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Post by lordb on Jun 8, 2011 21:34:24 GMT
all true kinmohr
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Post by shawi on Jun 9, 2011 4:04:42 GMT
Enjoyed the day, knew we'd lose but expected us to put up more resistance. Felt sorry for all those who had much such an effort to attend the game from overseas. The final game against Wigan left me feeling that our season was shite - ridiculous I know. Our Tone needs to re-think the away day bolloxs - otherwise we'll struggle. Still, I'll be going to wherever we play in the Europa league ! Assuming I'm not working....
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Post by PotterLog on Jun 9, 2011 5:18:04 GMT
I came about 9000 miles and I was over it almost instantly. We played poorly but the odds were stacked against us - we lost three (arguably four) key players to injury in the weeks leading up to it and we were playing a team with unimaginable riches and resources. Was just one game too many for us this season, that's life. I had one of the best days out I've had following Stoke. I met up with old friends, I sang like a sailor all day and had some good banter with Manc fans before and after the game. Game was overall shit but I had a truly memorable day. What will stay in my memory is walking down Wembley Way after the game - if you'd not seen any of the game you could only have come to the conclusion that Stoke had won the cup - Stoke songs the whole way down and not a peep from Man C, culminating in a "Are you sure you won the cup?" as we climbed the steps to the tube. That's what it's all about. We lost the battle but we're always winning the war.
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chinapotter
Academy Starlet
"Looking jolly from Stoke" -Mark E. Smith
Posts: 219
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Post by chinapotter on Jun 9, 2011 7:16:34 GMT
Like others, I almost feel like the Final didn't happen. I think my brain stopped registering what was happening after about 20 mins, once it became clear we hadn't shown up.
But Stoke even reaching the final was a much greater success than those billionaire's playthings actually winning something to repay their mega fees and salaries. I have no issue with Citeh fans but, really, what's to celebrate when you've got the absolute pick of the world's players?
The semi was the most enjoyable Stoke performance I've seen in 35 years.
The Wigan game, though crap, meant bugger all. Apart from some cash, does anyone really remember/care about the difference between 7th and 13th??? The team must have been shattered - physically and mentally - after those two losses to Citeh.
This was a great season. We reached the FA Cup Final, FFS!
Next season might be complete pants: Matty leaving? Ryan leaving? WTF to do with Collins? ;-) And so on. But there's the fun of the transfer speculation (come on, we all love it really), Euro adventures, more full houses at the Brit, more chances to upset the big boys, more chances to irritate the media by scoring from a throw, at least one more season in the Prem. LOVE IT!!
Go on Stoke!
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Post by winger on Jun 9, 2011 8:13:30 GMT
Well put kinmohr.
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Post by ladyinred on Jun 9, 2011 10:01:00 GMT
I watched all the build-up (ITV) about a week after the final, it was a really good show, 2 hours of it.
About a week later I watched the actual match - and you know what it was not as bad as I remember. Yes, we were poor, especially 1st half, but we were in the match, we were in with a chance, until Yaya Toure scored (who really shouldn't of been on the pitch). As discussed above - it was our lack of a bench that really cost us.
Lack of a bench at home to Wigan, also cost us dearly - and I was more upset at the end of that match. Maybe it was the week accumulation of losing the final and finishing bottom half, whilst watching Wigan celebrate (more than Man City the previous week).
Back to the Cup final - I'm still can't believe I've actually watched Stoke City FC in an FA Cup Final!. We'll be back, I predict a Wembley trip or 2 every few years for the next 20 years, our previous Wembley record was great - we had to lose sometime. Man Utd have lost there twice this year, with sustained success comes the dissapointment of 'runners-up' at times.
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jnb14
Youth Player
Posts: 269
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Post by jnb14 on Jun 9, 2011 11:02:40 GMT
My abiding memory was realising that, after about 15/20 mins, having seen Wilko pulled out of position and Pennant forced to come and defend 4 or 5 times, by deliberate Man City tactics, was that they were taking us seriously and had thought about how to beat us. That and that we clearly were not on top of our game, made me think, "oh bugger".
