I never claimed to have answers, I just think that the negativity and over the top expectations are a bit too much when you look at where we have actually come from, we probably wouldn't have a club left to support if Coates hadn't bought it back... I will admit that it's frustrating regarding signings at the moment but i'm sure that fans at other clubs will be saying the same thing, outside the top four only Sunderland have made a lot of signings but then again all they have done is sold potential and bought in average players IMO. Stoke always make deals at the last minute anyways so it's not really that surprising.... I think that the first eleven are very capable of getting a result against Split, we shall see..
I am going to refer to the person previously known as L in the third person as I refuse to discuss anything with him - apart from the State of Denmark, if L knows how to use Google he may well discover the irony of it. I haven't got a clue where he/her/it sprang up from - oh hang on it's not ST4 is it?? Anyway it doesn't really matter as these guys just spout the usual nonsense - look where we are now and all that jazz, these characters come on here, have 5 posts and tell us how it is, they are right and everybody is a ranting fool, ah well. Smithers - thank you for the complement, so I am now a drama Queen eh!! So be it. I will revert to prosody from now.
Sorry I just don't see the point in bankrupting the club in a vain attempt to make it in to the top six, It isn't as easy as it sounds. Leeds, Pompy and Bradford all showed "Ambition", it's a long way back when it inevitably goes wrong...
I for one am not that fussed about Europe, for now at least. I think that we have to improve the squad all over and add depth prior to making any inroads in this direction. I don't particularly want marquee players that cost 3 arms and 4 legs. I would have just liked to see one or two signings, promising youngsters say, early on in the transfer window. This would have given the said players time to bed in during the friendlies.
Promising youngsters cost an arm and leg if you mean British youngsters, maybe the answer lies in looking abroad, how about Coates buying Greece and setting up an academy over there?
It must be a reicarnated ST4 same old same old same old Claptrap; look at where we were are we are always told All those years ago before the Second coming of the two Saints Peter and Anthony; riding to the Rescue of a backwater team To think that now, there are it seams Ungrateful fans who carp and complain Of Peter and Tony's comfy domain Peter has catered to provide us with A feast of unpalatable football called hoof Tone get rid of the deadbeats; invest in youth
The thing that annoys me is that Pulis, Coates etc know how much being back in Europe means to the fans yet have been completely inactive in the transfer window. IMO I dont think that Pulis etc would have been bothered if we had not made it into europe, I think that they see it as an inconvenience. Everything is about the premiership nowadays and the FA cup has lost all of its meaning as none of the top six sides take it seriously. Another thing is that everyone who knows me knows that although I appreciate what Pulis has done for us I can NEVER NEVER NEVER accept his way of playing. Big hoof and negative play will never be accepted in my mind. I thought like this when I was playing myself and will never stop thinking that football is all about passing and entertainment not smashing the back out of the ball and sending it meaninglessly 80 yards down the pitch to Kenwyn Jones to do something with (although the midfield is always 60 yards behind him). Oh by the way lads the reason Pulis hasnt been linked with any creative midfielders is that he DOESNT WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!. Prepare yourselves for big boot again................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!. I dont mind a bit of big boot but at some stages last season it was embarassing. I think we really need another plan as the big boot seems less and less effective every season. Utps and heres hoping that we get some quality FOOTBALLING players in.
TP has said he will be dissapointed if we can't get in 4-5 players .But negotiations do tend to be at the latter end of the window as per previous years.We should have enough quality to get the campaign up and running on Thursday.Its a great chance for the current team to show they can claim a place in the first eleven.
It's not about signing substandard cheap players as much, I wouldn't say that about Pennant, Etherington, Huth, Wilson, Walters or Jones, It's about making the right deals for the club, we can spend big but we can't afford to do it often, we don't have a bottomless pit of money, so when we do splash out we have to make it count. We can afford to take a hit on the likes of Soares, Tonge and Davies now and again, but can't afford many "Kitsons", I honestly think that Kitson came to Stoke thinking that everyone was going to treat him like the big star that he thought he should be, just the vibe I got, but I digress... We play with two holding midfielders, so basically 4-4-2 defending and 4-2-4 on attack, players like Wilson are what we are are looking to get in, he can break up the play and then play balls through on the counter, unfortunately not all our midfielders can do both and if we bought a midfielder in who was great on the ball but can't defend we would get murdered as we love to defend and break. We're not going to change the way we play, but the better players we can get in make for a more efficient system.
