we have exceeded expectations up till now.

[ted1965]

It has been a good chance to reflect on our season so far and the reality versus the expectations when it began and where we really are in comparison. It’s been a tough few months since we beat the Baggies and only one win in that time has given rise to real concern about whether we will survive. As we approach a real must win game against Portsmouth next weekend it’s interesting to look at whether we have exceeded expectations.

The expectations when the season began for most supporters was survival, the one and only objective this season and that it would be very difficult to achieve given the strength of the league and the fact we are appearing in it for the first time since its inception back in the early 90’s. if we add the managers inexperience at such a level we were pretty much up against it when the first ball was kicked in August. Derby’s lack of competitiveness the previous season left many experts debating whether it was even worth three sides being promoted from the Championship as many were suggesting that we and Hull could set an new all time low for both points and performances that would bring the whole promotion, relegation scenario into question. I personally never subscribed to that theory, the reality even Watford managed to compete even if they did look doomed from a long way out, they at least managed to keep in touch with the other strugglers and I always believed we would at least be able to keep in touch even if we did struggle to adapt.

Though within that first 7 days of the new adventure we were about to see the two sides of Stoke City, those two sides that have become even more diverse as the season has worn on. When we were beaten on the opening day at Bolton it was a huge reality check for anyone who thought we may actually do better than expected. The first home game was an absolute thriller in which we beat one of the most improved sides in the league, Aston Villa, the last minute win would begin a series of results that has seen much frustration as well as jubilation. Those two games set the tone for what has followed, going toe to toe with the best at home and faltering badly on the road.

The reality of course has been far less gruelling as we have performed exceptionally well at home and certainly shown the ability to compete against even the best on our own turf. The fact we have now gained 24 points, 21 of which have been won at home with 13 games to play has been a huge improvement on most expectations. The league has benefited from all three promoted sides making a good fist of competing and that has made the battle at the bottom of the league more entertaining though it has meant that nails are likely to be chewed to the elbow right till the very last games for at least 5 or 6 clubs.

The problem has come with our away form or the lack of any away form which has led to frustrations mainly because many believe we could be doing even better if we had performed even half as well away as at home. When people look at the league table they bemoan the lost opportunities away from home, where we have had sides who are struggling for form or confidence and we haven’t gone at them in a way to capitalise on their uncertainties.

I don’t think people are actually complaining about the away record as a whole more the way we approach away games that brings frustration and criticism and in reality that is fair. I think we have almost run scared away from home, putting up a defensive barrier and being afraid of actually allowing it to be lowered for fear of getting a really good hiding. I understand that goal difference could be very important come May but if we have gone through a complete away program without a win and been relegated I think there will be a lot of questions asked as to whether a more aggressive attack minded approach away from home would have kept us up. I think that is where this season will be seen as a failure if the worst happens.

Though of course if we happen to survive simply based on our magnificent home form then the manager can point to that as a success and I am sure will argue with improved signings that the away form can be improved also come next season. If however we are relegated by a few points come the end of the season without winning away from home I think the managers tactics will come under scrutiny and many will blame his negative approach away from fortress Britannia and will certainly be expecting some repercussions for a lost opportunity. It’s taken so long to reach this point in our history that for many it will seem unthinkable for a negative away approach to cost the club not only it’s place at the rich mans table but the prestige and financial rewards that accompany Premiership status.

The lack of a real attacking approach away from home also puts added pressure on our home form and it for me gives the players less opportunity for an off day at home. If we just won a couple of away games it would surely give them a little breathing space over the last 7 home games, with every failure away from home the pressure builds on the players to produce another barn storming home display and more importantly to gain three points. That constant pressure to win at home to keep ourselves above the bottom three because of our poor away form will surely get worse the closer we come to the end of the season. I think that’s why an away win is vital sooner rather than later, we need to allow for a home slip and not feel it’s the end of the world if it happens.

Though I think we should really look at where we are compared to where most people even the most optimistic supporters thought we would be at this stage of the season. We have a side who at home can and do compete superbly even though we have few what you could call flair players to make things happen. We have an honest set of players who give their all and while some have shown touches of indiscipline in general they have been a credit to the club.

