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Post by stokiejoeofalsager on Feb 22, 2015 19:35:05 GMT
We would never win Europa league, as when the champions league losers join the competition I'm afraid they would be just to strong for us. Remember Celtic are in the Champions league. They aren't all Man City. And even if they were, who is to say we couldn't beat them again? Since we've been in the prem we've beaten Man City, we've beaten Chelsea, we've beaten Arsenal, we've beaten Liverpool, we've beaten Man Utd.
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Post by agingerstokie on Feb 22, 2015 19:44:59 GMT
We would never win Europa league, as when the champions league losers join the competition I'm afraid they would be just to strong for us. Disagree, not every 3rd place drop out is a top quality team
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Post by thestokielad on Feb 22, 2015 23:18:42 GMT
Tottenham are 7th on 44 points, there's no way we'll catch them up. We'll finish 9th
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Post by stokiedan17 on Feb 22, 2015 23:53:15 GMT
Tottenham are 7th on 44 points, there's no way we'll catch them up. We'll finish 9th But if Tottenham win the Europa league teams in fa cup final already qualify. The Europe place goes to 8th?? Clutching at straws ????
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Post by TheBra1n on Feb 23, 2015 0:09:59 GMT
holy cow
i cant believe just how much this board swings from 1 week to the next
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Post by Gary Hackett on Feb 23, 2015 2:29:55 GMT
There's no way we'll get 7th place. Our target has to be 8th at best or 10th at the worst.
Considering our injuries 10th would be an achievement.
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Post by stokefaninde on Feb 23, 2015 3:30:54 GMT
There is nothing wrong with daring to dream. Go for it I say. It isn't logical to expect it but isn't that what makes being a fan fun? We are already safe in the league, We are 10th in terms of premier longevity. Bojan out, Odem out, Ryan hurt, Muniesa out screw it, dream big anyway. Up the Potters!
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Post by Clem Fandango on Feb 23, 2015 9:07:27 GMT
10th or above would be a fantastic season for us given the injuries we've had. Maybe next season we'll look to push on a little.
Sadly we don't know quite how far we'd have gotten this season had we been able to field a full strengthen team for most of it. We don't need to make any wholesale changes in the summer so hopefully we can just concentrate on getting those with long term injuries back rather than having to integrate a load of new signings.
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Post by cousindupree on Feb 23, 2015 9:55:12 GMT
Our inability early season the beat Burnley Leicester and Villa at home will prove to be a huge factor. Add just 7 pts from those games and you just wonder where we could finish. I know no game is a given but those games at home most seasons for us would have yielded a minimum 5 pts. Our home form for the first time since back in the prem will have been our weakness.
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Post by jarhead on Feb 23, 2015 9:58:41 GMT
I'm sorry but 7th is too far for us, 8th is the maximum we can finish and with the season Swansea and West Ham are having that will be difficult. I'd be ecstatic at 9th again with more than 50 points. Same here.
