Steve is the type of person that you'd want to have your back in the trenches, but you wouldn't go to him to keep your spirits up, would you?
It's a shame they've all been trained in media speak. I would love someone to come on and just say "yes we've been rubbish this week. Ronald really gave us a bollocking and has threatened to confiscate the mayo if we don't buck up. We're really going to go for it at Stoke and give them the thrashing of their lives. We can't lose the mayo..."
Living not too far away from Stoke, I have been to all our away games there since our return to top flight football. The ground is situated high up on a hill overlooking the town(s) of Stoke ....not a place to recommend for a weekend break to put it mildly. It is very cold, very very windy and the ground hasn't got all the corners filled around the away end....God its cold! The hot drinks served to away fans is not to be recommended. It tastes like Milton sterilising solution. The atmosphere is rather strange in that the home fans are silent until they score and then become rabid all of a sudden. "Clay Heads" are strange people! There are loads of heavy handed stewards imported from up north who are less than friendly and virtually every year the police stand in the exist gate from the car park at the back of the away stand and try and provoke trouble with us as we try and get away. On a positive note, there are plenty of car parks and you don't have to go anywhere near the town so getting back to the M6 is reasonably quick
This is going to be tough. Did I see Adams and Shawcross back in full training ahead of the weekend? Still think we can snatch a win though if we show the desire. Whoever wins this will have a European dream to chase.
I have a friend, from Stoke, who I meet up with occasionally, and we have always got along well. I found out, after our home defeat, that he's one of those fans that takes defeat badly but victory even worse. He was an absolute knob, almost demanding that I kneel and pray to the Gods of Stoke. I acknowledged that they had played well, and deserved the three points, but couldn't stop myself from mentioning the P word. He (maybe all of them) hates Pulis with a passion, because of the "style" of play he introduced, and I just pointed out that defensively, they didn't look as compact as "under Pulis", and that they got away with a few decisions (VVD and Cedric copping one in the face). Anyway, as a result of my baiting, all football fans, other than Stoke's, need to "get a grip" and "move on" from the "P word" days. So, Clay Heads may well be strange people, but they are well balanced. They definitely have a chip on each shoulder. Please win this one, Saints.
Trip Advisor, please note. This is a scandalously positive view of Stoke. The town is simply horrible. I love the signs to "The Cultural Quarter". Think **** Manchester mill town and then quapruple it. That's the visitor attraction. As for the ground ... It is, by a huge margin, my least favourite ground in the world, nay the Universe. It's the way you are ushered into the Car Park; there is nowhere to get a pint and the stewards are clearly intent on 100% segregation to prevent the away fans ending up in burger buns. I'm sure they have some sort of air conditioning to make the ground that cold, and that wind that blew the ball over Boruc after 13 seconds just adds to the fun. Bloody hate the place. Got my ticket, of course.
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20160309-the-inside-track-stoke-city-southampton-2997255.aspx Interview about Stoke from the OS.
Rubbish. Wrong questions asked. Needed ones like: Do your stewards have to be sociopaths? Ans: it's not obligatory, but desirable Why is there no pub to visit near the ground? Ans: We wouldn't want fans enjoying their visit to Stoke. Stoke people hate the bloody place, why should it be different for you lot? How do you manage to keep players after they have seen Stoke? Ans: Drugs Are the pre-pubescent boys who spend the whole match abusing away fans specially trained or just naturally obnoxious? Ans: This is part of their training to be angry Stokies Angry? Ah yes, so why are the good citizens of Stoke angry? Ans: You try ****ing living here, mate.
If I was a Southern based Saint, like most of my Saint friends, and could only get to a couple of away games a year this is one I'd leave off the list. West Brom and Villa would be on my list to visit, together with both Liverpool clubs, both Manchesters, and the Gtr Manchester mill towns - hurry back, Burnley. Stoke and Bolton (don't even get tempted for a cup game) are on my "honestly, take your wife to see a Rom Com" list.
My prediction for the game - 2 nil Stoke. The reason - We are currently in the midst of a patch of bad form with little confidence and we are missing Fonte. Also I have heard RK has banned all dairy products from the dressing room and training ground FOOL!
It's going to be a tough game, no doubt. The main saving grace is that Stoke are about as unpredictable as us right now. All depends on which version of which team decides to turn up!
There is a goals 5 a side football complex close to the stadium which serves alcoholic beverage prior to kick off.
Here is the back cover of the Stoke fanzine from 27th Feb. It's a great perspective on football comparing the cost of their stadium to their new signing:
For serious alcoholics only. Crap beer on a business complex. Lovely. Meanwhile, despite my undying support for the team on Saturday, my expectations are for Bournemouth 2. Rabbits in the headlights performance; hostile crowd and a couple of crap goals against us. In fact Stoke could be the new Tranmere - one of those places where we'd be better staying at home.
Wish someone hadn't mentioned our run in to the end of the season, it looks horrible. Hope we win this one or the England win the rugby or it's gonna be a depressing Saturday.
