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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 5, 2019 14:47:47 GMT
I admire your optimism mate but your last line is pushing it a bit đ Exactly. A 1 game in 6 is looking like it might be the expected season's average.
I've almost written him off as a potential saviour & am hoping / praying Duffy will click and live up to the Sheff U. hype.
But as it stands, any given player (except Clucas of course for some unfathomable reason) will only get a 1 in 4 or so game average this season due to his ridiculous sorting hat selection 'policy'. I'm ever the optimist! Believe in the power of a positive attitude... Powell's definitely got something and was clearly integral to NJ's plans. Take him out, plus Ryan and add Jack's uncharacteristically bad form and it's the spine of the team. We need a bit of a break, don't we? I think that Powell or Duffy might be better suited to that role than Ince. I like Ince but I'm not sure where he fits into NJ's preferred 4-4-2 diamond - maybe he might work as a second striker, drifting in from a wider position?
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 5, 2019 14:20:13 GMT
In my opinion, there will still be time for Nathan Jones to get it right.
He's trying to change a lot at once,has had some shocking luck and been beset by uncharacteristic individual errors. He can't have fluked what he achieved at Luton.
I believe it would be in the best interests of everybody connected with Stoke City for him to turn it around. The season's just begun and he deserves that chance.
No doubt that it's a shocking start and the whole group's confidence must be shot, but they are good players who must put the past behind them and start again against Bristol City.
A fit Nick Powell might be the boost we need.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 5, 2019 11:34:09 GMT
Ha,ha, I wasn't sure what kind of crowds Athletico attract now. I now they have grown as a club under Simeone, but wasn't sure if they were Espanyol to Barcelona. Note to self- do some research! The point is, Sheffield is a proper football city - one of only a handful of cities in world football that have those numbers of supporters across two rival teams. Both Sheffield clubs are bigger than Bournemouth, regardless of league position in my opinion. Completely agree. Your list of cities is interesting though, but I'd say very undercooked and somewhat Brit-centric.. I think you're missing Rome, Lisbon, Moscow and maybe other Russian cities, several others in South America and probably some in Asia, where the standard is crap but there are shitloads of people... I suppose it depends what you mean by two clubs "capable" of attracting 30,000, but if I had to guess I doubt Sheffield would be in the top ten twenty. Yes, I also agree. Thought about Rome and Lisbon. The Lazio/Roma derby is tasty on political grounds. Thought about Lisbon too. All historic clubs, but do they get big attendances? Must be a big Brazilian local derby too. A lot of the European cities are dominated by one much bigger club - Juve and Torino, Bayern and 1860 for example. Often the same throughout Germany.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 4, 2019 16:47:19 GMT
There's an argument to say that Bournemouth is part of what's wrong with modern football. No big fan base, no history. The "Premier League" sometimes throws up a fixture like Bournemouth v Brighton which makes a bit of a joke of the so-called best league in the world. It's absurd to say Bournemouth a bigger club than Sheffield Wednesday. They have been a part of a football community for generations of families. If (please Lord) Manchester United were to be relegated, they would still be the biggest club in the country, at least in the medium term. Sheffield is one of those cities that has two clubs both capable of pulling 30,000 plus supporters into their grounds. Only London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Istanbul, Buenos Aries and possibly Madrid, maybe Milan, can boast that. "Possibly" Madrid?? Ha,ha, I wasn't sure what kind of crowds Athletico attract now. I now they have grown as a club under Simeone, but wasn't sure if they were Espanyol to Barcelona. Note to self- do some research! The point is, Sheffield is a proper football city - one of only a handful of cities in world football that have those numbers of supporters across two rival teams. Both Sheffield clubs are bigger than Bournemouth, regardless of league position in my opinion.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 4, 2019 15:22:10 GMT
Don't have time to search for videos, but Pulis time is Peter Crouch v Man City, that lanky leg somehow producing that beautiful arc of a shot into the goal over a helpless Hart. In Hughes time, Shaqiri away at Everton, the "was it shot or a cross" goal - that game was the zenith of Stokealona as we scored 4 away at Everton and BMX ran amok. It was never as good again, and our decline was swift after the Liverpool cup loss. At the time we didn't truly appreciate how good we were - I think we all do now by comparison. I don't think we played all that well in that game Man City 2-0 was the zenith. Absolutely no debate afaic. That's the best football I've seen any Stoke team ever play and my second game was beating title winners Leeds United 3-2 in 1974.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 4, 2019 15:13:25 GMT
There's an argument to say that Bournemouth is part of what's wrong with modern football. No big fan base, no history. The "Premier League" sometimes throws up a fixture like Bournemouth v Brighton which makes a bit of a joke of the so-called best league in the world.
