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Post by Paul Spencer on May 13, 2009 11:03:35 GMT
There's a lot of threads beginning to surface now, mentioning the players that the likes of Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan etc. have designs on, with the comment that maybe we should make a move for the said player.
Of course we would be able to match any offer these clubs were to make, but I just wonder how do you think the potential targets themselves will view Stoke City FC in the summer?
A win on Saturday could see us finishing in 11th place in the end of season table.
Would such a finish coupled with the excellent financial position of the club, long term security of the manager and of course the now European renowned famous Stoke City support be enough for us to be seen as an equal to the likes of Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan, Sunderland and Fulham etc. or will we still be seen by potential targets as being below these clubs in the pecking order?
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Post by Beardy200 on May 13, 2009 11:06:47 GMT
There's a lot of threads beginning to surface now, mentioning the players that the likes of Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan etc. have designs on, with the comment that maybe we should make a move for the said player. Of course we would be able to match any offer these clubs were to make, but I just wonder how do you think the potential targets themselves will view Stoke City FC in the summer? A win on Saturday could see us finishing in 11th place in the end of season table. Would such a finish coupled with the excellent financial position of the club, long term security of the manager and of course the now European renowned famous Stoke City support be enough for us to be seen as an equal to the likes of Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan, Sunderland and Fulham etc. or will we still be seen by potential targets as being below these clubs in the pecking order? Still below slightly i'd say Paul for another season or two perhaps. Although Wigan's pathetic support "may" push 1 or 2 our way over them maybe?
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2009 11:07:28 GMT
I don’t see why players would see teams such as Newcastle, Sunderland, Wigan, Blackburn etc as bigger than us.
Ultimately, the majority of players will follow the money so as long as we can compete with these teams in terms of wages there’s no reason why they wouldn’t choose us over them.
We’ve done ourselves a lot of favours this year and I’m sure more players would be open to the idea of playing at The Brit.
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Post by FullerMagic on May 13, 2009 11:09:15 GMT
I think we've made a massive step-up. The good publicity re the atmosphere, the very respectable finsihing position, high-profile signing of Beattie etc.
I think we'd be viewed now as equally attractive destinations as the semi-established teams around us like Wigan, Blackburn, Bolton, and Portsmouth.
And, in such cases, Coates' wage offers could be the tie-breaker. In fact, who are we kidding? For many, this will be the overwhelming first priority - and with Coatesy behind us, we certainly won't be poor relations.
The hope is that the likes of Burnley and Wolves are still at the first season Soares/Olofinjana/Davies stage of development.
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Post by Tubes on May 13, 2009 11:12:34 GMT
I've been wondering about this myself recently.
It's a difficult one because on one hand we will possibly finish above Blackburn, Pompy, Bolton, Sunderland etc, but these teams are "established" premier league teams even if they've all flirted with the drop this season.
On the other hand, you could make a good case for arguing that we are just as good a prospect as all of these teams for players coming in. With the exception the "big teams", the big 4 plus Everton, Villa and Spurs (and Man City for obvious reasons) I'd say we could probably start to compete with all the other clubs in this league. Most players will come to a club for wages or for glory. With almost any chance of glory being spread to the above mentioned teams, is it inconceivable that the only difference in many players minds between us and the likes of Blackburn, Portsmouth, Wigan, Sunderland is what wages we are prepared to offer?
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Post by Paul Spencer on May 13, 2009 12:55:54 GMT
Yeah I'm beginning to think that we're going to be to able to compete for just about any realistic target.
If we assume that the top four, Citeh, Villa and Spurs are going to be shopping in completely different markets than ourselves, then out of the remaining Prem teams, it's probably only going to be either Everton or West Ham who could scupper our attempts to bring in a potential target.
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Post by Tubes on May 13, 2009 12:58:13 GMT
The Shit Chelsea Liverpool Arsenal Man City Aston Villa Everton Spurs possibly West Ham
I don't think any other English teams should represent a threat that we cannot at least compete with in the transfer market.
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2009 13:10:26 GMT
I think the crowd, combined with our relative proximity to the footballer-friendly parts of Cheshire, could make us more attractive than mnay of our rivals.
