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Post by BristolMick on Jul 30, 2014 18:10:50 GMT
Reading this forum over the summer I don't think I have seen anyone suggest we might be in the relegation mix this coming season.
12 months ago we had TFP's legacy and people wetting their knickers in a doom laden tantrum about Mark Hughes and in every season since promotion before that we had the 40 points mantra rammed down our throats as the limit of our ambitions with expectations duly managed down.
We now have a manager that talks us up, is adventurous with tactics and signs players for their football ability and for the first time we are truly making the most of and enjoying our time in the sun.
In fact everything is so good, the mood is so positive it worries me. Are we in for a season of struggle when we least expect it?
BM
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Jul 30, 2014 18:13:02 GMT
As a Stokie feeling positive is a worry in itself. Disappointment always follows so yes, the fact we are feeling postive, is a worry!
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Post by MuddyWoody on Jul 30, 2014 18:13:12 GMT
I'm always wary of relegation. It can all go pear shaped very easily no matter who a club signs.
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Post by cobhamstokey on Jul 30, 2014 18:14:23 GMT
It's always a fear but unless we have the worst luck with injuries in our history I'm confident we can do well. We have our best ever side in the modern era.
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Post by stokiejoe on Jul 30, 2014 18:15:03 GMT
It's always a fear but unless we have the worst luck with injuries in our history I'm confident we can do well. We have our best ever side in the modern era. +1
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Post by chad on Jul 30, 2014 18:16:46 GMT
I'm not as optimistic as some On paper Diieuf and Bojan look great signings buy let's be honest they could quote easily flop at this level. I'd still settle for anything above 17th. Having said that if them pair do click then I can see is easily being top ten again Overall I'm not to worried but still have nagging doubts
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Post by slother on Jul 30, 2014 18:18:09 GMT
No one could argue that the amount of change in style and personnel is insignificant. This alone should be enough to fear relegation, as there is a clear precedent for falling flat on one's face as a result of this. It has happened to this very manager, arguably more than once.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using proboards
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Post by stokie85 on Jul 30, 2014 18:18:20 GMT
I'm fairly confident but look at what happened to Norwich last year, a steady season the year before then big names last summer and the rest is history
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Post by str8outtahampton on Jul 30, 2014 18:18:48 GMT
As a Stokie feeling positive is a worry in itself. Disappointment always follows so yes, the fact we are feeling postive, is a worry! I agree 100%. It baffles (and worries) me that anyone with even a fleeting knowledge of SCFC can ever feel anything other than pessimistic. For example, I doubt anyone who was at Hillsborough in Feb/March 1971 - a game which defined the phrase "defeat (as it ultimately was) snatched from the jaws of victory" - ever felt optimistic about anything else in their lives. Football related or otherwise.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Jul 30, 2014 18:23:51 GMT
I'm not in the least bit worried about relegation. Of course I'll be happier still once we pass the 38-40 point mark! Hopefully that will be by the end of January!
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Post by StokieAsh13 on Jul 30, 2014 18:34:38 GMT
I think folks will always be wary. However we have a great manager who knows how to get results. Even QPR look how he saved them even with a little help from us on the final day.
We now have a great squad also... it all bodes well for a great season.
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Post by pedro23 on Jul 30, 2014 18:39:51 GMT
I don't think we will be relegated, however there is no doubt the top 5 teams all have strengthened over last year. Man U and the Arse in particular and will be difficult to get points off this time around. Our defence is key, if we can shut up shop, we will do well.
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Post by Claus_SCFC on Jul 30, 2014 18:46:48 GMT
I always fear relegation, Mick - we're Stoke, and you just know anything may go tits up any time
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 18:57:39 GMT
So long as Hughes doesn't piss about with false numbers 9s we'll be fine
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 19:00:19 GMT
I fear it
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Post by overthehills on Jul 30, 2014 19:01:31 GMT
On paper we have a very good squad, expectations are high for the new season. How I see it the top 7-8 are safe and the rest will always be in a relegation battle. We are outsiders in this battle but still in it. This is Stoke in the big league, the players will battle in our honour.
