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Post by nathan on Dec 9, 2007 16:02:28 GMT
I can honestly say I thought it was a reasonably entertaining game. Those who are looking for carpet football will no doubt have a different view, but I thought the endeavour and battling of the players from both sides meant we were to watch a well contested game, with Stoke the creators of the better chances.
It was never going to be a game that displayed the finer aspects of football on a regular basis. Watford were strong and some of the tactics to nullify the threat of Sidibe weren't exactly the most sporting.
The officiating was poor, for both sides I hasten to add, though decisions did seem to go Watford's way a little more frequently. Should of had a penalty in the first half, which would undoubtedly have changed the game.
All in all, reasonable, gutsy performance against one of the top sides. A point well earned, and could, or should I put it should, have been more.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2007 16:43:55 GMT
Yeah, about sums it up for the View-From-On-Sky as well.
We should have had one peno and could have had another, there was nowt wrong with their "offside" goal and they could have had another peno (Lenny, handball). So the officials were garbage both ways. Sky bemoaned the lack of quality in both teams, and in the officials.
Two big sides with a direct style was never going to make it pretty, but Simo had almost nothing to do, whereas their lad made a couple of good saves. Thought Zak covered well for Shawy and Pughy for SJE in the middle. We looked a team every bit as likely as them to get promoted.
Should be an interesting last 5 months of the season, if we can find a footballer in the middle, and someone to do the tackling/covering (e.g. Diao; though Pughy did well today, if we can get that level out of Dicko every week, or find another LB) then we'll be close again come the end of the season.
ah
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Post by Mr Wheeze on Dec 9, 2007 16:53:17 GMT
Not the best of games as a spectacle but a decent point against a team thats gonna be up there at the end of the season (hopefully with us!)
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Post by Trouserdog on Dec 9, 2007 16:54:21 GMT
If a fairly-decent but limited side like Watford can be topping the table, then we have to realise that THIS year could be our big chance to go up, despite our own shortcomings.
There are no outstanding teams in this division (based on what we've seen at the Brit) and if we can just add a couple more matchwinners into our squad there's no reason why we can't be in the shake-up come May.
Thought the whole side played well today, although we lacked the creativity to produce enough chances, and we have one striker who is never going to offer a goal threat.
A point gained though, all in all.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2007 17:12:26 GMT
Thought Pugh had a 'triffic' game
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Post by FullerMagic on Dec 9, 2007 17:16:38 GMT
I thought it was a truly dire, shocking game, but the encouraging thing was how ordinary Watford looked also.
Neither team came anywhere near to deserving 3 points.
If they're everyone's benchmark, then as Trouserdog says, there's absolutely no reason why Stoke can't be one of the teams right in the mix down the stretch.
Bit of a sad commentary on the second tier of English football though if that's the case.
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Post by canaladict on Dec 9, 2007 17:50:34 GMT
There was a lack of room to play anything resembling football, due to both teams battling and closing down the space IMO.
Fuller still should have put away at least 1 of his chances.
The Beast did OK, I think he should have come on earlier, Mamma got battered and that don't happen often.
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Post by nathan on Dec 9, 2007 18:45:10 GMT
Oh and forgot to mention, somebody should inform Cressy not to tackle. That 'tackle' in the second half was awful!
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Post by canaladict on Dec 9, 2007 18:51:25 GMT
Yeh he was about 5mins too late,
thought it was going to be a straight red.
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Post by nathan on Dec 9, 2007 18:52:05 GMT
Yeh he was about 5mins too late, thought it was going to be a straight red. Well it should of been a red card had the Ref been on the money with a challenge he'd made earlier in the game. |
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Post by fuggers on Dec 9, 2007 19:24:16 GMT
"I thought it was a truly dire, shocking game"
WTF?!
Did you not go when Brian Little was manager?
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Post by spiderpuss on Dec 9, 2007 19:34:16 GMT
Taking my "Freebee" fans along kicking and screaming, they were quite complimentary afterwards. Overall I thought we gave Watford a pretty good game and were a tad unlucky not to nick it at the end. Overall a draw was about the right result.
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Post by MrMagic on Dec 9, 2007 19:37:22 GMT
Thought Stoke were far the better side, but to be honest it had 0-0 written all over it. Before the game I'd definitely have taken a point, but afterwards it felt like we'd missed out, as Simmo had nothing to do all game.
