personally i think that asking a manager to avoid relegation one year and then ask him to get into the top 8 next season is a bit much, I like your positivity but I personally dont see top 8 as realistic. I hope he proves me wrong
Well said Smithers,a very good article, and I can`t disagree with your summing up. Hughes has definately surpassed my expectations. I like the way the team is evolvingand I must admit he has really strengthened the squad. I was very critical of Arnie when he came,but his performances have vastly improved lately. (although he does still throw a little`sulkie` every now and then,which I find very annoying!!) I think Eric Pieters is a great improvement on Wilson at left back. Assaidi is a good loanee.Ireland is ok,but I don`t think he`s giving Giudetti a `fair crack of the whip` Best move of all was swapping that overrated,idle,useless `t--t` Jones for Odemwingie. He has got far more ability,is more willing,definately more potent in front of goal and gives us a different attacking option. I think his tactics have been spot on in the last few games,and I must admit pushing N`Zonzi more forward was a revelation ..Two very good wins without Adam ( and one without Walters!) says something surely. I was concerned when I saw the bench on Sunday though,Shotton,Shea,Wilko,Sorro, and who is Ward ? Does anybody know anything about him? All in all things have turned out much better than I believed possible, 8/10 for me ( could even stretch to 9!)
Really sorry guys but I really can not say it was "my fault not posting for some time, it seem's ages) Nicky was quite correct I was really ill, feeling rough since Dec time. I feel I have to explain so here goes. I said Nurse's let my out of hospital for that night game because it was a big game, As Cris mentioned I went to the Norwich game since then BOOM! My youngest as you all know is a Nurse in Birmingham. I had my tickets for the Villa game. But suddenly on Sunday morning something didn't feel right. In short I felt and looked horrendous. LUCKILY for me! Marie came over and she took my BP blood pressure holy **** Dad I can't find one and you have little or no pulse. The Doc's told my yesterday "If not for your daughter doing what she did, rang 999 you no doubt would NOT have come through this ie I would have died. The last thing I remember and this would be during the Villa game is my pulse jumping. If I tell you it reached 245 beats per minute, I almost didn't make it. The "Norm being around 65-80 bpm. I am lucky and fortunate that I'm home now. Not fully recovered but far, fart better than I was Sunday through Monday. Sadly for me I can NOT attend another Stoke game until my heart is scanned, which will be around a months time. I will know more then. My heart has an infection due to coughs/a few bad colds and flu since Nov time. My heart is now infected and I'm taking treatment for that. ANY stress right now would kill me. If I tell you walking/talking sends my BP into orbit. I having to do zero but just rest. Sorry for the long response but I am one lucky Stokie, missed the game at Villa but watched it on MOTD2 last night was in a word. AMAZING to see. Smither's a brilliant summary mate, when I've finished reading it I will come back and vote. Thank you all for your concern. Pott's
I think it about time I give a score. It would be 8 for me. The season started slowly and although we had more possession and passed more there was little 'cutting edge' (words of Hughes) and the defence started shipping goals. However, in the last 3 to 4 months we have seen some sterling performances where we could have picked up more points than we have actually done. Great wins against Chelsea, Man Utd and Aresenal and we are now on the back of wins against West Ham and Villa, teams we were just not beating previously. I think back to the way Villa romped home with ease and rather than winning 3-1 it could have been 6-1! We have a great chance this weekend to consolidate our position in the Premier League and I do believe that was one of the initial objectives set to Mark Hughes when he took over. the other of course was to provide more entertainment and in the longer term move us to another level. I think he has achieved the first two objectives and it is a matter of time whether the last is achieved. I hope that Hughes has learnt his lesson of showing some loyalty to his employers. I thought it was a disgrace how he bahaved at Fulham and I will have that thought at the back of my mind as to whether I can entirely trust him. I am alsoo wary of what funds the Coates family will provide to Mark Hughes in the summer. I am not one that studies accounts but I hear words that Peter Coates wants the club to be 'self sufficient' and also that he wants his loans repaid. When I hear that, that causes me concern for the longer term. I believe that might be a strategy to sell the club which would be a concern if we look elsewhere. The forward line is much better with Peter Odemwingie and Arnie supportiing Crouch but the latter is relatively slow and a successor is needed. However, Crouch has scored more goals for Stoke than at any other club he has been at including Liverpool. I think that says a lot about how well he has done for us! Anyway I think if I cary on I will just ramble so will leave it there.
Potts so sorry to hear you`ve been so poorly,and still are,I hope everything turns out well for you. If they catch things in time these days(and thank God for Marie!) they can do amazing things. Good luck ,at least you haven`t got to worry about the mighty Potters this year!! Just REST.
Three Cheers to you Potts. Stay safe , and I raise my mug of hot chocolate to you 'cause #I believe in miracles#
About bloody time Potts - any old excuse. Good to see you pal, just take it EASY. Don't drink hot choc but raising a glass of Sanatogen to ye.
That's 40 points with 6 games still to play, we are 10th with a gap of 6pts between us and 11th place. A great position to be in and apart from Chelsea next week, perhaps, the remaining games should yield further points. I have to admit after the Newcastle and Spurs games over Xmas and the fact we seemed to be stuck on 26 points for a long time I thought we would be in a battle to stay up. But what a great last few games/results. 10th position and our highest points haul are very possible now. Well done.
Mark Hughes as done fantastic. Not hit the heights of last week but a massive odemwingie is some signing. More importantly the players look like they are loving it. Keep it up lads well done.
Seconded and thirded. We are starting to look like a 'proper' football team and proving ME.100% wrong
If we can make some good signings and spend the money from a possible Begovic sale (about £15 million!) we can easily be the Everton of next season, possibly being underdogs for European qualification.
Well done lads your style of football under Hughes is winning some admirers especially after your performance against Villa last week. '
I was going to come and ask how you thought Hughes had done compared to Pulis, I guess I don't really need to ask. How is the football, much the same? Big defensively and quick break-aways by the front 3?
