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Post by stokecitydom on Feb 26, 2017 14:17:02 GMT
How many 4-0 thumpings do we have to take until serious questions are asked about the managers position?
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Post by stokecitydom on Feb 26, 2017 14:05:50 GMT
Who are the team that have had 2 weeks off. This is what happens when you have Adam and Whelan in the CM against teams with pace. Totally outclassed bring on imbula or Afellay on NOW or it'll be 4 by HT. But with Imbula on we can't defend & give goals away at will....
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Post by stokecitydom on Feb 26, 2017 14:03:34 GMT
Atrocious defending.
Someone must have the intelligence to realise that one of the top scorers standing on the edge of the box needs picking up, or atleast someone within 10 yards.
But no, we leave a massive space for them to pass it too from a corner.
Absolutely embarrassing
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Post by stokecitydom on Jan 7, 2017 17:25:28 GMT
You can just put 11 players on a pitch and expect it to work. There needs to be a mixture. Desperately need a defensive midfielder & a pacey striker, as unfortunately we will always struggle when we have no pace in the team. Bang on, there's no pace or movement off the ball whatsoever, it's something that really infuriates me!!! Hughes has had numerous transfer windows to resolve the striker situation, yet we still have no pace in the team. He has created an unbalanced squad, still doesn't know his best team & it's just a mess. All very frustrating, but just annoys me that the defeat will be blamed on a few players (who may deserve criticism), yet when looking at the bigger picture, it's the manager who is to blame.
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Post by stokecitydom on Jan 7, 2017 17:13:35 GMT
Instead of all this nonsense about selling our technically better players, we should be looking at the manager and coaching staff. Unfortunately, this past 12 months have been a shambles. We seem to change plan from week to week, with no clear direction of where we are heading and how we want to play. One week it's pass, pass & pass, achieving very little, the next week it's route one to Crouch and hope for the best. I really haven't got a clue of what we are trying to achieve. It's all abit of a mess. This squad is decent & should be performing a lot better than it is. The "technically better players" are as much to blame as Hughes make no mistake!!! You can't just put 11 players on a pitch and expect it to work. There needs to be a mixture. Desperately need a defensive midfielder & a pacey striker, as unfortunately we will always struggle when we have no pace in the team.
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Post by stokecitydom on Jan 7, 2017 17:10:07 GMT
Instead of all this nonsense about selling our technically better players, we should be looking at the manager and coaching staff. Unfortunately, this past 12 months have been a shambles. We seem to change plan from week to week, with no clear direction of where we are heading and how we want to play. One week it's pass, pass & pass, achieving very little, the next week it's route one to Crouch and hope for the best. I really haven't got a clue of what we are trying to achieve. It's all abit of a mess. This squad is decent & should be performing a lot better than it is. And yet still only 1 point behind ninth eh? Not bad! It's a reflection on the quality of the league. You have the top 6, then the rest of us. We should be performing better than we are. We do look abit of a mess and have done for 12 months.
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Post by stokecitydom on Jan 7, 2017 17:03:53 GMT
Instead of all this nonsense about selling our technically better players, we should be looking at the manager and coaching staff.
Unfortunately, this past 12 months have been a shambles. We seem to change plan from week to week, with no clear direction of where we are heading and how we want to play.
One week it's pass, pass & pass, achieving very little, the next week it's route one to Crouch and hope for the best. I really haven't got a clue of what we are trying to achieve. It's all abit of a mess.
This squad is decent & should be performing a lot better than it is.
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Post by stokecitydom on Jan 3, 2017 22:36:07 GMT
The negativity about the performance will come from the fact that after 8 years in the premier league and many millions spent, we resorted to lumping in to the big man & seeing what happened.
It was abit better second half, but the first half was rotten.
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 31, 2016 15:36:04 GMT
The neglect the management have shown in not nectifying our defending at set pieces is criminal.
Time and time again we conceed.
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 31, 2016 13:28:20 GMT
I would say we only saw the best of N'Zonzi for the last couple of months. I can remember on countless occasions people would complain about him taking the easy sideways pass option. Do you remember the 0 - 0 at home to Man City? Twice,TWICE he was played through one on one against Hart and turned round to pass back. Seems that some people like to rewrite history on some players. We all knew he had the ability,but didn't really show it until the end. And why do people still pine for a player who agitated for a transfer every summer and made it plain he wouldn't sign a new and improved one? At last. Someone who speaks with honesty of what the atmosphere was like when he passed sideways and backwards, instead of blinkered views. I remember the boos ringing out when he was through on goal and actually turned backwards! Never seen that happen ever! There were shouts all around me for Hughes to take him off, and this was around January before he left. For everyone one person booing or wanting N'Zonzi substituted, there was probably 9 or 10 people thinking that these people were clueless about football. Yes N'Zonzi did play safe sometimes, but he was quite clearly an outstanding footballer who was going to go onto bigger and better things. He's a fantastic player who has flourished playing with better players.
