Nonum
Academy Starlet
Posts: 178
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Post by Nonum on Feb 14, 2008 15:33:24 GMT
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Post by MrMagic on Feb 14, 2008 15:36:57 GMT
It's a very good artical. Sadly we will always be seen as a less fashionable club and will therefore always get a bit of a verbal kicking from Sky et al.
Best we can do is prove them wrong by going up and staying up.
I have to say though, that we are developing a winging scouser-like siege mentality. For every poor report I've heard, I've probably heard an equally praising one. People really should not take this stuff too seriously.
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Post by jpm64 on Feb 14, 2008 15:38:20 GMT
Stoke's lofty league position has failed to deter their critics this season and TEAMtalk's resident Potter Mark Holmes has had enough. Send to friend Print RSS Feed Save to... Facebook del.icio.us ma.gnolia Yahoo! My Web Digg Google Bookmarks Reddit Technorati Newsvine StumbleUpon Stoke City Goal Alerts To register for Stoke FC News and Scores alerts send SKY STOK to 61718. For details click here. Ask your average football fan what their impression of Stoke is and they'll probably tell you that they are a long ball, boring defensive team that bully their way to odd-goal victories. Despite the fact that we sit in third place in the Championship, just two points off the summit, there are still a number of pundits that refuse to give our team credit. On Tuesday night for instance those fans not fortunate to be at the game against Southampton were treated to the wonderful insight of Paul Merson, who said we wouldn't win a game should we be promoted to the Premier League. And that was followed by Tony Gale's assertion that Saints deserved to get back into the game against us because they were the only side playing good football. Stoke were 3-0 up at half-time by the way. And it is this sort of blinkered nonsense that is giving my club a bad name. So it's time to right a few wrongs, starting with the ridiculous claim that we are an overly defensive side and boring to watch. Rubbish. Our last 1-0 victory was on the opening day of the season and our last two games have yielded 11 goals. We are the league's second-highest scorers and yet statistically have only the 13th best defence. Ricardo Fuller's 14 league goals is a tally bettered only by Kevin Phillips, while our two wingers Liam Lawrence and Richard Cresswell have scored 19 goals between them. Even our two centre-halves have scored eight a piece, with Leon Cort's impressive tally coming in less than 20 appearances. And yet I was told by a rival fan the other day that he wouldn't pay to watch us play! Well more fool him is all I can say because I certainly wasn't bored during our 3-2 win over Southampton on Tuesday. Or our 4-2 success at Wolves at the weekend for that matter. In fact I can honestly say I've enjoyed this season more than any other - the entertainment has been nothing short of fantastic. Another slur on us is that the side lacks skill and is more than a 'hoof it' team. Interesting then, that the Actim Index rates Lawrence as the best midfielder in the entire Championship - and the second best player overall. The index also shows we have one of the top five forwards in Fuller, two of the best defenders in Cort and Shawcross, and one of the best 'keepers in Steve Simonsen. So there's no shortage of quality as far as I can see. Consider our recent signings as well. Glenn Whelan was sought after by half of the Championship and a fair few clubs in the Premier League - does that sound like a player who lacks quality? And our other deadline-day capture Paul Gallagher is hardly a clogger. Neither of them are 6 foot tall either but I'm probably not supposed to tell you that; I wouldn't want to ruin our image after all. Now I will admit that we're not a team that makes 20 passes before feeding the strikers. But I don't see a problem with that personally and I certainly don't think it makes us ugly or worse to watch than other teams as some people have suggested. My understanding is that getting the ball into the opposition's goal is the name of the game and as far as I'm aware you don't get points for passes in your own half. Stoke get the ball into the final third as quickly as possible and yes that sometimes means a long ball our of defence. But I've got no qualms with that because our most skilfull players are in the final third and that is where teams should play their good football, not in their own area. On that note, I couldn't help noticing one of Barnsley's goals against West Brazil at the weekend came from one of the Albion defenders messing around with the ball 25 yards from his own goal. But again, I'm not supposed to say that because the Smethwick boys are immune from criticism. They are the media darlings and the fact they are below Stoke - and another team everyone likes to bash in Watford - is surely some sort of statistical error. In fact I've heard the FA have launched an enquiry into Sheffield United's draw at The Hawthorns in midweek - the cheek of the Blades to match their superior counterparts. The truth of the matter is that Stoke and West Brom are both excellent Championship sides but nothing more at the moment. Neither of them would survive in the Premier League with their current squads and both will have to spend massive amounts if they do go up this season. And the funny thing is that I genuinely believe Stoke are actually better equipped than the Baggies for the league above. This may come as a shock to Merson and his mates but skill won't get you a long way without organisation. And Pace, power, strength and fitness are also qualities desperately needed to succeed in the big league. Stoke have all those in abundance. So I think it's about time everybody stops believing the myth and looks at the truth. That Stoke City are a free-scoring exciting side, which boasts an ideal mix of hard work and skill, and a lethal combination of pace and power. Our chances of winning the league are increasing by each game and if the praise doesn't follow soon a lot of people are going to look very, very silly.
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Post by tom1potter on Feb 14, 2008 15:43:34 GMT
Fantastic article! To be honest i wouldnt care if people wish to call us a hoofing bully the opposition team all season, they will see for themselves next season when were on match of the day playing some good footie!
