Hairystool
Academy Starlet
Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!
Posts: 187
|
Post by Hairystool on Mar 2, 2004 23:08:48 GMT
I'm as happy as the next Stokie about the return of Geraldhino, and will admit that he had more than a small part to play in us keeping our first clean sheet for a few games... probably since before he returned to Leicester. But I didn't agree with the accolade of Man of the Match. For my money, I thought Russel had a great game. A few passes went astray but he was right in the centre of everything. One of his best displays of the season. Akinbiyi was also full of running and up with a shout for MoM. Opinions eh? Who'd 'ave 'em!
|
|
|
Post by Trout_Licker on Mar 2, 2004 23:16:09 GMT
i was surprised when i heard it.
i would have choson AA, took the goal well and worked his balls off
|
|
|
Post by wardrobe monster on Mar 2, 2004 23:22:16 GMT
Very close t call this one, but the front runners are gerry..solid and dependable as ever. Thomas had a cracking game again..was the heart of the defence. Russel was everywhere..Clarke had a real captains game..at his best deputising for Eustace in centre midfield. svard was superb I thought..best game yet in stoke colours. Ade was a handful all night and took his goal well.
My vote goes to Svard..because it was his best game yet for Stoke and hes still improving.
|
|
|
Post by apb1979 on Mar 2, 2004 23:54:31 GMT
I thought both Svard and Russell were excellent tonight. Both were full of running., Passed the ball well. Taggart was good but i didnt think he deserved to be M-O-M. I thought Thomas was our best defender. He also has cleaned up his act by not getting stupid bookings anymore
I would of given Svard M-O-M cause it was the best game he has played for Stoke since his loan move from Arsenal which i hope they make permanent because he does show a hell of a lot of promise.
Player Ratings
De Goey 8 Some great saves espeically the one near the end Halls 7 Shook of the knock he had and played well Hall 7 Bit rusty but played well Thomas 8 Played really well didnt make a single mistake. Taggart 7 Played the calming influence when we sat back Russell 8 Played excellent. Hes never stops running. Svard 9 Some of the passes he did were brilliant GNW 7 Just for the assist for Ades goal but other than that was not match fit. Ade 8 Full of running again. Good composure as well for the goal. Hooky 7 Good game he could have been in it a bit more
Wilson 7 a good run when he tried to set Ade up for the 3rd. Asaba 6 No chance to impress William 6 Again no chance to impress
Pulis 7 The only criticism i would give Tone is why on earth with half an hour to go did he go 4-5-1.
|
|
|
Post by A-teen_six_T3 on Mar 2, 2004 23:58:38 GMT
i thought most had a good game
svard plyed exceptionaly well halls had a good game ade scored and had a good game as always de porn star made some good saves russel played very well hoekstra scored
but personaly i thought ade or hoekstra would have got it because if we score then normally the scorer of most goals or the best goal gets it
but svard deserved it
|
|
|
Post by spiderpuss on Mar 3, 2004 0:43:04 GMT
Easily Svard, without a shadow of a doubt. Ran the show until subbed. 9/10!
