|
|
Post by stantheman on Nov 7, 2008 14:47:24 GMT
This time last week we were looking forward to home game against the mighty Arsenal. Little did we know what was to unfold over the last 7 days, possibly one of the most memorable weeks in our long history.
After beating the poorest Arsenal side in years, and reading Sundays papers where Wenger was telling the world that the better team won, you could not have made it you if you tried, the media coverage of his spat at a Champions League Press Conference.
The hours of debate on the radio stations, pages and pages of press, other Premiership managers giving opinions, The P.F.A getting involved, 4 x the normal amount of media at training testerday.
Who would have thought alll this would have happened in the space of a few days.
Tomorrows match is going to be massive. If we get turned over by Wigan and/or the ref, a lot of good work by the club will be wasted. I just hope w play as we have done and give a good account of ourselves as the media coverage will be much greater since Wenger spat his dummy out.
And in the space of 7 days I've gone from quite liking Arsenal to[glow=red,2,300][/glow]FOOKING HATING THEM
|
|
|
|
Post by sheikh al dubai bin stokie on Nov 7, 2008 14:53:01 GMT
i was in england the last few days and i couldnt BELIEVE the amount of coverage we were getting on sky sports news (aka sky stoke news) and TalkShite...
|
|
|
|
Post by crowey on Nov 7, 2008 15:01:35 GMT
I misread you there STM, I thought you said the FA getting involved. Do they ever get involved with anything that might compromise the "mighty" top four?
|
|
|
|
Post by stantheman on Nov 7, 2008 15:12:28 GMT
crowey, The P.F.A got involved as Wenger personally named 3 Stoke players (Griffin, Shawcross & Delap) regarding tackles. The P.F.A are pretty good at looking after their players and spoke out against Wenger. I want Arsenal at home in the 3rd round of the F.A Cup. Fabregas, Adeybayor & Co. will be ringing in sick! STM  |
|
|
|
Post by crowey on Nov 7, 2008 15:21:24 GMT
STM - love the PFA (is it Taylor or Brendon Batson who is in charge now?) just hate the FA. FFS they would all be ringing in sick
|
|
|
|
Post by Titan Uranus on Nov 7, 2008 15:25:31 GMT
Paul Parker on Yahoo Sport is getting the Arse fans all steamed up now.
comparing Rory with beckham.
great innit.
|
|
|
|
Post by crowey on Nov 7, 2008 15:35:50 GMT
Comparing Rory with Beckham? Don't ever remember him taking a throw-in - might get his hands dirty
|
|
|
|
Post by stantheman on Nov 7, 2008 15:55:01 GMT
Steve Bruce says that the only thing he can compare with Rory's throws are David Beckham's crosses. Wigan have a big back 4/keeper though. STM |
|
|
|
Post by sweetandinnocent on Nov 7, 2008 16:10:14 GMT
Steve Bruce says that the only thing he can compare with Rory's throws are David Beckham's crosses. Wigan have a big back 4/keeper though. STM the difference is - we only need to get a flick- on, they have to clear the ball, and its hard to do that when it comes in so flat. the longer the media go on about rorys throw, the more scared the teams will be of it, imo the longer they go on about it the more goals we will score using it because defences will be shitting it when we get one -they do that now ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Titan Uranus on Nov 7, 2008 16:15:51 GMT
Some people may have a problem with Rory Delap's long throw-ins, but I'm certainly not one of them.
His prodigious flings from the touchline deep into enemy territory have already caused havoc in many a defence this season, not least against Arsenal when both of Stoke's goals came from his throws.
It's a fantastic asset to have, and one which Stoke boss Tony Pulis is quite rightly capitalising on.
Stoke have even started playing for throws-ins, knowing full well that they stand a good chance - an even better one than from a corner - of scoring.
Indeed, it can't be too long before opposition defenders, instead of playing the ball out for a throw, will opt to put the ball behind for a corner instead!
Stoke's reliance on this tactic to break down teams may not exactly promote the beautiful game, but if it helps the Potters win games, why not employ it?
It's not against the laws of the game to use throw-ins as an attacking weapon and I see them in much the same light as free-kicks.
David Beckham was blessed with a talent from dead balls and sometimes Manchester United would play to win free-kicks in positions from which he could deliver a dangerous cross.
United won trophies off the back of that talent and equally Stoke could enjoy success - albeit on a lesser scale - from the arms of Delap.
I just feel slightly sorry for him at the moment because all of a sudden he's being labelled as a one-dimensional player, good for nothing but his long throw prowess.
And that simply isn't the truth. Delap has won 11 caps for the Republic of Ireland and he is in the side on footballing merit. Of course he's a threat with his throws, but he wouldn't be in the side if he was a bad defender.
As a newly promoted side, Stoke want - and need - to stay up in their first season back in the top flight.
And I'm sure the fans will not be too bothered if their side are labelled 'ugly' when, come the end of the season, they have managed to stave off relegation.
It's all about getting points on the board, whatever the tactics. And that applies to other, more attractive sides, who will have to rely on their own skills to find a way to cope with the threat Stoke, and Delap, pose.
E-mail this story IM this story
Comments1 - 20 of 20
|
|
