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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2015 23:03:11 GMT
Peter Thorne once scored a hat trick against us and got a round of applause....during the game.....surely the "enemy" at the time since he played for Cardiff City as well. The fact is some people hated Tony Pulis whislt he was the manager and have never stopped hating the bloke. The majority tomorrow will give him a very deserved round of applause. I will be one of those. I've missed one home game since 2007...three since 2003. I work part time due to health issues and 90% of my own money goes to Stoke City. Come see me in Block 24...row 10 and ask me if I'm a true Stoke Supporter. I like to give thanks to ANYONE who can bring success to our great club. Mark Hughes will always get a round of applause from me should he ever be shown the door too.
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Post by Fred Ferret on Aug 28, 2015 23:18:06 GMT
There are clearly a few paranoid souls on here who think we should greet the previous manager like some returning messiah, with a wall of sound and a demonstrated standing ovation.
A round of applause, to complement that already offered in the two away encounters, is entirely decent. However, tomorrow is serious business - we need to quickly forget about Pulis and make the day as uncomfortable as possible for him and his team. Soon as he gets to the dugout it's gloves off and he's history.
I would detest the day if he gets deafening adulation and a third win over us. Any serious support tomorrow must overwhelmingly be extended to our manager and his team. Over playing the celebration of a returning hero, for me would be far worse than ignoring him or giving him a lukewarm response.
He's absolutely desperate to put one over on SCFC and Mark Hughes. He's, to my recollection never really recognised the excellent work and quality put in by LMH. Hughes has recognised Pulis' work - Pulis should have the decency to reciprocate. Tomorrow is the day we have to shaft WBA and, by association, Pulis.
He did well for us for 3 years but sometimes he was bloody clueless. let's hope we witness some of the latter tomorrow, with a bit of happy clapping thrown in for him - as a consolation.
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Post by Titan Uranus on Aug 28, 2015 23:18:23 GMT
I have no idea why you are getting so emotional about what reception Pulis gets or doesn't get tomorrow. I have no doubt it will be courteous and respectful. I'm equally certain it is now completely irrelevant. The time to reflect on the reception Pulis received at the Britannia Stadium has already been done and dusted. The time to judge how supporters felt about Tony Pulis was surely when he was the manager of Stoke City. It must have been evident to you that the supporters relationship with him was always moderate to lukewarm if you want to judge it by the reception he received from the majority. I guess the overwhelming feeling of the vast majority is primarily one that is perfectly happy to see him stood in the opposition technical area and not ours. We both know you have a personal hatred of Pulis that seriously clouds your judgement on these issues. Yes ..it's quite evident that the landlords of this messageboard have a personal vendetta against TP.
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Post by riponstokie on Aug 28, 2015 23:22:03 GMT
Being brutally honest I'm almost too emotional to write anything that would make any sense re the great man's homecoming but I'll try! I personally will never understand some of the sheer hatred and bitterness from certain people on this board or among some of the Stoke support. For whatever reason I connected with him on all levels, loved his dogged determination, his will to win and be successful, his politics, ethics, and his never say die attitude. For over two decades, apart from a couple of brief flirtations with relative success we were shit, we were nowhere apart from in the wilderness and looked odds on to remain there forever..................until Peter Coates instigated (on two occasions) the appointment of TP as Stoke City manager. What a masterstroke. At long last we became a team, a club that didn't lose football matches without one hell of a scrap and actually won football matches by any means we could and I loved it. I couldn't care less how we did it ,we just did it and after years of being spineless, weak losers we became tough winners. The first season in the Prem was dream world. Every man and his dog had us nailed on to back down but not Tony, not his team and not our supporters. WE were all in it together, all of us against the rest of the world or so it felt. Spine tingling stuff that I will take to my grave and that I will always be forever grateful to Tony Pulis for. Beating Man shitty 1-0 with 10 men and the players completely knackered on 80 mins when four sides of the Brit came together , chanting C'mon Stoke C'mon Stoke and we saw the last 10 minutes out together as one, Wembley v Bolton, cup final v Man C, Europe, all fantastic achievements but for me as a lifelong Stoke City supporter since !969/70 I felt so so fucking proud of my team. A warm feeling inside. I don't think there is another man/manager that would have left his mother's death bed to come back and steer his team to victory as TP did on that night v Aston Villa. The man loved being Stoke City manager, he was proud to be Stoke City manager every single day that he was in the post and right up until his departure he was proud and rightly so. Whatever the whys and wherefores surrounding differing opinions on TP he gave his ALL to our great club and no matter what happens in the future he will go down as one of the greatest managers in the history of our great club and rightly so. I can't wait to welcome him back and he will receive a standing ovation from me and the rest of the Stoke support I'm sure but after the walk from the tunnel to the dugouts he's just another manager of an opposing club...............................Yeah, right.
