|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2013 17:01:43 GMT
Evidently in his eyes It seems to me that manager agendas are way above which division we're playing in next year in the priorities of some. You'd think for a few weeks that hostilities could be put to one side and credit in the bank of previous achievements could be used. Silly me, Plus the fact that the 'axe' thing is just a little bit wanks as well. As long as he's the reason we're in the battle and keeps picking a team that can't score goals to save its life it can't be put aside can it Sheiky? Everyone's behind the team and I'll be profoundly sad if TP ends up leaving under a cloud but you can't expect any discussion of his actions or position to be shelved given the circumstances surely?
|
|
|
Post by Caerwrangonpotter on Apr 4, 2013 17:03:47 GMT
It would have been interesting to see IF TP had been sacked a few games ago how the players would have reacted in their first game
Usually (well against Stoke!) newly managed teams always up their game, as if the players were sticking 2 fingers up to the old regime
|
|
|
Post by sheikhmomo on Apr 4, 2013 17:06:09 GMT
It seems to me that manager agendas are way above which division we're playing in next year in the priorities of some. You'd think for a few weeks that hostilities could be put to one side and credit in the bank of previous achievements could be used. Silly me, Plus the fact that the 'axe' thing is just a little bit wanks as well. As long as he's the reason we're in the battle and keeps picking a team that can't score goals to save its life it can't be put aside can it Sheiky? Everyone's behind the team and I'll be profoundly sad if TP ends up leaving under a cloud but you can't expect any discussion of his actions or position to be shelved given the circumstances surely? You only have to look at the press conference thread Rob to understand that this is not 'discussion' but simply an ongoing witch hunt.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2013 17:10:18 GMT
I don't agree with the abuse dished out to him but equally he's rightly being criticised for getting us in this mess and being critical of the manager doesn't mean there's no stomach for the dogfight among the fans. The fans' efforts in our last home game were far more impressive than the team's.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2013 17:10:31 GMT
For what it's worth I didn't think what he said at the press conference was anything out of the ordinary either.
|
|
|
Post by onionman on Apr 4, 2013 17:33:26 GMT
I wouldn't accuse the players of not trying hard enough, but as a group I think they're more passive than any other Stoke team since Pulis returned in 2006.
One example: the way they all stood by and allowed Steven Taylor to take the piss out of Begovic, uninterrupted, for about 30 seconds, unsettling him and paving the way for Cabaye to curl his free-kick into the net. A couple of years ago, Taylor wouldn't have even dared attempt such a stunt with our collection of big dirty bastards in close proximity.
Other than Huth (who wasn't playing that day), we're short on big, old-fashioned hard guys who refuse to let any of our boys get bullied. I love Shawcross, and I love his down-to-earth attitude, but he's not an aggressive leader at all (which is why it's such an injustice that he's vilified as a thug in some quarters). Similarly Wilko and Walters can look after themselves, but they don't strike me as motivators of others.
We see a lot of arms thrown into the air in frustration and heads shaken in disbelief (Nzonzi, Crouch and Shotton seem the worst offenders), but we don't see enough players driving their teammates on, in the way that Higgy and Rory did.
Now is the time for someone to up their game. It could be Peter Crouch throwing himself into the mixer and attacking the ball, instead of trotting towards the back post and hoping for the best. It could be Etherington risking getting kicked by running at his man like he did in 2011. It could be Nzonzi channelling his energy into demanding and shielding the ball like he did in September instead of throwing tantrums because he's having a bad day. It could be Jon Walters taking a risk and shooting with his left foot when he gets the chance, because a shot with your weaker foot is better than no shot at all. It could be Shawcross squaring up and intimidating whichever opponent is most likely to cause us trouble, to throw them off their game.
If we stay up, it will be because several players have done something more than they've been doing in the past three months.
|
|
|
Post by swampySCFC on Apr 4, 2013 23:13:47 GMT
Whilst the Manager has taken the bulk of the stick it has to be said that the players have acted like a bunch of dozy twats over 3 months now. They need to get a fucking grip
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2013 23:23:13 GMT
To be honest I don't see that many in our current line up who I would want with me in the trenches. Shawcross Wilko Huth Wilson Whelan Walters, maybe Kightly. Of the others Nzonzi He troubles me prone to sulks and his lack of enthusiasm to chase back for the Everton goal was disappointing. Ethers would give it a go but for how many games? Cameron Laid back American where relegation in Sport in the USA just doesn't happen Crouch Jerome and Jones were all hinted at by the manager that they could leave last January. What affect did that have to their commitment to the cause? Adam...Maybe Shotts.Nah Bego...Off in summer Owen...Why should he bother? Has anyone in the squad actually been successful in a relegation scrap...plenty have been relegated..Nzonzi,Huth,Kightly,Adam,Jerome. And even TP who has never been relegated, has he that much experience of a down to the wire scrap? Maybe its just me but I don't see too many natural leaders in our team who can inspire others when the going gets tough. Lets hope all the above becomes hypothetical over the next 2/3 weeks We 'ave the graft , but not the guile
|
|
|
Post by elystokie on Apr 5, 2013 7:30:59 GMT
Bizarre, they we've come to expect nothing else from the Pulis hardliners. Huth - Relegated with 'Boro. Jerome - Relegated with Brum. Owen - Relegated with Newcastle. Adam - Relegated with Blackpool. N'Zonzi - Relegated with Blackburn. Etherington - Relegated with West Ham. Jones - Relegated with Southampton. Sorenson - Relegated with Sunderland. Kightly - Relegated with Wolves. Crouch - Relegated with QPR & Southampton Whitehead - Relegated with Sunderland. Wilson - Relegated with Portsmouth. That tells utterly nothing about the current attitude of the players. I think the reason for say, Portsmouth's demise ran a lille deeper than Mark Wilson or his attitude! Finally found something we agree on. Work was reasonably ok thanks, this site looks as easy on the eye as our football on the computer there tho', just about readable. It would be nice to cease hostilities until we're safe, but as a confirmed PHW every lie he tells and every lunatic statement he makes, I can honestly say it's very difficult to resist sarcastic comment. I'm sure the support will be there tomorrow in spades tho', the fans know how crucial this game is.
|
|