It's absurd to say Bournemouth a bigger club than Sheffield Wednesday. They have been a part of a football community for generations of families.
If (please Lord) Manchester United were to be relegated, they would still be the biggest club in the country, at least in the medium term.
Sheffield is one of those cities that has two clubs both capable of pulling 30,000 plus supporters into their grounds. Only London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Istanbul, Buenos Aries and possibly Madrid, maybe Milan, can boast that.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 3, 2019 15:31:45 GMT
I can see that argument. Damned if you do and all that...
The trick is to have somebody lined up whenever you make that decision. That dictates the timing and is more important than the timing. If there is a criticism, that would be it for me. Surely they hadn't targeted Lambert? They pulled the trigger and then started looking to see who was available. I guess they hoped that a fresh face might organise them and galvanise them into getting enough points for survival. Big mistake in hindsight.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 3, 2019 15:12:46 GMT
18 months before would have been at the end of the 2016 season? Wasn't that a 9th place Premier League finish and league cup semi final? We'd hammered both Manchester clubs and beaten Liverpool at Anfield? Yep, dark days indeed. I can only think of possibly 5 seasons better than that in our history. I would argue that they were pressured into sacking Hughes and with hindsight would have been better keeping him on until the end of the season. There was a case for sacking Hughes after we were battered at Palace in the September of 2016. There really wasn't a strong case for keeping him at the end of that season. The last chance to put ourselves in a good position would have been following the double whammy of getting beaned at Man City and then losing at home to Bournemouth. Surely, by that point, it was clear Hughes hadn't got a future at the club any longer? I agree with every word of what you posted about Jones. It was a bold decision that could just as easily have succeeded as failed. I get that. The whole 3-4-3 thing wasn't working. But even then, you lose 2 quick goals and you are chasing the game, which in fairness was what he said. With, what, 11 games to go and some winnable ones at that, it was a big gamble. I get it, because after the Cov cup game, it looked like he couldn't buy a win. But with hindsight, I think it probably was the wrong decision and that MH might have kept us up. That would have been the time for change. (That's what Brighton have done - a considered gamble to progress - might not work for them either, we'll have to see. Pretty much what we did replacing Pulis with Hughes.) Still wouldn't blame the Coates family. The took a brave decision and it didn't work out. Let's hope there's still time for the Jones appointment to come good.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 3, 2019 14:52:14 GMT
There's a lot of over reaction to some of the stuff going on at the club at the moment. It's not working out at the moment, but pretty much all of us must have thought that the Rowett and Jones appointments were sound. It seems to me that in a low key fans forum, Jon Coates told an anecdotal, fairly light-hearted story about how he first heard about Nathan Jones. That's it. Every club looking for a new manager in January 2019 would have been considering Nathan Jones. He was the hottest prospect in the football league. Getting struggling Luton promoted, acing the next level and scoring for fun - it would have been more surprising and neglectful if they hadn't interviewed him. He obviously impressed at the interview, he was in demand and his track record was excellent. It was a bold decision based on hard evidence of success. We're 6 games in to a new season with a new squad and set up and have had some wretched luck. Still time to fix this, and if Nathan can't fix it, I don't think it's fair to point the finger at the Coates family. A lot of us would have done the same thing in their position. But itâs fair game to point the finger at them for failing to sack Hughes 18 months before they did and also for the calamitous appointment of lambert. 18 months before would have been at the end of the 2016 season? Wasn't that a 9th place Premier League finish and league cup semi final? We'd hammered both Manchester clubs and beaten Liverpool at Anfield? Yep, dark days indeed. I can only think of possibly 5 seasons better than that in our history. I would argue that they were pressured into sacking Hughes and with hindsight would have been better keeping him on until the end of the season.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 3, 2019 14:24:04 GMT
There's a lot of over reaction to some of the stuff going on at the club at the moment.
It's not working out at the moment, but pretty much all of us must have thought that the Rowett and Jones appointments were sound.
It seems to me that in a low key fans forum, Jon Coates told an anecdotal, fairly light-hearted story about how he first heard about Nathan Jones. That's it.
Every club looking for a new manager in January 2019 would have been considering Nathan Jones. He was the hottest prospect in the football league.
Getting struggling Luton promoted, acing the next level and scoring for fun - it would have been more surprising and neglectful if they hadn't interviewed him.
