What I love about this site is it can turn in an instant from a 'reasoned debate' quote/unquote to a TP out wrist slashers club! I'd definitely give us a 7 for this year minimum and the Huth/away form mystery and debate will rage on no doubt. I have no idea how many of the coaching staff are simply yes men bending over in turn for TP to have his way with them. What I do know is we have to win on Monday night and we have to get the Brit rocking again. 1-0 will suit me fine. Dread to think what this site would be like if we were Wigan or Bolton. A work colleague of mine is a Bolton fan and I can tell you he is near suicidal at the moment. And Ricc, I for one do for one care about how we do in Europe. If we get 3 points next week, I will be knocking on the neighbours door to give him a big kiss on the lips and he is one hell of an ugly guy I can tell you ;-)
To be honest, I think the situation with Tuncay was more created by the fans than any animosity in the dressing room. It didn't work out too badly anyway - got 5 million for him, he couldn't get a game at Wolfsburg and now he's rotting on the Bolton bench. I certainly don't miss him. I agree with you on Huth, though. The way he's been demoted to 3rd or4th choice centre-half (in the manager's plans, at least) is very poor after the fantastic season he had. Upson and Shawcross have done well, but it seems Upson and Woodgate have managed to walk overtake Huth in the pecking order without having to work for it. Bearing in mind Huth played a whole season at right-back and didn't complain, I think he deserves more respect than Pulis has given him.
I agree 100% that Upson has been excellent Welshy, but your logic sort of rips shreads out of the manager! Firstly, technically the new CB's would have had to earn their stripes and outplay Huth in the CB position, yet this hasnt happened, the two new CB were promoted immediatley without Huth's form dropping to what is actually the 4th choice in TP's selection. Secondly, if form is the reason for selection and Upson has been the best CB to partner Shawx, then why would TP select Woody when fit, regadless of whether he has trained fully or played in a previous game! IMO, the justification for Huth not playing is Bull! Its just TP doing what he does best - fukin things up that work. If Huth had started this season where he finished off the last, played badly and either Upson or Woody had earned their place on merit, then fair enough. However, if that was the case, then Huth would be able to work his way back in to his natural position when others play badly - dont think that will happen either! My point is, that TP has created this problem of having 4 equally talented CB's when we only needed 3! The other defender should have been a LB!!!!!!!!! He has created this issue and he is ultimtley going to lose a mid 20's international with the best part of 6/7 years at the top level - one that could be played with Shawx - in favour of 2 x 30+ who both have a poor history of fitness and form?
welshy I did not include Europe, because if you finish bottom, you do not get relegated, it is a cup competition. Perhaps in my OP, i was a little less deserving of the Positives, i think for me personally it just plain & simple boils down to frustration.
Ric When I started to read you first post on the thread, I thought you we're taking the **** mate.. But, you are right in many respects. WORST AWAY team bar BOLTON Wanderers since promotion and that's a FACT! Some of our football at home has been OK but I agree, the other night v Liverpool was one of the worst halfs of footie I've seen in years. 2nd half we improved but hey, the wasn't to bloody difficult. I don't MIND that we're out of the cup but, it's HOW we lost that hacks me off. I've said this before Ric, I REFUSE to now travel too away games for ONE reason. Because I like many more on here KNOW that we're not going to even ATTACK teams. Fair play to was it Huthy or Welsh M? YOU travel to away games, fair play and I salute you for supporting the team but, I've done that for all of my 50 years a Stoke fan. But NOT this season and it's sad to say. I've simply had enough of the garbage we serve up away from home. We've had some touch home games and I'm happy enough with our form although we've ridden out luck too. Newcastle now becomes almost a must not lose game. We play Bolton away after that and they are in freefall right now. What's the betting we go there, defend and LOSE. WHEN was the last time they won at home Tony Pulis, let's go and have a right good go at getting three pts, not defend for the one we have before kick off! I do respect everyone's oppinion on here and I'm sorry if I sound negaive. It's just hacking me off when I KNOW we have the player's (if selected) who can improve our away from(given the opportunity to go and try) i don't think Pulis has a clue away from home on HOW to pick or set up a winning team. PLEASE prove me wrong and SOON. I have a message for Mr Pulis and it's simple enough. "YOU keep telling us we're the 12th man at home T.P. And, I believe that we are. " We usually have something to shout about, sing for and support. WHY is it that away from home, we don't?