If Watford have got to the top of the league playing football as bad as that, there is no reason why we cannot at least maintain our position.
Pugh had a great game. Everyone else did well, except Wright who never fails to disappoint me. Poor positioning nearly hurt us on a few occasions, particularly in the first half when he got dragged inside, leaving a gaping hole for them to attack through. His passing is even more woeful.
All in all, a happy day though.
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Post by bogus on Dec 9, 2007 19:42:32 GMT
I quite enjoyed the game today. It was a bit patchy in parts, and mostly physical and long ball, but there was two committed teams and it was nice to see Stoke finish with a flurry and a couple of really good chances to take the points.
One of the most pleasing things today was the atmosphere which was generally positive and with decent backing for the team. I can barely remember a bad word hurled at any player and that in itself is a bonus, of late.
Individually we may well be short on quality, with a couple of execeptions, but collectively, as a team, and even as a squad today, we have a wonderful spirit and I can only applaud them for their efforts.
From the more supportive atmosphere of today, I can only presume that many people are starting to buy into this spirit too.
Well done Stoke, not a classic but not poor either, Certainly a match for Watford's extra resources today!
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Post by viewfromthecrowsnest on Dec 9, 2007 20:14:08 GMT
On the face of it, we are in a strong position. If our makeshift team can give the leaders a run for their money, then thats a good effort.
Looking at the table, we have Watford, WBA, Charlton and Bristol ahead of us. Three of em have a base from sky finance & prem players, and we're neck and neck with Bristol who are on the creat of a wave. Definitely happy were the best of the rest, with clear room for development and ready to crack at the leaders.
The best thing is I don't feel we are punching above our weight as much as I could have expected.
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Post by RAF on Dec 9, 2007 20:19:46 GMT
It was a poor game to watch from two teams who both employed hoofball tactics.
A great point for us, but could have been better.
H
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Post by AlliG on Dec 9, 2007 20:40:38 GMT
As a "non-rimmer", I actually thought today was what used to be called a "typical top of the table" clash. Two teams who play hard, physical football, pound away at each other while the game itself maybe doesn't quite live up to expectations. As such I quite enjoyed it. I thought we created the better chances, should have won, might have lost, but a point and a clean sheet was not a bad result. Today was the first time this season that I have seen Stoke look as though they believed they were serious play-off contenders. Unlike earlier in the season I thought we mixed up the long ball, short passing and use of the wings quite well. I quite like Zak in the centre of defence as he adds a bit more pace, mobility and aggression, which seems to encourage us to defend higher up the pitch. A point highlighted by how static and ponderous we looked on the couple of occasions when we sat 8 men on the edge of our box in the 2nd half and invited Watford to attack. Before kick-off I felt it was the kind of game made for Dicko (hard, physical and direct) and I thought he had one of his best games for the club. I was pleasantly suprised by the aggression and mobility of Pugh in the middle, but it also emphasised just how much we need a fit mobile central midfielder. Unlike some of the above posters, I can perfectly understand why Watford are at the top. They have a "robust" approach to defending, a hard working midfield, some pace down the flanks and a battering ram approach up front. Except for the pace, that descriptions reminds me of another team whose name escapes me at the moment.  All in all, if we continue to approach games in that manner, I am actually beginning to believe that we could be a serious thrreat in the Division this year. ;D ;D |
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Post by lancer on Dec 9, 2007 20:51:25 GMT
I'll be happy if that ends up being one of our worst games. In fact I thought it was a decent game. Only one team looking to win and that was Stoke. Some tidy football, and yes some hoofing, but overall not a bad game. Seriously, if Watford represent a team likely to go up, with minor spending we can join them.
Watching some of the Premiership overpaid all stars on TV, the difference in money's involved isn't complimented by a difference in quality. With a few exceptions, a lot of the Premiership players can't show us (the lower divisions) much, despite the raving of the suck up pundits.
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Post by lancer on Dec 9, 2007 20:56:31 GMT
Why do my potst appear once, then disappear?
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Post by adiebunn on Dec 9, 2007 20:57:59 GMT
Can't believe some of the comments on this thread about it being a poor game. Either you have been watching too much Premiership football and you don't go to the Brit very often or you were watching a different game to me.
A competitive game of football played by two attacking teams spoilt by some very poor refereeing decisions.
Apart from once again our strikers not getting it in the back of the net I think that was probably the best football I have see this season at the Brit.
