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Post by ted1965 on Jan 2, 2019 9:30:42 GMT
So 2019 begins the same way most of 2018 ended for Stoke supporters filled with frustration, disenchantment and wondering what the hell is going on.
The natives are restless it seems exactly the same scenario as we approached the third round of the cup last year, facing another banana skin moment against a lower league club. Will Gary Rowett face the same ultimate ending if we lose? I personally hope we destroy Shrewsbury but I have a feeling it will be another afternoon filled with boredom or worse.
I am not happy, seems to the anthem of the vast majority of my fellow supporters which is an understatement but how can we resolve this stagnation and put some smiles back on the faces of the faithful. The first thing would be a new approach to how this club was moving forward there Is so much deadwood and I am not talking about the squad here. I look at the bet365 model and I shake my head in despair. They are one of the most successful bookmakers in the world, huge profits and one can only assume that’s because they are using the best people available in positions to maximize their output. I guess they also need enough mug punters to fill the coffers who know very little about making money from betting. That said can someone from that company explain how we still have several people who have failed so miserably both in PR and recruitment which played its part in the club being relegated without much of a fight. I would assume that in the bet365 organization if the same failures had occurred those who had showed such ineptness would have been given their P-45 and shown the door. Yet both the main offenders still stalk the club with their ineptitude on show for all to see apart from those who employ them. The only conclusion one can come to is that those in charge don’t care or they are loyal beyond human endurance.
I would argue that Peter Coates legacy is once again in danger because while he has much credit in the bank from the last decade and younger supporters think of him in a very good light, those of us for whom his name was akin to something you trod in while out walking and couldn’t remove from your shoe no matter how much you cleaned it before his golden return. His first incarnation was like a Viking raid; the club was looted of what talent it had on a regular basis and usually at way below market value, apart from the Loud Macari relief breaks, grim was the word as promises were broken more often than a politician after he gains office. Those days seemed a distant and dark memory over the last 10 years as he righted many wrongs.
I know he’s no longer the main man but he is still one who carries the considerable can when he tries to placate supporters like towards the end of the Hughes regime. I always assumed these days of Championship football would return and I was pretty sure at some point it wouldn’t be pretty been there enough times over the years. What I didn’t see coming was the head in the sand casual approach to the plight we found ourselves in, as we slid out of the Premier league it seemed as if the only ones who actually cared were the supporters. We had promises of real change, 5 year plans and new horizons after Hughes was sacked; we got Paul Lambert and relegation.
We were promised lessons would be learned and changes would be made. The only change was a manager who once again seemed like an easy but safe pair of hands. He is a coveted championship manager we were told, one with a good track record and they were correct, from all I had heard and read he is a manager who is cautious and arrogant, believes his own publicity and lacks real imagination when behind the eight ball. I was told by some supporters from previous clubs too many draws and a lack of real imagination when it’s put up to him, that doesn’t scream success to me. when he arrived he made some very positive noises and I thought maybe he’s learned from his mistakes and we will benefit from it, it seems he hasn’t and here we are now, not out of the play off race but certainly not looking like a genuine contender.
We needed to change the direction of the clubs thinking, there is a wonderful wide world out there and we needed to find someone who had new ideas and was looking for a challenge. Considering we were willing to give a good amount of money to the new manager I can’t believe there weren’t better candidates with more forward thinking options available at the time. The lack of imagination to look beyond a very small pool of managerial candidates shows the lack of imagination in positions of power at Stoke City. They says a bad workman blames his tools, it seems to me we have a lot of tools who are bad workmen in too many positions of importance.
Like most supporters if we’re winning games we hold our noses even if the football isn’t the best positive results paper over the cracks it happened with Brian Little many years ago, once the results turned sour the collective good will disappeared. Gary Rowett doesn’t even have that to fall back on right now, yes we were unbeaten for 10 games but we hardly won any of them and the sterile nature of the play was mind numbingly boring. I prefer passing football but with a purpose not for the sake of it, watching players just passing for the sake of passing is as tedious as watching someone hoofing the ball into space with no clear purpose. I am sure some will think lets lose for the greater good of the club I am not in that small group, I want any manager who walks through the door to be a success whether I like him or not. I don’t have to spend time with the manager so whether he’s an asshole or not is irrelevant as long as he’s producing some decent football and winning enough games to keep us challenging. I honestly don’t think anything will change before the summer which means the process of moving forward will be once again stalled and even if it happens will we make a positive managerial change or will we simply check which one of the tired old brigade are available and parade yet another safe pair of hands with little imagination who will give us all the same old tired clichés about hard work and doing his best to bring back the moderate success we enjoyed not long ago.
