SoCalStoker
Lads'n'Dads
Cleveland Stokers - 1968 NASL Lakes Division Champions...
Posts: 83
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Post by SoCalStoker on Mar 24, 2009 23:57:33 GMT
Given the other yanks posting I feel confident enough saying hello and introducing myself. Became a Stoke fan a few years ago and have been following ever since. If you know anyone in Los Angeles just tell them to look for the guy in a Parkin top heckling the front running Man United fans at the footie pubs. Ironically my father's first football team was the Cleveland Stokers so the tradition continues.
Anyway, here's my perspective on the remaining fixtures: Feel free to laugh, insult, or agree - odds are I'll have a beer in my hand regardless...
First, WBA are going down. They are 7 points out of relegation with 8 to go. They have Man City, and Tottenham away. They have Wigan and Liverpool at home. Plus we’re going to get our first away win against them next week. They’re toast.
Boro have an EXTREMELY tough schedule ahead. @ Bolton, Arsenal and West Ham. Host to Hull, Fulham, Man United, and Villa. They might only win at Newcastle (but perhaps not). Things are not looking good. I’ve also read that ownership are almost hoping for relegation because they’ve been bleeding red big time and they need to unload their huge contracts (could be total BS).
Newcastle are in shambles. An Assistant Manager at the helm with zero respect from the players plus a horrific schedule. Away to the Mighty Potters, Tottenham, Liverpool and Villa. They might very well lose all four of those matches. They host Chelsea, Portsmouth, Boro and Fulham. They might only win against Boro. They could legitimately only win 1 more game.
Blackburn could also be in trouble. At Liverpool, BRITANNIA Fortress, Man City, and Chelsea. Yowza. Their home schedule is a less freaky with Tottenham, Wigan, Portsmouth, and West Brom. I can see two or three more victories at most. Very scary times indeed.
Our next three games are as crucial as our last victory. If we can take 3 points at WBA we are in the driver’s seat. Take three more at home from Newcastle and Blackburn and we are really close if not already there. The following five games will be much more difficult. At Fulham is going to be tough but I could see us eeking out a lucky draw at the cottage. Home to West Ham will hard but we’ve had great home form. Ditto with Wigan. At Hull is a tossup but definitely a winnable affair (with a draw quite possible). Away to Arsenal is our least winnable game. IF we can pull three points from our last five matches we are staying up. I can realistically see us with 42 points. We will stay up with 42.
GOAWWWWNYOOOOPOTTTTTTTERS!!!!
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Post by dandare on Mar 25, 2009 0:10:25 GMT
Good evening SoCal and welcome to the rollercoaster that is Stoke City. It's nice to know that we have friends across the water and I hope that we make many more.
A good analysis and pretty accurate. Our fate rests in our own hands now but we certainly have the best chance of survival from the bottom six.
Keep the faith!
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Post by Not_Nick_H on Mar 25, 2009 0:12:20 GMT
Hello! And welcome aboard. ;D
That's a pretty accurate summing up of teh run in SoCal. Yes - there is an awful lot of football still to be played, with many more twists and turns along the way. Personally I would like to think we could achieve 3 more wins + 2 draws = 43 points.
Whereabouts in SoCal are you? Spent some time there last year on holiday - the usual touristy places: Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Malibu, Anaheim/Disney and Agoura - Ok that's not touristy. Very pleasantly surprised by the whole area.
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Post by jbstokie on Mar 25, 2009 0:19:20 GMT
Welcome to the board mate, make some good points and agree mostly
WBA are toast! ;D
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Post by stayingupforbigbazza on Mar 25, 2009 0:59:48 GMT
Welcome
Cleveland Stokers that takes me back to Waddo and the 70's???
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Post by StoKeith on Mar 25, 2009 1:45:55 GMT
Hi SoCal, I'm currently living in LA and I was wondering where the best places to watch Stoke are. I live near the Cat & Fiddle on Sunset Boulevard and the manager there was good enough to put on a recording of the Everton match especially for me (I made sure I didn't know the score before watching)!  But are there any pubs that open especially early for footy? |
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Post by brooklynstokie on Mar 25, 2009 2:12:41 GMT
Oy SCS........ nice report fella. It's odd, you normally spout a load of old shite  Are you making it to Phoenix this weekend? |
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SoCalStoker
Lads'n'Dads
Cleveland Stokers - 1968 NASL Lakes Division Champions...
