I know we haven't been impressive recently (all season actually ) but have we got a chance in spain . its "our" european cup final in a way and history suggests that when the chips are down we've always raised our game ( apart from citeh) . I'm a bit of a jonah as you know but i've got a feeling in my water that we might nick summat ower there. You may think i've mislaid my medicashun but ........... Anybody else feeling the same way ??
I honestly feel that.. IF Tony Pulis wants to "try and get through" e.g. score which we have to.. is he thinking about the Swansea game e.g. does that mean both Pennent and or Etherington will be rested? Will Delap play IMO he weakens the team IF we want to be attack minded. Binge on.. As far as I am concerned we're still in the tie although being one of the more.. I think we can win any game given the right selections brigade on here. I would play our best possible team and give it a right go myself. IF ONLY for all those loyal fans who are going to Valencia.. WILL Tony Pulis do that? I doubt it very much but, hope I am wrong. IF we go with player's like Shotton and Delap as 2 wide men forget it. Of course we have a chance but give me 3pts on Sunday and a defeat in Valencia.. I'll take the 3pts THANKYOU! My head say's Tony will "hold out for as long as is possible" My heart say's.. STUFF the League game, let's go out and the player's should enjoy it and have a go. Where's me pills and I too need a lie down Binge..
We have the ability to beat pretty much any team when we perform and the manager picks the correct team! However, even if we put our best team (not the one Tony thinks is our best) and we won 3-1 in a crackin game, what would be the point? We would probably get drawn against one of the Manchester clubs! I'm not being negative (and I know all the Fans going to Valencia will think I'm a right prick), but I would rather see a defensive line up with most (if not all) of key players rested for the next 2 home games - those games will make or break our season - IMHO.
Yes we can Half time will be 0-0: Then TP finds out the sad news, that mama is actually not a footballer but a nigerian gold seller/buyer, rory is actually a 56 year old retired javelin teacher & jonny walters is actaully a duracell bunny, who's ads are not allowed tv showings in spain, so he cannot get anymore batteries. He then after 2mins of the second half runs up the sidelines too great applause from the 10k fans (who he wanted to turn up), & totally transforms us from a first half posession stat of 8% to a mighty 12%, which dramatically turns the tide in Stokes favour, as the spaniards are finally run ragged.
There's always a chance. We should be able to play both wingers against Valencia and Swansea. Hopefully the reason we've not been playing 2 wingers recently is because Pulis saw this busy period coming, where we NEED both of them to be fit. Some of you have been moaning about selections, or worrying that we played too many key players vs Crawley, but I think a lot of TPs selections can be justified, depending how he sets up the next few matches. With the obvious exception of Walters, I think he has moved players about so we can put out good teams that can really go for it. Vs Valencia Sorenson Shotton--Huth--Shawcross/Upson--Wilson Pennant--Palacios--Whitehead--Etherington Jerome--Jones Vs Swansea Begovic Wilko--Shawcross--Upson/Woody--Wilson Pennant--Whelan--Delap/Whitehead--Etherington/Walters Crouch/Walters--Fuller These are both strong teams, as long as Walters gets a rest, no one I've put in both teams should be over worked. There's a few places I've put 2 players down for, depending on how they look in training, oppositions selection etc, but both these are decent attacking teams, and given the right direction, perfectly capable of winning both matches. Whether that's what happens or not, is a completely different story. And then we've got a week to see how everyone is doing leading to the Norwich match.
Pistol. I don't believe that TP actually rests players, or goes in for squad rotation; basically if you disagree with him you are out, whereas if you tow the TP line, you are in. It is extremely noticeable that Huth was dropped from his rightful position at CB to RB at the start of the season because of the rumoured statement that he wanted to be off, his replacement (Woodgate) has not been heard of since he complained about playing RB, Pennant stepped out of line and is only picked when fans discontent reaches a crescendo, and even Etherington is paying for his strop at Derby. Palacios is not even considered due to his appalling level of fitness while the ever willing (but incredibly slow and technically incompetent) Rory, aged 97, is turned out to play at every available opportunity. Then there is JW, who will soon have completed his second "round the world" run of the season. To credit TP with squad rotation, or picking a tactically sound team falls down, because it credits TP with having a brain - this is yet to be proven!
