|
|
Post by chessyorkshirexile on Mar 17, 2009 20:54:31 GMT
The pressure is mounting on our home games now. We simply have to take points against our relegation rivals. Will this pressure be transmitted to the players as we seek the security and reassurance of a goal lead? Will we pile too much pressure on our players? I am already feeling more nervous about this game than any other as time and games are running out.
I don't think we can bank on any points at Brazil or Hull given our negative and unsuccessful away day tactics.
Is anyone else feeling the early onset of pressure?
|
|
|
|
Post by Cityfullergoals on Mar 17, 2009 21:05:38 GMT
Personally I dont think the pressure is that great
The pressure on establilshed Premiership clubs like Boro, Pompey, Newcastle and Blackburn is far greater
At the start of the season we knew that it was a very likely possibility that we would go straight back down, but being in the mix with a (supposedly easy run in) gives us a 50-50 chance of staying up, and TP is convinced that we will do that.
I believe, and I certainly hope that everyone on this board will raise the roof on Saturday and make the Bearpit a real amphitheatre to which the lads in Red and White will respond
|
|
|
|
Post by Staying up for Grandadstokey on Mar 17, 2009 21:09:16 GMT
The pressure is not on us as much as the more established Prem. clubs , and T.P makes a good point when he says that as Stoke have been near or in the bottom 3 all season they are used to being under pressure , as he says someone usually drops like a stone at around this time of the season (could well be Sunderland or more likely Hull) ,I think we'll be O.K but I would not be surprised if we do lose one which we expect to win , but equally would not be surprised if we win one wer'e not expected to perhaps at Fulham and I fancy us not to get beaten by either West Brazil or Hull.
So stop werritin'
|
|
|
|
Post by Huddysleftfoot on Mar 17, 2009 21:11:24 GMT
Agreed, the pressure on Portsmouth, Blackburn, Sunderland, Middlesbro and most of all, Newcastle I believe to be far greater. We have nowt to lose, they have it all to lose.
|
|
|
|
Post by foreverstoke on Mar 17, 2009 21:11:47 GMT
i certainly will be raising the roof!!! gooarrrn you rip rooarrrinnnggg pootteeerrrrssss!!
|
|
|
|
Post by dozintheseventees on Mar 17, 2009 21:21:45 GMT
They are all pressure games now but I don't necessarily agree that they are 'must win' games. We are not likely to win all three of the upcoming home games (although we could). I believe that we need to take 8 points from the next 4 games and then we are realistically looking for another 4 points to survive with home games V West ham and Wigan and another 2 away games (I'm ignoring Arsenal). Obviously more than 8 points from the next 4 games would be great but I won't be slitting my wrists if that's what we get.
Also, if we are saying the Middlesbrough game is 'must win' surely it is much more so for them (they are 2 points behind us). So the pressure is very much on them.
|
|
|
|
Post by stokiemama14 on Mar 17, 2009 21:26:57 GMT
[Also, if we are saying the Middlesbrough game is 'must win' surely it is much more so for them (they are 2 points behind us). So the pressure is very much on them] i personally think boro cudnt give a noggings, they played poor at home to pompey on saturday other relegation rivals and only just scrapped a draw, i am very confident for saturday goarnn stoke  |
|
|
|
Post by chessyorkshirexile on Mar 17, 2009 21:27:12 GMT
I'm not being negative, but I have learned thro bitter experience of supporting stoke that there is no better place to come if you are in bad form and need a win. We always raise our game for the bigger teams. I think the Middlesborough game (with the possible exeption of Brazil) is one of the few games where we would actually be the favourite to win.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2009 21:29:38 GMT
I'm not being negative, but I have learned thro bitter experience of supporting stoke that there is no better place to come if you are in bad form and need a win. We always raise our game for the bigger teams. I think the Middlesborough game (with the possible exeption of Brazil) is one of the few games where we would actually be the favourite to win. Couldn't you have said that about the Bolton game though? |
|
|
|
Post by chessyorkshirexile on Mar 17, 2009 21:34:26 GMT
Rob - that's a very good point. That was a banana-skin if ever there was one but the second goal (and Bolton's inability to score) calmed the nerves. I hope that if we do go a goal up against Boro we press for number two and don't try to hold on.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cityfullergoals on Mar 17, 2009 21:35:25 GMT
They are all pressure games now but I don't necessarily agree that they are 'must win' games. We are not likely to win all three of the upcoming home games (although we could). I believe that we need to take 8 points from the next 4 games and then we are realistically looking for another 4 points to survive with home games V West ham and Wigan and another 2 away games (I'm ignoring Arsenal). Obviously more than 8 points from the next 4 games would be great but I won't be slitting my wrists if that's what we get. Also, if we are saying the Middlesbrough game is 'must win' surely it is much more so for them (they are 2 points behind us). So the pressure is very much on them.
That would give us 36 points, with (excluding Arsenal), Wigwam and the Hammers at home, and Dull away to get the three remaining points that I personally think will see us safe.
Thats according to my BBC predictor which sees us finishing 17th, but not needing anything from the trip to the Emirates |
|
|
|
Post by dozintheseventees on Mar 17, 2009 21:37:08 GMT
I really do think that Middlesrough will view this Saturday as 'Do-or-Die' because if they go 5 points behind us it will be very difficult for them to survive. Wheras, if they win, they will still only be 1 point inb front of us.
