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Post by robstokie on Aug 29, 2014 18:39:58 GMT
As it says on the tin, really. Pick your favourite 24 players (2 for each position plus 2 utilty) and manager from your time watching the potters (for me, that would be from 1994) and say why you picked them, then make a starting 11 out of them. I will start
Goalkeepers
Asmir Begovic: In all my time watching Stoke, I have never seen a keeper who has as much authority and ability to make key saves as him.
Mark Crossley: Was one of the reasons we didn't go back down to league one the season we got out of there. Only played a handful of games, but his experience led us to safety.
Centre-Backs
Ryan Shawcross (Captain): Captain Fantastic Played a major part in our promotion season, scoring quite a few goals as well as his defensive contributions. Since we have got into the prem, he has grown into one of the best centre-backs in the country. Finally, he is loyal to Stoke City FC. Also my captain.
Sergei Shtaniuk: Dependable, tough as nails crowd favourite who helped us get out of league one.
Abdoulaye Faye: Big Beast of a man who oozed class. Kept many a lively forward quiet, especially at the bear-pit.
Robert Huth: Big, bad german youth who anchored one of the best defensive partnerships in the prem. Hard as fuck and also hips in with a few goals from set-pieces.
Right-Backs
Andy Griffin: Local Boy done good who played for us in 3 spells. During the last spell, he helped get us to and consolidate in the prem. Also scored an absolute screamer against Coventry at the brit years back.
Andy Wilkinson: Again, local boy and crowd favourite. Not the most technically gifted, but would sweat blood for Stoke City.
Left-Backs
Danny Higginbotham: Played a huge part in us establishing ourselves in the prem and getting to the cup final to boot. Could also play centre-half, but im using him as a left-back because that's where he was usually played.
Clive Clarke: Academy product who played in the team who established itself in the championship, and was also capable of hitting the odd pile-driver. Shame that his career ended so prematurely.
Centre Midfielders
Rory Delap: The human slingshot has played a huge part in our recent successes, both in building foundations in the prem and in our FA Cup run. Aside from the long throw, he was a combative midfielder, a true professional and a huge fan favourite.
Glenn Whelan: Has been one of the cornerstones of the clubs progress since winning promotion. Hard working ball-winner who does a lot of under-appreciated dirty work.
James O Connor: Worked his bollocks off for the cause, plus inspired the epic comeback against the (then) blooturds in the play-off semis in 02. With time, I can also forgive him for joining the scum from West Brazil.
Graham Kavanagh: At times, he looked head and shoulders above most players (albeit in league one). Could score and create out of nothing, yet get back and win the ball and could also mix it up a bit.
Right-Midfielders
Liam Lawrence: Scored and set up a ridiculous amount of goals in the promotion season, and also contributed some key goals and assists to help ensure we survived in the prem.
Bjarni Gudjonssen: Bit of a daddys boy, but could deliver an excellent ball and he could hit a sreamer or two an all.
Left-Midfielders
Matty Etherington: His excellent deliveries from out wide played a huge part in our prem survival, our subsequent consolidation and our cup run. Had pace to burn, loved getting down the line and popped up with some lovely goals to boot.
Peter Hoekstra: Didn't have the typical physique of a winger, but he was one of the most skilful wingers who, on his day, could tear any opposing full-back to shreds.
Forwards
Ricardo Fuller: The most skilful, intelligent forward I have ever seen. He could literally create a goal out of nothing. Played a huge part in the promotion and subsequent consolidation in the prem. A real favourite.
Peter Thorne: Goal-Poacher extrodinaire who single-handedly supplied the goals for us to compete in league 1. Its a measure of the man that we applauded him off the field when he returned and scored a hat-trick against us.
Ade Akinbiyi: Big, powerful lump who scored the crucial goals to send us to survival and then consolidation in the championship. Him and Crossley kept us up pretty much single-handedly that year.
Mike Sheron: Was my favourite player when I started following the potters. His goals very nearly got us up to the prem over a decade before we actually got there.
Utility
Marc Wilson: He has had his critics, and I will admit im not a great fan of him at centre-back, but his commitment and work ethic cannot be faulted. He slotted in at left-back for 3 seasons without complaint and has done the same at centre-half. He has even played in centre mid a few times last season.
Darel Russell: Loved this bloke. He was a real grafter who could play anywhere on the right or in centre mid. Worked his bollocks off for the cause.
