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Post by robrigo on Feb 5, 2023 16:02:03 GMT
It doesn’t feel like a relegation battle to me. I think we’ll survive comfortably with no real worries. I’m not convinced that it isn’t to be honest. We have a team that’s completely inconsistent. I think we are six points off, so lose next week and we’ll be right in it. We have a defence that isn’t really fit for purpose, and a strike force that doesn’t score anywhere near enough. We have a squad full of loanees, of which we can only play five at any given time - leaving two sitting in the stands. We’ve just sold our best player and not adequately replaced him. I think the next two games are vital. Hopefully we come out on top and ease the pressure, but that pressure is definitely building as the games go by.
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Post by stokemark on Feb 5, 2023 16:03:42 GMT
It doesn’t feel like a relegation battle to me. I think we’ll survive comfortably with no real worries. It already is youth
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Post by redandy on Feb 5, 2023 16:10:01 GMT
Another rebuild ….every window since relegation wether it be summer or winter the board back the manager and we sit back and think “wow this is a squad” and eagerly anticipate seeing it in action only to quickly see it evaporate before our eyes Aint life grand Groundhog day ..... we never seem to get a new manager bounce. Looking at how this club has performed over the last (nearly) decade is embarrassing. If you observe the rise and strides of several clubs such as Brighton, Brentford et al, it shows that with good planning and the right people, the club can grow organically / sustainably. Our business model has been to throw money at a problem, which has backfired massively and after spending 100's of millions over the past several years, on lets be fair, dross. This catastrophe started in the prem with the worst of signings, but 9 Million for Sam Vokes whilst in the championship, and now selling our main or best asset for peanuts in today's market, shows we are just not very good at buying or selling.
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Post by banksy1art on Feb 5, 2023 16:20:02 GMT
Survival and a good cup run would definitely do me. Build a connection with the fans and we should be okay. Maybe a successful relegation battle would be best for us as we will still have something to play for until the end of the season
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Post by werrington on Feb 5, 2023 16:28:56 GMT
Survival and a good cup run would definitely do me. Build a connection with the fans and we should be okay. Maybe a successful relegation battle would be best for us as we will still have something to play for until the end of the season Give me a fizzled out season rather than all that nonsense A relegation battle is the last thing the club or the support need
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Post by clivey05 on Feb 5, 2023 16:39:14 GMT
Regarding signing injured players, look at how stop start Sterling has been for us since arriving injured. Pearson must have only got his niggle recently because he has made a few sub appearances for Bournemouth recently, but Tuenzebe is the big risk as he has been injured for so long and by the sounds of it he has had a few injuries in his career so far.
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Post by iamstokie on Feb 5, 2023 17:20:05 GMT
We should stop employing shit managers then Or show some kind of imagination when recruiting one . These owners wouldn't have touched Kompany or Carrick in a million years. That’s the same as not employing shit managers tbh
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Post by silsdenstokie on Feb 5, 2023 17:55:33 GMT
Survival and a good cup run would definitely do me. Build a connection with the fans and we should be okay. Maybe a successful relegation battle would be best for us as we will still have something to play for until the end of the season Give me a fizzled out season rather than all that nonsense A relegation battle is the last thing the club or the support need Yeah, id take a stuffing off Brighton if it meant 7 points from the next 3 league games
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Post by peterthornesboots on Feb 5, 2023 17:59:12 GMT
Survival and a good cup run would definitely do me. Build a connection with the fans and we should be okay. Maybe a successful relegation battle would be best for us as we will still have something to play for until the end of the season Give me a fizzled out season rather than all that nonsense A relegation battle is the last thing the club or the support need I am not sure that the players have the stomach for a relegation battle. If we are still down there with ten games to go then we are in big trouble.
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Post by march4 on Feb 5, 2023 18:15:27 GMT
This summer will be like the one when we were first relegated. We will have cash to compete with everyone apart from the relegated clubs (especially if Soton and Everton are two of them). So this is especially vital. I presume we will be mindful this time of the trap FFP sets in future. I’m not bothered about the cash March I want the best players not the expensive ones….we’ve been down that road since we got relegated It’s about the buying right player not necessarily seasoned expensive ones Spot on, mate. I’m not bothered if they are all ‘free’ transfers.
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Post by jebbstuart on Feb 5, 2023 18:31:10 GMT
The people at the top don't have a clue, we keep going round in circles. New manager new ideas spends money or loans aplenty all goes tits up. New manager more new players some more new ideas another transfer window all goes tits up. Sack manager and around we go again.
