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Post by SuperStokie on Mar 5, 2004 11:17:28 GMT
IF Eustace is still out: De Goey Halls Taggart Thomas Clarke Hoekstra Svard Russell Commons/Neal Gifton/Asaba Akinbiyi I'm not sure if Neal is fit either? Gifton didn't look fit on Tuesday and maybe having Sarbs in instead would do him and us a favour? Svard looked superb on Tuesday night, however I feel we'd benefit more from him playing in the centre. Maybe it's a bit harsh on Marcus Hall who I felt did superb on Tuesday night, but that'd be my team anyway! Jon  |
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Post by romfordstokie on Mar 5, 2004 11:28:38 GMT
I like Clarkey in midfield and think Hooky is much more effective on the left but surely now its time for a long run for Commons in the side. If he’s going in the summer so be it but lets use him while we’ve got him…..
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Post by Pricey on Mar 5, 2004 11:31:46 GMT
I think we might have to deal with the idea that Gifton will never look 'fit' as we see it. He has big problems with arthritus of his knees and by all accounts has done very well to get himself going for this season. I have no doubt in my mind that the best two strikers at Stoke are Akinbiyi and Gifton and as long as the latter does tomorrow what he did on Tuesday night I'd have no qualms whatsoever about having him in the team.
On Lewis Neal, I doubt he'd go straight from being unfit to being in the team (although you never know) so I doubt he'll be ready for tomorrow either.
I'd start with the same team as Tuesday night, with Hoekstra on the right and the rest of the midfield shifted across one.
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Post by SuperStokie on Mar 5, 2004 11:32:43 GMT
I thought Commons changed the game for us against Walsall last month. Hoekstra DOES play well on the right as well, and considering the options i'd go with him there for tommorow. I am not too fussed about where Clarke plays admitedly, he's been in superb form of late and even did a good job in the centre midfield on Tuesday! Jon |
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Post by RobPa on Mar 5, 2004 11:35:21 GMT
i agree pricey...stick gnw with akinbiyi
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Post by SuperStokie on Mar 5, 2004 11:37:01 GMT
Gifton looked fit in the first few months of the season, Pricey (you didn't see those games to be fair though). He was, to me, a revelation. He certainly is a top player for us. He was actually rested for the Palace game and has been struggling of late (doubtful for the last two, or three games). I'm a HUGE Gifton fan, he does look lazy yeah at times, but does a lot of work that goes unnoticed and causes defences a different kind of problem to Ade or Asaba. His arthritis is certainly hampering him though and you do have to wonder how long he will continue playing????  With Lewis Neal, he seems to have spates in the side where you don't see him for a month, then plays two home games on the trot. Like you say though, doubtful he'd go straight into the team. Jon |
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Post by Pricey on Mar 5, 2004 11:40:01 GMT
I saw 5 games in the first 2 months, admittedly only one at home where Gifton was supposed to be better but I just think he is as fit now as he is ever going to be at this stage of a season. His knees are knakered but I'd still prefer him to da da da da Carl Asaba.
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Post by SuperStokie on Mar 5, 2004 11:46:40 GMT
You could say on the other hand Asaba's had a dip in form since his good start to the season.
"but I'd still prefer him to da da da da Carl Asaba."
I'd like to say though, I'd prefer to have Gifton in the team as well! Merely stating a rest could do him and us the world of good. Maybe he doesn't need one, if so, I hope he is in the team tommorow!
Jon
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Post by domstoke on Mar 5, 2004 12:32:48 GMT
I think we have to start with Gifton, him and Ade are such a threat together, though I do rate Asaba too.
I'd like to see more of Commons, but not as a starter. I dont think he'd fit in to the team particularly well as a starter at present. I wish Pulis would give him some decent run outs as sub though. When we start sitting back on a lead and hooky starts tiring it's crying out for Commons to come on, give them something to worry about and take the pressure off a bit.
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Post by steelcitystokie on Mar 5, 2004 15:46:24 GMT
I think Gifton will play - he is desperate to start against his old club and Pulis has promised to make him captain for the day.
I did read on the official site that Eustace, Russell, Neal and Svard may all be out tomorrow so then we really would be short in midfield.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 5, 2004 16:10:46 GMT
Too right Dom, obviously TP can't see his way to giving Commons a start (although with Neal injured that's what I would do).
However, if he is on the subs bench then he should be brought on as soon as the players look tempted to "sit" on a lead. I'd have brought him on as soon as Ade scored on Tuesday. Rather than sitting back and soaking up pressure we could have spent the rest of the match with Commons asking questions of players with tired legs. As often as not he gets a couple of free kicks in dangerous areas within minutes of getting the ball.