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Post by MarkWolstanton on Aug 28, 2015 23:25:46 GMT
I have no idea why you are getting so emotional about what reception Pulis gets or doesn't get tomorrow. I have no doubt it will be courteous and respectful. I'm equally certain it is now completely irrelevant. The time to reflect on the reception Pulis received at the Britannia Stadium has already been done and dusted. The time to judge how supporters felt about Tony Pulis was surely when he was the manager of Stoke City. It must have been evident to you that the supporters relationship with him was always moderate to lukewarm if you want to judge it by the reception he received from the majority. I guess the overwhelming feeling of the vast majority is primarily one that is perfectly happy to see him stood in the opposition technical area and not ours. We both know you have a personal hatred of Pulis that seriously clouds your judgement on these issues. Now you may be shallow enough to have a personal hatred for people that you don't personally know but please do not tar me with the same brush. There is not one single post that I ever made criticising Tony Pulis as a human being. I have been extremely critical of his methods in a football context. Go figure the difference and try and rationalise with yourself what there is in a completely neutral couple of posts on the subject of a reception for the bloke that has provoked you to post that!
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Post by wrighter on Aug 28, 2015 23:27:05 GMT
Clap him when he goes to the dug out,,,, yep, fair play after that, he is just another manager
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Post by Titan Uranus on Aug 28, 2015 23:28:17 GMT
There are clearly a few paranoid souls on here who think we should greet the previous manager like some returning messiah, with a wall of sound and a demonstrated standing ovation. A round of applause, to complement that already offered in the two away encounters, is entirely decent. However, tomorrow is serious business - we need to quickly forget about Pulis and make the day as uncomfortable as possible for him and his team. Soon as he gets to the dugout it's gloves off and he's history. I would detest the day if he gets deafening adulation and a third win over us. Any serious support tomorrow must overwhelmingly be extended to our manager and his team. Over playing the celebration of a returning hero, for me would be far worse than ignoring him or giving him a lukewarm response. He's absolutely desperate to put one over on SCFC and Mark Hughes. He's, to my recollection never really recognised the excellent work and quality put in by LMH. Hughes has recognised Pulis' work - Pulis should have the decency to reciprocate. Tomorrow is the day we have to shaft WBA and, by association, Pulis. He did well for us for 3 years but sometimes he was bloody clueless. let's hope we witness some of the latter tomorrow, with a bit of happy clapping thrown in for him - as a consolation. Christ Almighty We all want Stoke to stuff it it up the Baggies mate ... This isn't war !! It's giving one of OUR greatest managers a never to be forgotten reception Are you so cold hearted you cannot understand that?
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Post by march4 on Aug 28, 2015 23:28:40 GMT
And one little thing from me on this matter.
Has TP not spent the summer rowing from London to Paris to raise money for Donna Louise?
He deserves a round of applause for that alone.
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devsad
Academy Starlet
Posts: 213
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Post by devsad on Aug 28, 2015 23:29:52 GMT
That's Riponstokie is the post of the century. Brilliant!