A technical director is needed who knows how to run a club or give Coates Junior some other toys to play with hopefully outside this country and start at the top and work down. At the moment its a circus and for once i am not buying a ticket to watch it.
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Post by Pugsley on Feb 5, 2023 18:39:00 GMT
Another reset... Deep joy.
At this moment in time Stoke City supporters have nothing to look forward to. Sad.
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Post by middleoftheboothen on Feb 5, 2023 18:54:32 GMT
It doesn’t feel like a relegation battle to me. I think we’ll survive comfortably with no real worries. It often doesn't feel like a relegation battle until a few shit results turn into a run of shit results and all of a sudden you're deep in the shit. The biggest problem is complacency and thinking we are too good to go down which nobody is. If we can stay up we really can reset in the summer and I think we can really push on next season and make a fist of getting into the playoffs with the right signings and getting rid of the players who are surplus(most of them if it was up to me). If we went down I dread to think. It would totally destroy us I believe and I don't think we'd come straight back up either. It really would be the worst thing to happen to our club, so the manager and the team have got to show some bollocks, all stick together and pull us out of the shit and keep us in the league this season whatever it takes.
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Post by malisastokie on Feb 5, 2023 22:05:09 GMT
2 of the next 3 games v Huddlesfield and Blackpool are 6 point games.
Lose both of those and there will be a need to rebuild in Div 1.
If we do lose both of those games then Coates had to make a decision to risk going down and rebuild with AN or sack him.
I have to admit relegation has never crossed my mind before Saturday but it’s becoming a reality by the day and every result.
Every week we have a mistake in us and the new goalkeeper based on one game appears to plenty of mistakes in him.
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Post by terryconroysmagic on Feb 5, 2023 22:19:12 GMT
Another rebuild ….every window since relegation wether it be summer or winter the board back the manager and we sit back and think “wow this is a squad” and eagerly anticipate seeing it in action only to quickly see it evaporate before our eyes Aint life grand Yeah my hopes were crushed early this year leaving the Den after that utterly shambolic performance I now just expect lower to mid table finishes that way I don’t get too depressed, although I hadn’t reckoned on a relegation battle!
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Post by senojbor on Feb 5, 2023 22:30:46 GMT
Sleepwalking again to relegation
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Post by blackpoolred on Feb 5, 2023 22:52:12 GMT
Been saying all along that this manager knows what we need to strengthen and will start to build a good team. That was another confusing window though and already losing faith in him and also the club this time.
Smack in the middle of a relegation battle with a calamitous defence and we effectively weakened it in the window in terms of numbers and quality, especially in central defence - it really does beggar belief.
Look forward to Pearson and Axel starting - sooner rather than later hopefully - and if they hit the ground running and remain fit we might reach safety comfortably and all will be forgiven - but another massive risk taken in this window and when you listen to AN you can tell his only directive is to avoid the drop - shocking lack of direction, ambition and just all-around lacking any bollox from top to bottom.
We move on to the next game, with arguably no viable left wing-back, struggling to find a viable central defender apart from a 40-year-old - and this after a window when we knew we were in a relegation battle - my heart really does bleed, my 93-year-old mother who knows nothing about football could run a club better than this
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Post by bayernoatcake on Feb 5, 2023 23:44:55 GMT
Another rebuild ….every window since relegation wether it be summer or winter the board back the manager and we sit back and think “wow this is a squad” and eagerly anticipate seeing it in action only to quickly see it evaporate before our eyes Aint life grand No. It’s why the owners need to go. The single biggest issue at this club.
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Post by leesandfordstoupe on Feb 6, 2023 8:24:09 GMT
It doesn’t feel like a relegation battle to me. I think we’ll survive comfortably with no real worries. I’m not convinced that it isn’t to be honest. We have a team that’s completely inconsistent. I think we are six points off, so lose next week and we’ll be right in it. We have a defence that isn’t really fit for purpose, and a strike force that doesn’t score anywhere near enough. We have a squad full of loanees, of which we can only play five at any given time - leaving two sitting in the stands. We’ve just sold our best player and not adequately replaced him. I think the next two games are vital. Hopefully we come out on top and ease the pressure, but that pressure is definitely building as the games go by. I don’t think we’re inconsistent at all. We’re very consistent at not being able to cope with teams that play very intense, aggressive football. We’re very consistent at playing lofted balls to players we’re well aware don’t win many headers. Very consistent in allowing a disproportionate ratio of efforts on target into the back of our net.