He obviously impressed at the interview, he was in demand and his track record was excellent.
It was a bold decision based on hard evidence of success. We're 6 games in to a new season with a new squad and set up and have had some wretched luck. Still time to fix this, and if Nathan can't fix it, I don't think it's fair to point the finger at the Coates family. A lot of us would have done the same thing in their position.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 3, 2019 11:13:00 GMT
The beauty of the Championship is that we could win, lose or draw any of those games. That's why confidence and a bit of momentum is so important. Virtually impossible to predict the outcomes of those games.
Win well, score 2 or 3 goals against Bristol City at home and the whole season could change.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 2, 2019 15:10:26 GMT
Like I said, I believe they will stick with "the project" unless relegation looks probable. Nowhere near that stage at this point. I honestly believe that this squad is more likely to be promoted than relegated. The old "too good to go down" cliche. I also absolutely agree about about having the replacement before you pull the trigger. That was the problem with sacking MH - we became less likely to stay up in my opinion. Replacing Pulis with Hughes was handled well. End of season, controlled and planned. Rowett looked to be the same, but clearly didnt work out. Ironicly, I thought Hughes was a big gamble and Rowett was a certainty, so please don't set too much store by my opinions! That's fair enough though Okey but at what point does 'relegation become probable'? If we lose the next 5-6 on the spin, looking as clueless as we did in our last three league games, does he really have a mandate to carry on? Would you be happy for him to do so, even if he's not returned to his favoured system? That's why I used those terms. It's not probable after 6 games. I totally take your point. If he keeps on losing, and more to the point losing in this chaotic, making it up as we go along way, then no, I wouldn't be happy for him to fiddle while Rome burns. I think he needs to talk to Paul Hart, get back to what he knows best, have a "full and frank" discussion with the players and really go for it. I don't believe they will keep losing. The squad is too good. I also think that once they start winning with a settled system and less changes, they might fly. I still think it would be Christmas before the board made the change. They've appointed him: they have to believe in him and give him time to make it work.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 2, 2019 15:02:06 GMT
I'm not sure that's fair. Against both Charlton and Derby, they created lots of chances, and in the cup away from home the 3 CBs have led to positive results. I think he has to have the courage of his convictions, go for it and stick with it. We're liable to concede, so just try to score more. It could be fun... We were lucky to draw the Derby game and still conceded 3 against Charlton. But we should and could have been out of sight. Goals change games. It also changes his sub options if you have a cushion. Tailor-made for say Campbell to come on when they are chasing.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 2, 2019 14:59:03 GMT
Like I said, I believe they will stick with "the project" unless relegation looks probable. Nowhere near that stage at this point.
I honestly believe that this squad is more likely to be promoted than relegated. The old "too good to go down" cliche.
I also absolutely agree about about having the replacement before you pull the trigger. That was the problem with sacking MH - we became less likely to stay up in my opinion.
Replacing Pulis with Hughes was handled well. End of season, controlled and planned. Rowett looked to be the same, but clearly didnt work out. Ironicly, I thought Hughes was a big gamble and Rowett was a certainty, so please don't set too much store by my opinions!
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 2, 2019 14:31:21 GMT
The key phrase is "without a suitable replacement". With hindsight, I think he would have kept Stoke up and the summer was the time to review. Water under the bridge now. I saw FM say on another thread that he might as well go back to his principles and give it a real blast. I totally agree. At home I would play a traditional diamond with 2 up front and try to build a lead. Away, I would probably play 3 CBs and 1 up. He must surely play Ryan Woods at the base, Etebo + 1 in centre mid, may as well stick with Gregory/Hogan up top and pray that Powell comes back raring to go. Thing can turn around pretty quickly. I really hope it works out for all of us who love this club. They'll have a decision to make before the Jan window if things are still not working. Neither formation looks close to working. I'm not sure that's fair. Against both Charlton and Derby, they created lots of chances, and in the cup away from home the 3 CBs have led to positive results. I think he has to have the courage of his convictions, go for it and stick with it. We're liable to concede, so just try to score more. It could be fun...
