I have tried hard after our woeful performance on Monday night, to try and keep calm and just accept that every team has an off day. However, the more I think about it, there have not been too many "on" days in the PL this season. Against Chelsea, we were OK, against UTD we played well, and against Liverpool we defended heroically. After that, what have we done to get any excitement going in the PL? We have the least shots of any team in the PL, are way down with the lowest scorers in the past 4 seasons (only scored 4 once in 4 years, have only scored 3 away once), are now back to resorting to long throws and set pieces as the only way to look like scoring. Still I keep turning up with my lads, and now I feel as if TP is treating me like a mug - relying on fans to put up with the same negative tripe week after week. We spent £22m in the transfer window and continually consign £12m of that expenditure to the bench. Something has clearly happened behind the scenes with Huth, and perhaps TP has a genuine reason for leaving him out of the side - one thing that I do know is that I don't believe a word that TP utters. I feel that our team spirit is not what it was - it's the only way I can explain the lack of performances from Etehrington and Pennent, who probably think " why do I run a marathon each week while Delap Whelan, Whitehead plod around a 50 yard circle between our box and the half way line?" Why do we subject our Centre Forwards to an endless procession of high balls, delivered to them with their back to goal, and two Centre Halves stuck up their bums, and then moan that they are not delivering the goods? Would'nt we be better off at the ground letting TP know that it his tactics that are driving a lot of people quietly mad? I had high hopes for Wilson as a midfield player, given that he could beat a man, can actually pass and would probably have a decent shot every so often; so where is he playing? That's right - full back - obviously 3 months of the close season were not sufficiently long enough for the MENSA member with the Cap to realise we had a gaping hole to fill at left back. The thing is, because I have renewed season tickets year after year, because I have bought into "well, be greatful, he got us up, and he kept us there", I actually deserve the standard of football that TP serves up. I managed to stop myself from bursting into song on Monday night, although I was considering "Away, its just like playing away, its just like playing away". At least I've seen the light with that one, and have decided that 90 minutes of defending, no shots, no goals is not the way to spend weekends. People trot out statistics like "only 5 defeats in 16 games", I would suggest that we look at 5 defeats in the last 7 as being more telling. I can already see the excuses when Bolton register their first home point (pray God not points) on Sunday. But, hey ho, TP has advanced us (or so I am told) every year, it must be my own fault that I just can't see it that way. I can't wait for Thursday and Sunday's next thrilling installment of "aard hoofball" -TP I am eternally greatful.
see, now ive said **** all on threads about our result Monday night (basically i was still in shock), but it is threads like this (and others since) that really piss me off. We are Stoke, we will allways be Stoke, we were ****ing utter garbage 20 years ago, we were even in div 3, with Vale & Crewe in the league above us, but did we still support the team?. Yes we ****ing did. Is the football nowadays as exciting as it was then, when we plummeted down the league, no it was worse in those days, thats why we ended up in Div 3, but did we still support our club?. Yes we ****ing did. I think nowadays, even the Pulis supporters will appreciate we are playing ****ing awfull football, but we were last year! This is our worst perfomance at home since we came up to the Prem, thats probably why everyone (well 75% are) is complaining. We are Stoke City & we are still in the Prem. For those of you complaining How we play football, 1 solution, either stop complaining or **** off & support the vale ( i hear they are playing pretty well). Conclusion: We are all die hard city fans, you knew what Pulis was like, yes we play **** most of the time, but under Pulis that is what you will get. SUPPORT HIM & THE TEAM FOR THE SAKE OF SCFC?
Ah, Mighty Huth. Yes, we were garbage 20 years ago, but we were actually very good 10 years before that.The point is, it's not how you were, but how you are. From your posts it is clear that you watch Stoke as often as I do, so tell me truthfully, are you happy at what you have witnessed with the exception of the 3 games I mentioned. Do you think we score enough goals, or look like scoring enough goals? Does what was a pretty solid defence last year, look as solid now, with the "rotational" changes that happen every match. A goal is a goal, fair enough I can think of 2 that have come from open play (strangely enough away at WBA and Norwich) - does that constitute (and bear in mind it costs me well over £75 a home match with refreshments for the boys and parking)an incentive to stand behind TP? I respect your view, clearly you are getting the type of fare that you also deserve, I hope that you are enjoying it. If I was going to support the Vale or Crewe, clearly I would have done it when as you say they were in a higher division than us. I am a Stoke Fan (not a fan of Cluless) and to paraphrase one of our chants "I'LL SAY WHAT I WANT!". I believe Newport is still looking for its Idiot.
Huthy - behave yourself - or ELSE!! Mate I have supported Stoke for 60 years, through thick, thin, thinner and least thin of all times, but I DO not and Will not support Pulis. ENOUGH iS ENOUGH
Huth you are talking utter utter ****. I will always support stoke but cannot pay to watch that ****e again. I will be honest and say I want Pulis out, he has spent an absolute fortune on some very good players but he does not know what to do with them, thats why most of them are sitting on the bench. What I have witnessed this season so far has been an absolute disgrace. With the players we have we the FANS deserve a lot lot more, and I am grateful for him getting us promoted but we the fans deserve better than Tony Pulis. He has actually brainwashed a lot of fans in believing that what he serves up week in week out is as good as it is going to get and we should be grateful, well Im telling everyone on here what we have had to watch is not good enough and IMO it wont get any better. Thanks for everything TP but I think its time you went
I cant work you out sometimes Huthy? Your commenst are generally, accurate and you reflect more or less every fans thoughts and feelings, but to say thats tough so jog on is not really the answer! If we continue likes this, we will eventually fall wrath of our own defeciencies, so my question to you is this; If we support (unquestionably) our team who continue to play in the flawed manner that is deemed neccessary because "we knew what TP was like" and get relegated - is that in the best interest of the club? If you feel Yes then so be it, but if you feel No, then surely we as fans need to be more vocal in gaininga resolve! Coates and TP have an obligation to the club and city - relegation would hinder both!
I have a confession to make I do not go the brit, i do not go to away matches, because of the god damn awful dross that our manager serves up week after week. I watch all the games on the internet for free, in this way i can switch off whenever i want ( which in most away games is when we go 1 down ). We can all see that our football this year is even worse than ever, but the manager has once again refused to adress where our glaringly obvious weakness/faults are in the summer. I WILL NEVER PAY to go & watch Stoke whilst this manager is in charge (did not go the 2 wembley games either as a principle).
I didn't go to Wembley either for exactly the same reason. Also the fact that the club offered early season tickets to NON SEASON TICKET HOLDERS glory hunting at Wembley in advance of existing season ticket holders was a fukin disgrace. It shows that they dont care about the core hardcore fans who have been season ticket holders year on year!
That explained everything, the bad tactics, poor team selection etc........ Your watching the game via internet!
no i need a smaller peak on my cap (or turn it around), as i can see defence, defence, defence, if i turn it around it might change to attack, attack, attack.
Guys - I know the secret of the black magic box (Huthy). Be nice to me and I will let you know. Steve re antonym, don't 3 syllable word me matey!!
