Before anyone gets too negative...

[Deleted]

...about two sucessive away draws, a few things to remember:

- they came vs a team with the second best home record in the league and a bogey side for us, and at another place where we haven't traditionally done well.
- 4th in the table at Christmas and within a win of automatic spots.
- Decent results over Christmas period when prior years this time of year heralded a fall.
- Diao to come into center mid within a month to provide more solidity and quality.
- Opportunity to attract good players in the transfer window who fancy playing for a team in with a great shout of the Prem.

Stoke fans have EVERY reason to be positive right now. ;D

[markscfc72]

defo no need to be downhearted, were still unbeaten in 9 and like you say still only 2 points off 2nd

[nathan]

Not a disaster by any means, and a point I would of taken prior to the game.

However, to lead twice and then allow them back into the game is incredibly disappointing.

[KevinWhimper]

win your home games and draw your away ones
on that basis im happy
so come on you potters

[stokiesteve1966]

I AM PLEASED WITH THE RESULT.

[Deleted]

Agreed Nath, especially with TP's prior reputation for being tight at the back. You have to remember that when we have been keeping lots of clean sheets we really kept 8-9 players + keeper in a defensive shape, or had Diao doing the job of 2 men in front of the back 4. Diao is the key.

[jarhead]

But is so important that we dont fuck up the january sales or else forget it.

We need a keeper in on loan to kick both Simmo/Hoult up the arse because they have cost us 3 goals out of 5 in the last two games and crucially 4 POINTS!

I know we are in a good position but lets not ignore the few problems we can iron out easily and help us keep more clean sheets.

Pugh a left-back? Im worried he is getting found out a bit lately.

Just points i want people to not overlook!

[chrispk76]

also a plus , now we know we need to purchase a keeper to cover / push simmo

[markscfc72]

yeah the conceeding the goals should stop once diao is fully match fit

[POS51]

I was looking for a win today. Expecting even.

Still, thanks to Watford losing its not as bad as it could've been.

Il start worrying if we dont make any decent signings in Jan.

[Deleted]

January is massive though. We need a better player in each area of the pitch. The worry is that Watford and Charlton will splash the parachute cash and start to hit the form they really should be showing. They have both had a tough time recently but are both still in a great position. Just heard on BBC that Watford have taken 2pts of last 21 available at home...that can't continue.

[mountain1863]

i think we have given away some of our last seasons defensive record away to the more "attacking" football i use that word lightly it just seems that way to me there have not been very many binary score lines last couple of months which has co insided with stoke scoring more goals and also other sides being able to score past us with more easy....cov....sheffield.....barnsley.....plymouth.......

im not putting any negative spin on this i for one am glad of the two points we have picked up against the last two side!!!!!

go'arn stoke

bring on hull

4-1 stoke

fullerx2
lawrancex1
cortx1

[jarhead]

For me get in the quality we can ie 2 or 3.
Shipp out some crap we have doing nowt but look at Sidibe's place in the team.is he doing enough? NO.
Is Pugh a SOLID left-back? my opinion No.
Cresswell a left winger? Not really he is doing a shift thats it.

A shake up of certain personel and new quality in january then go again.

[Deleted]

When you look at the side he put out today, there are more attacking players in it than defensive.

Fuller, Sidibe, Cresswell, Lawrence, Eustace (he isn't Matteo!), Pugh (midfielder playing left back) all can be considered to bring more going forwards than the other way around.
Hoult (obviously), Shawcross, Cort, Dicko, Delap are the opposite.

Like I said, Diao shifts the balance as he is two men in this league.

[POS51]

Is it just me who felt Diao slowed us down too much?

Dont get me wrong, i rate him and think he's a good signing.
I remember us breaking a few times last season, Diao always seemed to stop and slow everything down.

[fingers]

Jarhead cannot agree with you about Pugh think he has been very good at left back up to now and gives us alot more than anyone else in that position.

[Deleted]

Jarhead. Valid Points but remember that in recent season's in our league both Birmingham (McSheffrey) and Wigan (McCulloch or Teale...can't recall which) played a center forward on the wing. Both players scored a shed-load of goals in their promotion campaigns.

I'd love a Sidibe that can score, and a left and right back that can join in going forwards too. With Diao, that'd see us in the top two.

[Nixon_SCFC_TRC]

i wont stop some idiots having a moan.

[mountain1863]

thats his game tho he might take the pace out of an attack but when players are running around like headless chickens he used to slow the pace and pull every1 back together cant wait to see him in a stoke starting 11 hopefully he'll resemble the player we saw who was so successfull at his job last season!!!

[Deleted]

POS51, maybe that was a quality midfielder keeping possession and not playing every ball forwards like the team probably had been before he (and Hendrie) arrived. He'll see us right when fit.

[mountain1863]

mountain1863 said:

thats his game tho he might take the pace out of an attack but when players are running around like headless chickens he used to slow the pace and pull every1 back together cant wait to see him in a stoke starting 11 hopefully he'll resemble the player we saw who was so successfull at his job last season!!!

in reference to POP about Diao been slow

[Fred Astaire]

Would have taken a draw before kickoff, so can't be dissappointed with the result.
Like Tayman says, "win your home games and draw away"

[Deleted]

Mountain, love that Avatar...is there a poster available of that anywhere!!!

[mountain1863]

its about on the internet some where not too sure if theres a poster about let us know if there is

[BiddulphStokie]