Surprisingly I don’t seem to care, sad times.

[Milkie]

I have surprised myself tonight, a 200 mile round trip, couple of pints with a decent chat with friends and family in the cricket club and then an absolute comedy performance. The performance was that bad, I was surprised to find I no longer care, at the end we shrugged our shoulders and left. Maybe 2 years of dross have just worn me down to this. I certainly don’t feel the need to repeat the experience any time soon, and definitely feel that not renewing my season ticket of 15 years is a blessed relief. I had hoped that Stoke would come roaring back and make me feel that the decision was folly, but that looks a long way off. Maybe it’s the exiled Stokies that leave first, its an expensive and timely do, and with little cheer it’s easy to stay away. At the minute it feels like the end of a relationship that’s run it’s course, and with no green shoots of recovery insight , maybe it’s beyond rescuing. Sad times.

[loosestools]

Feel the same myself and I only have to travel 15 miles and Ive got a season card so I am obliged to go and endure this hapless bunch of clowns.

[mozzer]

Aug 22, 2018 23:07:40 GMT Milkie said:

I have surprised myself tonight, a 200 mile round trip, couple of pints with a decent chat with friends and family in the cricket club and then an absolute comedy performance. The performance was that bad, I was surprised to find I no longer care, at the end we shrugged our shoulders and left. Maybe 2 years of dross have just worn me down to this. I certainly don’t feel the need to repeat the experience any time soon, and definitely feel that not renewing my season ticket of 15 years is a blessed relief. I had hoped that Stoke would come roaring back and make me feel that the decision was folly, but that looks a long way off. Maybe it’s the exiled Stokies that leave first, its an expensive and timely do, and with little cheer it’s easy to stay away. At the minute it feels like the end of a relationship that’s run it’s course, and with no green shoots of recovery insight , maybe it’s beyond rescuing. Sad times.

Spot on,

I was the same last year, I knew what to expect before a ball was kicked so when the fat cow sang I was all but ready for it and I did not give a jot when we went down,

This year exactly the same, the happy clapping jcls were talking about promotion and I was consoling myself with finish in 10th we have had a good season

Think I may be spot on again after the start to the season

[Deleted]

I think that we will be lucky to stay in this division.

[Pricey]

I care because I remember how shit we were under Chris Kamara and Brian Little, and I don't want us to be that shit again.

I got a season card because even though I won't get to many games I felt like I was supporting the club at a time of uncertainty. They're making themselves very hard to support at the moment though.

I imagine this is our worst start to a Championship season for decades because even in 97/98 we started OK before beginning to flounder big-time in November.

My first game might be Birmingham City on 20th October and the 0-7 from that relegation season still somehow feels like yesterday. Horrible and we've sleep-walked into another crisis.

[mcw]

It’s human nature, you can’t fret or worry yourself consistently and therefore descend into an almost resigned state of abjectness. This is why the atmosphere is subdued, mute and limp- I am in an almost trance like state now when I go to a game- no excitement and just a resigned feeling of imminent disappointment.
Tonight has just confirmed that- why the hell should I be hopeful, in a state of excited anticipation etc only to have that hope extinguished and replaced by what can only be compared to heartache. Having no expectations dulls that to a point of resigned acceptance.
The only thing that can change that is good performances, wins and repeat,repeat,repeat until my faith is back. That’s not going to happen soon though based on what this stinking, festering mess looks like.

[royegg]

That's the sad thing . Ive tried to get angry about it but just keep laughing at how crap we have become. No Pride No Passion NO IDEA

[lloydcolesguitar]

Its strange because i was desperate for us to stay in the PL to the extent it affected my health, stupid i know but there it is.Now we are relegated i am strangely at peace even if there is the threat of the third tier now looming. I love SCFC but why should i get stressed over summat i cannot control. Hughes didnt care, pizza lad and teflon dont and the family dont
The only person from the management who did was TP and he is probably laughing at us now.

[Gary Hackett]

Aug 23, 2018 1:07:40 GMT lloydcolesguitar said:

Its strange because i was desperate for us to stay in the PL to the extent it affected my health, stupid i know but there it is.Now we are relegated i am strangely at peace even if there is the threat of the third tier now looming. I love SCFC but why should i get stressed over summat i cannot control. Hughes didnt care, pizza lad and teflon dont and the family dont
The only person from the management who did was TP and he is probably laughing at us now.

I'd say they all care very much but are too out of touch and / or arrogant to know what the answers are.

