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Post by surreystokie on Sept 14, 2014 8:30:43 GMT
What on earth did our manager mean by "we did everything we could to break them down but give credit to Leicester" - incredibly resolute, made it difficult for us, etc.
Nonsense. In fact it was nothing like I'd expected and we had few of the difficulties we caused the opposition, in our our last game.
Difficult to break down? How come that their goalie had to play a blinder, then? And how did we manage to spend so much time, not only in their half but in their box?! Hardly a Berlin Wall to beat. More like our not being able to hit a barn door, take decent corners (in fact how come we had those, if unable to overcome their tactics?) and, above all, take a shot instead of that extra pass, which happened far too often?
No wonder NP, who was sitting two seats in front of me, never roused himself, looking so relaxed. The truth is that his tactics, so admired by the media, should have been irrelevant, with the game won by half time.
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Post by Plave on Sept 14, 2014 8:32:34 GMT
Their goalie played a blinder?
He had to make two maybe three saves and only one was difficult
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 8:34:25 GMT
I also thought they were quite easy to breakdown. Our finishing is terrible though,and concerning that of all the shots we had,he only had to make a few saves
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Post by trigger on Sept 14, 2014 8:38:36 GMT
I think that Hughes should have said: I had better forward thinking players on the bench but for some reckless inept management decision I thought it better to leave them on the bench as the likes of Walters and Bojan were obviously plodding along quite nicely doing the square root of f... all all afternoon.
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Post by johnnysoul60 on Sept 14, 2014 8:47:52 GMT
I thought that Leicester were a lot better in the second half but we still had enough opportunities to create something and a decent side would have had the game won in the first , our failure to win that game is 100% down to our own inability to deliver a decent final ball and or take up the right position in the box
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Post by chiefdelilah on Sept 14, 2014 8:49:02 GMT
The delivery's poor but as was the case this time last year, too often there's too little to aim at and we're hideously static.
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Post by scfc5 on Sept 14, 2014 8:59:52 GMT
Delivery at corners was quite good bar a couple, certainly first half - it was our inability to direct the headers won on target (e.g. Crouch, Shawcross) that was the main problem.
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Post by stokemark on Sept 14, 2014 9:04:02 GMT
If Stoke were a dog it would have a very strong waggy tail, firm hind legs that occasionally wobble a bit when chasing a ball, pretty powerful font legs capable of running extremely fast BUT it would be half blind and be unable to eat as his teeth are either rotten or have fallen out !
It's brain would clearly be capable of amazing tricks with a powerful sense of direction but occasionally do utterly stupid things that its owner simply cannot fathom out why
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Post by Jamo on the wing on Sept 14, 2014 9:04:36 GMT
Our finishing was poor.
We created chances but never tested their keeper who only had to make a couple of very routine saves.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 9:08:36 GMT
All reasonably true and frustrating to watch. We still should have won this game, but as I've said before, we should have gone for a proper, named striker and splashed more cash. I'm sure it will come back to bite us on the bum! Three games wasted IMHO!
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Post by sufolkstokie on Sept 14, 2014 9:09:55 GMT
We got our tactics wrong
In the first half we barely used Moses who had all the space in the world. We persisted in going down the right side which they crowded out.
Our set pieces are appalling, either with delivery or more basic no plan and no movement, just hit and hope with players playing a game of statues. Even when we do get a lucky break we bump in to each other
Playing Walters at home, given our bench, is simply wrong. Especially given every one knew their game plan
Our midfielders are still too slow and do not carry the ball enough in to space in front of them. When they do that on a rare occasion they create space and opportunity (see Nzonzi first half on one single run)
The gap between our midfield that sits too deep and our forward line is an issue. When they bought Cambiasssa on no one closed him down. highlighting how deep we play and we let him dictate
Then there was the subs. Yet again way too late and wrong. It was cryng out for Adam to push their midfield back and give us something
We changed from slow tip tap build up allowing them to get 11 behind the ball before we even crossed the halfway line, to lump it up the tall lad and hope something falls
Even though Pieters was injured, it still made no sense to bring Muni on - we were 1 nil down with minutes to go. Should have gone to a back 3
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Post by scfcbiancorossi on Sept 14, 2014 9:21:22 GMT
The delivery's poor but as was the case this time last year, too often there's too little to aim at and we're hideously static. Indeed. We know Crouch and Walters in the same side leads to a severe lack of mobility. The last 3 years have taught us that and ultimately it was the former managers persistence with it that helped contribute to him losing his job. I just can't get my head around how tactically poor Hughes was yesterday.
