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Post by Vestan Pance on Sept 21, 2021 7:55:52 GMT
Raids
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Post by Vestan Pance on Sept 20, 2021 12:39:47 GMT
with a significantly large cargo of
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Post by Vestan Pance on Sept 3, 2018 10:51:57 GMT
Butland
Martina - Williams - Indi
Bauer - Allen - Etebo - Woods - McClean
Bojan
Berahino
We're getting utterly worked over in Midfield. He has to address that first.
We have no guile. He has to address that.
Shawcross is either a) done; or b) needs a break. he has to address that.
Hitting balls up to a big man is fucking meat and potatoes in this division. Bojan & Berahino are not. Change that.
I get the innate frustration regarding Scholes & Cartwright. They are fast approaching a point where their positions (certainly the latter) are untenable. They're actively doing more harm than good. But we have spent in excess of £45 Million in new signings and loan fees, been promised a different manner in which to play and to date we have had neither.The lop-sided, disjointed and frankly disenfranchised manner in which the manager and the players are going about their business is solely down to Gary Rowett, and he should feel, and indeed be, under extreme pressure. I'm afraid that we have brought the wrong young manager in, when options like Potter (who was always my first choice), Dean Smith, Paul Hurst, Neil Harris & a good few others were floating about, and i think it is going to cost us significantly.
So bloody frustrating.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Aug 21, 2018 10:19:13 GMT
I think this is a move to allay a realisation that we've all seen, that the championship has moved forward significantly.
In all games to date, we've over-run in midfield. Allen & A.N. Other simply isn't working, certainly where they have been playing. We're trying to mask too many glaring issues in the team.
I'm desperately disappointed with the start to be honest. We've been reactionary, unsettled, devoid of a plan, an idea of our starting XI or a cogent game plan. We've spent heavily and significantly yet seem reliant on older players and there are key areas of the playing staff that have yet to be addressed fully. Hopefully this will be a big step forward.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Aug 14, 2018 11:37:34 GMT
I'm like you, and i'm bored of the rhetoric already. Neves gets hurt and they're bollocksed, doubt he'll be there come January.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Aug 14, 2018 11:35:27 GMT
Let's be honest, we're a mess right now...
If it were me (ant it isn't)...
Butland
Williams - Shawcross - BMI
Bauer - Allen - Etebo - McClean
Bojan - Afobe - Ince
We have to play further up the pitch. We need cover on the right where Bauer is getting found out too frequently and we need to pose more of an attacking threat, which we have painfully not done since the start of the season. It's no good bemoaning the midfield, they're being told to play on the toes of the defenders and it isn't working, our front men are running themselves into the ground trying to press with no support whatsoever, meaning they're either knackered in the final third of the game or they're getting pulled. But...
* They're not as fit as they should be * The system isn't working * We're not looking even close to dominating games, despite our personnel.
I'm bemused as to our procurement strategy. Clucas doesn't solve anything, he's a swiss army knife of a footballer in a squad that has specific issues that needed addressing. The front 7 HAVE to start playing further up the pitch, and we have to seriously look at our options off the bench, right now we're back to throwing crouchy on and hoping for the best, and that's not where we should be. I'm yet to see a cohesive strategy and this, combined with our clear lack of fitness compared to those around us is a massive concern for me.
And that ain't Scholes fault.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 31, 2018 15:07:12 GMT
The Not The Top 20 podcast is mint. They've done a 1-24 rundown of the Championship; our rivals will include Middlesborough, Brentford and Preston. This is really good. Listening to it now. Heartily recommend.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 31, 2018 14:16:47 GMT
Combination of factors for me to be honest.
We have a significant number of "names" in the team/squad, which will lead people to believe we are better than teams who have fewer (lazy journalism).
Let me just list some names though;
Butland Bauer Shawcross Indi Pieters Allen Etebo Ndiaye Ince Afobe
How many of those (in absolute honesty) DO NOT walk into every team in the Championship. Because i'm struggling to think of many. We got beat up last year, and didn't do much better the year before that. But the fact remains we are built on some pretty solid foundations. The above doesn't include Bojan, Berahino, Imbula, Crouch, Choupo-Moting, McClean & Cameron, all of whom would find no problem finding a home in this league were they available, and certainly with the first 3 if they get going, they would be the best players in the division. With Sorensen, Edwards, Tymon & Campbell likely to challenge as well, we might have some areas of improvement, but we're hardly in dire straits.