Please change direction and allow some new free thinking ideas to breathe some life back into the club, supporters and more importantly behind the scenes we need it and we need it fast.
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Post by malteser68 on Jan 2, 2019 9:41:07 GMT
Well said and fully in agreement
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Post by stiggerstackle on Jan 2, 2019 9:47:26 GMT
The head-in-sand mentality is now deeply ingrained Ted, I genuinely don't think the Board give a flying fuck about the opinions of the fans - they will only be concerned when it hits them in the pocket or hits their brand (which relegation and this absolute shit-show must be doing).
Maybe we should all agree to boycott Bet365 - use Ladbrokes or something else instead for a while. I only have a weekly fiver on an acca, always with Bet365 and never think twice about it. If we could get the majority of season ticket holders to switch to rival companies, it'll soon be picked up by their metrics - maybe it's the only way to be heard.
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jan 2, 2019 10:09:21 GMT
The head-in-sand mentality is now deeply ingrained Ted, I genuinely don't think the Board give a flying fuck about the opinions of the fans - they will only be concerned when it hits them in the pocket or hits their brand (which relegation and this absolute shit-show must be doing). Maybe we should all agree to boycott Bet365 - use Ladbrokes or something else instead for a while. I only have a weekly fiver on an acca, always with Bet365 and never think twice about it. If we could get the majority of season ticket holders to switch to rival companies, it'll soon be picked up by their metrics - maybe it's the only way to be heard. Don’t think that would even register stigs. Bet365 are aglobal online organisation and any Stoke fans that bet with them are a mere drop in the ocean mate, As PL parachute payments dry up and we still have PL wages to pay season ticket sales will become much more important to the club. The club will certainly have this in the forefront of their thinking as season tickets go on sale for next season. |
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Post by GreaterGlasgowstokie on Jan 2, 2019 10:18:49 GMT
Well said.
I still believe that we are lucky to have Coates mk ii but the negativity is evident in choice of manager and our transfer policy overall.
QSF wanted assurances over wages if we got relegated, so we appoint paul lambert who had been failing in his career.
Then we appoint Rowett, a man with no track record of achievement whilst leeds appointed bielsa, a legend amongst coaches.
We took years to fill in the corner of the ground.
The club is riddled with a negative small time attitude and its up to the owners to change that.
We need positive action and a positive ambitious appointment
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 10:20:55 GMT
I won't be buying a season ticket, until some ambition is shown by the club. They could at the least make some sort of a show, by sacking this muppet managing the club at the moment.
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Post by philb on Jan 2, 2019 10:29:48 GMT
There will be a significant drop in attendances next season if we stay with the Clueless One and don’t get promoted. Thousands will just walk away, me included probably and my wife and daughter. Can’t justify spending a grand on watching that shower every week. It’s boring the pants off me. The powers that be will see it all too late though just like they did last season when they let us sleepwalk into this hell hole of a league. Sad state of affairs when it’s so obvious what’s wrong.
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Post by stiggerstackle on Jan 2, 2019 10:57:47 GMT
The head-in-sand mentality is now deeply ingrained Ted, I genuinely don't think the Board give a flying fuck about the opinions of the fans - they will only be concerned when it hits them in the pocket or hits their brand (which relegation and this absolute shit-show must be doing). Maybe we should all agree to boycott Bet365 - use Ladbrokes or something else instead for a while. I only have a weekly fiver on an acca, always with Bet365 and never think twice about it. If we could get the majority of season ticket holders to switch to rival companies, it'll soon be picked up by their metrics - maybe it's the only way to be heard. Don’t think that would even register stigs. Bet365 are aglobal online organisation and any Stoke fans that bet with them are a mere drop in the ocean mate, As PL parachute payments dry up and we still have PL wages to pay season ticket sales will become much more important to the club. The club will certainly have this in the forefront of their thinking as season tickets go on sale for next season. Absolutely a drop in the ocean, I agree Lawry - I don't think for a second that any local boycott will trouble them financially, but they will have detailed metrics on income across a whole host of demographics, including local spend / income - a sudden and noticeable drop may alert them to a drop in ST sales as you say - but at an earlier time than otherwise will be evident, otherwise they will just loiter too long and this season will be flushed down the toilet (if it already hasn't been)... |
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Post by wuzza on Jan 2, 2019 11:11:00 GMT
Fundamentally what is required is a little communication from those in control, perhaps acknowledging the current issues and maybe even giving a little insight into future plans.
