Just not Good Enough

[twatterson]

we can talk about what is right and what is wrong, but the simple fact is that Stoke are just not good enough, The question that the stoke city board of directors have got to ask themselves is do they want to be a top 8 championship team or a premier league team. Mr Coates has got to decide where his loyalties lie, is it with a Manager who will take Stoke down, or with a city that has waited 23 years for top flight football. I have never critised Mr Pulis and what he achieved last season must never be under estimated, but the premier league is just one step to much for him and his coaching staff. Mr Coates has to make the right decision now for Stoke City, In all fairness i have no idea who could become a future manager at stoke, but if Mr Coates does not act quickly it will be too late. The tatics that Mr Pulis adopts in the premier league are just not good enough, in the premier league you have to keep the ball for longer than 30 seconds, there is just too much pressure on our defence for 90+ minutes yes you can get away with it some of the time (\Liverpool away) but you cannot keep it up for 38 games.. Some players are and will never ever be good enough for the premier league, Mr Cresswell, Mr Whelan, Mr Wilkinson just to mention a few.
OK we have had some good performances this season and to honest we have not really disgraced ourselves (with exception of West Ham) - but there is no good being unlucky every week . i feel the only way we can do this is with a change in the management team. i don't see this happening Mr Coates has far too much faith in Mr Pulis
i fear a return to the championship and there are many teams who have never return to the premier league and hit harder times since, Leeds & Charlton to mention two.
I really hope to be proved wrong come the end of may
but i fear the worst..

[march4]

I agree with you. However we have a few fickle people on here. To them, 2 months ago Whelan was the best player in the Prem when he wasn't playing.

The grass is always greener brigade have to realise that our players are extremely limited, but they are the best we have got. I hear Soares can't get a game now at bottom of the Champ Charlton. The demand for him to play before Christmas was overwhelming. Gallagher was flavour of the month last year.

Our players try as hard as they can game after game, but some are just not up to it. It is no use blaming them.

We need more quality and have less than a week to get it in.

[Paddypotter]

We may try to enjoy the rest of the season, alas I' afraid it may be the last time many of us will see Stoke in the top flight. With the present tactics we're doomed and a possiblity that Mr Coates family may not share his love of Stoke City and refrain from investing the required funds for a return. I knew it would be difficult but didn't expect to see so many points thrown away by poor tactics and poor team selection.

[harrysburrow]

Paddy - your last sentence sums it up for me.