Today we watched Stoke get hammered by Bolton, Birmingham lose at Reading, and Tottenham went to Fulham and won.* I know Tottenham are in the Europa League also, but they generally play a full reserve team. The others Fulham, Stoke and Birmingham are clearly struggling to perform in the league after games on Thursday nights, in particular Stoke who have been hammered by 2 struggling sides in Sunderland and now Bolton.* I was just wondering if you fans are happy with your managers fielding full strength sides in the Europa League, as it's clearly affecting your league form. I don't know about you guys, but if I was a fan of one of your clubs, I wouldnt want to see my teams league form affected, by the Europa League. That's just my opinion though.* Thoughts?*
It's about squad rotation and depth and it's a learning process for Pulis and Hughton, but what's the point in doing well in the league if you don't bother with European football? You have to learn, build and adjust in order to progress.
I Think King that this has past its point of an excuse I dont see it myself .. What do players prefer ? playing a game or training every day ! Poor poor excuse now me thinks for inept tactics and players not pulling there weight ! If this is the case i can assure you that the vast majority of Stoke fans would bomb the Europa games out now ! Cause this League form is embarrassing ... and becoming very concerning ..
The reason we have been failing after Europa games is pure coincidence. Note that we have played away after every Europa Group game and been away each time. We've always been **** away, it's just now the media seem determined to give us an excuse. Pulis is solely to blame for our abysmal form this season. Getting really pissed off with Pulis this season.
Stoke have been pretty unlucky in the sense that they had not had any home games after the Europa league games on Thursday. But they are still 12th in the league and doing really well in Europe, so credit to them for that. Stoke can sort out of the league once they get out the group stages in the Europa league.
We are 12th yes but only 3 points above relegation and that's where we'll be soon unless Pulis wakes the **** up to his stupid selections.
He's new to European football. He's bound to make some mistakes. What would be the point in getting back into Europe again if you don't learn anything from this time out?
I'm not talking about Europe. I'm talking about the league. Our Premier League form has nothing to do with Europe. It has everything to do with Pulis' tactical ineptness and stupid selections
I disagree that your results after Europe, are pure coincidence. Bolton have not won a home game all season, and they've beaten you guys comfortably today. I don't see what the media has to do with anything, I don't read the papers, and I've spotted it. You guys are alot better than what you showed today at Bolton, you were good enough to get to the cup final last season, and youve spent a few bob in the transfer Market. Pulis has done a great job for you these past few years, but I'd agree that he has realy cocked up this season, by taking the Europa League so seriously. Surely your reserve team would still be strong enough to beat the likes of Macabi Tel Aviv?
And what do you think has influenced those selections? Fitness and injury concerns from European games, perhaps? He's trying to take the club forward, progressing in a competition where he's completely unfamiliar with the format. It'll take time to adjust to it and he'll make some mistakes. It's a tricky balancing act at times.
We've always been ****e away from home so I'm sorry but it is pure coincidence. We are playing badly, as I said before on Pulis' stupid selections, i.e. the constant picking of Woodgate being one. It has nothing to do with Europe. That is too easy an excuse and not one Pulis and the players deserve to have.
I just don't think you can totally overlook the effect that playing strong teams away in the EL, away from home, can have. And when you're weighing up how good an idea that is you've got to be realistic about what your domestic ambitions are. Stoke are not a team who are aiming for consistent EL qualification - therefore the aim is a top-half finish and to avoid relegation worries. If so then why not try for a bit of good, old fashioned glory on those EL nights? I'd not be happy with Spurs putting out full-strength teams in the EL at the moment but that's because it a) we really are aiming for the CL, which is very hard to achieve, and b) at the moment we have enough strength in depth that weaker teams that we're putting out for the EL are good enough to get the job done (hopefully).
I think you guys are being a little hard, and premature in having a pop at Pulis. Personally, I think he's done a fantastic job. Let's face it, a couple of years ago you'd have been happy just with Premiership survival - now your playing in Europe! Remember, it's a learning curve for Pulis, too.
He's always had these selections. He has a massive problem dropping the players who are his "favourites" such as Delap and Woodgate. Huth was player of the season last season for us. His reward is to be either dropped or moved to full back which is the main reason why we've conceded 3 or more 4 times this season whilst last season it happened 3 times throughout the whole season.
To be honest lads unless you are a stoke fan and have watched every stoke game you dont know how bad we have been this season. Pulis has to go its as simple as that!!
He has done a great job but his tactics, style and team selections this season deserve to be criticised and if it doesn't improve over the next month or so I will join the "Pulis Out" brigade. In my opinion he has taken us far as he can and the only we can go is down and that is a sincere possibility should the current tripe Pulis offering up continue. If he just drops Woodgate and puts Huth and Shawcross back together we will look solid again, but he won't do it.
He's done a great job but currently he is pissing me, and a number of other Stoke fans, off big style lately.
