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Post by Pugsley on Apr 1, 2024 17:24:04 GMT
Maybe he is out of his depth, that doesn't make him a coward. He's picked a team he thinks can win a game while managing two games in 3 days. That's all. He's going to keep us up despite inheriting one of the worst squads in the league. If he thinks that side could win the game then he’s delusional and doesn’t know a thing about football. Same was said on Friday. We won at a canter.
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Post by Pugsley on Apr 1, 2024 17:19:58 GMT
Everyone would have been satisfied with 4 points from the last two games. The fact we couldn't beat Huddersfield has the usual suspects spouting their drivel. Calling the manager a coward is beyond pathetic. He’s showed he is one though. It was a negative team selection designed to not lose at home to Huddersfield. He’s so far out of his depth it’s untrue. Maybe he is out of his depth, that doesn't make him a coward. He's picked a team he thinks can win a game while managing two games in 3 days. That's all. He's going to keep us up despite inheriting one of the worst squads in the league.
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Post by Pugsley on Apr 1, 2024 17:15:36 GMT
Everyone would have been satisfied with 4 points from the last two games. The fact we couldn't beat Huddersfield has the usual suspects spouting their drivel. Calling the manager a coward is beyond pathetic.
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Post by Pugsley on Apr 1, 2024 15:09:09 GMT
Nice
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 28, 2024 22:08:16 GMT
Maybe they did, you don't know. The Coates's have never responded to these kind of points in detail ever as far as I can remember and that's going back years. "We're disappointed... We support the club... we're committed" is the best you can hope for. Fair enough, it's their prerogative and can do as they please. Facts can be seen on the pitch. I watched it on-line and the questions I would have asked weren't put - I don't know whether that was because nobody wanted to ask them, or whether the questions were filtered. I think when the new arrangements come in, it will be more difficult not to address those questions. I think it's wishful thinking expecting the owners answering the kind of questions posed from this article in any kind of detail. They will straight bat them away.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 28, 2024 13:20:42 GMT
“Gallie” and “Schuey” both gonners come end of May anyway, whatever the outcome I reckon. ( hopefully Jared too). Morris are we shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic 🤔. Nothing to lose I guess. We look worse now than when AN was here and that’s saying something. Think we’ll survive……….just, but no one’s coming out of this season with any glory. Schumacher will be here at the start of next season 100%. Whatever division. John Coates will lose the very last minuscule of credibility he has left if he gets rid of yet another manager.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 28, 2024 12:52:24 GMT
Or they've lost faith in Gallagher as a coach and need someone in who knows what they are doing to help the Manager. If that was the case I'd expect a joint announcement that he's left the club. Sadly for Schumacher we looked a lot better structured in the two games that were looked after by Morris, Gallagher and Shawcross in the interim and I suspect the owners and Walters have thought the same. Two games? Come on. It sounds like it's all hands to the pump, nothing more than that. Gallagher will be gone in the summer - good riddance.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 28, 2024 12:48:28 GMT
It does sound a bit like, Schumacher is on probation, with Morris waiting in the wings doesn't it?. It reads to me like they've lost faith in Schumacher already, have tried and failed to replace him outside of the ludicrous Adrian Heath suggestion, so the last throw of the dice is to lob another warm body at it and hope the Stoke fan in him connects somehow. I guess we'll soon see, starting tomorrow. Or they've lost faith in Gallagher as a coach and need someone in who knows what they are doing to help the Manager.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 28, 2024 12:25:42 GMT
The best quote in the article, can’t be arsed to find it, goes something like this……….its like buying your lad the most expensive top of the range sledge then it doesn’t snow for 6 years. A perfect analogy imo. What have we brought that is top of the range? We've brought mainly rubbish.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 28, 2024 12:15:54 GMT
Everything that's happened on the pitch since we have been relegated (and the season before truth be told) points to this article being spot on. Why approach the owners? What could they possibly contribute to this article? They haven't got a leg to stand on. That's your opinion but it's just good journalism to give people who are questioned or criticised, the opportunity to respond and give their perspective. But more than that, as a reader and Stoke fan, I would very much like to know how the Chairman responds to some of these points and issues. I couldn't make the Q & A he attended a short while back. Had I been able to do so, and had my question(s) been selected, I would have asked him. I very much want to know what he thinks, and more specifically, what is his strategic plan for the future. Maybe they did, you don't know. The Coates's have never responded to these kind of points in detail ever as far as I can remember and that's going back years. "We're disappointed... We support the club... we're committed" is the best you can hope for. Fair enough, it's their prerogative and can do as they please. Facts can be seen on the pitch.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 28, 2024 11:52:30 GMT
It's certainly an interesting read. Quite a lot of it is telling the Athletic readers things which we, as Stoke fans, already know. I just add a couple of notes of caution. Quite a lot of it cites the views of anonymous "former senior employees" and "former players". We don't know who these people are, what role they had at the club, how long they were at Stoke for, how good they were at their job, why they left, why they have to remain anonymous and whether they have any personal agendas. I am always a little wary of articles which present such anonymous opinions as "fact". Second, the author(s) cite no evidence of having approached the owners for comment on any of the topics they cover, or responses to any of the assessments made of the owners by their anonymous interviewees. If that is so, it's poor journalism. Of course, when Stoke City Connect is set up, monitored by the new Regulator, it will be able to explore with the owners some of these issues, particularly the financial ones and the strategic direction of the Club. Bring it on ! Everything that's happened on the pitch since we have been relegated (and the season before truth be told) points to this article being spot on. Why approach the owners? What could they possibly contribute to this article? They haven't got a leg to stand on.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 28, 2024 10:57:48 GMT
It's clear John Coates is far too close to the day to day football matters... lunch in the canteen with footballers doesn't sound right to me. Is he just one of the lads or the bloke who is running the club and expecting results? There is also an arrogance around throwing money at 'problems' and expecting things to magically change. Said it for years - we're lazy arsed.
