what gives us more chance......

[luke45]

of promotion this season, rather than last?

I mean the quality of side isn't any better than last season, when you compare sides:

2006/2007 season

GK - Simonsen
LB - Griffin
RB - Hoefkens
CB - Higgy
CB - Duberry
LM - Hendrie
CM - Diao
CM - Matteo
RM - Lawrence
ST - Fuller
ST - Sidibe/Parkin

2007/2008 season

GK - Simonsen
LB - Dickinson
RB - Griffin
CB - Cort
CB - Shawcross
LM - Pugh
RM - Lawrence
CM - Diao
CM - Delap
ST - Fuller
ST - Cresswell/Sidibe


there are both strong sides, but certainly in midfield, i would say last season's was stronger, so it really is weird to see us doing so well with if anything a less strong side.

It could be down to many reason's, one has to be playing with alot more passion and determination, and when last season we were drawing and losing games, we now can fight for draw's and wins, and we seem to have a real " never say die " attitude amongst the players which is great.

One thing i would say has played a big role, is that i feel our chairman really believe's promotion is acheivable this season more than he did last, hence the reason he has financially supported us more, in not only briging in players such as cort and shawcross for big fee's, but also buying the stadium, and the mich.

I don't know about you people, but i for one was rather cautious and slightly worried come day one this season, and the lack of transfer activity in what can only be described as a nightmare pre-season, and after building bridges last season, and make that step up in nearly making the play-off's i had a sense of the club and the team making backward's steps, and not building on the obviously potential at stoke.

But low and behold mainly loan signig's saw us eventually but a bit of a squad together, and despite our obvious weaker side than last season, we seemed to be making a suprisingly strong start.

If we can be where we are currently, with this squad, which for me still lack's at least two big signing's, it really does show that we are more than capable of promotion, and come may there is no reason whatsoever why we can't be in the play-off's or even automatically promoted.

It's time now for us to be gone of the dead wood in the side, the player's we are simply carrying and giving a weekly wage, and them offering nothing to this side, the like's off:

Buxton
Broomes
Pericard ( once we have got another striker in )
Matteo ( again once we have signed another midfielder )

as for parkin and pulis jr, well i would keep them on board for now, we haven't really seen enough of ant pulis to truely judge him yet, and parkin has got the talent there, he just need's to get fit shed a few pounds, and if he can do that we should keep him on board, so it's in his own hands really.

Overall i would say that we have reached a new high and air of optimism and belief here at stoke, communication between club and fans has improved, quality of football has improved, and with a centre and left midfielder's brought in, i think we are really well equipped for the final push this season.

Any care to share there thought's on why this season we look more likely to get promotion, and generally a stronger outift, when the quality of the side hasn't drastically improved?

[Jamo on the wing]

Last years team is a much better looking team on paper but this years seems to have more spirit about it and that counts for a lot when the chips are down. There's also a lot more goals in this years team as well which is reflected in our top scorers list.

[BuzzB]

More goals from Shawry/Cort than Dubes/Higgy, more from Cressy than Hendrie, Lawrence chipping in too better spirit, more determined to put last years dissapointment behind them.
Loads of things really. On paper we had the bigger names last season but this lot just keep pulling it off, and full credit to them, I really believe they can do it.

[ted1965]

It’s a tough one to fathom, on paper last years side would appear to be stronger, yet in terms of results we have been on the ball most of the season. I would point out though that the side you have picked weren’t here for first ten or so games and we made a very poor start to last season. That takes nothing at all away from this side, just an observation on where we were at this time last season.

There was a no real pressure on this side, the summer had been such a disappointment and the expectation levels were at a low ebb. That may have helped to strengthen the team spirit, anything they achieved above mid table was a bonus. They do seem to have a resolve not seen in a Stoke side since the Lou side who gained promotion back to what is now the Championship.

I believe that we are more of a team, there’s no big time Charlie’s playing for us, just players who seem to have a hunger to succeed, a desire not to be beaten and a never say die attitude in the league. There is a feeling about the club and among the supporters that we are real contenders and that is being backed by the owner this time around.

It’s amazing what a little confidence and a feel good factor can achieve. The feeling of security and being a team rather than a collection of individuals is a huge advantage. I agree man for man the side doesn’t look as good but they are more of a team. What they may lack in higher profile they more than make up for with spirit, determination and a desire to compete for every minute of each game as was seen at Scunthorpe and Barnsley games we would most likely have lost last season. We haven’t always played well but we have managed to only lose 5 games so far, think that speaks for itself.

If you look back in history, Brian Clough rarely had superstars, he preferred players who knew their role within a team structure, who did what they were good at and avoided what they couldn’t do, this worked pretty damn well for him. A team who gel together, work for each other and realize what they are good at and what they are not will always stand a good chance at this level. When you throw the unpredictable talent of Fuller into the mix it’s a pretty effective combination. There’s no doubt we are still a little short, the depth of the squad is still a huge concern but overall we have found a team this year one who have given us all hope for a brighter future.

Last season we lost momentum when the loan players had to return even for a short while, we never really recovered that verve we showed between end of October and mid December. The fact that the loan players this season are now part of the side and actually signed up to the club has meant despite losing a little momentum with four straight draws there hasn’t been that swapping and changing of personnel, it’s amazing what continuity can achieve.

I really hope now we get in three or four players who match the players we have signed, someone who can dictate the game and another forward someone who knows where the net is. Then I believe this team will not only out perform last seasons but actually will look better on paper also, the real difference I guess this team play better on grass and that’s where it counts.

[NE8Stokie]

Karma for Ted

[luke45]

yep and from me before, a good accurate opinion.

[StoKeith]

I'd say the major improvement in the team is in our conversion of set-pieces compared to last season, particularly:

Lawrence's improved delivery
Shawcross and Cort's dominance in the air
Delap's throw-ins
and finally... Cresswell's excellent poaching

As I mentioned on the "set-pieces" thread, we've scored just over 55% of our league goals from set-pieces this year. It really is what makes us a top of the table side as opposed to a mid-table side.

Refreshingly, judging by the Preston manager's comments at the weekend, the opposition can't do anything about it!