out before he left a shambles and then had the cheek to claim on the radio that Stoke supporters should expect at least a play off season. Our club will probably never have the advantages it has now and people are right to look and question if things are being done that make the best advantage of this. The investment opportunities of the present cannot be spunked away. If you think Pulis is truly maximising the benefits of our golden ticket then fair enough. I don't see it that way and neither do an increasing number. Let's relax and judge by what we see in the window and on the pitch next season?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2012 18:49:53 GMT
FFS these are possibly the best years we'll ever have at the club. I hope not and I hope we play some better stuff next season but. Jesus, we're all supposed to be on the same side. A personal view is within that is the heart of the problem. We should be entering a golden age of watching Stoke City on the pitch and the future as a Premier League club being assured as far as these things can be for years to come. What I'm seeing is short term stumbling from one season to the next propped up with expenditure above our means and a football style that is regressing. I don't think he should be sacked on the basis of he has delivered progress to date overall. However it is not progress much more than could have reasonably been expected given the backing and there is a good argument it has foundations in sand. Pulis has form in this respect. When he was booted out before he left a shambles and then had the cheek to claim on the radio that Stoke supporters should expect at least a play off season. Our club will probably never have the advantages it has now and people are right to look and question if things are being done that make the best advantage of this. The investment opportunities of the present cannot be spunked away. If you think Pulis is truly maximising the benefits of our golden ticket then fair enough. I don't see it that way and neither do an increasing number. Let's relax and judge by what we see in the window and on the pitch next season? Decent post Mark but one question How do you know its an increasing number?Surely your not going by 20 or so numpties on here?
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Post by peterthornesboots on Jun 22, 2012 19:28:56 GMT
A personal view is within that is the heart of the problem. We should be entering a golden age of watching Stoke City on the pitch and the future as a Premier League club being assured as far as these things can be for years to come. What I'm seeing is short term stumbling from one season to the next propped up with expenditure above our means and a football style that is regressing. I don't think he should be sacked on the basis of he has delivered progress to date overall. However it is not progress much more than could have reasonably been expected given the backing and there is a good argument it has foundations in sand. Pulis has form in this respect. When he was booted out before he left a shambles and then had the cheek to claim on the radio that Stoke supporters should expect at least a play off season. Our club will probably never have the advantages it has now and people are right to look and question if things are being done that make the best advantage of this. The investment opportunities of the present cannot be spunked away. If you think Pulis is truly maximising the benefits of our golden ticket then fair enough. I don't see it that way and neither do an increasing number. Let's relax and judge by what we see in the window and on the pitch next season? Decent post Mark but one question How do you know its an increasing number?Surely your not going by 20 or so numpties on here? 20? I doubt it's half that number!
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Post by sutekh on Jun 22, 2012 19:48:24 GMT
After the turgid shower of shit that we produced from january onwards i'm amazed that he is still here now. Yes, because a few months of bad form completely nullifies the previous 5 or so years of success ... And let us not forgot also the awful cup final where we did'nt muster one shot on target or the europa cup where pulis put up the white flag quicker than a french infantry division.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2012 19:50:33 GMT
Yes, because a few months of bad form completely nullifies the previous 5 or so years of success ... And let us not forgot also the awful cup final where we did'nt muster one shot on target or the europa cup where pulis put up the white flag quicker than a french infantry division. You fail to mention it was against 2 pretty decent sides though but then again that doesn't sound as good does it?
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2012 19:55:25 GMT
I am wondering when my enthusiasm for Stoke City will return.
By now, I am normally at my wits end with no Stoke City to look forward to on a Saturday but I was so glad the season was over and not once have I missed it.
I haven't even paid attention to the fixture list. Reading away first, Arsenal first home game and Liverpool at home on Boxing day. Outside of that, I haven't even paid attention to the fixtures.
I can honestly say that since the age of 11, I have never had such a lack of interest in anything and everything to do with Stoke City. I am enjoying the rest with the occasional fleeting visit to this forum!
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Post by knype on Jun 22, 2012 19:57:57 GMT
I am wondering when my enthusiasm for Stoke City will return. By now, I am normally at my wits end with no Stoke City to look forward to on a Saturday but I was so glad the season was over and not once have I missed it. I haven't even paid attention to the fixture list. Reading away first, Arsenal first home game and Liverpool at home on Boxing day. Outside of that, I haven't even paid attention to the fixtures. I can honestly say that since the age of 11, I have never had such a lack of interest in anything and everything to do with Stoke City. I am enjoying the rest with the occasional fleeting visit to this forum! Same here Johnno, I do come on the oatcake still but the season could not end soon enough for me and tbh I am not really looking forward with any enthusiasm the start of the new season.
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Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2012 20:00:54 GMT
I am wondering when my enthusiasm for Stoke City will return. By now, I am normally at my wits end with no Stoke City to look forward to on a Saturday but I was so glad the season was over and not once have I missed it. I haven't even paid attention to the fixture list. Reading away first, Arsenal first home game and Liverpool at home on Boxing day. Outside of that, I haven't even paid attention to the fixtures. I can honestly say that since the age of 11, I have never had such a lack of interest in anything and everything to do with Stoke City. I am enjoying the rest with the occasional fleeting visit to this forum! TBH that's nothing new to me. Being a Stoke fan over the last 20 odd years has been full of pre seasons of despair and disillusionment punctuated by the odd summer of positivity and hope. I guess the PL is just like all the other divisions and perhaps will do more to dampen enthusiasm. The fact is, outside the cups, we're not really playing to win anything.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2012 20:01:19 GMT
Hopefully, come August, normal service will be resumed. If it doesn't, I might start worrying about myself. Foxy...Regardless of how shit we may or may not have been in the past, I have ALWAYS been ready for the next season with 3 weeks of the previous one finishing. For the first time ever, that is not the case at the moment.
