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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 12, 2018 22:02:04 GMT
Tragic to say it but it is. Keeps us just about in touch on goal difference and that, sadly, was about the best we could hope for. Great result? In terms of damage limitation, I guess it was alright, but great result is stretching it severely. We need points. We’re not going to make up enough ground in terms of goal difference for it to even be a factor against most of the teams around us, we’re essentially an extra point in the hole whether it was 0-2 or 0-20. Fucking depressing is what I would call it.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 12, 2018 21:54:53 GMT
No.
Opposition teams knew they had been in a game against Pulis sides at The Brit. The current side is just as dull, but without the slightest bit of physicality to at least give us a fighting chance. We’re so fucking weak, both physically and mentally, it’s an insult to Pulis to even make the comparison.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 10, 2018 16:49:25 GMT
Our game down there in April is going to be lively to say the very least.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 5, 2018 20:07:14 GMT
BT Sports 'Premier League tonight' said that based on stats they ran more under Hughes! They must have been taking into account Wimmer’s multiple laps of honor for the Spurs fans after they battered us at Wembley. It’s the most that cunt has moved in a Stoke shirt.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 4, 2018 18:05:23 GMT
If Manchester City can hold into their lead against Chelsea, it will mean they can wrap up the title at our place next week. Does this give them extra incentive to put on a bit of a show, or will it give us some extra impetus to wreck their party while claiming something in our own fight with relegation? I’m going for an optimistic, party-wrecking 1-0 win for us. Would be some way to turn a corner and gather some momentum for the massive task at hand. Apparently I had a bit to much bourbon last night and decided this morning that their are only 7 games left to play. Can’t really blame for for wanting this season to be over as quickly as possible 😄 I’m still sticking with a completely implausible 1-0 win for us, based on nowt but the never ending hope that we’ll somehow dig ourselves out of the shit.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 4, 2018 17:41:33 GMT
If Manchester City can hold into their lead against Chelsea, it will mean they can wrap up the title at our place next week. Does this give them extra incentive to put on a bit of a show, or will it give us some extra impetus to wreck their party while claiming something in our own fight with relegation?
I’m going for an optimistic, party-wrecking 1-0 win for us. Would be some way to turn a corner and gather some momentum for the massive task at hand.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 22:29:11 GMT
We're in a relegation battle, we're not going to be 'building' our side around anyone.
In a pool of absolute shit, we're looking for anyone, a-n-y-o-n-e who might be displaying some current (as in right now) form and Zouma just happens to be one of the very few of them doing exactly that and you want to jettison him from the team? You're nuts and (thankfully) I'm pretty sure Lambert won't don't it either.
Is it really that big of a deal? Shawcross is one of the best CBs in the PL, he simply has to come back in. We know he has a fantastic partnership with Zouma and it's no risk. He makes our side better. Absolute bollocks. At this stage of the season and in the situation that we’re in, you don’t change what’s not broken. The back-line is the least of our worries right now, and fucking around with it makes no sense whatsoever.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 22:22:59 GMT
Love Ryan, but nobody in their right mind would drop Zouma and BMI after today. We’re going to need all the pace and motility we can muster against Manchester City, and neither of those things are Ryan’s forte. Bruno and Zouma were paired together in the second half at Man City, we lost 7-2. So what? That’s ancient history at this point.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 17:48:36 GMT
He's better than Zouma by a mile? Love Ryan, but nobody in their right mind would drop Zouma and BMI after today. We’re going to need all the pace and motility we can muster against Manchester City, and neither of those things are Ryan’s forte.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 17:44:13 GMT
I haven’t forgotten at all. I wish I had though. Like I said, we didn’t have a single, decent attempt on goal in the entire game. Ndiaye's header in the first half which brought about a full length, finger-tip save? I”ll let you have that one. 👍
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 17:19:58 GMT
Love the optimism, but in what way could we ever have nicked it? I don’t think we had a single, decent attempt throughout the entire 90 minutes, did we? Kudos to Lambert for shoring up the defense, but that’s not going to be enough to save us. We look completely devoid of ideas once we leave our own penalty box, and that performance showed absolutely no signs of improvement in terms of goal threat. We have no viable options on the bench who can change a game, and Lambert’s substitutions are on a par with the previous managers bizarre decisions. I hope to god I’m wrong, but we look absolutely dead and buried. You've forgotten Choupo being clean through with just the keeper to beat. I haven’t forgotten at all. I wish I had though. Like I said, we didn’t have a single, decent attempt on goal in the entire game.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 17:14:30 GMT