[lloydcolesguitar]

Aug 23, 2018 1:11:23 GMT Gary Hackett said:

Aug 23, 2018 1:07:40 GMT lloydcolesguitar said:

Its strange because i was desperate for us to stay in the PL to the extent it affected my health, stupid i know but there it is.Now we are relegated i am strangely at peace even if there is the threat of the third tier now looming. I love SCFC but why should i get stressed over summat i cannot control. Hughes didnt care, pizza lad and teflon dont and the family dont
The only person from the management who did was TP and he is probably laughing at us now.

I'd say they all care very much but are too out of touch and / or arrogant to know what the answers are.

Charisma definately was arrogant

[kustokie]

I have a 7,000 mile round-trip and non-refundable ticket. Any suggestions?

[NassauDave]

Aug 22, 2018 23:07:40 GMT Milkie said:

I have surprised myself tonight, a 200 mile round trip, couple of pints with a decent chat with friends and family in the cricket club and then an absolute comedy performance. The performance was that bad, I was surprised to find I no longer care, at the end we shrugged our shoulders and left. Maybe 2 years of dross have just worn me down to this. I certainly don’t feel the need to repeat the experience any time soon, and definitely feel that not renewing my season ticket of 15 years is a blessed relief. I had hoped that Stoke would come roaring back and make me feel that the decision was folly, but that looks a long way off. Maybe it’s the exiled Stokies that leave first, its an expensive and timely do, and with little cheer it’s easy to stay away. At the minute it feels like the end of a relationship that’s run it’s course, and with no green shoots of recovery insight , maybe it’s beyond rescuing. Sad times.

This is particularly sad and unfair. This is not a sick dog that we are talking about, it’s the second oldest professional football club on the fucking planet.

These over paid lazy fucking twats don’t deserve your support Milkie , or any of our support .

ROWETT AND PETER COATES PLEASE READ THIS. ITS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND THE DEAD WOOD AND OVER THE HILL PLAYERS MUST GO NOW.

THIS IS OUR FOOTBALL CLUB, NOT YOUR FUCKING HOBBY. SORT THESE CUNTS OUT NOW, AND STOP TRACKING PLAYERS THAT WE DONT NEED.

HINT, WE NEVER LOOK LIKE SCORING AND WE NEVER LOOK LIKE CREATING CHANCES.

As a small aside, our defence is FUCKING SHITE.

[SteveWyman]

Aug 23, 2018 1:22:17 GMT kustokie said:

I have a 7,000 mile round-trip and non-refundable ticket. Any suggestions?

Alton Towers, then a night in Lace?

[kustokie]

Deck chairs and the Titanic come to mind.

[Deleted]

I am thinking about giving up also ..... What is the fucking point?

I SAID WHAT IS THE FUCKING POINT"!!

[FbrgVaStkFan]

Aug 23, 2018 1:22:17 GMT kustokie said:

I have a 7,000 mile round-trip and non-refundable ticket. Any suggestions?

Skip the game. Next question.

[crowey]

..... just been talking to a Pompey fan & he say's we'll swapping places with them. I'm afraid I think he's right

[Linx]

Aug 22, 2018 23:07:40 GMT Milkie said:

I have surprised myself tonight, a 200 mile round trip, couple of pints with a decent chat with friends and family in the cricket club and then an absolute comedy performance. The performance was that bad, I was surprised to find I no longer care, at the end we shrugged our shoulders and left. Maybe 2 years of dross have just worn me down to this. I certainly don’t feel the need to repeat the experience any time soon, and definitely feel that not renewing my season ticket of 15 years is a blessed relief. I had hoped that Stoke would come roaring back and make me feel that the decision was folly, but that looks a long way off. Maybe it’s the exiled Stokies that leave first, its an expensive and timely do, and with little cheer it’s easy to stay away. At the minute it feels like the end of a relationship that’s run it’s course, and with no green shoots of recovery insight , maybe it’s beyond rescuing. Sad times.

Exactly how I felt. A 180 miles round trip to end up feeling embarrassed (by association) and ultimately numbed into indifference. From the dire performance, the comical goals, and the ugly mood in the stands, it was a thoroughly soul-sapping experience. The only positive was that the A50 homewards wasn’t closed for roadworks as seems to be the norm after night games.

I did continue my ST, however, so feel at least financially obliged to make the effort again on Saturday, as well as there still being that ever-diminishing flicker of hope. But how many games like this can I endure before deciding that the effort just isn’t worth being made to feel like shit? But part of football is taking the rough with the smooth, I suppose, and I like to think I have never been a fair weather supporter. We can only hope that Saturday’s fixture becomes the game that starts to turn our season around, rather than providing the equally misfiring Hull with that experience.

[samba :)]

i think the team has to be either good(most of the hughes era) or passionate (most of the tone era) for the stoke fans too be interested/involved.

