Hi there, It really was NOT a cyber flounce that has kept me away, well perhaps just a little bitty one. Jowler was spot on a few weeks ago, there was I, as happy a Stokie as you can imagine, the grand opening of the transfer window and I was determined to get the first text in, as on a couple of windows before, regarding my red hot tip of us signing Rodellega and WHAT happens, that bastard Jol signs him for Fulham. Instant depression, ticket to Vienna to the Sigmund Freud Sanitorium for disillusioned Stokies (all wards were full by the way and some extremely long term cases in there as well, all with the same entrance date - AP (After Pulis). Anyway, I digress, after some expensive ECT treatment I was released, all is now very very positive, as in: If Rodellega had been playing for Stoke, he would NOT have nearly dismantled Rooney, another couple of inches higher then he would be playing for the Ladies Team GB in Rio. Hey ho and then I see we have a new Number 10, and I can't afford the fare back to Vienna. To be perfectly honest with you all, I am at the point where I really couldn't care less, heresy I know, support the team, NOT the manager, but seriously, it's not for me, I must admit that when Fuller went and his exit in my opinion was shamefully handled by the club, the last vestige of transient genius footballing ability went with him (just like Jimmy Greenhoff all those years ago - Freud told me that I have not really forgotten that, and it colours my opinion of modern day Stoke). Looking at the Olympics, and the Paralympics reminded me just what sport was all about, PRIDE, HONOUR, GLORY. NOT a Mr Ronaldo feeling sad at Real Madrid cos nobody loves him, or Rooney making the biggest mistake of his life and getting a £75K a WEEK pay rise. Journeymen footballers getting paid £10, 15, 20K per week and not playing, and that's not just Stoke. Enough is enough, for me at least. Life's too short, much too short in my case to spend my teaming moaning about something I cannot change or do anything about, i.e Pulis. I will still drop in now and then, so you haven't got rid of me just yet. All the best guys Nick
Nick if u wanted ECT your cud have gone the harplands down the road lol Seriously sad u that peed off and i hope sumthing changes bring some faith back to yer( you never no we might smash man city 5-0 and the team play for free and give all there wages to charity) O wait i just saw a flock of pigs flying
My thoughts have echoed yours over the last couple of years. Having an attitude centred purely around results is fine if you're stranded in the Amazon rainforest and the desired result is staying alive. However, this is football and I just don't enjoy watching Stoke these days. I don't even want to be entertained by Stoke any more, I just don't want them be so embarassing to watch, which may soon be the case with the new midfield. However, I will not forget how the success we have 'enjoyed' has been at the cost of entertainment. I've only recently started to watch football with tactics at the forefront of my mind during the last five years or so and perhaps the football at Stoke was always ****. Nevertheless, I've noticed how bad our game is under Pulis. I frequently find myself annoyed when Stoke win games when they were awful as I feel it justifies the negative style and encourages the deluded fans that have replaced the empty seats of the championship days. I don't think Stoke are an exception, its just the way society works these days: Success at the cost of integrity is far too acceptable nowadays. I'm not sure if I'll stop watching Stoke though, but at the Arsenal game, I thought there was a lack of atmosphere, as though the crowd wanted to say, in a dejected fashion, "another year of the same old ****?"
Nick, You never know this years signings may just be the start of us starting to play with the pride of yesteryear rather than a team that doesn't beleive in itself. I still do not feel that Mr P can take us further than he has as the team reflects his rabbit in the headlights persona, so I will continue to take the P out of him. The sooner he leaves the better as far as i'm concerned. Your wit and humour have been a balm, a source of wry amusement in times of anger and frustration over tactics and team selection, for this I thankyou and look forward to any further posts. Jowler