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Post by sufolkstokie on Feb 23, 2015 10:14:58 GMT
I am all for ambition but for me this season has been a real test
Losing Oddie so early (who changed our season last year) was a major blow
Bojan found it tough at the beginning and when he did find his feet (best in the red and white since Huddy and Jimmy) he was cruelly injured = massive loss
On going injuries to SJW, Wilson, Pieters, Muni, Ireland prove to be disruptive
Then we lost our captain for at least 4 games
We also lost Moses for 8 weeks and were left with little on the wings as Ass proved to not be so good and buggered off anyways
Given the above, to be safe by Feb is amazing. Hopefully we can kick on but let's not lose sight of the achievement under such bad luck
Fingers crossed Oddie and Bojan come back strong and SJW sorts his tendon out
The board really must back Sparky this summer. 3 or 4 key recruits and hopefully we can this time next year have a proper shot at 8th or 7th
Amazing job done by Sparky and the whole team Don't lose sight of that if we fall short of 50 points
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Post by 58Potter on Feb 23, 2015 10:32:44 GMT
I am all for ambition but for me this season has been a real test Losing Oddie do early (who changed our season lat year) was a major blow Bojan found it tough at the beginning and when he did find his feet (best in the red and white since Huddy and Jimmy) he was cruelly injured = massive loss On going injuries to SJW, Wilson, Pieters, Muni, Ireland prove to be disruptive Then we lost our captain for at least 4 games We also lost Moses for 8 weeks and were left with little on the wings as Ass proved to not be so good and buggered off anyways Given the above, to be safe by Feb is amazing. Hopefully we can kick on but let's not lose sight of the achievement under such bad luck Fingers crossed Oddie and Bojan come back strong and SJW sorts his tendon out The board really must back Sparky this summer. 3 or 4 key recruits and hopefully we can this time next year have a proper shot at 8th or 7th Amazing job done by Sparky and the whole team Don't lose sight of that if we fall short of 50 points I totally agree with all of this
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Post by LGH87 on Feb 23, 2015 11:11:42 GMT
We would never win Europa league, as when the champions league losers join the competition I'm afraid they would be just to strong for us. I don't agree, Fulham & Boro both reached the final, ok ultimately they lost but I'd argue that our squad when everyone is available is better than both of those squads were. I'm under no illusion that it isn't a difficult competition to win, but with a bit of luck in the draw it is possible for any team good enough to finish in the top 7 in England to win the Europa League. Look at our wins away at Man City, Spurs, Everton this season add in to the fact that we've proven time and time again that we can beat anybody at home. If you look at the teams that dropped out of the champions league this seaon:- Olympiakos Liverpool Zenit Anderlecht Roma Ajax Sporting Bilbao I'd argue that Liverpool, Roma & Zenit would be extremely tough draws. Any of the others, over two legs I think we'd have a very good chance.
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Post by right on Mar 1, 2015 23:52:02 GMT
We would have to win vs. Southampton and draw vs. the others away at worst. I mean, I guess it's possible. We are a fan message board after all. Why not dream a little
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Post by rosco on Mar 1, 2015 23:52:42 GMT
Must be the target and its very achievable but with the injuries think it may be too much to ask.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2015 23:53:33 GMT
Would be a truly stunning managerial feat.
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Post by prem4stoke on Mar 2, 2015 0:12:42 GMT
It's achievable so for me this should be the target.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Mar 2, 2015 0:36:09 GMT
Do eet stoke just do eet
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 2:18:45 GMT
Looking more and more realistic each week.
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Post by Sfance on Mar 2, 2015 2:55:30 GMT
Yeah, could be in 8th position come Thursday morning. Not at all unlikely that WHU will lose to Chelsea and Swansea lose to Spurs. However, we would obviously need to beat Everton and I fear we will not. They almost saw off Arsenal and I think they're due to break out of their slump. Unless Southampton are really bottling it, they will beat Palace easily and that would put us 10 points out of 7th. Lots of time yet though. If only we could get Odemwingie back.
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Post by dutchstokie on Mar 2, 2015 7:29:10 GMT
Ladies, ladies, ladies, can we just reign in this wishful thinkin just for a minute......
We WILL lose a few games, thats the way it goes.
If we just fail to get into Europe, the usual tits on here will start to lambast Hughes, 'Crouch is shit', Bego should be dropped blah blah blah.......we know how it goes on here
Lets just see how it pans out heh...
Whatever happens, its been a roller coaster of a season so far !!
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 2, 2015 7:29:58 GMT
Yeah, could be in 8th position come Thursday morning. Not at all unlikely that WHU will lose to Chelsea and Swansea lose to Spurs. However, we would obviously need to beat Everton and I fear we will not. They almost saw off Arsenal and I think they're due to break out of their slump. Unless Southampton are really bottling it, they will beat Palace easily and that would put us 10 points out of 7th. Lots of time yet though. If only we could get Odemwingie back. I wouldn't be so sure that Southampton will beat palace easily. Whilst not in a slump, Southampton do seem to have lost a bit of their edge recently, and Palace are becoming one of the form teams in the division since Pardew arrived. I think their game with Southampton might well be a draw.
