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Post by stokefaninde on Jun 12, 2015 7:27:10 GMT
Compared to most of you I'm a relatively new fan (2010). At that time I aligned myself with this team I can only dream to watch in person due to my own obligations and distance (East Coast United States). But I feel so fortunate to have picked a winner. The American in me wants to win championships because that is what we hope for, our teams over here play with a bit more parity and no relegation yet I have found myself over the moon finishing 9th in the Prem the past two years. I never expected such progress when I came aboard. We were a squad fighting relegation. If I remember correctly we were a popular choice to go down the first few years I began following.
Our demise now seems so far away. We are in the act of establishing ourselves as a mainstay in the most difficult league in the world and I can't help but to hope for more.. Am I wrong in believing we have something special? From my view, it seems we are but a touch away from become something to be seriously reckoned with and a challenger for Europe by league merit rather than a league cup. How far away really is finishing 9th one season and 6th the next? Seems to me we have a relatively young core that can challenge for years to come if we keep them together.
With the quality our team we are so much closer to qualification than relegation. Shawcross should be playing for England.. Nzonzi it can be agreed is a class above. Bego is likely gone for a good sum and we have the best young English keeper waiting in the wings. Arnie has rare touch on the ball and we have an unforeseen pipeline with Barca that no other team in England seems to have. We have gamers in Whelan and Walters who show value far above any other team seems to realize. Diouf was a huge signing that has netted 10 Prem goals with the potential to do even more. Cameron is the most accomplished American outfielder currently in the Prem and we are on the verge of signing some blockbuster players.
Our leadership continues to say we are a buying club and seem ripe to open up the coffers.
From my view we are a class above the mid table and I don't believe I am seeing that with rose colored glasses. How high can we realistically go?
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Post by lordb on Jun 12, 2015 7:29:54 GMT
We can squeeze some some more
A cup is the aim
Europe too
however never forget we can go the other way too,down & down
enjoy the ride
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Post by stokefaninde on Jun 12, 2015 7:31:57 GMT
We can squeeze some some more A cup is the aim Europe too however never forget we can go the other way too,down & down enjoy the ride So many bad things would have to happen to be brought into a relegation battle at the current point. Realistically we lost so many key players and still broke our recent points record!
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Jun 12, 2015 7:34:16 GMT
Careful, stokefanindie, Benjaminbiscuit isn't going to like that sort of talk. He's probably making a wax doll, giving it your name and sticking pins in it as I write this! How far can we go? Under the present set up 7th - or 6th if one of the top six makes a big cock up. To get beyond that would take a really big investor prepared to go beyond the investment of Bet365, to take us on to a financial level such as Spurs or Liverpool are at. To be honest, I don't think we'll ever get that sort of investment as our crowds (and the price of our tickets!) will always put us below them as an attractive investment prospect. Maybe, in time, we'll start to generate the sort of merchandising and sponsorship that some of the bigger clubs do - but I won't hold my breath. EDIT: Or, alternatively, the Premier League could grow some balls and come up with proposals for a more level playing field - but they won't, sadly.
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Post by stokefaninde on Jun 12, 2015 7:38:03 GMT
Careful, stokefanindie, Benjaminbiscuit isn't going to like that sort of talk. He's probably making a wax doll, giving it your name and sticking pins in it as I write this! How far can we go? Under the present set up 7th - or 6th if one of the top six makes a big cock up. To get beyond that would take a really big investor prepared to go beyond the investment of Bet365, to take us on to a financial level such as Spurs or Liverpool are at. To be honest, I don't think we'll ever get that sort of investment as our crowds (and the price of our tickets!) will always put us below them as an attractive investment prospect. Admittedly I wrote this while watching our last match against Liverpool on DVR. Just seems we have a perfect storm of being able to keep our stars, being managed really well and showing ambition to push on. We are showing improvement on the ball, defensively and offensively over the past 24 months.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Jun 12, 2015 7:42:54 GMT
Careful, stokefanindie, Benjaminbiscuit isn't going to like that sort of talk. He's probably making a wax doll, giving it your name and sticking pins in it as I write this! How far can we go? Under the present set up 7th - or 6th if one of the top six makes a big cock up. To get beyond that would take a really big investor prepared to go beyond the investment of Bet365, to take us on to a financial level such as Spurs or Liverpool are at. To be honest, I don't think we'll ever get that sort of investment as our crowds (and the price of our tickets!) will always put us below them as an attractive investment prospect. Admittedly I wrote this while watching our last match against Liverpool on DVR. Just seems we have a perfect storm of being able to keep our stars, being managed really well and showing ambition to push on. We are showing improvement on the ball, defensively and offensively over the past 24 months. Yes, I agree with that but whatever improvements we make are going to be constrained by a glass ceiling which, at present, lies somewhere around 6th or 7th place. The European Leagues have relegation and promotion unlike the States, but the differences are very much deeper than that. Ticket income is a tiny proportion of income for all Prem clubs, not just ours. But our sponsorship and merchandising income is tiny compared to the top 6 clubs who, mostly, have a minimum of an extra £50 million a year (above ours) because of this. And for the top four there is on top of that Champions League income of another £40 million p.a.
