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Post by spitthedog on Apr 30, 2024 23:18:44 GMT
Ipswich a point away from the Premier League. What an amazing season! Still one more game for them to bottle it like Brentford did against us 4 years ago. It will be a monumental bottle job if they cant get a point at home to relegated Huddersfield.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 30, 2024 11:58:22 GMT
Amazing to think that Tommy Docherty wasn't sacked after this relegation. Can you imagine this today? He was given the opportunity to rebuild a new team in Divsion 2 from scratch more or less, and he put together a very exciting young team. Naturally I have always had an immense dislike for Utd, but that team was very exciting to watch, with Coppell and Hill on the wings, Lou, McIllroy and Daly in midfield and the wonderful Martin Buchan at the back. ...and then he was sacked for having an affair. My goodness, how society and football has changed! I met the Doc at a conference in London in early 2000s. He was generous with his time with those of us who wished to speak to him and was friendly and engaging. When I told him I was a Stoke fan, he spent ages eulogising about Jimmy Greenhoff. He was a larger than life character and I could see how he led a big football club with success. Nice story. Signing Greenhoff showed that he knew a good player when he saw one. Referring to the football confessions thread, mine might be the fact that I used to really enjoy watching that revitalised Man Utd team under Docherty, (I truly hated them before and since and ashamed of it now of course!) they had a lot of character, energy and raw talent. Steve Coppell was one of my favourite non-Stoke players, and Buchan too and I actually always wanted Jimmy G to do well there because I knew it was a forced move and his heart was still really at Stoke.
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London
Apr 30, 2024 11:51:00 GMT
Post by spitthedog on Apr 30, 2024 11:51:00 GMT
Of course because when Khan goes, all knives will miraculously disappear from our capital city!!!! Probably not, but hope the new mayor has a plan, cuz Khan doesn't. So what would be your plan? I'm sure it must be a fairly straightforward thing to solve.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 30, 2024 9:43:09 GMT
And so tonight, we played possibly the most controversial game that the Victoria Ground would ever witness. On Saturday, ManU were relegated in the midst of a riot that caused the players to leave the pitch after 85 minutes, never to return. Now the press were predicting worse would happen in their final league game at Stoke. I had stood on the Stoke End for years against all opposition, as had my Dad, uncles, Grandad and Great Grandad, but tonight my Dad refused to go and I stood on the Boothen End with a family friend. Depending on which paper you read, the Manchester Utd supporters were described as 'louts' and 'hooligans'. Dozens of shops in Stoke were smashed up and the police confiscated a horrifying array of weapons, including knives, hammers, chisels, coshes, screwdrivers and sharpened pieces of metal. A train was set on fire at Longport, 4 people were hospitalised and the police reported that there were dozens of fights inside and outside the ground. As the players entered the field of play, the police formed a barrier across the front of the Stoke End to stop a pitch invasion. After the game, MPs demanded the Home Secretary make a statement about the events. And yet this was a crucial game for us, one we had to win if we were to stand any chance of sneaking into Europe. Against a backdrop of bonfires on the Stoke End, we lined up; - Farmer, Dodd, Pejic, Bloor, Smith, Skeels, Robertson, Greenhoff, Ritchie, Hudson, Haslegrave. Sub; - Hurst. ManU included Brian Greenhoff, Lou Macari and Sammy McIlroy in front of 27,000 people. In the first half, we attacked towards the Stoke End. We were a class above our opponents, but events off the pitch were clearly affecting both teams. After 20 minutes, Haslegrave lobbed the ball over Alex Stepney as the keeper ran off his line and Ritchie scored with a tap in. The game was pretty much a stalemate until half-time but in the second period events on the Stoke End worsened. The police had now had enough of the fighting and bonfires and periodically charged the Manchester supporters with their dogs. John Farmer was supposed to be guarding our goal but he steadily moved up the field until he was nearly at the half way line by the time the game ended. The second half was pretty much played close to the Boothen End with none of the players seemingly wishing to go to the other end of the pitch. Brian Greenhoff did try a couple of speculative shots but that was pretty much all the Red Devils could muster. Ritchie went close with a header and Pejic forced a fine save from Stepney. Goodness knows how many minutes were played