.....If only this season's home record was up to scratch!! Just read on BBC Sport that we have WON 17 points from 8 away games (second only to Spurs)!!! How DID we lose 5-0 at Bolton If only our home form had been a little better, QPR and Wigan come to mind. Good game IF ONLY innit?? Ps - great stream - many thanks Pps - Huth's best ever game for Sytoke methinks not bad for a supposed RB
On current form, over the last 8 games, we are fourth... http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/PR/oform.html
Typically the BBC (aside from now running the "Watch the Penalties that Stoke should incurr from Corners" campaign) can not even perform the basics of multiplication and addition. Our away form is Norwich (1pt) WBA (3pts) Swansea (0pts) Sunderland (0 pts) Arsenal (0 pts) Bolton (0 pts) Everton (3 pts) Wolves (3pts) Man C (0 pts) Blackburn (3 pts) & Liverpool (1 pt) - by my reckoning 14 pts from 11 games - scored a mighty 8 goals and conceded 20. The points tally of 20 ( which we gained in our second season away from home), and in which we only scored 10 goals may explain why TP adopts the approach that he does away from home i.e. "They shall not pass". It is churlish to say this, and we have now taken 2 points in 4 trips to Anfield, which no other Stoke Manager has managed, BUT - Liverpool are a team witha fine and great history - they are NOT a fine or great side anymore: with the exception of Stevie G, Suarez and Reina, their current side is made up of players who would nether improve or worsen the vast majority of other sides in the Prem. If Swansea and Norwich, Sunderland, & Blackburn can get a point at Anfield, then are we not selling ourselves short, to think that we are capable of getting anything less. Take away Stevie G and Suarez, and there is nothing remotely exciting about the current Liverpool side; and in many respects they are a more "media friendly" version of Stoke - don't score many, but concede less; the football is quite slow and relies on the individual brilliance of Stevie G and Suarez to achieve the odd bit of breathtaking skill (Suarez at our place in the League Cup). So, while I am happy with the point, and am not faulting our effort, I still believe that a little more attacking intent away from home, will let us add to our points tally.
Sorry Sgt and all, I misread the article on BBC sport - getting too excited Still miffed at only getting a point at Anfield though - how times change eh?
Swervy, I watched MOTD last night and it does seem that the main discussion was the physical jostling of the likes of ShawX and Huth. The commentators also thought Woodys tackle on Downing early on was worthy of red. I didn't think so but it does worry me that the media seem to want to outlaw tackling or get the officials to punish such tackles with red cards. We will be watching majority of games with 9 or 10 menper side. I wonder what Denis Smith would think about it all, and as for Eddie Clamp, he'll be turning in his grave.
I look at things a litte differently guys.. IF anyone had said we would get 18pts from the last few games we would have said NO chance! I think it was a fantastic pt yesterday and whilst a few maybe are not happy with how we set up away from home... I'm one of those who will say, well done Tony Pulis.. I never expected anything from the game yesterday. I know Sunderland did and Norwich too! But both games we're drawn because their keepers had "blinders". Sorro apart from one fairly easy shot had nothing to do. Swervy, Seem's that Sunderland had a go at Chelsea yesterday.. and LOST. As long as we get draws I don't care how we get them. It's WHEN we go a goal behind and T.P. doesn't TRY and changes it which gripes me. The Baggies keep losing at home because they can not defend IMO. Norwich caught them out yesterday. I would prefer to keep things tight away from home because when we play at home we're usually setting up very differently. Correct when someone said. HOW did we get hammered at Bolton and Sunderland. If only but given our pts tally from recent away games Citeh apart.. fantastic. Apart from not having a good striker yesterday. Realise that Liverpool do have one of the best midfields in the Premier League. If Suarez had played I'm sure we would have lost yesterday. And, there were much worse tackles than Woodgates on MOTD last night which went unpunished.
Interesting that QPR are committing a number of late, reckless tackles against Newcaslte today. Be interesting to see if MOTD2 highlights them like they would if we committed these kind of tackles.
