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Post by george2again on Mar 5, 2008 8:01:45 GMT
Posted this a few times that the quality of loan signing between now and the end of the season will be the difference between auto promotion and the play-offs. Worryingly I feel that Coates and TP actually think the squad is strong enough as it is and this set of players can do the job - they are not good enough and I posted this when we were on our 5 wins in a row not as a knee jerk to two defeats. This team has done fantastic but why we are up there everything has to be done and it is not. We need a striker and quick impact wide player - left midfield has not been addressed for years. TP has to cut sentiment now and use all the players in his squad. Cresswell should be left to fight it out up top and Dickop in for a tired looking Pugh. TP does not seem strong enough to drop his favorite 'pet' players when they are not doing it which will define him from being an OK manager to a really good manager. We have come this far now the boat needs to pushed out for those last two 'quality' signings to give us the big push. We are now in 'reactive' mode when we should have been 'pro-active' and had players in the squad already. Although way past my expectations this season if we don't push the boat out in the position we are in I for one will be angry and I honestly feel both TP and PC are leaving themselves open for attack even after everything this team have achieved. Being so close requires courage and money and even if we smash all wage constraints we have to go for this opportunity (even if this means selling Fuller at the end of the season) The club should come first here and big decisions need to be made.
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Post by Danstoke82 on Mar 5, 2008 8:12:27 GMT
even if this means selling Fuller?!?!
What do you mean my friend? Fuller leaving would never be an issue. That should never come into it. We sold Fuller then I honestly think we would be up shit street, unless Porkin started a unique goal spree. Fuller is integral to our plans, Premiership or not, the man needs to stay, he may be a lazy ass sometimes, but on his day, the guy can create anything out of nothing.
I have total faith in Tone and Coates. They know what they have to do and I'm sure it is all be addressed as we speak. All the talk about Nugent, if it happens, and he gets fit, then he could be that missing link we need, the tactic we use which primarily involves Mama, is getting sussed out, so he needs to be benched.
Agreed, the left wing is a problem. Hoolahan, if it was true, would of been a great bit of business as well as Sinclair, but we knew there would be interest for him elsewhere. All in all, there are some big decisions that need to be made, agreed and I am 100% behind Sir Tone in sorting it.
GOARRRNNNN STOKE!!
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Post by hanibal7 on Mar 5, 2008 8:36:32 GMT
Jesus,how many more players do you want.we have the strongest side in years,have been top and still in a good position to improve on last season.there has to be a limit on how many players we need.any team can say we need 2-3 more quality players but get in the real world.we are good enough or not good enough to get to the premiership,by automatic or play offs.if not then we have next season,as tp/pc said it is a 3 years goal.
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Post by Titan Uranus on Mar 5, 2008 8:46:06 GMT
"....any team can say we need 2-3 more quality players but get in the real world.we are good enough or not good enough to get to the premiership,by automatic or play offs.if not then we have next season,as tp/pc said it is a 3 years goal. "
Typical Stoke mentality, next year will do, jam tomorrow
FFS ... How many times are we going to settle for the "next year" syndrome.
I agree with george, two signings required asap
We've achieved nowt yet.
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Post by hanibal7 on Mar 5, 2008 9:07:00 GMT
THERE IS A 3 YEAR PLAN IN OPERATION AND IF WE MAKE IT IN YEAR 2 GREAT,BUT THROWING PLAYER AFTER PLAYER IN THE POT DOESNT GIVE US THE RIGHT TO AUTOMATIC PROMOTION.
NO STOKE MENTALITY HERE,I LEFT BEFORE I GOT IT LOL.
BEEN LUCKY SEEN THE BEST AND SEEN THE WORST,AND WE WILL GET TO THE PROMISED LAND WITH THE PLAYERS WE HAVE.
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Post by george2again on Mar 5, 2008 9:15:15 GMT
Staggered ! If we have a three year plan , please tell me do you think we are going to get in a better position than we are now to get promoted in the next two years? I seriously doubt it ! So not in the next two years do we have a go for it , we should throw everything at it now !!! Having achieved what we have now I will be livid if the forces at be in the club firstly, can't see we are strong enough at present and secondly do something about it !! Two players could and I say could make all the difference. The point here is not that two really top class players will make the difference but that club feel they have done everything in their power to ensure that it could happen - for me that hasn't happened considering where we are in the league. I will wager you now £ 100.00 that this squad of players will not make the Prem by promotion or play-offs we are simply not strong enough.
