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Post by 606Stokie on Nov 24, 2008 12:58:12 GMT
In the clash of the likely relegation strugglers this weekend (no, we’re not talking about Tottenham – Blackburn, arf arf), West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray has decried the tactics Stoke City are using to keep themselves afloat. He’s not the only one. Stoke are currently about as popular as a family reunion round at Andrew Sachs’ place.
But you can’t argue with the stats. Five wins at home is decent for a side that many thought would struggle and if Stoke carry on like this, they’ll be safe by the time the FA Cup fourth round comes along. Not so West Brom, but the contrast in styles is a hot button to press when we’re talking premier League survival.
West Brom were supposed to be the great entertainers of the Championship, the Arsenal of the league below. And few would have disputed that last season, and indeed, the season before. Mowbray won plaudits galore for his refusal to secure Premier League football through graft and muscle alone, and though Albion’s defence has its fair share of height and attitude, it was players like Zoltan Gera, Felipe Texeira and Robert Koren who won all the plaudits.
For those outside of the West Midlands, the best chance to catch this argument was during last season’s FA Cup run, where Albion improbably reached the final. During Albion’s televised ties we were treated to a display of basic if effective pass and move, centred around a strikeforce including Ishmael Miller. The tie against Bristol Rovers showed particularly how devastating Albion’s incisive moves could be even on terrible pitches. The consensus seemed to be that the extra year in the Championship had allowed Tony Mowbray to imbue his charges with a solid core as well as an attractive mindset. While Derby were being humiliated, the Baggies would be prepared.
Only, it’s not turned out like that at all. Bottom of the table, only three wins and a criminal four losses at home see West Brom going all Arsene Wenger, while the sage among us chortle and say ‘well, fair’s fair.’
Has Mowbray got a point about Stoke, though? The talking points surrounding Stoke this season, their first in the top-flight for twenty-four years, have been of a completely negative bent. It’s either Rory Delap’s long throws or their physical presence.
Firstly, the Delap question. Delap is a player that’s been around for seasons, and I personally don’t recall his throws ever being this effective before. The throw in thing is made doubly difficult by the fact that you can’t be offside from a throw-in, and so any advantage gained by Stoke by using this method is perfectly fair, if frustrating to watch. But the point to recognise is that it’s not frustrating for Stoke fans, who have a weapon in their arsenal that they cherish and can get excited about. The Baggies, on the other hand, don’t have anybody like that. The majority of the squad have tasted Premier League action and not one of them has had the ability to turn and win a match on their own. This failing throws Delap’s ability into sharp focus – it’s bemoaned thanks to aesthetics, not because it’s unfair.
Secondly, the charge of over-physical play. It’s true that Stoke have big players at their disposal, but then, so do Portsmouth, Bolton, Blackburn, Chelsea, Villa, Everton…in fact, the only teams that have moaned about Stoke so far are the teams that don’t have an answer as yet: Arsenal and West Brom.
Stoke City were never the most attractive team to watch while in the Championship, so why opposition managers were not aware of this as their own seasons petered out is questionable. Mowbray must have known more than anyone the threat Stoke were capable of providing. Stoke, not having the finances to compete for, shall we say, the most cultured of players, went for workers rather than artists. How you perceive that is down to your tastes, but again, Stoke fans probably won’t complain.
What this boils down to is a manager (or managers) under pressure looking for something to blame. As football fans, we must ask ourselves what we require from the game of football. Excitement, goals, the chance to see world class players, the chance to shout at the ref, the chance to wind up opposition players? Whatever your poison, Stoke provide that for their own fans in their own way.
What is interesting about Stoke is their next step after 2008/9. Should the club survive to fight another season in the Premier, where do they go? Do they gradually introduce more flair players to the squad, or do they stick with what they know? Exactly how long will fans rejoice in the fact that they’re ‘in the Premier’? Although healthy, teams like Wigan, Bolton, Middlesbrough and Sunderland all suffer from decreased gates. In essence, a team has to be upwardly mobile to get anywhere in the Premier League. So do Stoke go for broke now they know they can cut it, or will they stay as they are, potentially driving fans away?
What they will probably do is a little of both. After learning the lessons of this season, Stoke boss Tony Pulis will have a better idea of what it takes to compete on a level playing field at the top. Only then can you start to deviate from your core strengths. And the Britannia, while modern, is more like a Craven Cottage-style ground than a cavernous Riverside. Less room for blatant gaps in crowds, keeping the atmosphere partisan.
