Stoke City v. Swansea City - match thread

Bony wasn't great but better than some, and who else had a good game? Ki was my MOM and siggy was good first half. That's about it.

 

It was, its why when Monk first started, it was joked that we should have kept both Laudrup and Monk and they could have one half each.

Laudrups team would start off poor and then his half time team talk would lift the team. Then Monk came in and offered the opposite, good starts, but then **** half time team talk that made the team ****.

 

he scored from a peno today, hardly coming back into form

 

Bit gutted about that, but losing away to Stoke isn't the worst result. Need a win sometime soon to boost confidence a bit though.

Remember when we got ****ed by a penalty decision against Stoke last year? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24792968 Twats.

 

But a goal is a goal nonetheless and that's what he gets paid for.

 

I definitely recall our second half displays being poor under Laudrup but can't remember when during his tenure. Must be wrong about that?

 

Laudflop had a period where our team were crap both first and second half, West Ham was one game where the board by this time had had enough, but in general I think swanselona has it correct................

 

'the rest of the league is very average and everyone is capable of beating each other.' Then it is time we started winning against the rest.

 

Look who wrote it!

 

Fair comment.

 

No width today for the majority of the game meant it was congested in the middle where I'm afraid Carroll was a passenger, it wasn't the type of game which suited him or us , we are learning but not quickly enough when it means getting in the refs ear Hughes and Stoke are pass masters at it . I thought the subs were correct but a little late in Carrolls case, we needed to stiffen up the midfield where we were being overrun . Montero has to start a game soon at least 3 times he was able to run with the ball and caused all sorts of mayhem which we should have capitalised on .Disappointed that the focus is on the ref rather than the team who looked fugged virtually every second half , a lot can be said about players returning from the international break but not everyone did but collectively we look tired with no desire to make movement to create space to attack .Bony played well enough and put away a penalty with a hostile crowd in front of him and having missed his previous one still fresh in his mind so I've no doubt he'll come good ,some things didn't go right for him today but I thought his attitude is right and things will start to click not only for him but the rest of the team.

 

Agreed and that is why I hoped that Monk would have subbed Carol at half time, I did call it but Valley shot me down in flames at the time, I could see he was far too light there, shame shelvey wasn't available for the game, or better still Bodde, but it's water under the bridge now. Regarding your point of 'no desire', that was evident for me in our game off the ball, we really couldn't be bothered to chase and close down with the same intensity as Stoke did, which is something we normally do very well, but Leon sets the example in this and we haven't had him play this season yet, but when he comes back we will be a different team, Leon has been missed badly..................

 

"I hoped that Monk would have subbed Carol at half time, I did call it but Valley shot me down in flames at the time"

You also said Fulton should have come on.

 

Yes indeed, and I thought he couldn't be worse than Carole surely, at least he puts in a tackle!..................

 

Former England defender Danny Mills on BBC Radio 5 live
"I don't understand how you can give the first penalty because you would have to give six or seven a game. I think he knows he has given a soft penalty and then when Victor Moses throws himself to the ground, when most of the time he would have been given a yellow card for diving, it's a penalty. Very poor refereeing."

shyte happens and Stokes 2nd was a well taken goal regardless of poor defending

 

We should have had 2 deserved penaties and received only 1 spot kick .Stoke shouldnt have had a penaty and got a spot kick anyways.We are the spot kick "" Crapped on"" Gold medalists of the Premier when it comes to ref decisions...almost to much to be a coincedence frankly

 

So what was Mill's point ? the ref doesn't give it because it happens all the time , maybe just a maybe we'll see less of it because of Oliver's decision today . if it's a wrestling bout outside the box it's a foul inside no different

 

See that the BBC is reporting that the Referees body - the PGMO - is disputing Garry's claim that a DVD or letter has been sent to Mike Riley!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29682896

This could get messy!

 

Well Mike Riley was at a face-to-face meeting with Monk, I thought? I'm guessing that Garry followed up with him and Mike should have responded.

Anyway, if anything was sent, I hope Garry got proof of postage!

 

Let's hope so!