I think most of us on here accept that this season for us will now fizzle out and that without the right signings we will struggle next season but at least Pulis has achieved his 3yearplus plan of survive survive survive and do not bother about winning just try not to lose With regard to signings we get excited about the rumours and possibilities but are left to wait until the 11th hour for those no one else wants or in Crouchy's case are prepared to pay the fee So why can we not attradt quality players IMO it is because 1 we can never be a fashionable club even if we wanted to Despite our long and proud history we can not compare status wise to the usual top 6 2 Our wage structure which is not bad on the one hand if it prevents large debts especially if we go down 3 IMO Pulis is a major factor His reputation for negativity vindictiveness and favouritism must be well known amongst the PFA and lets be honest if you were a half decent skillful player would you want to be subject to his management IMO the calibre of manager is so important and sorry to raise the past again but Huddy etc joined us because they had respect for Waddo who treated them with the respect they ahd earned as quality players So unless Pulis goes I fear another dour season with survival the target QED SiS PS Well done Chelsea and as I posted some weeks ago how ironical that Abramovitch has spent millions on managers and yet a WBA "reject" is almost there
1) I think it's worse than that - I think we struggle to get into top 20 - It's a number of factors, history, pulis and the town itself.... I grew up in stoke but have lived in quite a few other places - Being realistic Staffordshire is not one of my favourite places to live, I only do so to be close to my daughter. 2) I hear we pay players massive signing bonuses just to keep the weekly wage bill down. 3) Agreed though you'd think burly defenders would love to play our style, just a problem with anyone forward of our own box.
1. The clubs is unfasionable because of our style and tactics! 2. Liverpool, Man U, Man City dont struggle to get players as they are quite happy to live in areas around, Wilmslow and Alderly Edge being the nearest to us - OK for Tevez and the Beckhams etc! 3. Staffordshire is commutable from the northern home counties! 4. Sign on bonuses/wages are adequate enough to get the type of players we need/want. Based on these there are no real excuses just the fact that we are NOT improving!
Ahhhh - I can just see him now in 15 years time retireing and singing "My Way" on the pitch! All joking apart, if he has 2 or 3 years left on his contrcat he aint goining anywhere!
I'm not sure what he's on now, but I know in the past Pulis has wanted to stay on short term rolling contracts, rather than signing up for X amount of years. I don't think signing players will be that much of a problem really, it's signing the right players for the right price. Some might be put off by stories about Pulis, but there are plenty of stories about how great he is to have around, top bloke etc etc. It's not even a question of skill for me either. Swansea don't really have many proper skillful players, but they can all make a pass, whereas when we had Tuncay, he was a very skilled individual, but didn't do much for the team. There are way too many variables to go into too much detail, and I don't know what TPs master plan entails, but for me, we could do with a few fresh faces, but we don't need to improve the squad much, what we need is the old team spirit back, and more confidence!
But Potterpistol, that is exactly the problem, getting the old team spirit back, very difficult when you have a Pulis and his favouritism antics. Players constantly in wrong positions does not breed confidence. Pulis is the problem with his negative scaredy-cat, no balls attitude. He once said 'there are no big time charlies at this football club' since that time, what 21/2 years ago, that is exactly how he has acted, always in the press commenting on other clubs etc, oh and of course the famous 'we are Stoke City and we don't complain' Really, that's all he has done this season, Referees, Europa cup draw, worst group too far to travel etc, scheduling of PL games after a Europa cup match, news media, can you please tell me something he hasn't complained about?? I notice on The Oatcake that the mood has changed, there are far more anti pulis posters than ever before, let's just hope this transfers to the Brit for the last two home games and let Mr Coates know that Pulis has got to go, willingly or not.
Without being too negative, timing always works in TP's favour. There may be some discontent at the Brit if we dont do well against Arsenal, but even if we lose all our remaining fixtures the end of the season will save any sustained pressure! Everyone will go on holiday, we will probably make a last minute signing (like Crouch) and the fan base will be upbeat! In TP's defence we are generally pretty sharp at the beginning of the season and we will probably start next season the same as this - some solid performances, good points on the board and hope for the remainder of the season! Then sets in the 1st slump, justified by the fact that "everyone as a bad run and we are just not getting the rub of the green". Xmas arrives in which we muddle by and with festive spirit people tolerances turn a blind eye that we sit 4-6 points above the bottom 3. There is a rumbling amongst some fans that we need to give TP the transfer window to rectify our lack of quality in midfield and upfront, something that he hasn't done in the previous 8 transfer windows. The New Year sees a small run and further justifications that TP has done OK and he took us to the FA Cup final & Europe - DONT YOU KNOW!!!!. With the run into the season ending fixtures approaching we find ourselves within 9 points of the bottom 3, routed at the bottom of the league in Goals For, Shots on Traget and Possession, and starting our feeble end of season low form finishing in 16th place on a consistent (but not reflective of our capabilities) 43 points! Discontent rumbles amongst the Stoke faithful, but with no expansion of the home ground a further turnover of 33% season ticket holders is not a problem for the glory hunter newbie fans. The season ticket sale remain stagnant and Coates see no reason to support the fact that TP is not liked by the true local football community! Give him the summer - people say! GROUNHOG DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't see anything changing until we see the back of Pulis. It's his ball and you have to play the way he wants or sit on the bench. I can't see him relinquishing any form of expressive power to the players, as he will see it as he is no longer in control. He is a man who has been promoted beyond his capabilities.
Teehee Smithers, that's next season sorted then, same again for 2013/14!! Problem is you are probably correct. Another problem (for me anyway) - I really couldn't care less any more, with Pulis in charge.
I think? it's a rolling 1 year contract but don't quote me on that... whatever rolling means, more like limping along!
Basically that he gets a 1 year payoff at any given point, or has to be given a 1 years notice! Not to bad then, I think he's on 1million + performance bonuses, but that might have been increased after the qualifying for Europe and the FA cup final! Either, way a pretty cheap buy out for a prem manager!
Only one million quid to buy T.Ps contract? CAN Nicky organise a whipround, I have a spare £20:00 note in my wallett
Can do Potts, will accept Euros as well. Easy really, as you know Potts I can take on-line payments!!! For this exercise though pleease use BACS to; NickyB Sort - 22-55-00 A/c - 2156153 National Bank of Cayman Islands (Sandibanks Branch) Cheers N
next season?....................................................same as this season really.......................................SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE!!!!!!!!. Ive decided not to go to another Stoke game either home or away until Pulis has gone. I simply cant justify to my family spending all this money on something which at the moment I do not enjoy. I know I was saying about being positive but after the Newcastle game I really do give up. We have players with very limited ability and I can see us signing players of similar abilities this summer. To be honest I am a liitle bit embarassed at our club at the moment and I never ever thought I would say that. I am still Stoke city til I die but for this season ive had enough.