Spider
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2004 0:43:40 GMT
I thought both Svard and Russell were excellent tonight. Both were full of running., Passed the ball well. Taggart was good but i didnt think he deserved to be M-O-M. I thought Thomas was our best defender. He also has cleaned up his act by not getting stupid bookings anymore I would of given Svard M-O-M cause it was the best game he has played for Stoke since his loan move from Arsenal which i hope they make permanent because he does show a hell of a lot of promise. Player Ratings De Goey 8 Some great saves espeically the one near the end Halls 7 Shook of the knock he had and played well Hall 7 Bit rusty but played well Thomas 8 Played really well didnt make a single mistake. Taggart 7 Played the calming influence when we sat back Russell 8 Played excellent. Hes never stops running. Svard 9 Some of the passes he did were brilliant GNW 7 Just for the assist for Ades goal but other than that was not match fit. Ade 8 Full of running again. Good composure as well for the goal. Hooky 7 Good game he could have been in it a bit more Wilson 7 a good run when he tried to set Ade up for the 3rd. Asaba 6 No chance to impress William 6 Again no chance to impress Pulis 7 The only criticism i would give Tone is why on earth with half an hour to go did he go 4-5-1. agree with all that really, although you've missed Clarkey out Gifton was struggling early on and we were finding it hard to find an outlet before he managed to shake himself up and get better as the game went on. Says it all when he didn't have his greatest games but still had the awareness to loop over that header to set Ade up for his goal. This really is a good three points considering we went into the game with such a makeshift midfield. All did well, especially Svard who's starting to show an extra bit of class now he's settling in. Hoekstra deserves a mention, chipped in with his weekly piss-taking bit of of brilliance when he left Matt Richards bewildered on the right wing in the second half - some sort of twist, turn and flick that can't be put into words, wonderful, no other Stoke player has left me smiling as many times as Hooky has with these little 'spur of the moment' things he does out of the blue. If that was pleasing so was the sliding tackle inside our half to win the ball back, if ever there was proof that he's developed the defensive side of his game this season then this showed it. Ade Akinbiyi - great game again, could almost credit him with an assist the way he charged onto the ball after that backpass, his sheer determination was the catalyst that led to the penalty incident, true it was a sloppy pass by Santos, but you could name a few strikers who wouldn't have even bothered to chase a pass down like that, giving it up as a lost cause. Reading a few posts on the Ipswich board tonight on why they shouldn't be losing to a team like Stoke ;D Well for all their possession tonight the only person who looked genuinely impressive was Westlake, and even he seemed a Kris Commons clone. Much as I admire Ipswich for the way they've played in the past and all the players they've produced in the last ten years, I really am struggling to think of one player in their side tonight that I'd swap for one of ours when, of course, we're full strength / fully fit. Great win, now lets not do the timeless Stoke trick of beating a higher placed team then losing at home to a lower placed side in our next home match ;D
|
|
|
Post by apb1979 on Mar 3, 2004 0:47:10 GMT
Sorry i would give Clarke 8 Thought he did really well out of position
|
|
ReggieRibs
Spectator
Hippies, hippies... they want to save the world, but all they do is smoke pot and play frisbee!
Posts: 24
|
Post by ReggieRibs on Mar 3, 2004 1:44:04 GMT
Wayne Thomas for me - faultless.
Looks so much more comfortable next to Taggart.
A good, battling display from the gents in red & white.
|
|
|
Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 3, 2004 3:22:50 GMT
Thommo for me. He's twice the player when he has Taggart alongside him and ten times the player he is at right back. If Taggart stays injury free the centre backs seem "sorted" - don't know where this leaves Hill when he is fully fit - unless TP goes for 3 at the back with Halls added to the midfield.
|
|
|
Post by Robo10 on Mar 3, 2004 7:44:27 GMT
Svard was robbed of the accolade last night! Worked his 'taters off and was sharp, incisive and willing.
I thought it was quite an exciting match, even if there weren't too many shots at goal. The first 20 minutes were quite end to end.
Marks:
Ed - (7.5) One great save towards the end. Kicking is still a bit dodgy. Halls - (7) Did OK, no nervous moments. Hall - (7.5) For all of Clarkes good performances recently Hall is still a better left back! Thomas - (8) Solid performance Taggert - (7.5) A bit dodgy at first, but once he had got the 'Leicester sydrome' out of his system was solid and commanding Svard - (8.5) Worked his socks off, good passing and tackling. His best game for us. MOM Hoekstra - (7.5) Looked out of sorts first half (injury?), but much better second. As Gareth said above, the tricks are sublime. He somehow managed to flick a ball over someones head from an impossible angle at one point! Clarke - (7.5) Thought he adapted well to the middle, nothing complicated just solid. Does miss the natural aggression and doggedness of a true centre midfielder though? Russell - (8) Another good game from Daryll, passed it well and ran his nads off. GNW - (6.5) Slightly controversial but I didn't think he offered that much last night, often sauntering around the pitch and out of position (Don't know if Tone told him to play at right back...). If he was carrying an injury, he shouldn'y have played or at least not for 88 mins. Looks like he is crying out for a goal - Seems unsure when running with the ball. Akinbyi - (8) Another tireless performance from Ade. Was still kicking himself after the final whistle for the last minute miss but took his goal extremely well (looked about 10 yards offside from the Boothen but the liner had a better view than me! The linesman tried to make up for it every time after that though...)
Subs
Not fair to mark as they only had about a minute each - Mention for Brian Wilsons run though that created Ades last minute chance as it was dazzling!
All in all a solid performance, nothing too exciting but thats what we need - Consistency. Another 3 points against Watford on Saturday and we are right in the thick of it!
