Well pleased with today's result as to be honest I actually feared the worst today and thought another defeat was looming. I was really surprised at Norwich as they were really poor and actually played worse than Swansea did last weekend. They didn't start to play until the last ten minutes. A big side and physical with it but that suited Stoke today. We played with passion and belief today and the tackles flew in like they used to. 2 wingers on and going at them all game. I thought the positive substitutions were good too and made the difference for the goal. Fair play TP credit where it's due the lads deserved it today. Made my day right at the end too when Jonny Walters went up to the Norwich fans that had been abusing him all game and shook his fists in jubilation. Nice one Jon lad!
Thanks for your views Waddo, some passion shown it seems and 2 wins on the bounce at home have taken us back up to 8th which I never thought we would manage again after the recent poor run. The only thing is, would Pennant have been introduced so early on if Wilko had not gone off injured. Chelsea next followed by Liverpool in the Cup - a return to form at the right time.
I wouldn't wish an injury on anyone, but I hope Wilkinson isn't fit for the next couple of weeks as we were much better when Pennant came on and Shotton went to right back. They seemed to work very well together too.
Shotto is obviously the new Delap. Pulis is no mug and he knows deep down Delap is done. But he needs that weapon and that is why he is sacrificing Pennant for Shotton. I love Wilko to pieces a proper Stokie and plays with passion but I agree with Stokiesmit if it means Wilko is left out for Shotto and Pennant plays that has to be better for the team!
Plus he is always a bit of a liability with his challenges. I think TP may have fond his best side now along with subs!
I thought we were absolutely brilliant today, we played some good football at times too. Well done the lads!!!!! and let the form continue.
Waddo You put that perfectly.. fantastic, just like a couple of season's back! I thought we made Norwich look awful.. as for Wilko going off I think it did us a favour. Pennant's delivery is miles better than Shotton's but he's still learning. I too saw SUPER JON give it big to the Norwich fans, nice one! Also thought T.P. for once changed the two front men and they both did really well. Ether's brilliant 2nd half and what a goal from such an accute angle, I was right behind it. WELL done Tony Pulis and the player's. FULLY deserved win today and I think? the Stoke fans we're up for it too! Different atmosphere today and like Ric say's. Now let's keep it going.
Things seem to have turned a corner and these were the games we needed to get results in - happy days!
Agree with all the above, great play seeing us pass the ball about a bit and seeing Norwich play like we usually do to counter us. I watched the game in a wee pub near Cromer and a Norwich fan come up to me and asked , "do I like the way Stoke play hoofball all the time compared to Norwich's tippy tappy stuff", I just laughed and told him, sorry pal we're not the team playing hoofball today.....and five minutes later Ethers scores that little peach and he wouldn't talk to me after that haha. We played to our strengths today and made them look t-wats, and they had to resort to fouling, pulling and pushing, with an experienced ref on the field I would expect to have seen Whitbread sent off. Well done lads!.
Thought Stoke played well yesterday. We played a lot more football than we have done recently, despite what the Norwich fans and the likes of Darren Huckerby and the Sky Sports pundits have suggested. Only one team played any football yesterday and it wasn't Norwich! Solid defensively, very good in central midfield. I expected a lot more from Norwich. They played for a draw. Man of the Match: Has to be Deano. He was immense. Broke up play so often, worked extremely hard, got plenty of tackles in and could've scored in the first half.
Sgt I had a "run in" with a Norwich fan last night.. name was BEEF, the guy is clearly an idiot.. kept berating things like.. YOU want to PAY to watch THAT every week? YES I DO thanks.. as for Norwich told him too that, they came for a pt and got nowt end of debate. Agreed Sgt, Deano was brilliant as was Huth/Ryan and Ether's.. well done to Pennant also. Left out AGAIN but showed he wanted the ball and that's a good sign for me. SIX pts and we're looking much better, keep it going lads.
Yeh I noticed that as well Potts. I remember him being very frustrated when he tried his best to win the ball but couldn't quite do it and he through his arms up in the air in frustration, which clearly shows he cares, which was great to see. I thought Jones looked lively when he came on as well. Great through ball to Jerome for his chance.
Well I had a cracking day with 3 other members of the Southern Supporters Club in The Waddington Suite. We get two tickets for the suite as we sponsor Ricardo Fuller We arrived at the ground just before 11am for a tour of the ground and our host was Terry Conroy. Therefater we lunched and learnt that in addition to TC 6 other members if the 1972 team were in attendance. So well pleased. Managed to chat to Jimmy Greenhoff and also George Eastham who now lives in South Africa. Also got the autographs on the programme to pass to Passheoatcakes son when I see them again! This is to say thanks for letting me have his Valencia ticket along with a bottle of Rioja! So to the game. I was worried coming into the games against Swansea & Norwich that we could be rolled over in each. I wa sproved wrong. We hurt Swansea and really punished Norwich who I thought were really disappointing. I expected so much more from them. How anybody can I say Norwich were playing the better football I do not understand. Great goal by Matty and after the game he gave a good interview, being very honest that he heard the crowd groan as he did not take the opportunity 5 minutes prior to the goal. He considered he had not been playing well but was doing exactly the same things in training as he has in the last 2 years. So we have a cushion now for the next couple of games. Let us hope that we sneak something at Stamford Bridge. Cheers
Cris Pleased you enjoyed yesterday mate.. Especially meeting the ex Stoke player's too. I said to a couple of mates when they we're introduced to the crowd before kick-off. " Many of the fans here today will not remember that team of 72" Still, great to see T.C. Greenhoff, Eastham etc getting the applause the deserved. It certainly does'nt seem like 40 years ago! I was reading the Norwich thread on here last night??? Decided to have a pop at a few Canaries who obviously were NOT at the game yesterday. As Smither's said above Cris, we've had this tag re our "Style" since getting promotion.. but IMHO we're better, than many Prem clubs. WHEN Tony Pulis does as he did yesterday.. he get's it right team wise. Onwards and upwards and say hello to Norfolk when you see him next. I miss his well informed sensible and constructive comments.
Short sighted Canary? YOU we're beaten by the better team and it was fully deserved... Sum's it up much better. We're you actually at the game? If so, WHICH game we're you watching? Norwich for all the pre match hype.. We're UTTER S""""E Have a nice day P.S. Holt is the biggest THUG in the Premier League..
