|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 4, 2023 17:22:43 GMT
Neil will do well to see out the season if he thinks Wilmot is a number one CB.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 4, 2023 9:22:28 GMT
If anyone thought we would be up there challenging for a top 6 position they are crazy..!!!! Personally I think it will take 2 if not 3 more seasons just to challenge , but, in true Stoke fashion we will probably sack AN in the 2nd/3rd season.. Then we start again… I’m 57 this year, I’ll be amazed if I see Stoke in the top flight much before my retirement..!.!!!! Neil should go if he can't deliver a top 6 challenge.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 4, 2023 9:15:40 GMT
The lad is going for sub 1M. If we can't afford that then the spiel they trotted out about our budget is a pack of lies. Honestly. So if you had money to spend on a house and someone bid far more than you thought it was worth would you bid higher or walk away and look at lots of other houses you were interested in? I mean like... wtaf?
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 4, 2023 8:12:28 GMT
So we have to wait until other clubs do business before we do ours? Why? Why don't players want to sign for Alex Neil? It's looking that way to me. We'll see. Because teams want a replacement in before they release rheor player. Would you sell your car and be left without one before buying a replacement? Teams like us? Ridiculous analogy.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 4, 2023 6:11:08 GMT
Most sensible people understand that, only a few loons that you get at every club don't and won't. The middle ground in this debate is very different though and you surely understand that too? It has been fed to us through the usual channels all summer that the club would be aggressively going after freebies to bulk out the squad before going after the bigger money players when they become available later in the window. Pretty much as you say and a sensible strategy. The club haven't helped themselves at all last season by telling the fans this will be an exciting summer, that we'll be very competitive financially, very active in the window and because of that they've opened up the ST discount window to August etc etc. If you're doing that and whipping up a frenzy then I'm sorry, you can expect criticism when you go into the 2nd week of Pre Season training with no new signings at all and a shadow backroom staff. That's the kind of stuff you get at Derby County when they are in complete chaos and under a financial and transfer embargo, having to wait until the last week of Pre Season to cobble together a squad fit for purpose. It will turn into being an exciting pre season mate …..they’ve already said it will build up the closer to the end of the window which is when club’s accept deals for players having bought replacements It’s well documented that our deals will happen then So we have to wait until other clubs do business before we do ours? Why? Why don't players want to sign for Alex Neil? It's looking that way to me. We'll see.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 3, 2023 19:50:51 GMT
Is that before or after paying back the £200M or so that the owners have put in? To be fair, if the owners had not allowed us to sleepwalk into a needless relegation and then wasted our period of parachute payments then that £200 million might be much less. As a club, we have systematically made poor decisions over the last six or seven years which has set us back massively. I think the supporters, on the whole, have been extremely lenient and forgiving bearing in mind how swift our demise (from a top half Premier League club to one unable to finish above the bottom half of the Championship) has been. We do need to see some sign of progress this season. Even if it is just finishing in the top half of the table. We haven't poached a manager from a bigger club, tripled his wages and brought in all his mates just to 'progress' to a top half finish. Neil had to deliver a play off challenge or he should sling his hook. Yet another Stoke manager given everything he needs but we're more worried about relegation than excited about promotion.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 3, 2023 15:21:08 GMT
So why say it? He said he wanted players, he's failed to bring anyone in. We've a large budget for this league, we'll pay well, we have all the facilities, we're a recent PL club.... what's the issue? Because fans moan if they don't say something and moan if they do, the club can't win, he said he wanted it and it did seem like he expected it to happen but things change. The issue, the better players will have options, we've been shite since relegation, there's uncertainty how things will go next season. Using Silvera as an example, between us and Middlesbrough I'd say they were the better option if wages etc are similar, he'd be joining a club that were challenging at the top half of the table, recently in the playoffs it would seem a no brainer. And if the Luton Pearson links were credible why would he chose Stoke over another crack at the Prem. Exactly, it's because we're a total shit show. Make it a no brainer to get the players we want, not feed off scraps. If that means we have to pay more we pay more. Make it compelling to join us. Pearson will be a bench warmer even for Luton. He would have made it in the PL by now if he was any good.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jul 3, 2023 15:10:00 GMT
There is a reason. We’re shit. The manager himself said they wanted 2 in before pre season. We’re judging them on what they set. He can want all he likes but that doesn't mean it's going to happen, you're going to judge him on something that's largely out of his control? So why say it? He said he wanted players, he's failed to bring anyone in. We've a large budget for this league, we'll pay well, we have all the facilities, we're a recent PL club.... what's the issue?
