By having the balls to drop Cattermole,and creating a more positive midfield,we have got our season under way.With an out-of-form Cattermole being replaced,we are more positive and our discipline will be better.No more red mist and red cards!!
Good result and good performance but Bruce is not out of the woods yet, he`s just had a reprieve today. Still not convinced that he should keep the job but if he keeps winning then he will change my mind.
I think Catts will struggle to get back soon, too. The big advantage of this midfield is that opponents can't put two or three men on the striker - they've too much else coming at them. How I wish we'd had this midfield last season - just think of Bent and Gyan let loose! I don't think either would have gone, y'now. Catts and Hendo provided nothing like the threat we saw today.
Said for ages that we should never play Catts and Colback together. Really surprised both were out mind. Got to admit we had very little to beat (Stoke were awful) but looked really good in the middle and have something positive to work on. Long way back for Catts with Myler looking a better bet also.
Yep, very well done Bruce, he had the team motivated and organized. I was hoping he'd drop Catts and bring Vaughan in and he made a big decision to drop his captain but it was the right one. Vaughan was the difference for me that player we've been missing and he was motm by a mile for me. Hats off to elmo too who had his best game in red and white
Thought he had a great game also but Brown was immense and just shaded it for me. If Bendtner had continued his first half performance it would have been him. Fab to have choices eh.
To be honest it was 442 today really, Sess hardly did anything in our half, at the moment without a 2nd proven striker I think he is best up there. Once we buy someone he can go on the right and replace Elmo who blew hot and cold today. Larson actually played better today at LW with Ricco behind him, he likes to drift inside and pick passes so temporarily I think he is the best option there. Bruce cannot change the midfield now, Gardener looked a threat all game going forward but could also put his foot in and Vaughans passing and reading the game was superb, he can also tackle with precision.
Great result. Good team picked today and wonderful effort shown by all. Can we all stop saying "this" please? It's lazy. x
I think you guys have highlighted to the EPL world that stoke still have big issues in away games. Not saying you guys didn't play well, but if they even played reasonably well they should have been able to avoid a 4-0 lashing. I'm quite looking forward to facing them at home now. We might lose, but this game has shown that they're winnable
True. The one thing i thought he'd never do was drop his blue eyed boy in Catts but he had the balls and the nouse to do so, so fair play. Vaughan was tremendous by all accounts so deserves his place.
I'm with you on this one Coommachio. Why the hell Bruce continues to play the lone striker is beyond my comprehension, especially at home. Most of the players had good games against a poor Stoke side but if I have one complaint it is that Elmo showed a lot of enery and willingness to run at defenders, all to often his final ball had no end product. Umpteen times he skinned his marker only to hit the first man in defence. On the few occassions he didn't hit the first man he totally over hit the ball. A complete waste, plenty more practice on the training ground. Overall a vast improvement on what we have been served so far this season.