Well I only listened to it on the radio but we sounded awful, and lucky have to have got the point. Be very thankful you didn’t have to actually watch it.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 17:13:27 GMT
Great to see a team defending properly once again and we could of nicked it. Still all to play for, West Ham back in it, Udders back in it, Saints still in it, Palace still in it. Need to beat Everton, Palace at home...........City till I Die. Love the optimism, but in what way could we ever have nicked it? I don’t think we had a single, decent attempt throughout the entire 90 minutes, did we? Kudos to Lambert for shoring up the defense, but that’s not going to be enough to save us. We look completely devoid of ideas once we leave our own penalty box, and that performance showed absolutely no signs of improvement in terms of goal threat. We have no viable options on the bench who can change a game, and Lambert’s substitutions are on a par with the previous managers bizarre decisions. I hope to god I’m wrong, but we look absolutely dead and buried.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 16:27:42 GMT
N’Dai’s first touch is fucking abysmal.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 16:23:18 GMT
Jesé for Choupo needs to happen now.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 16:06:20 GMT
Goooooarn Crouchie!
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 3, 2018 15:43:34 GMT
Defending the final third of the pitch, we look like a purring, well oiled machine.
As soon as we get into the other two-thirds of the pitch, we look like a battered old Skoda with only one wheel.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Mar 2, 2018 15:57:43 GMT
The Mad Hatter Bar is popular with Man city fans if you're up for a bit of banter. madhatternyc.com/It's a few blocks east of the Flatiron building. Probably a bit further south that you would want to walk, but a ten minute Uber ride should do it. It's also a couple of blocks away from the supposed "Stoke" bar, Fitzgerald's Pub.....which other than having a Stoke shirt pinned to the wall, really has no connection at all with Stoke. As others have already said, Legend's and Football Factory are a decent shout. You're more likely to find a couple of Stokies propped up in there due to their popularity in the City with fans of all clubs.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 28, 2018 18:33:27 GMT
Him, Etherington and Sorensen kept us up. As others have said, Beattie and Fuller in this team would have us 9th, easily. With fair helping hand from Ryan chipping in with a few goals. I miss the days when we could count on captain fantastic banging four or five a season.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 26, 2018 22:09:29 GMT
I think three wins and a draw will see us survive by the skin of our teeth.
A win at Southampton would be a massive psychological boost, and would then leave us needing seven points. I think those would most likely come from beating two of Everton, Burnley or Palace at our place, and then nicking a point at one of this big boys.
We have to be due one against Arsenal away......this season would be as good a time as any to break the Emirates Hoodoo. I just hope to fuck we don't go into the Swansea game needing owt. I don't think my nerves could take it.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 26, 2018 2:14:59 GMT
Was our best player today. He has to start, the question should be ... is it Zouma or Ryan who partners him? Why not three at the back? I am only half joking because we do now have two wing backs (Bauer and Stapylidis) that could actually make its work. I assume that was Hughes’s plan! Agree we have the full backs to possibly make it work, but I’m not sure Ryan is ever going to be comfortable as part of a back three. He just doesn’t have the pace or mobility needed for that role, and we can’t afford to experiment right now. We need tried and tested solutions. We look comfortable with a back four, and currently have a positive goal difference during Lambert’s reign. The back line is the least of outlet worries right now. They’re doing fine.....now we need to find a few more goals.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 25, 2018 22:21:00 GMT
Fuller and Steino.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 25, 2018 18:57:36 GMT
It really isn’t very sensible to interfere with emergency equipment designed to be used in a fire. Whatever next? Shocking your mates with a defibrillator? The defibrillator might not be a bad idea for some of our fucking players. I’m all for attaching one to Choupo’s bollocks if he ever gives up on his duties like he did for Leicester’s goal yesterday. Also let’s have one handy for the next time Lambert decides that Adam and Johnson are viable options for a place in the squad.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 25, 2018 16:04:36 GMT
Right now, an optimistic 6.