Posts: 83
|
Post by SoCalStoker on Mar 25, 2009 3:35:26 GMT
Oy SCS........ nice report fella. It's odd, you normally spout a load of old shite Are you making it to Phoenix this weekend? I'll be there. Staying at the Airport Hilton. A few pints perhaps? I learned how to spout that shite from your wife - bad role model. |
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SoCalStoker
Lads'n'Dads
Cleveland Stokers - 1968 NASL Lakes Division Champions...
Posts: 83
|
Post by SoCalStoker on Mar 25, 2009 3:41:41 GMT
Hi SoCal, I'm currently living in LA and I was wondering where the best places to watch Stoke are. I live near the Cat & Fiddle on Sunset Boulevard and the manager there was good enough to put on a recording of the Everton match especially for me (I made sure I didn't know the score before watching)! But are there any pubs that open especially early for footy? Cat & Fiddle is a great place but Fox & Hounds in Studio City is way more footie oriented (http://www.thefoxandhounds.com/). Open early and always cool with playing the Stoke match. I'm in Atwater Village - I'll let you know next time I roll over there. |
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Post by Not_Nick_H on Mar 25, 2009 11:04:47 GMT
Hi SoCal, I'm currently living in LA and I was wondering where the best places to watch Stoke are. I live near the Cat & Fiddle on Sunset Boulevard - now that's an address! Are you in movies? ;D I think I passed that on my way to the Rainbow last year. Rock n' Roll. |
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Post by Beardy200 on Mar 25, 2009 11:07:35 GMT
Work on your "GOOOOOAAAAAARRRRN" and you're more than welcome fella ;D
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Post by lordb on Mar 25, 2009 13:38:11 GMT
is it right that Columbus Crew (not Crewe) in the MLS are a descendant of the Cleveland Stokers?
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Post by rorymscfc on Mar 25, 2009 13:48:32 GMT
Loving the use of the word "Yowza" SoCal! I'm going to make a concerted effort to use it myself on a daily basis!
In all seriousness, welcome aboard, but if you value your sanity you'll get out now while you still have a chance!!!
RoryM
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Post by Trubritt on Mar 25, 2009 17:20:25 GMT
welcome fellow stokie hope yr predictions are right
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2009 19:59:58 GMT
spread the word,socal, we are about to take over!the best support in great britain belongs to us stokies.gooooaaaarrrrrnnnnn stoke!!!!
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Post by Sparkiee on Mar 25, 2009 20:02:21 GMT
Yanks are so poetic
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Post by StoKeith on Mar 25, 2009 20:58:52 GMT
Hi SoCal, I'm currently living in LA and I was wondering where the best places to watch Stoke are. I live near the Cat & Fiddle on Sunset Boulevard and the manager there was good enough to put on a recording of the Everton match especially for me (I made sure I didn't know the score before watching)! But are there any pubs that open especially early for footy? Cat & Fiddle is a great place but Fox & Hounds in Studio City is way more footie oriented (http://www.thefoxandhounds.com/). Open early and always cool with playing the Stoke match. I'm in Atwater Village - I'll let you know next time I roll over there. Good stuff - I have friends in Sherman Oaks and Encino just up the road from there. Keep me up to date! Hi SoCal, I'm currently living in LA and I was wondering where the best places to watch Stoke are. I live near the Cat & Fiddle on Sunset Boulevard - now that's an address! Are you in movies? ;D I think I passed that on my way to the Rainbow last year. Rock n' Roll. I actually live just off Hollywood Boulevard as it's close to the Hollywood/Vine metro station. I'm a scientist at USC, although literally most of the people I've met here are actors! I've met 6 of them and a model photographer so far! I might be heading off to Miss USA in Vegas as he's friends with loads of the models (and I have seen the evidence!)  ;D |
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But are there any pubs that open especially early for footy?
;D
