Afternoon all, If my memory serves me well, Gerry Francis was an extremely talented Attacking Midfield player, scored cracking goals and an all round good guy. What the hell is he doing at Stoke, coaching the Midfield - WHAT Midfield I here myself ask, just wondering. Oh let's just hope that Pulis STOPS reading the papers, about himself and the Champions League!!! I reckon that we should do something revolutionary at Stoke - have our manager on a JOB SHARE basis. Rafa for Home Games O'Neill for Away Games Pulis for Cup Games - except the Final. Any other ideas
Yeah I have, Someone tell T.P. to stop reading the newspapers... we ain't as good as he thinks we are. I doubt G.F. does either Nick. Europa might still, ruin our season but, I hope not.
I would like to actually see the backrooms staffs wages, just too see how much the coaches get paid, for not teaching the players how too: 1: effin keep the ball 2: effin find a player from your own team, within a 5-10 yard radius 3: support your forwards, every once in a while, when it is not a set piece or throw in 4: not too panic when in defense you are under a little bit of pressure 5: as a goalie do not panic & come out flapping, when you have 7-8 defenders infront of you to deal with the situation. 6: just for nick, results aside we have been abysmal all season( defense/team aside untill yesterday), think i might be revealing myself sooner, rather than later
Must be the last two hectic weekend Potts!! Huthy you are dead right, apart from the keeper bit Gerry DID ALL of that and he wasn't bad for England either! Funny old game though last season we were not playing too badly and had ZERO points, this season playing badly and have 8 points and doing very nicely in Europe, I don't suppose all of these 'European' teams have ever come up against the Pulis Masterplan! Having said that, I guess that ALL of us if asked would have not have believed that we would have those 8 points after 5 games, indeed I remember posts on here saying Zero points by the end of September!! Anyway, back to my job share idea!!
Nick, You are right - I did not forsee any points until theb game at home to Fulham (and only then if Baird was dropped!), so on that basis I am happy to have 8 points. There is always a but, and for me it is the fact that we have (with the exception of Thun at home) been a completely non -existent force when it comes to attacking. We managed one shot on target against Chelsea and Liverpool at home, one shot on target at West Brom, one proper effort at Sunderland (Wilson's free kick). Why spend 6 to 8 million on a defensive midfielder and then watch two less capable defensive midfielders perform at Sunderland? What was the purpose of buying Wilson - I don't think any of us saw him as a left back (certainly not long term), although he blotted his copy book with TP by playing a forward pass on his debut against Villa, and then compounded the error by appearing in the opposition box against Blackburn. Why have two 6 foot 5 centre forwards, but not play wide men to supply them? Why ask your inside forward (Walters) to run a marathon every game yet let your midfield slouch around inside it's own half? People have in my opinion given Jones some unfair stick, and it won't be long before we start on Crouch, yet we constantly ignore that in 4 years our away tactics have been designed to simply frustrate - it has taken QPR 3 away games to do what has taken us 4 years (i.e score 3 in a game away). Anyone can be beaten, but the style in which you play, can make defeat easier to swallow. Under TP, going to an away game is the equivalent of taking a very slow acting poison, firstly it numbs your senses, then it takes away your ability to reason logically, and finally you slip into a period of deep darkness. I live in hope that "the times they are a changing", but with TP it is more a case of "meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss".
Agreed lads EIGHT pts and playing average if that? Can't wait for the Utd game now, after Spurs of course. HAPPY enough with the pts thus far but....
I've come to the conclusion that we don't practice passing in training, because you'd think after a while a few would've learned to string a few together, had they been coached.
Sarge I've been down to the training ground with the kids to watch the team train, and they do practise passing! Unfortunately they only practised passing over about 5 yds as part of a 1 or 2 touch warm up drill, and during games the players are never that close together unless it's in our own box trying to block the opposition!
I try and play golf,and I mean TRY!! It doesn`t matter how much I practice,I`m still SH-T. You`ve either got it or you haven`t and the current Stoke players can`t pass and never will be able to!!
Joe, If the above is true,I think we are wll and turly fooked mate.. As for Golf, my dad tried and failed mate, he always said it spoils a good walk in the fresh air..
Potts,Dads are nearly always right!The only thing I will say about the golf scene is that after `hacking ` around the course for about 4 hours there`the 19th!! which is the best bit !! . I know it`s daft ,(we`ve only lost the one game) but I`ve got this horrible feeling that we are fooked.Listening to the commentary on Radio Stoke , it didn`t sound a very good game.I mooted on a previous thread that I`d like to see Shotton in the team,but it sounded like he was just another typical Stoke player who couldn`t pass the ball very well!! But you and the Mrs. were there what did you think?
Joe I'm still awake and here's my view on the game.. Shotton, was bloody hopless with his passing to be honest. We really went for it 2nd half and should have won it earlier. Good result Joe and Diao played well and so did Walters. Happy with the win Joe and if ONLY we had started the game as we did the 2nd half we may have not needed extra time... they all looked knackered and I hope all are ok for Saturday. Jones won't be I doubt but Jerome did well too! I think? T.P. pulled him off to rest him for the Utd game.. We'll see Joe. Oh, and the missus really enjoyed the game and is going along too see Utd with me.
Thanks Potts for the match report.Surprised about Diao,but it sounded on commentary that he broke a lot of their play up.Pleased also to hear that Jerome did OK,but it sounded like our great midfield hope Palacios didn`t have such a good game,and it`s hard to tell if Crouchie is doing well or not. Glad the Mrs. enjoyed it.By the way,I thought I was a late night merchant( usually12pm-1am) but you`re just as bad! It must be the fact that we were shift workers.
Joe Right about the "working shifts" comment.. plus since I was ill last year find it hopless too even try and get to sleep till well after midnight.. a right pain in the rear. I didn't realise Shotton was so badly cramped up.. but that peno he scored nice one Ryan. Diao, did really well I thought. Crouch? first time I've seen him in the flesh Joe. We didn't get enough decent balls into the box from wide area's first half, 2nd was way better I thought. Palacios short of games so I'm sure he will be OK too! Funny thing was, I thought that Jerome and Jones looked like they could do well as a pair up front? Walters did his usual chasing every ball, just keep em all rested for the weekend T.P. Joe, my only concern with Shotton was too often, his first touch was awful so he was rushing his passes. And, right about both Pennant and Ethers both didn't seem that interested first half anyway. Much improved team wise 2nd half we really had a go and a good night all round result wise.. but I fear the games are going to catch up with the players. Hope I'm wrong but two games every week sometimes more, is asking a lot. KTF and next up Utd