Manager
Tony Pulis: Despite criticism for his playing style and for some of his signings/transfer policy, there is no doubt who should be manager in my eyes. His record was excellent, keeping us up and consolidating us in the championship in his first spell, before returning to lead us to the promised land and keeping us there, whilst also delivering a cup final (as well as 3 further quarter finals(1 in the league cup)) and European football to us Stokies. The Capped One is without doubt the greatest manager I have seen in the Stoke dugout.
My Starting 11 is (4-4-2)
GK Begovic
CB Shawcross (c)
CB Shtaniuk
RB Wilkinson
LB Higginbotham
CM Delap
CM Kavanagh
RM Lawrence
LM Etherington
FW Fuller
FW Thorne
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Post by crapslinger on Aug 29, 2014 19:12:53 GMT
As it says on the tin, really. Pick your favourite 24 players (2 for each position plus 2 utilty) and manager from your time watching the potters (for me, that would be from 1994) and say why you picked them, then make a starting 11 out of them. I will start GoalkeepersAsmir Begovic: In all my time watching Stoke, I have never seen a keeper who has as much authority and ability to make key saves as him. Mark Crossley: Was one of the reasons we didn't go back down to league one the season we got out of there. Only played a handful of games, but his experience led us to safety. Centre-BacksRyan Shawcross (Captain): Captain Fantastic Played a major part in our promotion season, scoring quite a few goals as well as his defensive contributions. Since we have got into the prem, he has grown into one of the best centre-backs in the country. Finally, he is loyal to Stoke City FC. Also my captain. Sergei Shtaniuk: Dependable, tough as nails crowd favourite who helped us get out of league one. Abdoulaye Faye: Big Beast of a man who oozed class. Kept many a lively forward quiet, especially at the bear-pit. Robert Huth: Big, bad german youth who anchored one of the best defensive partnerships in the prem. Hard as fuck and also hips in with a few goals from set-pieces. Right-BacksAndy Griffin: Local Boy done good who played for us in 3 spells. During the last spell, he helped get us to and consolidate in the prem. Also scored an absolute screamer against Coventry at the brit years back. Andy Wilkinson: Again, local boy and crowd favourite. Not the most technically gifted, but would sweat blood for Stoke City. Left-BacksDanny Higginbotham: Played a huge part in us establishing ourselves in the prem and getting to the cup final to boot. Could also play centre-half, but im using him as a left-back because that's where he was usually played. Clive Clarke: Academy product who played in the team who established itself in the championship, and was also capable of hitting the odd pile-driver. Shame that his career ended so prematurely. Centre MidfieldersRory Delap: The human slingshot has played a huge part in our recent successes, both in building foundations in the prem and in our FA Cup run. Aside from the long throw, he was a combative midfielder, a true professional and a huge fan favourite. Glenn Whelan: Has been one of the cornerstones of the clubs progress since winning promotion. Hard working ball-winner who does a lot of under-appreciated dirty work. James O Connor: Worked his bollocks off for the cause, plus inspired the epic comeback against the (then) blooturds in the play-off semis in 02. With time, I can also forgive him for joining the scum from West Brazil. Graham Kavanagh: At times, he looked head and shoulders above most players (albeit in league one). Could score and create out of nothing, yet get back and win the ball and could also mix it up a bit. Right-MidfieldersLiam Lawrence: Scored and set up a ridiculous amount of goals in the promotion season, and also contributed some key goals and assists to help ensure we survived in the prem. Bjarni Gudjonssen: Bit of a daddys boy, but could deliver an excellent ball and he could hit a sreamer or two an all. Left-MidfieldersMatty Etherington: His excellent deliveries from out wide played a huge part in our prem survival, our subsequent consolidation and our cup run. Had pace to burn, loved getting down the line and popped up with some lovely goals to boot. Peter Hoekstra: Didn't have the typical physique of a winger, but he was one of the most skilful wingers who, on his day, could tear any opposing full-back to shreds. ForwardsRicardo Fuller: The most skilful, intelligent forward I have ever seen. He could literally create a goal out of nothing. Played a huge part in the promotion and subsequent consolidation in the