thepom
Youth Player
Posts: 333
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Post by thepom on Aug 3, 2018 12:24:41 GMT
So why are we as supporters so in doubt ....
Obviously we know our weaknesses - but are we over reacting to the difference in level from the premiership to the championship..
In theory we still have a premier league side albeit not a good one..
We all remember how hard it was to get promoted from the championship but because we have been above for so long - DO WE ACTUALLY FORGET how good our team / squad is compared to the other 70 odd teams in the leagues / the other championship sides who are still trying to emulate the 'Stoke City Dream' of been a premiership side for 10 years - yes we had a shocker and I think it has finally hit home with the players and that is why so many have renewed their contracts (where we as supporters were adamant that Allen / Butland / Shaqiri were certainties to leave...)
Our fringe out of form players (hopefully) will relish playing so many games against players who are not world class week in week out...
I've always been a half pint full not empty bloke - but after the initial depression of going down - I'm actually really looking forward to the season and how the players react to the championship - ( I honestly think there will be a few players who we did not expect of our squad who will do exceptionally well this season ...
Ok - now I've put a positive thread on the Oatcake !!!!
Now it's time for the usual suspects to shoot down everything above !!! (But I Believe !!!)
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Post by lstokie on Aug 3, 2018 12:41:34 GMT
It worries me that we are favourites, but I can see why we are.
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Post by gregstokie on Aug 3, 2018 12:43:56 GMT
In fairness we could ‘just’ finish second and it wouldn’t make any difference to us! Let’s just get back up!!
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Post by felonious on Aug 3, 2018 12:50:20 GMT
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Post by danceswithclams on Aug 3, 2018 12:51:12 GMT
So why are we as supporters so in doubt .... Obviously we know our weaknesses - but are we over reacting to the difference in level from the premiership to the championship.. In theory we still have a premier league side albeit not a good one.. We all remember how hard it was to get promoted from the championship but because we have been above for so long - DO WE ACTUALLY FORGET how good our team / squad is compared to the other 70 odd teams in the leagues / the other championship sides who are still trying to emulate the 'Stoke City Dream' of been a premiership side for 10 years - yes we had a shocker and I think it has finally hit home with the players and that is why so many have renewed their contracts (where we as supporters were adamant that Allen / Butland / Shaqiri were certainties to leave...) Our fringe out of form players (hopefully) will relish playing so many games against players who are not world class week in week out... I've always been a half pint full not empty bloke - but after the initial depression of going down - I'm actually really looking forward to the season and how the players react to the championship - ( I honestly think there will be a few players who we did not expect of our squad who will do exceptionally well this season ... Ok - now I've put a positive thread on the Oatcake !!!! Now it's time for the usual suspects to shoot down everything above !!! (But I Believe !!!) Be gone foul wretch. Are you not aware that Stoke City FC is the most shambolic, badly run, utter clusterfuck of a football club that has ever existed? If you know what's good for you, you'll be wishing that we go out of business and cease to exist sooner rather than later so as to prevent yourself from enduring a lifetime of disappointment. |
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Post by stokeyank on Aug 3, 2018 12:52:49 GMT
It's easy to choose us as the favorites. Decade in the top division, kept some high profile players, made bigger money signings (for the Championship).
On paper it looks the easy pick. Most know reality does not work that way.
I am still hopeful and optimistic for the season but I think most here have a reasonable amount of concern as well.
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Post by thegift on Aug 3, 2018 12:56:33 GMT
Sunday will tell us how serious we are.
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Post by nigerianstokie on Aug 3, 2018 12:58:45 GMT
That is the average of the 23 pundits they asked. |
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Post by JoeinOz on Aug 3, 2018 13:03:09 GMT
I don't get why we are such favourites. It's oblivious to several aspects of this division we are in.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 13:14:25 GMT
Sunday will tell us how serious we are. Yes, Sunday. After which we will be able to tell everything. |
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Post by thegift on Aug 3, 2018 13:18:45 GMT
Sunday will tell us how serious we are. Yes, Sunday. After which we will be able to tell everything. Not everything, but if we don't come out the blocks firing and were lacking quality in depth which they should of addressed in pre season then what do you expect |
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on Aug 3, 2018 13:30:12 GMT
Pundits and bookies got it dreadfully wrong last year believing the well run myth , fo rme they are Mile off I’d take 52 points now if offered
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Post by potteritk on Aug 3, 2018 14:10:27 GMT
I agree, be lucky to get into the top half at the moment.
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Post by Vadiation_Ribe on Aug 3, 2018 14:11:17 GMT
So why are we as supporters so in doubt .... We're closer to the club than any other club, and we don't realise there are probably 20 other clubs in the Championship who'd prefer to be in our position. I'm confident, anyway. We're favourites for a good reason, but the Championship is such a tough league to get out of, we could just as well struggle. Even if we struggle, worst-case scenario I think we have enough quality to challenge for the playoffs. If we finish mid-table it'll arguably take a worse season than last. |
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Post by PotterLog on Aug 3, 2018 14:14:58 GMT
"Last season, you may remember that our group of reporters correctly picked five of the top six finishers and three of the eventual bottom four."
