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Post by johnsmithsupper on Jan 7, 2014 17:36:31 GMT
cheeesfreeex I'm just picking on the paragraph below; "It's true that the football was fairly shocking for the first couple of months of last year, but for me the rot stopped once we snubbed out Lukaku vs West Brom at The Brit. The spirit {and Wilson, and Huth, and N'Zonzi, and Crouch, and Adam, and Jerome} were back. We were unlucky vs Newcastle and Everton {both away} and even the Villa match we were on the front foot but unpicked by two quick counter attacks. The performances at the end of the season were no where near as bad as some folk make out. Imo." We won 3 games in the second half of last season and one of them was lucky (vs Reading, they should have had a last minute penalty). We were truly dreadful and Adam and Jerome didn't really come back into the team until the back of the season. Against Villa we were utterly hopeless and deserved that beating. It was terrible. I know it's iyo, I just disagree with it massively! I don't know anyone who was watching jan-may 2013 who doesn't think the football was anything but shocking lots would go back further than that
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Post by StokieAsh13 on Jan 7, 2014 18:00:00 GMT
cheeesfreeex I'm just picking on the paragraph below; "It's true that the football was fairly shocking for the first couple of months of last year, but for me the rot stopped once we snubbed out Lukaku vs West Brom at The Brit. The spirit {and Wilson, and Huth, and N'Zonzi, and Crouch, and Adam, and Jerome} were back. We were unlucky vs Newcastle and Everton {both away} and even the Villa match we were on the front foot but unpicked by two quick counter attacks. The performances at the end of the season were no where near as bad as some folk make out. Imo." We won 3 games in the second half of last season and one of them was lucky (vs Reading, they should have had a last minute penalty). We were truly dreadful and Adam and Jerome didn't really come back into the team until the back of the season. Against Villa we were utterly hopeless and deserved that beating. It was terrible. I know it's iyo, I just disagree with it massively! I don't know anyone who was watching jan-may 2013 who doesn't think the football was anything but shocking lots would go back further than that Yeah but decent results and a solid league position, stopped that from coming too the surface
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jan 7, 2014 18:34:52 GMT
I've spent most of my life swimming against the tide so I don't really give a Tinker's Cuss what the majority think.
Considering the massive losses of Fuller, Delap, Higgy etc, the xmas injuries to N'Zonzi, Crouch, Wilson, the suspension of Huth and the ongoing issues re Adam and Palacios, and the lack of support in filling the resultant squad deficits, and all the behind the scenes political machinations, my expectations were more than matched last season.
I absolutely love the matchday experience: home, away, or on tv, I still get a sense of awe and wonder when I see the starting XI's we're facing, and always try to see positives whatever happens.
I don't want to dwell too much on the past, I've slept a bit and drunk some ale since then. But here goes:
Ironically the Boxing Day Liverpool match is the only game I didn't go to or watch on the box over the last 3/4 years. {I was about to get on the bus, but nipped home for another layer, tripped and fell into me garden pond, woke up two hours later still submerged to my chest.} We were looking great up to that stage, mixing up the gung-ho with a bit of craft and guile. Adjusting to life in the Prem without our icons. The back five were solid, the N'Zonzi/Whelan pairing was starting to click. Pennant hadn't fulfilled HIS promises and Ethers was struggling through wear and tear. Defensive back up {Pieters} and a tricky winger in the Jan window and we could have kicked on. {I was happy with Jones and Jerome deputising while Crouch re-grew his fangs}. Instead we got an untested kid from the States and a child keeper.
We then went on a dreadful run against Man City x2, that comedy of errors against Chelsea {which I laughed through}, and Swansea. We were 2 up against Wigan, and that second half capitulation was perhaps the most woeful display by Stoke I've seen in an age, it felt like rock bottom, so the only way was up. That for me was when the shitestorm ended. Late march/april? We snubbed out West Brom, were only a Whelan brainfart away from getting something at St. James', and Miralles was the only difference at Goodison. I honestly don't think the Villa match at the Brit was the mullering it's made out to be. We were in the lead, Lowton steps up with a wonder goal. TP threw Jones/Crouch/Adam at them and we were pressing but got caught out on the counter. Ben-bastard-teke. {At the time the Villa young guns were an unpredictable foe, they smashed Liverpool soon after that.}
Spurs did us over, but we ended the season scrapping out points against our peers.
But that's just me, supporting my Club, acknowledging our level and limitations, realising that there are two teams on the pitch, in the most competitive league in the world, wanting to be positive.