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Post by greenstokie on Jul 30, 2014 19:22:52 GMT
Any side other than the top 7 are in danger should they put in a bad run.
It'll never be far away for us, but I would hope that this season will be like the latter half of last season which sees us in comfortable mid table and reaching for the Europa spots.
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Post by fca47 on Jul 30, 2014 19:26:34 GMT
No, we will always be faced with the threat of relegation, we've very rarely lasted 10 years at a stretch in the top division. Don't see us bucking that trend.
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Post by nik80 on Jul 30, 2014 19:27:05 GMT
Reading this forum over the summer I don't think I have seen anyone suggest we might be in the relegation mix this coming season. 12 months ago we had TFP's legacy and people wetting their knickers in a doom laden tantrum about Mark Hughes and in every season since promotion before that we had the 40 points mantra rammed down our throats as the limit of our ambitions with expectations duly managed down. We now have a manager that talks us up, is adventurous with tactics and signs players for their football ability and for the first time we are truly making the most of and enjoying our time in the sun. In fact everything is so good, the mood is so positive it worries me. Are we in for a season of struggle when we least expect it? BM Anyone outside the permanent top seven can go down in any given season, I'm always wary
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Post by scfc75 on Jul 30, 2014 19:43:29 GMT
The bookies really have 3 lumps of teams... a top 5, then a big jump in odds to Spurs and Everton, then another big jump to everyone else. We seem to be near the top of the everyone else, along with Southampton, Newcastle and Villa. 8th would be great, lower than 12th would probably be a bit disappointing.
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arby
Academy Starlet
Posts: 144
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Post by arby on Jul 30, 2014 19:51:10 GMT
I'm still looking over my shoulder. Hope we don't become a west Brom and go down playing attractive stuff.
Things have a way of coming back to bite you on the arse, and I remember taking the piss at the time.
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Post by Squeekster on Jul 30, 2014 20:00:18 GMT
Until we hit that 40 point mark i shall still be harboring thoughts of relegation just like when we were 4-0 up against Newcastle united a few seasons ago with 5 minutes to go i was still worried.
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Post by penkvillepotter on Jul 30, 2014 20:13:35 GMT
Anyone familiar with Hobson's Choice will know we can't be doing with 'uppishness' but given some of the sides in this Division I don't see it. We do need to take advantage of, at least on paper a reasonable run of fixtures at the start.
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Post by turtlefox on Jul 30, 2014 20:28:10 GMT
I'm sure every club in the division apart from Everton has been in a lower league at some point, so we all know it could happen but, saying that, with some of the football we played last year and the players we have brought in to strengthen, you wouldn't bet a lot of money on us to go down. It's possible but I don't fear it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 20:35:06 GMT
I always expect Stoke to disappoint me. But there is no way we will get relegated this season...... I think
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Jul 30, 2014 20:35:38 GMT
Fuck that, 7th!
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Post by scfc75 on Jul 30, 2014 20:36:29 GMT
I'm sure every club in the division apart from Everton has been in a lower league at some point, so we all know it could happen but, saying that, with some of the football we played last year and the players we have brought in to strengthen, you wouldn't bet a lot of money on us to go down. It's possible but I don't fear it. Go back 10 years, Everton almost went down (they finished 17th). The season after they finished 4th. It really is a bizarre league at times.
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Post by sheikhmomo on Jul 30, 2014 20:41:15 GMT
It's less likely than for a generation but for a club of our size, with so many variables, (one of them being luck) relegation is always stalking us like Death himself. He's not hovering over us like he was for periods of Pulis's first and fifth seasons and in deep midwinter last season but he's only outside having a fag.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 20:43:49 GMT
Top 8 finish, Cup victory, Bojan 50 goals.
Minimum.
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Post by robwahlmann on Jul 30, 2014 20:44:16 GMT
If we don't make too many changes from the team that ended last season we'll be fine I think!
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