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Post by harrysburrow on Apr 20, 2009 19:49:29 GMT
I'll put in my vote for Man City at home as well, with the coming back from 2 down at Villa. Had a gut feeling after both of these games that we'd be alright.
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Post by staffordstokie on Apr 20, 2009 20:19:42 GMT
I'm with the 2 goal comeback at the Villa.
But not being at the Villa I gotta say the 80th minute roar was absolutely incredible. My 8.y.o nephew had his hands over ears, but roaring at the same time. AMAZING...
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Post by themikester on Apr 20, 2009 20:23:22 GMT
When we finally got a bit of discipline in the side following the fiasco at West Ham. Something very political regards Griffin and Fuller but I'm sorry Griff,Fuller is far more important. I am eating a big slice of humble pie here because I was all for Fuller going after West Ham. I was wrong.
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Post by ChesterStokie on Apr 20, 2009 20:25:58 GMT
Ryan's goal against Boro.
At 0-0 with 10 minutes left I thought we were going down. And then Ryan scored and then we won and that was the first sign of real daylight in the league table and then I thought we would stay up.
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Post by beagriestache on Apr 20, 2009 20:35:25 GMT
I don't think we should underestimate the importance of beating the Villa in our first home game, especially after getting spanked by Bolton. A priceless morale booster that showed us we could do anyone on our day.
In fact, if you need any convincing of Pulis's worth as a manager it's the way he's got the team up for the next match after a defeat as if nothing had happened. Lose 5-0 to Man Utd, beat WBA next game. Fantastic.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Apr 20, 2009 20:46:57 GMT
Agree with the majority that Man City (home) and Villa away were pivotal in the second half of the season.
But for me, and this sounds stupid as I type it, maybe it was Villa at home. After the Bolton game the week before, when we looked so shaky at the back, I went into that game absolutely terrified of Villa's quality and pace. I thought it would be a great occasion, that the result didn't really matter, that we would lose by 2 or 3 goals but we were back in The Prem.
Tone said we would lose more than we would win, and it was how we bounced back. He'd shortened the pitch. He said the crowd was important. He showed faith in the nucleus of our Championship squad.
And it worked, it bloody worked! All those factors combined to produce that fairy tale return to the top flight. The commitment and belief of players and supporters was born. They battled, we shouted and they kept going. I came away from that game buzzing, and I believed that maybe we could beat the odds. It must be a combination of the pitch, the style of play and the attitude of the players and supporters, but that alchemy at The Britannia is a great leveller, and has been the key to the over achievement that everybody at Stoke City has enjoyed in this amazing season.
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Post by badger on Apr 20, 2009 20:53:50 GMT
Villa at home. To get the first 3pts on the board in the 1st home game was vital, it proved to the players and us fans that we belonged. Look at us now, only Chelski, Manure and the Toffees have taken the maximum from The Brit. If anyone would have offered us that before a ball was kicked we'd have snatched their hand off.
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Post by tony harrison on Apr 20, 2009 22:36:27 GMT
Quite a few really,
That come back at Villa,
Winning against Citeh with 10 men,
realising that Whelan is better than Diao
and finally realising that we now have our best team on the pitch with two wide midfield players
at the same time.
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Post by swampySCFC on Apr 20, 2009 22:46:11 GMT
Man city 1-0 win with 10men, unbeaten at home since then. Citeh was the start of our "easier run" and funnily enough I was always confident that we would beat them. The way it turned out we beat them in extraordinary circumstances with beats scoring an excellent goal. That game for me was the pivotal moment.
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Post by dwr17477 on Apr 20, 2009 23:22:07 GMT
For me there are a few.
The fixture list. I couldn't believe that by January we had got all but one of the 8 supposed nil pointers behind us.
Scoring against Bolton. I found it somehow comforting that we could score and I think it proved to me that we could compete if we tightened up at the back.
The Aston Villa home game. Incredible. Again, it proved we could compete.
Arsenal. To beat these ARSES actually made me cry tears of joy. Sad but true.
Man Citeh. To be able to beat them with ten men was incredible and what a goal.
Aston Villa away. Great comeback which galvanised all involved with Stoke. We have not looked back since then.
West Brom away. We did need that away win and surprise, surprise, the Baggies didn't disappoint us. Thanks, lads.
Also, great mid season signings.
As I said, a few pivotal moments for me but I felt the same about last season - I couldn't identify just one, it's a collection of moments that immediately spring to mind.
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Post by JoeinOz on Apr 21, 2009 1:46:46 GMT
Whelans goal at Villa. After getting a hammering we played our way back and eventually scrounged a point. Things just felt different after that.
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Post by wastokie on Apr 21, 2009 1:49:00 GMT
agreed, the city home game and villa away has to be the real 'turning' point, but none can underestimate our first epl win against villa, what a game that was! musta given the squad a huge boost, along with taking points off the "big4"
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Post by eddy_under_fire'sviews on Apr 21, 2009 1:59:36 GMT
agreed.
i just think the villa away game will always have a little place in the hearts of everyone who was there. MY ULTIMATE MENTAL EVER.
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Post by sheikh al dubai bin stokie on Apr 21, 2009 5:58:14 GMT
villa away
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Post by Do eet fer Paddock on Apr 21, 2009 6:26:09 GMT
The fixture list. Tough 1st half, easier 2nd. I always thought that we'd have a chance if we were in touch at the end of Jan. We were, and its played out pretty much as well as I could have hoped since then. I think we'll stay up now, but I also expect next season to be far tougher
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2009 6:31:02 GMT
The pivotal moment in our season will be when we are 10 points clear with three games to go or 7 points clear with two games to go or 4 points clear with one game to go or even just one goal better off than 18th place at the end of the season.
Save your analysis for the end of the season, too many things could still happen.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Apr 21, 2009 6:35:00 GMT
Whelans goal at Villa. After getting a hammering we played our way back and eventually scrounged a point. Things just felt different after that. Villa at home is the only game we have not lost that I don't have saved on the PVR. It grates me like hell that I have not seen this game live. If anyone can point me in the direction of a download it would be appreciated. Truly pivotal = BT's goal and the win against City Inspirational - Wilko coming of age against Ronaldo Boxing Day, the demolition of Arsenal, both results against Villa, comprehensive wins against Bolton and WBA Since January 31, 2009 its been like a fecking dream for me!!
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Post by Northy on Apr 21, 2009 6:54:27 GMT
Man city 1-0 win with 10men, unbeaten at home since then. same here for me
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Post by knowingeye on Apr 21, 2009 8:32:04 GMT
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Stoke 2-1 Tottenham
Only one team wanted to play football that day. The Stoke team realised that they were more than a match for the so-called established Premier League teams and the second home win of the season reinforced that self-belief.
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Post by cousindupree on Apr 21, 2009 9:11:31 GMT
The pivotal moment must have been when James Beattie signed his contract....boy did we need him!
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