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Post by numpty40 on Aug 28, 2015 23:29:58 GMT
he's just another manager of an opposing club...............................Yeah, right. Right
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Post by Fred Ferret on Aug 28, 2015 23:30:59 GMT
There are clearly a few paranoid souls on here who think we should greet the previous manager like some returning messiah, with a wall of sound and a demonstrated standing ovation. A round of applause, to complement that already offered in the two away encounters, is entirely decent. However, tomorrow is serious business - we need to quickly forget about Pulis and make the day as uncomfortable as possible for him and his team. Soon as he gets to the dugout it's gloves off and he's history. I would detest the day if he gets deafening adulation and a third win over us. Any serious support tomorrow must overwhelmingly be extended to our manager and his team. Over playing the celebration of a returning hero, for me would be far worse than ignoring him or giving him a lukewarm response. He's absolutely desperate to put one over on SCFC and Mark Hughes. He's, to my recollection never really recognised the excellent work and quality put in by LMH. Hughes has recognised Pulis' work - Pulis should have the decency to reciprocate. Tomorrow is the day we have to shaft WBA and, by association, Pulis. He did well for us for 3 years but sometimes he was bloody clueless. let's hope we witness some of the latter tomorrow, with a bit of happy clapping thrown in for him - as a consolation. Christ Almighty We all want Stoke to stuff it it up the Baggies mate ... This isn't war !! It's giving one of OUR greatest managers a never to be forgotten reception Are you so cold hearted you cannot understand that? First sentence, second paragraph - do keep up!
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Aug 28, 2015 23:31:08 GMT
And one little thing from me on this matter. Has TP not spent the summer rowing from London to Paris to raise money for Donna Louise? He deserves a round of applause for that alone. This is what some people are struggling to grasp Marchy. Pulis the man is not being debated, Pulis the football manager is. I stated earlier his charity work is admirable, my gripe is with his football philosophy.
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Post by march4 on Aug 28, 2015 23:31:57 GMT
he's just another manager of an opposing club...............................Yeah, right. Right And "the greatest manager in our history" - Peter Coates
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Post by chamberlain on Aug 28, 2015 23:31:47 GMT
Peter Thorne once scored a hat trick against us and got a round of applause....during the game.....surely the "enemy" at the time since he played for Cardiff City as well. The fact is some people hated Tony Pulis whislt he was the manager and have never stopped hating the bloke. The majority tomorrow will give him a very deserved round of applause. I will be one of those. I've missed one home game since 2007...three since 2003. I work part time due to health issues and 90% of my own money goes to Stoke City. Come see me in Block 24...row 10 and ask me if I'm a true Stoke Supporter. I like to give thanks to ANYONE who can bring success to our great club. Mark Hughes will always get a round of applause from me should he ever be shown the door too. Well said mate
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Post by Titan Uranus on Aug 28, 2015 23:32:48 GMT
Being brutally honest I'm almost too emotional to write anything that would make any sense re the great man's homecoming but I'll try! I personally will never understand some of the sheer hatred and bitterness from certain people on this board or among some of the Stoke support. For whatever reason I connected with him on all levels, loved his dogged determination, his will to win and be successful, his politics, ethics, and his never say die attitude. For over two decades, apart from a couple of brief flirtations with relative success we were shit, we were nowhere apart from in the wilderness and looked odds on to remain there forever..................until Peter Coates instigated (on two occasions) the appointment of TP as Stoke City manager. What a masterstroke. At long last we became a team, a club that didn't lose football matches without one hell of a scrap and actually won football matches by any means we could and I loved it. I couldn't care less how we did it ,we just did it and after years of being spineless, weak losers we became tough winners. The first season in the Prem was dream world. Every man and his dog had us nailed on to back down but not Tony, not his team and not our supporters. WE were all in it together, all of us against the rest of the world or so it felt. Spine tingling stuff that I will take to my grave and that I will always be forever grateful to Tony Pulis for. Beating Man shitty 1-0 with 10 men and the players completely knackered on 80 mins when four sides of the Brit came together , chanting C'mon Stoke C'mon Stoke and we saw the last 10 minutes out together as one, Wembley v Bolton, cup final v Man C, Europe, all fantastic achievements but for me as a lifelong Stoke City supporter since !969/70 I felt so so fucking proud of my team. A warm feeling inside. I don't think there is another man/manager that would have left his mother's death bed to come back and steer his team to victory as TP did on that night v Aston Villa. The man loved being Stoke City manager, he was proud to be Stoke City manager every single day that he was in the post and right up until his departure he was proud and rightly so. Whatever the whys and wherefores surrounding differing opinions on TP he gave his ALL to our great club and no matter what happens in the future he will go down as one of the greatest managers in the history of our great club and rightly so. I can't wait to welcome him back and he will receive a standing ovation from me and the rest of the Stoke support I'm sure but after the walk from the tunnel to the dugouts he's just another manager of an opposing club...............................Yeah, right. Dave Smudge Put this in the Oatcake Please
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Post by riponstokie on Aug 28, 2015 23:33:27 GMT
And "the greatest manager in our history" - Peter Coates Correct
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Post by Fred Ferret on Aug 28, 2015 23:35:04 GMT
"put this in the oatcake"
Along with a bit of balance, as well Admin!
