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Post by terryconroysmagic on Apr 1, 2023 16:03:32 GMT
We obviously have a juicy budget Seems probable to me some of the loanees will sign again (one or two on loan again) and some won't no mither there are other good players to sign Agree but hopefully we don’t have to sign 5 or 6 totally new players as this team seems to be gelling very very well
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Post by lordb on Apr 1, 2023 16:04:38 GMT
We obviously have a juicy budget Seems probable to me some of the loanees will sign again (one or two on loan again) and some won't no mither there are other good players to sign Agree but hopefully we don’t have to sign 5 or 6 totally new players as this team seems to be gelling very very well Indeed
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Post by march4 on Apr 1, 2023 16:08:16 GMT
I told you all he’s a good manager. You’re welcome. Certainly looks that way. How do you think you would be doing if he had stayed? Same, better, worse? They’d have been promoted.
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Alex neil
Apr 1, 2023 16:08:42 GMT
via mobile
Post by collo68 on Apr 1, 2023 16:08:42 GMT
It really all depends on who we keep and who we sign. Good signs. Enjoying the watch, but still very very very early to say anything about next season. We don't even know if we will have 13 players contracted yet at the end of this season. Results like today will help with recruitment. Absolutely plus anyone else we might be interested in as they will see a genuine attempt at getting promoted
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Post by David Brent on Apr 1, 2023 16:28:30 GMT
Ok
I’ll Admit it
I was wrong
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Post by lordb on Apr 1, 2023 16:29:25 GMT
26 shots on goal today Away Against an in form side
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Apr 1, 2023 16:29:47 GMT
"Alex Neil press conference: That was a lot of fun? Neil: It was really pleasing. It was a different challenge in the fact we played against a back three. We haven't really done that since we changed our shape. It was always going to be a looser and more open game - I didn't really want to divulge that yesterday although we knew how we were going to play - so it was going to be a case of who damages who most.
I thought our start gave us that opportunity and to be honest the game should have been done by half time. We had four or five really, really good chances to put the game to bed. It was then quite even for 20, 25 minutes at the start of the second half and who scored the next goal was really going to decide the game: 2if we got it it was going to be game over, if they got it it was going to be game on.
I could have made it more cagey to protect a two-goal lead but given the stage of the season and the way we're playing at the moment, I thought we packed more of a punch than they did on the day and that proved to be the case."
😍
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Alex neil
Apr 1, 2023 16:32:39 GMT
via mobile
Post by metalhead on Apr 1, 2023 16:32:39 GMT
He's certainly coming good finally.
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Post by haway on Apr 1, 2023 16:46:44 GMT
I told you all he’s a good manager. You’re welcome. Certainly looks that way. How do you think you would be doing if he had stayed? Same, better, worse? Depends if injuries were the same, we’ve got about 5 first teamers out for the season and we’ve not had a natural striker for half of the season. Can’t see many managers finishing better than mid-table with a side who finished 5th in league one - when there’s that to deal with.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2023 16:56:47 GMT
Ok I’ll Admit it I was wrong Still early days and he has to do some shrewd business in the summer..... But I'm with you mate, my hands are more or less fully raised in defeat
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Post by lordb on Apr 1, 2023 16:57:28 GMT
Certainly looks that way. How do you think you would be doing if he had stayed? Same, better, worse? Depends if injuries were the same, we’ve got about 5 first teamers out for the season and we’ve not had a natural striker for half of the season. Can’t see many managers finishing better than mid-table with a side who finished 5th in league one - when there’s that to deal with. Makes a world of difference
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Post by dirtclod on Apr 1, 2023 17:03:57 GMT
He's done what I wanted - come in and removed the IM.
(From potent)
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Post by milky on Apr 1, 2023 17:09:19 GMT
Ok I’ll Admit it I was wrong To be fair many of us were. I thought we'd got another dud. He was always going to earn himself 2 transfer windows barring disasters ,I just never saw this turnaround coming.At best I thought maybe we'd grind a few wins here and there to keep clear of any relegation worries. Hats off to him, he knew what we was doing all along and kept his head when many were losing theirs.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2023 17:51:56 GMT
People will say ( rightly ) that he is more tactical and data driven than MoN .
More canny . He probably is .
What I like most , is he has given the players their mojo back .
55% duels won today and 56% aerial duels won today, against a team usually very competitive at the Coventry Arena.
He has got some aggression into us and it is great to see .
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Post by terryconroysmagic on Apr 1, 2023 18:10:07 GMT
This team now look like they have the belief that they can best anyone in this division.
The belief seems to have come on after that defeat to Brighton where a draw won’t have been unfair.
We are currently on fire, it will be interesting to see if we can carry the swagger when we go behind as for years we’ve been dogshit once behind.
I’m so looking forward to next season
But then again I was really hopeful for last season but a trip to the Den dampened that down quick smart
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Post by figo85 on Apr 1, 2023 18:15:49 GMT
Getting Tyrese firing, fit and frightening defences has been a big contributor. Looks a hell of a player at the moment.
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Post by Rick Grimes on Apr 1, 2023 18:25:54 GMT
The players have clearly fully bought into his vision and what he’s trying to achieve and it’s making us a pleasure to watch.