The other aspect where I think we have exceeded many peoples expectations is the sheer enthusiasm of our support. I think many clubs have been taken by surprise at the sheer noise, passion and ability of the support at home to be the much talked about 12th man, it’s something you hear all the time but in the case of Stoke it’s a fact. We can be so proud of the efforts of everyone this season. I am sure the players visibly grow as the noise reverberates around the Britannia and I honestly believe even some of the best players have wilted under the intensity of the support. It’s a wonderful time to be a Stoke supporter, everywhere you go people comment about the support and the noise at the Brit which makes your chest swell with pride. I hope whatever the outcome of this season that the support doesn’t change, either that people simply lose their enthusiasm for the Premiership or if the worst happens that those who have rediscovered their love for the club will not simply melt away until we return to the top flight once more.

There have been a few who have called for the managers head after a few disappointing away displays for me that’s ridiculous given what he has achieved since he was reappointed as manager. I think he deserved a full season and that’s what was always going to happen and rightly so. If a manager gets a side promoted he deserves a full season to establish that side at the higher level and unless a side is basically imploding it makes little sense in removing the manager. It does seem that those scenarios are becoming less and less in the Premiership, where managers are becoming like recreational drugs among the rich and famous, when one stops giving you a buzz you’re looking for something new in the hope it will give you an instant fix. The problem for many is that fix is merely papering over the cracks and for most who have changed their managers so far none have actually pulled well clear of the drop zone.

There’s no doubt there are managers out there who could manage this club equally as well and possibly better than Tony Pulis, though for anyone to suggest we would be doing significantly better is pure speculation as none of those people actually manage this football club. Though it’s equally ridiculous to suggest only the present manager could have done what he has, again pure speculation and opinion.

Does the manager have faults, yes of course he does and some of them are blatantly obvious we have debated his erratic team selections many of which leave us frustrated beyond belief. Would we like to see him change parts of his approach to games, again yes but he has also achieved some remarkable results this season and now isn’t the time for losing faith we simply have to stand together and hope he will make the right decisions in team selections and approach to win enough points over the next 13 games so we can debate the same points again next season as a Premiership club.

What we know for sure is we are in the Premiership and the manager who took us there has to be supported fully over the next 13 games because he is the only manager who can keep us in the Premiership. We have exceeded expectations to this point and I truly hope we will still have exceeded them when we hear the final whistle at the Emirates in May. As the old Musketeer saying goes, all for one and one for all we have to pull together as a club and that means getting fully behind everyone at the club.

[sage]

Great post, ted!

[crimesy]

great post ted, great read, and agree with nearly every point made

[crimesy]

Get this in the oatcake Smudge .

[lawrieleslie]

Great post ted. Wondered where you've been last few weeks.....obviously writing this post lol.

[cousindupree]

If Blackburn gain a point from their game in hand we will be in the relegation places but still in touch with 2 or maybe 3 above us.
My expectation was about that level...I expected us to be in the bottom 3 and maybe 2/3 points worse off...so they haven't really signifianctly exceeded.
I think many had an inflated view of the Prem...being exiled and having watched shedloads of prem games in the last 4 years...outside of the top 6...there is a lot of pretty average football played...the fact that Hull stayed in the top half of the league and the current table sees Wigan Mancity and Fulham in the top half proves that point.Also the teams playing in the EuFA cup dont dominate like the top 4 in the champions league suggesting that they are not that great
So the Prem really isn't as good as the hype and I expected us as a well organised defensively set up side to be difficlut to beat....god knows why we cant do it away from home though.
So not in my view Ted

[wakefieldstokie]

Do you have an audio book for that post?

Great post.

[salopstick]

i always expected us to stay up

this league is harder to get in that stay there

until we are safe we have not reached my expectations

good post though ted

[y_oh_y_delilah]

Ted, would you like to expand on that a little please.
;D


Seriously, it gives a realistic appraisal of where we are now, how we got here and most importantly what we should do now from here on in.

[Pugsley]

I don't think we have exceeded any expectations.

We are in or around the relegation spots which was expected. Our home form has been great but this is offset by our abysmal away form.

The only thing that has exceeded my expectations is the amount of money spent on players.

[crimesy]

I was waiting for Pugsley or another anti-pulis -er to depress this thread.

[Pugsley]

Feb 16, 2009 13:13:41 GMT @crimesy said:

I was waiting for Pugsley or another anti-pulis -er to depress this thread.

Yes, sorry I couldn't post it before your usual sycophantic claptrap.