Is Relegation a Possibility?

[Trouserdog]

I know, i know...this is the sort of thread title that would usually have me spitting out my coco-pops in laughter at the usual overreaction to one defeat. However, when I look at our squad, I can't help but think that in the worst case scenario we're not that far removed from a relegation side.

Difficult to believe when you start looking at who we still have on our books, but we had them all last season too and there were certain points during the season when the 'R' word did start to get mentioned. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how high the players' reputations are on an individual basis, we've seen time and time again how they don't make any sort of cohesive collective, whether that's down to poor tactics, poor attitudes or just a collection of players who have absolutely no connection with each other on the pitch.

The strikeforce worries me more than anything. Afobe and Vokes look like a modern day partnership of Vincent Pericard and Keith Scott. I don't think it matters who else you've got in your team if the front men are such complete and utter duffers as you're never going to score enough goals. To compensate for this, you'd think a midfield of Nick Powell, Joe Allen and Peter Etebo would be more than good enough for a Premier League side, let alone a championship one, but there are huge question marks over Allen's consistency, Etebo has made a few murmurs in the past about moving on, and nobody can be sure how well Powell's going to fit in.

I'm not going to start another rant about McClean, but the likes of Clucas and Woods aren't that much better than him, while Cousins has arrived with a reputation of being the epitome of mediocre.

The defence is another worry. we don't have a left back other than the geriatric Ward, the manager seems to have convinced himself that our one good full-back needs replacing with someone who's not as good, while the centre-back situation isn't exactly stable either.

Overall, I'd still probably say there are enough pockets of quality in that side (the midfield's decent on the whole) to get at least 50-something points, but there are also huge chasms of worry that I can't see being addressed for one reason or another.

Do I need to go for a lie down, or has the possibility of another 89/90 or 97/98 catastrophe entered anyone else's mind?

[heworksardtho]

Aug 6, 2019 18:59:01 GMT Trouserdog said:

I know, i know...this is the sort of thread title that would usually have me spitting out my coco-pops in laughter at the usual overreaction to one defeat. However, when I look at our squad, I can't help but think that in the worst case scenario we're not that far removed from a relegation side.

Difficult to believe when you start looking at who we still have on our books, but we had them all last season too and there were certain points during the season when the 'R' word did start to get mentioned. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how high the players' reputations are on an individual basis, we've seen time and time again how they don't make any sort of cohesive collective, whether that's down to poor tactics, poor attitudes or just a collection of players who have absolutely no connection with each other on the pitch.

The strikeforce worries me more than anything. Afobe and Vokes look like a modern day partnership of Vincent Pericard and Keith Scott. I don't think it matters who else you've got in your team if the front men are such complete and utter duffers as you're never going to score enough goals. To compensate for this, you'd think a midfield of Nick Powell, Joe Allen and Peter Etebo would be more than good enough for a Premier League side, let alone a championship one, but there are huge question marks over Allen's consistency, Etebo has made a few murmurs in the past about moving on, and nobody can be sure how well Powell's going to fit in.

I'm not going to start another rant about McClean, but the likes of Clucas and Woods aren't that much better than him, while Cousins has arrived with a reputation of being the epitome of mediocre.

The defence is another worry. we don't have a left back other than the geriatric Ward, the manager seems to have convinced himself that our one good full-back needs replacing with someone who's not as good, while the centre-back situation isn't exactly stable either.

Overall, I'd still probably say there are enough pockets of quality in that side (the midfield's decent on the whole) to get at least 50-something points, but there are also huge chasms of worry that I can't see being addressed for one reason or another.

Do I need to go for a lie down, or has the possibility of another 89/90 or 97/98 catastrophe entered anyone else's mind?

With this lot in charge anything is possible

[stokefan1972]

No because someone just said give Jones 3 years

[benjaminbiscuit]

Said week ago 50 -55 Points again more than 55 progress so the margin for error isn’t Great , I’m form alone we are tracking below last year so it absolutely is ,

They have to stick with Jones regardless others need to be held to account first

[lordb]

Saturday's performance was so shocking that this has to be considered.

However it was only one game.