prem. A real favourite. Peter Thorne: Goal-Poacher extrodinaire who single-handedly supplied the goals for us to compete in league 1. Its a measure of the man that we applauded him off the field when he returned and scored a hat-trick against us. Ade Akinbiyi: Big, powerful lump who scored the crucial goals to send us to survival and then consolidation in the championship. Him and Crossley kept us up pretty much single-handedly that year. Mike Sheron: Was my favourite player when I started following the potters. His goals very nearly got us up to the prem over a decade before we actually got there. UtilityMarc Wilson: He has had his critics, and I will admit im not a great fan of him at centre-back, but his commitment and work ethic cannot be faulted. He slotted in at left-back for 3 seasons without complaint and has done the same at centre-half. He has even played in centre mid a few times last season. Darel Russell: Loved this bloke. He was a real grafter who could play anywhere on the right or in centre mid. Worked his bollocks off for the cause. ManagerTony Pulis: Despite criticism for his playing style and for some of his signings/transfer policy, there is no doubt who should be manager in my eyes. His record was excellent, keeping us up and consolidating us in the championship in his first spell, before returning to lead us to the promised land and keeping us there, whilst also delivering a cup final (as well as 3 further quarter finals(1 in the league cup)) and European football to us Stokies. The Capped One is without doubt the greatest manager I have seen in the Stoke dugout. My Starting 11 is (4-4-2) GK Begovic CB Shawcross (c) CB Shtaniuk RB Wilkinson LB Higginbotham CM Delap CM Kavanagh RM Lawrence LM Etherington FW Fuller FW Thorne
Probably before your time but the whole of the 72 cup winning side worth a mention ?, few others to consider since then, Alan Hudson best midfielder along with Jimmy G I have ever seen in a Stoke shirt, Steino, Hoekstra (when fit), Mark Chamberlain, more recently Riccy Fuller, Ryan, Bego.
Manager has to be Tony Waddington the only man to bring proper silverware to the club and the first to take us into Europe.
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Post by robstokie on Aug 29, 2014 19:19:03 GMT
As it says on the tin, really. Pick your favourite 24 players (2 for each position plus 2 utilty) and manager from your time watching the potters (for me, that would be from 1994) and say why you picked them, then make a starting 11 out of them. I will start GoalkeepersAsmir Begovic: In all my time watching Stoke, I have never seen a keeper who has as much authority and ability to make key saves as him. Mark Crossley: Was one of the reasons we didn't go back down to league one the season we got out of there. Only played a handful of games, but his experience led us to safety. Centre-BacksRyan Shawcross (Captain): Captain Fantastic Played a major part in our promotion season, scoring quite a few goals as well as his defensive contributions. Since we have got into the prem, he has grown into one of the best centre-backs in the country. Finally, he is loyal to Stoke City FC. Also my captain. Sergei Shtaniuk: Dependable, tough as nails crowd favourite who helped us get out of league one. Abdoulaye Faye: Big Beast of a man who oozed class. Kept many a lively forward quiet, especially at the bear-pit. Robert Huth: Big, bad german youth who anchored one of the best defensive partnerships in the prem. Hard as fuck and also hips in with a few goals from set-pieces. Right-BacksAndy Griffin: Local Boy done good who played for us in 3 spells. During the last spell, he helped get us to and consolidate in the prem. Also scored an absolute screamer against Coventry at the brit years back. Andy Wilkinson: Again, local boy and crowd favourite. Not the most technically gifted, but would sweat blood for Stoke City. Left-BacksDanny Higginbotham: Played a huge part in us establishing ourselves in the prem and getting to the cup final to boot. Could also play centre-half, but im using him as a left-back because that's where he was usually played. Clive Clarke: Academy product who played in the team who established itself in the championship, and was also capable of hitting the odd pile-driver. Shame that his career ended so prematurely. Centre MidfieldersRory Delap: The human slingshot has played a huge part in our recent successes, both in building foundations in the prem and in our FA Cup run. Aside from the long throw, he was a combative midfielder, a true professional and a huge fan favourite. Glenn Whelan: Has been one of the cornerstones