This Saturday is much more desperate for them than us (Although, obviously we need the win)
|
|
|
|
Post by stokiemama14 on Mar 17, 2009 21:39:41 GMT
dozintheseventees- we will get that win (: i am very confident for this weekend, if boro were shite at home to pompey dont really see them being good at the bear pit against our lads and 28,000 stoke fans goarnn stoke (: |
|
|
|
Post by dozintheseventees on Mar 17, 2009 21:44:41 GMT
Stokiemama: I think we'll win too. I'm confident but we need to be prepared for life's little disappointments between now and the end of the season. We will probably lose a game we're expecting to win at some stage and we need to not get suicidal about it because we have to believe that, no matter how they come, we WILL get the points we need (Before the Arse please God!!)
|
|
|
|
Post by Staying up for Grandadstokey on Mar 17, 2009 21:45:44 GMT
I certainly wouldn't write Stoke off at Arsenal , after all Whinger has given us one hell of a motivational speech.
|
|
|
|
Post by stokiemama14 on Mar 17, 2009 21:47:26 GMT
{I certainly wouldn't write Stoke off at Arsenal , after all Whinger has given us one hell of a motivational speech.} totally agree, go out there all guns blazing then why not |
|
|
|
Post by Ddraigcoch on Mar 17, 2009 21:51:53 GMT
PRESSURE: Bring it on.
It means we are still in with a great shout of staying up.
Players returning who should be up for the scrap and be raring to get stuck in for the cause.
Camara yet to contribute its only a MOT before he scores for us. Ric getting fitter by the day.
Boro is a massive game ....but no bigger than Bolton and we coped well with them.
So bring it on...... pressure means points for us. Nothing to lose all to gain. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by stokiemama14 on Mar 17, 2009 21:53:51 GMT
ddraigcoch - im loving the positivity fella, im right behind you with your thinking bring it on! goarnn stoke |
|
|
|
Post by dozintheseventees on Mar 17, 2009 21:55:30 GMT
I don't think any of us are writing us off at Arsenal lads, but being realistic we surely hope we don't need a result there. If we do, I'm sure we'll go there to give it a right go and, in any case, as long as we're above 3 others going into that game, we'll still have a chance of pulling it off whatever the result.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2009 22:23:15 GMT
all depends on Pulis
if he puts out our best players for this game we'll win
i really am getting tired of complaining about his team selections etc so won't go on any further
as for pressure, we are under just as much as them
many of us might have expected to go down at the beginning of the season, but i'm sure we'll all now be devestated if we go down, especially since we have seen that survival has been well within our reach all season
i wonder what people will say about the away tactics we've adopted this year if we go down by the odd point?
|
|
|
|
Post by dozintheseventees on Mar 17, 2009 22:56:29 GMT
We've got far more points NOW than most pundits predicted. I desperately want us to stay up but we're in a far better place as a club than we have been for a quarter of a century. If we go down I'll be gutted but it won't be a disaster for this club now. We'll compete and bounce back as we are far better equipped to cope. As for the awqay form. I think it's very small margins between no wins and a couple of good wins. It may sound simplistic but I think we have been woefully unlucky not to have won away this season and, if we had won just one, the outlook would look so much brighter on 32 points. I'm very happy with what we have done this season and I'll still be proud of them if we go down. BUT WE WON'T!
|
|
|
|
Post by march4 on Mar 17, 2009 22:58:25 GMT
Stay calm and confident. The last thing we want is the players full of fear as they were against Pompey.
A cold afternoon with a viciously hostile crowd is the order of the day.
|
|
|
|
Post by assessornum1 on Mar 18, 2009 12:15:36 GMT
Pressure, what pressure?
Im going to have a lie down now with a wet flannel and a pint of nytol
|
|
|
|
Post by wembley4372 on Mar 18, 2009 13:11:20 GMT
With any luck we will be safe before out trip to the emirates or hope that arsenal have nothing to play for and are in the fa cup final the week after
|
|
|
|
Post by tuum on Mar 19, 2009 7:45:17 GMT
I try and look at it in a detached way so as no to suffer the emotional roller coaster on a match by match basis.
I think we have a 50:50 chance of winning any one of our remaining matches. This is an over simplification assuming at 60:40 in our favour of winning the home games and 40:60 for the away ones.
So, I am looking at the complete nine matches and will not get carried away on the strength of one good or bad result.
Whichever way I look at - 3wins, 3draws, 3 losses = 12pts
4wins, 4 losses, 1 draw = 13pts
4wins, 5 losses = 12pts.
I think any of the above are perfectly achievable.
If TP goes into negative mode I can still see 2 wins, 3 losses and 4 draws = 10pts
So, by my reckoning we have nothing to worry about and should remain calm but focussed over the next nine games. If we manage to beat those around us as well then the wins are even better. In fact, I would be happy if we did so and one of our losses was at WBA as they are out of it in my opinion. Far better to lose to WBA than to Blackburn, Boro, Newcastle etc.
In short, no need to worry & nothing to fear!
|
|
|
|
Post by wembley4372 on Mar 19, 2009 8:52:38 GMT
40/60 of winning away - I think your glass is more than half full!
|
|
