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Post by Bowyer83 on May 31, 2015 18:15:24 GMT
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Post by stokecitytalke on May 31, 2015 18:20:40 GMT
A very good article.
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Post by ruts66 on May 31, 2015 18:22:59 GMT
Well we're definitely on the up but it largely depends on Mr Coates' benevolence.
For now, I'm happy that we're a club improving year on year under Hughesy...
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Post by dexta on May 31, 2015 18:28:54 GMT
Not yet were a few years away yet....if we keep improving year on year and keep the nucleus of the squad maybe 4-5 years got to be looking at 7th place next year imo
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Post by lordherefordsknob on May 31, 2015 18:31:03 GMT
Very possible, as unless Liverpool sign some quality in the summer can see them finishing outside the top ten.Can't see us finishing any higher than about 7th though.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 18:31:15 GMT
Light years away. Don't let a good season for us and a dreadful one for Liverpool fool you.
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Post by robstokie on May 31, 2015 18:32:40 GMT
With 2/3 quality signings, and a bit of luck with injuries, we could push for 6th-7th next year, providing that the likes of Liverpool and Spurs don't really strengthen and we can start the season where we left off. As for finishing above Liverpool, its a possibility, especially if they have a hangover from the end of this season. However, the main aim should always be improving on this season just gone, it was a great season, but we did drop a fair few points at home to teams we should really be beating.
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Post by scfc75 on May 31, 2015 18:34:13 GMT
Realistically I think 7th is the best we can hope for, and shouldn't be too disappointed if we don't finish any higher than 9th again - to improve by just a few points at the level we're at takes a considerable increase in performance, so the return we will get on input should now get slimmer and slimmer. We're almost at the peak of where we can consistently expect to get to.
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Post by djduncanjames on May 31, 2015 18:34:15 GMT
Consistency and turning up for EVERY match then yes, we certainly can. We would have probably eclispsed them this season had we won our winnable matches at home to some of the teams who finished well below us and not been ravaged by injury after injury...
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Post by sheikhmomo on May 31, 2015 18:35:45 GMT
Lets be careful, expectations are on the rise and the ultimate aim for next season is to get in to Europe (by whatever method) but just seeing us continually being underestimated and chinning some of the traditional big sides and a mid table finish is still tremendous fun and perfectly acceptable to me.
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Post by davejohnno1 on May 31, 2015 18:37:41 GMT
Without Gerrard, Suarez, sterling and sturridge, Liverpool will definitely struggle next season because the rest of their side are no better than mid table plodders.
There is every chance we could finish above Liverpool and that doesn't mean we will have to finish 4th to do so.
If we could get 8th, Liverpool will be below us next season as things stand today.
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Post by Silkystoke on May 31, 2015 18:55:43 GMT
I'd be happy just to beat some of the shit teams we lost too, that would see us get 7th...!!!!
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 18:57:17 GMT
I think the problem is the there just are no easy games in the prem, you can come unstuck against the lowest of the low, what is clear is that teams like Man U and Liverpool have lost their fear factor and as a result have to work to earn their victories where before teams would just roll over for them especially at their home grounds.
Liverpool have the money and the name of a BIG team but I can't help feeling that this last two seasons have been a bit Do or Die for them in terms of re-establishing themselves as a top 4 team something that in my opinion they have failed to do both on and off the pitch.
We are, again in my opinion no where near our full potential but are boxing above our weight in the league, what I mean by that is results and position have been better than most have expected but I see no reason we cannot become as highly regarded as Spurs, Everton, Southampton and stake claim to a regular Europa spot and good cup runs.
Be warned however it takes a big leap from where we are now to even gain one more place higher.
P:S What a joy to even be able to talk about our team in such positive terms (Great times indeed)
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Post by Staffsoatcake on May 31, 2015 18:58:30 GMT
If Brenda is still there, I don't see why not.
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Post by bathstoke on May 31, 2015 19:07:32 GMT
Yes
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Post by oliviadee on May 31, 2015 19:13:24 GMT
Ask yourself one question position for position who would you swop . So in my honest opinion yes we can if the overrated Brendan is still there . At the rate he going he want to make them into Southampton reseves
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 19:18:21 GMT
They were comfortably the worst side at Stoke this season and if Rodgers stays in charge and we keep everyone fit then it could just happen.
There is no way I'd have even contemplated it a few weeks ago and we would need Liverpool to have another poor season but without Gerrard and Sterling (if he goes) we could do it.
Rodgers has never replaced Suarez and he has assembled the worst defensive unit I've ever seen in a top half premier league side.