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Post by robwahlmann on Sept 14, 2014 9:26:28 GMT
We got our tactics wrong In the first half we barely used Moses who had all the space in the world. We persisted in going down the right side which they crowded out. Our set pieces are appalling, either with delivery or more basic no plan and no movement, just hit and hope with players playing a game of statues. Even when we do get a lucky break we bump in to each other Playing Walters at home, given our bench, is simply wrong. Especially given every one knew their game plan Our midfielders are still too slow and do not carry the ball enough in to space in front of them. When they do that on a rare occasion they create space and opportunity (see Nzonzi first half on one single run) The gap between our midfield that sits too deep and our forward line is an issue. When they bought Cambiasssa on no one closed him down. highlighting how deep we play and we let him dictate Then there was the subs. Yet again way too late and wrong. It was cryng out for Adam to push their midfield back and give us something We changed from slow tip tap build up allowing them to get 11 behind the ball before we even crossed the halfway line, to lump it up the tall lad and hope something falls Even though Pieters was injured, it still made no sense to bring Muni on - we were 1 nil down with minutes to go. Should have gone to a back 3 Moses needs to be instructed more of what to do as his decision making is horrible at times. With his pace and ability to beat opponents he really should be able to create and score more goals! He is a very rough diamond at the moment!
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Post by mrred on Sept 14, 2014 9:38:18 GMT
Our problem after we went behind was that so many players were behind the ball when they'd get a corner or free kick. We could have easily managed with 3 more players lurking further forward.
Which brings me onto Crouch. I'm getting pretty tired of his use as a defender. He must be on the end of nigh on every corner we concede. Defenders, do your fucking work.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 9:41:34 GMT
We got our tactics wrong In the first half we barely used Moses who had all the space in the world. We persisted in going down the right side which they crowded out. Our set pieces are appalling, either with delivery or more basic no plan and no movement, just hit and hope with players playing a game of statues. Even when we do get a lucky break we bump in to each other Playing Walters at home, given our bench, is simply wrong. Especially given every one knew their game plan Our midfielders are still too slow and do not carry the ball enough in to space in front of them. When they do that on a rare occasion they create space and opportunity (see Nzonzi first half on one single run) The gap between our midfield that sits too deep and our forward line is an issue. When they bought Cambiasssa on no one closed him down. highlighting how deep we play and we let him dictate Then there was the subs. Yet again way too late and wrong. It was cryng out for Adam to push their midfield back and give us something We changed from slow tip tap build up allowing them to get 11 behind the ball before we even crossed the halfway line, to lump it up the tall lad and hope something falls Even though Pieters was injured, it still made no sense to bring Muni on - we were 1 nil down with minutes to go. Should have gone to a back 3 Moses needs to be instructed more of what to do as his decision making is horrible at times. With his pace and ability to beat opponents he really should be able to create and score more goals! He is a very rough diamond at the moment! Moses is strong on the ball,he can hold off defenders and beat them but,and it's a big but,he rarely gets his head up and so opportunities to get the ball in the box...or to pick out a player in space on the edge of the box....go begging. I thought we improved in that area once Assaidi came on. Next game I'd like to see Assaidi on the left Moses on the right,Walters and Bojan on the bench,Crouch up top with Diouf off him.
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Post by stokemark on Sept 14, 2014 9:43:04 GMT
We got our tactics wrong In the first half we barely used Moses who had all the space in the world. We persisted in going down the right side which they crowded out. Our set pieces are appalling, either with delivery or more basic no plan and no movement, just hit and hope with players playing a game of statues. Even when we do get a lucky break we bump in to each other Playing Walters at home, given our bench, is simply wrong. Especially given every one knew their game plan Our midfielders are still too slow and do not carry the ball enough in to space in front of them. When they do that on a rare occasion they create space and opportunity (see Nzonzi first half on one single run) The gap between our midfield that sits too deep and our forward line is an issue. When they bought Cambiasssa on no one closed him down. highlighting how deep we play and we let him dictate Then there was the subs. Yet again way too late and wrong. It was cryng out for Adam to push their midfield back and give us something We changed from slow tip tap build up allowing them to get 11 behind the ball before we even crossed the halfway line, to lump it up the tall lad and hope something falls Even though Pieters was injured, it still made no sense to bring Muni on - we were 1 nil down with minutes to go. Should have gone to a back 3 Nail on the head there mate
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Post by robwahlmann on Sept 14, 2014 9:48:01 GMT
Moses needs to be instructed more of what to do as his decision making is horrible at times. With his pace and ability to beat opponents he really should be able to create and score more goals! He is a very rough diamond at the moment! Moses is strong on the ball,he can hold off defenders and beat them but,and it's a big but,he rarely gets his head up and so opportunities to get the ball in the box...or to pick out a player in space on the edge of the box....go begging. I thought we improved in that area once Assaidi came on. Next game I'd like to see Assaidi on the left Moses on the right,Walters and Bojan on the bench,Crouch up top with Diouf off him. That could work out, but I don't want to write Arnie off yet either. Think Assaidi often is at his best when coming on for the last 20 minutes by the way.
