http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10310~2452390,00.html? "If there is one slight criticism of our performance though, it is the fact that we need to be a little better in possession of the ball. We work so hard off the ball but there were times when we could have retained possession better." Maybe I'm reading too much into it but that's 2 games in a row when Pulis has made comments about possession. After Liverpool it was the need to pass to feet better and also general comments about needing to keep the ball the better, now he says the above.
Yes I am mate to be honest. As most Stokies will know watching us season after season, our undoing away from home as been to sit deep and keep kicking it out on for the home side to keep coming back at us. We pretty much did that for the last 20 minutes or so last night and it was enevitable that one attack could lead to a goal. I think whilst Jerome was on the pitch he held the ball up but had no options to pass it on. When he went off it was all hands on deck and to defend and kick it out again. We do need to keep the ball more and pass it about. The only problem is we do not have midfielders that can do this (still). Not whinging over the moon with the result just an observation!
To be fair, you are going to struggle to keep possession in a 5-3-2 unless you are playing wing backs like Ash Cole or Evra etc! I think TP went for a draw and thats what he got, and realistically a point was a good result. In relation to our natural DNA of not being able to keep hold of the ball and pass to feet, this is nothing new and will not change unless you give your central defenders an outlet to release pressure! That means proper full backs that can spread the pitch by moving forward and hence pushing the wingers forward creating angles for better passing options! In addition, CM's need to be able to recieve a ball, turn and distribute and that is simply not going to happen with likes of Diao, Delap and the same could probably be said for Deano & Whelan! I think it is unfair to judge TP on a performance like last night, but the true test of possesion comes in the form of the prem and I cant see us improving upon previous seasons in this area, purley down to the fact that the FLAT back four have no angles to creat better passing and will just punt it up to the front 2! I have always said that the defination of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting a different result - we have the same central players and same rigid formation - so I cant see why TP would expect us to be able to retain the ball any better than previous years! Its been a fantastic start to the season, regardless of the possession stats and shots on target stats - but I am concerned that TP would raise this as an issue/concern having had several transfer windows to rectify it!
This is nothing new to the regular Stoke fans... we never have kept the ball for long periods. Not for a long time anyway. I did notice last night especially 2nd half once we scored we did for 10mins or so pass it around quite well. I don't know why T.P. took Shotton off nor Jerome? But, once he did that we had nothing for the others to play off. Notice our goal came from a great move, a give and go, Shotton did really well and Jerome's finish was very well taken. We do sit too deep and it worked first half anyway. Once they used their subs it was one way traffic.. sad that we did concede. But, it makes me wonder, would T.P. been better just leaving things as they were? Oh for the gift of hindsight.. I really hope Shotton plays on Sunday, he did brilliantly and got into some great forwad positions, just a pity K.J. didn't socre that other chance it would have been game over. Still well happy with a pt but let's face it.. IF you continue to give the opponents the ball, which we did the last 20 odd mins.. they will eventually break you down. Kiev are a good side and it will be interesting to see how T.P. approches the home tie. We must however buy another good midfielder in the next window I think. Palacios looked cool and calm. Unlike Diao who did well, eventually. I still don't rate him though. Whitehead to re-place Diao on Sunday and wait for this.. T.P. will pair him with Delap and probably Whelan who's delivery at times last night was woeful. His free kicks/corners were not up to the standard we need to achive.
Freeing Wilson will surely solve our midfield passing issue....... Lets go get cole and micah richards in january I think our issue is how deep our back 4 naturally sit.... The problem is we are so good at it - Surely no team can sit like we do without the ball and keep clean sheets, yet 3 goals in what.... 9 games says different. We'll get trownced sometime soon surely with coming back to the 18 yard line every time we defend........ and yet TP keeps pulling miracles out of the fire. In Tony I whole heartedly trust.
We undoubtedly have an excellent defensive abilty, but in % terms it wont last. You cant invite so much pressure against the pace and strength of the prem teams and expect to get results - you just cant sustain that level! The back 4 being so deep and flat is down to not having proper full backs that can give an out let, until that is resolved we will remain deep and this is the reason why TP uses strong CB's more or less across the defensive line, Huth, Shawx, Upson, Woody, Higgy are not the most mobile of players but provide solid strength and a fixed line that has to be beaten by pace and cutting passes and movement!