Mind you, I quickly thought, that it was quite a tribute to us and also that it's a sign of things to come - we really do need to extend the quality of the first 11 out in to the squad.
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Post by southendstokie64 on Jun 9, 2011 11:35:17 GMT
Im still in my seat wont leave till we have had a shot
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Post by southendstokie64 on Jun 9, 2011 11:37:13 GMT
And i dont consider kenwyns chance a shot as it was a thru ball and Hart beat him to the ball
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Post by southweststokie on Jun 9, 2011 11:40:55 GMT
This thread prompted me to stick the DVD (courtesy of a certain Mr Padders) in the laptop and do what I'd resisted thus far.
I'm half way through the match, and, yes, we were outplayed, outpassed, and weren't up for it through injuries and whatever else we lacked against the sky blue mercenaries.
Would encourage everyone who has it recorded, to push through the pain barrier, and stick it on, as it was a moment in history for our club, and one which one seeing it on the screen, ten times more proud than I was on the day.
Loads and loads of positives that come over from the TV coverage (partic the build up), and overall, our club (admittedly with Man Citys help) have put the FA Cup final back into the place it should be - it feels hoisted back into the fixture that it always was, an epic event made of dreams and the 'maybe' of hoisting the cup at the end of the 90 mins. Got to say the ITV coverage was excellent for a change.
Guaranteed that supporters of all clubs will remember this one, as being the final that redefined the final, and we should be really proud of that.
Onto the second half.....
SWS
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Post by albanianstokie on Jun 9, 2011 12:08:01 GMT
I just rememebr the great occasion now, i'm not interested in the game, from what I remember it was a poor game. But the day as a whole was something special and we always have the Semi Final!!
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Post by ihaveadream on Jun 9, 2011 13:03:49 GMT
I feel very proud that we got to the final and have reached the point where i have come to terms with the defeat to a level where i will watch the video soon. The fact that we played in what i still regard as the biggest game of the season is just amazing.
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Post by Gods on Jun 9, 2011 13:23:52 GMT
This thread prompted me to stick the DVD (courtesy of a certain Mr Padders) in the laptop and do what I'd resisted thus far. I'm half way through the match, and, yes, we were outplayed, outpassed, and weren't up for it through injuries and whatever else we lacked against the sky blue mercenaries. Would encourage everyone who has it recorded, to push through the pain barrier, and stick it on, as it was a moment in history for our club, and one which one seeing it on the screen, ten times more proud than I was on the day. I know I should watch it but I'm afraid I just can't. You stick with it mate, I seem to remember we had a couple of corners right at the end. I remember thinking to myself as the corners came in 'well, we haven't won a single header in their half of the pitch in the first 90 minutes so it ain't about to happen now !'
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2011 15:10:42 GMT
As I got out of bed this morning I thought about what it must feel like to be a Bolton fan....i suddenly had a smile on my face and a spring in my step....as that famous fat comedian from Bolton would have said "now thats what I call top bombing"
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Post by mickstupp on Jun 9, 2011 15:12:44 GMT
Im still in my seat wont leave till we have had a shot ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by ihaveadream on Jun 9, 2011 21:40:33 GMT
Im still in my seat wont leave till we have had a shot Did any England fans sit on your knee on Sat ;D
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Post by supersmashinggreat on Jun 9, 2011 21:48:24 GMT
i milked it right to the end and collected around 30 flags, i sold one on ebay for £46 that had stoke v man u still on it may make the rest into a big flag, well my mum will
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Post by OldStokie on Jun 9, 2011 22:04:34 GMT
I can't wait for your new book called 'The Final', winger. I reckon this one will finish just as the ref blows for kick off. Ps... when will it be available? OS.
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Post by JoeinOz on Jun 9, 2011 22:58:58 GMT
After the ceremonial stuff was over and the players lined up for KO I remembeered that amid the ballyhoo there was actually going to be a football match!!