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Post by salopstick on Jan 7, 2014 18:41:10 GMT
I went from one of his biggest supporters to one of his biggest critics in the last year of his tenure but no one should ever take away from him what he achieved at this football club. On the day of his dismissal we did a live show on Knotfm in the evening which some of you may remember where i said although i thought it was the right decision the way it was handled not to allow Tony a show of appreciation from the supporters for all he had achieved was shameful. I still hold that view. Yes reflect on what he could have done better, compare and contrast the current regime to his, and the comparable styles etc as i frequently do on knotfm much to some listeners enjoyment and annoyance in equal measure. Never forget the highs of promotion, wembley x 2 and european football some things i never thought id ever see at Stoke City but also in his last season for some reason i just didnt want to be at the ground (even though i was) to watch a team and he, who clearly were not on the same page and you could tell the end was coming. The football was awful from jan 13 onwards to the end of the season. It is my opinion that come the final home game at spurs he knew he was leaving but chose to be pushed rather than quit Maybe it was money, pride or he didn't want to overshadow fergie He deserved a send off And that talk sport interview today was very good
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 7, 2014 18:43:57 GMT
We we losing to Villa for 70 minutes before Kightly (I can't remember him scoring but he did apparently) equalised. We were mullered.
Nobody isn't supporting the club, in fact I think the support shown to the team last season was excellent, it could have easily gone sour and it never really did. We were shit, it happens.
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Post by robwahlmann on Jan 7, 2014 18:47:21 GMT
To me Tony is a top man and a top manager! He has given me the best time as a Stoke supporter and nobody can take that away! Hopefully Sparky can take us a step further, but Tony will always be held in high regards by me!
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Post by Pugsley on Jan 7, 2014 19:08:07 GMT
Some people can't get over the fact that Pulis was SACKED for under-performing.
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Post by robwahlmann on Jan 7, 2014 19:16:42 GMT
Some people can't get over the fact that Pulis was SACKED for under-performing. You and others are entitled to your opinions, but still all the things I wrote above are right to me!
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Post by rorymscfc on Jan 7, 2014 23:12:31 GMT
I've spent most of my life swimming against the tide so I don't really give a Tinker's Cuss what the majority think. Considering the massive losses of Fuller, Delap, Higgy etc, the xmas injuries to N'Zonzi, Crouch, Wilson, the suspension of Huth and the ongoing issues re Adam and Palacios, and the lack of support in filling the resultant squad deficits, and all the behind the scenes political machinations, my expectations were more than matched last season. I absolutely love the matchday experience: home, away, or on tv, I still get a sense of awe and wonder when I see the starting XI's we're facing, and always try to see positives whatever happens. I don't want to dwell too much on the past, I've slept a bit and drunk some ale since then. But here goes: Ironically the Boxing Day Liverpool match is the only game I didn't go to or watch on the box over the last 3/4 years. {I was about to get on the bus, but nipped home for another layer, tripped and fell into me garden pond, woke up two hours later still submerged to my chest.} We were looking great up to that stage, mixing up the gung-ho with a bit of craft and guile. Adjusting to life in the Prem without our icons. The back five were solid, the N'Zonzi/Whelan pairing was starting to click. Pennant hadn't fulfilled HIS promises and Ethers was struggling through wear and tear. Defensive back up {Pieters} and a tricky winger in the Jan window and we could have kicked on. {I was happy with Jones and Jerome deputising while Crouch re-grew his fangs}. Instead we got an untested kid from the States and a child keeper. We then went on a dreadful run against Man City x2, that comedy of errors against Chelsea {which I laughed through}, and Swansea. We were 2 up against Wigan, and that second half capitulation was perhaps the most woeful display by Stoke I've seen in an age, it felt like rock bottom, so the only way was up. That for me was when the shitestorm ended. Late march/april? We snubbed out West Brom, were only a Whelan brainfart away from getting something at St. James', and Miralles was the only difference at Goodison. I honestly don't think the Villa match at the Brit was the mullering it's made out to be. We were in the lead, Lowton steps up with a wonder goal. TP threw Jones/Crouch/Adam at them and we were pressing but got caught out on the counter. Ben-bastard-teke. {At the time the Villa young guns were an unpredictable foe, they smashed Liverpool soon after that.} Spurs did us over, but we ended the season scrapping out points against our peers. But that's just me, supporting my Club, acknowledging our level and limitations, realising that there are two teams on the pitch, in the most competitive league in the world, wanting to be positive. I agree with much of what you said but we were never in the lead against Villa! We were bloody lucky not to be 3 or 4 down at HT in that match! We had equalised through Kightly when Lowton smashed in his worldy.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 7, 2014 23:29:14 GMT
He talks so highly of Stoke as a club and a place and after all that he achieved I just can't get my head round some of the hatred directed at him Pulis is a negative wanker and footballing dinosaur and I hated his football for a damn site longer than the 2nd half of last season. He fluked his way through life at Stoke courtesy of Ricardo Fuller and Rory Delap and when both were no longer he hadn't got a fucking clue what to do! It was 2 seasons ago that you decided that the football served up by Pulis was so good that you'd travel from Eastborne to Newcastle just to stand in a concourse getting pissed. You didn't even wander up to look at the pitch let alone the team! ;-) :-) I can't wait for Palace away!