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Post by Waggy on Jun 12, 2015 8:10:00 GMT
Audi, old boy. Welcome aboard the stoke city train in blighty. Hope you enjoy chappie
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Post by rednwhite43 on Jun 12, 2015 8:47:06 GMT
Having followed stoke since 1976 we need to dream who knows with some investment a cup would be awsome welcome my friend.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2015 8:49:57 GMT
It's the first time in years that I've felt, as the season ends and the transfer windows opens, that the core team won't need a whole lot to compete next season.
There's a very strong core to this squad. A bit of additional quality and cover (as well as making sure we don't lose the most influential players), however, is paramount.
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Post by Pugsley on Jun 12, 2015 9:00:54 GMT
Having followed stoke since 1976 we need to dream who knows with some investment a cup would be awsome welcome my friend. 76 or 73? Make your mind up.
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Post by wuzza on Jun 12, 2015 9:09:45 GMT
The sad history of this club is that when it was possible for provincial town and small city teams to win things we came up with a multitude of ways of not doing it! Hence our aim must be to put a cup or two in the cabinet while maintaining the Premier League income that will allow us to do this. We will need some luck but it is possible.
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Post by mrcoke on Jun 12, 2015 9:11:45 GMT
Nice opening post; good to have you aboard.
Just remember the real fans are those who stick with the club through the lean years.
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Post by bathstoke on Jun 12, 2015 9:18:41 GMT
Audi, old boy. Welcome aboard the stoke city train in blighty. Hope you enjoy chappie You are so affected
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Post by iamcliveclarke on Jun 12, 2015 9:28:06 GMT
We can squeeze some some more A cup is the aim Europe too however never forget we can go the other way too,down & down enjoy the ride So many bad things would have to happen to be brought into a relegation battle at the current point. Realistically we lost so many key players and still broke our recent points record! Imagine the potential of a full season with Bojan, Arnie & Moses injury free
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Jun 12, 2015 9:50:54 GMT
152 years and only one major trophy,I think we are close to winning another, like the 70s Stoke sides, on our day we can beat anybody,we just have to hope whoever we get in the cups,we have one of those days.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2015 10:17:30 GMT
So many bad things would have to happen to be brought into a relegation battle at the current point. Realistically we lost so many key players and still broke our recent points record! Imagine the potential of a full season with Bojan, Arnie & Moses injury free Imagine Bojan, Moses, Arnie, Diouf and Remy
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Post by Skankmonkey on Jun 12, 2015 10:30:11 GMT
I'm as optimistic as I've ever been and there is certainly a buzz in the air at the moment. It feels like we could be on the edge of something special, though I agree with mrcoke, Once you are in, you are in and that's that. Failure only tempers the steel!
Welcome, enjoy the ride!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2015 10:47:54 GMT
I think we are in a great position not being seen as a "BIG" top 5 club lets us buy a different type of player, ones without a reputation. Yeh ok I would see the Merritt in buying Messi or Ronaldo but some teams are forced to buy players with a name as an example Liverpool with Ballotelli or Man U with Falcoa. They would never have been allowed to buy Bojan or Arni even now most United fans think Beggo is not good enough for them as he has only played for little Stoke.
Investment, well dreams can come true just look at Man City and as an opposite look at Leeds United.
Fans, I subscribe to the plan of "If you build it they will come" and I have to say am more than a little disappointed we are still playing in a ground that would suit Wrexham. If you were a top class footballer you would want a stadium to match your ambition, sadly we do not have that in place, I live in hope that we will in my lifetime, (Better Hurry Up Mr Coates)
Lastly Welcome to the madness that is Stoke City, if you had any fingernails, you won't have soon, buy yourself a rubber door as head banging against it is common and savour the delights when we surprise the big boys.
In our away team dressing room it should say " Welcome to the Brit, It's never going to be easy here "
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Post by Fenparkpotter on Jun 12, 2015 10:52:08 GMT
Love our American fans
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Post by roostershair on Jun 12, 2015 11:23:25 GMT
Great post from stokefanindie. How refreshing that someone over the "pond" so to speak realises the importance of players like SJW and Glen when some so called Stoke fans bay for their heads every week!
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Post by slother on Jun 12, 2015 12:00:10 GMT
Careful, stokefanindie, Benjaminbiscuit isn't going to like that sort of talk. He's probably making a wax doll, giving it your name and sticking pins in it as I write this! :D How far can we go? Under the present set up 7th - or 6th if one of the top six makes a big cock up. To get beyond that would take a really big investor prepared to go beyond the investment of Bet365, to take us on to a financial level such as Spurs or Liverpool are at. To be honest, I don't think we'll ever get that sort of investment as our crowds (and the price of our tickets!) will always put us below them as an attractive investment prospect. Maybe, in time, we'll start to generate the sort of merchandising and sponsorship that some of the bigger clubs do - but I won't hold my breath. EDIT: Or, alternatively, the Premier League could grow some balls and come up with proposals for a more level playing field - but they won't, sadly. :( EDIT: Or, alternatively, the big 6 can fuck off and create a European Superleague swimming with money and hype like they wish they could, leaving us with the strong possibility of becoming Champions of England :)
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