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Post by GrahamHyde on May 31, 2015 19:20:53 GMT
We could, but I don't think we will. I know they're not always right, but Bet365 have us down as 40/1 to finish in the top 4 next season, whilst Liverpool are at a meager 11/4. There's still a gulf of class between the two sides in spite of the result the other week.
Even if we managed to become as good a team as Liverpool, the psychology and fan base behind their club relative to ours would give them that additional edge. In order to be in with a shout of competing in those upper echelons, a good start is imperative as it gives you something to cling on to. If we can get that next season then you never know.
We essentially need to make up around 10 points though on this season's tally to do that, which is no mean feat. You could point to games like Burnley, Leicester and Aston Villa at home as being 9 points there if we got them right, but it's not as simple as that. For every Villa there's a Man City away and for every Burnley there's a Tottenham or Everton away.
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Post by riccyfuller93 on May 31, 2015 19:23:11 GMT
I'd rather focus on just not getting relegated.
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Post by GrahamHyde on May 31, 2015 19:28:10 GMT
I'd rather focus on just not getting relegated. At your service, Mr. Pulis  |
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Post by riccyfuller93 on May 31, 2015 19:30:46 GMT
I'd rather focus on just not getting relegated. At your service, Mr. Pulis I just don't want us getting too far ahead, eclipsing teams like Liverpool next season is a big ask. |
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Post by greyman on May 31, 2015 19:45:08 GMT
For once sheikhmomo is right. Everybody needs to calm down
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 20:15:44 GMT
Just a thought why cant we do as the article states ? I am old enough to take things with a large pinch of salt but we ARE a very good side so why not. We are on the brink of something quite special and are stock has not been this high for a very long time. We are a very solid attractive football club with more to come, some of the teams above us are losing their "hoodoo" over us only Chelsea seem to have our measure, we can beat anyone though and it's more that just wishful thinking we can and do beat theses teams with increasing regularity. So why not...
Come on you Mighty Potters.
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Post by fca47 on May 31, 2015 20:17:18 GMT
They can outspend us to the power of ten. We could only outperform them if they have a crap manager. Hopefully Brendan will still be there next season.
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Post by mrcoke on May 31, 2015 20:32:23 GMT
Let's calm down after an exciting season and final match.
I am as full of anticipation for next season as much as the next guy but:
All the existing squad will be a year older next season, we have not yet actually signed anyone who will improve the squad, we have been associated with some good players but so were we last summer and we never made the big signing, we look like losing our goal keeper (granted we have an excellent replacement), and Wingie and Bojan have yet to show they can fully recover from very debilitating injuries.
I'm not wishing to put a dampener on debate, just take a bit of calmer outlook at our prospects.
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Post by nott1 on May 31, 2015 20:32:56 GMT
We've already eclipsed them 6-1 this season.
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Post by blackpoolred on May 31, 2015 20:45:39 GMT
The spine of our team arguably would not look out of place in a top 4 team, let alone Liverpool: Bego, Shawcross, nzonsi, Bojan and quite frankly is better than Liverpool's. If Arnie turns up from the start next year we arguably, again, have a player as good as they have. If we can add some real quality and everybody stays fit and each player can hit form, then we could be the surprise package next year.
The stars do have to align though and they rarely do for Stoke and being one of our most pesimistic supporters I have to say, we could also end up selling some of our best players, adding no real quality and Bojan could pick up a secondary injury and end not playing at his peak for most of the season. Hughes is worrying me defensively also
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Post by takeshikovacs on May 31, 2015 21:03:13 GMT
No, their owners will not tolerate another season like that and make available huge resources to enable them to buy in the quality to ensure a top 5 or 6 finish. We will adopt a more softly, softly approach, and will do exceptionally well to finish higher than 9th.
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Post by lordb on May 31, 2015 21:11:09 GMT
It doesn't really matter does it?
Can Stoke qualify for Europe via league position,can we win a cup?
If we did that but we're behind Liverpool that's fine by me.
Wheras if we finished 8th & Liverpool 9th,ok that wouldn't be bad but I'm more interested in our potential success than their potential failure.
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Post by minty1964 on May 31, 2015 21:27:17 GMT
" Slowly but surely they are becoming a team that are feared by almost every other one in the league. Not because they are stronger, not because of their ferocious home atmosphere, but because they are good, very good and they may very well gate crash the European places next year.
Watching Stoke dismantle Liverpool, there was only one club that looked capable of mixing it with Europe’s best and it certainly wasn’t the one that spent nearly £100m last summer. "
Quote just made me gush...... i love Stoke City
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