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Post by Pricey on Mar 5, 2004 16:18:43 GMT
It's possible Wilson and Commons for Hoekstra and Hall after Ade's goal would have been fantastic on Tuesday but I can remember a good few times when Commons has come on with 20-30 minutes left and done absolutely nothing.
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Post by Vodkab1ock on Mar 5, 2004 16:19:55 GMT
when svard got injured he grabbed the nack of his hamstring so i wouldn't think TP will risk him or eustace if it will put them out for the rest of the season. it will be very interesting hopefully three points and some of the teams round us losing espescially cardiff and crewe as long as we finish above the trainspotters and the sheep shaggers i will be happy, obviously happier with 6th place ;D
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 5, 2004 16:23:13 GMT
We do have a problem though Pricey. When other teams are faced with their opponents chasing the game they often go and score a couple near the end and win by a larger margin. We never seem to do that - we usually hang on (like on Tuesday) or buckle under pressure. We don't seem to put out midfields which can really give the opposition something to think about when they are coming at us with all guns blazing. In other words we leave our back four with too much defending to do as often as not.
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Post by Vodkab1ock on Mar 5, 2004 16:27:14 GMT
Fornside do you remember 1-0 to the arsenal sometimes the great teams only need one goal because they no they are good enough to win with(not sayin arsenal were great). the italians always sit back maybe we're the juventus of division one ;D
ITS JUST LIKE WATCHING JUVE thats what we could sing....
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Post by Pricey on Mar 5, 2004 16:27:41 GMT
At home I'd be all for the following:
Wilson Eustace Russell Commons
But that depends on Commons getting his head right (not that I think it's overly wrong) and Pulis deciding to attack, attack and attack some more...especially in the 2nd half!!!
Edit- cd, our defence was a shambles during the first half on Tuesday, hopefully tomorrow it will be back to that Christmas form. Fingers crossed!
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Post by Vodkab1ock on Mar 5, 2004 16:34:12 GMT
yeh pricey i agree they had "tin legs" first half but we were attacking, second half when we were trying to defend and we had the two goals we never looked like conceding two in my oppion, also if AA had but his chance away it would of been three. plus ade got behind three times down the flanks and didn't really find the right did he? if he had it could of been 6 or 7  |
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 5, 2004 16:35:39 GMT
cd, if you think we are the "old" Arsenal or the Juventus of Divison 1 - can I have some of what you are on please! ;D
The fact is that our defence (although it is much better with Gerry in it) often has too much to do. We don't yet have the midfield to deny the opposition the ball for long periods. Given that fact then someone like Commons is the best option in my opinion. I would tend, all things being equal, to bring on Commons and Asaba with 30 minutes to go. It gives GNW a rest and Commons often gets the better of full backs with heavy legs.
EDIT - cd I have just seen your last post. Note Ade's miss came from a Wilson cross withing 4 minutes of Wilson coming on the field. Despite being a full back Wilson was the best crosser we had on the pitch all night. In other words in the last 5 minutes TP did what I am suggesting only he used Wilson on the right wing instead of Commons on the left - the theory holds good. ;D
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Post by Vodkab1ock on Mar 5, 2004 16:38:22 GMT
i agree that commons on for the last 20-30 can't do any harm, suspose TP thought if its not broke why fix it. thought Juventus was a good comparison IT JUST LIKE WATCHING JUVE |
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 5, 2004 16:39:21 GMT
cd, I have just added a bit to my last post.
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Post by Vodkab1ock on Mar 5, 2004 16:50:32 GMT
some comparisons between juve and stoke for you fornside...  1 Buffon = Ed De Goey (from abroad) 2 Ferrara = Gerry Taggart (old head experience) 3 Tacchinardi = Halls (obviously a future international star) 4 Montero = Thomo (takes player more than ball) 7 Pessotto = Clarke (attacking full back up and down can play in midfeild) 8 Conte = Eustace ( makes it tick) 17 Trezeguet = Ade A (feared throughout europe) 10 Del Piero = Asaba (skillz and scores goals) 11 Nedved = Hoekstra (that bit of class) 12 Chimenti = Cutler (can't get a game) 20 Di Vaio = GNW (holds the ball up and has double second name) ITS LIKE WATCHING JUVE.... |
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Mar 5, 2004 16:53:33 GMT
Ok, ok I give up!
Its just like watching Juve......
On a back and white TV - with very poor picture quality! ;D
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Post by Vodkab1ock on Mar 5, 2004 16:54:15 GMT
LOL ;D
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