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Imbula
Dec 27, 2016 19:58:44 GMT
via mobile
Post by stokecitydom on Dec 27, 2016 19:58:44 GMT
As I keep saying in many threads which nobody has managed to answer. What are people expecting from the lad when every time he gets the ball and tries to move forward there is zero options on? His whole game is about picking the ball up and moving it forward, when that forward option isn't on and those either side or behind are useless it leaves him with little choice but to try and take his man. Believe it or not he's not gonna walk past midfields everytime. Put some decent players around him and not your Shawcross, Pieters, Whelan, Walters, Crouch and Diouf types and you will see a good player. Until then he's gonna be a frustration as he can't play his game, it's piss poor management and t amazes me more people can't see it. You just beat me to that. Nail on the head mate. Some pace, movement etc around him and he will flourish. We desperately need a midfield destroyer in there too. Someone with abit of physicality.
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 27, 2016 19:57:02 GMT
Imbula is quite clearly a very talented footballer and I honestly think that he suffers with the complete lack of any attacking movement or options.
We are just so static. I would hate to be a stoke city central midfielder, it's a thankless task. Shakey at the back and static in attack.
Imbula was poor for the 3rd goal, but some of the abuse he gets is too far. He quite clearly is putting in the effort, just looks devoid of any belief.
Expect for Arnautovic, Hughes seems to really struggle to get the best out of any of the attack minded players
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 27, 2016 18:52:57 GMT
We just look an absolute mess It's concerning as its not just a one off. We need a brand new spine of the team & to actually play our strongest team.
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 27, 2016 18:44:42 GMT
Glenn Whelan has been terrible too
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 27, 2016 18:38:58 GMT
Oh dear Imbo. I'm a fan but that is hard to defend. Gifted the ball away under no pressure and it feels like it's all over. Shooting ourselves in the foot seems to be our M.O. at the moment. Imbula was poor for the third goal, gave it away sloppily & tried to make up for it. But everyone on here will blame him for the loss. Yet the likes of Whelan, Shawcross etc will get little or no criticism.
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 27, 2016 18:33:17 GMT
Does Whelan know we are playing in blue? His passing is embarrassing.
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 17, 2016 23:04:33 GMT
How is having your arm above your head a natural position?
Jeans thought it was a harsh penalty, as the arm wasn't in an unnatural position. Utterly baffling.
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Post by stokecitydom on Dec 3, 2016 18:21:59 GMT
On another day Hendrick could have been sent off. Already on a booking and clearly held Walters back with a headlock which was quite obviously cynical.
Let's just forget about that one though Sean.
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Post by stokecitydom on Nov 18, 2016 8:47:58 GMT
How do you get the code for the early access to the tickets?
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Post by stokecitydom on Oct 22, 2016 13:46:23 GMT
I star streams working for everyone?
Im getting "no playable sources" on every channel.
Anyone else got this problem?
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Post by stokecitydom on Sept 18, 2016 15:11:46 GMT
We have a decent squad. Still short in certain areas which is an arguement for another day.
The issue is that we look a complete shambles tactically. We are disorganised (look at us at set pieces), we constantly change formation & personnel. Nobody seems to have a clue at what the game plan in.
This I'm afraid is all down to the coaching staff.
A change is needed.
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Whelan
Sept 18, 2016 15:02:03 GMT
via mobile
Post by stokecitydom on Sept 18, 2016 15:02:03 GMT
The defensive shield maestro has worked his magic again.
Shambolic team performance all round, but the myth of Glenn Whelan must be over.
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Disgusted
Sept 11, 2016 9:03:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by stokecitydom on Sept 11, 2016 9:03:35 GMT
Whelan was far worse than Imbula #scapegoat Exactly, yet again Whelan was very poor but it's Imbula who gets abuse. Different rules seem to apply to different players.
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Post by stokecitydom on Sept 10, 2016 19:27:16 GMT
But then you lose that ability from Imbula to carry the ball 40 yards up the pitch & go from defence to attack relatively quickly (which we struggle with). Joe Allen has many qualities, but I just don't see Allen & Whelan as a pairing. Allen can do that. Imbula carrying it up the pitch doesn't count for much if he dawdles and loses it. Dawdles & loses it is Glenn Whelans greatest ability isn't it?
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Post by stokecitydom on Sept 10, 2016 19:21:56 GMT
Does he though? I thought Imbula had his best game in ages today, and I'd even consider dropping Whelan and bringing Bojan in. Allen proved at the Euros he can play the sitting deep role, and Arnie, Bojan, Shaqiri behind Bony is a dream come true for me.