in that second half but the players and officials disappeared up the tunnel pretty quickly when the final whistle sounded. After the game a shocked and angry Waddo said: 'when a crowd can influence players in their performances then you have a serious situation developing'. He continued: 'The game is reaching a crisis point and I feel that young people who enjoy violence for its own sake should be treated in the only way they understand. Those who live by the sword should suffer by the sword'. Local MPs were also angry, demanding to know who was going to pay for the extensive police operation. After this 1-0 win, we have now lost only 2 games in the final 23 matches of the season and we finish the season in 5th place. We have to hope Liverpool win the FA Cup and Spurs lose in the UEFA cup final to claim a place in Europe next season. View AttachmentBrilliant summary, doffs cap. You've crystallised the weird atmosphere perfectly. My overriding memory of the evening is the Boothen chanting "Doc, Doc, Docherty - in the f***ing lavatory". Amazing to think that Tommy Docherty wasn't sacked after this relegation. Can you imagine this today? He was given the opportunity to rebuild a new team in Divsion 2 from scratch more or less, and he put together a very exciting young team. Naturally I have always had an immense dislike for Utd, but that team was very exciting to watch, with Coppell and Hill on the wings, Lou, McIllroy and Daly in midfield and the wonderful Martin Buchan at the back. ...and then he was sacked for having an affair. My goodness, how society and football has changed!
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 30, 2024 9:26:34 GMT
Of course because when Khan goes, all knives will miraculously disappear from our capital city!!!!
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 29, 2024 16:59:30 GMT
If this is a tin pot league then we are just another tin pot club that make it up.
I don't really get all the criticism of this league.
Did I somehow miss the Golden Age of Championship/2nd Division football in this country?
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 29, 2024 14:46:46 GMT
Was he not carried off against Hull (?) this season and then missed a big chunk of games? I would say more helped off than carried off, and yes he did miss a chunk of games. He also missed some of pre season and the start of the season with injury. Tyrese is a confidence player who needs a decent run of games to get into a rhythm, and he really hasn't had enough game time to build it. In fact he has had the 19th most minutes in the squad behind even Travers who left in October! He's played less than half the season through injury, so it's fair to assume he would have scored more than 2 goals on a full season fully fit. Some of the games he's played he hasn't looked fit, but people made their mind up he was lazy and I don't blame him for wanting go to another club (if that is the case) where he probably has a better chance of being better appreciated and he might be better utilised. We will be stuck with Ennis, same age as Campbell and who has actually scored less goals in more games. 29 goals in 151 games.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 29, 2024 10:42:23 GMT
If you take away the five loanees, then we have a really big job to do this summer. If you go along with the idea of two players for each position then it looks something like: GK: NEW / BONHAM CB: WILMOT / ROSE CB: NEW / NEW RB: JUNIOR / GOOCH LB: NEW / STEVENS CMF: BURGER / THOMPSON CMF: BAKER / LAURENT CMF: PEARSON / NEW LWF: JUN-HO / VIDIGAL RWF: MANHOEFF / NEW CF: NEW / MMAEE / ENNIS So, that is probably at least seven new signings and that is based on the assumption that nobody else leaves (which I think is unlikely). This is not much difference from nearly all Championship clubs though. Because of the dependence on loanees and contracts running down, there is always a rebuilding job, every season. It's normal for most Championship clubs to make at least 7, 8 or more signings over the Summer. There have been Summers where many championship clubs have signed 12 or 13 players over the Summer just to make up a squad.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 29, 2024 9:18:03 GMT
Why do folk make a big fuss about this???
The players do a lap to thank the fans after a long season and thats about it. It's very simple.
People are over complicating this.
Calling it a lap of honour is a bit of a misnomer for starters and seems to confuse some of our supporters.
It's a just simple gesture and an opportunity for the fans to interact with the players and vice versa. It's no big deal, it's not really about judging the players on what they have and haven't achieved and every club does it.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 21:13:23 GMT
Hull v Ipswich a fantastic game and advert for the Championship. and its quite nice to watch a game without VAR too!
