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Post by donaldingleton on Apr 16, 2008 6:13:34 GMT
......about what we SHOULD have done. We all know what we SHOULD have done, but the fact is that we didn`t do it!
Now stop all this bickering, and move on and upwards!
Funnily enough, moaners on here go on about our home record.
Well, just to show how close this league is, we have dropped 24 points at home, and the other main contenders have each dropped..........23 !!
d.
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Post by hippa_potter_muss on Apr 16, 2008 7:08:08 GMT
Agree mate, If the life of a Stoke City supporter was perfect then ideally we would of won everygame this season but it's never going to happen yet people reminisce about games we should of won, the only thing that matters now is that we're 3rd from top level on points with second with a brilliant chance of automatic promotion.
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Apr 16, 2008 7:42:50 GMT
We have far surpassed any expectations this season, and ARE punching above our weight. Just look at the clubs below us. Even if we don't make the auto spots, playoffs is still a big achievement and i fully believe that we would have a very good chance in them . But it's still in our hands, Hull have a tough task . And against Sheffield there will be huge pressure on them, knowing that if they don't win, we will be there to pounce, REMEMBER, if they lose that game, then even a draw against Bristol wouldn't be too bad  |
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Post by Davef on Apr 16, 2008 7:45:00 GMT
We have far surpassed any expectations this season, and ARE punching above our weight. Just look at the clubs below us. And how about the club directly above us? They finished fourth bottom last season and this is their manager's first full season in the job. |
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Apr 16, 2008 7:47:19 GMT
We have far surpassed any expectations this season, and ARE punching above our weight. Just look at the clubs below us. And how about the club directly above us? They finished fourth bottom last season and this is their manager's first full season in the job. Yeah. They've far surpassed any expectations too  |
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Apr 16, 2008 8:00:50 GMT
Not sure of the point Davef is trying to make. If it is that our achievements so far this season are somehow diminished by the fact that the club level with us on points has also exceeded expectations - then I am afrid I have to disagree. This club has, so far, done better this season than most of its fans expected it to. So have Hull but this takes nothing away from what we have achieved.
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Post by Admin on Apr 16, 2008 8:24:20 GMT
"Punching above our weight"? I really don't think so. We have a transfer budget and a wage bill which would suggest otherwise.
Now the 1995/96 play-off side is a prime example of a team that WAS punching above its weight.
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Post by wardrobe monster on Apr 16, 2008 8:30:35 GMT
""Punching above our weight"? I really don't think so. We have a transfer budget and a wage bill which would suggest otherwise."
I'm sorry but thats bollocks really....we have only had access to a large transfer budget and expanded wage bill after the season started,....its not as if weve had it for a couple of years like most of teams around us. Now if we are struggling in the championship next year lets all start bleating, meanwhile the achievement this year must be recognised and acknowledged as far exceeding our expectations.
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Post by OldStokie on Apr 16, 2008 8:48:22 GMT
I would say if there is one thing that has exceeded my expectations, it's the amount of money Coates has put at his manager's disposal. In fact, I'm flabbergasted. If we don't make it this season, I expect the old sod will not be a happy chappy.
OS.
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Apr 16, 2008 9:16:00 GMT
We've only had money for half the season though, let's not forget that. The squad that had us in the mix up til january was thread bare, now it is a proper squad. The changes we have been through are quite remarkable if you think that at the start of the season we had stephen wright, higginbotham, matteo, craddock all playing. Let's also not forget that higginbotham was sold for £3M, which basically covers all our transfer fees (if you exclude shola) and you really would expect the money from selling your captain to be re-invested. Coates has beefed up the wage bill considerably though. Thankfully as long as we don't sell ric/liam then it is not many pieces short of being good enough for next season already, whoever is the manager (it will be tone, but i just wanted to give OS a moment of hope ) |
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Post by RAF on Apr 16, 2008 9:25:20 GMT
I'm sorry that is utter bollox and Pulis has admitted as much.
He didn't spend because in his words he was being cautious and trying to get in exactly who he wanted while not spending stupid money.
H
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 16, 2008 9:29:16 GMT
We've certainly spent a few million, but it's the wage bill that's been the real eye-opener.
The Burnley manager said last week we were able to offer Whelan TWICE the salary that they could muster
Must be one of the biggest in the league. Coates has really seen the opportuniuty and tried to seize the moment. Just hope it works and we hit the jackpot.
