|
Arnie
Jun 21, 2024 23:50:55 GMT
Post by standbutler1 on Jun 21, 2024 23:50:55 GMT
You don't think they were doing it for the money? 🤔 Wait, they were getting paid?! of course but they played for the love of the game and were proud to be Stoke ?
|
|
|
Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2024 4:59:21 GMT
I loved SJW but Steino was just perfect. Jon on the bench with Crouch. Not much difference in the amount.of goals scored for us but one thing doing it v Chester and Mansfield. I know SJW played more games . Stein bench for me. Walters upset the best defenders in the country. ...and Jamie Carragher. Both great for us but at different levels. None of the Macari era would make it for me to be honest. Stein did go on and do it for Chelsea too. I just remember him as being virtually unstoppable for a time. I think the form he was in with us he’d have got 20 goals in a decent Premier League team at that time. He was magic.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 7:41:52 GMT
via mobile
Post by jesusmcmuffin on Jun 22, 2024 7:41:52 GMT
Not much difference in the amount.of goals scored for us but one thing doing it v Chester and Mansfield. I know SJW played more games . Stein bench for me. Walters upset the best defenders in the country. ...and Jamie Carragher. Both great for us but at different levels. None of the Macari era would make it for me to be honest. Stein did go on and do it for Chelsea too. I just remember him as being virtually unstoppable for a time. I think the form he was in with us he’d have got 20 goals in a decent Premier League team at that time. He was magic. Yep but on the basis of what he did for us, doesn't get in for me. Not sure about 20 but would have got a reasonable return.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 7:44:37 GMT
via mobile
Post by headsgoup on Jun 22, 2024 7:44:37 GMT
He's the perfect 1 in a 4231.
I think he'd work fine, despite his age.
He's everything Mmaee isn't - you don't want your forward flicking the ball on in the centre cirtle for others to finish.
You want Million crossing them in for Arnie to nod in after barging four opposing players into the stands.
Seriously, he's a focal point. Wouldn't work in a 433, but 4231 he'd get 15 goals easy.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 7:49:01 GMT
via mobile
Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2024 7:49:01 GMT
Stein did go on and do it for Chelsea too. I just remember him as being virtually unstoppable for a time. I think the form he was in with us he’d have got 20 goals in a decent Premier League team at that time. He was magic. Yep but on the basis of what he did for us, doesn't get in for me. Not sure about 20 but would have got a reasonable return. Yeah I can see that argument. But I couldn’t bring myself to bench him 😂😂😂
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2024 7:49:28 GMT
He's the perfect 1 in a 4231. I think he'd work fine, despite his age. He's everything Mmaee isn't - you don't want your forward flicking the ball on in the centre cirtle for others to finish. You want Million crossing them in for Arnie to nod in after barging four opposing players into the stands. Seriously, he's a focal point. Wouldn't work in a 433, but 4231 he'd get 15 goals easy. I'd pay him £1m/goal, and if that messed with our FFP then Peter could agree to pay him in free bets? He can also stay at my house if he's struggling, though he might need to get a restraining order put in place, when my Mrs found out.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 7:50:41 GMT
via mobile
Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2024 7:50:41 GMT
Back on topic there’s no way on earth Arnie is coming back.
Actually there’s as much chance that we sign Steino again.
|
|
|
Post by Staffsoatcake on Jun 22, 2024 7:52:48 GMT
Not much difference in the amount.of goals scored for us but one thing doing it v Chester and Mansfield. I know SJW played more games . Stein bench for me. Walters upset the best defenders in the country. ...and Jamie Carragher. Both great for us but at different levels. None of the Macari era would make it for me to be honest. Stein did go on and do it for Chelsea too. I just remember him as being virtually unstoppable for a time. I think the form he was in with us he’d have got 20 goals in a decent Premier League team at that time. He was magic. Didn't he score in 7 games on the trot fir Chelsea?
