|
|
Post by luke45 on Apr 2, 2009 21:37:13 GMT
Does anyone agree with this? Presuming we stay up of course ( a formality  ) I don't think it is harder second season in. That doesn't mean we would stop being relegation candidates, but the way i look at it is this season we have had to build a side from the championship to survive the premiership, if we do then that side is proven to be capable of staying up, meaning next seasons investment is improving on a side already capable of staying up. It has to be said though alot of our promotion side has stepped up to the mark and played key roles. It just makes you ponder how much we could achieve next season ( PRESUMING WE SURVIVE....) if we can even improve our away form slightly. I think we can continue to make the brit a fortress, but it really shows how much we could achieve when you take into account just two away wins added to our current total could put us mathematically in the top half! Of course there is no guarantee it would be this tight after this many games next season, but its worth contemplating. |
|
|
|
Post by sweetandinnocent on Apr 2, 2009 21:41:15 GMT
can only see us improving tbh, if we stay up TP will become legend status if he takes us up to the next level  can you really see a Tony Pulis run Stoke City getting complacent or having a worse team as the seasons go on? i cant we'll only go one way imo and thats establishing ourselves |
|
|
|
Post by walrus on Apr 2, 2009 21:41:37 GMT
Though it doesn't really make logical sense, time and time again it has proved to be true. I think it applies more to the teams that reallu overperform in their first season though, such as Ipswich, Wigan and Reading, rather than the ones that just scrape through like we might.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hiram on Apr 2, 2009 21:42:20 GMT
I'm no Gelnn Hoddle nor do I believe in the supernatural but please let's keep a lid on all this until the fat lady has croaked.
Bad Ju ju man
|
|
|
|
Post by march4 on Apr 2, 2009 22:35:56 GMT
For a club of our size, there is always a danger of us slipping into trouble.
Clubs like Wigwam and Notlob have shown it is possible to remain competitive once you are established.
Establishing yourself is the tough bit and it is a two year project.
The good news for next season is 3 teams are coming up and will be favourites for the drop. Wolves are fairly new to all of this, Brum are a yoyo club and if Reading don't make it, there are other contenders who will take a while to adapt. If Hull can stay up this year ( and I don't think they will) they must be a weaker proposition than us next season.
In conclusion, I want us to be safe this season first, but I think we can be slightly more confident next time round.
|
|
|
|
Post by stone6 on Apr 3, 2009 7:24:51 GMT
I think it's true as if you manage to survive your first season often the players who have stood out keeping you up there get 'cherry picked' by clubs willing to double their wages. Although i think we maybe in a stronger position as St. Peter will not allow this to happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by Danstoke82 on Apr 3, 2009 7:28:06 GMT
I agree, we can only get stronger if we survive our first season, which we will.
The great thing about our club is that TP and Sir Peter have a plan in place to keep us in the top league where we belong, I honestly believe we will move to the next stage next season, bringing in some decent new players to compete with our existing lot, exciting times are afoot at our great club and I for one am proud to have TP and Sir Peter in complete control.
I honestly would say, I wouldn't want to trust anyone else with our club. Bring on the second season!.
GOARNNNN STOKE!!
|
|
|
|
Post by wembley4372 on Apr 3, 2009 7:29:49 GMT
one step at a time guys
|
|
|
|
Post by sheikh al dubai bin stokie on Apr 3, 2009 7:39:39 GMT
the theory is that the other teams have worked you out, home and away - hmmm... possible
the fans lose interest - .... have to see how the ST sales go...
your best players move on to bigger things.... - doubtful in our case
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2009 8:11:10 GMT
i wouldn't worry, it's a saying that people only tend to drag out towards the end of the season when they realise the clubs they'd tipped to go down are going to stay up e.g "Stoke are going to survive? Yeah, well the second season is the hardest anyway....so there!"