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 19:15:35 GMT
A 2 goal a season striker isn't much use to us, hope he goes to be honest. he has played less than half a season in games.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 19:14:24 GMT
It was a decent finish against a side that had literally nothing to play for today but Jesus Christ. Are fans really that that short sighted and gullible? Can they not see the pattern? TC plays at an acceptable level when he can be arsed, for example when there is a contract on offer. He managed to temporarily wake from his slumber today and some would actually reward him a with an improved 2 year contract ! Look at his performances over his time here. Stoke are capable of so much better. We need to be targeting 20 goal season players, not 20 goals a career players. Please Stoke, Aim Higher. Move on. There are 2 players who have scored 20 goals in this division this season. In other words, they don't grow on trees. Getting a 20 goal a season striker is probably not going to happen.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 16:36:59 GMT
If a post ever destroyed another post, it was this. He's scored 40 goals and 21 assists in 174 league and cup games in his career. That's not quite the disaster some are making him out to be. He's played 22 games this season so under half of the games.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 16:24:30 GMT
Tezgel scored. Cue the “get him on the bench next season!” Yea cos L2 is basically the same 😂 Really, really unusual post, this. Making up a quote and the rebuttal to said made up quote is wrong anyway. It is a bit weird because the young lad has done exceptionally well on his loan after a tough start. It was always going to be tough at first because he will not have been used to playing against physical defenders who do their stuff in that league week in, week out. He's getting some good reviews for his last few appearances. Credit to him. If Lowe is good enough for the bench then Tezgel will certainly be imo.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 16:16:27 GMT
In my experience winning football games tends to be more entertaining than losing them, but maybe I'm just out of touch. I’ve seen us win quite a number of games that were about as entertaining as sticking pins in your eyes. You might find boring football acceptable but plenty don’t. Shit football and winning or good football and losing isn’t the only choice. I did say 'in my experience', so whatever takes your fancy mate! But I'll be interested to see if West Ham can play better football next season and finish in the top half of the table.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 16:05:53 GMT
Brilliant performance today and again everyone contributed. Great team effort got us through.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 14:40:04 GMT
someone will find something to moan about there!
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 14:36:05 GMT
Can’t understand the comments about how bad this division is? Was there a time when the 2nd tier was full of amazing teams and players?
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 14:28:10 GMT
Wednesday beating WBA
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 13:11:44 GMT
Is that the first time this season we’ve had an unchanged starting 11 No. I'm all in favour of playing unchanged teams, but not if it means that you continue leaving three of your best players, now fit, on the bench: Junior, Burger, and Baker. What the hell has Junior done to say he's one our best players? We really need some kind of consistent team selection imo.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 13:06:40 GMT
In my experience winning football games tends to be more entertaining than losing them, but maybe I'm just out of touch. There's definitely a balance to be struck but I can't see West Ham doing better That really is the point. Who is going to take them higher than 8th? Maybe they would like Zola back? They loved him and finished 17th that season I think. They have actually scored more goals this season than both Man Utd and Brighton.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 13:04:33 GMT
I saw a bit of an old game the other day with some eye-watering tackles going in, and I realised I’d completely forgotten that the done thing back then was to *not* show that you were hurt, under any circumstances. Blokes were getting absolutely scythed and smashed all over the place, and immediately springing to their feet and jogging straight off, often clearly trying to disguise a limp. Just struck me how that bit of unspoken protocol among players has completely reversed. Once - not actually very long ago - it was a sign of weakness to show you’d been hurt after a “reducer”. Now you have to squeal and writhe like a stuck pig at the slightest brush. There has been a huge cultural change in the game. It's normal now for players to actually scream when another players foot makes any kind of contact before rolling around on the ground regardless of the extent of the contact. Any contact with the face, similar kind of farce. You notice this more in non-league football these days just because you can usually hear everything thats going on. It's really sad that it has reached grassroots level. This is also usually accompanied by teammates raising their arms in unison and screaming towards the officials, as if they are being subjected to some kind of earth shattering injustice. These are all recently introduced antics that are a real put off. I also don't like it when people and pundits describe this as just 'part of the game', as if we should accept it. We really shouldn't.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 12:54:32 GMT
Fuck knows something along the lines of playing attractive passing football and finishing in the lowest 3rd of the top flight or getting relegated as they always used to do apart from one season when they had MacAvennie and Cottee Here's a fact : Geoff Hurst 3 highest league finishes were all with Stoke West Ham were Southern League and div 3 South fodder until the 60's pretty much Massively over rate themselves There is a big fan base there which was important pre Premier League when income was utterly reliant on gate receipts Like Sunderland fans they don't appear to realise that having a big fan base doesn't make you a big club Moyes is the best manager they have had for decades so naturally they want rid His football is shit to watch. Some people think the game should be enjoyable. How dare they In my experience winning football games tends to be more entertaining than losing them, but maybe I'm just out of touch.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 12:27:13 GMT
What are West Ham fans on, in wanting to get rid of Moyes? Absolute nuts. Who do they think they are? If someone had said to them at the start of the season with 3 games to go you will be above Newcastle and Chelsea and 2 points behind Man Utd would they be saying they should get rid then? Doesn't play 'The West Ham way' what is that then?.....losing with eloquence?