I am being a bit of a fair weather supporter and watching on tele every week myself though

[Deleted]

We are infested with a load of money grabbing twats who don’t want to be here and are sucking the life out of the club, it’s hard to care too much at the moment.

[Deleted]

We must be bad, to say the very least. In Ibiza, and couldn't find the result till it was over. I said to my wife, I'm going to watch Stoke tonight, but couldn't find anywhere with it on. Blessed relief that was, because I was in a bad enough mood, when I eventually found the score. If I had of watched, I definitely would have been in an even fouler mood. Not going this season, irrespective. I really think I've had enough! Not one player in the squad, that makes me want to return. Says it all really!

[metalhead]

Aug 22, 2018 23:19:48 GMT Pricey said:

I care because I remember how shit we were under Chris Kamara and Brian Little, and I don't want us to be that shit again.

I got a season card because even though I won't get to many games I felt like I was supporting the club at a time of uncertainty. They're making themselves very hard to support at the moment though.

I imagine this is our worst start to a Championship season for decades because even in 97/98 we started OK before beginning to flounder big-time in November.

My first game might be Birmingham City on 20th October and the 0-7 from that relegation season still somehow feels like yesterday. Horrible and we've sleep-walked into another crisis.

I would say we're deep into the crisis already mate.....

[Paul Spencer]

Well I'm feeling utterly despondent, I woke up this morning and it feels worse than the day we were relegated.

We're in a far worse situation now than we were 4 months ago.

Of course then there was the terrible disappointment of our Premiership dream ending but that was tempered with the genuine (and legitimate) hope that we would go into the following season and be soon remembering what it was like to win games again, as we mounted a serious promotion push, on the back of being one of the major players in the transfer window.

There is none of that now, just an awful feeling of dread.

[Lakeland Potter]

Milkie has pretty much summed up my feelings at the moment. I too gave up my season ticket this summer. Not, to tell the truth, because we got relegated - I gave it up for health reasons and the decision was taken long before relegation was a fact. The 270 mile round trip 20+ times a season really wasn't doing me any good and I was getting home (especially after night matches) feeling more dead than alive.

But, despite the lack of a season ticket I always intended (and still intend) to make it to some games each season. But the way the team is playing (or isn't playing!) at the moment I'm not getting the urge to make the trip to Stoke any time soon.

If I still lived in North Staffordshire I expect I would still be one of the faithful who make the pilgrimage to the ground on matchdays - even if it was only out of habit. I wouldn't feel too bad about giving up 3 hours of my time to support the club I have supported for over 60 years. But now that each game takes up pretty much 9 or 10 hours of my life, they are going to have to play with a damned sight more passion than they are showing at the moment, if they want to see me for more than a couple of times this season.

Who to blame? No one person is to blame and I don't buy the theory that the owners don't care. I think I blame Hughes and senior admin staff and the transfer debacles over the past few years for where we are now. I never expected us to stay in the Premier League for ever - but I did expect that, when we got relegated, we would be able to ship out our highest waged players for reasonable money and use that money to rebuild. The opposite has happened, the players who cost us the most to buy tend to earn the most and tend to be on the longest contracts - and with a few exceptions - they are so poor that nobody wants them! Until they drop off the wage bill I don't see us turning things round in any meaningful way. I remember marveling at the way some PL clubs had mismanaged their transfers so as to give themselves serious problems when relegation happened - I never thought we'd be one of them. But we are - and getting out of the hole we have dug for ourselves will not be quick or easy.

[wagsastokie]

Aug 23, 2018 0:53:03 GMT royegg said:

That's the sad thing . Ive tried to get angry about it but just keep laughing at how crap we have become. No Pride No Passion NO IDEA

Just about sums it up

I’ve gone from frustration to anger
Followed by bewilderment to Total apathy

And now it’s becoming a parody and is becoming amusing
(In a bad way )

[maliciousdamage]

Aug 23, 2018 7:28:46 GMT @robo51 said:

We must be bad, to say the very least. In Ibiza, and couldn't find the result till it was over. I said to my wife, I'm going to watch Stoke tonight, but couldn't find anywhere with it on. Blessed relief that was, because I was in a bad enough mood, when I eventually found the score. If I had of watched, I definitely would have been in an even fouler mood. Not going this season, irrespective. I really think I've had enough! Not one player in the squad, that makes me want to return. Says it all really!