Yes, he did ALL of those things and they were great times. He also did a lot of stupid things as well: team selection, failure to handle flair players, abject surrender and betrayal of fans at Valencia away, failure to achieve next level stage, 2 years of stagnant dross.
He wasn't out of this world but he was committed and he took us on a journey. Then he lost his way and paid the price.
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Post by riponstokie on Aug 28, 2015 23:34:57 GMT
Being brutally honest I'm almost too emotional to write anything that would make any sense re the great man's homecoming but I'll try! I personally will never understand some of the sheer hatred and bitterness from certain people on this board or among some of the Stoke support. For whatever reason I connected with him on all levels, loved his dogged determination, his will to win and be successful, his politics, ethics, and his never say die attitude. For over two decades, apart from a couple of brief flirtations with relative success we were shit, we were nowhere apart from in the wilderness and looked odds on to remain there forever..................until Peter Coates instigated (on two occasions) the appointment of TP as Stoke City manager. What a masterstroke. At long last we became a team, a club that didn't lose football matches without one hell of a scrap and actually won football matches by any means we could and I loved it. I couldn't care less how we did it ,we just did it and after years of being spineless, weak losers we became tough winners. The first season in the Prem was dream world. Every man and his dog had us nailed on to back down but not Tony, not his team and not our supporters. WE were all in it together, all of us against the rest of the world or so it felt. Spine tingling stuff that I will take to my grave and that I will always be forever grateful to Tony Pulis for. Beating Man shitty 1-0 with 10 men and the players completely knackered on 80 mins when four sides of the Brit came together , chanting C'mon Stoke C'mon Stoke and we saw the last 10 minutes out together as one, Wembley v Bolton, cup final v Man C, Europe, all fantastic achievements but for me as a lifelong Stoke City supporter since !969/70 I felt so so fucking proud of my team. A warm feeling inside. I don't think there is another man/manager that would have left his mother's death bed to come back and steer his team to victory as TP did on that night v Aston Villa. The man loved being Stoke City manager, he was proud to be Stoke City manager every single day that he was in the post and right up until his departure he was proud and rightly so. Whatever the whys and wherefores surrounding differing opinions on TP he gave his ALL to our great club and no matter what happens in the future he will go down as one of the greatest managers in the history of our great club and rightly so. I can't wait to welcome him back and he will receive a standing ovation from me and the rest of the Stoke support I'm sure but after the walk from the tunnel to the dugouts he's just another manager of an opposing club...............................Yeah, right. Dave Smudge Put this in the Oatcake Cheers Titan. Time for bed. Where's my cap?..................................................... Please
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Post by march4 on Aug 28, 2015 23:35:28 GMT
And one little thing from me on this matter. Has TP not spent the summer rowing from London to Paris to raise money for Donna Louise? He deserves a round of applause for that alone. This is what some people are struggling to grasp Marchy. Pulis the man is not being debated, Pulis the football manager is. I stated earlier his charity work is admirable, my gripe is with his football philosophy. I loved his football philosophy, mate. However, both TP and SCFC have moved on and have both done very well following the separation. I will applaud and cheer him tomorrow, as he arrives at the dugouts. Then he will get the same as every other opposition manager!
