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Post by StoKeith on Aug 18, 2008 17:45:58 GMT
Just seen this on the Vital Stoke site: Vital StokeWith just one game gone, the bookies and the lazier sports journalists are already writing off Stoke City. In a move guaranteed to wind up all Potters' fans (myself included), on-line bookies, Paddy Power have suspended all bets on the Potters being relegated after just one result! A few of the lower class of sports journo have also leapt on this and agreed wholeheartedly that the Potters might as well not bother turning up for the remaining matches. We all know that gory horror stories, combined with doom and gloom sell newspapers but anyone that actually watched Saturday's 3-1 defeat after watching Stoke regularly over the past couple of years will know that it was hardly representative. True, the second and third goals conceded were shocking defensive errors, coming quickly after a fluky opener which allowed heads to drop, but we'd had to start without our two main players and with players still in the wings either just signed, but not yet available (Faye) or those that are hopefully just about to sign (Davies). When Lawrence and Fuller were introduced, midway through the second half, Stoke's forward momentum improved significantly, culminating in the Potters' first Premier League goal from Ric Fuller. Contrast that with Hull's home win over fellow relegation fodder, Fulham. The Tigers now appear to be guaranteed survival on the basis of that one result if you believe what you read in certain parts of the media. We're all for constructive criticism, here at Vital Stoke we'll put our tuppence's worth in as well when we need to and we also expect to get slagged off from the opposition fans for no particularly good reason (that's all good banter). But to get a mauling from those sections of the 'independent professional media' on the basis of the first Stoke match they've probably ever watched is a bit under the belt. Come on you guys, judge us over the season, not 90 minutes. As for you Stoke fans, let's just ignore the twisted hacks and just get on and enjoy life in the Prem - it's after all what we were so desperate to get to last season. |
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Post by Beardy200 on Aug 18, 2008 19:18:00 GMT
Good Article - unfortunatley it seems that quite a few of our own fans have doomed us to relegation after one game aswell ... shocking really  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2008 19:38:28 GMT
Its not a bad article but I am starting to develop a siege mentality as the bolton vital - surely the same group slag us of here:-
It is 1985 since Stoke City played in the top flight of English football. Attending matches was very different then, with violence among opposing fans being the norm. Since then things have improved and bar the odd isolated incident there is little that remains of the blight that did so much to damage the game and which still affects fans travelling abroad. Unfortunately, no one told the Neanderthals from the Potteries.
Saturday`s game at the Reebok was marred by violence in the town centre and at the game itself, where visiting fans tried to invade the family enclosures (very brave that.) There were also further incidents at the railway station, some time after the match had ended. Worst of all, were the suited and booted morons in the executive boxes who egged on the participants, knowing full well there would be no risk to their own safety.
No doubt there will be claims that it`s just a small minority. That may be true, but one hooligan is one too many. Given the paucity of their football, it is unlikely that Stoke retain their current status for long. It isn`t the only reason why the Premier League will be glad to see the back of them.
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