My young lad is fast becoming bored with it now and many other people last night were saying their young kids wanted to leave at half time, like they know there’s no way back or excitement to come in the second half! I myself are becoming more and more disillusioned with football as a whole the whole Premier League/Champs League wank fest the money grabbing players the money grabbing agents and dinosaurs running the clubs still creaming off the cash. At least if the team was playing well and winning a few games it might take the edge off..it’s sad 😞

[leicspotter]

Aug 23, 2018 9:27:48 GMT Lakeland Potter said:

Milkie has pretty much summed up my feelings at the moment. I too gave up my season ticket this summer. Not, to tell the truth, because we got relegated - I gave it up for health reasons and the decision was taken long before relegation was a fact. The 270 mile round trip 20+ times a season really wasn't doing me any good and I was getting home (especially after night matches) feeling more dead than alive.

But, despite the lack of a season ticket I always intended (and still intend) to make it to some games each season. But the way the team is playing (or isn't playing!) at the moment I'm not getting the urge to make the trip to Stoke any time soon.

If I still lived in North Staffordshire I expect I would still be one of the faithful who make the pilgrimage to the ground on matchdays - even if it was only out of habit. I wouldn't feel too bad about giving up 3 hours of my time to support the club I have supported for over 60 years. But now that each game takes up pretty much 9 or 10 hours of my life, they are going to have to play with a damned sight more passion than they are showing at the moment, if they want to see me for more than a couple of times this season.

Who to blame? No one person is to blame and I don't buy the theory that the owners don't care. I think I blame Hughes and senior admin staff and the transfer debacles over the past few years for where we are now. I never expected us to stay in the Premier League for ever - but I did expect that, when we got relegated, we would be able to ship out our highest waged players for reasonable money and use that money to rebuild. The opposite has happened, the players who cost us the most to buy tend to earn the most and tend to be on the longest contracts - and with a few exceptions - they are so poor that nobody wants them! Until they drop off the wage bill I don't see us turning things round in any meaningful way. I remember marveling at the way some PL clubs had mismanaged their transfers so as to give themselves serious problems when relegation happened - I never thought we'd be one of them. But we are - and getting out of the hole we have dug for ourselves will not be quick or easy.

John, hope your health improves very soon...one thing is sure, watching Stoke at the moment will not make you feel any better, so staying away is probably the best bet

I have to believe it WILL improve and then those trips won't seem so painful

[skip]

Timed a 340 mile round trip family visit to coincide with the match, convinced my eldest to join me at the match and he was persuading me to stay at half time not the other way round, and he's not massively into football. My first game of the season and the way I feel right now, the last.

[stokeson]

Snowflakes. The lot of yer. Been traveling 2hrs in and 2hrs out for 27 yrs and most of it was shit. Your a Stoke fan or your not end off. but this after 4 shit games with a new manager ..Alan Ball ,,,,,,,,,I was there.

[Deleted]

Aug 23, 2018 9:27:48 GMT Lakeland Potter said:

Milkie has pretty much summed up my feelings at the moment. I too gave up my season ticket this summer. Not, to tell the truth, because we got relegated - I gave it up for health reasons and the decision was taken long before relegation was a fact. The 270 mile round trip 20+ times a season really wasn't doing me any good and I was getting home (especially after night matches) feeling more dead than alive.

But, despite the lack of a season ticket I always intended (and still intend) to make it to some games each season. But the way the team is playing (or isn't playing!) at the moment I'm not getting the urge to make the trip to Stoke any time soon.

If I still lived in North Staffordshire I expect I would still be one of the faithful who make the pilgrimage to the ground on matchdays - even if it was only out of habit. I wouldn't feel too bad about giving up 3 hours of my time to support the club I have supported for over 60 years. But now that each game takes up pretty much 9 or 10 hours of my life, they are going to have to play with a damned sight more passion than they are showing at the moment, if they want to see me for more than a couple of times this season.

Who to blame? No one person is to blame and I don't buy the theory that the owners don't care. I think I blame Hughes and senior admin staff and the transfer debacles over the past few years for where we are now. I never expected us to stay in the Premier League for ever - but I did expect that, when we got relegated, we would be able to ship out our highest waged players for reasonable money and use that money to rebuild. The opposite has happened, the players who cost us the most to buy tend to earn the most and tend to be on the longest contracts - and with a few exceptions - they are so poor that nobody wants them! Until they drop off the wage bill I don't see us turning things round in any meaningful way. I remember marveling at the way some PL clubs had mismanaged their transfers so as to give themselves serious problems when relegation happened - I never thought we'd be one of them. But we are - and getting out of the hole we have dug for ourselves will not be quick or easy.

join the club .i did this earlier and got pilloried for it. I also got pilloried for suggesting we pay the deadwood off just to get rid of them because they are not assets that have become liabilities, they are now toxic liabilities poisoning the clubs entire future.