One of the more impressive things for me is that I thought we needed a complete overhaul with as many players gone as possible and now that’s no longer the case. He’s got players who were previously woeful for us playing to a decent standard and I won’t be bothered if some of them get new contracts now.
And we’ve got money to spend in the summer. I’m saying play-offs for next season at a minimum.
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Post by Caerwrangonpotter on Apr 1, 2023 18:27:49 GMT
Fitness & Ben Pearson making a difference
Today was an absolute joy to witness
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Post by clarkeda on Apr 1, 2023 18:42:19 GMT
Fitness & Ben Pearson making a difference Today was an absolute joy to witness I think the impact of Pearson is being drastically overlooked. But I totally agree with you, I never in a million years thought anyone would get this team fit. Now look at them.
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Post by ravey123 on Apr 1, 2023 18:45:24 GMT
Fitness & Ben Pearson making a difference Today was an absolute joy to witness I think the impact of Pearson is being drastically overlooked. But I totally agree with you, I never in a million years thought anyone would get this team fit. Now look at them. Bournemouth winning today was a great result for our chances of signing Ben Pearson
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Post by clarkeda on Apr 1, 2023 19:05:18 GMT
I think the impact of Pearson is being drastically overlooked. But I totally agree with you, I never in a million years thought anyone would get this team fit. Now look at them. Bournemouth winning today was a great result for our chances of signing Ben Pearson Good. I’d prefer Pearson to smallbone.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2023 19:14:20 GMT
Fitness & Ben Pearson making a difference Today was an absolute joy to witness I think the impact of Pearson is being drastically overlooked. But I totally agree with you, I never in a million years thought anyone would get this team fit. Now look at them. I disagree. Peaesons impact has been spoken about on here loads, and pretty much every Stoke fan I've spoken to since he joined has mentioned his impact on our team.
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Post by mrcoke on Apr 1, 2023 19:33:55 GMT
With allowances for the opposition today, who we blew away and hardly got started till well into the second half, I thought today's performance was the most fluid I have watched since the Stokalona days.
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Alex neil
Apr 1, 2023 19:50:42 GMT
via mobile
Post by theonlooker on Apr 1, 2023 19:50:42 GMT
His biggest achievement without a doubt is getting some serious fitness and stamina work into Campbell, and there is still loads of scope to improve further.
He's a 20M player all day long when he's firing.
I've been impressed with his move to left wing. Wasn't sure at all at first but he's definitely growing into it. Adding assists to his game will be huge for him and us.
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Post by nickpowellgoals on Apr 1, 2023 20:08:31 GMT
Don't post too often, but I'm absolutely thrilled at the moment!!
For the first time since relegation, I don't dread the BBC Sport score updates, or knocking the radio on, or going to the match.
The fitness improvements have been tremendous, the performances have equalled any team I've seen in the championship for about 5 years - including Leeds under Bielsa.
It's poles apart from Rowett for forward play, far more organised than Jones, and I feel far more confident than under O'Neill. I think MO'N did a great job until the beginning of this season but after a rough start Neil has been a much needed breath of fresh air - a tactically astute manager for heaven's sake!!
I've been a Neil advocate since the start, but then I was for MO'N too, and Jones dare I say it (what do I know!?)
Just truly thrilled to see a Stoke side batter a team from start to finish. It'd become quite novel! I now get the feeling if we go 1 or 2 nil up that we will end up scoring 4 or 5 - remember the days when scoring more than 2 was a rarity!? What a difference, cheers Alex!!
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Post by march4 on Apr 1, 2023 20:32:13 GMT
People will say ( rightly ) that he is more tactical and data driven than MoN . More canny . He probably is . What I like most , is he has given the players their mojo back . 55% duels won today and 56% aerial duels won today, against a team usually very competitive at the Coventry Arena. He has got some aggression into us and it is great to see . He is simply a better leader.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 5, 2023 20:10:04 GMT
Interesting interview with one of his Preston players, Sean Maguire, now at Cov www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/sean-maguire-preston-interview-coventry-26575922 "I came into Preston, at the peak of my fitness, and was straight in. I joined up with the squad for the last pre-season game; Alex was there and I started the first game. I played, did quite well and the rest is history really, because the stint at the club I enjoyed the most and played my best football, probably was under Alex Neil. There was a lot of trust there and from the moment I came in, we had that good relationship.
"His knowledge of football is probably the best I've seen. Tactically, probably one of the best I've worked with. He got the best out of me and even through times when I wasn't playing as well, he stuck with me and I really appreciated that"
"I probably played 140 games under him and any time I was fit, he trusted me to come in. Whether it was scoring goals or bringing the best out of others, he knew I was there. I felt he brought my game to a new level. I probably played most games, under Alex, on the wing - where I'd never really played before.
"His knowledge of football is crazy and that first year was probably the best; maybe the third year. The first year we missed out on the play-offs on the last day, which was a good achievement. With the team we had back then, looking at it on paper - it was frightening. Looking back at the team now, we probably underachieved and should've gotten top six, but it was a really good first year."