If we fail to win at Southampton, that number will likely drop by about 26. Massive, massive game.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 25, 2018 15:57:16 GMT
No. Games are running out, and we need to pick up wins against those around us to stand any chance of survival. We’ve still got to face Man City, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool. Realistically, we’re getting nowt from those games, so let’s look at where else we can get points. We’ve got home games against Everton, Burnley and Palace. If we can somehow pick up 6-7 points from those (unlikely), we’re still going to need points from our remaining away games. Adding to that, we’re basically a point down on everyone else due to our horrific goal difference.
The time for settling for a point against our relegation rivals has long gone. We need to win.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 25, 2018 1:36:46 GMT
I would look at playing Shaq in a central position, shift Diouf to the right, and give Campbell another go up top.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 24, 2018 17:56:53 GMT
He was alright for a first game. Was not given much of a chance. Maybe should have gambled on the Shaqiri cross but on another day it would have been pulled back behind him. Bringing on Johnson and Adam were terrible decisions by Mr Lambert. They might have cost us the game more than anything that Campbell did. Cut the young lad some slack the senior pros did not help him much! I don't blame him for that chance..it was 6 and two threes. The pass was a yard and a half in front. He was a yard and a half behind. Net result 3 yds behind the ball. As mentioned before if the ball had been pulled back then it could have been a different story. However, it looked to me like he found the pace way too much for him. I found this surprising. I would have thought a young lad could show some energy for 30mins.I make no long term judgment but he definitely did not add anything meaningful to our attacking threat today. As an experienced senior player, I thought Shaq could have handled that better. Giving the kid the “death stare” and then moaning about him is just fucking stupid. How about holding your hand up and giving him a quick “my bad” for what was a poor ball, and then giving the kid a bit of encouragement and letting him know you’ll find him with the next one? It’s that type of leadership that’s gone missing this season. I love Shaq, but like others in the side, he can be frustratingly self involved.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 24, 2018 17:46:09 GMT
I would have him training with the first team all week, get him involved and get him comfortable with the players and then give him another chance off the bench next week. He’s clearly not the finished article, and he looked a bit intimidated by Morgan, but I’m not going to write him off after a 20 minute debut against a very good side away from home.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 24, 2018 15:08:02 GMT
A bit of both. I thought Lambert delivered a tactical masterclass and we looked very comfortable for most of the game. We didn’t create much, but we looked solid, worked hard and sneaked the opening goal. Jack’s moment of madness changed the game, and we went from looking at a massive away win to hanging in for dear life at the end. I would have taken a point before the game, but we were one personal mistake away from taking all three.
The substitutions were a bit baffling and I can only assume that BMI was hooked because of a niggle?
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Post by StatesideStokie on Feb 24, 2018 15:02:48 GMT
Feared we would get buttered it we did look solid. BMI makes the difference but his ongoing injury is a concern for our survival New left back looked good Shame Jack made a howler Charlie Adam was a disgrace We can’t afford mistakes like that 2 points dropped That moment when their equaliser went in made my stomach churn. The whole fucking game made my stomach churn. It’s been a very long time since watching Stoke was this stressful. The 7.30am kick-off didn’t help matters, either. I feel like I need a bottle of bourbon and a pharmaceutical pick and mix just to get through a game right now. I’ll be fucking glad when this season is over.
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