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jan 8, 2014 0:31:07 GMT
We we losing to Villa for 70 minutes before Kightly (I can't remember him scoring but he did apparently) equalised. We were mullered. Nobody isn't supporting the club, in fact I think the support shown to the team last season was excellent, it could have easily gone sour and it never really did. We were shit, it happens. Yes I should have stopped digging at 'Let's agree to disagree'. I cancelled out 'I'll Bong the Whore's' goal in my mindbrain... I still don't consider that Villa game as an annihilation, they scored two on the counter, in Lambert time. {I've since Googled the stats. and the spelling of annhialasion.}
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Post by audlemstokie on Jan 8, 2014 0:38:20 GMT
Why are some people so deluded about a ultra defensive manager. Can people not remember the boring dross he produced last season, and all the bad buys he has made. We would never progress under his management as his teams lacked flair, and he was unable to bring through any young talent (something this area has always been proud of. I am sure he may be able to keep palace up this season but what will follow?
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Post by RipRoaringPotter on Jan 8, 2014 0:40:01 GMT
He talks so highly of Stoke as a club and a place and after all that he achieved I just can't get my head round some of the hatred directed at him He fluked his way through life at Stoke courtesy of Ricardo Fuller and Rory Delap and when both were no longer he hadn't got a fucking clue what to do! It's not really a fluke when he was the person that signed them two is it?
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Post by craig67 on Jan 8, 2014 0:41:44 GMT
Some people can't get over the fact that Pulis was SACKED for under-performing. Even if we were to be relegated under Hughes-you would still be the poster who said we were worse under Pulis. Which probably says about you than most other posters on this thread!
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jan 8, 2014 0:58:53 GMT
Why are some people so deluded about a ultra defensive manager. Can people not remember the boring dross he produced last season, and all the bad buys he has made. We would never progress under his management as his teams lacked flair, and he was unable to bring through any young talent (something this area has always been proud of. I am sure he may be able to keep palace up this season but what will follow? Absolute fucking N'Zonsense. And I try to avoid swearing.
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Post by kavinoz on Jan 8, 2014 1:03:44 GMT
Some people can't get over the fact that Pulis was SACKED for under-performing. Even if we were to be relegated under Hughes-you would still be the poster who said we were worse under Pulis. Which probably says about you than most other posters on this thread! No - if we get relegated it will still be Tone's fault in some people's mind!
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Post by Jimm on Jan 8, 2014 1:33:08 GMT
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Post by audlemstokie on Jan 8, 2014 2:15:29 GMT
I do not understand half these quotes but if they are supporting Pullis then I fear for our future. Football is suppose to be an enjoyment not having 10 defenders at home. Remember the 3000+ fans that did not renew their season ticket this year. hughes may not be the answer long term, but we need somebody who appreciates flair and can bring on young players - look at Everton. Would a Ross Barkley ever come through the ranks in a Pullis team????
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Post by craig67 on Jan 8, 2014 2:35:38 GMT
I do not understand half these quotes but if they are supporting Pullis then I fear for our future. Football is suppose to be an enjoyment not having 10 defenders at home. Remember the 3000+ fans that did not renew their season ticket this year. hughes may not be the answer long term, but we need somebody who appreciates flair and can bring on young players - look at Everton. Would a Ross Barkley ever come through the ranks in a Pullis team???? Pugsley-no one is convinced by your alter ego's comments-who has posted 40 times in 4 years!! Is he your dad??
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Post by ohhgeorgieberry on Jan 8, 2014 5:23:57 GMT
He talks so highly of Stoke as a club and a place and after all that he achieved I just can't get my head round some of the hatred directed at him Pulis is a negative wanker and footballing dinosaur and I hated his football for a damn site longer than the 2nd half of last season. He fluked his way through life at Stoke courtesy of Ricardo Fuller and Rory Delap and when both were no longer he hadn't got a fucking clue what to do! It was 2 seasons ago that you decided that the football served up by Pulis was so good that you'd travel from Eastborne to Newcastle just to stand in a concourse getting pissed. You didn't even wander up to look at the pitch let alone the team! ;-) :-) I can't wait for Palace away!
