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Post by Scrotnig on Jan 31, 2004 19:29:16 GMT
Today's match was utterly fantastic. Very little else can be said about it that has not already been said. Pulis is God in manegerial terms, he's the best manager this club has had in a while. I remember saying at the end of last season that he could lead us to greater things, and I believe he will. We're five points off a playoff spot now. We're now genuinely in with a chance, albeit pretty small, of being in the Premiership next season. Now I still feel that doing that would be too much, too soon and could destabilise what's being built, however, the fact that we can even dream it so soon is a tribute to how far this club has come under Pulis. Whatever people say about the board, the setup, etc etc, I feel we've a pretty good setup at the moment...the board do actually support the manager and invest realistic sums in realistic new players, they do come up with initiatives like the £10 deal today, and whilst many may whinge, look at some of our fellow clubs....some of them would swap with our setup at a moment's notice!! (I'm deliberately leaving ID cards out of this, because I hate them, but have to grudgingly admit the scheme is probably a success). The atmosphere in the ground was great today, let's hope this helps to convince the board the standard prices are too expensive...whilst we cannot expect £10 every game, a cut of a few quid would be ideal and would bring bigger crowds. Great too to hear the Boothen today in fine voice, complete with Pulis' Barmy Army chants as well....brilliant stuff! Folks, these are good times at Stoke City....savour every second, because we've all learned the hard way that we never know how long they may last!
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Post by Trout_Licker on Jan 31, 2004 19:36:31 GMT
atmosphere was brilliant today
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Post by wisey on Jan 31, 2004 20:03:14 GMT
I don't think theres any chance we will get in the playoffs because we just had too much ground to catch up. However, does anyone else think that this midfield has enough/potential quality that is required to get out of this division. Not many better midfields in this division IMHO.
Russell Svard Eustace Commons
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Post by Scrotnig on Feb 1, 2004 10:52:25 GMT
I honestly feel we are one the most exciting and competent teams in the division at the moment. That's a genuine view, if not exactly unbiased, and I really cannot remember the last time I thought that about Stoke in Div 1, if ever.
There are lots of other things I cannot remember at the moment. I cannot remember the last time we came from behind to win a game prior to this season, but we've done it twice now.
I also cannot remember the last league game we lost! No, really! I've forgotten which one it was! Now THAT certainly doesn't happen often, because it's usually the previous game, or else the one before that!
Never mind the official records, these are the stats that REALLY prove to me how far we've come.
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Post by Hooky on Feb 1, 2004 10:57:54 GMT
scrotnig : should the unimaginable happen, we could just sign a few choice pulis signings, not add too much to the wage bill, and take the money & run, yes we could never be strong enough to survive, but the TV money alone would wipe out the clubs debt, and still leave £7M spare, thats before you add 25,000 + average (could we really expect to sell out EVERY game, I would like to think we would suddenly find us having 23,000 season ticket holders, but can't see it) and all the extra merchandising money.
1 season in the Prem, however bad we did in footballing terms, would really, really change the face of our club for the better.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Feb 1, 2004 11:40:55 GMT
Sensible thing for the board to do would be to wait until the end of Feb and reassess the situation.
We have 4 tricky games in February before things get better in March - 3 of the games are away. 6 points from those 4 games would give us as good a chance as any team of making the playoffs in my opinion. That would be an argument for the team to be strengthened for a final push.
TP would go for loans or short contracts I thunk - as he would have different priorities as far as signings is concerned should a miracle happen and we actually got promoted.
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Post by Pricey on Feb 1, 2004 11:44:34 GMT
If things get better in March then I must have been reading the wrong fixture list..... Ipswich and West Brom at home (and Watford, our only 'easy' game); Reading, Sunderland and Norwich away!!!
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Feb 1, 2004 12:09:09 GMT
When I said things get "better" I actually meant we have three games at home in March as compared to three away and only one at home in February.
Perhaps with our current "run" we have to stop worrying about the league position of the opposition.
Looking at it from our opponent's viewpoint our current form must be frightening. Currently we are the form team of Div 1 - lets take pride in that and stop worrying about who we play and where we play them. Some of the teams above us have plenty to worry about. Reading, Wigan, Cardiff are all becoming inconsistent compared to their early season form.
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Post by scfclifer on Apr 10, 2009 19:48:14 GMT
i agree pulis is god and he will get us to the prem eventually ;d
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