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Post by davejohnno1 on Aug 28, 2015 23:36:09 GMT
Being brutally honest I'm almost too emotional to write anything that would make any sense re the great man's homecoming but I'll try! I personally will never understand some of the sheer hatred and bitterness from certain people on this board or among some of the Stoke support. For whatever reason I connected with him on all levels, loved his dogged determination, his will to win and be successful, his politics, ethics, and his never say die attitude. For over two decades, apart from a couple of brief flirtations with relative success we were shit, we were nowhere apart from in the wilderness and looked odds on to remain there forever..................until Peter Coates instigated (on two occasions) the appointment of TP as Stoke City manager. What a masterstroke. At long last we became a team, a club that didn't lose football matches without one hell of a scrap and actually won football matches by any means we could and I loved it. I couldn't care less how we did it ,we just did it and after years of being spineless, weak losers we became tough winners. The first season in the Prem was dream world. Every man and his dog had us nailed on to back down but not Tony, not his team and not our supporters. WE were all in it together, all of us against the rest of the world or so it felt. Spine tingling stuff that I will take to my grave and that I will always be forever grateful to Tony Pulis for. Beating Man shitty 1-0 with 10 men and the players completely knackered on 80 mins when four sides of the Brit came together , chanting C'mon Stoke C'mon Stoke and we saw the last 10 minutes out together as one, Wembley v Bolton, cup final v Man C, Europe, all fantastic achievements but for me as a lifelong Stoke City supporter since !969/70 I felt so so fucking proud of my team. A warm feeling inside. I don't think there is another man/manager that would have left his mother's death bed to come back and steer his team to victory as TP did on that night v Aston Villa. The man loved being Stoke City manager, he was proud to be Stoke City manager every single day that he was in the post and right up until his departure he was proud and rightly so. Whatever the whys and wherefores surrounding differing opinions on TP he gave his ALL to our great club and no matter what happens in the future he will go down as one of the greatest managers in the history of our great club and rightly so. I can't wait to welcome him back and he will receive a standing ovation from me and the rest of the Stoke support I'm sure but after the walk from the tunnel to the dugouts he's just another manager of an opposing club...............................Yeah, right. I've avoided commenting but can't help but respond to this particular post. You clearly never witnessed the abject surrenders away at man city and Liverpool where we'd lost before a ball was kicked, at Fulham where our lively and inventive assistant said clubs like stoke couldn't afford to play 2 wingers at places like Fulham or even places like West ham and Sunderland where we rolled over and had our bellies tickled whilst playing the likes of Danny Pugh at left back. Lets not even mention Valencia where he surrendered arguably one of the biggest games in our clubs history. He did well, with unprecedented backing from the chairman, but lets not pretend we were something we weren't. We gave many a good team a game at home. On our travels we surrendered to far too many a poor one. I hope we absolutely destroy them tomorrow and were we to do so, I'd revel in rubbing the noses of both pulis and the deluded Brazilians in it. John rudge on the other hand, well known lover of potteries football, is hoping tony teaches us a lesson tomorrow.
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Post by march4 on Aug 28, 2015 23:36:50 GMT
"put this in the oatcake" Along with a bit of balance, as well Admin! Yes, he did ALL of those things and they were great times. He also did a lot of stupid things as well: team selection, failure to handle flair players, abject surrender and betrayal of fans at Valencia away, failure to achieve next level stage, 2 years of stagnant dross. He wasn't out of this world but he was committed and he took us on a journey. Then he lost his way and paid the price. He didn't lose his way!!!!! He arrived in Valencia with the rest of the squad.
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Post by chamberlain on Aug 28, 2015 23:38:39 GMT
Clap him when he goes to the dug out,,,, yep, fair play after that, he is just another manager Why don't some fans understand this
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Post by Fred Ferret on Aug 28, 2015 23:39:16 GMT
"put this in the oatcake" Along with a bit of balance, as well Admin! Yes, he did ALL of those things and they were great times. He also did a lot of stupid things as well: team selection, failure to handle flair players, abject surrender and betrayal of fans at Valencia away, failure to achieve next level stage, 2 years of stagnant dross. He wasn't out of this world but he was committed and he took us on a journey. Then he lost his way and paid the price. He didn't lose his way!!!!! He arrived in Valencia with the rest of the squad. March, that's either you being mischievous or you re-writing history.