For many of us, football is entertainment. We like to see tricks and flicks like Robinho, not scrambled headers in the ninetieth minute (if that were the case, we’d all be Liverpool fans). So Stoke aren’t everybody’s cup of tea. But Tony Pulis, in particular, is given a remit at the start of every season and Stoke’s board will have told him survive, at any cost. This he is just about achieving.
West Brom, meanwhile, are three points off safety and not looking likely to turn their season around just yet. Last time they were bottom at Christmas they survived, so there is hope, but how long before Tony Mowbray realises that principles don’t win football matches, goals do? He may style his team on Arsene Wenger’s, but at a time when Arsenal are crumbling despite their pretty football, perhaps Mowbray would do better looking for inspiration just up the M6 in the Potteries.
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Nov 24, 2008 13:05:50 GMT
Fair enough, can't really argue with anything there.  |
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Post by Hiram on Nov 24, 2008 13:08:39 GMT
thanks for that, where's it from 606?
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Post by lordb on Nov 24, 2008 13:12:00 GMT
spot on that
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Post by victoriaboothenboy on Nov 24, 2008 13:13:28 GMT
Unusual read that.Totally factual without any petty bias
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Post by 606Stokie on Nov 24, 2008 13:18:57 GMT
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Post by salopstick on Nov 24, 2008 13:27:54 GMT
a bloody good read.
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Post by ManderBeast on Nov 24, 2008 13:47:22 GMT
top read, apart from the part where he mentions us not having a player with the ablilty to win a match... well a man called Ricardo Fuller must of slipped under his radar..
... roll on saturday
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Post by Hiram on Nov 24, 2008 13:59:34 GMT
top read, apart from the part where he mentions us not having a player with the ablilty to win a match... well a man called Ricardo Fuller must of slipped under his radar.. ... roll on saturday I think he's on about Brazil not having a player with the ability to win a match there mate looking forward to Hull |
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Post by stan on Nov 24, 2008 14:00:44 GMT
Cheers for that; good read.
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Post by steinovschmeichel on Nov 24, 2008 15:19:26 GMT
west brom should never have got rid of Philips simples as. They aint gonna score enough goals and can;t honestly see where they could buy a decent striker from.
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Post by Southstander on Nov 24, 2008 16:01:17 GMT
For those outside of the West Midlands, the best chance to catch this argument was during last season’s FA Cup run, where Albion improbably reached the final. ??? |
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Post by georgeberrysafro on Nov 24, 2008 16:56:50 GMT
Very good read. In fact that's my mate from Uni who wrote it The link to his site is at the bottom, he's a Villa fan so he got plenty of banter after the home game and I've been on him to write something about Stoke for a while. I do feel slightly ashamed not to have noticed the article myself  . He's a down to earth top bloke too, intelligent guy as well. |
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Post by swampySCFC on Nov 24, 2008 17:06:28 GMT
top read, apart from the part where he mentions us not having a player with the ablilty to win a match... well a man called Ricardo Fuller must of slipped under his radar.. ... roll on saturday Oh and theres Rory too. He hasnt got the ability to win a match has he??? |
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Post by crimesy on Nov 24, 2008 18:17:39 GMT
great read, one of few pundits realising that the stoke fans DO enjoy the games ...
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Post by walrus on Nov 24, 2008 19:03:14 GMT
A like this paragraph.
''Secondly, the charge of over-physical play. It’s true that Stoke have big players at their disposal, but then, so do Portsmouth, Bolton, Blackburn, Chelsea, Villa, Everton…in fact, the only teams that have moaned about Stoke so far are the teams that don’t have an answer as yet: Arsenal and West Brom.''
Only one problem with the article though. West Brom played far worse football than us on Saturday and Mr. ''footballing principles of entertainment'' Mowbray did absolutely nothing to contribute to the entertainment value of the match. He set his team us to hoof it long to Miller and try and get a draw or nick a win. If he's doing this against Stoke I'd love to see how his brilliant football turns out against the top teams.
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Post by Jamo on the wing on Nov 24, 2008 19:06:25 GMT
Probably the best Stoke related article I've read in a long while, balanced and fairly accurate.
Some of the national press could learn a thing or two.
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Post by daverichards on Nov 24, 2008 19:46:08 GMT
nice read that
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Post by clactonpotter on Nov 24, 2008 20:57:19 GMT
A great read!
I have know doubts he is right regarding the comments made about 2008/9 season.They will certainly keep Mr.Pulis musing over in the months ahead.
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