|
Post by foxysgloves on Jul 6, 2014 16:11:59 GMT
eighth is good - sixth is even better -- why not ? Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, Spurs.... No chance will we finish above any of them. The rest of us are in a 13 team league, and if we finish 8th then we win it! Champions! Champions! And that's why I don't think I'll ever get as excited about us in the Prem as I remember getting excited during the Macari era. I'm loving it and it is definitely an exciting time but the lure of finishing 8th isn't the stuff of Roy of the Rovers. Fcking corporate whoremonkeys raping our beautiful game with their red buttons, 24/7 coverage, executive packages, extortionate admission prices etc etc etc
|
|
|
Post by mrcoke on Jul 6, 2014 16:26:21 GMT
I agree that Crouchy isn't at the very top level. But he is still an excellent player; there are few better in the game at winning and holding the ball played out of defence and he gives time for other players to get into attacking positions. OK 8 goals isn't good enough for main striker but look at the company he is in or better than: 2013-14: (deleted) My point is he isn't top level, but he is very good and tremendous support to his team mates. crouch isnt a main striker and never has been even in his pomp his goal returns have been pretty poor , hes at his best along side a striker such as defoe Point accepted. Maybe I should choose my words better : focal striker, central striker, or maybe stick to good old fashioned centre forward.
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 6, 2014 16:46:31 GMT
crouch isnt a main striker and never has been even in his pomp his goal returns have been pretty poor , hes at his best along side a striker such as defoe Point accepted. Maybe I should choose my words better : focal striker, central striker, or maybe stick to good old fashioned centre forward. sorry mate wasnt trying to be clever , just think crouchy gets too much stick for trying his best in a role hes not equipped for
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Jul 6, 2014 17:04:31 GMT
Whilst I agree with you Foxy, toney and trouser about being realistic I honestly believe that we could put something together to upset the top seven this season. I haven't been as hopeful since the Hudson era, and if my mind serves me correctly we didn't have to be as hopeful pre-season in those days.....whilst some teams were obviously better than others it SEEMED a more level playing field. In my opinion we are one of the best run and settled clubs in the Prem, most other clubs do seem to have behind the scenes issues at the moment.After all it is eleven v eleven game.
|
|
|
Post by adri2008 on Jul 7, 2014 8:51:10 GMT
I'm excited but it's tempered by the fact that being next season's Southampton is about the height of what we can realistically achieve. It's possible to put a team together where you can compete with the top 6/7 but it's the squad where they have the massive advantage - someone gets injured, suspended etc and you have a player just as good to take their place.
|
|
|
Post by iamcliveclarke on Jul 7, 2014 9:23:56 GMT
Not to mention the ANC in January
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 9:47:01 GMT
Nothing will compare to the excitement i felt this time in 2008 and in 2011 i thought we could build on the success of the previous season and we had Europe to look forward to. I'm not really that arsed about where we finish in the league, i want to win a cup and qualify for the Europa league again.
|
|
|
Post by mrcoke on Jul 7, 2014 10:07:11 GMT
eighth is good - sixth is even better -- why not ? Tough call but not impossible, so why not? Stoke had the 6th best home record last season and we know there is scope for improvement. They won't be losing at home to Norwich next season. They were better than ManU and Spurs at home so could be better than Everton. The issue is away form, just how good can Stoke get? Last season Stoke played more attacking football away from home but it didn't pay off due to what MH called "lack of cutting edge", in my book poor finishing. If Stoke can create more scoring opportunities, which they might with Arni in full flow and a new winger, and then convert those chances, they stand a good chance of doubling their away points tally to 28. But for that to happen Diouf has got to be a hit, plus others have to weigh in with 8 or more goals. So I may be dreaming, but Stoke could get to 6th place.
|
|
|
Post by homer32 on Jul 7, 2014 10:19:19 GMT
Forget the Europa Cup I don't want us in that. The FA Cup is a real target and a decent finish around 8th will be great.It won't be easy to pick up where we left off last season although we have a number of winnable games to start with.Teams with start to be aware of our threats and we may not find it as easy to catch teams on the break as they recognize the pace we've got in the side.Looking forward to it though and Villa or Albion at home would have been my choice so no excuses 3 pts everytime.
|
|
|
Post by apb1 on Jul 7, 2014 16:51:19 GMT
I am in the 'don't get too excited or we'll mess it up' camp.
But the fact I'm in that camp means I am feeling bloody excited deep down!
|
|
|
Post by marrer on Jul 8, 2014 9:06:09 GMT
I've learnt from bitter experience. The more excited I get about a forthcoming season, the worse we do. As ever, I'll assume we'll be relegated and breathe a sigh of relief if we reach 40pts. Don't you mean ".............. breathe a sigh of relief and drink 40 pints"
|
|
|
Post by mrcoke on Jul 13, 2014 13:09:13 GMT
Isn't it great coming on this site each day and reading the debates about who should play in which position, or who was better/made more impact last season.
People are posting their idea of the best team, and leaving out nearly half the team that achieved 9th last season!!!
Great stuff, let's keep it up, but let's remember:
1. It's a team game and none of the players are any good without the others in the team.
2. We'll keep the same positive attitude if there are a few defeats or a big thumping and not start screaming for players to be dropped after 1 bad game or for MH to be sacked. It will take time for new signings to bed into the side.
|
|
|
Post by march4 on Jul 13, 2014 13:13:01 GMT
The complacency on this board is mind-blowing!