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Post by riponstokie on Aug 28, 2015 23:40:30 GMT
"put this in the oatcake" Along with a bit of balance, as well Admin! Yes, he did ALL of those things and they were great times. He also did a lot of stupid things as well: team selection, failure to handle flair players, abject surrender and betrayal of fans at Valencia away, failure to achieve next level stage, 2 years of stagnant dross. He wasn't out of this world but he was committed and he took us on a journey. Then he lost his way and paid the price. Like any manager there were up's and downs, it's just that there were far more up's than downs under TP. Of course there were mistakes along the way. Valencia - he got that right my friend. We won the next two Prem fixtures and that was and is the priority I'm afraid. Tough decision but the right one as it proved.
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Aug 28, 2015 23:41:34 GMT
"put this in the oatcake" Along with a bit of balance, as well Admin! Yes, he did ALL of those things and they were great times. He also did a lot of stupid things as well: team selection, failure to handle flair players, abject surrender and betrayal of fans at Valencia away, failure to achieve next level stage, 2 years of stagnant dross. He wasn't out of this world but he was committed and he took us on a journey. Then he lost his way and paid the price. Valencia was the beginning of the end, spoke to a couple of mates who'd spent a fortune to go there and watch the game and the word they summed it up with was disgusted. That, and letting Bolton return the 5-0 dicking we gave them are unforgivable.
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Post by Fred Ferret on Aug 28, 2015 23:42:19 GMT
Clap him when he goes to the dug out,,,, yep, fair play after that, he is just another manager Why don't some fans understand this Vast majority DO understand that. What some, perhaps, sense is a desire by some to initiate a Tsunami of gratitude?
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Post by numpty40 on Aug 28, 2015 23:43:07 GMT
And "the greatest manager in our history" - Peter Coates I preferred you when you were more subtle march.
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Post by MarkWolstanton on Aug 28, 2015 23:44:32 GMT
Being brutally honest I'm almost too emotional to write anything that would make any sense re the great man's homecoming but I'll try! I personally will never understand some of the sheer hatred and bitterness from certain people on this board or among some of the Stoke support. For whatever reason I connected with him on all levels, loved his dogged determination, his will to win and be successful, his politics, ethics, and his never say die attitude. For over two decades, apart from a couple of brief flirtations with relative success we were shit, we were nowhere apart from in the wilderness and looked odds on to remain there forever..................until Peter Coates instigated (on two occasions) the appointment of TP as Stoke City manager. What a masterstroke. At long last we became a team, a club that didn't lose football matches without one hell of a scrap and actually won football matches by any means we could and I loved it. I couldn't care less how we did it ,we just did it and after years of being spineless, weak losers we became tough winners. The first season in the Prem was dream world. Every man and his dog had us nailed on to back down but not Tony, not his team and not our supporters. WE were all in it together, all of us against the rest of the world or so it felt. Spine tingling stuff that I will take to my grave and that I will always be forever grateful to Tony Pulis for. Beating Man shitty 1-0 with 10 men and the players completely knackered on 80 mins when four sides of the Brit came together , chanting C'mon Stoke C'mon Stoke and we saw the last 10 minutes out together as one, Wembley v Bolton, cup final v Man C, Europe, all fantastic achievements but for me as a lifelong Stoke City supporter since !969/70 I felt so so fucking proud of my team. A warm feeling inside. I don't think there is another man/manager that would have left his mother's death bed to come back and steer his team to victory as TP did on that night v Aston Villa. The man loved being Stoke City manager, he was proud to be Stoke City manager every single day that he was in the post and right up until his departure he was proud and rightly so. Whatever the whys and wherefores surrounding differing opinions on TP he gave his ALL to our great club and no matter what happens in the future he will go down as one of the greatest managers in the history of our great club and rightly so. I can't wait to welcome him back and he will receive a standing ovation from me and the rest of the Stoke support I'm sure but after the walk from the tunnel to the dugouts he's just another manager of an opposing club...............................Yeah, right. Dave Smudge Put this in the Oatcake Please You have only a few minutes ago been busily denouncing us as holding personal vendettas against people we don't actually know personally and now you want to advise us as to what to print in the fanzine? You are welcome to write to the letters page expressing your opinion of Tony Pulis but I wouldn't waste your times if the quality is the same as demonstrated in your posts above on the subject. I can promise you here and now that if it displays the moronic accusations regarding ourselves and people not as emotionally disturbed as you by the return of Tony Pulis (i.e. they are not Stoke supporters) it will be lining the litter bin within a time frame you can only wonder at. A rational view praising TP will be considered and may join the many hundreds of similar printed over the years.