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Post by peterthornesboots on Jun 22, 2012 20:16:03 GMT
Yes, because a few months of bad form completely nullifies the previous 5 or so years of success ... And let us not forgot also the awful cup final where we did'nt muster one shot on target or the europa cup where pulis put up the white flag quicker than a french infantry division. Yeah your right, I mean getting into an FA Cup final is easy isn't it? I mean it took us nearly 150 years to do it! But never mind, I'd rather be scrapping around in League 1 again ...
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Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2012 20:16:09 GMT
Hopefully, come August, normal service will be resumed. If it doesn't, I might start worrying about myself. Foxy...Regardless of how shit we may or may not have been in the past, I have ALWAYS been ready for the next season with 3 weeks of the previous one finishing. For the first time ever, that is not the case at the moment. Wasn't intended as a dig so hope it wasn't taken as such. My point is that maybe partly the apathy you, me and many others feel is down to the fucked up nature of the PL as much as it is to the manager and players.
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Post by sutekh on Jun 22, 2012 20:20:12 GMT
And let us not forgot also the awful cup final where we did'nt muster one shot on target or the europa cup where pulis put up the white flag quicker than a french infantry division. You fail to mention it was against 2 pretty decent sides though but then again that doesn't sound as good does it? We manage to make most of our opponents look like pretty decent sides so why should i single out just the two?
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Post by peterthornesboots on Jun 22, 2012 20:21:03 GMT
Hopefully, come August, normal service will be resumed. If it doesn't, I might start worrying about myself. Foxy...Regardless of how shit we may or may not have been in the past, I have ALWAYS been ready for the next season with 3 weeks of the previous one finishing. For the first time ever, that is not the case at the moment. Wasn't intended as a dig so hope it wasn't taken as such. My point is that maybe partly the apathy you, me and many others feel is down to the fucked up nature of the PL as much as it is to the manager and players. I think you make a good point Foxy I mean let's face it, for ourselves and the majority of other teams the most we can achieve is a mid-table finish and maybe a cup run. There's that much money going into the top teams that the possibility of us breaking into the top 4, possible even the top 6 or 7, is pretty unlikely.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2012 20:21:29 GMT
Not at all Foxy...I agree with you 100% on the Premier League.
Whilst it is the place to be financially, for clubs such as ours, it kills off the hope and anticipation that is usual for a football fan.
We can't hope to win the league and in all honesty, we don't really have that much chance of winning a cup, particularly if we get drawn away to someone half decent.
I guess that is why our approach last season was so soul destroying! It was unnecessary and it killed what little enjoyment we can realistically get out of a season now that we are established in the premiershit.
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Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2012 20:25:25 GMT
Not at all Foxy...I agree with you 100% on the Premier League. Whilst it is the place to be financially, for clubs such as ours, it kills off the hope and anticipation that is usual for a football fan. We can't hope to win the league and in all honesty, we don't really have that much chance of winning a cup, particularly if we get drawn away to someone half decent. I guess that is why our approach last season was so soul destroying! It was unnecessary and it killed what little enjoyment we can realistically get out of a season now that we are established in the premiershit. Damned if you're there, damned if you're not. I also think the PL brings out the best and worst of TP. He knows we can't win it. He knows we can get relegated. He will ensure we don't go down, anything else is a bonus.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2012 20:28:56 GMT
spot on mate.
It's a bit like pulling a fit bird. The thrill is in the chase but once you have been on the nest for 6 months, it is just like being with any other bird.
I have often said that I wouldn't give a fuck if we got relegated back to the Championship and that I enjoyed it more, perversely, when we were shit.
I guess you highlight the reason why this is so with your comments above.
As you say, damned if you are in it and damned if you are not!
I guess the "come down" from an FA Cup Final and the pre-season excitement of a European adventure to come was always going to be something like this!
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Post by padders01 on Jun 22, 2012 20:31:45 GMT
spot on mate. It's a bit like pulling a fit bird. The thrill is in the chase but once you have been on the nest for 6 months, it is just like being with any other bird. I have often said that I wouldn't give a fuck if we got relegated back to the Championship and that I enjoyed it more, perversely, when we were shit. I guess you highlight the reason why this is so with your comments above. As you say, damned if you are in it and damned if you are not! I guess the "come down" from an FA Cup Final and the pre-season excitement of a European adventure to come was always going to be something like this! But would you feel like this if the football that was offer in the last 6 months was a lot more exciting?
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Post by harryburrows on Jun 22, 2012 20:33:38 GMT
I do think you have to adopt a different mind set now we are in the premiere league . In the lower league there is always the hope that this year will be the year we fight for promotion or league title . We are now in the constant situation of the 40point hurdle and a scrap for points .there is definitely a more negative tone on here
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2012 20:35:24 GMT
You fail to mention it was against 2 pretty decent sides though but then again that doesn't sound as good does it? We manage to make most of our opponents look like pretty decent sides so why should i single out just the two? Utter rubbish
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Post by padders01 on Jun 22, 2012 20:35:53 GMT
I do think you have to adopt a different mind set now we are in the premiere league . In the lower league there is always the hope that this year will be the year we fight for promotion or league title . We are now in the constant situation of the 40point hurdle and a scrap for points .there is definitely a more negative tone on here And in the stands, the moans and groans were louder than I ever heard since we got promoted, the boos were ringing out more and the sarcastic cheers when the substitutiona were taking place were getting louder
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