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Post by southcarolinastokie on Jul 30, 2014 21:34:52 GMT
I'm looking forward to this season, great signings so far, a feel good factor not felt since we got the the FA Cup final, Arnautovic, great end of the season last year. But, as always I am worried that we could go and fuck it up. I'm sure we won't but until it is mathematically possible we cannot get relegated, I will be nervous
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Post by scfcwebby on Jul 30, 2014 21:37:18 GMT
I'm not as optimistic as some On paper Diieuf and Bojan look great signings buy let's be honest they could quote easily flop at this level. I'd still settle for anything above 17th. Having said that if them pair do click then I can see is easily being top ten again Overall I'm not to worried but still have nagging doubts And the award for the most bizarre spelling of a players name goes to.........
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Post by dwr17477 on Jul 30, 2014 21:37:41 GMT
I will always worry until, hopefully, we're safe. It's my way of dealing with it.
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Post by Stafford-Stokie on Jul 30, 2014 21:37:43 GMT
I have never feared relegation and couldn't care 2 shits if we were to go down. The prem is very over rated for me.
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Post by str8outtahampton on Jul 30, 2014 21:48:33 GMT
I have never feared relegation and couldn't care 2 shits if we were to go down. The prem is very over rated for me. I wouldn't go quite that far, but it's an interesting take. I would say: 1. Will we go down this season? Probably not. But it would not surprise me. 2. Will we still be in the PL in 5 or 6 years? No, probably not. 3. Is watching us ship 5 goals away to Oxford (for example) in the old "third" division any less enjoyable than watching us in the PL? No, I do not think it is.
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Post by johnsmithsupper on Jul 30, 2014 21:50:05 GMT
Reading this forum over the summer I don't think I have seen anyone suggest we might be in the relegation mix this coming season. 12 months ago we had TFP's legacy and people wetting their knickers in a doom laden tantrum about Mark Hughes and in every season since promotion before that we had the 40 points mantra rammed down our throats as the limit of our ambitions with expectations duly managed down. We now have a manager that talks us up, is adventurous with tactics and signs players for their football ability and for the first time we are truly making the most of and enjoying our time in the sun. In fact everything is so good, the mood is so positive it worries me. Are we in for a season of struggle when we least expect it? BM Wow I seen stokies find ways to be negative before but being negative because we are being positive and have the best squad we've arguably ever had in our history is a new one on me.
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Post by minnierover on Jul 30, 2014 21:50:20 GMT
When I was watching the long ball, pitch narrowing, towel sewn into players shirts, long throw dross I always feared relegation and yet we never really came close. Now we've got a footballing philosophy and a team of footballers, something I've always longed for, I fear it just as much. Fact is Diouf has failed once at this level and bojan has been fairly anonymous for 5 years, these two are the only signings of note. If they perform, ie 25 goals approx between them and numerous assists them we'll be ok, if they don't and we 're unlucky with results, injuries etc.. then we'll struggle. At the end if the day it's always 3 from 13 or 14 to go down.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Jul 30, 2014 22:03:41 GMT
Complacency can be a killer. Just ask my ex.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 23:08:10 GMT
The fear of relegation is always going to be there but the only time i thought we were likely to go down was towards the end of the 12-13 season. Its going to take a lot of things to badly wrong for us and a lot of teams to drastically improve for us to be in any danger but getting to 40 points will always be the first priority.
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Post by prem4stoke on Jul 30, 2014 23:26:20 GMT
A draw and two losses away is making me feel optimistic
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Post by homer32 on Jul 31, 2014 7:16:26 GMT
We should not fear relegation this season as our squad is stronger and there are a number of sides that look a lot weaker than us.There is always things that can go wrong ie injuries and internal issues that can destroy team moral but I would still expect us to be able to finish clear of the bottom 3.
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Post by Danstoke82 on Jul 31, 2014 7:25:03 GMT
With the quality that Hughes has brought into the club I am feeling very positive about this season.
Relegation will always be a concern but right now the direction that we seem to be heading looks a very good one and its refreshing to see that we have new signings already in place during pre-season.
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Post by dutchstokie on Jul 31, 2014 8:43:29 GMT
I have never feared relegation and couldn't care 2 shits if we were to go down. The prem is very over rated for me. With you on the overated bit fella......another thing that no one has mentioned in this thread is the issue of 'patience' ....and showing some when it goe a bit tits up, which it WILL do at some point in the season. This board will implode IF the first few games dont go our way and things to click on the field..... Will we go down? No but show a little patience as Les tries a few formations out early in the season Yer bastards !!
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Post by ohbottom on Jul 31, 2014 8:51:35 GMT
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
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Post by arniepieinthesky on Jul 31, 2014 9:28:37 GMT
I generally felt ok during season 2, although I guess pre season it was a case of hoping we wouldn't get that 2nd season syndrome - that was quickly put to bed really one we had kicked off.
3 and 4 I generally thought we always had enough, and even with season 5 pre season at no stage did I think we were bad enough to go down, it got semi ropy towards the end I guess with the dip in form, but that being said we wrapped it up with 3/4 games go
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Post by The Stubborn Optimist on Jul 31, 2014 9:51:54 GMT
To paraphrase the bible, (John 12:8 - "The poor will always be with us") for me as a Stoke fan the fear of relegation will always be with us.
Like every season, from the first game onwards, I'll be counting down the points we need for safety, once we achieve that I'll relax.