The guys on Radio 5 last nights comment - "Stoke just DON'T lose with Taggert in the side..."
|
|
|
Post by Trouserdog on Mar 3, 2004 8:20:37 GMT
de Goey 8 Seemed a bit flappy early on but made some cracking saves.
Halls 7 Not his best game overall but still made a couple of superb tackles.
Hall 7 Left his man open a few times but a steady enough game
Thomas 9 His best display for ages. Nothing got past him.
Taggart 9* What a man! With him in the side and the effect he has on Thommo it's like having two new defenders.
Russell 7 Full of running but some very dodgy passing at times!
Svard 8 His best game yet...some wonderful crossfield balls and willing to run at people.
Clarke 8 Excellent performnce in the middle deputising for Super Johnny.
Hoekstra 7 One or two great tricks late on and a coolly taken penalty.
GNW 7 Drifted out of the game when we went 4-5-1 but a great assist for Ade's goal.
Akinbiyi 8 When on the ball he seemed a bit clumsy but never gave up and took his goal superbly.
subs:-
Wilson 7 Brilliant run down the right late on.
Asaba and Willo came on in the last minute.
All in all I thought Ipswich were a fairly decent side, they created enough chances to cause us problems, but once we were 2-0 up there was no danger of us throwing it away. Some fans are against us playing defensively once we're winning, but with Gerry back in the team I think we now have the ability to soak up pressure like we did at the tail end of last season. We didn't create much but in truth we never needed to.
Well done Stoke.
|
|
|
Post by Davef on Mar 3, 2004 8:39:48 GMT
What was going on with Big Ed's kicking in the first half? I've not seen that many divots or that much turf come flying out of the ground since my last visit to the golf course Couple of great saves towards the end though.
|
|
|
Post by Trouserdog on Mar 3, 2004 8:48:07 GMT
My dad made me laugh last night with his comments on de goey's kicking...
"He's like one of those plastic footballers where you push his head down and his leg flirts out." ;D
|
|
|
Post by TheWiseMaster on Mar 3, 2004 9:33:23 GMT
Hard to fault many players other than Gifton who is clearly not fully fit and should be rested
Russell Svard and Thommo were the best of a good team effort
My vote goes to Svard - easily his best game yet and I would sign him up now - look no more for a wide midfielder
The best indicator of the midfield's performance was that we hardly missed Eustace - I can't give them higher praise than that
|
|
|
Post by lurcherthelurker on Mar 3, 2004 9:52:27 GMT
AA this AA that, for fuck sake open your eyes will ya? In the first half he was wank!!, his first touch let him down big time and was a complete disaster, MOM? get real will ya? Second half he was a lot better, but you can write the first half off!!
Good players can also be criticised when they have a bad game/spell as well. take your blinkers off
Rex
|
|
|
Post by dude on Mar 3, 2004 10:07:21 GMT
Have to agree Rex, Ade first half could do no right. Kept plugging away though and got a goal so credit to him. MOM...absolutely not.
Svard was very composed and linked up well with Halls on the right. Great performance although disappeared first 20 minutes of the second half. Gerry was the conposure we needed but Wayne Thomas easily won the accolade IMHO. Excellent performance.
|
|
|
Post by wardrobe monster on Mar 3, 2004 10:08:11 GMT
Dont forget it was Svard who got us the penalty! He was everywhere last night.
|
|
|
Post by OldStokie on Mar 3, 2004 10:24:00 GMT
Thommo for me. I thought they all battled well and Svard did have a cracker. Perhaps we should start to look at this team in a different light now - resilient and skilfull. Looks like we are making a lot of round pegs which will fit in any round hole. GNW did struggle but I've begun to look on this guy in a different light. We all know he's a cracking player and adds that important linking part of the team but his arthritis must be playing havoc with him on cold days. For that reason, I am loathe to criticise him. Instead, I perfer to say about him...."well done for being in there when you're so obviously not well."
De Gooey 8 Halls 8 Thommo 9* Taggart 8 Hall 8 Svard 8 Russel 8 Clarke 8 Hooky 8 Ade 8 GNW 8
Wilson looked good when he came on but how does one give marks for a few minutes on the field. Let's just say that he looked the part while he was on. The other subs were just make up to play for time.
