Because we don't have that many fans. We were very good at home last season but the novelty factor of the Premier League has now worn off. Bolton play very good football but their attendances are worse now than they were under the hoofball days of Sam Allardyce.
Yes, but thery didnt play, the likes of Defoe (Crouch wasnt a great example b ecasue he wouldn't offer us anything new) didnt play. Cole played a role in most games last year and had a creative midfield supplying him - he didn't score and they got relegated!
I didnt think our home record was a siginifcant improvment. 10 wins, 4 draws & 5 losses against our 1st season of 10 wins 5 draws ansd 4 losses?
I read a while ago that filling just one corner would take a sell out every match for a season to pay for itself, so it could well be that they wanna make sure we carry on selling out, and can sell with the extra seats. Can you remember how empty it used to be in the championship? I think a lot of the wait is to be certain we can keep up the number of appearences, and that the stadium isn't full of pseudo fans who have just come along for the ride, being a Premier League team and all.
I can see why you get frustrated with the guy, I do too, for pretty much all the same reasons, but I think overall he's done more good than bad. By the end of the season I might end up being on your side, but I can't see the point in slating him before a ball has even been kicked.
Coates said the cost of filling one corner in would be 3 million. If Pulis last game of the season had motivated the players to beat Wigan we would have got an extra 4 million for finishing higher in the league. This would have covered the cost of filling in said corner. The only problem we have though is that i don't honestly believe there are enough fans around to get us to 35k crowds. Ok when we play the big clubs Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool Arsenal etc. We may just make the 30k mark. Coates says the secret to Stoke's success in the premiership is sell out crowds and an intimidating arena type atmosphere. With an extra 8,000 seats that could be potentially empty for lesser games it would probably take away from what a great atmosphere we now have and open us up to riducule from opposition fans, (you couldn't sell all your tickets). I think we are a few years away yet from filling in the corners. Incidentally on the lost 4 million, how many employees would still be in a job if they lost their employer 4 mill in one afternoon? Just a thought!
You really think so? Maybe i've just been watching the wrong games but in the games i've seen Bolton play since Coyle arrived, I don't think they've changed an awful lot, I still think they're more direct than even we are, from the games i've watched. Just my opinion of course, but that's how I see it.
Waddo - I think your point is right, the atmosphere would be badley affected by empty seats although I thought 1 corner would onlt hold about 2500 so linking the West Stand and the Boothen end would make sence. I was more curious that Coates said that after the 3 year plan, when we were an established prem team it would be something he would look to do. So apart from the lost revenue in finishing in our lowest league position (probably balanced off by our cup run), does he now think that we are not an establsihed enough team to take the punt, or did he never have the intention top expand the ground? To move forward, we do need to expand the ground for bothe prestige and revenue, and I think there are 32-35k fans out there willing to have season tickets! If not, I dont necessarily think it is demographic problem, it may be more alligned to the bad press we get and the style/quality of the football we play. Real fans may put up with both, but new fans may be less inclined!
To be worth 500 odd million, I'd say you'd have to be a pretty good businessman, and to own one of the most successful bookies in the country, you must know a lot about gambles, so as much as I wanna see the corners filled, I trust Peter Coates judgement
His kids made him that fortune from the bookies, Mr Coates was a caterer first time around at Stoke and he was a tight wad back then too!