of the clubs progress since winning promotion. Hard working ball-winner who does a lot of under-appreciated dirty work. James O Connor: Worked his bollocks off for the cause, plus inspired the epic comeback against the (then) blooturds in the play-off semis in 02. With time, I can also forgive him for joining the scum from West Brazil. Graham Kavanagh: At times, he looked head and shoulders above most players (albeit in league one). Could score and create out of nothing, yet get back and win the ball and could also mix it up a bit. Right-MidfieldersLiam Lawrence: Scored and set up a ridiculous amount of goals in the promotion season, and also contributed some key goals and assists to help ensure we survived in the prem. Bjarni Gudjonssen: Bit of a daddys boy, but could deliver an excellent ball and he could hit a sreamer or two an all. Left-MidfieldersMatty Etherington: His excellent deliveries from out wide played a huge part in our prem survival, our subsequent consolidation and our cup run. Had pace to burn, loved getting down the line and popped up with some lovely goals to boot. Peter Hoekstra: Didn't have the typical physique of a winger, but he was one of the most skilful wingers who, on his day, could tear any opposing full-back to shreds. ForwardsRicardo Fuller: The most skilful, intelligent forward I have ever seen. He could literally create a goal out of nothing. Played a huge part in the promotion and subsequent consolidation in the prem. A real favourite. Peter Thorne: Goal-Poacher extrodinaire who single-handedly supplied the goals for us to compete in league 1. Its a measure of the man that we applauded him off the field when he returned and scored a hat-trick against us. Ade Akinbiyi: Big, powerful lump who scored the crucial goals to send us to survival and then consolidation in the championship. Him and Crossley kept us up pretty much single-handedly that year. Mike Sheron: Was my favourite player when I started following the potters. His goals very nearly got us up to the prem over a decade before we actually got there. UtilityMarc Wilson: He has had his critics, and I will admit im not a great fan of him at centre-back, but his commitment and work ethic cannot be faulted. He slotted in at left-back for 3 seasons without complaint and has done the same at centre-half. He has even played in centre mid a few times last season. Darel Russell: Loved this bloke. He was a real grafter who could play anywhere on the right or in centre mid. Worked his bollocks off for the cause. ManagerTony Pulis: Despite criticism for his playing style and for some of his signings/transfer policy, there is no doubt who should be manager in my eyes. His record was excellent, keeping us up and consolidating us in the championship in his first spell, before returning to lead us to the promised land and keeping us there, whilst also delivering a cup final (as well as 3 further quarter finals(1 in the league cup)) and European football to us Stokies. The Capped One is without doubt the greatest manager I have seen in the Stoke dugout. My Starting 11 is (4-4-2) GK Begovic CB Shawcross (c) CB Shtaniuk RB Wilkinson LB Higginbotham CM Delap CM Kavanagh RM Lawrence LM Etherington FW Fuller FW Thorne
Probably before your time but the whole of the 72 cup winning side worth a mention ?, few others to consider since then, Alan Hudson best midfielder along with Jimmy G I have ever seen in a Stoke shirt, Steino, Hoekstra (when fit), Mark Chamberlain, more recently Riccy Fuller, Ryan, Bego.
Manager has to be Tony Waddington the only man to bring proper silverware to the club and the first to take us into Europe.
My uncle keeps telling me about the great Waddo and the likes of Banks, Pejic, Hudson and later on the likes of Bould, Steino and Foxy, but I only started going in 94 (as a 4 year old who was blackmailed into going with McDonalds). |
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Post by march4 on Aug 29, 2014 19:19:40 GMT
In goal; Banks, Bego, Foxy
Full backs; Dixon, Allen, Pej, Higgy
Centre backs; Ryan, Watson, Bouldy, Denis(capt)
Midfield; Rory, Huddy, Glenn, Josh
Wingers; Stan, Chamberlain, Ethers, TC
Mama position; Mama
Forwards; Leader, Chapman, Greenhoff, Ric
Some really good players missing - Bluto, Huth, Abdy, Crouchie, N'Zonzi, Lenny, Eastham, McIllroy(both of them), Violett, Shilton, Salmons, Bracewell, etc.
Of all these players, I believe only 2 of them never played for us in the top division, but both went on to win numerous honours and England caps.
Team shape 4-4-1-1.
Manager - the greatest of them all (surely a knighthood is on the cards); Tony Pulis.