[stokefan1972]

You can't hold John responsible

[lordb]

Aug 6, 2019 19:01:46 GMT benjaminbiscuit said:

Said week ago 50 -55 Points again more than 55 progress so the margin for error isn’t Great , I’m form alone we are tracking below last year so it absolutely is ,

They have to stick with Jones regardless others need to be held to account first

'others'

Only one man is the issue

[Bojan Mackey]

It’s an alarming possibility.

We finished the season in the manner of a relegated side and we have started this one as if we haven’t had a break in the middle.

[silverdollar]

Anyone who gives this post any Creedance needs to find something else to do on a Saturday afternoon! Stoke will finish in the top half of the table!

[stokefan1972]

Aug 6, 2019 19:08:02 GMT silverdollar said:

Anyone who gives this post any Creedance needs to find something else to do on a Saturday afternoon! Stoke will finish in the top half of the table!

I hope you are right

[stoke60]

Don't think there's any doubt about it. This side with this Manager trying to play a formation that just isn't working spells trouble.

[mcw]

Aug 6, 2019 19:08:02 GMT silverdollar said:

Anyone who gives this post any Creedance needs to find something else to do on a Saturday afternoon! Stoke will finish in the top half of the table!

Who knows, if they play like Saturday consistently then relegation is a real possibility and anyone who puts their heads in the sand and things wealthy backers means we can avoid the drop is a moron. We are low on confidence, fight and spirit at this point in time.

[FullerMagic]

www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/relegation
20/1 seems on the generous side given out lack of goals and calendar year record.

[thehoof]

I have said several times that there will be no half way house this season.
Jones will either get it to work and we will be top 6 ( where anything is possible) or it will be such a gigantic clusterf***, we will be feeding the fishes.
10 games in we will know.

[Mr_DaftBurger]

Aug 6, 2019 18:59:01 GMT Trouserdog said:

Do I need to go for a lie down, or has the possibility of another 89/90 or 97/98 catastrophe entered anyone else's mind?

it hadn't but it has now you bastard!

When Tom Ince comes on and looks like Maradona, compared to the rest, it's time to worry!

[sheikhmomo]

Aug 6, 2019 18:59:01 GMT Trouserdog said:

I know, i know...this is the sort of thread title that would usually have me spitting out my coco-pops in laughter at the usual overreaction to one defeat. However, when I look at our squad, I can't help but think that in the worst case scenario we're not that far removed from a relegation side.

Difficult to believe when you start looking at who we still have on our books, but we had them all last season too and there were certain points during the season when the 'R' word did start to get mentioned. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how high the players' reputations are on an individual basis, we've seen time and time again how they don't make any sort of cohesive collective, whether that's down to poor tactics, poor attitudes or just a collection of players who have absolutely no connection with each other on the pitch.

The strikeforce worries me more than anything. Afobe and Vokes look like a modern day partnership of Vincent Pericard and Keith Scott. I don't think it matters who else you've got in your team if the front men are such complete and utter duffers as you're never going to score enough goals. To compensate for this, you'd think a midfield of Nick Powell, Joe Allen and Peter Etebo would be more than good enough for a Premier League side, let alone a championship one, but there are huge question marks over Allen's consistency, Etebo has made a few murmurs in the past about moving on, and nobody can be sure how well Powell's going to fit in.

I'm not going to start another rant about McClean, but the likes of Clucas and Woods aren't that much better than him, while Cousins has arrived with a reputation of being the epitome of mediocre.

The defence is another worry. we don't have a left back other than the geriatric Ward, the manager seems to have convinced himself that our one good full-back needs replacing with someone who's not as good, while the centre-back situation isn't exactly stable either.

Overall, I'd still probably say there are enough pockets of quality in that side (the midfield's decent on the whole) to get at least 50-something points, but there are also huge chasms of worry that I can't see being addressed for one reason or another.

Do I need to go for a lie down, or has the possibility of another 89/90 or 97/98 catastrophe entered anyone else's mind?

Still think it's unlikely but certainly not out of the question. It crossed my mind at about half three on Saturday and has stuck with me ever since and most teams I saw live over the weekend seem a lot better equipped than us for the battle ahead.