Cheers
Adie
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Post by FullerMagic on Dec 9, 2007 21:26:42 GMT
I'm surprised you say that, Adie. Just goes to show the old adage about opinions is true ;D
I thought it was eminently forgettable stuff, and the 3 or 4 people I debriefed with shared my thoughts.
That's not to say that our display was without merit. Far from it. But I really thought the lack of quality from both sides was undeniable, and it was a bit of a drab, colourless yawn, despite the commendable graft from both sides. And I certainly didn't approach it withunrealistic expectations.
However, the fact we more than matched big, ugly, effective play-off certainties does give me great confidence that promotion is definitely up for grabs - certainly with a couple of January additions.
Onwards and upwards.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2007 22:08:13 GMT
It was tough test for the potters, I thought the only glimpse of a ex-prem team that were Watford was in the first 10-15 mins where they fairly fizzed the ball about and at some points looked quite capable of causing menace. Then we managed to get a foothold and really never looked like we would concede after that. Second half we actually looked like we believed we could win this match and Fuller was superb. Quick mention to Danny Pugh who played very well in a position that you could tell he was very uncomfortable in. Well done Stoke.
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Post by FullerMagic on Dec 9, 2007 22:48:38 GMT
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Post by nathan on Dec 10, 2007 7:28:59 GMT
As a neutral is was a most probably a dire game, lacking in genuine quality.
But as a Stoke fan, I thought the way we battled and bustled against an extremely physical Watford side was admirable, and we had 5 or moments where we possibly could of scored, not all clear cut chances, but just needing someone to fire it in!!!!
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Post by OldStokie on Dec 10, 2007 7:32:42 GMT
Two strong and agressive sides battling it out. No, it wasn't pretty but on balance of chances created, Stoke should have won.
OS.
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Post by banburypotter on Dec 10, 2007 8:38:27 GMT
was a tad disappointed that we could not put one of our chances away,as it seemed that 1-0 would have been enough for either side. But i was happy with the point in the end.
not the best or worst game i have seen at the brit,just one of those games that neither side wanted to lose,and there was a lot of cancelling outof each others play.
well done to danny pugh for filling in admirably in the midfield, and i thought zak had a fine game in defence.
And a couple of nice passes from parkin to open up the watford defence,maybe he needs to come on a bit earlier.
can't complain though, 5th place is excellent in my book.
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Post by eriksson74 on Dec 10, 2007 9:26:14 GMT
I thought it was a thoroughly boring game devoid of any intention to win the game by either side. Both teams were content to bang it long down the middle.
The ref didn't help with petty fouls, but thought we got the better end of his decisions. Lawrence dived and theres was a blatent handball, and what the hell the linesman was doing for their offside goal.
We could have sneaked it at the end, but that game was not entertaining. A points a point and it just shows what a cr@p league this really is
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Post by Kenilworth_Stokies on Dec 10, 2007 9:36:04 GMT
What's not to like? I thought it was reasonably end-to-end, disallowed goal, penalty shouts, keeper man of the match for preventing what looked like certain goals. We were a knee away from snatching it in the final minutes against the top of the table side.
I certainly didn't expect to log on and see moaning on here today, but then I shouldn't really be surprised as it seems to be a national passtime. ???
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Post by FullerMagic on Dec 10, 2007 11:41:03 GMT
I think this Mirror report is pretty fair. I really thought it was very poor stuff from start to finish - but if anyone deserved to nick it, it was us (despite the fact they scored a fair goal ;D) And, against Watford, we'll take it.
But this dreary stalemate at the Britannia Stadium was more forgettable than amnesia itself as Aidy Boothroyd's men tiptoed two points clear of West Brom at the Championship summit.
Despite Lee's three crucial second-half saves, thrill-seekers in the Potteries who expected fine art to rival a Wedgwood dinner service were short-changed by a game with all the charm and subtlety of a breeze-block.
And when a manager as committed to playing on the front foot as Boothroyd is left extolling the virtues of an impasse, you know it was a real stinker.
In fairness, Stoke - fit, functional and utterly one-dimensional - probably deserved to win, if only because Lee produced excellent saves when creativity threatened to gatecrash the tedium.
Defensive virtues aside, however, entertainment value was negligible.
Youngsters admitted under Stoke's kids-for-a-quid offer were last night rumoured to have sent NSPCC hotlines into meltdown.
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