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Post by crapslinger on Aug 29, 2014 20:13:16 GMT
In goal; Banks, Bego, Foxy Full backs; Dixon, Allen, Pej, Higgy Centre backs; Ryan, Watson, Bouldy, Denis(capt) Midfield; Rory, Huddy, Glenn, Josh Wingers; Stan, Chamberlain, Ethers, TC Mama position; Mama Forwards; Leader, Chapman, Greenhoff, Ric Some really good players missing - Bluto, Huth, Abdy, Crouchie, N'Zonzi, Lenny, Eastham, McIllroy(both of them), Violett, Shilton, Salmons, Bracewell, etc. Of all these players, I believe only 2 of them never played for us in the top division, but both went on to win numerous honours and England caps. Team shape 4-4-1-1. Manager - the greatest of them all (surely a knighthood is on the cards); Tony Pulis. No Steino ?, Macaris best signing in my opinion moved on to show his worth at the top level with Chelsea, Pulis better than Waddo give your head a wobble. |
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Post by Discovery Stoke on Aug 29, 2014 20:22:22 GMT
My all time starting 11 would be:
Begovic
Hanson
Shtaniuk
Shawcross
Halls
Hoekstra
Delap
Kavanagh
Etherington
Fuller
Thorne
Bench: Crossley, Hoefkens, Faye, Huth, Lawrence, Commons, Crouch
I was born in 1994 and have been a season ticket holder from about 1999. So many memorable players had to be missed out even some of my favourites, some cracking memories thinking about this
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Post by lordb on Aug 29, 2014 20:42:11 GMT
First game 1978
Begovic,Fox
Dixon,hmm right back is tricky...Butler,Hoefkens?....Butler.
Higginbotham,Griffin (first spell especially)
Shawcross,Huth,Bould,Watson...Cranson,Shtaniuk,Sandford,Berry,Faye,Overson,all miss out.
Chamberlain,pfft.. does it matter who else?..Rooster?..Liam?...Pennant?...Odemwingie will do.
Arnie?Hoekstra,Mickey Thomas,Beagrie,Etherington?
Could be Arnie...but for now Ethers and Hooky.
Gunnarsson,Talbot,Sammy Mcilroy,Nzonzi, ah fuck it this too hard!
Stein and some other blokes will do for me.
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Post by march4 on Aug 29, 2014 23:28:58 GMT
In goal; Banks, Bego, Foxy Full backs; Dixon, Allen, Pej, Higgy Centre backs; Ryan, Watson, Bouldy, Denis(capt) Midfield; Rory, Huddy, Glenn, Josh Wingers; Stan, Chamberlain, Ethers, TC Mama position; Mama Forwards; Leader, Chapman, Greenhoff, Ric Some really good players missing - Bluto, Huth, Abdy, Crouchie, N'Zonzi, Lenny, Eastham, McIllroy(both of them), Violett, Shilton, Salmons, Bracewell, etc. Of all these players, I believe only 2 of them never played for us in the top division, but both went on to win numerous honours and England caps. Team shape 4-4-1-1. Manager - the greatest of them all (surely a knighthood is on the cards); Tony Pulis. No Steino ?, Macaris best signing in my opinion moved on to show his worth at the top level with Chelsea, Pulis better than Waddo give your head a wobble. I remember the full reigns of Waddo and TP. Loved them both, but after 10 yrs of management TP was ahead of where Waddo was at the same stage and consequently is our greatest ever manager. It would have been easy to sack Waddo after the relegation battles of the late 60's, but we showed the courage to stick with him even though the team had enjoyed mid-table positions in the mid-60's. I suspect in today's cut thrust game, he would have been sacked in 1967 or 1968. Interestingly, in terms of money spent, Waddo was allowed to spend world record fees on goalkeepers, a world record wage to Geoff Hurst and close to a British record for Huddy. The double offer for Huddy and Ossie was a world record. Imagine that today, little old Stoke competing with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, ManUre and Man City for wages and transfer fees. And I would put Ritchie, Chapman, Greenhoff, Ric, BT, Crouch and Sheron ahead of Stein. Apart from Sheron, they all produced the goods in the top division. Stein (72 in 134) never played for us in the top flight and his overall scoring record (just over 1 in 2) is roughly on a par with Sheron (39 in 77) who I believe holds the club record for scoring in the most consecutive games. However, Stein scored most of those goals in the 3rd Division. It is interesting to compare Stein with Thorne. In their best complete seasons for us in the 3rd Division, Stein bagged 33 goals (46 games) and Thorne 30 goals (45 games). Thorne did play for a weaker side though than Stein. Stein is ahead of Thorne because he did better in the other seasons he starred for us. Stein did really well when he first went to Chelsea, but didn't do it for us in the top division. If we included what players had done at other clubs, then the likes of Owen, Mills, Talbot, Grobs, etc would come into the reckoning. It's great to reminisce and remember the good people who have worked for our club. |
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Post by ************** on Aug 30, 2014 5:00:49 GMT
In goal; Banks, Bego, Foxy Full backs; Dixon, Allen, Pej, Higgy Centre backs; Ryan, Watson, Bouldy, Denis(capt) Midfield; Rory, Huddy, Glenn, Josh Wingers; Stan, Chamberlain, Ethers, TC Mama position; MamaForwards; Leader, Chapman, Greenhoff, Ric Some really good players missing - Bluto, Huth, Abdy, Crouchie, N'Zonzi, Lenny, Eastham, McIllroy(both of them), Violett, Shilton, Salmons, Bracewell, etc. Of all these players, I believe only 2 of them never played for us in the top division, but both went on to win numerous honours and England caps. Team shape 4-4-1-1. Manager - the greatest of them all (surely a knighthood is on the cards); Tony Pulis. Who would have guessed....?  |
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Post by Trouserdog on Aug 30, 2014 6:50:38 GMT
GK: Begovic, Sorenson, Fox
RB: Dixon, Cameron
CB: Shawcross, Faye, Huth, Bould
LB: Pieters, Higginbotham
RW: Odemwingie, Pennant
CM: N'Zonzi, Delap, Adam, Orlygsson, Gleghorn
LW: Etherington, Arnautovic, Hoekstra
S: Fuller, Stein, Crouch, Sheron
1986 onwards. What a squad!
