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

Ah bless. That Christmas cheer is clearly in evidence here. Let's hope Stoke decide to be warm and cuddly and give us the three points

 

Stoke's home form is pretty crap this season - they've only beat Swans, Sunderland & Burnley, so that provides hope & then it's immediately dashed with recognition of our away record. We're in Brighton for Placebo tomorrow eve. I will try to leave my mobile alone & hopefully exiting 11ish to see some great news. COYS, 1pt at least.

 

We all wish you a speedy recovery, I'm sure.

 

Puel said that the last game was the best he'd seen from Clasie. I only saw highlights so can't really judge, but I did see his goal attempt (as his previous and only success has obviously gone to his head), so would like to see him try it again on Wednesday. We need everyone to try and contribute goals from now on.

 

I haven't seen evey performance, but of what I have seen it was his best game for us.

 

I didn't see it so on that basis, yes it probably was.

Just kidding, Arsenal home last year he played very well...

 

Not taking the piss, but this "everyone must score" bit gets to me. What happens? Do the players go out on to the pitch thinking "if the boss reckons I'm going to score on the wages this lot pay they can **** off". When I used to coach youth football every player wanted to score a goal. I don't think professionals are any different. But whisper it quietly, it's hard to score against Premier League defenders and goalies - they're pretty good generally. Every Saints player would love to score, even Fraser, bless him. But generally speaking scoring goals at this level is a specialist skill and those who can do it command huge fees. Gerd Muller was useless at "tracking back" but serve him a ball in the box and he'd score. I don't think the other German players weren't trying to score themselves occasionally.

You do get the odd midfield player who scores a lot of goals. That bloke who used to play for us, that useless lazy bugger who couldn't get picked for England. Him. He scored the odd tap in, I recall. But players like him happen very rarely indeed.

 

Merson says 2-0 Stoke. I'm going for 1-1 Jay to score...finally

 

I will be stoked if we beat stoke

do you see what i did there. I should have been a football correspondent (instead of a helicopter pilot).

I am not really a helicopter pilot either tho!!!

 

really jonny! I had you down as an advisor to Mensa!

 

I'm actually backing jay to score. Felt he looked a bit sharper than he has and he will be picked again.

Injured at one of the most illustrious grounds in the PL and his return to form will happen at the ****test.

 

Jay won't get a sniff tomorrow. If we are to get something it will be Boufal or Tadic.......but I expect that to be a consolation. 2-1

 

Jay will score tomorrow. As will Long. In fact Shane can have two. All our troubles will be over.

 

**** it. Everyone is going to score. 14-14. Subs to get all their goals in injury time.

 

No, I think that we will win this game by a single goal scored by Forster, a back pass, hoisted upfield, rippling the net after 2 bounces. Not sure which half- will be the one where we are playing from right to left as viewed from the cameras. He will look a little embarrassed but will take it.

 

Then the match will be decided by a tap in by the ref. 14-15 to Saints. You heard it here first

 

I'm liking the cut of your jib. And justifying your moniker, top stuff.

In the real world I'd be ok with a point and dreaming of europe (again . . , forgive me) with three.

So, who's up for loaning Crouch until the end of the season?

 

Leon?