My biggest concerns revolve around the manager I'm afraid to say. He has an unshakeable belief in a system that is already virtually discredited with the players he has. He had an unshakeable self belief, which he patently failed to pass on to the players and their are now visible cracks in his own optimism and psyche.

It's all very worrying.

[silverdollar]

Aug 6, 2019 19:16:05 GMT mcw said:

Aug 6, 2019 19:08:02 GMT silverdollar said:

Anyone who gives this post any Creedance needs to find something else to do on a Saturday afternoon! Stoke will finish in the top half of the table!

Who knows, if they play like Saturday consistently then relegation is a real possibility and anyone who puts their heads in the sand and things wealthy backers means we can avoid the drop is a moron. We are low on confidence, fight and spirit at this point in time.

"Who knows"??????
I do! I will contact you come the end of the season! We shall see who the moron is!

[philb]

Aug 6, 2019 19:16:05 GMT mcw said:

Aug 6, 2019 19:08:02 GMT silverdollar said:

Anyone who gives this post any Creedance needs to find something else to do on a Saturday afternoon! Stoke will finish in the top half of the table!

Who knows, if they play like Saturday consistently then relegation is a real possibility and anyone who puts their heads in the sand and things wealthy backers means we can avoid the drop is a moron. We are low on confidence, fight and spirit at this point in time.

And to think both Jones and Coates say our aim is promotion this season. Unless finishing in the top half means we finish in the top six then anything less will be seen as a disaster.

[adamsson]

Yes.

The question we should be asking is "Is promotion a possibility?"

[jezzascfc]

Aug 6, 2019 18:59:01 GMT Trouserdog said:

I know, i know...this is the sort of thread title that would usually have me spitting out my coco-pops in laughter at the usual overreaction to one defeat. However, when I look at our squad, I can't help but think that in the worst case scenario we're not that far removed from a relegation side.

Difficult to believe when you start looking at who we still have on our books, but we had them all last season too and there were certain points during the season when the 'R' word did start to get mentioned. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how high the players' reputations are on an individual basis, we've seen time and time again how they don't make any sort of cohesive collective, whether that's down to poor tactics, poor attitudes or just a collection of players who have absolutely no connection with each other on the pitch.

The strikeforce worries me more than anything. Afobe and Vokes look like a modern day partnership of Vincent Pericard and Keith Scott. I don't think it matters who else you've got in your team if the front men are such complete and utter duffers as you're never going to score enough goals. To compensate for this, you'd think a midfield of Nick Powell, Joe Allen and Peter Etebo would be more than good enough for a Premier League side, let alone a championship one, but there are huge question marks over Allen's consistency, Etebo has made a few murmurs in the past about moving on, and nobody can be sure how well Powell's going to fit in.

I'm not going to start another rant about McClean, but the likes of Clucas and Woods aren't that much better than him, while Cousins has arrived with a reputation of being the epitome of mediocre.

The defence is another worry. we don't have a left back other than the geriatric Ward, the manager seems to have convinced himself that our one good full-back needs replacing with someone who's not as good, while the centre-back situation isn't exactly stable either.

Overall, I'd still probably say there are enough pockets of quality in that side (the midfield's decent on the whole) to get at least 50-something points, but there are also huge chasms of worry that I can't see being addressed for one reason or another.

Do I need to go for a lie down, or has the possibility of another 89/90 or 97/98 catastrophe entered anyone else's mind?

How very dare you - lessons have been learnt and there is nothing wrong with the process.

Any sane individual, and I am just about clinging on, had to have the R" word cross his mind at some stage on Saturday afternoon.

[potterpaul]

Aug 6, 2019 18:59:01 GMT Trouserdog said:

I know, i know...this is the sort of thread title that would usually have me spitting out my coco-pops in laughter at the usual overreaction to one defeat. However, when I look at our squad, I can't help but think that in the worst case scenario we're not that far removed from a relegation side.

Difficult to believe when you start looking at who we still have on our books, but we had them all last season too and there were certain points during the season when the 'R' word did start to get mentioned. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how high the players' reputations are on an individual basis, we've seen time and time again how they don't make any sort of cohesive collective, whether that's down to poor tactics, poor attitudes or just a collection of players who have absolutely no connection with each other on the pitch.