As for the rest, christ on a bike. All to obvious, everything is manifested on the pitch.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 27, 2024 14:34:18 GMT
Predicting Stoke City and the Championship in general is a lottery. We'll pick up points when unexpected and vice-versa.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 27, 2024 14:04:01 GMT
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 27, 2024 13:24:38 GMT
You 100% sure? Will he not play Grealish on the left, Foden on the right and leave Saka on the bench? Certainly those 3 are the choices for the wide roles That leaves Rashford, Gordon, Palmer and even Sterling competing for one spot in the squad I think he will take Rashford I'd have Palmer in the squad instead of Maddison 100% sure, there is absolutely no chance Saka doesn't start and certainly not to accommodate Grealish. Saka is one of the first names on the team sheet and I'll be gobsmacked if Grealish even goes, he's had a poor season this season (when he's actually played that is). For me, it would be Kane Toney Saka Palmer Foden Rashford Isn't the squad now 26 instead of the 23 we've seen in the past? If so there might be more wiggle room to include the likes of Grealish, Watkins or Bowen. I like Grealish, he can beat a man and draws fouls BUT he has an average season. EDIT - looks like training squad can be bigger but final squad is 23. Tricky one for the manager in every position.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 27, 2024 12:21:25 GMT
As it stands at the moment, for me, it'd be ... Pickford Walker Stones Branthwaite (possibly Colwill) Trippier (possibly Chilwell) Rice Bellingham (possibly Mainoo) Saka Foden (possibly Bellingham) Rashford (possibly Foden) Kane Against B&H, I'd like to see Trippier, Branthwaite, Colwill, Rashford and Palmer, all given serious minutes and Bellingham played as an 8. Yeah, don't think you can chain Bellingham to a role. He wants to be involved everywhere and it would be counter productive to restrict him. He's just too good for that. Let him roam like Messi. I agree with your team but would have Maguire at the back alongside Stones. Massive threat from set plays and better than most alternatives. If we lose Stones, Rice, Walker or Kane then we're largely fucked. Agree. Although a lot played OK last night, we lacked international quality in forward areas. Toney and Bowen in particular. They did OK but weight of pass, awareness, touch wasn't top quality. I'd take Toney over Watkins for penalties if there was a choice.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 26, 2024 14:11:04 GMT
After us spending 16m and bringing in 18 players.... what we were meant to do bring another 10 in.... This was the quietest Jan window to date, FFP is killing everyone! Oh come on. He had a big enough budget to bring in several new players, including a pretty expensive winger. He decided to prioritise signing Cundle, Manhoef and Ennis rather than sign a centre-back or left-back. How's that decision worked out? One thing I will say is that Neil and his Chronies had a number of months to put together the squad. He failed dismally. To expect StS to repair all that damage and transform the teams' fortune in a few weeks, despite the budget, is a tough ask.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 26, 2024 11:52:49 GMT
He brought in 5 more footballers. Can't really do much more especially after Neil bringing in 18 new footballers in the summer. We're paying for the damage done by Neil and his chronies - as predicted. The man was never right for the job. Exactly - 5 footballers and not one of them a left-back or centre-back. The largest amount of money went on a luxury winger he doesn't even pick most of the time. None of that is to take away from the abysmal job Neil did. Neil constructed a shitty house that was falling down before he'd even finished building it. Schumacher came in and looked at the crumbling foundations, said it'll be all right, I'll spend the rest of the budget on some fancy curtains. Can't argue with any of that. Recruitment has been desperately poor for over a decade.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 26, 2024 11:36:54 GMT
This isn't really new news but a coach who trains my lad used to be an analyst at Plymouth and he knows SS pretty well, had a chat with him and told me said he spoke on the phone with and he said there is a lot of bad eggs at the club and poor players, he can't believe the recruitment and can't wait to sort it out in the summer, if we stay up he isn't going anywhere and highly expect him to be here if we go down given his previous. . Why on earth didn’t he even attempt to sort out the glaringly obvious issues in the January window though? He brought in 5 more footballers. Can't really do much more especially after Neil bringing in 18 new footballers in the summer. We're paying for the damage done by Neil and his chronies. The man was never right for the job.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 26, 2024 11:30:33 GMT
