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Post by chrisparker on Apr 28, 2016 10:52:39 GMT
Dont think he will go but you never know if he did id like the watford manager here or rafa, hasnt he got a clause that means if newcastle go down hes free to leave? Watford manager is a decent bloke but he's not a very good manager. They're one dimensional & just hoof the ball up the pitch to the 2 strikers. Plus they've been in appalling form since the start of the year. If you go to their forums, you'll see just how unsatisfied Watford fans are with his style of play.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 28, 2016 9:55:25 GMT
Hasn't the cnut already turned us down twice? So what? Why do you think he'd accept now?
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 28, 2016 9:48:58 GMT
I'd love Benitez at Stoke. A top top manager. Hasn't the cnut already turned us down twice?
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 28, 2016 1:01:49 GMT
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 27, 2016 18:54:25 GMT
Sparky has always been under appreciated though, hasn't he? I appreciate the fact that he moved on from club to club every couple of years and not yet accomplished very much as a manager. Emphasis on YET. I hope that pattern ends at Stoke. When he first came to Blackburn, his only objective was to avoid relegation. In his second season, he took them to a 6th place finish, just 4 points behind the Champions League places. It was one of the greatest managerial accomplishments in the premier league. In the next season, he took them to the Quarter Finals of the Europa League. When he left, within 5 years, Blackburn dropped to the second tier. Just shows what an outstanding job he done there. He's done great at Stoke as well. Stop down playing his importance to our club.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 27, 2016 18:06:57 GMT
I agree with everybody. He is a great manager who also happens to be a colossal cnut! *Jose Mourinho* *Klipperty Klopp*
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 27, 2016 17:59:59 GMT
What an absolute cunt
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 27, 2016 16:08:05 GMT
Im just glad Mark Hughes doesn't read this board - might be feeling pretty underappreciated! Sparky has always been under appreciated though, hasn't he?
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 27, 2016 16:06:11 GMT
If we lose against Sunderland, then I'm convinced that we'll lose all 3. If we win against them, then we'll beat Palace too & draw against West Ham. If we draw then we'll end up drawing all 3 games.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 27, 2016 14:36:33 GMT
Nah, why would Hughes be interested in making a step down to Everton?
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 21:02:11 GMT
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 20:44:01 GMT
Game was awfully boring. The definition of uneventful.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 20:43:17 GMT
i will never understand people who cannot see a bigger picture. Shaq a failure? never in a million years. He's contributed so much to the team. His delightful performance at Southampton away, goals against everton, setting them up against bournemouth, chelsea etc. I think hes contributed directly to us getting at least another 9 points this season. he plays well when arnie and bojan are on the pitch (and with johnson behind him) and the opposing teams cannot cope with all 3. When its at most 2 o them, they get marked out of the game because they are recognised to be such a threat. he looks nothing but comfortable with his team mates on the pitch and fantastic watch when hes taking players on those who say he should go/take the money, have either never played football, or are just incredibly blinkered and stubborn. brilliant player, i love having him here. He's certainly won us more than just 9 points. He has created 48 chances this season, which is the highest in our squad & he also has the most number of assists. On his day, Shaq is fabulous. He has been a bit inconsistent & he does need to sort out his injuries but he has progressed fantastically since he first got here.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 19:53:45 GMT
The 3 players who've suffered some long term injuries this season (aside from Affelay right now) have been Butland, Shawcross, Johnson, all english. Correct me if I'm wrong; however, I believe last season it was Bojan and Muniesa. Yes that's true but my point is it's not just the foreign players who've found it hard to cope with the intensity of the premier league.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 15:27:47 GMT
I'll be going but dear lord these days every time me & my mate start singing, everyone looks at us as if we've just broken the code of silence, & I end up looking like my drunk grandpa at an opera.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 15:17:34 GMT
You don't have to fit them all in squad dammit, that's the whole point to have competition for places in the team. The players who play well are the ones who're selected. The rest get dropped to the bench. Obviously , this is my point . you need to tell Hughes this Hughes dropped Bojan for a good 5 games when he wasn't playing well. Affelay took his place. We don't have any other options in the wings which is why Shaq & Arnie play every game (although Walters did take Shaq's place for a while, including cup semifinal).
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 15:10:03 GMT
Before he signed I was told he's the alpine Messi, a class above and obviously played for Bayern Munich and Inter Milan so potentially world class. I couldn't have been more disappointed, for a big name he's easily been the biggest disappointment as an outfield player this season, 4/10 from me. Yeah, he has only given out the most assists & created the most number of chances in our team. That bastard !!!
