Points on the baord are better than games in hand

[ted1965]

This is a perfect opportunity to open a real gap between ourselves and the chasing pack, if we can gain a 6th straight win we will put clear daylight between ourselves and the pack, yes I am sure the games in hand will be mentioned but the facts are points on the board are fact, they’re not at the mercy of probability. It becomes harder for sides to guarantee results as some would earlier in the season, sides near the bottom suddenly find an extra gear, they fight that little bit harder as the season begins to come to a conclusion. I know Preston are near the bottom, though the confidence we have gained over the last few weeks should encourage the players to believe, they can gain results anywhere.

If we do win, then it will send a message out to the likes of West Brazil, that we’re not going to falter anytime soon and that adds extra pressure to every game they play, the pressure of trying to play catch up is as we found out last year never easy. I think it’s now down to any two from four, the importance of three points tonight for us could virtually put the Samba boys out of the equation as far as we are concerned. They would be ten points behind, yes two games in hand but a slip in either of those and it would take four games for them to overhaul us, that isn’t an easy task as games run out. The fact we would effectively have to lose 4 more games than them between now and May would add to the pressure on them.

So a win tonight could leave us in a position of fighting it out with just Watford and Bristol city, again a small buffer opened on both, again the pressure on them not to drop points in their game in hand adds to our advantage should we win tonight. It wont be an easy game, though it’s one I firmly believe we can come away with three points if we impose ourselves on them. The big difference from last season, we carry a goal threat from all parts of the pitch, that gives you a little more confidence, if you are relying solely on a couple of players, it does make for uncertainty, when you have 4 or 5 players capable of scoring, it adds to the problems for the opposition.

It nice to hear the manager being confident but keeping their feet on the ground, as long as we do the right things we could really put some clear blue waters between ourselves and the pack tonight, it’s a great opportunity to show we are the best side in the league. I am not counting chickens but lets be honest if you can’t bask in the glow of being a Stoke supporter right now, then when can you, of course we know what can happen but there’s an air of optimism it filters down through the club water down from the mountains, it doesn’t guarantee us success but it certainly allows us the confidence to believe it’s close.

Come on your mighty Potters, three more points and just 11 steps from the Premiership.

[thats entertainment]

Here here...I was talking about this yesterday to amate, points on the board is always going to be the preferential position. Last years waiting on other teams is ony testament to that...do it yourself instead of relying (cruely) on others.

[Tony Clueless]

" A point on the board is worth two in the bush"

[u2oxeterstokie]

You can't beat a bit of bush tho !!

[ted1965]

yep two bushes and a point make a good video on youtube till it's flagged.

[nonameface]

Ha, spot on. Points on the board are better than games in hand, especially when you look at season/recent form for points gained per game... Our season form shows that we pick up about 1.8 points per game, obviously higher than anyone else where as recently its 3, which is much higher.

We are in a fantastic place and there isn't one team in the league that wouldn't want to be where we are, we are in the final 100m of a 400m race. This isn't just down to whos better, its down to who wants it more and can finish in that top spot.