Would help a lot.
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Post by stiggerstackle on Jan 2, 2019 11:14:05 GMT
Fundamentally what is required is a little communication from those in control, perhaps acknowledging the current issues and maybe even giving a little insight into future plans. Would help a lot. Talk to the rabble? Are you mad???  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 11:57:46 GMT
You talk about the Coates legacy but there is another legacy that is important for what the club still is today, namely the Pulis legacy. Most or all don't want Pulis back, even if he became available, but we could bring back some of his finest charges, as caretakers first and then we'll see if they stick. Although I think Shawcross will one day be our manager, it's just a step too soon. But we could try and bring Whelan back by appointing him as our caretaker with the option of getting the job fulltime. Or Walters, Huth, or Fuller.
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Post by stokiejoe on Jan 2, 2019 12:12:03 GMT
Excellent post again Ted, completely agree.
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Post by ursemboys on Jan 2, 2019 12:15:14 GMT
You talk about the Coates legacy but there is another legacy that is important for what the club still is today, namely the Pulis legacy. Most or all don't want Pulis back, even if he became available, but we could bring back some of his finest charges, as caretakers first and then we'll see if they stick. Although I think Shawcross will one day be our manager, it's just a step too soon. But we could try and bring Whelan back by appointing him as our caretaker with the option of getting the job fulltime. Or Walters, Huth, or Fuller. Give over you say its to soon for Shawcross then say give it Whelan, make your mind up and before you say it i know Whelan is two years older and then to even suggest the most undisciplined laid back individual to ever to play for stoke is just to much even if he is a legend. |
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Post by dirtygary69 on Jan 2, 2019 12:48:07 GMT
The more you think about it, the more it destroys you. No creativity, few goals, a piss-poor defence and all with an ignorant, arrogant tosser at the wheel. Right now, I'm struggling to find any motivation to even imagine going to another game with him in charge, especially after going to Bolton on Saturday.
Is there a chance to rectify this and get back up the league? It seems a topsy-turvy division with no real standout teams. Leeds have been the pick of the bunch so far but everybody else seems to drop points to one another. If he wants to save his skin, he MUST change this system to try and win fans over. How the fucking hell he hasn't worked that out yet, God only knows.
He either has to go or be prepared to change. We limped to a 0-0 against a shocking Bolton side who were put to the sword 6-0 at Hull just days later. That alone would be enough to get him the sack, never mind it coming between two defeats and no goals against Birmingham and Bristol City.
It's soul destroying stuff. Yes we have had worse times but when we're the big fish and we have spent the money we have, I don't think it gets much more depressing than the shite that was served up over Christmas.
Appalling & pathetic all around at Stoke City Football Club.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 13:16:37 GMT
You talk about the Coates legacy but there is another legacy that is important for what the club still is today, namely the Pulis legacy. Most or all don't want Pulis back, even if he became available, but we could bring back some of his finest charges, as caretakers first and then we'll see if they stick. Although I think Shawcross will one day be our manager, it's just a step too soon. But we could try and bring Whelan back by appointing him as our caretaker with the option of getting the job fulltime. Or Walters, Huth, or Fuller. Give over you say its to soon for Shawcross then say give it Whelan, make your mind up and before you say it i know Whelan is two years older and then to even suggest the most undisciplined laid back individual to ever to play for stoke is just to much even if he is a legend. In what way are you just now trying to "breathe some positive life into the club"??? As for Fuller, he can definitely bring some positivity to the club, but whether he can stick, only time can tell. He's the sunshine effect, i.e. sunshine like solskjær. |
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 2, 2019 13:22:10 GMT
If spending money on transfer fees and having the highest wage bill in the league is a sign of ambition then we are a very ambitious championship club.