If not, let's hope he's ready to give it one more real go next season.
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Post by wardrobe monster on Apr 16, 2008 9:30:39 GMT
RAF...that just semantics. Okay, since he started using it then, and since he started using the funds he has taken to within a whisker of automatic promotion. It hasnt been a perfect season, but its the first season where we have actually competed in the transfer market and wages we have still exceeded expectations.
At the start of the season even if we had known that the monies were available I dont think anyone would have expected us to compete this well.
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Post by RAF on Apr 16, 2008 9:35:12 GMT
I think the fact that Hull and Bristol City are right with us and haven't spent any where near what we have is probably why some feel that we should be in the top 2.
H
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Apr 16, 2008 9:52:48 GMT
comon stoke i believe!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Admin on Apr 16, 2008 9:54:20 GMT
""Punching above our weight"? I really don't think so. We have a transfer budget and a wage bill which would suggest otherwise." I'm sorry but thats bollocks really....we have only had access to a large transfer budget and expanded wage bill after the season started,....its not as if weve had it for a couple of years like most of teams around us. Now if we are struggling in the championship next year lets all start bleating, meanwhile the achievement this year must be recognised and acknowledged as far exceeding our expectations. But it isn't bollocks is it. We've had this squad for the majority of the season and certainly since we went top. We are the biggest spenders in this division this season, have the biggest wage bill in the club's history and recently set a new British loan deal record for Ameobi. We can't have it both ways - when Leicester pipped us in the play-offs in 95/96 we always said that the big difference was because they went out and signed three players before the transfer deadline in March (Claridge, Lennon & Izzet). Well, we've done far more than that and far earlier too. We are not plucky underdogs punching above our weight, we are SERIOUS players and have spent SERIOUS money. We showed as much by getting into such a wonderful position before that disastrous run of one win in eight games. |
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Post by wardrobe monster on Apr 16, 2008 9:59:58 GMT
RAF.......Hull spent £1 Mill on one of their forwards, whose name escapes me...Caleb Folan or something like that? Theyve got Campbell from Man Utd who must be on a fair old wage, they've signed Okacha and Pederson...so they've hardly done it on a shoestring budget, and Bristol are behind us....whats your point?
We are above the likes of Watford, Charlton and Sheff Utd, to name just a few who were expected to do well and the back of big budgets.
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Apr 16, 2008 10:03:09 GMT
the money we spent in january we shuld be up where we are now it came to about 5.5M
2 record signings in the space of a week
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Post by Premier League Busta Rhymes on Apr 16, 2008 10:03:32 GMT
To be fair all clubs could say "what if"
Look at Watford, how the heck did they throw away that lead???
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Post by RAF on Apr 16, 2008 10:04:28 GMT
Seriously?
H
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Post by wardrobe monster on Apr 16, 2008 10:07:42 GMT
Smudge...my comment is more to do with the transfer budget comment than the punching above our weight. I personally think that we are exceeding our start of the season expectations. Yes we have had the majority of this squad most of the season. But then some key signings have come in the transfer window, and the Ameobi deal has only just happened (which I personally think was a mistake as he would never have time to settle in such a short time). As I said earlier, it hasn't been a perfect season. The spending only happened after the season had begun.
Now, if we are struggling next year having stayed in the CCL that is the time to strat complaining. Meanwhile I believe the positon we are in right now is above anyone's expectations and as such lets not start complaing too much just yet.
I'm not saying that we should'nt analyse and dissect each individual game....of course not, thats why we all love football, and after a defeat its human nature to ask what could and should have been differently. But to complain that we are 3rd in the league (by goal difference only) with 3 games to go is just plain crazy.