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 2, 2019 14:26:12 GMT
Excellent post. I said last week that I believe the board will stick with NJ unless relegation looks probable. It is way too soon to even suggest that. We've seen in glimpses the type of football he wants to play. It is attacking and it creates chances. He is having to compromise his principles because of the pressure to get results. Despite that, again on Saturday, we should have been 2-0 up, and the winning goal is a deflection. He is having absolutely no luck and the lack of belief on the pitch is there for all to see. So much of top level sport is in the head. Confidence is massive. At the moment, the players and to some degree, the coaching staff are almost playing with fear. It's a huge challenge to turn it around, but I believe this is the time for everybody to hold their nerve. We've seen before that everybody can beat everybody in this league. A couple of decent results, will breed confidence, better performances and results and we'll turn the corner. Some times you've got to stick in when it's tough. Too many decisions are based on short term reactions. Even the decision to get rid of Hughes, without a suitable replacement, now looks misjudged in hindsight. Death, taxes, and Okey never wanting to sack a manager... Hughes is actually an example of what happens when you wait too long. With Jones, I really, really want to believe he can find a wait out of this. I really, really wanted to buy what he was selling. The issue though, as you identify yourself, is that he's given up on it himself. He isn't 'having' to compromise his principles, he's chosen to in a mad panic. He should've stuck to them. We can't keep chopping and changing players and systems week to week and hoping something desperately sticks because that just gets you into more of a mess and he'll end up losing the players doing that, assuming he hasn't already. Hughes and Rowett both went through those desperate week to week changes and little good came from them. If he's sticking he needs to settle on a team and settle on a system. Yep, agree with most of that. I'm not always sure that changing the manager makes things better and certainly err on the side of caution. (I actually felt that Rowett had to go!) Without reading, I unwittingly addressed some of your points in the reply to Bayern. I was disappointed that he changed tactics on Saturday, but I think he's desperate to shore it up, keep a clean sheet and get a scruffy win. I listened on Radio Stoke and when Rory gave the team news, he said that they had been working on the defence and not conceding. I totally agree that he needs to well, err, never thought I'd advocate this, but "take back control". Believe in what has worked before. Get out of the traps at home, go for the throat, blow teams away. 4-4-2 diamond. Jack in goals, Ryan Woods at the base and, as we used to say, "Attack, Attack, Attack!" As you well know, it's a totally different game if you're 2 up after 20 minutes.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 2, 2019 14:13:35 GMT
Excellent post. I said last week that I believe the board will stick with NJ unless relegation looks probable. It is way too soon to even suggest that. We've seen in glimpses the type of football he wants to play. It is attacking and it creates chances. He is having to compromise his principles because of the pressure to get results. Despite that, again on Saturday, we should have been 2-0 up, and the winning goal is a deflection. He is having absolutely no luck and the lack of belief on the pitch is there for all to see. So much of top level sport is in the head. Confidence is massive. At the moment, the players and to some degree, the coaching staff are almost playing with fear. It's a huge challenge to turn it around, but I believe this is the time for everybody to hold their nerve. We've seen before that everybody can beat everybody in this league. A couple of decent results, will breed confidence, better performances and results and we'll turn the corner. Some times you've got to stick in when it's tough. Too many decisions are based on short term reactions. Even the decision to get rid of Hughes, without a suitable replacement, now looks misjudged in hindsight. Ultimately though with Hughes, he should have been sacked 8 months previous at least. I thought 18 months before. What led us to that? This very scenario! The key phrase is "without a suitable replacement". With hindsight, I think he would have kept Stoke up and the summer was the time to review. Water under the bridge now. I saw FM say on another thread that he might as well go back to his principles and give it a real blast. I totally agree. At home I would play a traditional diamond with 2 up front and try to build a lead. Away, I would probably play 3 CBs and 1 up. He must surely play Ryan Woods at the base, Etebo + 1 in centre mid, may as well stick with Gregory/Hogan up top and pray that Powell comes back raring to go. Thing can turn around pretty quickly. I really hope it works out for all of us who love this club. They'll have a decision to make before the Jan window if things are still not working.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Sept 2, 2019 13:16:15 GMT