Maguire views the 2017/18 campaign as one which should've definitely gone beyond the 46 Championship games - given the form individuals were in over the course of it and the instant impact Neil had.
"It was insane," he continued. "The rotation throughout the team, the players in the final third and midfield - Gally in his prime, Hunts played a big part that year, and then you have got Davo alongside him, with Fish, Greg and Josh Earl flying that year as well. Looking back on it now, you're probably thinking that we should've gotten top six. At the time, we probably didn't appreciate it. Not just people outside the club, but maybe ourselves as well"
"Around Christmas, we were in the top three. We drew 1-1 against Leeds on Boxing Day and were flying that year. I will never forget that game, because the gaffer was like: 'Any time Leeds bring it out from right to left, make sure you are tucked inside and we will win it and break'. I will never forget him saying that before the break, because what he said actually happened. I came inside, tackled whoever and next thing you know, four passes and it's in the back of the net. I don't think many teams went toe-to-toe with Leeds that year and I remember Bielsa coming out and saying we were probably the hardest team to play against.
"Alex had us so drilled. Back then, everyone pretty much played a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 and we had a high press. We used to win the ball high up and that's where a lot of our goals came from - those attacking transitions. If you looked back at statistics now, we were probably up there in the top three for counter-attacking goals. That is the way he had us drilled and I think the 11 players on the pitch trusted him and he trusted us.
"People probably think it so complicated, but he made it so simple to us in meetings and stuff. The information he gave us, we thought that if we stuck to that game plan then we should definitely be going out and winning. There was so much information - cutting off corners, centre-halves and making different angles. People might think football is a simple game of putting the ball in the back of the net and passing it, but he simplified it for us and made it so easy. That was why I loved working under him, so yeah, it was definitely a pleasure to play under Alex at the time"
"Before the game, that was when Alex was linked with Stoke wasn't it? The night before that game, we had a meeting and were probably expecting him to tell us that he's gonna be leaving. But he pulled us in and went: 'Lads, look, we are in a great position and I am loving my time here, so there's no way I'm leaving'. That gave us some massive confidence, because we were doing well at the time.
"All us players, we always hear about speculation with players or managers, so when we heard that it was good for him to put it to one side and move on. Stoke is the one cemented in my head (over the West Brom rumours), because of how well we were doing and the Charlton game being live on Sky. Even then again, though, he never went and obviously loved his time at the club. He obviously had so much faith that we were going to be successful and he loved working with the players who were there. I am sure he would say his most enjoyable time in management was the first couple of years at Preston. I know we weren't successful in terms of the play-offs, but for fans watching the football we played at the time, it was probably brilliant."
"It was a strange one, I don't think he deserved (the sack) given what he had done in the years prior," said Maguire. "We were inconsistent that year, but the expectations were always high at Preston - getting into the top six. That was probably the only year when we weren't really at it, in that way. He spent a little bit of time out, went to Sunderland, brought them up, did well and got the Stoke job. I am sure he will be successful there as well. I don't think he felt drained. He demands a lot from his players and wants everyone at it.
"Maybe it came to a stage where he'd been there four years and wanted to move on himself, but he demanded a lot and that's why I really liked him. Every single day man, if you are not at it he will let you know. Even in training, if you misplace a pass. And in games, he'd want you on the front foot and he got the best out of a lot of players. I was gutted at the time, because I loved working under him and I still stay in contact with him to this day. It was a good time in my career. He liked playing against the better teams; we used to do better against those, with how we played."
"I loved him - when you had him and Pearo in your team man, jeez... unbelievable. With Pearo, you love playing with him and hate playing against him. He is one of those players. I have only played against him once or twice since he left, but Pearo is up there with one of the best I've played with. He had everything to be at the top; he's that good. I remember coming to Preston and thinking: 'Who the f--- is this guy? Like, how good is this guy?'
I'd come over from Ireland and didn't know too much about players in England. I was kind of walking into an unknown dressing room, but I remember playing with Pearo for the first time and thinking 'what a player this lad is'. A joker as well; he had that persona about him. You wouldn't want it any other way and he was rapid over the first 10 or 15 yards. People won't think it, but he was rapid and he just protected the back four. It would be on one side, switched to the other and you'd know Pearo was there. I know people will say how good of a player he was, but he did a lot of underappreciated work like that. He was unreal, and having Fish there as well, the two of them rifling up the home fans, it was brilliant."
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Post by cvillestokie on Apr 6, 2023 0:04:24 GMT
When his previous was at Cork, Waterford and Dundalk, that’s not exactly shocking 😂 That said, I’ve warmed to AN more in the last couple of months.
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Apr 6, 2023 5:04:44 GMT
When his previous was at Cork, Waterford and Dundalk, that’s not exactly shocking 😂 That said, I’ve warmed to AN more in the last couple of months. There’s everyone at Preston since, everyone he’s worked with in the Ireland set up, whoever he worked with at West Ham plus Mark Robins as well…
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Post by jhtstokie on Apr 6, 2023 5:55:56 GMT
To go unbeaten in March with 2 of them containing a 5-1 and 4-0 away from home, let’s hope he gets it👍
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