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Apr 16, 2008 10:09:14 GMT
""Punching above our weight"? I really don't think so. We have a transfer budget and a wage bill which would suggest otherwise." I'm sorry but thats bollocks really....we have only had access to a large transfer budget and expanded wage bill after the season started,....its not as if weve had it for a couple of years like most of teams around us. Now if we are struggling in the championship next year lets all start bleating, meanwhile the achievement this year must be recognised and acknowledged as far exceeding our expectations. But it isn't bollocks is it. We've had this squad for the majority of the season and certainly since we went top. We are the biggest spenders in this division this season, have the biggest wage bill in the club's history and recently set a new British loan deal record for Ameobi. We can't have it both ways - when Leicester pipped us in the play-offs in 95/96 we always said that the big difference was because they went out and signed three players before the transfer deadline in March (Claridge, Lennon & Izzet). Well, we've done far more than that and far earlier too. We are not plucky underdogs punching above our weight, we are SERIOUS players and have spent SERIOUS money. We showed as much by getting into such a wonderful position before that disastrous run of one win in eight games. I mean by the size of our club more than anything, recent success etc. You look at teams at the bottom and they are bigger clubs than us. Not to mention the likes of Charlton, Sheffield United, Southampton, Wolves,Coventry , Sheff Wed etc etc etc who are struggling this season. They've all seen premiership football, some for sustained periods and obviously because of this they get much higher attendances. The money won't keep coming in unless we get promoted. If you look at us as a club, to be in the premiership, would be simply unbelievable. |
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Post by wardrobe monster on Apr 16, 2008 10:10:23 GMT
"Seroiusly?" - Yes, seriously. You say thats why people think we should be in the top 2. We are 3rd, by goal difference only. Hull have also spent pretty big this year and have reaped an almost identical record to ourselves. Bristol City are currently behind us and fair credit to them, they really outdone themselves this season. Gary Johnson is an excellent manager. Would I swap him for Pulis? at this time, no I woudnt. Would you?
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Post by wardrobe monster on Apr 16, 2008 10:12:54 GMT
By the way...thanks for the smiting whoever did so Nice of you do so when all im trying to do is have a reasoned debate with a couple of fellow Stoke fans. |
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Post by RAF on Apr 16, 2008 10:22:59 GMT
It's obvious that the old addage 'You can't educate swine' is quite apt in your case Wardrobe. If you can't understand what I'm saying I'm not spelling it out for you it's there in black and white. As for if I would swap the manager or not, that has nothing to do with the poor excuses that he didn't have the funds in time, because Coates had been saying it well before the season started and TP in his own admission chose not to use them at the time. The fact is we are not punching above our weight, we are contenders, and I think it sticks in some peoples throats that TP has had to spend way more money than the likes of Bristol and Hull only to be a point or goal difference away. Ok so Hull spent 1 Mill on a striker. We have spent over 5 mill already, and with that outlay you shouldn't be punching above your weight, you should be punching to get promoted, so lets lay off the excuses. If people knew we would be spending over 5 mill this season they would all have been predicting automatic promotion, christ some were when they didn't know about the money. H |
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Post by wardrobe monster on Apr 16, 2008 10:30:28 GMT
We'll agree to disagree then RAF....even though we both know Im right  I do see what you are trying to say...I just disagree. I'm sure we both agree with one thing though, and that is we both want promotion. So we'll maybe settle for the middle ground. |
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Post by Admin on Apr 16, 2008 10:58:25 GMT
I didn't Smite you WM - I actually gave you Karma for a terrific signature!  |
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Post by sheikhmomo on Apr 16, 2008 11:10:25 GMT
The play offs will still be an acheivement this season, whatever the ultra wing of the PHW say but unfortunately they will feel like a kick in the teeth after the way things have turned out and I guess it will feel the same way for the team as well.
Then again we have the squad to have a good go at them should that be the route, lets hope the Ultra's can keep their negative gobs shut until our final fate is known. Calling for the managers head when we're in a play off battle just makes us look like knobs but you just know it will happen.
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Apr 16, 2008 11:19:16 GMT
The contrast between Bristol and Charlton has shown that money is no guarentee of success. Every one of us would be complaining if we hadn't gone for it, but that's all it is, going for it, in part a gamble. I don't really see the merit of picking through whether we have exceeded ourselves or are performing below par at this stage. We all know that promotion = happy and not promotion = gutted. We are in there with a great shout of automatic promotion, we haven't completely fucked it up, so if we don't go up i think there is a large amount of "that's football" to it.
Yes anyone who had got their shit together a few weeks ago would be as good as up now, and we had our 8-match bad patch which we can blame on pulis, but i still think we're arguing over whether pulis is a decent manager or whether he is a very good manager. Either way I think he was worth Coates taking a gamble on, as good a bet as anyone else we could get anyway.
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Post by RAF on Apr 16, 2008 11:53:01 GMT
Amen brother Wardrobe. H |
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