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 15:07:20 GMT
I think I'm with Matt on this. He needs space to create. He's at his best when he's popping up all over the place (and he started that Leicester game really well). Our system requires some real pace out wide and often looks more balanced when there's a striker like Odem or Walters out there. Shaqiri is more of an orchestrator than an explosive speed merchant. The only trouble is we've got about five players whose best position is the role behind the striker. Exactly , Hughes needs to figure out how to fit affelay, Bojan , imbula .into the team part of the problem we look fragile when he plays them all , shaqiri only compounds the problem . He needs to vastly improve the work ethic amongst our creative players You don't have to fit them all in squad dammit, that's the whole point to have competition for places in the team. The players who play well are the ones who're selected. The rest get dropped to the bench.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 15:05:38 GMT
I bet you saud the same thing when Arnie first got here. Arnie first season was nowhere near as good as Shaq's first season. Chris, if you think Shaq has been acceptable for the money we paid and the hype that came with him, then you are very easily pleased. Out of interest, I'm still saying the same about Arnie. Plays when he feels like it. Brilliant one game, crap for the next two. Could be a world beater if he wasn't such a sulky moaning git. Of the two, I'd just about keep Arnie but wouldn't be arsed about either not being here, given suitable replacements in the two wing positions. I await your reply with interest, telling me Arnie is best thing since sliced bread and look at the goals he's scored. Just think what he could have done, if he'd played his best in 30 odd games instead of 12 or so. It's all about opinions. I'm sorry but stats don't lie. Arnie has been our best player this season (bar Butland perhaps). He's scored the most goals, has the second highest assists (after Shaqiri that is), has created the second most chances (again after Shaqiri) & he has been a great player overall, the best winger we've had in a long time. If he leaves, it's going to be very very hard to replace him. Plus I love the bloke. He seems like a genuinely nice guy so I obviously don't want him to leave. Shaqiri has been inconsistent but are we going to forget the match he's won us against the teams like Man City, Chelsea (home), Bournemouth (away), Everton (away), Newcastle, Aston Villa etc. He was our best player in all those games. A good pre-season should bring the best out of him. He's already shown us how good he can be but his injuries are painfully frustrating. Every time he gets injured, he has to start all over again & pick up his form. What the hell do you expect of our players? If Shaq & Arnie have been poor, then what do you make of the rest of the squad, pretty shite I imagine.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 13:11:41 GMT
Before he signed I was told he's the alpine Messi, a class above and obviously played for Bayern Munich and Inter Milan so potentially world class. I couldn't have been more disappointed, for a big name he's easily been the biggest disappointment as an outfield player this season, 4/10 from me. Totally agree. If he went tomorrow, we wouldn't miss him. He's also right up there with the Darren Anderton's, as a real "sick note", to add to the poor performances. Missed games, crap performances, your 4/10 is being generous. Apart from odd flashes, he has no where near justified his fee or salary. If someone came in with a reasonable offer, I'd snap their hand off. The let down of the season for me. I bet you said the same thing when Arnie first got here. Arnie first season was nowhere near as good as Shaq's first season.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 13:06:44 GMT
I'd like to know how we can be injury plagued and Leicester Scott free, they must do something different to us or is there a case for us having so many foreigners that just can't cope with the rigours of English football? The 3 players who've suffered some long term injuries this season (aside from Affelay right now) have been Butland, Shawcross, Johnson, all english.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 11:51:33 GMT
He was playing as a winger in Inter & Bayern which is why he bought him ffs. He played in the number 10 role against Leicester & he was really poor. Shaqiri is at his best when he drifts inside from the wing poistions & plays through balls to the incoming Arnautovic, Bojan etc. It's these dual inward runs from both the left & right that's won us most of our games this season. In fact it's not just Shaq & Arnie, Walters has also started making these inward runs this season (and that's exactly how he scored against the likes of Watford & Norwich). If there's been one effective attacking tactic we've adopted this season, it's this.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 11:45:33 GMT
Coates blames injures , Adam says you can't use injuries as an excuse with a so called strong squad of twenty five....where does the truth lie ,half a dozen games at the start of the season...no wins..three 3-0 defeats after that ..dismissed the FA cup tie against Palace,putting out a weaker side than we could have,and now they are in the final....now on a run of defeats by four goals , and no signs of things getting better, we are where we are in the league because this has been pretty much where most teams have been inconsistent ,we might hang on to tenth and on paper may look pretty good,but lost seven at home and may yet be nine.....happy with that Peter...REALLY !!!!! 73 injuries we've suffered since the end of last season. Is that really an excuse? Is there another team in the league who've had a bigger injury setback? Perhaps Man City but they've got a much stronger squad than us. And it's not just the fact that our players get injured, it's the fact that when they return they've got to start all over again & pick up their form. I love how you bring up the slow start but you fail to recognise that from the beginning of September to the end of January, we were averaging around 2 points a game. That's Champions League form. Yes we did slip up with three 3-0 defeats then after losing several players in key defensive positions but we bounced back after that and we won 3 on a spin with a point at Stanford Bridge for the first time since 1984. You bring up our poor home form but you conveniently choose to ignore our brilliant away form this, which is the best we've ever had in the premier league. And as for Palace, yes they knocked us out but they have also knocked out Southampton & Tottenham. Those 2 teams are probably asking the same questions & both of those teams are ahead of us in the league. Whose to say we would've won at White hart Lane even if we'd knocked out Palace. Right now, we're exactly where we deserve to be in the league & I think it's absolutely ridiculous that Stoke fans these days feel that a top 10 finish & league cup semifinal (in which we were knocked out in penalties) in unacceptable. It has been a good season, why shouldn't Peter be happy?