That is all speculation, correlation does not imply causation, and r.e. Pennant, I doubt TP would put him in the team just because of the fans discontent, if he didn't want him to play, he wouldn't be playing. I'll bet there are fallouts all the time, none of which effect selection. If it did we'd probably field a team consisting of TP himself, Delap, Diao and a few ball boys.
Smither's EXACTLY, right re the two home games coming up.. Nicky, re Nope.. can you be more to the point please.
We have every chance of beating Valencia with the squad of players we have at our disposal. the only problem is the manager does not know how to line them up and is tactically devoid of any kind of attacking ideas. If it was me I would play 3 in midfield and 3 up front. The three up front being Walters, Jerome and Fuller and totally go for it! I doubt this will happen though as it will be contain the game for the first half then try sneak a goal in the last 20 minutes.
Your a very positive fan and I respect your balanced and constructive comments, although I find them a liitle over loyal. I think to view TP's selections as having any kind of consistencey or continuity is blind, and there is far too much evedience to support the fact that TP is nothing more than a spiteful dictator, how holds grudges like an elephant - whether justified or not!
Apparently having seen our 15 EUFA have agreed that boxing rules can apply and the ref stop the match if he thinks fit to save unecessary punishment especially to the loyal fans who have made the journey SiS
Waddo?? Is that article you just read the same as the one on the other link.. if so it's a disgrace to our loyal fans and proves the point you made all season. Pulis does not give a flying fig about US end of.
After seeing the squad put out for tonight, I haven't gt a clue what TP is doing, and can't find any decent reason to support the choices. Sometimes I may seem 'over loyal', but all I am doing is trying to understand our selections and tactics based on football, not everything else flying round in the media. For example, it's been mentioned that Woody ain't been played since his interview, but in said interview, he never critisized Pulis, (if anything praised him) and said he was trying to learn to be a better RB, which I doubt he would get dropped for. We can still put out a decent enough side out of the players who have gone to Spain, but not as strong as it could have been, and would leave us no subs. Some poor choices, although I think Matty must be injured, was on the bench and didn't play v Crawley, not travelled to Spain, even with our negative tactics, he should be on the bench at least(if fit).
Ahh the famous "If Fit"? Would that be the famous "Stoke Fit" by any chance! Like I said, if we played ore best players in the correct positions I feel we could beat them - its a shame really for all the loyal fans that have taken time off work, time awayd from their familiies and spent a fortune to go and watch Stoke play!
Haha , no I think there must be something wrong with him, as said in previous post, it would be a new level of negativity to not even have him on the bench, seen as our subs only get 15 mins max anyway. But who knows, we could be in for a bit of the old Fuller magic? It is a shame for the fans though, I though Shawcross would have played, and either Walters or Crouch to have been rested on Sunday and been in for tonight. Just seen an article "TONY PULIS RISKS FANSâ FURY" "Stoke have 3,000 supporters here who have paid a minimum of £400" http://www.scottishsundayexpress.co.uk/posts/view/303885/Tony-Pulis-risks-fans-fury Here's what he had to say on the matter: âDonât class this with what happened with Martin OâNeill and Villa. The team I play will be worth £20 million, itâs not the same as the Villa situation. âThe majority of players will have been involved in European competition,â said Pulis. âSo itâs not as if itâs their first game. âIâll be disappointed if weâre not strong enough to give Valencia a game. I donât want to give my starting XI away, but it will be a strong one. âBut Iâll tell you now, Iâve got a back four and everyone is a full international, plus the goalkeeper. âIâve got three midfield players who are full internationals, two out of three forwards who are internationals, Iâve got a captain who has played for his country. âItâs not a weak team. Itâs the right squad, itâs fresh and ready to go.â
Etherington was on the bench at Crawley, so he injured himself on the way home. Pulis has never been known to hold a grudge has he, and his tactical rotations are always clearly explainable. It is totally my fault to question the Great One's thinking - he's a first class Con Artist.