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 30, 2023 10:33:19 GMT
Who should we have appointed as head of recruitment? I really don't know. I would like to think , someone with the know how AND the contacts . I remember when Wolves were in the Championship they appointed some fella has head of recruitment , who was bessie mates with some super agent and knew everybody worth knowing at Benefica , porto , Sporting lisbon etc . suddenly all these Portugal internationals started arriving at Wolves. That's not the only way of doing things . I doubt luton town were awash with Portugal internationals when they went up . But something along the Wolves lines , would at least make me sit up and think ...hello this is interesting , this is different . Wolves basically relied on a super agent to get their players. Not exactly putting in the hard yards with a network of contacts is it?
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 30, 2023 7:51:16 GMT
He'll definitely make them worse. Arsenal? I don’t think he will. Should allow them to attack better if anything. He’s a cracking player. Whoosh
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 30, 2023 7:37:08 GMT
He’s a good player but what a mental fee. 20m pound player at most. He'll definitely make them worse.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 29, 2023 18:12:09 GMT
I like him. Very little 'corporate' speak. Straight answers.
Proof will be in the pudding.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 28, 2023 17:45:47 GMT
I did not say anything about the Coates family selling up if you read it properly. I said they should stand aside & put someone in control of the day to day running of the club who knows more about running a football club. Is there anyone in British football who knows more about running a football club than Uncle Peter especially when being advised by Denis Smith? John Coates is not as experienced. Oh dear
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 28, 2023 17:45:20 GMT
Does he understand the meaning of the word plan. Judging by the last 5 years the answer has to be a big no. He needs to stand aside & let a real football person take control. Are you mad? without the Coates support the club would go out of business. Who is going to step in finance the club which makes huge losses and buy the Coates out,do u know some rich Saudis or local businesses This thread should be binned Should have gone to Specsavers
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 28, 2023 17:42:40 GMT
OK Time for a twitchometer reading re your current feelings towards the summer window so far Are you 1: not concerned at all, it's still June 2: pre season has started, should have one or two in by now but still ages 3:getting twitchy now 4:, very unhappy as so many required, can't see this going well 5: downright angry, club/local media have been strongly hinting at this being a big window and none in so far 6:we look doomed, can't possibly turn out good now it's all too late 7: Benji I'll be honest I'm at 1 1, better to take the time and get things right rather than rush to signing anyone just to keep some idiots on the oatcake happy. Correct, it's the main criteria. The fact we haven't got any footballers is irrelevant.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 28, 2023 15:09:51 GMT
I don't know a single Stoke fan , who could care less , what colour the first team coach, or youth team coach is . It's a total irrelevance . You might as well say ... oh, non of the first team coaches are vegan and ten per cent of the population are vegan. Or none of the youth team coaches are transgender and such a percentage of the population is transgender . I want to see better football at the bet 365 . I couldn't care less if the coach is black or white, transgender or straight, young or old. We simply want good coaches. If they are good, that's great and I couldn't care less what colour they are . How do we know we're getting the best coaches when it's clearly more difficult for people of certain ethnicity to get even a look in? It's not a level playing field.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 28, 2023 14:58:50 GMT
If he doesn’t sign, I will start to be concerned. It's a formality, even Stoke can't balls this one up.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 28, 2023 7:30:48 GMT
Imagine if he went there and they didn’t win the league 🤣🤣 They didn't 'win' it last season, Dortmund lost it. Absolute bottle job by them. It will be a move very much focused on the Champions League and to fill the massive Lewandoski hole.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 27, 2023 10:08:17 GMT
Here we go, open goal for the ITK clan... I'll have a go... Stoke to announce signing of Daniel Johnson. The player will sign a 2 year contract. The effort gone into this signing would have been immense.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 27, 2023 9:58:48 GMT
How well do you think the club has 'operated' in the transfer market in the last 5 years or so? We've got money but are fannying around. It's clear as day. Pay the money for a decent goalkeeper - we'll need a good one as he's going to be very busy. How do you know they're fannying about, you know sod all like the rest of us. We've started pre-season by appointing a Head of Recruitment (pmsl) , with half a team a team and half a coaching staff. I'd say that was fannying around. Waiting for apples to drop... irons in the fire...