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Post by bathstoke on Aug 30, 2014 6:56:20 GMT
In goal; Banks, Bego, Foxy Full backs; Dixon, Allen, Pej, Higgy Centre backs; Ryan, Watson, Bouldy, Denis(capt) Midfield; Rory, Huddy, Glenn, Josh Wingers; Stan, Chamberlain, Ethers, TC Mama position; Mama Forwards; Leader, Chapman, Greenhoff, Ric Some really good players missing - Bluto, Huth, Abdy, Crouchie, N'Zonzi, Lenny, Eastham, McIllroy(both of them), Violett, Shilton, Salmons, Bracewell, etc. Of all these players, I believe only 2 of them never played for us in the top division, but both went on to win numerous honours and England caps. Team shape 4-4-1-1. Manager - the greatest of them all (surely a knighthood is on the cards); Tony Pulis. F@#&!ng Chapman!?! The only goal I remember him scoring at the Vic was for the Gooners!!! |
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Post by arniepieinthesky on Aug 30, 2014 9:57:57 GMT
As it says on the tin, really. Pick your favourite 24 players (2 for each position plus 2 utilty) and manager from your time watching the potters (for me, that would be from 1994) and say why you picked them, then make a starting 11 out of them. I will start GoalkeepersAsmir Begovic: In all my time watching Stoke, I have never seen a keeper who has as much authority and ability to make key saves as him. Mark Crossley: Was one of the reasons we didn't go back down to league one the season we got out of there. Only played a handful of games, but his experience led us to safety. Centre-BacksRyan Shawcross (Captain): Captain Fantastic Played a major part in our promotion season, scoring quite a few goals as well as his defensive contributions. Since we have got into the prem, he has grown into one of the best centre-backs in the country. Finally, he is loyal to Stoke City FC. Also my captain. Sergei Shtaniuk: Dependable, tough as nails crowd favourite who helped us get out of league one. Abdoulaye Faye: Big Beast of a man who oozed class. Kept many a lively forward quiet, especially at the bear-pit. Robert Huth: Big, bad german youth who anchored one of the best defensive partnerships in the prem. Hard as fuck and also hips in with a few goals from set-pieces. Right-BacksAndy Griffin: Local Boy done good who played for us in 3 spells. During the last spell, he helped get us to and consolidate in the prem. Also scored an absolute screamer against Coventry at the brit years back. Andy Wilkinson: Again, local boy and crowd favourite. Not the most technically gifted, but would sweat blood for Stoke City. Left-BacksDanny Higginbotham: Played a huge part in us establishing ourselves in the prem and getting to the cup final to boot. Could also play centre-half, but im using him as a left-back because that's where he was usually played. Clive Clarke: Academy product who played in the team who established itself in the championship, and was also capable of hitting the odd pile-driver. Shame that his career ended so prematurely. Centre MidfieldersRory Delap: The human slingshot has played a huge part in our recent successes, both in building foundations in the prem and in our FA Cup run. Aside from the long throw, he was a combative midfielder, a true professional and a huge fan favourite. Glenn Whelan: Has been one of the cornerstones of the clubs progress since winning promotion. Hard working ball-winner who does a lot of under-appreciated dirty work. James O Connor: Worked his bollocks off for the cause, plus inspired the epic comeback against the (then) blooturds in the play-off semis in 02. With time, I can also forgive him for joining the scum from West Brazil. Graham Kavanagh: At times, he looked head and shoulders above most players (albeit in league one). Could score and create out of nothing, yet get back and win the ball and could also mix it up a bit. Right-MidfieldersLiam Lawrence: Scored and set up a ridiculous amount of goals in the promotion season, and also contributed some key goals and assists to help ensure we survived in the prem. Bjarni Gudjonssen: Bit of a daddys boy, but could deliver an excellent ball and he could hit a sreamer or two an all. Left-MidfieldersMatty Etherington: His excellent deliveries from out wide played a huge part in our prem survival, our subsequent consolidation and our cup run. Had pace to burn, loved getting down the line and popped up with some lovely goals to boot. Peter Hoekstra: Didn't have the typical physique of a winger, but he was one of the most skilful