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Post by tazi on Sept 14, 2014 9:48:28 GMT
Bunched bunched bunched bunched bunched.
Widen the pitch and Get it wide FFS with all the pace we've got and let Bojan make his runs without the ball instead of looking to beat every player in very little space that then gets closed down even more.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 11:20:35 GMT
Moses is strong on the ball,he can hold off defenders and beat them but,and it's a big but,he rarely gets his head up and so opportunities to get the ball in the box...or to pick out a player in space on the edge of the box....go begging. I thought we improved in that area once Assaidi came on. Next game I'd like to see Assaidi on the left Moses on the right,Walters and Bojan on the bench,Crouch up top with Diouf off him. That could work out, but I don't want to write Arnie off yet either. Think Assaidi often is at his best when coming on for the last 20 minutes by the way. Oh god no,Arnie is just going thru a bad patch.Thing is, players should be picked on what they do on the pitch.Assaidi was lively when he came on so it makes sense to stick with him at QPR.Arnie will get his chance
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Sept 14, 2014 13:11:29 GMT
What on earth did our manager mean by "we did everything we could to break them down but give credit to Leicester" - incredibly resolute, made it difficult for us, etc. Nonsense. In fact it was nothing like I'd expected and we had few of the difficulties we caused the opposition, in our our last game. Difficult to break down? How come that their goalie had to play a blinder, then? And how did we manage to spend so much time, not only in their half but in their box?! Hardly a Berlin Wall to beat. More like our not being able to hit a barn door, take decent corners (in fact how come we had those, if unable to overcome their tactics?) and, above all, take a shot instead of that extra pass, which happened far too often? No wonder NP, who was sitting two seats in front of me, never roused himself, looking so relaxed. The truth is that his tactics, so admired by the media, should have been irrelevant, with the game won by half time. I agree with about half of that Monica. We certainly had most of the play and the lion's share of the chances but we couldn't, as you said, hit a barn door. We were shot shy and when we did get the shot away we rarely tested the keeper. I don't agree that he had a blinder - he had about four shots to save and none of those saves were difficult. For all the possession we had we seemed bereft of ideas the closer we got to their 6 yard box. I actually thought Moses took some decent corners but we didn't seem to have anyone in the box to take advantage of them. We never put a man on the keeper at set pieces - this used to be a strength of ours a few years back. We also rarely put men on the near or beyond the far post - something we often used to do. Bringing Huth back might help - he looks more lively at set pieces than anyone in the box yesterday. I thought Leicester did ok for a recently promoted side - but if we had been on the ball, they would have been dead and buried long before we conceded a poor goal. I always thing wide players work best when you have two good ones. Moses worked his socks off and showed plenty of pace and skill but with Walters having no pace on the other wing, Leicester were able to double up on Moses. In Wingie's absence Arnie must get more pitch time with Assaidi ready to come on if needed in the last 20.
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Post by mrcoke on Sept 14, 2014 13:24:24 GMT
I agree, strange comment by MH. Stoke were all over them in the first half and frequently in the second half even though Leicester played better and penetrated Stoke's defence.
I felt sure Stoke would eventually score, but they didn't. I don't blame tactics or team selection, it was just a case of inept finishing; they should have been at least 2 up by half time. Stoke had loads of shots but they were largely either blocked or off target, some embarrassingly wide of the target.
My other major criticism, which has arisen in all the matches so far is Stoke's poor dead ball play. There were loads of wasted corners and free kicks yesterday. That needs sorting out with some hard work on the training pitch this week.
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Post by heavysoul on Sept 14, 2014 14:42:10 GMT
Leicester had a game plan to hold us back till half time then they brought out cambiasso and Drinkwater we didn't adapt to this change. We should have made a change after half time to counteract this.
