Brilliant result for Stoke tonight. Besiktas are a very good team and gave us a good game but we upped the tempo in the 2nd half. The subs of Whelan and Walters changed the game, got to give Pulis some credit there, even if the Walters sub was a forced one. Man of the Match definitely Ryan Shotton, the lad played a blinder.
I was a bit worried at half time as I thought Besiktas were the better team. However, a much improved second half performance resulted in a deserved victory for us. We also played some lovely football after the substitutions. A tricky game over with, and now we move on to another tricky game on Sunday. Let's hope we perform better than we did after our last European adventure! At least we haven't got to travel a few thousand miles back from the far side of Europe this time, so the players should get more chance to recover properly. I was concerned to see Matty limping towards the tunnel after the game - hope he's ok for Sunday.
It's a massive result and they certainly are a very good footballing team. Technically, brilliant and first half we just sat off them, let them play and conceded what really was a bad goal for us.. 2nd half Cudos too Tony Pulis Pennant and Walters on and we really went for it! I thought the ref was absolutly CRAP hardly gave us anything first half and WHAT was their keeper doing time wasting Not sure what the pen was for, I thought it was a push but I've heard it was for handball? Either way, delighted to come out of this game with 3pts, top of the mini league and looking forward too the next Europa game... Mr Pulis.. Huth is NOT a full back and I thought he struggled with their No 7 all night. I thought he was their best player and Ryan Shotton was fantastic.. Crouchie 2 in 2 games and it's looking good, especially with Walters up front again, he chased everything. Just another point but was Delap too slow tonight? He didn't seem interested in getting forward first half anyway.. Same with Matty, far too often he was in the wrong half and does'nt look the same player he was last season.. End of the day... a win is a win against an excellent team, and they will be a tough nut away from home.
Its has really surprised and impressed me just how well you are doing in this competition. Good luck in the rest of it
Robin, Cheers buddy I was really worried about this game. I think? they are the same team that drew with Utd in the UEFA cup not so long ago! They look a classy outfit and although I thought our starting 11 looked unbalanced i.e. only one wide man with Ether's we struggled first half. Much improved 2nd half and I'm well chuffed.. as T.P. realised we were being pushed too deep far too often, thanks for the compliment it's exciting times at SCFC right now.
Yes, a good win and a good second half performance. Clearly it is asking for trouble to play a Centre Half at full back against a tricky winger - TP really does need to think about this. Am I alone in wondering what is the role that Dean Whitehead is trying to perform? He is marking space and putting absolutely no pressure on the ball, and he looks terrified when in possession of the ball - he is a better player than he is currently showing. I hope that whatever is the problem with Etherington is quickly resolved - if we can get the wingers playing to 85% of klast years form, we could have another excellent season. Lets hope that we have a go at Swansea, rather than our "sit back and absorb" tactics. The points are there to be taken.
Didn't think delap had too bad a game actually. I think most of the stoke players gave the ball away sloppily at some point of the match . Their no7 was a class player , huth struggled against him most of the night needed support from Upson and got it.Agree ref was poor but he gave us a penalty so all is forgiven. Will the lads be up for the Swansea match after the "big" games we've had recently ? THAT is THE question. Shotton defo earned his corn last night (Palacious seemed to go missing ,don't know what you think) . Shotton just about deserved to pip Crouch as man of the match in my opinion.
Binge on Beer Agreed about both Delap and Whitehead? Both are too slow for me personally.. in body and in mind they take far too long on the ball and as you rightly pointed out. ALL were guilty of giving the ball away far too easily first half.. Etherington?? I do not know what's happened but he doesn't look like he's interested most of the time he drops too deep and needs to spend more time in the opponents half than he does ours. Maybe he isn't fully fit but once Pennant and Walters came on we looked different class last night... Shotton and Crouch my men of the match and can we have their No7 he's lightening quick and an excellent winger. Swansea, we may as well just "go for it" because so far that is the way they are playing.. good luck to them AFTER SUNDAY but, it seem's they are a decent side and play with plenty of width at home. Not easy, no game is but we're on a roll so let's wait and see.