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Post by apb1 on Mar 2, 2015 7:34:11 GMT
Just can't see it. Nothing wrong with aiming high though.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 2, 2015 7:37:15 GMT
Ladies, ladies, ladies, can we just reign in this wishful thinkin just for a minute...... We WILL lose a few games, thats the way it goes. If we just fail to get into Europe, the usual tits on here will start to lambast Hughes, 'Crouch is shit', Bego should be dropped blah blah blah.......we know how it goes on here Lets just see how it pans out heh... Whatever happens, its been a roller coaster of a season so far !! Surely it is what is possible (rather than what is the most likely outcome) which keep many fans interested. I don't think we WIll come 7th but I sure as hell think we MIGHT come 7th - and that will dominate my thoughts until/unless it becomes impossible. I always hope that the manager and players aim a little higher than the finishing position which is most likely. We've reached a point in our evolution now where I hope the club aims for Europe every year - makes a pleasant change from aiming for 40 points. Come on Stoke - you can do it!
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Post by kurt on Mar 2, 2015 7:39:40 GMT
After Liverpool and Spurs leaving Europe past week....which place in PL is necessary to participate at Euro League? Is the victory of Chelsea yesterday in League Cup good for us and what must happen in the FA Cup?
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 2, 2015 7:49:36 GMT
After Liverpool and Spurs leaving Europe past week....which place in PL is necessary to participate at Euro League? Is the victory of Chelsea yesterday in League Cup good for us and what must happen in the FA Cup? I think we need the FA Cup final to be contested by clubs who would qualify for Europe by virtue of their League position and then 7th place would qualify for the Europa League. I'm not 100% sure that is the position but I think it is.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 8:23:07 GMT
There is nothing wrong with daring to dream. Go for it I say. It isn't logical to expect it but isn't that what makes being a fan fun? We are already safe in the league, We are 10th in terms of premier longevity. Bojan out, Odem out, Ryan hurt, Muniesa out screw it, dream big anyway. Up the Potters! This... Southampton and Spurs have both got to come to the Brit which, with wins, halves the current points difference between them. A couple more bad results for Southampton and they too could be dragged in to the mini league. I'd also include Newcastle in that for now too
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Post by apb1 on Mar 2, 2015 8:31:12 GMT
I was always confident we could catch West Ham because even when they were well above us you knew they weren't better than us, and Swansea aren't either. Tottenham and Southampton are a bit better than us, with our current injury list at any rate. So I can't see it happening. 8th will be fantastic and set the scene nicely for some spending before next season, but I can't make us 7th somehow. Still it will be interesting if it's still possible when we play those teams.
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Post by chigstoke on Mar 2, 2015 11:01:38 GMT
With all the injury problems we've had I never envisioned us actually getting this sort of chance at a European place barring the FA Cup. If we somehow achieve 7th and Europe, it's a ducking brilliant achievement. Even if we get 10th or 9th it's still damp good considering the injuries.
May as well give it a go. No harm done, and it canot prepare us for a proper go next season.
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Post by onlyonesirstan on Mar 2, 2015 11:32:03 GMT
After Liverpool and Spurs leaving Europe past week....which place in PL is necessary to participate at Euro League? Is the victory of Chelsea yesterday in League Cup good for us and what must happen in the FA Cup? I think we need the FA Cup final to be contested by clubs who would qualify for Europe by virtue of their League position and then 7th place would qualify for the Europa League. I'm not 100% sure that is the position but I think it is. Tottenham will qualify for Europa League next season as runners up in the League Cup, unless Chelsea drop out of top four, which just isn't going to happen, barring freak results. That leaves one place left for FA Cup winners. If the table finishes as it stands now, the losing semi finalist will get into Europa League. So one from either Villa, WBA, Bradford or Reading. Unless I am missing something, 7th place wont come into play.
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