Unified in support of this great club Stoke City.

[ted1965]

oh what a tangled web we weave when we attempt to deceive others into believing we’re intelligent. That it seemed was the problem that a certain journalist got himself into this week. As he attempted to besmirch a passionate group of people who’s only crime was to follow their football team a little too passionately for his liking he decided to show how clever he was and how crude and inarticulate they were.

So what was the result of this battle of unequal minds, the intelligent journalist with his dictionary firmly in hand as he spewed his bile. Were the Philistines slain with his wit, wisdom and knowledge of the beautiful game. Sadly for the reporter the Philistines rather than responding in the crude vulgar monosyllabic tones he implied in his article, they actually responded with real wit and intelligence. There’s a lesson to be learned for our new found friend Mr Alexander, when you remove your head from your backside you should really wipe before you start to type.

It seems the so called passionate support of a football club isn’t required anymore in some parts of the Premiership, yet in some it’s considered a good reason for them not to be relegated. I guess it just depends what coloured stripes you have on your shirt, if they are black and white, pretty appropriate as it was in the golden age of black and white television that Newcastle were actually a force in the land. If you are crude and vulgar in the north east, apparently it’s passionate support that makes you worthy of praise and universally entitled to good press. If you wear red and white stripes in support of your side and haven’t been in the top flight for two decades then basically the same passions don’t apply, in that case it’s crude and vulgar. Well I for one am damn proud of my fellow Potters, they way so many have responded to such provocation has been admirable. It makes your chest swell to see people with obvious passion, intelligence and a real ability to put their case to such an imbecile without resorting to personal abuse as he did with a talented young footballer when he couldn’t find any other fault with him. How sad that someone who is supposed to be reporting on the game felt the need to simply find faults with everything that is good about this seasons Premiership.

On a day when once again one of the big four managers is whining about how his players don’t get enough protection referees, when the same player gets away with murder week in week out it puts Stoke into perspective for me. We have asked nothing from anyone, just that we get a little credit when we deserve it and that people respect our ability to compete in what is after all the so called best league in the world. I would have thought any journalist worth his salt would have been praising a player like Ryan, the lad could have sat on his hands at Old Trafford and waited his chance, he instead wanted to make a name for himself and show just how good he was. He had a shaky beginning to life in the Premiership and was even thinking his future lay away from the Britannia at one point, since then he has been a colossus, getting better with each game and has a bright future ahead of him. That should have been the story this man told his readers, instead he simply told them his after game interview wasn’t up to his high standards.

The same day a certain radio station held a phone in on whether Stoke deserve to stay up, excuse me. Who made these clowns at tabloid radio the judge and jury over whether a club were worthy of the Premiership. Once more it was surely aimed at provoking a reaction, they hoped one which would prove that a club with such supporters weren’t worthy of such a lofty position. Though once more the passionate folks of the Potteries stood up for their heroes in an intelligent and reasoned way, far more reasoned than some of the garbage that was thrown around on the same radio station. It shows the fair minded people of the country what a decent bunch we really are, yes passionate, yes sometimes a little over sensitive about our club but overall people who care about the club and are prepared to stand their corner when the club and it’s supporters are maligned simply for the amusement of others.

It’s true we are an easy target, new to the top flight and certainly not everyone’s cup of team football wise. If someone doesn’t like how we play, fine that’s a football opinion and we’re all entitled to those. If they think we’re not good enough to stay up for football reasons, again fine we shall see when the season is completed. Those are fair minded reasons for believing we’ll go down. What emerged this last few days had very little to do with football and more to do with us making a lot of people look stupid. They had expected us to be doing a Derby or at least in a similar position to the Baggies, not sitting outside the bottom three with 8 games remaining with a home record some of the top 6 would be proud of. That simply didn’t fit with their evaluation of how our season was supposed to go. So some had to look for reasons why we weren’t floundering at the bottom of the league.

So it’s the nasty foul mouthed supporters who have intimidated the beautiful people of the Premiership. Aw what a shame, so we made a few so called superstars tremble like a virgin on her wedding night, sorry for that maybe next season we’ll take a leaf out of many other Premiership supporters and sit in hushed appreciation as the game unfolds before us.

We are rugged and dirty and therefore have bullied sides out of games, you only have to listen to Arsen Wenger to know this is true. The only drawback to that theory being only one player was dismissed for violent conduct that day and he most certainly wasn’t wearing red and white. So we compete hard, damn we don’t have the advantages of many years in the top flight to have built a squad of technically gifted players. So exactly how are we supposed to compete and win games against sides like Arsenal, sadly we’re not we’re supposed to roll over and have our tummies tickled while all the experts say how lovely we are and how they really hope we stay up for playing the right way. Meanwhile we would be bottom of the league doing a Derby and many would be happy because they could say told you so. Well we may go down, though if spirit, honesty and a will to overcome the odds are anything to go by we wont. I think these last few days have united the supporters like nothing else.

We can all take a collective two fingers and wave them contemptuously at those who dislike us not for sound football reasons but simply because we refuse to know our place. Well folks we know our place it’s steadfastly behind Stoke City football club and it’s wonderful fight to overcome not only the odds of survival but the ridiculous prejudices of some in the media.

[jpm64]

To summarise Ted says JA is a wanker ! ;D ;D

[boothenendboy]

jesus

[CillaBlacksPissFlaps]

Bleedin ell ted, I bet you used to love it when you got an essay at school. As soon as I saw it was your thread I thought I'd better get ready for a good read.