I'm fairly certain it was proven or at least heavily discussed during covid, that most clubs could and did make a profit without the fans entering the stadium so exactly what costs did JC pay during covid that he doesn't now? Is that why nearly every club (including at least Spurs and West Ham that I know of) furloughed their staff? It may be true of the Premier who still received TV money once games started but not the EFL. It may have escaped your notice that Stoke did not furlough any staff and paid their wages In full throughout, even the wages of regular turnstile operators who have no contract and are only paid when they work. Where do you suppose the money for that was coming from? And do you think the number of £10 streams Stoke sold every other week (and season ticket holders got a free stream) and the merchandise they sold on line over those months covered the wages of even one player for a week? Stoke's policy over covid was the reason we were allowed to go over the FFP limit by more than other clubs. There is no question about the intentions of the owners and all the good they have done outside of the football as the above demonstrates. It would be amazing if we could get back to the relative success we enjoyed with Pulis and Hughes under their ownership but the reality is that the club under JC leadership has made catastrophic decisions which sees us on the brink of a fourth term in the 3rd tier (the third time under the Coates's). No amount of free travel or frozen season tickets can sugar coat that.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 25, 2024 22:35:22 GMT
Oh dear Name who you want take over the club then ? Apart from Lambert and Jones i would say the others were all at the time acceptable options Try and think of your next giro cheque and when adjustments to FFP are made the support of the organisation will ensure this wont happen again What? John Coates has to spend because he has run the club very badly. He throws good money after bad. That's just a fact.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 25, 2024 22:12:28 GMT
Pugsley you ask why John Coates is running the club ? Is it the same John Coates has kept season tickets at the same price since we were promoted ? Is it the same John Coates who pays for the free travel ? Is it the same John Coates who paid all the costs during COVID Is it John Coates has supported every manager we have had? Ask the Reading fans if they would like JC to take over the club? Look forward to your replies Oh dear. Is this the same John Coates who has taken a decade long established PL club with multiple top 10 finishes to the brink of the third tier, bringing in a succession of terrible football managers and wasted tens of millions of pounds on some of the worst footballers in the clubs history? Keep doffing your cap while he throws you crumbs. I look forward to free travel to fucking Mansfield.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 25, 2024 21:51:35 GMT
Why Cooper? Spent a fortune at Forest only for them to be going down within a year. Can he build squads? What if he comes in and we still go down? Will he hang around? As usual nobody can come up with a real viable alternative to StS this late in the day. Steve Cooper isn't a viable alternative if Steven gets the chop? Wow... Nobody is at this late stage. Cooper isn't coming to Stoke.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 25, 2024 21:48:46 GMT
If we lose the next 2, I think they'd be in the same position they were in post-Cardiff. And boards normally like to do something, rather than do nothing. The level of brown stuff that would be raining down in the immediate aftermath of a defeat against Huddersfield might lead to a very itchy trigger finger. Just like post-Cardiff though, the same lack of options would be on the shelf, and I just can't see John going for Warnock. Don't think Pulis is up for it, and then we're in Inchy Heath territory. And if he's the answer, what's the question?How is John Coates still running the club?
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 25, 2024 12:57:12 GMT
Maybe J Coates was angry about the players,pissed off about how gutless they are. He should be more angry and pissed off with the absolute shit show he has created.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 25, 2024 12:53:45 GMT
I can't see any way he'll stay on if we go down. There'd be too much ill will built into the relationship with the fanbase - and we've seen the problem with that with Jones, MON and Neil, where we've gone into the summer almost in reverse, with major doubts over the future. This summer would be like that, only supercharged. It'd be incredibly fractious and nasty with recriminations everywhere. Absolutely. There will be a toxic atmosphere for him if we go down. That's a given in my opinion. Wonder if Steve Cooper would be tempted? (Either next weekend if we lose or next season if we go down. I think that "stability" is a bygone word in football these days. They sink or swim over probably two seasons and then join the merry go round. Why Cooper? Spent a fortune at Forest only for them to be going down within a year. Can he build squads? What if he comes in and we still go down? Will he hang around? As usual nobody can come up with a real viable alternative to StS this late in the day.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 25, 2024 12:51:01 GMT
All very commendable but if he loses to hull and Huddersfield he won’t be here for wba He will.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 25, 2024 11:21:09 GMT
Lambert looking clueless on the bench. A look we know all too well.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 20, 2024 22:39:36 GMT
Is it? What of he wins them? I hope John Coates grows a back bone and sticks with him rather than crumble. He can't be trusted to bring in yet another manager. Well after Saturdays performance I wouldn't hold your breath. Sacking him now would confirm John Coates is not for for purpose. You can't offer one viable alternative.
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Post by Pugsley on Mar 20, 2024 22:30:59 GMT
Gallagher. I mean wtaf is that about?
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