Hi ONB - unlike many, I'm quite fond of your club -I had several good awaydays there in the 60s with my old dad. And in fairness there are far too many sweeping generalizations made about the modern Stoke City. I also think Pulis achieved very good things with City initially - I just think you have outgrown him and are secure enough to have a different manager with a more rewarding team for you guys. Someone on a different thread suggested Di Canio or Zola. Now I think Di Canio might exacerbate some of the "discipline" issues in the team.....but Zola, mmmh - someone like him (he's a tough little nut) could get good things out of your team. He'd also, gradually attract different strengths to what you already have.
All the best Tosh. I remember Bobby Moore playing for Fulham (against Stoke), he brought the ball out of defence, just over the half way line and laid it off to a Fulham guy, who promptly lost it to a Stoke defender, who 'hoofed' it down the pitch (nothing new there then). underneath the ball was - yup Bobby Moore just outside his own penalty area - how the hell he got back there, so quickly I'll never know, took it on his chest and started again. Absolutely pure class, the very best defender I have EVER seen, and that includes Beckenbauer. (sp) and apart from Jimmy Greenhoff, the best footballer ever. Somebody asked me the other day, was he as good as that, I just said BETTER than that!!
I really think that the time has come for Pulis to have a word, truth be told it is long overdue. I know that pushing and shoving in the (defending) penalty area is prevalent throughout the leagues...BUT, apart from Mr Terry, Ryan and Robert are probably the worst culprits (don't have any stats), they are penalties and cards just waiting to happen. Even Stokies on this board say that Huth was lucky to stay on the park...again. I dislike being overtly critical of our own players, but this and some of the other behavior of our guys leaves a lot to be desired...in my opinion Time is to change the playing style, the attitude, 75% of the players and the manager and if that means relegation...so be it. I want my football club back please
I think things would improve dramatically with the departure of that man and a few changes in personnel.
I don't think we are worse than anyone else for the usual pushing/ pulling going on, but Huth has always been one for throwing in a fist/ elbow. 75% of the players need to go? And which 75% would that be? For me there are 5/6 players to get shot of.
Stay: Begovic, Huth, Shawx, Cameron, Wilson, Palcious, Nzonzi, Adam, Pennant, Ethrington, Jerome & Crouch or Jones. Go: Whitehead, Whelan, Kightly, Owen, Upson, Sidibie, Jerome or Crouch, Shotton Undecided: Nash or Sorenson, Wilko, Ness, Brek, Walters, http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/stoke-city/kader/verein_512.html
Out of Jerome or Crouch i'd probably keep Jerome, but first on the list for out of the door has got to be Pulis, he has ruined careers with his pig headedness.
As an aside re Jerome who I think has been given limited chances, I hear on a grapevine, friend, who knows a relative of his, that he is extremely unhappy at the amount of chances he is getting and will push to leave as soon as he can unless the situation changes. He just wants to play football and who could blame him. Given we have a chronic lack of speed in our team, he is about the only one who can stretch defences and get behind them, with of course the right service, so continuing to only pay him now and again instead of giving him a 10 game run to see how he performs, seems non-sensical. The swap with Walters is obvious to me. Anyway if he does not get played he will be off.
To get rid: Wilkinson, Whitehead, Whelan, Walters, Kightly, Owen, Palacios, Shotton, Crouch and Etherington. And that does not include thr rest of the deadbeats in the 25 man squad. These are simply not Premier League footballers, with perhaps the exception of Crouch whi should have gone to QPR. You can argue till you are blue un the face Sandor, but you will never convince me otherwise. I am not anti Stoke City, just anti Pulis City. I don't do blind faith my friend, that trait allows Coates and Pulis to get away with 3 years of atrocious football and misguided transfer dealings, favouritism etc etc, all that's wrong with our club. No matter what they think or whose name is on the chequebook; it is not their football club, it is ours and our forefathers before and the youngsters to come. If that's ok with you Sandor?
With Herr Huth it is too frequent an occurance to be accidental or hsrd done by. He is a thug, full stop
The supporters have had enough of this type of football. We have no reply when visiting supporters chant abuse at our style of play because what they are saying is true. It has to change. Either Pulis goes or he changes the way we play. This is not doing the sales of early bird tickets i`ll bet.
I wonder if TP's refusal to allow our team to play is down to his ego. If he suddenly repented and the lads started to produce the goods , would he be afraid that it would be seen as fan pressure forcing him to change ? There would be less credit for him if it was seen in that light. And we know what little regard he has for the fans.