You can't have just one player in midfield (Allen) prepared to put his foot in and do some work when we don't have the ball though, we'd get completely overrun.
I could understand it (to a point) when people were saying when he first signed, that they wanted to see Allen play the Whelan role but now they've actually had a chance to see him here for a few games, I wonder what games people who are still advocating it, have actually been watching?
Allen is all over the pitch putting a 100% in BECAUSE he knows Whelan is there to mop up behind him, put that responsibility on to Allen and you'd completely hamstring the lad, not to mention that there wouldn't be anybody even attempting to put a tackle in until the play got to him.
Whelan was poor yet again today. Did he win a tackle today? I thought Imbula was much improved & did more defensive work today. Whelan will be lucky to keep his place in my opinion.
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Post by stokecitydom on Sept 10, 2016 19:16:09 GMT
Allen can play DM, seen him play well there and he's more than capable. Whelan's main problem is how painfully slow we are in possession when things go through him. Allen will help us up the tempo, he's extremely comfortable on the ball and will get is going forwards not sideways/backwards. You might lose some of his energy in forward positions but fuck that for the time being we need to go back to basics. 4-2-3-1 with Allen sitting and Imbula next to him. Shaqiri-Bojan-Arnie behind Bony. Let's give it a bash...... This is exactly what I was trying to say. What's the worst that could happen? We concede four........again.
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Post by stokecitydom on Sept 10, 2016 19:14:51 GMT
I'm just not sure what Whelan is bringing to the team at the minute. I'd play joe Allen in the holding role. He's got more energy & is much better on the ball. I also thought Imbula was much better today, showed willingness to get stuck in & at time was one of the few who looked capable of taking a man on. It's tricky, but I just feel that attack may be the best form of defence. I'd try Allen, Imbula & Bojan next week. As what we are doing at the moment certainly isn't working. I'd drop Imbula before I dropped Whelan at the moment but neither could have any complaints. But then you lose that ability from Imbula to carry the ball 40 yards up the pitch & go from defence to attack relatively quickly (which we struggle with). Joe Allen has many qualities, but I just don't see Allen & Whelan as a pairing.
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Post by stokecitydom on Sept 10, 2016 18:55:44 GMT
Whelan doesn't have this positional discipline. Today on numerous occasions he went AWOL leaving us completely exposed. On one occasion he decided to press the goalkeeper all by himself. Then spent the next 30 seconds trundling back as they got at our back 4. He has been poor for a while but he has more positional discipline than the other candidates. Either we do away with the role and hope the energy of Allen gets is through it or we stick with a holding mid and drop Imbula. I'm just not sure what Whelan is bringing to the team at the minute. I'd play joe Allen in the holding role. He's got more energy & is much better on the ball. I also thought Imbula was much better today, showed willingness to get stuck in & at time was one of the few who looked capable of taking a man on. It's tricky, but I just feel that attack may be the best form of defence. I'd try Allen, Imbula & Bojan next week. As what we are doing at the moment certainly isn't working.
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Post by stokecitydom on Sept 10, 2016 18:51:11 GMT
Is it time to finally drop him & try something different?
For me it's a myth that he's this great defensive midfield shield.
He really is offering very little. It is so easy to get at our two centre halves as he just gets dragged all over the place. Today for example he decided to close down their goalkeeper on his own, resulting in them just simply passing it around & leaving Whelan completely out of position.
On the ball he is just not up to the standard we need. We need a cool & composed head in there & he is anything but that. Too many times he slows us down and a potential attack is missed.
For me we have to try Allen in the deeper midfield position. He has good energy, likes to put his foot in & is competent in possession.
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Post by stokecitydom on Sept 10, 2016 18:40:36 GMT
He hasn't had a game in CDM in ages and at this point trying to equate his filling in for RB after Johnson and Bardsleys glass legs is some stretch. That wankfest of a midfield today showing no defensive qualities at all need a more athletic spring chicken at that, who can dribble the ball, and pass centrally. It would be miles better than a 32 wank Whelan game after game. At this point I'd even throw in a cold Muniesa for a birth at CDM Whelan that bad today and lost possession countless times even for his yellow and let people walk past him with ease and didn't even offer Ryan or even other his teammates anything post 15mins. Do you want your holding midfielder dribbling? Positional discipline is one of the key aspects of the role and Geoff doesn't have it. Doesn't matter how long it's been since he played there, when he has, more often than not, he hasn't been up to it. Whelan doesn't have this positional discipline. Today on numerous occasions he went AWOL leaving us completely exposed. On one occasion he decided to press the goalkeeper all by himself. Then spent the next 30 seconds trundling back as they got at our back 4.
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