they will not let you play it on the floor, they are a very phisical side strong in the tackle ,you will do very well to earn a point good luck to you all
Stoke's away form is none too hot and our home form is good. However, Stoke are a very good side and certainly have strength and experience, no Delap though which is good as we tend to struggle against those long throws. The possibility of a fresh centre back pairing, if Whitbread is out, could prove to be our downfall if they're not on the same wave length. Going to sit on the fence and say a draw 1-1.
Clearly there are going to be absolutely no 'easy games' at all this season, and Stoke are a very good, organised and definitely under-rated team who are far more than long ball merchants these days - but our home games against these sort of clubs (ie anyone outside the top eight) are ones we just have to be looking to win, particularly early on in the season to get some early points on the board. Of course if we lose or draw it won't be the end of the world, but I'll really be looking for us to take all three points on Sunday and show the rest of the PL that we mean business! Can't wait for 1:30 on Sunday, the atmosphere is going to be incredible!!
The absence of Delp does not mean the end of the long throws. I can't remember who it was, but there was a lad throwing it just as far as Delap in the Chelsea game.
Ryan Shotton I think Kenny. Although they are physical and use the long throws a lot, they can play some good football which gets overlooked, if we focus too much on defending against their physicality we might allow Pennant etc space to get some dangerous crosses in, or allow them to run at the defence, which is why I can see Naughton starting as he's a bit quicker than Tierney/R.Martin (not sure whether Lambert would play him at right or left back)
That is true but Delap's are quite unique in the angle, flatness, speed and length that he gets on his throws. Stoke certainly have an extra string to their bow, as quite rightly pointed out, with the likes of Pennant and I hear Etherington is back. Kenwyne Jones always scored against us the last time I saw him play against us; for Saints, and is certainly a player difficult to keep a handle on if he's on it. They have a strong, stable defence which is also a solid platform for them to build on.
Stoke havn't won away from The Brittannia since Boxing Day and have only won at CR once in 16 years, that being the last time we played in the PL. All good omens, but they are a tough side. A tough one to call but I'm going 1-0 City, with DeLaet Scoring from a corner.
