I have been to Stoke once - seriously, as mentioned by someone else, they are all knuckle draggers. They are genuinely proud of the way they play and the way their players behave. Still i am sure you are right - there are probably a few nice ones. Perhaps we could leave the town and just jetison 99% of its population into space.
As a Watford fan i'm pretty neutral. Wouldn't defend it but I do think it's just part of the siege mentality Stoke have built up - they're well on the way to being an established Premiership side, have a great record against the big clubs at home and get dogs abuse from the media. I don't agree with the booing but think it's probably just a reaction to the general opinion being built up about them. If a Fulham player had broken Ramsey's leg I suspect that the outrage from the press wouldn't have been quite so full on.
Drogs, like I said, I am not going to let another thread get wasted. It's clear you are not going to budge but this is the Arsenal board and let's be fair, it's not like only one or two have started an argument with you today.
Newham council have started to relocate some of their poorer residents to Stoke. Poor bastards, as if life could get any more ****.
With the 'he is not that type of player' bollocks. If I remember correctly, Shawcross stuck his studs into Adebayor when he was not even on the field.
Poor Newham folks... I think i would just live rough in East Ham central park than live in Stoke. Sure you'd have to put up with all sorts of low life, but they'd be like gentry compared to Stokites
Remember it too. It was the most shocking thing about the whole unhappy episode. The media trying to turn Shawcross into the victim. It wasnt even his first leg breaker. We had it with that Birmingham thug too - 'not that kind of lad'.
Read the Stoke board on here. I am genuinely surprised by their fans attitudes... what a truly awful bunch. Disappointing.
Jayram As i have stated separately why Ramsey was booed by some supporters today it was really brought upon the moronic Arsenal supporters who before the game were having a go at Ryan Shawcross and singing 'Shawcross he knows what he is.' So unfortunate as it is that Ramsey was booed off, ( it was not his fault he had his leg broken,' ) I am of the opinion that Ramsey has NEVER accepted any apology and the inane chanting at Shawcross will never help heal the deep divide that exists between these two clubs. And chants towards Wenger are really brought upon his attitude and shortsightedness. Hoping that you feel you have had another successful season.
Why does he have to accept his apology? What a load of complete BS. Why does it matter. Shawcross should just be a man and accept that he broke his leg. He apologised. End of story. IT WASNT ABOUT SHAWCROSS. HE DIDNT HAVE HIS LEG SHATTERED. IT was about ramsey. But shawcross wanted his apology accepted? Why? What a joke.
Stoke on Trent voted the worst place in England http://www.knowhere.co.uk/Stoke_-_on_-_Trent/Staffordshire/Midlands/info/worstthings OT I know. Just thought I'd share...
I dont get the excuse that the Arsenal fans made the Stoke fans boo Ramsey, or the whole apology nonsense. Arsenal fans have a go at Shawcross because he did break Ramsey's leg, and the assault that did it was intentional. Shawcross was not one bit sorry for what he did. If he was the type of player who truly did feel sorry for a leg breaking tackle then he would not have been so reckless in the first place (after he had broken Jeffers ankle a couple of seasons before). Here's a good article for you to read http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/mar/06/aaron-ramsey-broken-leg-ryan-shawcross This paragraph sums it up There is nothing to excuse Ramsey getting that reaction. It's just typical of Stoke fans - you glory in it.
Whats so funny about this link is that you can feel the writers horror at having grew up there, The opeing paragraph describing Stoke is brilliant:
Those collection of cloggers stay up by playing rugby. They even sing Sweet Chariot to be 'ironic', not realising that most just nod and think ' yep, that fits'
Inane chanting? Have you ever seen the way that man plays? That he lacks or shows even the most minute evidence of sportsmanship shows he has absolutely no appreciation of the spirit of sports and should have no part in it. He is a thug of the worst kind and defence of him only shows the tragic manner by which sports is at times played these days. As for success in seasons, well your team shouldn't even be allowed to participate in any game let alone an entire season.
Well, the media did its best to make a victim out of Shawcross back then and made up sob stories that he ain't that type of player who goes out and fouls players with over-the-top challenges. And then plenty of articles mentioning his Man Utd past and also having Fergie to say that it was in an accident. Shawcross wanted to foul Ramsey and leaves his 'marks' on him, no doubt. It was unfortunate for Rambo that his leg was snapped. Shawcross has injured more than one player before, so it was bound to happen. We have to get rid off Neaderthals like him from football. I think many people were and still are getting victim and culprit mixed-up. If Arsenal fans sing "Ryan Shawcross, we know what you are (...)", we (and everyone else should) know that Ryan Shawcross is someone who went out and broke players' legs. What reason have the Stoke fans to boo Ramsey? Don't come with banter...Ramsey was already booed on his first game at the Rugby-ground after his injury.