You never saw people saying it about Hull mid way through the season did you? Certain element of people covering their backs methinks!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2009 8:57:48 GMT
Reading, Wigan etc. certainly found their second season harder. Didn't Ipswich finish third one year and get relegated the next season?
The theory is that the surprise factor is no longer there, other teams suss you out, know who your danger men are etc. If we're to counter it we'll need to hold onto as many of our best players as possible and probably slightly change the way we play.
|
|
|
|
Post by scfc75 on Apr 3, 2009 9:23:40 GMT
It's fair to say the first season is a huge challenge because the % of clubs who go straight back down - see below (Championship clubs promoted and those in bold went straight back down the following season) 06/07 Sunderland, Birmingham, Derby05/06 Reading, Sheff Utd, Watford04/05 Sunderland, Wigan, West Ham 03/04 Norwich, West Brom, C Palace02/03 Portsmouth, Leicester, Wolves01/02 Man City, West Brom, Birmingham 00/01 Fulham, Blackburn, Bolton Based on this season aswell (at least 1 promoted team going - hopefully only 1!) then approx. 50% of all promoted teams go straight back down. Of the above list, there are a total of 18 clubs promoted (3 have done it twice), of those 18, 9 started this season in the Premiership. Of all the teams who survived the first season, only 2 were then relegated in the 2nd season (West Brom and Reading). The rest are either still there, or lasted 3 or 4 seasons (i.e. Birmingham). What I would conclude from that is generally, clubs who go back down in their first season find it really difficult to get back again (few exceptions, i.e. Sunderland) - they tend to sink to become an average Championship club. Whereas clubs who stay up for at least one season either become stonger and established (Bolton, Wigan, Fulham etc.) or if they do go down after 2 seasons, they yo-yo (West Brom, Reading, even Birmingham). I would say that if we survive this year, due to the way the club is run, we can expect to either have an extended run in the Premiership, or at least a few seasons like West Brom or Birmingham where we flirt between the two divisions. Could all be bollocks mind!!  |
|
|
|
Post by stokecitytalke on Apr 3, 2009 9:35:43 GMT
I think we WILL survive this season and as a result become stronger as a club. With TP and Peter's backing we will strenghten next season and hopefully become established for the next few years.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ddraigcoch on Apr 3, 2009 11:10:38 GMT
Does anyone agree with this? Presuming we stay up of course ( a formality ) I don't think it is harder second season in. That doesn't mean we would stop being relegation candidates, but the way i look at it is this season we have had to build a side from the championship to survive the premiership, if we do then that side is proven to be capable of staying up, meaning next seasons investment is improving on a side already capable of staying up. It has to be said though alot of our promotion side has stepped up to the mark and played key roles. It just makes you ponder how much we could achieve next season ( PRESUMING WE SURVIVE....) if we can even improve our away form slightly. I think we can continue to make the brit a fortress, but it really shows how much we could achieve when you take into account just two away wins added to our current total could put us mathematically in the top half! Of course there is no guarantee it would be this tight after this many games next season, but its worth contemplating. Next season in the Prem will see many clubs having to cut their cloth as the recession bites. Stoke City I believe will be in a good position with the current squad plus a few more additions. We won't need to break the bank to improve in my opinion. Financially the club must be in a healthy position?? Others like Blunderland, Fulham, Bolton, Newcastle, Boro, Wigan, and even the top clubs must be seriously feeling the pinch. Stoke City will be a much more attractive proposiion next season for new players and investors alike. Onward and Upwards. For me....PC and TP are working the miracle based on a sound business and footballing strategy. Goooaaarrrrnnn STOKE ;D |
|
|
|
Post by beagriestache on Apr 3, 2009 11:13:55 GMT
Even if we do go down and become an average Championship club, I wouldn't swap this season for anything.
I wondered whether I'd ever see Stoke in the top flight again in my lifetime, so I'm delighted with that first of all.
Second, everyone tipped us to do a Derby and we've more than held our own.
So, whatever happens well done to TP and the boys. One final push and it'll be a season to remember.
|
|
)