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Post by hanibal7 on Mar 5, 2008 9:27:57 GMT
we improved from last season,should be at least play offs this season and if we dont make it we have a good squad with more improvementsfor next season to go top and stay top.
i still do believe that pc will allow at least one more loan player so dont worry we will get there.
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Post by george2again on Mar 5, 2008 9:41:16 GMT
I have to say I think you are massively naive of football - you do have your opinion of course ! How on earth can you say we will be up there on top next season ??????? That is wishful thinking. We are 3 points off the top now and it is a reality !!!! If we are in the same position next season at this time I will be astounded. There has never been a better time to throw everything at it. As I posted before we could sell Fuller for 5 mill at the end of the season and buy two 1 million pound strikers to fund any final push. We have to do it now.
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Post by Titan Uranus on Mar 5, 2008 9:48:39 GMT
"Grab the moment"
is the phrase that springs to mind
We are in a good position through a combination of a reasonable bankroll, hard work, lady-luck and the fact there are no stand-out teams in the division.
Can anybody say with any certainty that the same will apply next season?
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Post by mrblobbysdad on Mar 5, 2008 10:35:15 GMT
Alot on here seem to be saying we need two more players.
I still think we havent seen all the resources we have already within the squad put to their best use.
Gally hasnt had anywhere near the kind of pitch time his talent deserves. Wilko, Dicko and Riggot could make a fantastic contribution to shoring up the defence, and resting Cort and Shawcross for one or two games could really boost them back to their best. Cresswell up front makes sense when we are short in attacking options.
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Post by Titan Uranus on Mar 5, 2008 13:02:34 GMT
"Gally hasnt had anywhere near the kind of pitch time his talent deserves"
Too right.
Reckon that if he doesn't start on Saturday he will be one pissed off individual.
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Post by sheikhmomo on Mar 5, 2008 13:08:46 GMT
"Grab the moment" is the phrase that springs to mind We are in a good position through a combination of a reasonable bankroll, hard work, lady-luck and the fact there are no stand-out teams in the division. Can anybody say with any certainty that the same will apply next season? God you're still a negative git hudson. |
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Post by lordb on Mar 5, 2008 13:09:16 GMT
the pursuit of Sinclair & Nugent would back up George2agains assertion
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Post by Titan Uranus on Mar 5, 2008 13:19:02 GMT
"God you're still a negative git hudson. "
?????????????????????
eh?
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Mar 5, 2008 13:30:07 GMT
TP has publicly stated he wanted another loan player, after Riggott. My guess is it would be a striker.
But I'm with those who say how many do we need? We have still to see the best of Gally, Whelan and Dioa and we haven't seen Nash and Riggott. Look at the difference with Delap after a run in the team. Also, new players take time to fit in, and at the moment we have a brilliant team spirit.
I think this squad is good enough, especially if Rici manages to escape another booking (unlikely!) Even then, surely we have enough quality cover with Gally, Cressie and even Parkin, who I still think can do a job.
We're still right in there - I say stick with this gutsy group of players.
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Post by Titan Uranus on Mar 5, 2008 19:05:14 GMT
Disagree okeydokey
the cover is non-existent..... Pericard and Parkin .. mmmmmmmm
we need extra firepower up front and some pace on the wings
Pulis and Kemp know this....... let's get it sorted.
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Mar 5, 2008 21:44:45 GMT
Archiesdad,
As I said, think TP is on the look out for a striker on loan, and there are a lot of noises to say it could be Nugent. But if Ricardo stays fit and available, do we completely change the system at this stage to accommodate him? Or do we drop Fuller? Or do we leave Nugent on the bench as cover?
More importantly will it disrupt an otherwise happy camp? Maybe its a win/win situation, but if it doesn't come off, its not the end of the world.
If Fuller gets suspended for 2 games, play Gally either up front, or on the left with Cressie up front. I think that is sufficient cover with Parkin coming off the bench if needed. We're only talking about 2 games. And everywhere else in the team we've got options.
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