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Post by fradleyhomes on May 13, 2009 13:11:34 GMT
We are certainly ahead of Wigan,Blackburn,Bolton and ,maybe Sunderland
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Post by grayscfc on May 13, 2009 13:16:57 GMT
we`ll be a more attractive option than-wigan ,castle ,sunderland ,bolton ,portsmouth ,blackburn or any of the teams coming up.
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luds
Youth Player
Posts: 293
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Post by luds on May 13, 2009 13:17:36 GMT
I was having a little think on this subject earlier. Geographically we aren't great and obviously behind teams situated in London, Manchester and Birmingham. Now also our facilities don't seem to be all that either but we have a good stadium, great supporters and excellent team spirit and togetherness.
This is mixed in really depends on the type of player we are looking at. I think your real live for, die for football players would have everything they need at Stoke however your Robinho money grabbing, upstarts would rather be sat on the bench at City, Spurs, Sunderland on a wedge than play first team down here.
Man Utd Liverpool Chelsea Arsenal Man City Spurs Everton Villa Newcastle Fulham West Ham Sunderland Stoke Portsmouth Blackburn Bolton Wigan Boro WBA Hull
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Post by Lakeland Potter on May 13, 2009 13:18:12 GMT
If the rumours of Portsmouth's financial problems are true then we are almost certainly above them as well.
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Post by Big John RIP on May 13, 2009 13:19:48 GMT
tough one but reckon we are up there now. Overseas players should be where we are looking, if they do well you sell them on for a big profit.
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Post by stokey-pokey pudding and pie on May 13, 2009 13:53:37 GMT
Man Utd Liverpool Chelsea Arsenal Man City Spurs Everton Villa West Ham Fulham Wigan Bolton Sunderland Stoke Portsmouth Blackburn Newcastle Boro WBA Hull
i reckon its something like that - but we shouldnt be afraid to compete with blunderland, bolton or wigan IMO
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Post by burberrybassist on May 13, 2009 14:41:26 GMT
Stoke City has a more colourful history than the likes of Bolton and Wigan, and alot of the other middle of the the table teams so perhaps that will have an effect? I reckon like Beardy said though, we need a couple more seasons up here first
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Post by march4 on May 13, 2009 15:22:58 GMT
Footballers are simple creatures.
Number 1 question; How much will I earn?
Number 2 question; So, how much will I earn?
Supplementary question; That means I will earn how much?
Don't forget, our contracts this year have had relegation clauses in them and that means a potential loss in earning. Without these clauses we become as attractive as every other club that offers the same wages.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2009 15:31:38 GMT
let's not get ahead of ourselves here lads and lasses!! yes, we've stayed up but next year we will STILL be one of the favourites to go down and that makes a massive impact on how desirable a club you are to play for. regardless of whether Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn finish above or below us they will still be more desirable as players will see us as far more likely to get relegated next year. I can appreciate we're all getting excited with the prospect of another Prem season but i'm fairly sure you won't be seeing us win any bidding wars with any "established" Prem sides just yet. Most of our new acquisitions i'm sure will still be from CCC or older players from Prem sides.
Sorry to inject a bit of realism and all that.......
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Post by Paul Spencer on May 13, 2009 16:44:15 GMT
let's not get ahead of ourselves here lads and lasses!! yes, we've stayed up but next year we will STILL be one of the favourites to go down and that makes a massive impact on how desirable a club you are to play for. regardless of whether Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn finish above or below us they will still be more desirable as players will see us as far more likely to get relegated next year. I can appreciate we're all getting excited with the prospect of another Prem season but i'm fairly sure you won't be seeing us win any bidding wars with any "established" Prem sides just yet. Most of our new acquisitions i'm sure will still be from CCC or older players from Prem sides. Sorry to inject a bit of realism and all that....... That's a fair comment Mick. But by way of example, if say Bolton, Wigan and Stoke were prepared to match Boro's asking price for Gary O'Neil, then I really don't think there would be too much between the three teams as far as the player was concerned, apart from the wages that were being offered. If Everton or West Ham were in the running, then of course we'd struggle to attract the kid, but I genuinely don't think we'd be too far (if at all) behind the rest of the runners.
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Post by Irish Stokie on May 13, 2009 16:48:34 GMT
I think that many will fear the "second season syndrome" and that could put them off but as was rightly stated above, footballers couldnt give a rusty shite about good fans, big crowds or anything other then MONEY MONEY MONEY!