We were running on empty and it was one game too many. BUT the one clear cut chance of the game was created by us. A smart through ball from injured Ethers. Our depleted warriors were beaten by the billionaires by a late scrappy goal. We have nowt to be ashamed of.
For me the most important part of the day is that were all there. Standing by Wembley Park tube station and looking up Wembley Way was a special moment in my life. When were vey little kids me and Hoppy used to play nogger and pretend to be Stoke in the FA Cup Final, seeing him outside the ground was very poignant indeed. For those moments alone it was all worth it.
Loyal proud and Stoke.
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Post by Olgrligm on Jun 9, 2011 23:56:33 GMT
25 days on and I've watched about 15 minutes of ITV's pre-match build up. It makes me feel strangely proud and nervous to watch it, but I can't quite bring myself to watch the game itself yet. I've seen a few clips of our supporters on youtube as well and again, overwhelming feeling of pride.
I'm not going to describe our performance has having been especially bad, because Manchester City had clearly done their homework on us and they countered every single threat we'd got. Their pacey defenders played our wingers out of the game (although kicking Pennant to pieces helped as well) and Walters was crowded out by some tight marking, often leaving Jones completely isolated up front. They knew what to do to stop us and maybe if we were a bit less fatigued it would have been different, but they were always the likely victors. We did very well to take it right to the wire and we were so close to pinching it. I just knew the goal wasn't going to come for us though, even when Kenwyne was clean through.
The sound of 'We're not really here' has been echoing in my brain in a really haunting fashion since the final, as has the awful version of 'blue moon' that they played over the tannoy. 'We're not really here' is the one that's really getting me though, the really loud one where the whole of their end joined in after the goal.
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Post by winger on Jun 10, 2011 7:45:43 GMT
Did u travel more that 9000 miles Jo in Oz?
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Post by OldStokie on Jun 10, 2011 9:12:28 GMT
Did you travel more that 9000 miles Jo in Oz? He sure did. Meeting the bastard (along with a few more old mates) by the Bobby Moore was one of the highlights of my day. A manly hug off Joe is a thing you never, ever forget! Send him a picture of you at Wembley, Joe. You can be in his new book. He's looking for material, and I reckon you would fill a few pages. LOL. M.
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Post by JoeinOz on Jun 10, 2011 9:24:18 GMT
12,000 miles. Well worth it.
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Post by winger on Jun 10, 2011 9:45:04 GMT
It's a definite bestseller looking at this thread. OS: for Man Citeh fans. : )
Looks like you got the record Jo in Oz.
*low bow*
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Post by JoeinOz on Jun 10, 2011 9:47:01 GMT
I'll write the first sentence for you.
It was a dark and stormy night.....
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Post by crowey on Jun 10, 2011 11:15:07 GMT
..... no he didn't Winger. My Mrs booked our flights from Cairns with Cathay & only managed to get us on the wrong one that went via Brisbane adding a five hour round trip & many thousands of miles!
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Post by winger on Jun 10, 2011 11:59:24 GMT
How many miles Crowey?
It doesn't quite work for me Joe, but I can do this:
It was a dark and stormy night elsewhere but it was bright and gay in Norwich...
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Post by crowey on Jun 10, 2011 12:28:00 GMT
15,000 total I reckon Winger, but Joe will correct me
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Post by JoeinOz on Jun 10, 2011 17:26:18 GMT
Didn't ssome travel from NZ?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2011 18:06:28 GMT
The Semi , the highlight..and close to the highlight of my supporting years...few know what it really meant to me ....and I thank everyone at Stoke from the Chairman , to the manager to the players to the fans for those memories..The final an understandable step too far where we were running on empty..and an anticlimax to the presure before the semi.
Man City away was important though to turnout...if nothing but the chance to hold our heads up high , down but never out with Stoke
And now..with another season ticket boxed off ( it gets earlier every year ) and last seasons bills and extras all paid and the credit card cleared ...in preparation for next season and hopefully a European tour all the way from July to May
And in my best Scouse....Book a Rest Day...Book a Rest Day.....We're all going Bucuresti
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