wingers who, on his day, could tear any opposing full-back to shreds. ForwardsRicardo Fuller: The most skilful, intelligent forward I have ever seen. He could literally create a goal out of nothing. Played a huge part in the promotion and subsequent consolidation in the prem. A real favourite. Peter Thorne: Goal-Poacher extrodinaire who single-handedly supplied the goals for us to compete in league 1. Its a measure of the man that we applauded him off the field when he returned and scored a hat-trick against us. Ade Akinbiyi: Big, powerful lump who scored the crucial goals to send us to survival and then consolidation in the championship. Him and Crossley kept us up pretty much single-handedly that year. Mike Sheron: Was my favourite player when I started following the potters. His goals very nearly got us up to the prem over a decade before we actually got there. UtilityMarc Wilson: He has had his critics, and I will admit im not a great fan of him at centre-back, but his commitment and work ethic cannot be faulted. He slotted in at left-back for 3 seasons without complaint and has done the same at centre-half. He has even played in centre mid a few times last season. Darel Russell: Loved this bloke. He was a real grafter who could play anywhere on the right or in centre mid. Worked his bollocks off for the cause. ManagerTony Pulis: Despite criticism for his playing style and for some of his signings/transfer policy, there is no doubt who should be manager in my eyes. His record was excellent, keeping us up and consolidating us in the championship in his first spell, before returning to lead us to the promised land and keeping us there, whilst also delivering a cup final (as well as 3 further quarter finals(1 in the league cup)) and European football to us Stokies. The Capped One is without doubt the greatest manager I have seen in the Stoke dugout. My Starting 11 is (4-4-2) GK Begovic CB Shawcross (c) CB Shtaniuk RB Wilkinson LB Higginbotham CM Delap CM Kavanagh RM Lawrence LM Etherington FW Fuller FW Thorne I think nostalgia plays a part inyour selection, which is fair enough, however I'll stick to picking the best players I have seen, which rules out Kavanagh, Thorne, Wilko and maybe even Shtaniuk who was never tested at a decent level. So based on 442... Bego Cameron (tough one, we've had so many ordinary full backs) Higgy Shawcross Huth Pennant (for the 12 decent months he gave, certainly the most talented right sided player we have had) Nzonzi Delap Ethers Fuller Crouch Based on 4-2-3-1 Bego Cameron Peiters Shawcross Huth Nzonzi Delap Arnie ...... (VACANT POSITION) Ethers (in his prime) Fuller |
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Post by arniepieinthesky on Aug 30, 2014 9:59:40 GMT
As it says on the tin, really. Pick your favourite 24 players (2 for each position plus 2 utilty) and manager from your time watching the potters (for me, that would be from 1994) and say why you picked them, then make a starting 11 out of them. I will start GoalkeepersAsmir Begovic: In all my time watching Stoke, I have never seen a keeper who has as much authority and ability to make key saves as him. Mark Crossley: Was one of the reasons we didn't go back down to league one the season we got out of there. Only played a handful of games, but his experience led us to safety. Centre-BacksRyan Shawcross (Captain): Captain Fantastic Played a major part in our promotion season, scoring quite a few goals as well as his defensive contributions. Since we have got into the prem, he has grown into one of the best centre-backs in the country. Finally, he is loyal to Stoke City FC. Also my captain. Sergei Shtaniuk: Dependable, tough as nails crowd favourite who helped us get out of league one. Abdoulaye Faye: Big Beast of a man who oozed class. Kept many a lively forward quiet, especially at the bear-pit. Robert Huth: Big, bad german youth who anchored one of the best defensive partnerships in the prem. Hard as fuck and also hips in with a few goals from set-pieces. Right-BacksAndy Griffin: Local Boy done good who played for us in 3 spells. During the last spell, he helped get us to and consolidate in the prem. Also scored an absolute screamer against Coventry at the brit years back. Andy Wilkinson: Again, local boy and crowd favourite. Not the most technically gifted, but would sweat blood for Stoke City. Left-BacksDanny Higginbotham: Played a huge part in us establishing ourselves in the prem and getting to the cup final to boot. Could