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Post by stokeoptimist on Dec 11, 2017 9:24:38 GMT
I can’t help thinking that maybe we are finally where we are supposed to be? In between the relegation dogfight and mid table medocrity. Everyone expected us to come straight back down but we defied the odds with a bulldog spirit, hostile atmosphere and pure Adrenalin. Then we had the heady few years of Stokealona football with a British spine and some nosebleed ninths. That’s all gone now, the adrenaline has run out, the atmosphere has calmed down and the shine has worn off the Premier dream. Maybe it is time for a change but I’m not sure it will make much difference. When you look around at other teams that are similar to us it all depends on whether your glass is half full or empty? 3 points off 10th or relegation?
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Post by Billy the kid on Dec 11, 2017 9:26:34 GMT
I can’t help thinking that maybe we are finally where we are supposed to be? In between the relegation dogfight and mid table medocrity. Everyone expected us to come straight back down but we defied the odds with a bulldog spirit, hostile atmosphere and pure Adrenalin. Then we had the heady few years of Stokealona football with a British spine and some nosebleed ninths. That’s all gone now, the adrenaline has run out, the atmosphere has calmed down and the shine has worn off the Premier dream. Maybe it is time for a change but I’m not sure it will make much difference. When you look around at other teams that are similar to us it all depends on whether your glass is half full or empty? 3 points off 10th or relegation? Form, look at the form and the crap served up and tell me honestly do we look closer to 3 points of 10th or 3 points off the bottom 3? |
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Post by cheshirepotter on Dec 11, 2017 9:33:54 GMT
No it is not where we are supposed to be. We can be much better than this but not if we keep on with this garbage system with the players we have. It should have been binned before it was started, it’s absolute bloody rubbish.
Why can’t Hughes see this?
We have the capability to be a solid mid table team pushing higher. Or at least we did when we had a purpose and a heart.
If we carry on the way we are going then we won’t be in this position either. Trap door beckons.
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Post by Billy the kid on Dec 11, 2017 9:38:16 GMT
No it is not where we are supposed to be. We can be much better than this but not if we keep on with this garbage system with the players we have. It should have been binned before it was started, it’s absolute bloody rubbish. Why can’t Hughes see this? We have the capability to be a solid mid table team pushing higher. Or at least we did when we had a purpose and a heart. If we carry on the way we are going then we won’t be in this position either. Trap door beckons. I think that is the most frustrating thing about it, we have the players to be much higher in the league and playing much better football. The constant use of a system that even the players don't feel comfortable with is insane. Yet he who manages can not see what we all can. |
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Post by cheshirepotter on Dec 11, 2017 9:44:18 GMT
This has been the case for several years, even back to the latter days under TP. We could have done more with what we have had. And the responsibility for the rubbish we keep turning out now lays fairly and squarely at the door of the management team. So if any of them can be bothered to read this, then get some discipline and backbone into the team. Play some players who give a damn. Sort out a formation that stops shipping goals. And then, just maybe, we have half a chance.
Rant over. I’m in Korea. It’s cold. It’s dark. And I’m off for a beer 🍺
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2017 10:50:38 GMT
I think our current squad is capable of a mid table finish and nothing more ( and that’s largely due to this year’s Prem League being fairly woeful outside the top six or seven ).
The problem is that the management team fail to utilise the players correctly, insisting on playing the three at the back shambles that none of the players seem suited to. Either Hughes admits he’s wrong and changes the system or he goes, until either of those happens we are in a real relegation fight which is a real worry as there’s not much fighting spirit at the moment.
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Post by Gods on Dec 11, 2017 11:00:48 GMT
I'd take somewhere between relegation and mid-table right now if someone offered it to me and regroup in the summer. I don't think our current squad is really even mid-table, it may well be the worst we've had since those first couple of years in the Prem when we did as you say survive on pure adrenalin. That's really been the problem in the last 2 or 3 years with the squad building, we've seen the broken eggs but there is no sign of the omelette  |
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Post by maliciousdamage on Dec 11, 2017 11:10:37 GMT
We have established ourselves in the Premier League in 10 years through grit and determination Hughes came in and changed the style and up until the Cup Semi at Liverpool it seemed to be working what I can't understand is what happened next:
Did he want to start spending in excess of 25m in today's market and the club said sorry we are trying to be self sufficient we'll find you players between 12m - 20m and he had to accept and work with that
Or
Did he somehow lose confidence when refs penalised defenders for holding and tried zonal marking and going three at the back at the expense of a second striker which clearly failed.
I just don't understand why he won't abandonthat now it seems as if he's become too arrogant in his own self belief to change back to what he started with. You'd think most managers would have said I'll hit reset and go back to start, I'm also amazed at how he said Berahino would be a 21 goal striker once fit but played him in obviously the wrong role with all the digital facilities you'd have thought he'd have dug out old footage of him and seen how and who he was playing with when he was on fire for me we should be between 8th and 12th if Burnley can be top 8 after less time in the league
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Post by TrentValePotter96 on Dec 11, 2017 11:38:37 GMT
given some of the teams in this league to give up our premier league space spot is wrong.
Get some ambition
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2017 11:38:54 GMT
You've bottled it.
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Post by lordb on Dec 11, 2017 11:44:44 GMT
Still nine sides threatened with relegation this year in my view so could put a run together and finish top of that nine hypothetically
Perhaps all nine should be relegated on basis all as bad as each other
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Post by Gordon Marshall on Dec 11, 2017 11:46:15 GMT
I have this feeling we will win at Burnley , home to West Ham and WBA. I think we will end up 12th
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Post by Edward Tattsyrup on Dec 11, 2017 11:50:09 GMT
Despite the shitstorm that has become our season, I don't think we will go down, even if Hughes stays. 15th for me.
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Post by Paul Spencer on Dec 11, 2017 12:08:13 GMT
I'd take somewhere between relegation and mid-table right now if someone offered it to me and regroup in the summer. I don't think our current squad is really even mid-table, it my well be the worst since those first couple of years in the Prem when we did as you say survive on pure adrenalin. That's really been the problem in the last 2 or 3 years with the squad building, we've seen the broken eggs but there is no sign of the omelette Yes I agree. I think this is easily the worst squad that Hughes has had since he's been here. I'm far from convinced that we've got the players to produce a mid table side. |
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Post by itsallgonepetetone on Dec 11, 2017 12:28:54 GMT
I think the squad we have is capable of scoring more goals keeping more clean sheets and getting more points. I have no issue coming 17th per say, if we play well, play hard and the teams above us are simply better. We are always going to be a 45 - 55 point club and year on year that will normally put us between 9th and 13th. That is our realistic position IMO.
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