17th is still a good achievement!
|
|
|
Post by GrahamHyde on Jul 13, 2014 14:40:06 GMT
A lot of it depends on how good Diouf turns out to be. If he's a Benteke, a Remy or a Bony, then we could be knocking on the door of the Top 7 with the quality around him.
However, if he's an Akinbiyi, a Noel-Williams or a Jones then we will have to make do with 9th-15th.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 20:38:31 GMT
God ! how time bloody drags on - even more excited now. Bojan Krkic - bloody hell - who'd have thought ????
I can understand the 'but they usually let us down lot' but, if we keep the ones we were to lose like:
Bego -Shawcross et al - looking at the 25 now - we can put a top team out, week in week out ====== home or away
How can Nzonzi even think of walking away from this ? --- very very unlikely surely to god
Iron fist in a velevt glove - good solid pros throughout mixed in with genuine recognised pace and flair
Crouchy must be licking his lips - its 'fill me boots time' he must surely be thinking
its looking so bloody good for next season right now
its just not true !!!!
and the hours literally creep by until August 16th
and March - we are signing top international european players now for buttons and you say 17th is still good ???
lookup lad - look at the future - its here !
smash those combine harvesters lad - dammn that infernal water wheel - Electricity ? your in league with the devil if you use that evil stuff
we are Stoke - and we hate those infernal dammed machines !
PROGRESS its for the devil - its evil and those who wish for it should be dammned for all eternity (wink)
|
|
|
Post by MarkWolstanton on Jul 25, 2014 21:02:26 GMT
Still good for ten - fifteen goals I reckon -with two agile front men attuned to top level football either side of him goals can and will flow yep I cant wait I think Tony Pulis would agree with you there... Watch this space. He would certainly agree with March and his forty point height of ambition.
|
|
|
Post by Lakeland Potter on Jul 25, 2014 21:11:52 GMT
Not to mention the ANC in January Keep politics off this board - that's what the Everything Else board is for!
|
|
|
Post by geoff321 on Jul 25, 2014 21:29:24 GMT
If we knew the wage bill of each PL club on the eve of this season, we would virtually know how the league placings would be at the end of the season, which sort of takes the mystery or anticipation away.
|
|
|
Post by Davef on Jul 25, 2014 21:31:30 GMT
The complacency on this board is mind-blowing! 17th is still a good achievement! The average number of points to finish 17th since we were promoted has been 37. We've blown that number out of the water in all but one of our six seasons. 17th with the squad we've now got would be a massive disappointment. You're as bad as those predicting us to finish in the top six.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 21:32:56 GMT
If we knew the wage bill of each PL club on the eve of this season, we would virtually know how the league placings would be at the end of the season, which sort of takes the mystery or anticipation away. There is one club that is re-writing the rules on this Geoff. When we finish 7th or 8th you will be surprised how many clubs below us have a much bigger wage bill.
|
|
|
Post by geoff321 on Jul 25, 2014 21:36:38 GMT
I agree with that mumf, but it would still be good to see a more level playing field.
|
|
|
Post by robwahlmann on Jul 25, 2014 21:41:06 GMT
I hope and believe this will be a fantastic season, but we have no Ricky Fuller any more! Diouf could turn out to be a great signing, but as said no Ricky Fuller! I doubt we'll ever see a player like Ric lead our line again unfortunately!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 21:58:18 GMT
I agree with that mumf, but it would still be good to see a more level playing field. Me too....I was against the Premiership from the start and I still am against it in principle.
|
|
|
Post by swampySCFC on Jul 25, 2014 22:14:11 GMT
Big issue now is managing egos. Despite what Mark says about Pulis he did manage egos. Lets hope Les can do the same
|
|
|
Post by redwhite on Jul 25, 2014 22:33:42 GMT
Can't wait for this season either. Well done Mark Hughes.
|
|
|
Post by The battheader chronicles on Jul 25, 2014 23:07:46 GMT
Yep fair enough march - my first benchmark in a new season is ALWAYS around, how long to get the ten wins you need to secure your status. This season Im hoping we will pass that milestone well before Christmas, then we see where we can go after that Even so - we got some real stars now - and Once Nzonzi calms down and falls in line again from his latest childish/ Gallic spat -we will be even better On nzonzi, I think it was his dad/agent being a knob more than him, it would just seem odd to say your happy at the club them hand in a transfer request 2 days later. Seems to have fallen into line now anyway
|
|
|
Post by shelve on Jul 25, 2014 23:17:41 GMT
We got to be thinking of better than ninth surely ? I certainly am Eighth? Or above? Euro League spot would be a great achievement.
|
|
|
Post by happycarrot on Jul 25, 2014 23:59:32 GMT
No guarantee that Diouf will be the answer to our goals. Could turn out to be a tough season for him. Anything top 12 will be ok for me. Just because we finished 9th and signed players doesn't mean a higher finish. We had a great end to last season which catapulted us just above a few teams. Very little in it and all have bought new players
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 1:04:07 GMT
The expectation is through the roof!!
Stoke fans lumping money on us to finish top 10, top midlands club, FA cup winners, League cup winners, even European qualification! Incredible!
We've come some way...
|
|
|
Post by JoeinOz on Jul 26, 2014 4:09:20 GMT
I've learnt from bitter experience. The more excited I get about a forthcoming season, the worse we do. As ever, I'll assume we'll be relegated and breathe a sigh of relief if we reach 40pts. And hopefully not so many of those pesky irrelevant goals eh?
|
|