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Post by cousindupree on Jul 31, 2014 10:03:20 GMT
For us to go down it would be through major mismanagement.Has Hughes ever been relegated as a player or manager? I think he is too smart to make huge mistakes that will relegate us. There are concerns one is that by his own admission his teams perform better in the second half of the season.I have no idea why that is but a poor start can damage confidence.Also he now has a wealth of options and he needs to be careful he doesn't lose the best dynamics of last season and chops and changes his line up. However so far the teams who finished below us have not significantly strengthened apart from Hull.Its hard to convince that there wont be 3 worse teams than us this season
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Post by Pugsley on Jul 31, 2014 10:18:17 GMT
No, we will always be faced with the threat of relegation, we've very rarely lasted 10 years at a stretch in the top division. Don't see us bucking that trend.
Like I say, it will take years to get rid of the indoctrination.
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Post by scfc5 on Jul 31, 2014 10:29:51 GMT
No, we will always be faced with the threat of relegation, we've very rarely lasted 10 years at a stretch in the top division. Don't see us bucking that trend.
Like I say, it will take years to get rid of the indoctrination.
I agree, Pugsley! Without wishing to be complacent to the poster above, we are running out of years to fulfil that 10 year threat. And football is very different now - we are stronger financially than ever before. Only a dramatic act of suicide should see us struggle and the current owners and manager show no such signs. But never should we be complacent.
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Post by metalhead on Jul 31, 2014 10:33:08 GMT
Can't see us going down but let's keep our feet on the ground eh? We usually do!
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Post by slpmarc on Jul 31, 2014 10:52:44 GMT
I agree that on paper we are goose nought not to worry about relegation, but we should not get complacent. A good start is needed to settle nerves, because once they set in winning becomes hard
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Post by Stafford-Stokie on Jul 31, 2014 11:17:46 GMT
I have never feared relegation and couldn't care 2 shits if we were to go down. The prem is very over rated for me. With you on the overated bit fella......another thing that no one has mentioned in this thread is the issue of 'patience' ....and showing some when it goe a bit tits up, which it WILL do at some point in the season. This board will implode IF the first few games dont go our way and things to click on the field..... Will we go down? No but show a little patience as Les tries a few formations out early in the season Yer bastards !! It could take time for the players to gel so we need to go with the flow and enjoy the ride while it lasts as always.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jul 31, 2014 11:34:49 GMT
I agree that on paper we are goose nought not to worry about relegation, Nope, still can't figure out what 'goose nought', is it like a Dreadnought? I like the idea of it, is it itk stuff? There are several doomsday scenarios which I've considered. There may be seismic movements under Trentham Lakes, meaning the Brit becomes unsafe and we have to ground share with the Vale. There may be a change in the dynamic of our ownership. We might not be able to move players on, and trim the wage bill in accordance with FFP, and to make an example of Stoke the FA impose an unprecedented immediate 10 point deduction. At the 11th hour on transfer deadline day our crown jewels could be nicked. Leaving us with a lightweight and unbalanced squad. Until I'm convinced that none of the above will/has happened I'm erring on the side of caution.
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Post by Pugsley on Jul 31, 2014 11:37:16 GMT
A draw and two losses away is making me feel optimistic
Because pre-season is always a good barometer.....
I N D O C T R I N A T I O N
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Post by minnierover on Jul 31, 2014 11:39:24 GMT
For us to go down it would be through major mismanagement.Has Hughes ever been relegated as a player or manager? I think he is too smart to make huge mistakes that will relegate us. Yes he basically took QPR down with a serious of shocking signings and then failing to win a single game the following season before he was sacked. Prompting a thread on this forum which included comments like 'that tit hughes has finally been sacked'. Hopefully that's all behind him, but be aware that nearly any manager could take any team down if they cock it up.
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Post by Kjones9 on Jul 31, 2014 11:49:41 GMT
For us to go down it would be through major mismanagement.Has Hughes ever been relegated as a player or manager? I think he is too smart to make huge mistakes that will relegate us. Yes he basically took QPR down with a serious of shocking signings and then failing to win a single game the following season before he was sacked. Prompting a thread on this forum which included comments like 'that tit hughes has finally been sacked'. Hopefully that's all behind him, but be aware that nearly any manager could take any team down if they cock it up. With only 12 games played out of 38 he didn't really basically take them down did he?
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Post by larstoke on Jul 31, 2014 11:57:31 GMT
ITK people: is there anything at all in the ronaldinho link?
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Post by Plave on Jul 31, 2014 12:20:37 GMT
I'm not saying it will be this one, but the season we do go down will be when no one will be expecting it.
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Post by minnierover on Jul 31, 2014 12:27:53 GMT
Yes he basically took QPR down with a serious of shocking signings and then failing to win a single game the following season before he was sacked. Prompting a thread on this forum which included comments like 'that tit hughes has finally been sacked'. Hopefully that's all behind him, but be aware that nearly any manager could take any team down if they cock it up. With only 12 games played out of 38 he didn't really basically take them down did he? Not sure what 'really basically' means but basically he really was responsible. He put together an atrocious side and then failed to win a single game out of 12. By his own admission he was at fault with the players he bought in. I believe he's learnt from that disaster though and is a much better manager because of it.
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Post by slpmarc on Jul 31, 2014 12:44:45 GMT
ITK people: is there anything at all in the ronaldinho link? Not that I have heard no, but I am not told everything
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