Pulis will has sussed our game plan out by now and will have 2 of his players closing down one of our players with the ball at all times. It will only take one big kick onto the head of Crouch to win this game for them, so I'll take a point, considering it's away from home aswell.
i read with interests JackAsh's stats comment - Swamns worst in the PL at one on one headers or winning the ball in the air
As some have said, I`d take a point before the game. We might find out if Rogers has a plan B to play against a Stoke team who are, shall we say, a few inches taller all round. Pulis, being a Newport boy will have a special interest in this game, and will be eager to get the three points, to rise up the table. We are going to have a different game plan to get anything from it.
I read that Stoke are resting nine players against Valencia, they won't even have a full bench. This means they won't be as tired as we expected them to be and hardens my opinion that this is going to be a tough game. They need the points as badly as we do so they will be scrapping and battling for every ball - a scenario we are notoriously ill-equipped to deal with. They will be in our faces from the first whistle a la Norwich and we are going to have to fight to find the space to play our football. Shrinking violets should not take the field for us in this game because it is going to be a hard, hard game. We could win but I would be well pleased with a draw.
When we beat them at the Liberty I seem to remember we stuck Joe Allen on Peter Crouch from their goal kicks (I was amazed at the time - Caulker was injured). The plan seemed to be; if Crouch wins the header and knocks it on, so be it. If Crouch tries to bring the ball down, Joey was already buzzing around his heels to nick the ball off him. Don't know if we will use a similar tactic for Sunday's game.
I don't see why not? At home, as you say, Allen stopped him from bringing it down and playing it on the floor, and the rest of the defence dropped right back (where we are more comfortable in possession than most teams) so any flick-ons were mopped up. Now, I wouldn't say I'm confident of us getting a result, but I think it will be very similar to the game at the Liberty. I expect us to dominate possession, but I do expect Stoke to make more chances, so I don't see us keeping a clean sheet. As mentioned, keeping Crouch quiet will be vital.
the only problem about us resting 9 players for valencia (not even travelled), so they can start on sunday, is that these 9 players have played a lot of games together this season & been absolute ****ing dross. So where that leaves us for sundays game is anyones guess?
Stoke will see this game as very winnable,and they will be heartened at the way Norwich won at The Liberty. I doubt they will be too concerned about the niceties of "the beautiful game",and expect them to take all three points. Looking forward to eating extra large portion of humble pie come Sunday evening if I am wrong.
Yeah, Vetch, I've got a bad feeling about this game as well - too many of our players disappear into their shells when the challenges are flying; we do have a soft spine to be honest. The other thing that bugs me is that we rarely perform with conviction after a break - it's as though we need to get match tuned again which should not be the case but it sometimes is. Like you, I'll be supporting us to the death and I'll be delighted to share your pie if we get a result. A draw will do me.
A difficult game to call on Sunday chaps. Stoke desperately need to start winning at home after what has been a poor run recently. The Brit has not been a fortress of late and the Swans do move the ball around well. I just hope that their not so good away form continues. The very first Stoke game I went to was against Swansea (a town then) in 1959 and Stoke won 4-1 or 4-2. How I would welcome a similar result on Sunday but we cannot score at the moment so a scrappy 1-0 would do. Anyhow I hope it is a good game and that visiting Swans fans enjoy their day (if not the result!)
I think weve got a good chance of a result there, we fear no one when our full team is available and DG is getting better and better Rogers will also have a plan on how to deal with stoke. If we keep the ball down and avoid injuries we could over run them and our defence through mid field is capable of dictating the game.
It can go both ways. Our away form was poor, and they have some big mother ****ers than can cause damage. If we can pass it around, I think we'll sneak it 1-0.
Not being funny lads but what the hell was the team that Pulis put out for you against Valencia? 4 subs too, what on earth is he playing at ? Feel sorry for the fans who travelled !