I may be a lone voice on here but I still think it is too early to sack Jones, his staff, and restart signing a new management team. I would still give him the chance to try more team combinations and tactics to turn the performances round. We have a whole team of new players, but Jones stuck with Butland, Allen, Ince, Clucas, and the guys signed last Jan. Vokes and Batth and they have all let him down. Plus he has had more than his fair share of bad luck with silly mistakes, hitting woodwork, and injuries. If I was manager I would go with youth and guys who have not let him down like Federici and Etebo. Even McClean, who has taken an incredible amount of criticism on this MB could not be accused of being one of the main players who have got us into this mess. Hopefully Jones is learning and finding out who he can trust and make some inspired changes. Obviously if we keep losing he ultimately has to go, but I would give him till at least the next international break in October. We have had 3 new managers in less than 2 years and none has produced any bounce even with a score of new players. Best to grit our teeth and grind it out for a few more weeks and pray God comes to Natham's rescue. Excellent post. I said last week that I believe the board will stick with NJ unless relegation looks probable. It is way too soon to even suggest that. We've seen in glimpses the type of football he wants to play. It is attacking and it creates chances. He is having to compromise his principles because of the pressure to get results. Despite that, again on Saturday, we should have been 2-0 up, and the winning goal is a deflection. He is having absolutely no luck and the lack of belief on the pitch is there for all to see. So much of top level sport is in the head. Confidence is massive. At the moment, the players and to some degree, the coaching staff are almost playing with fear. It's a huge challenge to turn it around, but I believe this is the time for everybody to hold their nerve. We've seen before that everybody can beat everybody in this league. A couple of decent results, will breed confidence, better performances and results and we'll turn the corner. Some times you've got to stick in when it's tough. Too many decisions are based on short term reactions. Even the decision to get rid of Hughes, without a suitable replacement, now looks misjudged in hindsight.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 30, 2019 13:07:28 GMT
I don't think he'll survive a heavy defeat on Saturday. Come on Paul, you know how the club works by now. There's no chance he's going anywhere yet. I agree. I think he's got a while longer yet almost regardless of results in the medium term. As long as relegation doesn't become probable, I think the board will stick with him and let him build a long term "project". For what it's worth, I think that's the right strategy. We might criticise his record at Stoke City, but his record at Luton was fantastic. Two promotions, fabulous football and out scoring Manchester City. I'll have some of that please. I think the signs are there that he could turn it around, but they are going to have to put teams away, because his set up will always look vulnerable defensively with the full backs pushed up and just one holding centre mid in front of the 2 centre backs. I'm still confident that with the relative quality of the players in a deep squad, his determination and know how, he will find the right balance, the team will become more settled and confident and performances and results will follow. The only question I have is whether he will stick to his preferred formation or whether he will be forced into changing it to make us more solid. I hope he keeps the diamond - we could see a few entertaining high scoring games - hopefully with us coming out on top.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 30, 2019 9:10:03 GMT
I hope he gets a little bit of luck that we've been missing.
No costly individual errors and the rub of the green in front of goal.
Still convinced there is a good team (and squad) there ready to climb the league once he finds the right balance and they get a bit of confidence back.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 22, 2019 8:33:08 GMT
100% behind him and convinced he can turn it around.
Confidence is shot and this is a team that has got used to losing. Too many players making individual errors, and goals change games.
A win will make a massive difference. Saturday will be really hard, not just because Leeds are a decent team in this league, but because the players will be a little fragile and inhibited. If they can play and have a go, get the crowd behind them and win, it will give the whole club a lift.
We need patience. There's a lot to sort out and it won't happen immediately. Derby showed he is close though.
No crisis at Stoke City. Take a look at the Bury story if you want to stare into the abyss. Norman Smurfwaite might be their saviour...
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 21, 2019 12:06:17 GMT
I believe the whole success or failure thing misses the point.
As some have alluded to, supporting Stoke City is a way of life. It's the only thing that stays constant whether you are 7 or 97.
Just like life, the successes are great and the failures are lousy. Just like life, it's mostly mediocrity punctuated by rare moments of great joy and miserable disappointment. Good times and bad times. And just like life, it goes on. At least for a while. There's another game on saturday, next season will be better, this manager will improve things, whatever it is.
We should all just enjoy it and celebrate it. This message board unites us in our common interest and gives us a vehicle to share the good times, express our hopes and fears and moan about the bad times.
Simple, relatively pointless and fun. As they say in the modern vernacular, it is what it is.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 19, 2019 15:35:02 GMT
Mick Mills' eighties team hammered Leeds, Sheffield United and Grimsby. They had a spell under TP on the run to Wembley where they put 4 past Newcastle, 3 past Wolves (?) then 5 past Bolton.
Under MH they battered Spurs and Liverpool at home in the space of about 3 weeks. (Seems unthinkable now)
It does happen sometimes, and this team is starting to create so many chances I can see why people are getting excited.