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 7:54:29 GMT
via mobile
Post by jesusmcmuffin on Jun 22, 2024 7:54:29 GMT
Yep but on the basis of what he did for us, doesn't get in for me. Not sure about 20 but would have got a reasonable return. Yeah I can see that argument. But I couldn’t bring myself to bench him 😂😂😂 Totally see your point but we'll never know. I never understood those who say the best days were the Macari era due to the level we were at but I guess winning games no matter who the opposition is sticks with you. Bottom line is it was the lowest level we played at but a good side at that level.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 7:58:20 GMT
via mobile
Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2024 7:58:20 GMT
Stein did go on and do it for Chelsea too. I just remember him as being virtually unstoppable for a time. I think the form he was in with us he’d have got 20 goals in a decent Premier League team at that time. He was magic. Didn't he score in 7 games on the trot fir Chelsea? He did.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 8:00:27 GMT
via mobile
Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2024 8:00:27 GMT
Yeah I can see that argument. But I couldn’t bring myself to bench him 😂😂😂 Totally see your point but we'll never know. I never understood those who say the best days were the Macari era due to the level we were at but I guess winning games no matter who the opposition is sticks with you. Bottom line is it was the lowest level we played at but a good side at that level. It was more the way we played and the way that ignited the support. I think it also depended on your age. For those in their late teens and early twenties we’d just known misery. Suddenly we mattered again.
|
|
|
Post by jesusmcmuffin on Jun 22, 2024 8:05:07 GMT
Totally see your point but we'll never know. I never understood those who say the best days were the Macari era due to the level we were at but I guess winning games no matter who the opposition is sticks with you. Bottom line is it was the lowest level we played at but a good side at that level. It was more the way we played and the way that ignited the support. I think it also depended on your age. For those in their late teens and early twenties we’d just known misery. Suddenly we mattered again. I could just remember us being promoted before and Durban's side which I much preferred to be honest, think we lost 6 games that season which was some going. I think under Macari we were what we were, a very good third tier team although realistically we were on par with say Stockport for long periods .
|
|
|
Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2024 8:05:59 GMT
Not much difference in the amount.of goals scored for us but one thing doing it v Chester and Mansfield. I know SJW played more games . Stein bench for me. Walters upset the best defenders in the country. ...and Jamie Carragher. Both great for us but at different levels. None of the Macari era would make it for me to be honest. Stein did go on and do it for Chelsea too. I just remember him as being virtually unstoppable for a time. I think the form he was in with us he’d have got 20 goals in a decent Premier League team at that time. He was magic. Mark Stein, pre ankle injury, was the premier leagues most prolific marksman and was on brink of call up to the England squad. He’s the king. As a centre forward in stoke city colours, only John Ritchie compares favourably.
|
|
|
Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2024 8:09:09 GMT
It was more the way we played and the way that ignited the support. I think it also depended on your age. For those in their late teens and early twenties we’d just known misery. Suddenly we mattered again. I could just remember us being promoted before and Durban's side which I much preferred to be honest, think we lost 6 games that season which was some going. I think under Macari we were what we were, a very good third tier team although realistically we were on par with say Stockport for long periods . That is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever read I think in relation to that team. Had we not lost Steino and Lou we’d have followed up division 2 champions with promotion to the Premier League. They were one hell of a side and with Steino leading the line, anything was possible for that group.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 8:23:27 GMT
via mobile
Post by jesusmcmuffin on Jun 22, 2024 8:23:27 GMT
I could just remember us being promoted before and Durban's side which I much preferred to be honest, think we lost 6 games that season which was some going. I think under Macari we were what we were, a very good third tier team although realistically we were on par with say Stockport for long periods . That is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever read I think in relation to that team. Had we not lost Steino and Lou we’d have followed up division 2 champions with promotion to the Premier League. They were one hell of a side and with Steino leading the line, anything was possible for that group. So your argument is based on what you think would have happened but realistically was unlikely ? Seem to remember us being bottom half when they left. Not sure how that looked like promition to the Prem but hey Run that load of rubbish comment by me again Ok
|
|
|
Post by terryconroysmagic on Jun 22, 2024 8:25:47 GMT
Stein did go on and do it for Chelsea too. I just remember him as being virtually unstoppable for a time. I think the form he was in with us he’d have got 20 goals in a decent Premier League team at that time. He was magic. Didn't he score in 7 games on the trot fir Chelsea? Wasn’t that a record at the time?