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 27, 2024 12:23:17 GMT
What are West Ham fans on, in wanting to get rid of Moyes? Absolute nuts. Who do they think they are?
If someone had said to them at the start of the season with 3 games to go you will be above Newcastle and Chelsea and 2 points behind Man Utd would they be saying they should get rid then?
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 26, 2024 15:30:37 GMT
Oxford and Swindon have won that cup and we’re the bigger shock. I know. I hope they do a bit better with their research for tipping winners.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 26, 2024 13:10:01 GMT
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 26, 2024 9:13:12 GMT
They were definitely considered by the media to be hot favourites on the day, and we were definitely thought of as the underdogs from what I recall. This seemed to be based more on reputation and the fact that we were thought of as unfashionable club rather than results on the pitch. Wouldn't you say? Though I suppose Chelsea had recently won the FA Cup and the Cup Winners Cup which had raised their profile too. Looking forward to your next post. They were so cocky in the final. Hollins tried to score by attempting to lob Banksie from the kick off. Looking back at the final, Alan Hudson was their best player by a mile.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 26, 2024 9:08:57 GMT
If we buy a new player there is a chance they will turn out below par or not be what we want or need and end up with another disappointment. Campbell has had an extended time with the club and never been what we need and has left us frustrated and he has to share the blame for where we are as he has played in many positions under many Managers and never delivered or taken the opportunity to be a legend at Stoke. In all his games has he bèen hailed a hero? Scored hat tricks? Terrified the opposition? No, so his time is done, we know he is not a prolific striker or even mediocre so get rid and spend our money and efforts on a young or developing striker that runs on to the pitch with sone fire in their belly Tend to agree but this young hungry player term gets over used on here but no one seems to know who they are. The championship can be tough for young talent, is ok scoring goals in an U21 side for fun but no so easy against an experienced centre back at this level as Delap found out when he tried to tangle with them week after week. Agreed, who are these? and where are these? You would think that Ennis would fit well into this category and the jury is definitely out on that one. It's very rare for young up and coming talents to hit the ground running in the Championship. The only 2 players who scored more than 20 in this Division this season are aged 28 and 27. The youngest players in the top 20 goalscorers (scored 12 or more) are aged 22 That is Summerville who has now spent 4 years at Leeds (a long term investment when they bought him) with this his first season of scoring goals, and Philogene who we know has taken 3/4 years to acclimatise to the Championship and had only scored 5 goals at this level before this season.
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Post by spitthedog on Apr 25, 2024 22:18:11 GMT
This Saturday’s 50 years ago edition will suggest that it was Chelsea who were awful in those days and we were much better than them. They were definitely considered by the media to be hot favourites on the day, and we were definitely thought of as the underdogs from what I recall. This seemed to be based more on reputation and the fact that we were thought of as unfashionable club rather than results on the pitch. Wouldn't you say? Though I suppose Chelsea had recently won the FA Cup and the Cup Winners Cup which had raised their profile too. Looking forward to your next post.
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