Fantastic post as normal though ted and bang on as per.

[ted1965]

no cilla mate never went to school us philistines don't need no education.

jpm calling him a wanker would have been crude I just said he was rather fond of yanking his knob

[sutekh]

A quality read as per usual ted.

[stokie25]

hear, hear Ted!!

I love us being the downtrodden cinderella amongst the top 4 ugly sisters, and we will prosper and finish victorious, i'm convinced of it.

In addition to the above, i have been guilty of being frustrated as pundits and clubs have belittled us so far and Tone seems to shrug it off and seemingly not defend us. However, this tactic and the profound points that our supporters have made recently only serve to make me realise that it is our reaction that seems to antagonise them the most. We haven't bleated about every poor decision or red card, and have accepted blame if our performance has been lacking.

I expect a full, unadulterated u-turn in opinion of us by May...but will we care....will we arses

We are Stoke

[dozintheseventees]

I doubt you'll get any U-Turns.

They will give us a grudging 'well done on staying up' but will not show themselves up for what they are. They will defend their stance saying that it was a victory for thuggery over football and that the beautiful game is the real loser when the Brazilians have been relegated.

They will insist that 'second season will show us up for the footballing inepts that we are' and the whole circuas will start again




CAN'T WAIT!!

[Targaryen Stokie]

Brilliant read, keep it up Ted.

[CalgaryPotter]

They can say what the want about the team but the personal abuse for Shawcross was unacceptable.

I would love Pulis / Coates to impose a media blackout until JA apologises for the abuse of Ryan (a la Bobby Robson Italia 90).

Build the seige mentality, it's good for us!!

[mrpickles]

absolutely spot on. there has been something about the last few days that have really struck a chord and united us all more than normal. We are the rocky balboa of the premiership with brazil being apollo creed (technically good but died before the end) fucking hell i love the rocky films

[dozintheseventees]

Most would have you believe that we are the Mr T character.

[mrpickles]

shut up fool
loving the original post by the way. superb read

[Lightwood]

Great post again Ted.

It's made me very proud the way in which many Stokies have responded to the criticism hurled our way the last day or so.

Never has our motto been more true

Vis Unita Fortior - united strength is stronger

[meltonjohn]

Another great post Ted. As a Potters exile living in the East Midlands who has followed the club since 1960 I can remember the halcyon days of the 60's and 70's.
The current crop of players are as committed a goup of players ever to have donned the red and white stripes and the current support for Stoke in terms of noise and passion is the best I can ever remember.
Pulis has done a brilliant job. We are not the prettiest team to watch but what we lack in style we more than make up for in enthusiasm and coomitment.
I know many supporters of different teams across the country and every one of them has said to me they hope Stoke stay up on account of their rugged style, the bloody nose we have given to the big boys and the tremendous supporters we have.
Go on Stoke, do it for the potteries and show those stuck up biased football writers that we mean business and are here to stay!!!!!

[Deleted]

Will read when I've got a spare few hours.

[ruts66]

Very good Ted.

Proud and getting prouder...

[sheikh al dubai bin stokie]

serious question here... do people not read teds posts, but say "great post as always" cos they dont want to seem unfair - because he went to alot of trouble etc...

im just interested... not having a go or owt

[Jamo on the wing]

Great read Ted, I think I just about kept a lid on my emotions last night on TalkSport (but only just!)

[sovietonion]

I love Ted's posts, full of genuine sentiment but grounded in realism. Top notch as usual. But even I can't resist.

How is 'The Bible 2- This time it's personal' coming along?

[sovietonion]

Mar 25, 2009 14:48:50 GMT jpm64 said:

To summarise Ted says JA is a wanker ! ;D ;D

Not in so many words! ;D

[jbstokie]

Great post Ted

[One-Two]

Great post

[crimesy]

Always a good read Ted, i think your quite possibly the most intelligent stokie on here. ;D Got it spot on once again.

[lancer]

Mar 25, 2009 17:39:31 GMT sheikh al dubai bin stokie said:

serious question here... do people not read teds posts, but say "great post as always" cos they dont want to seem unfair - because he went to alot of trouble etc...

im just interested... not having a go or owt

Ted's post are well articulated, well presented and well thought out. Ted puts into words a lot of what many of us think but can't be arsed to type out.
I enjoy reading them, and have yet to read anything that I remoteley disagree with. I have a mind of my own, but concur with what Ted takes the trouble present. I don't know Ted, or
anything about him, but he is clearly a match for friend Jeremy.
Keep it up ,Ted.

[snapotter]

Well written sir!
All the unjustified criticism of our club is only making us stronger. It certainly makes me shout louder on match days.

[andy9196]

Excellent read Ted

Spot on as per usual

[shiny nosehair]

My fuckin head ;D

Saw it was a Ted post and got a brew ready before I even opened it

Great post Ted

Does the paper edition of the Oatie still exist, could be a nice cut n paste for smudge

If it will fit on the page ;D

[Staying up for Grandadstokey]

Mar 25, 2009 15:12:23 GMT CalgaryPotter said:

They can say what the want about the team but the personal abuse for Shawcross was unacceptable.

I would love Pulis / Coates to impose a media blackout until JA apologises for the abuse of Ryan (a la Bobby Robson Italia 90).

Build the seige mentality, it's good for us!!

The abuse of Shawcross and the people of Stoke-on Trent was totally out of order and I would certainly impose a media blackout for the Guardian until a public apology was received.

[jacka118]

Excellent Post Ted...Brilliant Read