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Post by ursemboys on Jan 2, 2019 13:55:10 GMT
Give over you say its to soon for Shawcross then say give it Whelan, make your mind up and before you say it i know Whelan is two years older and then to even suggest the most undisciplined laid back individual to ever to play for stoke is just to much even if he is a legend. In what way are you just now trying to "breathe some positive life into the club"??? As for Fuller, he can definitely bring some positivity to the club, but whether he can stick, only time can tell. He's the sunshine effect, i.e. sunshine like solskjær. I agree Fuller would give us a boost for a game or two but that's about it ,has for breathing new life into the club ,its not my job to do that ,my money into the club contributes life into the club because without us we don't have a club. There are that many rumours etc going on its hard to really say what is needed . Is Rowett not been given the tools (start of the season) and i am not supporting him in anyway he may well have got himself sacked . Are the board interfering to much Are the players not performing or personally i think a fair few are not good enough and are the problem Defense is to slow which then needs the midfield to protect them which then isolates the attack. If we sack him then we need a new guy who can come in and forget this season and see what he has around him and rebuild with no pressure from the fans,make it clear he is here to sort the mess out and rebuild . I will even say i think Rowett could still be that man but he might have blown it now |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 15:04:57 GMT
I still cannot come to terms with the way the powers that be have allowed this to happen. Do they not care? It appears so!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Seymour Beaver on Jan 2, 2019 15:17:53 GMT
In what way are you just now trying to "breathe some positive life into the club"??? As for Fuller, he can definitely bring some positivity to the club, but whether he can stick, only time can tell. He's the sunshine effect, i.e. sunshine like solskjær. I agree Fuller would give us a boost for a game or two but that's about it ,has for breathing new life into the club ,its not my job to do that ,my money into the club contributes life into the club because without us we don't have a club. There are that many rumours etc going on its hard to really say what is needed . Is Rowett not been given the tools (start of the season) and i am not supporting him in anyway he may well have got himself sacked . Are the board interfering to much Are the players not performing or personally i think a fair few are not good enough and are the problem Defense is to slow which then needs the midfield to protect them which then isolates the attack. If we sack him then we need a new guy who can come in and forget this season and see what he has around him and rebuild with no pressure from the fans,make it clear he is here to sort the mess out and rebuild . I will even say i think Rowett could still be that man but he might have blown it now Martina, Williams, Etebo, Woods, Ince, Afobe and Mclean are all Rowett signings. That is seven out of Saturday's starting eleven. If they are not good enough then it's Rowett that's bringing players to the club who are not good enough. The question is always then asked "Ah, but is he the one making the signings?" As he was in employment at Derby and having just signed a new contract there I can't believe he would have agreed to come to Stoke only to be told what players he could and couldn't have. There's a malaise about the place - absolutely - but in terms of current performance and results there is only one point of responsibility as far as I'm concerned. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 16:18:03 GMT
In what way are you just now trying to "breathe some positive life into the club"??? As for Fuller, he can definitely bring some positivity to the club, but whether he can stick, only time can tell. He's the sunshine effect, i.e. sunshine like solskjær. I agree Fuller would give us a boost for a game or two but that's about it ,has for breathing new life into the club ,its not my job to do that It's the title of the thread therefore you could be expected to contribute in the spirit of it. But of course just moaning is always easier for the likes of you. There's plenty of depressing threads where you'll feel right at home. |
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Post by ursemboys on Jan 2, 2019 18:16:29 GMT
I agree Fuller would give us a boost for a game or two but that's about it ,has for breathing new life into the club ,its not my job to do that It's the title of the thread therefore you could be expected to contribute in the spirit of it. But of course just moaning is always easier for the likes of you. There's plenty of depressing threads where you'll feel right at home. Right so me giving my option is seen has moaning in your eyes and I should go and post on another depressing thread ,who the fuck are you to tell me where and what to post on any thread you clown ,and just a quick look at your quotes you don't do to bad yourself in the moaning stakes |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2019 6:28:56 GMT
It's the title of the thread therefore you could be expected to contribute in the spirit of it. But of course just moaning is always easier for the likes of you. There's plenty of depressing threads where you'll feel right at home. Right so me giving my option is seen has moaning in your eyes and I should go and post on another depressing thread ,who the fuck are you to tell me where and what to post on any thread you clown ,and just a quick look at your quotes you don't do to bad yourself in the moaning stakes But not in this thread |
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