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Feb 6, 2023 8:53:58 GMT
Given a rebuild starts with a clearing of the decks it's already begun - Bursik, Souttar and to all intent and purpose Flint gone. In one sense saving the money and rebuilding in the summer is a good idea as there are way more options, players out if contract and a summer window to get the team up and running. However we have a paper thin squad that's misfiring and are a couple of injuries away from being in big trouble. The sooner those 17 points come the better and fingers crossed the gamble comes off.
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Post by leesandfordstoupe on Feb 6, 2023 9:00:19 GMT
Given a rebuild starts with a clearing of the decks it's already begun - Bursik, Souttar and to all intent and purpose Flint gone. In one sense saving the money and rebuilding in the summer is a good idea as there are way more options, players out if contract and a summer window to get the team up and running. However we have a paper thin squad that's misfiring and are a couple of injuries away from being in big trouble. The sooner those 17 points come the better and fingers crossed the gamble comes off. I think we've left ourselves with far too much to do in the Summer. We really needed at least a couple of players seen to be mainstays of our starting line up for next season in on permanent transfer in the window that's just closed.
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Post by thepiermaster on Feb 6, 2023 9:09:06 GMT
Another rebuild ….every window since relegation wether it be summer or winter the board back the manager and we sit back and think “wow this is a squad” and eagerly anticipate seeing it in action only to quickly see it evaporate before our eyes Aint life grand Groundhog day ..... we never seem to get a new manager bounce. Looking at how this club has performed over the last (nearly) decade is embarrassing. If you observe the rise and strides of several clubs such as Brighton, Brentford et al, it shows that with good planning and the right people, the club can grow organically / sustainably. Our business model has been to throw money at a problem, which has backfired massively and after spending 100's of millions over the past several years, on lets be fair, dross. This catastrophe started in the prem with the worst of signings, but 9 Million for Sam Vokes whilst in the championship, and now selling our main or best asset for peanuts in today's market, shows we are just not very good at buying or selling. Brighton use an algorithm adapted by Tony Bloom from one of his gambling algorithms to identify players of value that no-one else is looking at. I believe Brentford do similar using technology adapted from those the owner used to make his fortune in the city. If only our owners had the biggest gambling firm in the world with all its cutting edge technology and top class programmers at their disposal… 🤦🏽♂️
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Post by etebojan on Feb 6, 2023 9:10:13 GMT
17 points looks a big ask looking at the fixtures we have some really tough away games coming up. it does but mathematically we can afford to lose 10 of the 17, win 5 and draw 2 and still get to 17 points, surely we can manage that
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Post by pushon on Feb 6, 2023 9:11:59 GMT
I’m not convinced that it isn’t to be honest. We have a team that’s completely inconsistent. I think we are six points off, so lose next week and we’ll be right in it. We have a defence that isn’t really fit for purpose, and a strike force that doesn’t score anywhere near enough. We have a squad full of loanees, of which we can only play five at any given time - leaving two sitting in the stands. We’ve just sold our best player and not adequately replaced him. I think the next two games are vital. Hopefully we come out on top and ease the pressure, but that pressure is definitely building as the games go by. I don’t think we’re inconsistent at all. We’re very consistent at not being able to cope with teams that play very intense, aggressive football. We’re very consistent at playing lofted balls to players we’re well aware don’t win many headers. Very consistent in allowing a disproportionate ratio of efforts on target into the back of our net. Well we've got the 'consistency' problem sorted, what more can the team (collectively) do?
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Post by FullerMagic on Feb 6, 2023 9:18:08 GMT
The next 3 games will probably set the table for the rest of the season.
7 points and we'll have broken the back of it, and it'll be a reasonably calm end to the season.
A full-scale mess, coming off a run of 14 points from 15 games, and all bets are off. The negativity and season ticket-related angst will be off the charts.