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 8:28:32 GMT
via mobile
Post by stiggerstackle on Jun 22, 2024 8:28:32 GMT
Yeah I can see that argument. But I couldn’t bring myself to bench him 😂😂😂 Totally see your point but we'll never know. I never understood those who say the best days were the Macari era due to the level we were at but I guess winning games no matter who the opposition is sticks with you. Bottom line is it was the lowest level we played at but a good side at that level. Mate, those were absolutely what I look back on as my favourite ever period supporting Stoke. I didn’t just support Stoke, I absolutely lived Stoke that season. We battered the entire division, the players all played like monsters and elevated their games to their absolute max potential under Lou and so did the crowd. I experienced more hope and joy at that time than any other in my life. I loved the Prem days, but we had money, we should have competed. Those days under Lou we had some magic beans and mark Stein.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 8:40:34 GMT
via mobile
Post by jesusmcmuffin on Jun 22, 2024 8:40:34 GMT
Totally see your point but we'll never know. I never understood those who say the best days were the Macari era due to the level we were at but I guess winning games no matter who the opposition is sticks with you. Bottom line is it was the lowest level we played at but a good side at that level. Mate, those were absolutely what I look back on as my favourite ever period supporting Stoke. I didn’t just support Stoke, I absolutely lived Stoke that season. We battered the entire division, the players all played like monsters and elevated their games to their absolute max potential under Lou and so did the crowd. I experienced more hope and joy at that time than any other in my life. I loved the Prem days, but we had money, we should have competed. Those days under Lou we had some magic beans and mark Stein. My point was that being in the third tier of football and beating Chester and Mansfield were hardly the pinnacle. We should be better than them and were. Was a good era but realistically was a poor level we'd dropped to. Was nothing to suggest we'd have gone up again, we weren't even close as someone suggested but agree, was nice to see us win games and score goals when the likes of Oldham were in the top division. Everyone likes a winning team but being undone by teams Stockport in the playoffs added some realism
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 8:50:07 GMT
via mobile
Post by jesusmcmuffin on Jun 22, 2024 8:50:07 GMT
I could just remember us being promoted before and Durban's side which I much preferred to be honest, think we lost 6 games that season which was some going. I think under Macari we were what we were, a very good third tier team although realistically we were on par with say Stockport for long periods . That is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever read I think in relation to that team. Had we not lost Steino and Lou we’d have followed up division 2 champions with promotion to the Premier League. They were one hell of a side and with Steino leading the line, anything was possible for that group. Explain how a team in the bottom half was going up to the premier League Weren't even close
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 8:51:46 GMT
via mobile
Post by roylandstoke on Jun 22, 2024 8:51:46 GMT
I could just remember us being promoted before and Durban's side which I much preferred to be honest, think we lost 6 games that season which was some going. I think under Macari we were what we were, a very good third tier team although realistically we were on par with say Stockport for long periods . That is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever read I think in relation to that team. Had we not lost Steino and Lou we’d have followed up division 2 champions with promotion to the Premier League. They were one hell of a side and with Steino leading the line, anything was possible for that group. I loved that team, but it was not close to being good enough to get promoted to the Premier League. It was a mid table second tier team. We lost 5 of the first 10 games (3 at home). We were bottom half when Lou left.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 8:58:16 GMT
via mobile
Post by lordb on Jun 22, 2024 8:58:16 GMT
Stein did go on and do it for Chelsea too. I just remember him as being virtually unstoppable for a time. I think the form he was in with us he’d have got 20 goals in a decent Premier League team at that time. He was magic. Mark Stein, pre ankle injury, was the premier leagues most prolific marksman and was on brink of call up to the England squad. He’s the king. As a centre forward in stoke city colours, only John Ritchie compares favourably. Freddie Steele
|
|
|
Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2024 9:06:30 GMT
That is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever read I think in relation to that team. Had we not lost Steino and Lou we’d have followed up division 2 champions with promotion to the Premier League. They were one hell of a side and with Steino leading the line, anything was possible for that group. Explain how a team in the bottom half was going up to the premier League Weren't even close Are you mixing their first period with their 2nd? We were flying when we lost Lou and Steino in the same week. Those 3 wins on the bounce v Boro, man united and Forest followed by late defeat away at old Trafford. We had huge momentum and a player at a lower level who was light years ahead of the players he was playing against. The only thing we were really missing was a reliable keeper. To say we were on a par with Stockport county is an insult to that team and is absolutely one of the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever had the misfortune to read, as is your take on Stein in truth. He was the best striker in the country for a period after joining Chelsea. A bad ankle injury seriously derailed him when he was on fire.