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Post by adredandwhite on Feb 14, 2008 15:49:54 GMT
great article and nice that it gives it to those Brazilian from Smethic. They don't like it up em Mr Mainwarring!
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chewytunstall
Academy Starlet
My mum always told me never talk to strangers!
Posts: 225
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Post by chewytunstall on Feb 14, 2008 16:11:31 GMT
That's a very well written and intelligent article but who cares what Merson thinks, the coke snorting knobhead!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't want to get my hopes up but we could really do it this season.
Chewy ;D
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Post by kinnell on Feb 14, 2008 16:14:08 GMT
Uttershite. But hey, most of you are happy with it. Depressing.
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Post by Homzy on Feb 14, 2008 16:40:34 GMT
Care to elaborate kinnell?!!
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Feb 14, 2008 16:42:04 GMT
Don't worry about grumpy old Hudson LS1
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Feb 14, 2008 16:52:48 GMT
Good old Hudson - it's good to have him back innit? ;D
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Post by Homzy on Feb 14, 2008 17:09:40 GMT
I thought it must be good old Huddy!!
The article has really riled the West Brazil fans up anyway....check out the comments!! Operation successful! ;D
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Post by Olgrligm on Feb 14, 2008 17:17:04 GMT
That's because you wrote it though!
(I have got the right poster, haven't I?)
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Post by Homzy on Feb 14, 2008 17:17:55 GMT
Yeah but what do you mean, what's because I wrote it?
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Post by Northy on Feb 14, 2008 17:23:12 GMT
He told porkies in that article, unfortunately we don't have pace in abundance
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Post by MarkWolstanton on Feb 14, 2008 17:47:08 GMT
;D
Nice one LS1.
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Post by eranu on Feb 14, 2008 17:48:25 GMT
I thought it was a good article. Even if we played Brazilian samba football Stoke wouldn't get the media coverage we deserve. We are the poor relation in the local football media. Its something that does annoy, me but the only way to do something about it, is to ram it down their throats and make them take notice. This is something we are now starting to do, and long may it contine. GOOO AARRNNN STOKE!!!!
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Post by DodgyDino on Feb 14, 2008 18:31:37 GMT
Great article, Very well put together. Let everyone keep on putting us down and taking no notice of us, Its done us no harm up to yet. Stoke and Bristol seem to be the black sheep of the family where no one seems to take any of us serious, Well i think they might, just when its too late and we both sneak in at the back post. ;D
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Post by Parksy on Feb 14, 2008 18:34:36 GMT
I enjoyed reading that article as it made me think about one or two things myself, when you read where the goals have come from and the Actim ratings of some of our players. Several of my work colleagues (who don't have an axe to grind with us) are actually moderately impressed with our achievements so far, okay so we haven't set the world on fire, but I'd rather be in the position we are and mostly ignored by the media than praised to the hilt and staying in this division (because that's where West Brazil will be come May!)
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Post by daverichards on Feb 14, 2008 20:21:05 GMT
LiverpoolStokie1 should be getting muchos karma , I'll slip you an exalte next time I have one
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Post by LDE76 on Feb 14, 2008 20:25:18 GMT
Exalted.
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Post by kkkkken on Feb 14, 2008 22:37:06 GMT
Good read . How can you argue with that . I also believe if we get promoted we will give a much better account of ourselves then Derby .
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Post by ricksastokie on Feb 15, 2008 0:46:26 GMT
Has someone walked some shit into the house?
Oh hello Hudsongod.
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Post by JoeinOz on Feb 15, 2008 1:10:26 GMT
I also believe if we get promoted we will give a much better acount of ourselves then Derby .
Thats would be the challenge! If we go up 4th from botom would be a fine achievement. But, its fair to say, there's a better than even chance we'd be relegated. OK we are aware of that BUT its the manner you go down in that could set the tone for upcoming seasons. I mean, Derby are being humiliated. They will have prepared for the worst case scenario and even then the season they are having is truly horrendous. Last season Watford went down but weren't humiliated. They won a few games and gave many sides a run for their money. So if we go up the first aim is to make sure we aren't humiliated.
By the way, good words LS1
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Post by kkkkken on Feb 15, 2008 1:48:08 GMT
Well i hope we do . My Dad, 3 of my brothers and sister and their kids are all Rams fans . ;D
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Post by emery1985 on Feb 15, 2008 2:48:23 GMT
Has someone walked some shit into the house? Oh hello Hudsongod. lol!
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Post by Homzy on Feb 15, 2008 8:18:00 GMT
Just got in to work and my West Brazil supporting boss has had a word with me about this column because he claims it isn't balanced and shouldn't have been allowed to go on site.
I'm absolutely fucking livid and I swear I wanted to tell him to shove the fucking job up his arse.
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Post by nathan on Feb 15, 2008 8:27:16 GMT
It's pretty decent article tbh.
But it doesn't come as any surprise to me tbh. I was already aware of el Holmesy's talents.
- Don't quit.
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Post by cousindupree on Feb 15, 2008 8:34:26 GMT
Its a good read....and a great putdown to the likes of Merson et al...football pundits have and will always be blinkered muppets. They have inflated egos and stubborn views...check the facts in the stats guys and accept that football ultimately is all about winning
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