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Post by pushon on Feb 6, 2023 9:18:10 GMT
Groundhog day ..... we never seem to get a new manager bounce. Looking at how this club has performed over the last (nearly) decade is embarrassing. If you observe the rise and strides of several clubs such as Brighton, Brentford et al, it shows that with good planning and the right people, the club can grow organically / sustainably. Our business model has been to throw money at a problem, which has backfired massively and after spending 100's of millions over the past several years, on lets be fair, dross. This catastrophe started in the prem with the worst of signings, but 9 Million for Sam Vokes whilst in the championship, and now selling our main or best asset for peanuts in today's market, shows we are just not very good at buying or selling. Brighton use an algorithm adapted by Tony Bloom from one of his gambling algorithms to identify players of value that no-one else is looking at. I believe Brentford do similar using technology adapted from those the owner used to make his fortune in the city. If only our owners had the biggest gambling firm in the world with all its cutting edge technology and top class programmers at their disposal… 🤦🏽♂️ Could be that the Real Owner(Denise),is xxxxxx amount of times more interested in the results at Bet365 than those at Stoke City 🤔
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on Feb 6, 2023 9:21:03 GMT
Why in gods earth would anyone think this bloke can run a rebuild he’s absolutely and totally out of his depth
1 He’s already specialising in signing players who don’t play or don’t improve us .His transfer record elsewhere is staggeringly unspectacular 2 He never got Preston above mediocre in 5 years 3 He got Norwich relegated 4 His promotions at Sunderland and Norwich were where he was in leagues the clubs were able to totally dominate 5 in a two horse race he comes second to Joe Jordan for our most charismatic and engaging leader . 6 His results are heading closer towards jones and kamara than Pulis and waddington and hughes early years 7 His press conferences are a bewildering mix of a complete lack of a plan mirrored by his selections and substitutes 8 All his peer group appointments this season have done better than him many by miles and miles and miles
The first and only step in rebuild is to remove him and all the cronies he’s appointed another thing he said he didn’t do when he arrived and to create a new and contemporary football structure populated with people fit for purpose for the modern game and a rebuild otherwise we are set for years of mid table championship mediocrity at best or a sunderland or Portsmouth style recovery from leagues one or even two at worst
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Post by pushon on Feb 6, 2023 9:28:46 GMT
Why in gods earth would anyone think this bloke can run a rebuild he’s absolutely and totally out of his depth 1 He’s already specialising in signing players who don’t play or don’t improve us .His transfer record elsewhere is staggeringly unspectacular 2 He never got Preston above mediocre in 5 years 3 He got Norwich relegated 4 His promotions at Sunderland and Norwich were where he was in leagues the clubs were able to totally dominate 5 in a two horse race he comes second to Joe Jordan for our most charismatic and engaging leader . 6 His results are heading closer towards jones and kamara than Pulis and waddington and hughes early years 7 His press conferences are a bewildering mix of a complete lack of a plan mirrored by his selections and substitutes 8 All his peer group appointments this season have done better than him many by miles and miles and miles The first and only step in rebuild is to remove him and all the cronies he’s appointed another thing he said he didn’t do when he arrived and to create a new and contemporary football structure populated with people fit for purpose for the modern game and a rebuild otherwise we are set for years of mid table championship mediocrity at best or a sunderland or Portsmouth style recovery from leagues one or even two at worst That's the way to do it, accentuate the negative and undermine any positives. Please don't ask me what positives there are🥴
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Post by Gods on Feb 6, 2023 9:55:42 GMT
It's weird how it doesn't feel like a relegation battle.
We are 6 points off the trap door and have played 1 more match than the team in the final relegation place.
You'd expect a little bit of '17 matches to play and every one is a Cup Final' talk like we are getting from Brendan Rogers at Leicester but none of it.
I noticed at least one of our loan signings announcing how excited he was to be joining a club on the verge of the play-offs. Good luck with that mate.
Perhaps the idea is to set a mood of enduring calm but I feel like a shot of reality and urgency would do no harm.
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Post by mcw on Feb 6, 2023 11:28:59 GMT
I think someone else has alluded to this earlier, you don't realize you are in a relegation battle until you wake up and smell the coffee and by then all bets are off. We are most definitely in a relegation battle and somebody dear god must be relaying this to the players. If we continue to waltz from one game to the next and keep talking about not much in it, performances are not that far off then in the next 2/3 weeks we will be knee deep in shit. I don't care how we perform from now until the end of the season, but we need to find a style of play however unpretty that gets results and hopefully means we can limp to the end of the season just above the drop zone. My fear is that we don't have a group of players that can fight, physically dominate and basically shit house their way to results in whatever fashion is required. If we are relying on outplaying other teams then we really are up against it...
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