Like the song,Delilah i cant take it any more,i watched us get promoted,i have been every home match in the Prem,but going to watch Stoke now is awful. The football the last 2 years has been terrible,we have about 2 or three good matches at home a season. The away form is shocking,the best season was the first,when the team fought for every ball,i was just glad to go and see us try,and every goal was a bonus. I was so excited,Stoke in the Prem,now i go and i am so frustrated how we play,same old players playing out of position,no full backs,no midfield and no link up play any where on the pitch,and the times we give these ball away is shocking. I would love to have seen a few young players in the last few matches,but i know that's not going to happen,plus i know big mama will be first name in the squad,that says it all.
Without getting into the ins and outs and being personal to anyone of the players or management, I think you have hit the nail on the head. I have often said that I would watch Stoke even if we lost every game and like you have pointed out, I think thats what alot of fans felt may have happen in the first season. Like you, I felt that our 1st year was our best, not because our football was any better, but because we made do with what we had and fought over every blade of grass. The "up and at em" approach was played effectively (Tactically directed by TP) and with heart - neither the players or the crowd ever gave up! Subsequent seasons have seen things go backwards, trying to play the same way, misusing players and the team as a whole having only 50% of the "up and at em". Its often felt that things have a 2 or 3 year cycle and managemnet is no different. In TP's defence, it is very difficult to evolve and keep things fresh when you are so 1 dimensional in the first place, but ultimatley we went flat and stale as of the end of the 2nd season in the prem. I gave Tp the benefit of the doubt in the 3rd season, but refused to renew this term - just like you and many others are considering now!
The siginings again have been TP/Stoke's down fall. Not because they are all bad, but because they are bought to do a certain job and that forces us down the route our football is going at the moment! Others players taht could or may make a difference of treated unfairly!
You have to decide what you want as a club. You're now established as a premier league side, with no danger of being relegated, in my opinion. So, is that enough? Or do you want to push on, aim for Europe again? Or is good football the important thing? If it is, you need to replace Pulis now. He will keep you mid-table, but doesn't show any signs that he wants to change the style of play.
I agree, personally all I want is to be entertained and for us to pass the ball a bit. Its not a lot to ask really.
I would rather risk going down than to stay where we are at the moment and playing the way we do. Its time for a change. We are dire. About 8 to 10 years ago my wife and I didn't renew our season tickets and we recieved a letter from Mr Pulis asking us why. I said that with the travelling, waiting to get off the car park for an hour or more after watching awfull football from my beloved team, with no signs of it ever improving, that we just couldn't take anymore. He wrote back and said that he was working hard with the players and everyone at the club to improve the quality of the team. He must be pretty pissed off with working so "ard" after all these years with no sign of improvement.( I know he took us up but where's the quality football?)
The above posts have said it all for me! In honesty I have enjoyed at most SIX home games this season. Utd, Chelsea, Citeh, Fulham, Spurs and Arsenal the rest we're average at best, some we're just diabolical. If Pulis left yesterday for me, it would'nt be too soon... see the light Mr Coates and let another guy take over. There are far better managers out there than Tony Pulis. Make no mistake, Pulis has proved to me that he can not handle CLASS player's and is slowing draining the life out of Stoke City FC... Tuesday's first half was beyond description.. performace wise. Utter garbage and NO OFFENCE to Rory Delap but he has just signed another 1 year contract.. That is NOT going forward it's an insult to Delap, a great servant to Stoke City but he's too old and simply not good enough. Mama? Diao? and a few more. Sorry Tony you have lost me. Thanks for what you have acheived but the sooner you leave the better our FOOTBALL will be. SADLY that will NOT happen yet!
When I didn't renew my 5 x season tickets at the end of last season, you know what TP wrote to me - Fuk all! Why? Because there was a number of glory hunter fans prepared to buy them - so much for appreciating loyal fans!
When i went the home match's,i use to record the match's on football first on sky TV,the last one i taped was when we played spurs at home,that says it all,i know i have watched some on ESPN Man city,etc,etc. I don't bother to watch the away matches unless we win.