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 27, 2023 9:41:58 GMT
Jesus fucking wept ….or maybe just maybe the player himself wanted to sit and wait what his options were I don’t think holding a gun to a players head is legal unless I’ve missed something I wonder why Arsenal haven’t wrapped up the Rice transfer or Manchester United Mason Mount? This place is getting silly now It's gone beyond that now, this thread is unreal. Some have no idea how clubs operate or transfers happen! How well do you think the club has 'operated' in the transfer market in the last 5 years or so? We've got money but are fannying around. It's clear as day. Pay the money for a decent goalkeeper - we'll need a good one as he's going to be very busy.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 27, 2023 9:31:29 GMT
Whatever the reasons are for the perceived lack of progress in replacing coaching/playing staff if AN & Co don’t hit the ground running in August/mid September resulting in a healthy points tally there will be a massive social media shit storm. Justified or not. Totally justified. As would the praise if it went well.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 26, 2023 13:13:39 GMT
Nobody is better in the Championship as a holding midfielder! Christ.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 26, 2023 13:11:32 GMT
It's amazing how many people don't read the full article but then start making snide comments. I'm more concerned how many thick people we have who can't see past their nose, read between the lines, see a bigger picture, call it what you like. Scary really. Probably the same kind of people who during lockdown couldn't be told to use common sense. They had to be told exactly how to act. AN has already said some other names that weren't even an option recently are now an option as things develop at other clubs. So do you go and get a load of whatever players, and then weeks later a player becomes available who wasn't back then and you've now spent you're budget or filled the position? Until the manager comes out publicly and says right guys, things aren't happening as we want, we're right in the shit, and it's ok for fans to start setting their pants then just chill out and let the club do what they need to do. You can't go into the transfer market and not buy anyone because someone better might come available in a few weeks. What if they don't? Recent history of hedging bets hasn't worked out great for us. Has Neil got any courage of conviction?
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 26, 2023 10:54:32 GMT
New players definitely on the way. They'll be introduced to their team mates at 2:45 on 5th August.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 26, 2023 9:08:22 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 26, 2023 9:07:38 GMT
Can't say i'm fussed either way.
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 23, 2023 15:33:50 GMT
Decent enough interview for this stage of th off season, does sound like we will have acouple in and revealed either later today or monday. He seems pretty relaxed which hopefully means the plans he wished to lay have been made or are progressing He’s not talking about promotion like he did when he first walked in which I find interesting. Managing expectation has begun. Still, i'm positive...
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 22, 2023 15:32:30 GMT
If I were JC I'd try to persuade Tony Scholes to come out of semi-retirement at the Premier league and rejoin the club as Chief Executive. I feel like we've been pretty much rudderless since Scholesy left town. Jesus wept
|
|
|
Post by Pugsley on Jun 22, 2023 13:14:22 GMT
I'm not going to be convinced by a bloke who has more sound bites than a Tory PM. Who would you bring in as manager then, to guarantee success? I'm on about Martin... the bloke the manager brought in.... his mate...
|
|