The strikeforce worries me more than anything. Afobe and Vokes look like a modern day partnership of Vincent Pericard and Keith Scott. I don't think it matters who else you've got in your team if the front men are such complete and utter duffers as you're never going to score enough goals. To compensate for this, you'd think a midfield of Nick Powell, Joe Allen and Peter Etebo would be more than good enough for a Premier League side, let alone a championship one, but there are huge question marks over Allen's consistency, Etebo has made a few murmurs in the past about moving on, and nobody can be sure how well Powell's going to fit in.

I'm not going to start another rant about McClean, but the likes of Clucas and Woods aren't that much better than him, while Cousins has arrived with a reputation of being the epitome of mediocre.

The defence is another worry. we don't have a left back other than the geriatric Ward, the manager seems to have convinced himself that our one good full-back needs replacing with someone who's not as good, while the centre-back situation isn't exactly stable either.

Overall, I'd still probably say there are enough pockets of quality in that side (the midfield's decent on the whole) to get at least 50-something points, but there are also huge chasms of worry that I can't see being addressed for one reason or another.

Do I need to go for a lie down, or has the possibility of another 89/90 or 97/98 catastrophe entered anyone else's mind?

Fucking hell, and I took a load of shit for suggesting promotion was passing us by.

[whakka]

Well all still be there if we do 😉

[march4]

Ball got us relegated and Jones reminds me of Ball.

[SamB_SCFC]

There are some definite alarm bells going off. The record under Jones in general is relegation form, that is beyond doubt. He was let off for it largely last season because he'd inherited a disjointed squad,a legacy of 4 years of poor recruitment and managerial changes. However he's now had a summer to bring in his own players and a pre season to practice his formation and from the evidence of the QPR game the fundamental weaknesses from last season still haven't been fixed and are startlingly evident. Our lack of pace, lack of goal threat, lack of a proper left back, poor ball retention etc. There's also a distinct whiff of dressing room disunity too and a sense that a lot of our players don't really want to be here and aren't exactly 100% committed to the cause.

I don't think we're likely to go down or anything like that. But there are enough warning signs to suggest it's possible.

[LankyPotter]

Relegation is as much of a possibility as promotion at this stage of the season, silly thread.

[mrcoke]

Nothing is impossible, even promotion, but people seem to forget that in terms of goals conceded Stoke were the fourth best team in the Championship last season. That was achieved despite conceding a lot of goals in the first 10 matches, having Martina at RB for most of the first half of the season, and Indi at LB for most of the second half.

On paper we actually have a stronger set of defenders than last season, how they are used and how well they play is of course another matter. If we make silly mistakes that conceded goals on Saturday or give the opposition free headers, we will concede more goals than last season.

A look at the final table shouts the reason we finished 16th, only 11 wins and very few goals scored.
We had 12 shots on Saturday which is not good enough, but more disturbing in just 1 shot on target. Their GK did not have 1 major save to make. That is very poor and relegation form.

We continue to have a very serious inability to create chances and a very poor conversion rate of the chances created. Jones managed to make Luton a high scoring team, but has clearly got a long way to go to turn us around.

[berahinosgoals]

It would be criminal for this group to get relegated, much much worse than managing to get relegated from the premiership, we have close to the biggest if not the biggest wage bill in the league.

It would be a fail of epic proportions. Cant see it happening.

I'm not sure where we are going to finish tbh. 1 game has been played, it was bad but teams improve

[spiderpuss]

The current win percentage rate of Jones is relegation, so yes it's a possibility. The next 8 games (until the second international break) are absolutely vital to get around at least 50% of the points available. If we carry on as we have then we will be in some bother.

[dreamtheater]

Watching that shambles last saturday and with the now inbuilt ability to fold like a deckchair against the most ordinary of opposition, the conlusion can only be . Yes.

[Deleted]

Yes, it's a massive possibility, and certainly more of a possibility than promotion.

Since Nathan Jones has been our manager we've shown nothing other than relegation form.