SAFC fan (know we haven't got on since the...incident but) Never was a massive Stoke fan, just thought it was ex Sunderland players with a couple of others (yes we are more or less a team of ex manchester) but anyway I wouldnt wish Pulis on any team Similar to our ex Manager Steve Bruce in not having a plan B, tactically inept, whinges to media when refereees arent giving him descisions (which is really annoying, imagine some of you's agree), Dreadful style of play As many of you have said he picked a strong team against crawley and a youth team against Valencia, which i think most fans in the country said 'wtf...' Just wondering if Pulis were to be sacked (as i believe apart from Crawley your results haven't been too good of late?) who would you want?
Exactly if you think about it !!! Who could take over Stoke if he was to go which will not happen anytime soon and im not sayin it should !!! Really ?? who ? Not MON the bloke has been outa the game playin on his nerves the twitcy f**** since his last job ! the honeymoon will burst the r still the same ****e side they were when he landed ! A serious candidate fellas ? Its a tuff one ?
No not really. How about Lambert from Norwich or Rodgers from Swansea?? Though I suppose the only reason they would leave their current clubs is the thought that they may have £90 million to spend. No perhaps not, back to Big Sam!!
Well here's my twopenneth for what it's worth.. No doubts Sunderland are a transformed team since MON arrived but, still only 3pts above Stoke? That may or may not improve (the pts gap between us before May) BUT sadly unlike Steve Bruce, Tony Pulis will not leave, he won't be pushed so we'll get on with it and see where we finish. It does prove however one thing.. MON is either one lucky son of a gun or a genius.. apart from McClean Sunderland have not changed their team that much. But hey effin presto the world is now there oyster IMO. Funny thing is, could another Manager other than Tony Pulis do better with the (squad we do have).. Certainly I'm sure they could.... given a choice which sadly we do not have YET.. i.e. a choice of another Manager coming in. I would ask Lou M ex Utd player to have another crack at running the team here at Stoke... Like MON he would not suffer fools.. as I belive some Sunderland player's we're just not (doing it) for Steve Bruce. One thing I've noticed is you are now playing as a TEAM... which didn't happen under Brucie IMO. Am I correct in thinking that he NEVER gave McClean a chance before MON came in? For me he's your'e best player.
Jowler Good choice and given the MONEY that David Moyes has not had like a certain guy, closer to home.. he would coach our player's. ie more football. He's done remarkably well at Everton and I wonder if.. Come the end of the seaon, Everton don't have too much cash to spend. Will he be tempted elsewhere? BUT, I fear a bigger club than Stoke would want him first... there goes another Plan X out the window... Maybe we're all panicking too much? I don't personally think we are. END of ANY fan who see's us regulally at home as I do. Will tell you it's garbage to watch especially the last couple of months anyway. As for our away form, I've not seen us play apart from Sunderland away and that was horrendouus. Strange how most rival fans think we are safe that's as maybe but right now, I'm worried this season could end in disaster.. if not for Wolves, QPR, Blackburn and Bolton we would be well and truly scuppered.
It's been commented on that we played pretty well against Valencia, and with a few changes, we could transform that team into a a good squad. Swap Delap and Collins for proper fullbacks (well, the best we've got at least.) And Diao for Whitehead or Whelan from the from the middle, then there's a choice of Matty, Pennant, Jerome, Jones, Crouch and Fuller for 2 up top. I think that setup worked quite well, and I'd like to see some stronger players put in, but a similar setup could do us quite well against passing teams.
And yeah, Moyes would be a good choice of manager, him and O'Neil are the only 2 I can think of that would be a realistic target, and not only be as good/ worse than Pulis.
I'd like to see most get a start before Diao! Saying that though, he did a decent job Thursday given his age and how many games he's played recently. I've said on another thread, I'd like to see Arismendi again, he played well and his fitness seemed better than Palacios. We'll be alright for CM's if Wilson gets to play there again, and Arismendi is consistent.
The team had a bit more hunger about them on thursday and I liked Arismendi, but if we are going to persist with defensive formations the left and right back positions need sorting out.
That won't happen this season as we don't have a decent LB so Wilson will be playing there until the summer at least