L You do know that you're not allowed to have a different opinion to Nick, don't you? To be honest half the reason I don't come on here much is because Nick goes ape**** at anything I post. It's not particularly fun when you're being called an idiot (and worse) just for having an opinion. Back on topic, yes I am slightly concerned about the lack of signings but I can't say I'm surprised. I've come to accept that Pulis, Coates and Scholes like to do business late in the day and sometimes it pays off, other times it doesn't. I guess the only real reliable gauge of our performance in this window will be when we publish our 25-man squad on September the 1st. God knows we need some new players, though.
Some prose for Jose I have NEVER called you an idiot although clearly you are one. It's just nonsense to say "nobody can disagree with Nick" of course you can but not with the same old "look where we are now" chant. We have spent over £50 million for goodness sake. And yes we have a bunch of deabeats who are at best mid championship class. Oh and another thing - I don't do name calling, I will leave that to the children followin the Pied Piper Pulis wherever, Oh and yet another thing, I resent my sonnets being called "insane Ramblings" by some character with a character for a namem Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful wibbly wobbly day, sure you will because the rumour is on the BBC sports desk that your hero is "back in" for Cole
Good morning guys And,Welcome too the Stoke City know it alls board May as well start by saying it's nice to be back, not that I ever actually went away as such. Have to say that I'm with Ric on this one. I said ages ago that we need player's and good one's. "L" I agree that the last few years you are right in saying that "the club has moved forward" but unless you were watching a diifferent Stoke City than me last season. I think we've stood still for the last 12 months. Why? Because GOD sorry, Mr Pulis didn't improve our midfield. In fact since we lost Tunny, never gave Eidur a chance and the Peter Pan of the Premier League, Rory Delap soares,Tounge, Mama shall I continue. Just ain't good enough. You said we all know where we've come from. Of course we do "L" but I for one ain't a happy chappy right now. One because some Muppett is trying too give me a heart attack. And two some effin idiot screwed up my laptop last week. Mr Pulis said, he wants too move "This Club" how I bloody hate it when he say's that "forward" Tony, we ARE STOKE CITY F.C. not this club, that club or is he too ashamed to say it because I'm not. The only way we CAN move forward is to buy good player's and that means spending money. If he doesn't want us to go over "the wage cap for this club" all I can say is. Mr Pulis if you don't we ain't going anywhere apart from in the wrong direction YOU said, you don't want us to do a Birmingham, Leeds etc. Nor do I "L" but I am sick too the back teeth of watching utter garbbage(away from home) we defend what we have. And, totally and utterly brassed off because either Mr P or is it Mr C WON'T spend ANY of the money we've had from three years in the Premier League. e.g. THE PROFIT we've made. Is it something like £40,000,000 minimum for every season? And, when he did, Tunny,Kitson,Eidur he couldn't handle those player's. Well I never. So, it's either Mr P or Mr Cs fault it didn't work out isn't it. You didn't sign them I certainly didn't and you wonder why some fans like Smither's, Nick, Ric and myself are not happy? I know that Mr Coates saved the club etc and I'm grateful he did so. He's mega rich and still raking it in, the money we've made and will make this season. WHY doen't he speculate too accumalate? Because believe me, IF he dosn't we are in for a tough season and, I mean really tough. Off for me two rounds of toast and butter, am I being greedy if I want too put jam on it as well? Have a nice day guys
Ah, he's one of of those... at first I just thought he was a wind up merchant Vale fan. I can see why you don't come on here as much, it seems to be one huge moan fest, and if you don't join in you're "pro pulis" (heaven forbid that anyone would suggest the guy is doing a good job. of course it was all going swimmingly before he came and took over). So this is how things work on here: The manager is sh*t the transfers are sh*t the players are sh*t the wages are sh*t the board are sh*t the corners in the stadium are sh*t the new ticket office is sh*t the friendlies are sh*t the three year plan is sh*t last season was sh*t europe will be sh*t this season will be sh*t down by xmas! Pulis and Coates out! If it wasn't for those two clowns we would playing Champion's League football now, all we have to do is get an attacking CM, have Sidibe put down, and pay everyone £70k a week, any idiot can see that.... I think I'm getting the hang of this now
A tongue in cheek comment from yours truly No need for Jose or L to get unruly Smithers I know you are on the side of right So let's get Pulis out of sight As far away from Stoke as Poss I for one won't care very much Oh and Tone when your'e heading for the door Take your Coat with you, I'll say no more
L you are a silly fellow All rant and rage and trouserless bellow Your appearance on this board should be explained Coincides with the school hols of course, hare brained Don't take too much notice of Jose He is more than a little verbose Finally if I ever want your opinion I'll give it to you my minion
More "insane ramblings" I see, guess it makes a change from your usual catch phrases "sack the board" "pro pulis" "down by xmas" or do you just copy and paste the same posts from this time last season, would save you a lot of time I guess, time that you could spend more constructively, like not writing terrible poems, how about supporting a football club, theres a good one