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Post by Fred Ferret on Aug 28, 2015 23:46:41 GMT
"put this in the oatcake" Along with a bit of balance, as well Admin! Yes, he did ALL of those things and they were great times. He also did a lot of stupid things as well: team selection, failure to handle flair players, abject surrender and betrayal of fans at Valencia away, failure to achieve next level stage, 2 years of stagnant dross. He wasn't out of this world but he was committed and he took us on a journey. Then he lost his way and paid the price. Like any manager there were up's and downs, it's just that there were far more up's than downs under TP. Of course there were mistakes along the way. Valencia - he got that right my friend. We won the next two Prem fixtures and that was and is the priority I'm afraid. Tough decision but the right one as it proved. Well, there are very many who don't agree with the Valencia debacle/surrender. Many people consider that was an echo of the Pulis "bonus away game" attitude - which, in itself, demonstrated his limited ambition and inability to take the team on to the next level.
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Post by Titan Uranus on Aug 28, 2015 23:48:18 GMT
Being brutally honest I'm almost too emotional to write anything that would make any sense re the great man's homecoming but I'll try! I personally will never understand some of the sheer hatred and bitterness from certain people on this board or among some of the Stoke support. For whatever reason I connected with him on all levels, loved his dogged determination, his will to win and be successful, his politics, ethics, and his never say die attitude. For over two decades, apart from a couple of brief flirtations with relative success we were shit, we were nowhere apart from in the wilderness and looked odds on to remain there forever..................until Peter Coates instigated (on two occasions) the appointment of TP as Stoke City manager. What a masterstroke. At long last we became a team, a club that didn't lose football matches without one hell of a scrap and actually won football matches by any means we could and I loved it. I couldn't care less how we did it ,we just did it and after years of being spineless, weak losers we became tough winners. The first season in the Prem was dream world. Every man and his dog had us nailed on to back down but not Tony, not his team and not our supporters. WE were all in it together, all of us against the rest of the world or so it felt. Spine tingling stuff that I will take to my grave and that I will always be forever grateful to Tony Pulis for. Beating Man shitty 1-0 with 10 men and the players completely knackered on 80 mins when four sides of the Brit came together , chanting C'mon Stoke C'mon Stoke and we saw the last 10 minutes out together as one, Wembley v Bolton, cup final v Man C, Europe, all fantastic achievements but for me as a lifelong Stoke City supporter since !969/70 I felt so so fucking proud of my team. A warm feeling inside. I don't think there is another man/manager that would have left his mother's death bed to come back and steer his team to victory as TP did on that night v Aston Villa. The man loved being Stoke City manager, he was proud to be Stoke City manager every single day that he was in the post and right up until his departure he was proud and rightly so. Whatever the whys and wherefores surrounding differing opinions on TP he gave his ALL to our great club and no matter what happens in the future he will go down as one of the greatest managers in the history of our great club and rightly so. I can't wait to welcome him back and he will receive a standing ovation from me and the rest of the Stoke support I'm sure but after the walk from the tunnel to the dugouts he's just another manager of an opposing club...............................Yeah, right. Dave Smudge Put this in the Oatcake Please That ...without doubt ... Is one of the greatest posts this messageboard has ever known. ... It ought to be placed alongside Robert Browning's works. Give our second greatest manager a fookin big round of applause tomorrow...please. This is from a PHW wine soaked thai fed stokie ...end
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