|
|
|
Post by lordb on Jun 22, 2024 9:10:54 GMT
Explain how a team in the bottom half was going up to the premier League Weren't even close Are you mixing their first period with their 2nd? We were flying when we lost Lou and Steino in the same week. Those 3 wins on the bounce v Boro, man united and Forest followed by late defeat away at old Trafford. We had huge momentum and a player at a lower level who was light years ahead of the players he was playing against. The only thing we were really missing was a reliable keeper. To say we were on a par with Stockport county is an insult to that team and is absolutely one of the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever had the misfortune to read, as is your take on Stein in truth. He was the best striker in the country for a period after joining Chelsea. A bad ankle injury seriously derailed him when he was on fire. His second period Macari massively over achieved given resources available play offs and safe midtable the last season soon as he left we got relegated Convinced if we had gone up in 92 instead of 93,with Biggins still partnering Stein we would have gone straight through to the Premier League in 93
|
|
|
Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2024 9:12:09 GMT
And to bring this back to the original topic, having Arnie in the championship would very much be akin to having mark stein in the 2nd and 3rd tier.
In young persons parlance, it would be akin to having a cheat code.
|
|
|
Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2024 9:13:34 GMT
Are you mixing their first period with their 2nd? We were flying when we lost Lou and Steino in the same week. Those 3 wins on the bounce v Boro, man united and Forest followed by late defeat away at old Trafford. We had huge momentum and a player at a lower level who was light years ahead of the players he was playing against. The only thing we were really missing was a reliable keeper. To say we were on a par with Stockport county is an insult to that team and is absolutely one of the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever had the misfortune to read, as is your take on Stein in truth. He was the best striker in the country for a period after joining Chelsea. A bad ankle injury seriously derailed him when he was on fire. His second period Macari massively over achieved given resources available play offs and safe midtable the last season soon as he left we got relegated Convinced if we had gone up in 92 instead of 93,with Biggins still partnering Stein we would have gone straight through to the Premier League in 93 Absolutely he did. Apart from his last season with us which was blighted by friction with Moxey, Lou did a magnificent job every season he was with us across both stints.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 9:13:49 GMT
via mobile
Post by jesusmcmuffin on Jun 22, 2024 9:13:49 GMT
Explain how a team in the bottom half was going up to the premier League Weren't even close Are you mixing their first period with their 2nd? We were flying when we lost Lou and Steino in the same week. Those 3 wins on the bounce v Boro, man united and Forest followed by late defeat away at old Trafford. We had huge momentum and a player at a lower level who was light years ahead of the players he was playing against. The only thing we were really missing was a reliable keeper. To say we were on a par with Stockport county is an insult to that team and is absolutely one of the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever had the misfortune to read, as is your take on Stein in truth. He was the best striker in the country for a period after joining Chelsea. A bad ankle injury seriously derailed him when he was on fire. He had a great spell at Chelsea yep. No one has denied that but basing on what players actually did for us which was the whole point of the original comment. Did Stockport knock us out of the play offs and we failed to beat them over the 2 games? Tell me that didn't happen then. The second promotion thing is fantasy as the table showed. We were a steady side, no more.