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thepom
Youth Player
Posts: 333
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Post by thepom on Aug 3, 2018 14:31:35 GMT
So why are we as supporters so in doubt .... We're closer to the club than any other club, and we don't realise there are probably 20 other clubs in the Championship who'd prefer to be in our position. I'm confident, anyway. We're favourites for a good reason, but the Championship is such a tough league to get out of, we could just as well struggle. Even if we struggle, worst-case scenario I think we have enough quality to challenge for the playoffs. If we finish mid-table it'll arguably take a worse season than last. This is what i love about Stoke - we are so involved in what is going on - we actually forget the big picture !!! Obviously you know i'm an ex pat - and can see the big picture - the championship is worried about stoke ( but everyone in Stoke is worried about stoke !!! ) Sometimes it's dead easy looking at the big picture - ( But inside the Stoke bubble it's a nightmare !!! ) |
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Post by TexasPotter on Aug 3, 2018 14:36:13 GMT
I think if we get one or two more important players we can live up to expectations. Still want a DM and Winger if Knudsen is close as reported.
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thepom
Youth Player
Posts: 333
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Post by thepom on Aug 3, 2018 14:46:09 GMT
I still want players coming in - Defo
And wouldn't be surprised if Leeds beat us - Think this (after us) is the hardest match away
But when the players realise they don't have to mark players like - De Bruyne / Eriksen / Kane / Ozil / Sane / Salah etc - that will free our players to do what they are suppose to do !!!
I'm not worried at all - think we can still win the league with what we got but we do need players in and get rid of the deadwood ...
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Post by Vadiation_Ribe on Aug 3, 2018 14:51:48 GMT
I still want players coming in - Defo He'd certainly show Berahino where the net is. (I know what you meant  ) |
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thepom
Youth Player
Posts: 333
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Post by thepom on Aug 3, 2018 14:57:38 GMT
I still want players coming in - Defo He'd certainly show Berahino where the net is. (I know what you meant ) It's nice when your on the same level as someone else  |
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Post by Godo on Aug 3, 2018 16:38:18 GMT
Could be because we look as if we are going to struggle to score, struggle to keep clean sheets are short of 3 or 4 quality squad members and have a pile of shit on the bench. In some respects performance wise we still look the team that Lambert left. I don't accept the view that a midfield of generalist players will be good enough and feel in central midfield we are lacking creativity in the top half of the pitch and bite in our own half. If we play a #10 to ensure the striker isn't so isolated do we have 2 midfielders with the tackling and passing ability to compete against the 3 opposition midfielders who they may be playing against on a regular basis? On a wet midweek game at somewhere like Millwall or Ipswich ( have you seen how many ball winning midfielders mad Mick imported!?!) is this a team that can compete physically? Apart from McClean and Ryan who else do we have who is genuinely physically intimidating? We are not passing well enough to out play teams and we aren't physically strong enough to over power teams...………...so that's why our current squad aren't my favourites to go up!
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Post by JurgenVandeurzen on Aug 3, 2018 16:50:56 GMT
Strength in depth is my real concern.
Take this weekend for example - Pieters, Ndiaye, Afobe out.
I don't see anybody in our squad even close to the quality they offer.
Championship is a long slog - I think our depth may be our undoing this season.
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Post by superheroantonius on Aug 3, 2018 18:00:26 GMT
St Pauli are a middle ranking championship team in Germany
And they brushed us aside easily
We are going to need have improved dramatically in a week , to be promotion contenders
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 18:10:21 GMT
Sunday will tell us how serious we are. No it won't. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 18:10:50 GMT
St Pauli are a middle ranking championship team in Germany And they brushed us aside easily We are going to need have improved dramatically in a week , to be promotion contenders In a meaningless kick about. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 18:12:33 GMT
Strength in depth is my real concern. Take this weekend for example - Pieters, Ndiaye, Afobe out. I don't see anybody in our squad even close to the quality they offer. Championship is a long slog - I think our depth may be our undoing this season. Take three top players out of any championship side and they will be severely weakened. It's not just us. We cannot just wave a magic wand and have players sitting on the sidelines that are ready to come in but not weaken our first eleven. |
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Post by stokeykez on Aug 3, 2018 18:12:49 GMT
On paper we are mid table premier league. In reality we are not good at times. We need to find a winning mentality, don't piss about tip tapping and get more direct, breaking with pace( what we don't have)
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on Aug 3, 2018 18:13:01 GMT
Yes, Sunday. After which we will be able to tell everything. Not everything, but if we don't come out the blocks firing and were lacking quality in depth which they should of addressed in pre season then what do you expect Prepare tone very disappointed Sunday I’ don’t actually agree a fast star is key but making the right investment is and we’ve taken circa £8m value out of the squad in the last two summers selling assets and replacing them with lesser ones we deserve the season we are about to get on that basis |
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Post by stokeykez on Aug 3, 2018 18:13:45 GMT
Strength in depth is my real concern. Take this weekend for example - Pieters, Ndiaye, Afobe out. I don't see anybody in our squad even close to the quality they offer. Championship is a long slog - I think our depth may be our undoing this season. Take three top players out of any championship side and they will be severely weakened. It's not just us. We cannot just wave a magic wand and have players sitting on the sidelines that are ready to come in but not weaken our first eleven. Exactly injuries and we're reliant on fletcher, Adam and cameron |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2018 18:16:35 GMT
Take three top players out of any championship side and they will be severely weakened. It's not just us. We cannot just wave a magic wand and have players sitting on the sidelines that are ready to come in but not weaken our first eleven. Exactly injuries and we're reliant on fletcher, Adam and cameron Fletchers legs have pretty much gone and the quicker we replace him the better. In my opinion Adam and Cameron are plenty good enough to be on our bench in this division. |
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