The Europa cup didnt affect our season at all, we have been this bad for the last few seasons. Its all an excuse IMO to pull the wool over peoples eyes.
I think I will do my own: Do we play good football - no is it at all entertaining - no Is Pulis the most negative manager in history - yes Is Pulis totaly clueless about team selection and tactics - yes has Pulis wasted millions and millions - yes does Pulis play CM's and CB's at full back every game - yes Does Pulis give a **** about the fans - no will Pulis ever play a midfielder consistantly who can pass the ball - no Will Pulis ever move away from hoofball tactics - no Is Pulis getting Stoke city a bad reputation for being thugs - yes Is how we play embarassing - yes do I appreciate everything Pulis has done for Stoke city fc - yes Is Pulis banging the ****e out of Coates - yes Is it time for Pulis to go - yes Is Pulis the messiah - NOT ON YOUR NELLY!!!!! that is all............................
It been said if Pulismwemt the next manager would have a hell of a job trying to sort out the team he was left with and we'd need a massive clear out, I don't think so, fill in the couple of gaps, it would have only 2 blanks had we not got a winger on his way to prison (any news btw? He was in court today) Begovic ---- Huth Shawcross ---- ---- Palacios Wilson Etherington Crouch Jerome
Potts I defo think the Europa league derailed our season. I'm pleased we did it but in TP's defense we did have an away tie every game after coming back from Europe which gave him no time to get them on the training ground to prepare for that particular game and it's differing styles and opponents. I also think some of the players he bought in especially for the Europa league didn't help either as he was then trying to shoehorn them into our prem squad to keep them happy (Woodgate for one)!
I agree, I actually think we have a few players capable of good football, just not with TP's tactics.
I think there's often a lack of confidence also, which won't be helped by Pulis' tactics. At times we have played good football, and if we carried on with it, confidence would only grow, but we either **** something up, and revert back to type, or end up in that defensive last 15, so we never get a run of good play, it's all too stop/start.
Good points - TP always seem to make changes when things are going well, yet holds fast when things aren't.
WELL said Ric Re the comment about IF Pulis was to leave.. we DO have at least 5/6 player's who are easily good enough.. AND no other Manager unless it was forced on him would play guys like Wilson LB Walters or Fuller or Jerome out wide.. it's simple basic common sense. I must also frustrate the hell out of our players. Crouch was fantastic at Spurs but he always had another player alongside him. Crouch's job is to win headers in the box, not 30 yds from goal with either one or both our wingers asked to defend first and attack if and when. YES a decent guy who knows player's and how to play them would be fine.
A small example of everything that is wrong with this board. You also say he's wasted millions - Those millions have kept us in the Premier league so I disagree with that too.
Thats funny, because upto the last transfer window we were the 3rd highest NET spending team over the previous 3 years. If those figures are correct, then there were 17 other teams who had spent less. So in answer to your statement, 14 of those 17 teams each year stayed in the prem with a lower out layand better football than us. In addition out of those 14 teams that stayed up and spent less, in the 2010-2011 season 10 of them finished above us - which is more or less the point at which we had spent the most money! OK, so you will say it will take this season for the results of that excellnet spending, coaching and man management to take affect. lets look at how we have improved this season as a result of all that money, hard work and skillful managment? 2008 - 2009: 12 Wins 38 Goals & -17GD 2009 - 2010: 11 Wins 34 Goals & -14GD 2010 - 2011: 13 Wins 46 Goals & -2GD 2011 - 2012: 11 Wins 34 Goals & -17GD (With 1 game to play) I'm struggling to see where the 90 million has gone because we look like we might (at best) match our 1st season results! Please show me the error of my ways!
It's not an error smithers it's a difference of opinion and both points are equally valid without the need to question our manager and chairmans sexuality. We finished with a minimum of 4th bottom so that is, in my opinion, success and that the ends justify the means - you have a different view but, again in my view, neither of us are in error so to speak.
To be fair Steve, I agree that survival in its own right is acceptable. I just feel that alot of managers could have done the same with less resources and could have offered us better football. Like you correctly state it is a matter of opinion and both are entitled to be discussed. My frustration is that alot of fans feel now, that because we are safe and because that has been developed in a certain way/style - that we have to accept it as the norm. It grieves me that fans like yourself (and I also think the same as you) know that there is a limited number of managers that are either capable or willing to work with the squad we have. I find it disgusting that a manager is potentially protected because of the mistakes or decessions made, effectively putting a control restraint on how the club moves forward, or in my opinion - how it cannot move forward. I would not disrespect TP to the extent of chanting him out, but I would be grateful if he felt that he had achieved what he could and moved on. I honestly believe that a more creative manager could get the same results with our existing squad without spending a penny more, but could probably increase the depth and ability of the squad by wheeling and dealing the existing players. Just an opinion. I dont think Ric was making reference to a sexual relationship between Coates & Pulis!
Steve do you actually go to Stoke and watch the dire football week in and week out? Because I'm thinking maybe not!
I go virtually every home match, watch all the away online, and I agree with Steve. But my years as a season ticket holder are only in single figures, so I guess my opinion doesn't count.
Pistol EVERY oppinion here on the Stoke board counts, I no longer attend away games for the reasons Smither's so rightly pointed out.. they are FACT and it means we have to score FOUR goals on Sunday just to equal our FIRST seasons goal tally. So where exactly is this progress or moving forward? That is for TP to answer and is not a dig at any Stoke fan at all. I said the other day it's pathetic and I stand by that because IMO it's simply not good enough. To date 34 goals in 37 games shows exactly why I call it negative beyond reason... there is only one person to blame, but what do I know, we've stayed up and could finish 11 when I think? we're all agreed that on the whole, this season has been the worst so far performance wise.... especially at home.
steve i like the post lol its also very true ! lol im sure potts yes we av played a mountain o games ... but i wonder if better team selection mite of helped ??