|
|
|
Post by mickstupp on Jun 22, 2024 9:15:54 GMT
That is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever read I think in relation to that team. Had we not lost Steino and Lou we’d have followed up division 2 champions with promotion to the Premier League. They were one hell of a side and with Steino leading the line, anything was possible for that group. Explain how a team in the bottom half was going up to the premier League Weren't even close We certainly had a slow start, but it felt at the time that we were finding our feet in the higher division and starting to get a bit of momentum. Ever under dour Joe, we only missed out on the top six by four points in the end so it’s possible that we could have found an extra few points if Lou and Stein had stayed surely?
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 9:18:32 GMT
via mobile
lordb likes this
Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 22, 2024 9:18:32 GMT
Are you mixing their first period with their 2nd? We were flying when we lost Lou and Steino in the same week. Those 3 wins on the bounce v Boro, man united and Forest followed by late defeat away at old Trafford. We had huge momentum and a player at a lower level who was light years ahead of the players he was playing against. The only thing we were really missing was a reliable keeper. To say we were on a par with Stockport county is an insult to that team and is absolutely one of the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever had the misfortune to read, as is your take on Stein in truth. He was the best striker in the country for a period after joining Chelsea. A bad ankle injury seriously derailed him when he was on fire. He had a great spell at Chelsea yep. No one has denied that but basing on what players actually did for us which was the whole point of the original comment. Did Stockport knock us out of the play offs and we failed to beat them over the 2 games? Tell me that didn't happen then. The second promotion thing is fantasy as the table showed. We were a steady side, no more. Yes. We lost in a play off fixture when we were the better side. It happens. We were 15 months further on as a team in the period we are discussing. From where we were at the start of that season, to finish in the play offs, having arguably tossed automatic promotion away and an autoglass trophy win was a remarkable season. The following year we gave everyone an 8 game head start and downed tools for final 2 games and still blew everyone away. We beat a man united team fielding 10 internationals and Dion Dublin and with Steino leading us, it was no smash and grab. You are massively downplaying that period, seemingly off the back of a play off defeat to Stockport in season 1.
|
|
|
Arnie
Jun 22, 2024 9:21:15 GMT
via mobile
Post by jesusmcmuffin on Jun 22, 2024 9:21:15 GMT
Explain how a team in the bottom half was going up to the premier League Weren't even close We certainly had a slow start but it felt at the time that we were finding our feet in the higher division and we’re starting to get a bit of momentum. Ever under dour Joe, we only missed out on the top six by four points in the end so it’s possible that we could have found an extra few points if Lou and Stein had stayed surely? We'll never know but wasn't looking likely when they left. Easy to assume it would have happened but we were nowhere in the mix at all at the time. Were the equivalent of say Sunderland last season Actually didn't we have a good home record under Jordan at that time?
|
|
|
Post by foxysgloves on Jun 22, 2024 9:26:15 GMT
He had a great spell at Chelsea yep. No one has denied that but basing on what players actually did for us which was the whole point of the original comment. Did Stockport knock us out of the play offs and we failed to beat them over the 2 games? Tell me that didn't happen then. The second promotion thing is fantasy as the table showed. We were a steady side, no more. Yes. We lost in a play off fixture when we were the better side. It happens. We were 15 months further on as a team in the period we are discussing. From where we were at the start of that season, to finish in the play offs, having arguably tossed automatic promotion away and an autoglass trophy win was a remarkable season. The following year we gave everyone an 8 game head start and downed tools for final 2 games and still blew everyone away. We beat a man united team fielding 10 internationals and Dion Dublin and with Steino leading us, it was no smash and grab. You are massively downplaying that period, seemingly off the back of a play off defeat to Stockport in season 1. We were a very very good side. Better than the one that went up under Pulis actually. But losing Macari was pivotal. We lost momentum and then losing Stein was another massively negative factor. Can’t blame either of them but for Stoke those departures changed things for us.
|
|