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 11:07:54 GMT
Imbula has played 9 games for Stoke so far. He's been our best player in 5 of those games. How can people write him off? He's not very good tracking back but that's probably due to lack of stamina more than anything else. He didn't play much at Porto. I think we've found a real gem in him (even though he didn't come cheap )
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 11:04:51 GMT
We've well and truly blown any chance of improvement on last season, so I'd be tempted to give run outs to some of the youngsters/hopes for next season. Haugaard (the sooner you get back on a bike after falling off the better) Wolly & Muni (please Ryan get fit and be back to your awesome best for next year) Johnson Pieters Imbula & Shenton?? (Glen needs a rest) Shaq, Boj, Moha (just play for the fun of it!) Arnie (or Diouf/Joselu if MA not available) (I think Arnie is ideally suited to be a Fuller type player - When you get the ball, your only objective is to put it in the net!) Oh dear, are you willing to risk Minuesa as centreback against Defoe? Let's give Tex a chance.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 10:57:23 GMT
It's either Butland or Arnie. Since everyone's going for Butland, I'll go with Arnie . Plus the bloke's probably off next season so I won't get another chance.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 9:17:17 GMT
Oh like no one has ever thought of that before. The problem is to play like United under Fergie, you need to have players like Fergie did. Our squad under Pulis was arguably the slowest in the league. Recent transfers have brought some pace in the side but we're nowhere close to replicating the pink one's blistering counter attacking football. Each team has to play to its strengths. And one a side note, why would Galloway & Coleman leave Everton to come to Stoke when Everton can pay a far higher wage than we can. It's a simple philosophy, but really makes total sense ... 'Each team has to play to its strengths'! Knowing what those strengths are, and shaping them to counter what threats the opposition might pose is the 'simple' art of football management. With the injuries we have had, along with the unsettled starting XI put out every week, Hughes has struggled to work out what our strengths actually are. Meanwhile, other teams have quite easily sussed us out, which in turn has affected our confidence and moral, and lead to the heavy defeats of late. It's not a crisis. It just needs a re-think and a squad freshen up - which can be put right during the summer break. Yes this is spot on. Unfortunately we'll have another different starting 11 next week with 2 more injuries.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 8:28:11 GMT
I think every club will allready be receiving several phone calls a week by players agents and this summer will see players from all over make a dart for the premiership gravy train as the mercenaries from all over suddenly want to sign for ( more 'sign' for and not necessarily 'play' for normally unfashionable clubs. Imo If we're smart we'll steer clear of the temptation and buy some of the best home grown prospects and steel that see stoke first team football as a step up and not a pay day. Add that to what we have and we could be into a winner What home grown prospects are you referring to exactly?
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 6:19:35 GMT
What did he say?
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 26, 2016 6:15:52 GMT
This could be a knee jerk reaction to the past few games, but watching this tippy tappy crap is beginning to wind me up. Against Man City Saturday, we were 4 down and all we were doing is passing it between our defenders, no urgency getting the ball forward, yes the game was lost but even so, still had time left on the clock so should compete to the end, I also get if no one is moving ahead to pass it too, then it's pointless also. But we are trying to be like the goons, play possession stuff but we are extremely soft, just like the goons. I'd much prefer to play how Man Utd played under fergie. Fast, direct, powerful and I don't think it would cost that much compared to the price to play like the goons play. I'm not saying we would dominate the league as Man Utd did just get the philosophy that had. We have a decent keeper, we need a lb that is quick, (Galloway from Everton maybe) if Johnson is going to suffer with injuries because of his age, then Coleman (again from Everton) Song doesn't seem to get a game at West Ham at the moment. Have Imbula in the scholes role, shift Arnie into the role Cantona played, maybe Townsend from castle to play on the left as giggs did, just direct attacking running, shaq to play like becks did, he doesn't seem to have the pace to beat his man, but if our rb ran past him, that would give him space to cross, I just don't want us to be like the goons and how they play, want to walk every ball into the net. Oh like no one has ever thought of that before. The problem is to play like United under Fergie, you need to have players like Fergie did. Our squad under Pulis was arguably the slowest in the league. Recent transfers have brought some pace in the side but we're nowhere close to replicating the pink one's blistering counter attacking football. Each team has to play to its strengths. And one a side note, why would Galloway & Coleman leave Everton to come to Stoke when Everton can pay a far higher wage than we can.
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