Adam i feel would have given us more urgency and made us more attacking. Huth is a far superior central defender than Wilson I ask myself why is he not playing? We look more solid with him playing.
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Post by tazi on Sept 14, 2014 14:49:48 GMT
Mark Hughes was not the most gifted of players but he knew what to do to get at supposed lesser teams that would sit back whilst playing for Manchester United so I dont quite know why this hasn't transferred into management.
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Post by fentonstokie1 on Sept 14, 2014 15:24:51 GMT
Our transition from defence into attack is just too slow it gives the away team time to get everyone back into formation, it doesn't hurt as much away from home as it allows us more possession. For both home games we have started with a lob sided formation (walters out wide ffs) allowing the opposition to double up on our main wide threat and there's no urgency there isn't enough drive from midfield.
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Post by chiefdelilah on Sept 14, 2014 15:27:09 GMT
Mark Hughes was not the most gifted of players but he knew what to do to get at supposed lesser teams that would sit back whilst playing for Manchester United so I dont quite know why this hasn't transferred into management. YouTube 'Mark Hughes volley' and get back to me on the 'not gifted' thing Taz.
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Post by tazi on Sept 14, 2014 15:29:27 GMT
Mark Hughes was not the most gifted of players but he knew what to do to get at supposed lesser teams that would sit back whilst playing for Manchester United so I dont quite know why this hasn't transferred into management. YouTube 'Mark Hughes volley' and get back to me on the 'not gifted' thing Taz. If one scores a superb volley does that make one gifted then?.
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Post by geoffscott on Sept 14, 2014 15:31:10 GMT
Mark Hughes was not the most gifted of players but he knew what to do to get at supposed lesser teams that would sit back whilst playing for Manchester United so I dont quite know why this hasn't transferred into management. I am not sure why you would post any of that? The former Manchester Utd, Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, etc. etc. striker playing 606 top flight games and 72 internationals, winning 13 trophies (possibly more) and voted PFA player of the year, was 'not the most gifted of players'???? Yet you recall he knew how to get results playing for Man Utd when they played lesser teams??? Then you claim as a manger he isn't able to beat lesser teams??? I'm sure he managed on many occasions when manager of Blackburn, Man City and Fulham to beat 'lesser teams', but at Stoke alone, he has overseen victories over the likes of Aston Villa, Fulham, WBA, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, West Ham, Hull and Newcastle.
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Post by Kjones9 on Sept 14, 2014 15:32:07 GMT
YouTube 'Mark Hughes volley' and get back to me on the 'not gifted' thing Taz. If one scores a superb volley does that make one gifted then?. You obviously haven't watched it then. It wasn't A superb volley it was superb VOLLEY'S. Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern Munich. Doesn't scream mediocre to me. But then again Hughes should be grateful you called him that as you couldn't spot a footballer if he kicked you in the nuts (also I'd love to see that).
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Post by chiefdelilah on Sept 14, 2014 15:33:41 GMT
YouTube 'Mark Hughes volley' and get back to me on the 'not gifted' thing Taz. If one scores a superb volley does that make one gifted then?. He's scored loads of them mate. Scissor kick vs Man City. Volley for Wales. Semi final volley vs Oldham. All utter stunners. His CWC final goal wasn't a volley but it was a beautiful finish from a right angle.
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Post by tazi on Sept 14, 2014 15:34:56 GMT
Mark Hughes was not the most gifted of players but he knew what to do to get at supposed lesser teams that would sit back whilst playing for Manchester United so I dont quite know why this hasn't transferred into management. I am not sure why you would post any of that? The former Manchester Utd, Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, etc. etc. striker playing 606 top flight games and 72 internationals, winning 13 trophies (possibly more) and voted PFA player of the year, was 'not the most gifted of players'???? Yet you recall he knew how to get results playing for Man Utd when they played lesser teams??? Then you claim as a manger he isn't able to beat lesser teams??? I'm sure he managed on many occasions when manager of Blackburn, Man City and Fulham to beat 'leseer teams', but at Stoke alone, he has overseen victories over the likes of Aston Villa, Fulham, WBA, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, West Ham, Hull and Newcastle. Are you a little confused as to the meaning 'gifted'. So, I guess by your meaning of the word gifted then you would put him in the same bracket as an Eric Cantana or even a Ricardo Fuller?. I class gifted players as players that can do the unexpected.
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