TP, in my opinion, can't be blamed for playing Huth at left back last night. Higginbotham - injured Wilkison - injured Wilson - injured Huth was the only option I'm afraid, but I'd love us to buy a proper left-back in January and move Wilson into midfield. As things stand though, we're coping admirably with all the games we're playing.
Should have bought a fukin full back in 1 of the last 6 transfer windows then shouldn't he! Of course you can place blame when you have had ample opportunity to rectify your glaring weaknessess! That aside, I think as a team we are playing some excellent football which is progression in itself! We are weakened by playing players out of position (surely Huth a RB would have been better then LB and he was responsible for the goal) and I still dont think we are playing our best combination of midfield players! Excellent result - again- so well done TP and the lads that have played!
Well done to Shotton deserved MOM..a local lad dun good from fenton..Huth left back, yes he shud have been..back on the bench...yes i know its not his fault and he gives 100% .. So T.P sort out that position and move Wilson into midfield to win the ball in favour of Delap..Higginbotham been a great servant but it's time to say thanks but bye.The left back position is a specialist position so here's hoping T.P gives it the priority the position deserves.
Bang on Smither's re fault for the goal.. I could see it coming at least 15 sec's before they scored.. we all sat off them and Huth didn't know where he was.. the guy that scored. I don't blame Huthy at all but surly Wilko could have played Right back and Shotton left back.. as they are both quicker than Huth. He is a C/H that is what he's good at.. we do NEED to buy a full back in Jan for sure.. Wilson no, Higgy he's been out for ages, Collins didn't work out.. ONE position we missed out on and I think? we all agreed it was needed in the last window.. a full back! Still don't think our best midfield played last night and that's why we were outplayed first half for the most part. Much better 2nd half and well done the lads..
I enjoyed my trip to the Brit last night. There was a great atmosphere and anticipation. My view of the game is largely the same as most of you. We allowed them too much room and possesion in the first half and we looked unbalanced and uncertain early on. Besiktas were very good on the ball and moved it about neatly. The move for their goal was very good and exposed Huthy at left back. The good thing for Stoke was that they responded immediately and I thought Crouchy looked worth every penny of his fee. Palacios did not look match fit and although he showed some clever touches and good vision on occasions he will need more games and time to make a real impact but I'm sure that he will. The 2nd half was much better because we started to press forward and the substitutions made all the difference in my view. You have to be impressed with Walters' energy and movement and he and Crouch together could be an exciting partnership ..... and he wasn't going to miss that penalty was he? No reason to doubt Stoke's chances of progressing to the knockout stages and I am eagerly looking forward to the next 2 home Europa games. I just hope that we don't suffer in the Prem on Sunday
Wilko was injured, Potts. Apart from that, I agree. We're sorted at right back and centre back, left back is still an issue as the only player I rate in that position is Higgy.
I though it was a pretty easy decision really, play Huth right back and Shotton left back. The player Huth was marking was very quick and Shotton is quick too and would have coped much better. I thought Huth had a bit of a nightmare and for this Plis has to take some of the blame, having said that other than that Pulis managing was spot on. Well done lads keep it up!!!!. UTPsssssssssss
Besiktas are a strong team as well who regularly compete in Europe, was a very good result for you. I was more impressed with the draw away at Kiev seeing as that would be a banana skin for any team but you almost got a win in the end!
I agreed about the Kiev result was the better one as I don't think many, including myself, were even expecting a draw. They beat Man City home and away last season didn't they? I think this group will be tight. If we can get another 4 points and get to 8 I think that should be enough I reckon.
A win at home against Tel-Aviv and a draw in the return is certainly possible. Then a point in each of the 2 remaining games should definitely see us through
