Match Day Thread Stoke City v Sunderland AFC – Saturday 21st October 2023 - KO 15:00

Been away most of the international break so not surprised hes on the bench

We have often played our best football away from home without a striker so no overly concerned by it. He has players who will know their jobs in n out of possession

Got some good options to bring off the bench

 

It’s the element of surprise as well. Stoke will be set up to defend against a brick **** house up front rather than try to interfere with and cut out the intricate passing that having four small, skilful and nippy players strutting around in front of them.

 

how many games have they played? Can’t be righting them off without a chance like.

 

We didn’t have one to play then tho?

 

Every player that is on the bench will be disappointed they arent playing. TM has clearly picked a team that he feels gives us the best chance. The strikers on the bench are still getting up to speed with how we play and have scored a grand total of zero goals this season. Ba who is likely to start as a false 9 has scored 2 and will have at least a shot in every game so you could make the agrument hes gone for a team with our biggest attacking threats all on the pitch

 

Happy to have Ekwah and Huggins fit. Not thrilled at the idea of not playing a striker though.

 

That's it exactly. Neil would've been expecting us to play either Burstow or Hemir up front so one of their centre halves would've been deployed to mark him. Now we've got a floating "forward" to try and pull them out of position. Their centre halves will be wondering whether to go out or stick where they are

 

Not going to get an easier chance to open your account against Southampton than hemir needs time. Burstow has had a decent run has he not? Again needs time. If a striker had came in and hit the ground running then it's understandable. Not having a go just saying.

 

Yeah of course they will and that’s what you want but the other players have competition for places the strikers are getting left out for a ****ing midfielder.

 

I think hemir will be a good player tbf and I agree about burstow

 

It’s the same team that beat Southampton 5-0 except Huggins in for Cirkin, Roberts in for Dack and Pritchard in for Neil

 

I think we play better without a striker.

 

which creates much more space for our main goal threats out wide

 

3 points coming back to wearside potentially sitting in 3rd end of the day. Enjoy the game pal

 

Its then up to them to prove they should be starting in training n if they come off the bench today

I never care if we start a traditional striker or not, what we do need is that out ball and Ba at least gives us that. He will stretch the defence with his running and his movement in the box is very good - just lacks that composure

 

And so does Mobray by the looks of it, so why be a moaning **** about not having one? I hope to god it works but it’s really really pissing me off now.

 

Wasn't aware I was

 

Stoke have quite a few of their better players back (they’ve also had an injury “crisis” like us)