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Post by ohhgeorgieberry on Jan 8, 2014 5:29:18 GMT
Johno we got to fa cup final with out Ricardo so was that a fluke . You no my feelings on Ricardo but to say we only achieved what we did because of him is ridicullas .maybe Ricardo and Rory only achieved what they did because off pulis not the other way round the man walks water
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Post by ohhgeorgieberry on Jan 8, 2014 5:32:17 GMT
As for the Newcastle game I lost track off the time talking to me brother lol
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Post by mcf on Jan 8, 2014 8:07:00 GMT
I don't think you have that right Pugsley.
I accept that Pulis under performed and have admitted it many times on here.
The truth is that I (like other Rimmers) thought it would be risky to switch managers and thought our Premiership place would be at greater risk by doing so.
As we stand today though, I'm pretty happy in truth as Hughes has done really well over the last 10 games.
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Post by minty1964 on Jan 8, 2014 9:14:05 GMT
Time......
Time is a great leveller.... and in years to come, when the bitterness between pro and against subsides, and the sharp edged comments recede... we will in another 10 years time look back at the last 7 to 8 years for what they really are....the perfect foundations for a house to stand proud amongst the top quota in the most exciting, most demanding, and most soul-searching league in the world... no other league has tests such as ours to confront, to such a different extent, week in week out.. we are not in a 2 team league, but a very difficult 20 team league. every team is fighting for it's very existence, as well as all aspiring to "the next level". Every team thinks they can "win a cup".... get in the "top ten"... get "into a uefa slot". yet when the cup runs occur, the Uefa dream happens, every Manager every season curses the games, distances and drain on their resources.
Our club, along with Swansea and Wigan are probably the only 3 clubs in the last 2 decades that have managed this, seeing as we are perceived as "little" clubs in comparison to Spurs, Everton, Villa and Newcastle, both in financial and support resource. For all of this I am truly grateful. I am 300% behind Sparky and I like the slow transition of the Team, the way we play and fact that the support are not all at once gushing over this immediately....it's called progression, slow "house-building" evolvement.
IP will always have a place in my heart, and he & Sir Peter have "done the shuttering, layed the concrete and put the damp course in"...it's now up to Sparky and us to push on, take the defeats on the chin, and progress as one...not a disjointed rabble still harking on over past differences Here endeth the lesson haha Dave
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 8, 2014 9:21:30 GMT
He fluked his way through life at Stoke courtesy of Ricardo Fuller and Rory Delap and when both were no longer he hadn't got a fucking clue what to do! It's not really a fluke when he was the person that signed them two is it? I'm just messing with my mate Georgieberry. Pulis did a great job for us right up to May 14th 2011. Thereafter it went downhill way faster than it should have done given the backing he got. I will happily give him the reception he deserves when I go to the Palace game next week. How's it go again? Tony Pulis you're a... :-)
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 8, 2014 9:24:27 GMT
As for the Newcastle game I lost track off the time talking to me brother lol Yeah right! You couldn't even be arsed to lift your head up to watch it on the TV in the concourse! :-)
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Post by foxysgloves on Jan 8, 2014 9:37:41 GMT
I do not understand half these quotes but if they are supporting Pullis then I fear for our future. Football is suppose to be an enjoyment not having 10 defenders at home. Remember the 3000+ fans that did not renew their season ticket this year. hughes may not be the answer long term, but we need somebody who appreciates flair and can bring on young players - look at Everton. Would a Ross Barkley ever come through the ranks in a Pullis team???? I don't like the sound of this Pullis fella. I'm glad we had Pulis instead.
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Post by Pugsley on Jan 8, 2014 10:15:41 GMT
I don't think you have that right Pugsley. I accept that Pulis under performed and have admitted it many times on here. The truth is that I (like other Rimmers) thought it would be risky to switch managers and thought our Premiership place would be at greater risk by doing so. As we stand today though, I'm pretty happy in truth as Hughes has done really well over the last 10 games. I have it 100% correct. People can't accept he was sacked because he under performed so they look for other reasons.
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Post by Pugsley on Jan 8, 2014 10:20:34 GMT
Some people can't get over the fact that Pulis was SACKED for under-performing. Even if we were to be relegated under Hughes-you would still be the poster who said we were worse under Pulis. Which probably says about you than most other posters on this thread! Who mentioned Hughes? It's a thread about Pulis and what a patronising tosspot he was. If Hughes relegates us then he will have under-performed and would deserve the sack IMO.
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Post by mcf on Jan 8, 2014 11:41:18 GMT
I don't think so Pugs
I'm quite sure the board thought they weren't getting enough back to continue with him and I think everyone accepts that.
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