There's cause for optimism because we should be optimistic, we just haven't got it in us.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 31, 2018 13:35:28 GMT
"but, the rotting, fetid, decaying log jam of festering uselessness"
Yeah Scholes, what are they still doing here?
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 26, 2018 10:08:34 GMT
I've no problem keeping Crouch around, as he still offers something that nobody else can give.
I do have an issue with paying £2 million pounds to someone to keep them because they're good to have around the place. Football's mental isn't it?
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 23, 2018 12:53:49 GMT
I think we'll win the league. We're owed. We never win fuck all. Worst case is PO. Rowett is going to have to carry some burden of expectation this season, and rightly so. I think he will deliver.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 20, 2018 8:58:55 GMT
I would have said it was extremely hard to distinguish in the old days.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 18, 2018 8:50:33 GMT
Butland
Chester - Shawcross - Indi
Bauer - Etebo - Allen - Stafylidis
Bojan
Berhino - Afobe
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 18, 2018 8:37:17 GMT
Played alongside Steino but in my opinion was never as good as Bertie Scored a few but never prolific. I will always remember him for kicking the ball that got stuck in the mud at Vale Park. Me and my mates were having a mental celebrating when to our disbelief the ball stopped in a pool and was cleared. We went onto lose and took out our frustrations on the back of the stand ( when I say we I mean Stoke fans, not me and my mates!!!!) I too remember the screamer Vs Watford and I also remember in the oatcake smudge saying he bumped into Regis up Hanley and Regis was eating a king size mars bar Why I recall this garbage I don't know Biggins and Stein were a Premier League standard duo playing in the third division. The best pairing the club has had in the last 40 years. Only Sheron and Sturridge came close. Agreed. Bertie played in the hole before anybody really knew what that meant. Extraordinary ability to find space, married to a goalscorer the likes of which we'd be extremely fortunate to see again. The Kelly Brook* of strike partnerships * Corking pair
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 10, 2018 13:29:08 GMT
0-1 1-2
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 5, 2018 19:45:53 GMT
It shouldn't be about the money. It should be about whether you want to be here or not.
You either want to play for Stoke, or you want to go to Shithouse Athletic and fall over for a couple of years under the expert eye of the most overrated coach in the history of English football.
Please move on. Reports are Traore is kicking about for £18 Million. A significant upgrade and suited to what we want to do. Let him go Stoke, and onto the next one.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 5, 2018 19:36:15 GMT
The sheer amount of ignorance shown on here is quite frankly unbelievable. Most of you have absolutely no idea on what happened in Ireland and they way in which our fellow countrymen treated the Irish people. Our past history is not something that I'm proud of. We have terrorised many countries throughout the world and expect there to be no repercussions. McClean has made a stance on perhaps some of the stories that have been handed down from his ancestors,who were probably directly affected. I,like most people, hate any form of terrorism but I can understand a different perspective. I'm not arsed whether he signs or not but that is based purely on his ability, nothing else. I'm proud to call myself English but am not proud of what we have done in the past. Thankfully, we seem to have progressed as a nation and have ceased to rape and murder innocent people. If another country tried to do what we did over in Ireland, I'd be fucked if I'd respect their national anthem. Personally, I would rather die than witness my local community destroyed. An admirable effort Sir, but to no avail. Too much gammon on here.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 4, 2018 15:11:21 GMT
Probably worth mentioning Sweden were in the same group as France & Holland in the qualifiers, beat Italy over two legs in the play offs and got out of a group with Germany and Mexico in it. They are many things, but easy certainly isn't one of them.
I too would shape differently though;
Pickford
Walker - Stones - Maguire
Trippier - Henderson - Loftus-Cheek - Young
Sterling
Rashford - Kane
We need to play between lines, make it difficult for them to set up. That mean getting the wide men forward more, and setting up with a three man attack with Sterling tasked with finding space and exploiting, rather than just playing up top with Kane.
We can beat these, but we need to think differently. Big challenge.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jul 3, 2018 12:33:03 GMT
Very best of luck today.
I have a feeling it will be a grueller. Both sides nervous, potentially aware of the size of the prize in front of them. Expecting a tight affair, but i do fancy Sweden because of their set piece danger.
