Who says the magic of the cup is dead eh? Come on, what more could we ask for than a glamour tie against an FA Cup runner up and 3 times semi-finalist? To be fair to Stoke, it’s not their fault they were paired with us and I’m pretty sure they groaned as loudly as we all did when the draw was made, but them’s the breaks and we just have to roll with it now. When you think about it though, the game does represent a very good opportunity for us to get a look at our new arrivals and all being well, to maybe even progress to the 5th round ‘proper’ (lone that expression) – territory we’ve not been in since the 2013-2014 season when we were a struggling Premier League side that disappointingly lost at home to Championship side Wigan Athletic – so possible heady days ahead for us indeed! Stoke themselves have also looked to strengthen in the January window so they too may feature some new faces and be a little disjointed when facing us, plus the game represents a good opportunity for their new gaffer (Robbie’s pal) Mark Robins to stamp his mark on his new(ish) charges after picking up the first win of his reign away at Hull last Saturday. Tie History This will be the 4th time we have met the Potters in the FA cup (although it will be the 5th game thanks to a replay being earned in 2011) with our record against them reading W0 D1 L3. The most recent encounter in the FA Cup against them was the 2011 replay. City had managed to draw the initial game away against the Premier League side at the Brittania (as it was then) but succumbed to a 0-2 reverse in the replay at the CCS with the game being settled by 2 Jon Walters goals in extra time, though they were perhaps fortunate to avoid the award of a penalty shout for a challenge on Michael Chopra right at the death of normal time. The replay was played out in front of just over 13.5k fans, with Stoke going on to the final that season, but ultimately losing the cup to Manchester City who beat our hosts for this weekend in the final at Wembley 1-0 courtesy of a Yaya Toure goal. Our FA Cup results v the Potters; 27/01/1968 – Victoria Ground - Lost 4-1 31/01/1987 – Victoria Ground – Lost 2-1 08/01/2011 – Britannia Stadium – Drew 1-1 18/01/2011 – Cardiff City Stadium - Lost 2-0 Incidentally, Stoke City finished 13th in the Premier League that season whilst our own Bluebirds finished in 4th spot to claim a play-off place. Sadly our games against Reading in those play-off encounters will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons. In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About OK, so, it’s another game against relatively well known opponents who sit literally one place and one point above us in the table, so we’re both glancing nervously over our shoulders, so changes abound are to be expected you’d think? Ollie Tanner definitely misses out with his troubling foot issue as does Isaac Davies, together with long term absentee Dave Turnbull, but by all accounts Aaron Ramsey is back in contention, though you’d anticipate a place on the bench for him if he is deemed fit enough to join up with the squad. Yakou Meite is also likely to be missing thanks to a thigh strain. Predicted Starting 11 Horvath Ng Fish Daland Bagan Ralls Manswerk El Ghazi Colwill Salech Alves To be fair, the above actually goes to show that we have now got a little bit of strength in depth, though I’d also fully anticipate a bench loaded with youngsters for this one if they aren’t included in the starting 11. The Odds Home Win 11/10 Draw 12/5 Away Win 23/10 I have to say, I’m a little surprised at these odds – Stoke’s home record is even worse than our own (only 4 wins from 15 games)!! Guess the bookies think the Robins effect will take place? That or they’ve actually looked at our away record Match Day Melody In homage to a player that was excellent for both teams and was once our record fee for a transfer signing… Blooooooooooobirds!!!
Excellent thread Brizzle though I think BT may have stolen some of the thunder with his "prediction" thread Let's put a strong team out and bed in the new guys. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Aye, I had noticed the encroachment Fair play though for his enthusiasm and inventiveness in using an old thread... Good to know old things can still be useful occasionally
You're right about the squad depth Brizzle. 7 of that line up aren't currently regular 1st choice starters.
I was at our 4-1 thumping at the Victoria Ground in 68 but I'm not going tomorrow. Should be alright then.
I must protest Brizzle! It was Irish that resurrected the prediction league thread, not me, but I agree with you about old things being useful occasionally.
Good post Brizzle. I shall be at Stoke tomorrow, looking forward to seeing our new players, it should be a good game
Good morning fellow Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds. Just thought I'd mention that on my numerous visits to Stoke on Trent, I met a number of saggar makers bottom knockers. A thrilling job as the title suggests. I met them at the fireclay factories of both Armitage Shanks and Twyfords. Although I also visited the highly automated vitreous china factories of both companies (both by then slightly out of Stoke) I didn't meet any saggar makers bottom knockers on those sites. Always enjoyed my visits to the potteries though not so much the Victoria Ground. Let's hope we don't "slip" up today. Let's put a competitive team out there today please Mr Riza. Our magnificent fans are getting chronic Wembley withdrawal symptoms. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Safe travels today BT. Obviously there has been a bit of 'history' with the Stoke mob, though I think that's long forgotten by most nowadays. Hopefully we pick up the result and carry on the run, it'd make a nice change...
Guess kicking butt is another way of saying bottom knockers?? Let's hope we partake in a bit of that.... C'mon the City!!
I've been around the Twyford works in Stoke a few times as well clingo - it was in in the late 70's and early 80's. Apart from the rows of plaster of Paris moulds being prepared for the slip and then their deconstruction and "fettling" of the pot the next day, one memory stands out. Going down to the basement area to the "bog". I've never seen such an array of superb ceramic tiling for what was just the toilets - incredible workmanship. Anyway, I was lucky enough to work in that sort of environment later in the 80's - but not as a potter. This time at the Ideal Standard ceramic works in Hull doing installation work. The cutting edge of the day was pressure moulding where the slip was forced under pressure into a mould and the water content sucked out through a microporous lining. It could make a peice in minutes rather than having to wait 24 hours for the excess slip to be poured out of the plaster moulds to leave the pot. It was so innovative that only the simpler items like basins and pedestals could be produced at the time - the complicated "bog pan" was far more difficult. The pressure moulding machines were the "high tech" of the day - long before Intel and Nvidea - I think we were still on Sinclair Spectrums. Ah well - back to the football.
Great to read Sparkey and good to know someone shares my appreciation of the production of bogs, basins and bidets.