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Post by anfieldred(and white) on May 13, 2009 17:04:05 GMT
Just think of all of the media coverage you've had this year. Far more than any team outside the big 4 and the sad pathetic laughable barcodes. No publicity is bad publicity and Stoke, believe it or not, is probably quite a high profile club for someone to join. Think about it, not quite good enough for the big 4 yet, want to be idolised, want to be noticed, want some serious dosh - go to Stoke. You'll be fine - lets face it you got Salif didnt you?
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Post by Paul Spencer on May 13, 2009 17:07:41 GMT
I was really hoping that some of our regular friends form other teams would join in on this thread to give us a bit of much needed outside perspective.
Nice one anfieldred.
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Post by Trouserdog on May 13, 2009 19:06:12 GMT
I'd say that we'd certainly be viewed as an equal to the likes of Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan and Portsmouth, even though they've been here a bit longer.
Even though they aren't up to much on the pitch at the moment, I still think Newcastle would be viewed as a step up from this group, alongside maybe Sunderland and West Ham.
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Post by crimesy on May 13, 2009 19:12:39 GMT
im finding it hard to take you seriously with that avatar but il give it a go. Personally i think that the support this year, the budget, the financial position of the club, the strength and last, but not least, our final league position this year will be enough to attract some of the best players that, personally, i will have seen in a Stoke shirt. On the other hand, what the media portray us as could also have an impact. Big, boring, one-dimentional, dirty, ugly Stoke. I suppose it will come down to the player, if he's a half-decent lad, im sure he will see the good side of Stoke City FC, and not the bad.
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Post by Squeekster on May 13, 2009 19:20:34 GMT
I think that many will fear the "second season syndrome" and that could put them off but as was rightly stated above, footballers couldnt give a rusty shite about good fans, big crowds or anything other then MONEY MONEY MONEY! The second season syndrome usually occurs when the team think that they have done really well with the squad and don't strengthen when all other teams around them do and they fall behind.
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Post by actongatestokie on May 13, 2009 19:27:09 GMT
I concur with march4's assessment of the situation here. Footballers look after their pocket first and everything else after - chuck in the Agents while we're talking aswell.
I'd love to sit here and say that players will want to play infront of the partisan crowd every week, the loudest in the country, but they won't. They will if the price is right, sure they'll come racing to the camera's and trot out the usual nonsense - "Stoke are ambitious and I want to be a part of it"..."the crowd here are amazing and I want to play in front of them every other week"
I'd love TP to get manager of the season...because I think he deserves it. Would it make players rush to his door to come and play for him? Would it heck!
Sorry to be a stick in the mud pragmatist/realist here but players play for money and nowt else. Those that win medals are the players who have got the ability. Everyone else is out for the most that they can get for what ability they do have.
So where are we in the pecking order? Ask Peter Coates...
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Post by Baggs on May 13, 2009 22:19:08 GMT
I think that youtube vid of "oh when the reds" should form a part of marketing to any potential signing
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Post by cantspellwontspell on May 14, 2009 6:32:44 GMT
I for one hope we don't try and compete too hard for players in terms of "basic wages" but over very good bonuses for apperances, goals, assists etc.
i wouldn't like to see us go down the Bradford route and pay someone £40K a week when we can't afford it.
we have to keep the wage structure competitive but sustainable.
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Post by JoeinOz on May 14, 2009 6:40:35 GMT
In the way we approach this it is crucial that we don't start running before we can walk. We don't want players who want a clause in their contract saying they can leave for 50 grand if we are relgated.
Remember we do have a noisy crowd and everything BUT players aren't arsed about that kind of thing. They only thing they want is the money.
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Post by Rebelliousjukebox on May 14, 2009 7:03:59 GMT
Footballers are simple creatures. Number 1 question; How much will I earn? Number 2 question; So, how much will I earn? Supplementary question; That means I will earn how much? That is, sadly, all too true for the majority. For the minority who take other factors into account, the stability - as at present - of the Manager & Chairman, plus the credit Pulis is rightly getting, will be in our favour. The crowd/fans should be in our favour, although there may be some for whom that may be intimidating - potential adulation/scorn (of some e.g. Cresswell) of the loudest fans.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2009 7:36:24 GMT
Without sounding too negative, it depends where we finish this season! 12th or 11th is great but we can easily fall a few places. What's the lowest we can finish?
Bloody hell fullermagic I'd forgot about davies!!
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