Penalties would not surprise me.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 28, 2018 15:42:38 GMT
New priority. Win the group to avoid Colombia. Really Joe? Apart from the Olympic level shithousing i don't think they've got anything?
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 28, 2018 15:30:07 GMT
Some shithousing in this isn't there?
Go within a feet of either of these teams and they're down quicker than a bangkok ladyboy.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 26, 2018 11:54:58 GMT
I am an ex-serviceman, & his beliefs & feelings don't matter to me. He's one person. It doesn't matter what he says, does it? He follows his beliefs, i follow mine, & the paths won't cross. If he signs, he signs. End of. This. Absolutely this. From my perspective, if a man who has dedicated his life to being prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice sees it this way, then it is good enough for me.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 22, 2018 14:39:26 GMT
If Iceland win today, Croatia-Iceland will be the worst game of football in history. In point of fact, the referee should ask if everyone is happy with 0-0 at the start of the game and not bother. If it puts the Argies out, I can't see a problem with that. Absolutely no argument from me old bean. Did you see the TV station have a minutes silence? Jesus God.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 22, 2018 14:30:43 GMT
First time VAR has wiped its' feet for me. Most of the rest of the time it's been absolute bollocks...
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 22, 2018 14:24:16 GMT
If Iceland win today, Croatia-Iceland will be the worst game of football in history.
In point of fact, the referee should ask if everyone is happy with 0-0 at the start of the game and not bother.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 11, 2018 14:38:13 GMT
That's come from nowhere hasn't it, no hint from any ITK's. Never heard of him before so it's going to be interesting watching Nigeria in the World Cup. I'm as surprised as you are. It's almost as if those who claim to be ITK don't actually have a clue, and are deliberately vague so that they can claim knowledge/ownership when something does happen? Smashing signing anyway. Hope he has a stonking WC cup now.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 11, 2018 13:07:24 GMT
Imbula, Bojan & Berahino are £40 Million worth of talent. If GR can get something out of them not only could they ruin that division, they can play in the league above. Of course he's got to have a look at them. Whether they can overcome the psychological/general arseholery issues they've been suffering is another matter. If they can, we're are all the better for it. I guess time is the biggest factor, how long do we piss about trying to integrate them into the squad/persevere with them in the team to the potential detriment of our (hopeful) promotion push? I think Rowett will have to make a fairly quick judgement call on all 3, my gut feeling is all will end up elsewhere although if they all hit the ground running it would be a massive bonus..... Good point - i'm not talking of preferential treatment here, they don't deserve any more or less than the same clean slate that will be afforded to any of the other players. These are not kids now, they've all been around the mulberry bush a few times now and all three should realise that this (potentially) is their last big contract in professional football. I think that in all 3 instances they have been treated incredibly badly by the previous manager (2 with some justification, it has to be said) but they are all talented. But they have to show it otherwise the thing that they love (or the thing that affords them an extraordinary lifestyle, as appropriate) will be taken from them. None of them want that.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 11, 2018 12:45:22 GMT
Imbula, Bojan & Berahino are £40 Million worth of talent. If GR can get something out of them not only could they ruin that division, they can play in the league above. Of course he's got to have a look at them.
Whether they can overcome the psychological/general arseholery issues they've been suffering is another matter. If they can, we're are all the better for it.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 8, 2018 12:53:49 GMT
I can only assume his agent hates him.
He'd do anything for a Tenner that lad.
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Post by Vestan Pance on Jun 1, 2018 15:16:52 GMT
My position is one of pragmatism.
There's a footballer in there somewhere. It might be the modern antithesis of a footballer, but a footballer nonetheless. And a good one at that.
He wasn't treated brilliantly by Hughes, and in the time that Lambert had, he felt he wasn't going to be sharp enough to make any difference.
I'm not excusing his behaviour in the slightest, he hasn't covered himself in glory by any means. But we're living in a footballing age where Benik Afobe has moved today for £12.5 Million, and that Hogan at Villa moved for £15 Million. I would sit him down and say "get fit, stop fucking about and you're my starting striker for the 15 games, whatever happens". He needs a good run of games to see if he can get back to the levels he once operated at. If he does, we have a bloody good footballer.
I appreciate this probably won't be the consensus opinion however....
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