TP 8
The ref 7. [Would have been an 8 but he made a few errors. Given that, he was a class above what we normally get at Stoke. Well done.]
OS.
|
|
|
Post by TheWiseMaster on Mar 3, 2004 10:44:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Davef on Mar 3, 2004 12:11:08 GMT
Ade didn't have the best of first halves last night, his touch wasn't the best and for me he could have been a bit more positive when he had the ball in front of him at his feet, but to say he was "wank" is just plain ridiculous.
Santos didn't know what day of the week it was, such was the pressure Ade was putting him under.
Sometimes, you have to scrape the surface to see a player's true performance.
|
|
|
Post by domstoke on Mar 3, 2004 12:14:42 GMT
agree with OS, Thommo had a belting game, he was everywhere first half...so much better a player when he knows he can afford to go chasing the ball cos Taggert will hold the centre.
|
|
|
Post by stonetezza on Mar 3, 2004 12:35:19 GMT
Isn't it nice that we've got six or seven players all vying for the MOM. 12 months ago we struggled to fing one!!.
Keep the form going lads.
|
|
|
Post by Chorley on Mar 3, 2004 12:52:32 GMT
The Chorley panel votes as follows... de Goey - 7 awful kickin'...good saves Halls - 9 Immaculate defending. Took the ball away from their forwards with consummate ease. I dare say this lad's fast becoming the best Stoke right back I've ever seen in 20 years. Hall - 8 solid and tidy (as per usual)...kept his game simple but effective. Made the defensive unit cohesive. Thomas - 9 same performance as Halls! Taggart - 9 people seem to get the impression his defending ain't spectacular and it's his leadership and organising that makes his game so good...well, I think he does the simplest things that make so much difference...and that's spectacular! (eh?!) Clarke - 7 dependable without bein' over-elaborate in midfield Svard - 9 CLASS. Been fair ravin' about him for a while now. Just needed to bed into the team. This lad is gonna be a STAR. Great first time cross for Adie in the first half. M.O.M.Russell - 8 not the best of passing at times, but he's got some tenacity to his game and a hell of a lot of drive. Noel-Williams - 8 always there (well, until Pulis stuck him too far out wide). The perfect foil for Adie. Can see why Pulis plays him off the shoulder of Akinbiyi, 'cos Gifton's understanding of Adie's runs is positively telepathic at times, although the execution goes as he tires from all the batterings he gets. Akinbiyi - 8 pretty anonymous for a while in the 1st half, but ended up makin' Ipswich pay for playing the wrong game against him. Could/should have had 2 goals to his name. Hoekstra - 9 I think he had a pretty damn fine game, actually. (Well, I would!) Without showboating, he did all the basics to perfection, and a few tricks thrown in for good measure. (The one on the right touchline where he made 3 yards of space past the full-back was particularly mesmeric!) In all, I dare say the ratings might look a little O.T.T., but considering the opposition we were up against and the relative ease of the win, I think each player deserves a few extra plaudits! Well bloody done, Stoke!!! ;D
|
|
|
Post by tel2u on Mar 3, 2004 16:12:05 GMT
I think that last nights decision to give MOM to Taggart was motivated by the heart rather than the head, based on a previously very successful loan spell with us and the undoubted elation of his return to the team.
Although, we have witnessed wierd, and unexplainable decisions from Match Sponors in the past without last nights mitigating circumstances.
Thommo and Svards would be very highly placed amongst my list of worthy contenders.
I also think its fair to give Peter Hoekstra a special mention as well, who amongst us would have thought we would ever see Peter showing so much drive and commitment in the cause of the team on such a regular basis, the guy deserves a lot of credit, and I hope that he stays with us a least another season.
|
|
|
Post by Vodkab1ock on Mar 3, 2004 16:26:44 GMT
have to say first half was ordinary and ipswich where the better team, second we always looked a threat and seemed to get some bite from somewhere either a great half time chat from TP or just the belief that they could win going 1-0 up.
+ GNW is as important in our team as taggart, AA and eustace. not every footballer runs round at 100 mph he was weak first half but then all we did was lump 70 yard balls up to him and AA, and santos and the other CB were massive lads. second half he withdrew deeper and got involved and looked good got the assist for AA again. HE IS A STAR, rate him very highly plus he aknowledged the crowd at the end of the match which is what everyone wanted. he needs a goal once he gets one his confidence will rocket. hopefully ;D
|
|