Some advice needed and or comments/opinions The wife thinks I am crazy because I am ADAMANT that, until Tony Pulis is no longer our Manager What would you do personally? 1. Stick it out and say NO way! 2. Listen to the wife's advice, and yes she knows enough about football and my attitude/love for Stoke City F.C. And the FACT that she say's. "You will be right pain in the ass, if you don't go to any home games next season" I could find things to do between say, 1:00 and 5:00pm each weekend but as she pointed out. The only seasons I have not renewed we're when are two daughters we're born. 84/85 and 87/88. Can not remember ever NOT having a season tickets since I was 9 years old.. re: 1962. 3. Does this make me no longer a Stoke supporter? Because to buy a S/T to me is to mean I am supporting the club financially. Fine, many can not afford to buy them due to.. cost, circumstances etc. My reason is purely down to the fact I no longer want to sit and watch Pulis frustrate the hell out of me. 4. I could listen on the radio but to be quite honest. It's even worse than actually watching the games at times. Take the Sunderland game on Monday! At best I listened to 15 mins 1st half and the last 10 of the 2nd half and now, I wish I had taken a longer walk than I did. 5. Although I'm as stubborn as the prov.. mule it's getting harder and harder to resist paying out for another season of what I KNOW will be agony IF Pulis does stay on. 6. Nothing I have read nor listened to the last few weeks suggests that Pulis will be leaving. Yes there are rumours that he (might be) other pundits who know far more about "Stoke City on the inside" than I ever will saying.. we need to change, or at least Pulis does. Even Pulis has said only last week. I would like to stay on and finish what "WE have here" WHOM is WE? I ask because it's our club and for the last 53 years apart from the last 2 and a half I have enjoyed it. Rant over guys... What the heck should I do. I know Waddo has changed his mind maybe he's like me. Can not stay away. The longer this goes on it's killing me lads! Today I pick up the Sentinel and read a letter from a fan... A Gleaves from Trentham. In it he say's everything I'm feeling about Pulis and his we shall not lose attitude. Going defensive when we are winning re Sunderland. I Just wish I could have pasted it but it won't let me do that for some reason.. take a looksee and for me it's on the money and he goes onto to say.. " It is driving many long standing Stoke fans away and the are not going to renew season tickets" I only HOPE that Sunday vs Spurs will not be my last game for some time. Thoughts and/or comments would be welcome. (Edit) Sorry lads I have noticed a few spelling errors, I'm having a bad day but of course, I will be feeling better later, and up for it and there on Sunday. KTF one and all. Pott's
Tough one Potts because its all a matter of personal opinion. Its a bit like politics on the whole; wasted vote/protest vote - does it have an impact on the person/organisation you want it to? I would say that if you do not renew because of your firm ( and IMO justified) beliefs that as an individual you will probably having little affect on TP or the establishment because it is more than likely that a newbie fan will just take up the seat. You have to question whether your enjoyment (or lack of) is worth the comitment (both time and finances and probably stress?) or would you be better just picking games you want to see when it suits - similar to what I do now. Ironically I probably attend more games now than in my last season ticket year, but dont feel as robbed when I am unhappy with TP. Life is too short to cut your nose off to spite your face, but is also too short to do something becasue you feel you have to rather than becasue you want to and and enjoy it. Whatever the decission, it makes you no less or no more a fan than those that do.
You've been a season ticket holder since 1962, well you are a true supporter and it seems you are having second thoughts about renewing for next season. It's a tough decision but if it's any help, for me Stoke City has always been in my blood from 1960 when I first started watching (I was age 9 too) and right up until I moved away from Stoke I used to go to most home games and several away games too. I didn't have a season ticket until about 1973 (I was fed up with queuing for Cup tie tickets at 4am in 1971 and 1972). Good times and bad times (remember Blyth Spartans) I still went. Since moving I only attend a few home games a season but I still get a buzz when I turn up at the ground. I suppose it's excitement and anticipation. I still jump up off my seat when we score and hang my head in despair when we play poorly, miss chances or let the opposition score. No different I suppose to any other fan. I have recently thought about whether or not I would attend (and buy a ST) if I still lived in Stoke. Odds are that I would but that is easy for me to say as I don't have to suffer watching the current team week-in, week-out. If TP does stay surely he must realise that he must alter his philosophy if crowds are not going to suffer. Fans are entitled to expect entertainment and a desire to win from the team. I remember some great games in the 60s/70s where we might be beaten 4 - 0 one week then win 6 - 2 the next week. Whatever the result it was entertaining.
I dislike Pulis with a passion Potts as you know, and our style of play. I've renewed for next season mate as I sit in block 10 and it gives me great pleasure to let him know how I feel in and out of the tunnel
I think u guys are the real stoke city and make it what it is. You have been there through thick and thin and still love the club the same as the first time you saw the team play back as a kid. Its not stoke city that is driving you away is the disallusion with the capped man at a time when we shud all be excited playing the big boys every week instead we are left empty frustrated angry and even embarressed by what were seeing sometimes all in the name of 40 points. I have never been a season ticket holder due to cost and having just put myself through 4 years of university my main goal was to own a season ticket once I was earning a full wage again, it was something that has kept me goin when the times were tough and I was struggling. At the moment I wouldnt buy a season ticket if I could afford it. However I dont feel it stops me feeling the emotion good or bad when the team play by not goin nor do I feel less of a fan. Its in the blood and with you where ever you are
Stokielad I do remember that post mate and to all my other fellow SUPPORTERS... thanks for the input/advice/comments etc. It's certainly made me sit back and think TWICE now. Not that I had not done that before since I said " I will not renew" much appreciated my me guys. It is in the blood and if the wife has her way. (And she usually does lol) I may well end up sitting in the same seat next season. MUCH will depend on what does happen with new player's coming in. BAD player's and there are quite a few IMHO who surely must now GO along with TP. IF he stays and proves to me that "This time he means it with a different Plan A fair enough. I'm still not convinced HE can CHANGE so let's see what happens in the summer. We've always said on this board. "Once a Stokie always a Stokie" I'm no different than the rest on here, I love it when we win/score and I hate losing any game. Waddo, what I would give to sit that close to Pulis every week mate! Problem is, I would most likely get thrown out by the stewards. Now, let's go finish this season off with a bang and beat Spurs. I know we can, you guys know it's possible. Up and at em and KTF one and all. Thanks guys
Potts, No man can ever say you are not a supporter regardless of what you do and I also think the vast majoriity would support you regardless of the decision you make, anyway your Mrs would probably get you one to get you out from moping under her feet.