also play centre-half, but im using him as a left-back because that's where he was usually played. Clive Clarke: Academy product who played in the team who established itself in the championship, and was also capable of hitting the odd pile-driver. Shame that his career ended so prematurely. Centre MidfieldersRory Delap: The human slingshot has played a huge part in our recent successes, both in building foundations in the prem and in our FA Cup run. Aside from the long throw, he was a combative midfielder, a true professional and a huge fan favourite. Glenn Whelan: Has been one of the cornerstones of the clubs progress since winning promotion. Hard working ball-winner who does a lot of under-appreciated dirty work. James O Connor: Worked his bollocks off for the cause, plus inspired the epic comeback against the (then) blooturds in the play-off semis in 02. With time, I can also forgive him for joining the scum from West Brazil. Graham Kavanagh: At times, he looked head and shoulders above most players (albeit in league one). Could score and create out of nothing, yet get back and win the ball and could also mix it up a bit. Right-MidfieldersLiam Lawrence: Scored and set up a ridiculous amount of goals in the promotion season, and also contributed some key goals and assists to help ensure we survived in the prem. Bjarni Gudjonssen: Bit of a daddys boy, but could deliver an excellent ball and he could hit a sreamer or two an all. Left-MidfieldersMatty Etherington: His excellent deliveries from out wide played a huge part in our prem survival, our subsequent consolidation and our cup run. Had pace to burn, loved getting down the line and popped up with some lovely goals to boot. Peter Hoekstra: Didn't have the typical physique of a winger, but he was one of the most skilful wingers who, on his day, could tear any opposing full-back to shreds. ForwardsRicardo Fuller: The most skilful, intelligent forward I have ever seen. He could literally create a goal out of nothing. Played a huge part in the promotion and subsequent consolidation in the prem. A real favourite. Peter Thorne: Goal-Poacher extrodinaire who single-handedly supplied the goals for us to compete in league 1. Its a measure of the man that we applauded him off the field when he returned and scored a hat-trick against us. Ade Akinbiyi: Big, powerful lump who scored the crucial goals to send us to survival and then consolidation in the championship. Him and Crossley kept us up pretty much single-handedly that year. Mike Sheron: Was my favourite player when I started following the potters. His goals very nearly got us up to the prem over a decade before we actually got there. UtilityMarc Wilson: He has had his critics, and I will admit im not a great fan of him at centre-back, but his commitment and work ethic cannot be faulted. He slotted in at left-back for 3 seasons without complaint and has done the same at centre-half. He has even played in centre mid a few times last season. Darel Russell: Loved this bloke. He was a real grafter who could play anywhere on the right or in centre mid. Worked his bollocks off for the cause. ManagerTony Pulis: Despite criticism for his playing style and for some of his signings/transfer policy, there is no doubt who should be manager in my eyes. His record was excellent, keeping us up and consolidating us in the championship in his first spell, before returning to lead us to the promised land and keeping us there, whilst also delivering a cup final (as well as 3 further quarter finals(1 in the league cup)) and European football to us Stokies. The Capped One is without doubt the greatest manager I have seen in the Stoke dugout. My Starting 11 is (4-4-2) GK Begovic CB Shawcross (c) CB Shtaniuk RB Wilkinson LB Higginbotham CM Delap CM Kavanagh RM Lawrence LM Etherington FW Fuller FW Thorne I think nostalgia plays a part inyour selection, which is fair enough, however I'll stick to picking the best players I have seen, which rules out Kavanagh, Thorne, Wilko and maybe even Shtaniuk who was never tested at a decent level. So based on 442... Bego Cameron (tough one, we've had so many ordinary full backs) Higgy Shawcross Huth Pennant (for the 12 decent months he gave, certainly the most talented right sided player we have had) Nzonzi Delap Ethers Fuller Crouch or Stein Based on 4-2-3-1 Bego Cameron Peiters Shawcross Huth Nzonzi Delap Arnie ...... (VACANT POSITION) Ethers (in his prime) Fuller |
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