Match Day Thread Stoke City v Southampton, Wed 14 December, KO 8:00pm

I don't know how unless you know what's happening in the transfer window. Is that you Les?

 

Or maybe just as Big Ben finishes it's final chime and the last verse of Auld Lang Syne is sang, a photo of Les Reed will appear with a brand new shiny forward, who will stick three past Everton on the 2nd also resulting in the sacking of Koeman.

(I'll pour what ever I'm drinking into a flask and pass it around)

 

Just seen highlights...good shot from Bertrand.

 

JWP is a nice lad, but a bit dull, so quite what "fun" means to him, may not be what us regular party dudes, consider "fun".

 

You do get to form a view on the characters on this board. I have a lot of respect for you, CBK. You say it as it is. But fun party dude ... let me think about that one.

Yes, I worry that JWP's idea of fun is something like jolly japes. Still as long as it doesn't involve dead pigs I'll turn a blind eye.

 

Well we all have a different idea of that, don't we?

I have no idea what sort of parties you go to, "dude", but I'm willing to bet I wouldn't find them much "fun" .
(I imagine you playing "Strip Monopoly" with a used car dealer, a headmistress, and a defrocked priest.)

 

We look good in the highlights, competent.....and a bit unlucky. Were it not for the fact I've seen these misses over and over again this season I would agree.

 

This time last year you would have confidently predicted our run in February wouldn't have happened.

 

Because everyone seems to think we've gone terribly downhill, when we haven't.

Interesting you can confidently predict that without knowing what will happen in January. It was a remarkable run of form, granted, and it's unlikely but let's see.

What's frustrating is that we pretty much all knew we'd have a slight dip from improving season on season (particularly after last years mad league) and here we are, yet there's toys being tediously flung around the place.

It's all very "I want everything and I want it now". It's not that simple. I actually think Puel is doing a good job with the constraints he has. There's just no sense of patience.

 

He had 3 or 4 awful shots, that one was good though.

 

What's also frustrating is, we could all see (us fans) some of the blatantly possible constraints in pre-season and they weren't addressed fully. So yes he is doing well with the current constraints but the problems could have been eased over the summer which both Puel and Les would have had a hand in.

 

Haven't read the thread, so don't know what has been posted.
My take on the game, for what it's worth, is that we were once again let down by our unimaginative midfield players and poor crosses.
We really need to bring in a coach who can work with the midfielders and educate them on how to make positive runs that draw defenders/midfielders out of position, creating space for us to play in and/or get off unhurried shots, that trouble the keeper, or even go in.
We failed to take advantage of the extra man, simply because our play was too (to use the commentator's word) ponderous, allowing Stoke all the time they needed to organise themselves.
Crosses are meat and drink for any Stoke back four, especially the soft, lofted ones we put in too often, and yet again, when we did get crosses in, there were seldom enough players in the box to get on the end of them.
A fantastic opportunity, to get 3 points, wasted.

 

I think they took a cheap risk which didn't/hasn't yet worked. And yes, both should take some criticism for it, but I get it.

 

And Kat and the rest of the board.

 

****wrong thread****

 

That would be a good rule.
What about another bonus point for most apprehensive goalkeeper when kicking.

 

Oh great, leave my response hanging in the wilderness why don't cha!

 

I gave you a like for the post that was there before you deleted it.

 

What formation did we play?