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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Jul 11, 2023 10:58:30 GMT
That was a good 4-5 years in though mate? I don't see how a halfway house avoids that problem? The issue was more that we didn't do with Hughes what we did with Pulis, which was to get rid just as he was starting to curdle. We had 2-3 opportune moments to do that and ignored them all and then got rid in a blind panic in the middle of a transfer window. Appalling management from the owners. I think Hughes decided he’d just use the old Pulis workhorses and then evolve the squad into a more refined footballing outfit. Maybe a manager who was more a hybrid of Pulis and Hughes could have shaped the squad into something that Hughes would have been able to take further. All hypothetical of course and completely a matter of opinion. In fairness to Hughes he did do an excellent job but maybe he didn’t quite establish the solid foundations before sticking the luxury penthouse on top. He did more than just use the old workhorses though, he improved them and got them out of a rut in many cases - Whelan's best football for Stoke came under him, Shawcross' form improved and he had a more expansive role, Crouch fit the system better, players like Adam, Cameron, even Nzonzi looked better for the change. That first season was the hybrid really. Also no guarantee that a more Pulisy manager replaces those players well either - Pulis himself constantly tried to replace Whelan to the tune of about £10m combined over the years and didn't come close.
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Post by foxysgloves on Jul 11, 2023 11:33:31 GMT
I think Hughes decided he’d just use the old Pulis workhorses and then evolve the squad into a more refined footballing outfit. Maybe a manager who was more a hybrid of Pulis and Hughes could have shaped the squad into something that Hughes would have been able to take further. All hypothetical of course and completely a matter of opinion. In fairness to Hughes he did do an excellent job but maybe he didn’t quite establish the solid foundations before sticking the luxury penthouse on top. He did more than just use the old workhorses though, he improved them and got them out of a rut in many cases - Whelan's best football for Stoke came under him, Shawcross' form improved and he had a more expansive role, Crouch fit the system better, players like Adam, Cameron, even Nzonzi looked better for the change. That first season was the hybrid really. Also no guarantee that a more Pulisy manager replaces those players well either - Pulis himself constantly tried to replace Whelan to the tune of about £10m combined over the years and didn't come close. Maybe so. And I agree that Whelan proved weirdly difficult to upgrade, or even find a player who could do the same as he did consistently.
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Post by MilanStokie on Jul 11, 2023 11:46:54 GMT
It would have been much better for us had we got relegated to league one the year MoN saved us, triggering a much earlier clearing of the decks and rebuild.
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Post by marwood on Jul 11, 2023 14:01:19 GMT
I always rated Michael Kightly Possibly blind sided by the fact he scored with virtually first touch in pre season, then scored on prem debut Bonus points for anyone who scores against The Shit I remember howls of ridicule on here for supporting him, many thinking I was Mrs Kightly posting under an assumed name
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Post by bertiestan on Jul 11, 2023 14:13:59 GMT
I always rated Michael Kightly Possibly blind sided by the fact he scored with virtually first touch in pre season, then scored on prem debut Bonus points for anyone who scores against The Shit I remember howls of ridicule on here for supporting him, many thinking I was Mrs Kightly posting under an assumed name Pisser🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Post by Linx on Jul 11, 2023 14:50:28 GMT
I always rated Michael Kightly Possibly blind sided by the fact he scored with virtually first touch in pre season, then scored on prem debut Bonus points for anyone who scores against The Shit I remember howls of ridicule on here for supporting him, many thinking I was Mrs Kightly posting under an assumed name Whaddya expect, with that giveaway self-portrait?
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Post by mickstupp on Jul 11, 2023 18:57:52 GMT
I thought George Berry was shit (sorry)
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insect
Youth Player
Posts: 311
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Post by insect on Jul 11, 2023 19:14:54 GMT
I don’t have a problem with Stenhousemuir !
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Post by bridgnorthstokie on Jul 11, 2023 19:17:20 GMT
Glenn whelan wasn't a patch on mick kennedy
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Post by PotterLog on Jul 12, 2023 1:32:10 GMT
I don’t have a problem with Stenhousemuir ! Reported There’s lines you don’t cross son
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Post by thestatusquo on Jul 12, 2023 7:02:36 GMT
Dave Bamber was a far better player than John Richie
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Post by oggyoggy on Jul 12, 2023 8:26:02 GMT
Sam Bangoura is the most naturally gifted finisher we have had since 1993 (Stein).
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Post by flea79 on Jul 12, 2023 8:47:25 GMT
I always rated Michael Kightly Possibly blind sided by the fact he scored with virtually first touch in pre season, then scored on prem debut Bonus points for anyone who scores against The Shit I remember howls of ridicule on here for supporting him, many thinking I was Mrs Kightly posting under an assumed name did Kightly have a picture of your pork sword he threatened to post online unless you backed him?
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Post by musik on Jul 12, 2023 9:11:14 GMT
Why Stoke almost always only buy a defender first is to show they're at least doing something on the transfer market, and they're easier to get.
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Post by JoeinOz on Jul 14, 2023 3:49:14 GMT
My controversial nogger opinions are more football in general than Stoke. But here's another one🙂.
The stadium move was absolutely the right thing to do. When there's talk of the Vic as a noisy cauldron it's rewriting history. Sure, sometimes it was but it could also be deathly quiet. With the right stimulation it became a raucous fortress... like every other football ground. The hankering for the Vic is yearning for the past and bemoaning passing years. It's gone. Has been for 26 years. Get over it.
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Post by fca47 on Jul 14, 2023 8:09:21 GMT
According to a lot on here, it's that Stoke won't get relegated this season.
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Post by David Brent on Jul 16, 2023 8:38:29 GMT
Kaylee miss stoke wasn’t that fit
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Post by bubbleblower on Jul 16, 2023 8:59:45 GMT
I had a theory that sometime during the season we were relegated that the Coates family were replaced by Aliens that had no idea what football is it’s an opinion I hold to this day.
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Post by salopstick on Jul 16, 2023 13:41:36 GMT
Now we've finally announced our first signing, I'm sure some of you lot on here need something else to argue about amongst yourselves So what is your most controversial/unpopular Stoke City opinion? Mine is that Kenwyne Jones would have been more effective for how we wanted to play rather than spending £10m on Peter Crouch (who was a good signing don't get me wrong) but I think Jones' aerial presence would have worked better as opposed to Crouch's tendencies to give away fouls everytime a ball came to him above head height. I was always of the opinion if you are playing pulls all and want a big bad bastard up front to bully you go to phil gartside and put a big bag of money for Kevin Davies or someone similar. If you buy crouch you change the way you play.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jul 16, 2023 13:43:09 GMT
Now we've finally announced our first signing, I'm sure some of you lot on here need something else to argue about amongst yourselves So what is your most controversial/unpopular Stoke City opinion? Mine is that Kenwyne Jones would have been more effective for how we wanted to play rather than spending £10m on Peter Crouch (who was a good signing don't get me wrong) but I think Jones' aerial presence would have worked better as opposed to Crouch's tendencies to give away fouls everytime a ball came to him above head height. I was always of the opinion if you are playing pulls all and want a big bad bastard up front to bully you go to phil gartside and put a big bag of money for Kevin Davies or someone similar. If you buy crouch you change the way you play. This just shouldn’t be considered controversial. Crouch was a terrible signing for us.
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