Well wasn't that absolute rubbish?! Credit to Newcastle, they played well and thoroughly deserved their win. A few points (feel free to add to them): Jonathon Woodgate- stop shoe-horning him into the side Pulis. Before the game, I had no complaints with the XI we put out apart from Woodgate. Upson and Shawcross have looked a good partnership, so why break it up? The same goes for the Huth/Shawcross partnership. The rest of the team I had no complaints with. Marc Wilson is not a left-back. I like him as a player, but his lack of positional sense and pace is woefully exposed out there, and I for one can't wait until Higginbotham is fit. Glenn Whelan - deary me he was awful tonight. Looked like he was running through treacle, couldn't pass. Hopefully Palacios gets a start on Thursday. The penalties. Neither of them we penalties in my opinion, but Huth was beyond stupid for shoving Best after what had happened just 5 minutes before. If he gives the first one, don't go and ****ing shove their striker in the box 5 minutes later Ba was always bound to score, but the way he ghosted in unnoticed on numerous occasions is very worrying. Shawcross and Wilson lost their men for the first goal, and then he waltzed in unmarked for their second. I like Ryan, but he's played every game this season and I can't help but think that mental and physical tiredness contributed to his recent mistakes and tonight's injury Overall that was our worst home performance for a long time, but full credit to Newcastle for closing us down, nullifying our threats and hitting us with pace on the break. Pardew out-manouvered Pulis tonight, and it was easy to see why they're doing so well in the League.
Cheers for being complimentary. Must say though, surprised by how many of your fans were insulting Ba when he did absolutely nothing wrong all game. Even insulted him before he scored? After your own team turned him down? Very pathetic.
Agreed, but they're just small-minded idiots and it's best to just ignore them. Maybe they did you a favour and wound Ba up a bit- he certainly looked like a man on a mission, a really good player. It's just unfortunate (for us) that our medical staff thought he wasn't worth the risk. Once again, well played tonight and good luck for the season.
Cheers! You too. It's odd really, my opinion of Stoke fans outside this site is pretty low, but you and a few other lads I've spoken to over the last week on here have been courteous and we've had some good conversation too. Anyway footballing wise, to me for Stoke this seems like a bad day at the office. You lads wouldn't have such a fortress of a home ground if other teams had been able to cut your defense open like we did at times so I'm sure you'll come through after this alright.
You lot seem like good lads But when Mighty Huth drops by, tell him he's a gloating, dirty, cocky little slime, with a great big "HAHA" Good luck for the rest of the season, apart from the reverse fixture of course!
A "bad day at the office" really doesn't do our performance justice, unfortunately. However, the way you closed down our wingers and got in amongst Crouch and Walters meant our threat from open play was well and truly zilch -credit must go to Pardew for that. Also, thanks for the well-wishes. I'm sure we'll be fine, and at least there's a game on Thursday to put it right.
Well played lads - proves that your position is more than justified! Demba Ba tore us apart and the **** he got from the fans was disgraceful IMO! Proves that we/TP made a bad decession in not sigining him and inferring that we would have had to pay double what you guys did and telling the press his knees are a ticking timebomb is just spineless!
I say this as someone who has respect for Stoke, however I expect nothing less from Tony Pulis. He is a smarmy little git (who has done well for your club I hasten to add!)
I've said this before Smithers, but Hoffenhiem wanted 6 million for Demba Ba when he only had 6 months on his contract left. Newcastle got him for free (I think), so he was much less of a risk for them.
So sure;ly we could have gone back in when they signed him - after all TP was prepared to pay 10 million for s striker?
Maybe we did go back in for him and Newcastle blew us out of the water with their offer? My guess is we were still interested in him in the summer.
Just got home from the game and all I can say is.. WELL DONE to Newcastle, passed it better, technically MILES better and Demba Ba he's a real handful.. As for Stoke Mighty Huth I TAKE nothing away from Newcastle Utd at all.. but We were ******* GARBAGE. ANYONE AND I MEAN ANYONE who say's it wasn't needs there head read. Palacios YET again NOT given a chance we told you Tony P. Delap YET again did **** all apart from WASTE forever with the long throws I told you before fellow Stokies. Whelan as Huthy say's could not pass water. Even Ryan and Wilson/Woodgate were rubbish. Apart from Walters I can not name ONE other Stoke player who was even close to average. Begoviv had no chance with the goals and that's it! This isn't a knee jerk reation and I'm not sure what Smither's made of it tonight? But, Tony Pulis IF you can not conjure anything better than that I watched tonight. PLEASE leave NOW because IF we continue to play like that we're are going DOWN simple as. That was no "bad day at the office, we we're the same v Liverpool... in short. CRAP! and Tony Pulis you are slowly but surly losing the player's.. namely Huth, Palacios, Whitehead IMO our best midfielder this season didn't play? TIN Hat is at the ready but I don't think I'm alone when I say.. as Nick has said many times. Pulis is clueless and I've not yet heard his excuse's for that EXCUSE of a perormance. Thought's ? GOOD LUCK to Newcastle you played well and made us look like a conference side and I'm being serious. NEVER have I seen so many bad passes in ONE game. Rant over.
Cannot add much more to that to be honest. The fact Pulis took Matty off and not Pennant made me bloody furious. Pennant was barely trying. At least Matty was working his nuts off, trying to create, even if it didn't come off.
Chapazz I'm beggining to HATE what T.P. is doing to "Our Club" Delap I spoke to you before about him... Pulis is and ALWAYS has been. Tactically USELESS! Tonight proved it for me. HOW he can leave Whitehead and especially Palacios on the bench really bug's me.
Just look at the guys tactics. The hoofball. The bullying. Do you think Pulis has chosen to use that tactic out of his repertoire of knowledge? Has he ****. That's all he knows what to do. Pulis turned your team into this, and then bought players to add to the tactics he employs. I feel sorry for Stoke fans that they don't get to watch some quality technical football, because the fans seem very passionate. 71% of goals from set pieces so far this season isn't entertaining FOOTBALL. Sure the goals themselves are fun, but fans are watching the full 90 minutes. I wouldn't ever rely on Pulis to use the right tactics or substitutes very often. In fact, all he seems to know what to do is play his style of football and get really angry at things.
Pulis tactics consist of choreographed cheating and hitting the ball high at the penalty spot. Unfortunatley he's employed the former tactic so much that refs are now looking for it, which is why you are getting goals disallowed and penalties against you.
