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Post by sheikhmomo on May 22, 2017 10:06:26 GMT
3. Virtually an entirely joyless season where going started to feel a bit of a chore. Another horrendous start, confused tactics and even crazier player selection. Money pissed up the wall like a drunken sailor and a select bunch of untouchable players so assured of their place they were just going through the motions in the end. The amount of four goal hammering remains completely unacceptable and would embarrass a relegated side.
He’s staying that much is clear now so we have no option but to get behind him but I do fear that another shambles of a start will soon see the stadium turn toxic next season.
I want the 2015 version of Hughes back.
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on May 22, 2017 10:08:48 GMT
We haven't come close to reproducing it for 18 months though. That's an awful lot of faith to put in something that doesn't have a lot of recent evidence to back it up. We've needed an alternative to Whelan and to Pieters for years. We need a right back but have just given a new deal to a geriatric who isn't performing. The squad is so unbalanced that it isn't currently obvious which system would best suit it. These aren't new problems that have just materialised this season either. We beat both Manchester teams in December 2015, the first half against Man City producing the best football I've ever seen from Stoke City. That's 17 months ago even at the end of this season, but I take your point. Since then the management team have had to cope with injuries to key players in Butland, Johnson (2016), Shawcross, Bojan, Affelay, Shaqiri, Ireland and like it or not, Cameron. Throw in the mystery of Imbula and Bony, and a lot of best laid plans haven't worked out.
At some point we do need an alternative to Glenn, but it's not simple. A bigger problem is that we've never really replaced N'Zonzi, despite trying Van Ginkel, Imbula and Allen. Pieters needs competition and plays all the time. I suspect he plays a lot with niggles, but gets on with the job.
I believe the foundations are there if we get midfield right.
Injuries have been a feature for three consecutive seasons now though, at what point does that stop being a coincidence? Either way, problems arise and managers manage them. There's been a total lack of a coherent plan for a long time and no sign of one coming together. The number of defeats in which we've conceded three or more, our pathetic goals for tally since last January, the fact that less than half of the new players signed since the beginning of last season have started 10 or more games this term - what is there to feel confident about?
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Post by iglugluk on May 22, 2017 10:14:58 GMT
3. Too little coherence from the manager.
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Post by mrcoke on May 22, 2017 10:54:08 GMT
In the "olden days" when examinations were a lot tougher (before the days when "everyone" gets A and A*) the pass % was 40% and a some failed to pass.
Managing a Prem side is very tough and with Stoke achieving 10 points more than relegation and 2 points below 8th, then I think Hughes passed the exam, just, so 4 from me. However I do agree with a lot of the criticisms, but I am prepared to give him the benefit of doubt as I'm sure he would explain a lot of his actions 1 to 1 in private that he cannot say publicly.
I do feel though the players have let him down badly apart from Arni, Crouch, Grant, Butland, Indi, and Ramadan. Some have tried hard to limited effect like Allen, Bojan, Diouf, Berahino, and Bardsley, some are simply past their best, notably Pieters and Johnson, and some should be ashamed of their lack of contribution when given the chance, notably Imbula, and Bony.
As for Shaq, I don't know what category to file him! I've seen some great goals by him this season, one of the few high-lights. I suppose I have to "blame" Hughes for not using him to his best effect, when he is fit/wants to play.
2017/18 is going to really test Hughes and other officials at the club. We need a big overhaul of the defence; buying aging players out of contract is not going to be good enough. If we fail to sign Indi and replace the FBs we are in deep trouble. If we don't strengthen by replacing Whelan and Cameron with better quality, we will continue to be ineffective against quality sides in the top half of the table. Of these players only Cameron should be retained as a useful utility reserve.
Managers can't afford sentiment, and Hughes has to be ruthless this summer, but I dearly hope Hughes is prepared to give Bojan another chance.
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Post by Miles Offside on May 22, 2017 15:37:16 GMT
From Sparky to Krusty. Time to lose the clown-shoes, Mark.
3.5
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Post by nicholasjalcock on May 22, 2017 17:16:34 GMT
6 Fair to Mediocre. Has some very worrying habits e.g. dreadful starts, poor subs, discipline good to very poor depending on match, set pieces weak at both ends. His saving grace is that we're not in Sunderland's, Middlesboro''s, Hull's shoes(thank goodness).
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Post by dutchstokie on May 22, 2017 17:19:39 GMT
6
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