OK then quick question. If we lose to Newcastle and Bolton (Not that I think we will), would the fans be justified in asking whether TP is the right man for the job? If not, would I be right in saying the come Xmas when we are just getting by in and around the bottom 8 (which we all know will be very tight!) we say, move over TP or give him the January transfer window and ...........etc.......... Its not a TP out chant, put the emotions to one side and just view on pure facts - I'd be curious to know everyones constructive thoughts?
My own views on TP aside I do not think he'd be sacked until we are officially relegated and I don't think he'd leave for anything but the Welsh job.
Smithers - what can I say that I have not said 7,427 times before AND got vilified, abused aand threatened for?? Even now, some people go all faint and refuse to answer or reply to perfectly reasonable and amicable posts. If you can't take it girls, don't dish it out! Ah well, for the sake of consistency (1st season back excepted), thanks very much for the promotion and subsequent 1st year survival (that said in the best possible sense)! But you have no idea on how to evolve, your tactics are non existent - oh sod it - just go and work your magic elsewhere - IF you can find somebody daft enough to give you £80 million !! I would not have brought this up again, but the question WAS asked
Unless there is a completely, horrendous run of results & a fans uprising, there is no way PC will ever get rid of TP.
In the summer there was loads of speculation that huth wasn't happy and that his missus was supposedly looking for a school for the kids in London etc etc , perhaps he'll end up at tottenham , some back hand deal having been arranged with redknapp as part of the palacious/crouch/woodgate transfer . Hence why we got two centre halves and using huth as cover for the two injured backs until they are recovered. Huth goes in january and we buy another RB and/or LB . Or am i being Paranoid ????
My only gripe with Pulis is he always talks us down and the opposition up. I don't like the negative stuff away or when we're 1 up but it has worked . Can't think of anyone to replace him (other than O'neill , but i don't think we're "big enough " for him). If the doom-mongerers can suggest a competent replacement i might be tempted to jump on the band wagon but until then PULIS is the man . (thank god we haven't got Erikson or Cotteril )
How does the player of last season, winning numerous awards, become a bit part player at RB? Things do not add up, I definately think that the guy is gone in Jan, Just hope that the money we get for him can actually buy a CM who can a) be fit b) pass the ball c) get forward & score some goals Goodbye Huth, i for one will miss you ( plus i will have to change my user name )
That would be my thoughts in relation to Huth all of a sudden being out of favour or a rotation cover player. He is also concerned about his international prospects.
Can I politely ask who has vilified, threatened and abused you on here? From my experience on here and the old 606, it tends to be people who stick up for the manager who get abused and accused of being "not a real Stoke fan". As for the question at hand, I'd only seriously question the manager if we were ever knee-deep in a relegation scrap - and by that I mean 6 points adrift from safety with 10 games to go, not 4 or 5 points above the drop. I don't think Coates will get rid of Pulis unless we get relegated, but even then I think he'll stick by him (which would be wrong in my opinion). At least we're having a sensible debate for change.
Jose - thanks for the reply - 2 people were particularly offensive, one from South Africa and one from Los Angelas. You and I have ALWAYS disagreed and no doubt always will - fair enough and so be it. Vive La Difference I said ages ago that I thought Jol would be good for us, even though we ALL have nightmares about shexy futball eh! Jose, am I realistic, nope I'm a stokie. Am I a pessamist - yup I'm a stokie Do WE CARE - You bet your life cos we are STOKIE's Even if we were in the Blue Square. Nuff of this Jose ? Oh by the way, re my bit about Thun, do you agree??
I don't doubt we'll always disagree Nicky, but differences like ours (as long as they're respectful) are healthy for the board. We've had some good debates over the years (as well as some immature ones), and long may the former continue. RE Thun: it really is a lovely place, but I only remember 50% of my time there as I consumed rather too much ale I'd gladly go there again, whether football is involved or not.
