A decent draw for Stoke against Dynamo Kiev last night against Shevchenko and co. A goal for Cameron Jerome who played in place of Crouch probably. But looking at their team that played, it's baffling how they are doing so well, although it will look a little different at the weekend. Stoke Sorensen Huth Shawcross Upson Wilkinson Shotton (Whitehead 81) Whelan Diao Palacios (Walters 87) Jones Jerome (Pennant 75) So have we got a better team than the European new boys? Where can we expose them, and what could be our weakness again? One up front against Huth and Shawcross will be a major flaw.
Its a game we can win Commo and for the sake of our sanity its a game we must win. I tend to agree a lot with what Gardner and Larssen have said, we are not a bad team and need a goal and win to lift confidence. Like many I got into the mindset, understandably, of were are the goals coming from? Well so far you would think we have no goal scorers but Bendtner, Wickham and Ji are good strikers. Gardner, Larssen and Sess have good goal scoring records. Vaughan can score and both Brown and O'Shea have scored a few at set plays. The goals are there we just need to get that first one and maybe a tough Stoke team can give us the challenge we need to start this weekend.
I think they are stronger as a whole and in almost every department. in defence they can chose from Upson, Woogdate, Huth, Shawcross, Collins. They have natural width with proper wingers right and left in etherington and pennant. For me they lacked abit of quality in the middle and they addressed that by bringing in palacios. Id take there strikeforce of walters Jones crouch and jerome over ours too. I think maybe our keeper selection (when Flash is fit) edges Begovic and Tommy laaa. Maybe we have more options in the middle of the park but whether its better time will tell.
5-3-1 down there place last season and I thought it worked quite well but our set piece defending let us down.
And we still scored twice, what odds for that on Sunday? We were robbed of atleast a point that day by dodgy officiating, maybe even all 3 points. We let them bully us though and we can't afford to let that happen. They seemed a very different team at our place last year though, almost dissinterested and devoid of what makes them difficult at home. I hope they turn up with that attitude on Sunday. Its just popped into my head, didn't Kenwyne score a cracking header and have it handballed over the bar? Cattermole the culprit?
Will need to do much better than we did last year at their place when the bombs start to come in - hopefully Brown and O`Shea (is he fit?) will be able to use there experience where we need it
What makes you think Bentdner, Wickham and Ji are good strikers Syd? Bentdner scores 1 in 4 Wickham scores 1 in 5 (in the Championship) Ji scores 1 in 3 (in an asian league) 1 Unused, 1 unproven and 1 unheard of Reckon SKP could do a better job even at his age than this lot Gardner 14 in 103 thats 1 in 8 Larsson 20 in 190 thats 1 in 10 Sessegnon 29 in 245 thats thats 1 in 9
Sorry just realised 5-3-1 isnt even a formation or I maybe just took into account Catts getting sent off, I meant 5-4-1
Can we beat them? Yes, on paper we have the better team. However, the crowd need to get behind the team from the get go and an early goal would be a big bonus as well. If both of those happen, it would be a big confidence boost for the lads.
Because ite the position they play and I prefer to be positive about my team, just an old fashioned view I have.
People who think we have a better team than Stoke are way past the delusion stage. Pulls deserves to be knighted for what he's done for them. Dire football, but europe this season, past cup runs, and a good league finish, in 3 years in prem? Incredible. Think of the money we have spent compared to them aswell.
Pulis deserves to be recognised for doing that with a team, that on paper, shouldnt be doing as well as they are. Which players that stoke have would get a sniff at our team?
Puliss made eight changes last night which suggests that he has a big eye on Sundays game. I have no doubt they will park the bus & lump long, high balls up field. I am worried about our defence what with Bardo being out. Wickham is set to make a start according to the local press. Will Ji be dropped then? If he is then it's a disgrace. Or,,,,,,,,,will we play three up front!!!!!!! Surely not.