I'm really excited by what might happen this season.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 19, 2019 15:28:25 GMT
I agree. The changes are there for all to see. He can't legislate for decent players missing relatively easy chances. He sounded really fed up on Saturday. I think he still 100% believes he can turn this team into a promotion challenging side. And less importantly, in fact with no relevance whatsoever, so do I You canât deny Jones wears his heart on his sleeve. However, he needs to learn restraint if he is going progress beyond League One. Nobody is going to notice, let alone care, if he whines about the players at âhis previous clubsâ (he says this too often) letting him down after all the hard work he put in. At this level, and much more so at the next level, itâs going to be seen as making excuses and pointing fingers at the players. I agree, but in the PR Speak world of manager interviews, it's a refreshing change to hear someone so brassed off, so honest and speaking almost in the heat of battle. He sounds like one of us and I like his style. I hope he remains true to himself. Klopp has shown that if you deliver, you can be eccentric. Nathan is frustrated that he's not delivering, but I am sure he will.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 19, 2019 15:14:31 GMT
He was a guest speaker at The Hawthorns for one match when I was on a corporate, and he made no secret of his affection for Stoke City.
Part of a good midfield - was he in there with Sammy Mac and Robbie James, with Mark Chamberlain out wide, or am I mixing my eighties teams up? All good players, but I drank a little more back in those days, so my memory might not be so accurate...
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 19, 2019 15:00:41 GMT
It makes sense to me
Preston lost on Saturday and Alex Neil said ... it's because football is about resilience . Give the ball away you get punished .
He didn't start blabbing on about , prep , structure and 12 hour days , NJ style
HE sounded like a football manager , focussed on football manager stuff .
âPrepâ and âstructureâ are football manager stuff, they could scarcely be more so. I agree. The changes are there for all to see. He can't legislate for decent players missing relatively easy chances. He sounded really fed up on Saturday. I think he still 100% believes he can turn this team into a promotion challenging side. And less importantly, in fact with no relevance whatsoever, so do I
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 19, 2019 8:49:40 GMT
I canât believe how some people have blinkers on ffs we are bottom of the league. It doesnât matter how you dress it up atm we are the worst team in the league and people are saying we will thrash someone soon. We need to just look at winning one first At the end of the season it will be interesting to see who got things right and who didn't Happy to nail my colours to the mast and say top six but we will see how foolish such a prediction is. Yep, me too. It's nearly there now. A team creating this many chances will click. I still think they're struggling with confidence. It won't be long before they go out really believing they can beat anyone in this league, home or away. They are going to concede a few - the team is set up with an attacking formation. But, the old cliche, goals change games is true. If the Ince and Allen chances go in, we're out of sight. They will start blowing teams away in this league soon.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 14, 2019 11:59:39 GMT
When he was at Sevilla I'm sure he was linked with Juve, Manchester city and Arsenal, so I'm a little surprised too. Looks like a level down for the Fonz...
The complete centre mid for today's game.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 14, 2019 10:41:59 GMT
Tasty draw and I reckon we've got a decent record against Leeds United.
My second ever game was the dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Revie's previously unbeaten team, then we battered Clough's Leeds 3-0 the following season.
I was also at the 7-2 drubbing we gave them under Mick Mills, and you could argue that the Pulis team really kicked in with the Hendrie loan and the 4-0 at Elland Road.
Might come down to who takes the competition seriously, but I would be surprised if they have a bigger squad than Stoke.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Aug 14, 2019 10:24:51 GMT
Thanks, that post is really interesting. My old man also told me what a good player Frankie Soo was, although sometimes over looked next to the peerless Neil Franklin. I certainly agree and have posted before that Banks, Franklin & Matthews would make an all time England XI, but there would also be a strong case for Freddie Steele, who despite relatively few appearances still holds the goals per games record I believe. The most difficult position in the Stoke XI for me was the striker alongside Steele. Very hard to leave out Big John, but I felt they were too alike. Jimmy got the nod because I can imagine how he would complement Hudson behind him and Steele ahead of him perfectly. Steele's England career spanned just seven months, but in that time he scored 8 goals from 6 caps, averaging a goal every 68 minutes. That was in 1937, when Steele was aged just 23, but that same year he announced his intentions to retire from football (a decision he later reversed). Whilst very impressive, it isn't quite the record in terms of England goals to game ratio, with that record belonging to Middlesbrough great George Camsell who bagged a remarkable 18 goals from just 9 caps, scoring in every international he played in. Fantastic, thanks again. I think I know a bit about football, but I'd never even heard of George Camsell. Encyclopaedic knowledge! I would have guessed that Jimmy Greaves, Ramsey's great sacrifice, would have had the best goals to games ratio. Also, I didn't realise (a) that Freddie Steele scored so many goals for Stoke, and (b) that his ratio was so good - way better than 1 in 2.
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