What it says on the tin. Apart from the Word Association thread...thanks to Smithers, a Southampton and a Swansea fan...oh and me...nothing. Anybody bothered?
I've had nothing new to say duck. We've had too many games in which we should have gotten something and haven't, and that makes me a bit miserable.
I have noticed for some time now that, apart from the addictive 'word...' thread, there has been very little on this board this season. As someone who doesn't attend many games nowadays, I always looked forward to reading opinions from those who regularly attend Stoke games and those locals who have an insight into what goes on from week to week. We seem to be missing several established posters this season whose contributions were always interesting and created good debate. I would love this forum to return to how it used to be.
PP - could not agree more and Zoz...take your point. Tis a shame though...by the by, seems like we worth a point today and Bojan is looking the real deal.
Yes, disappointed not to get at least a draw today especially as Liverpool are hardly firing this season. However we didn't score, they did and it's another game in which we failed to keep a clean sheet. Bojan played well again and Diouf apparently had a good chance to score and Bojan struck the post. Further injuries picked up also. Not having the rub of the green lately perhaps but goals win games and we are not taking sufficient chances when they come. OK, it was Liverpool away and we haven't won there since my 8th Birthday but today was potentially an opportunity to rectify that.
After being a Stokie for 58 years I am sadly starting to lose the faith and have gotten to the stage that each week I just hope that we can just avoid losing But that is becoming increasingly difficult with a suspect defence and goal shy attack Yes we are playing more attractive football having good posession and creating more chances but it is goals that excite fans and that is perhaps why the Brit is so quiet and the forum regulars perhaps indifferent and whilst uncertain about the future not so worried to voice their concern as long as those beneath us continue to lose However and I know this may be unfair but I feel that Hughes is largely to blame To me he lacks passion and it is just a job Bland post match soundbites and no apparent concern that we are uninspiring At least TP hated losing and like him or not the forum was alive with passion For me under Hughes we are just driffting from game to game and my anger when we lose unless we are totally outplayed has turned to almost indifference I fear a mullering at United on Tuesday night SiS
Absolutely SIS...my thoughts entirely. One of the many reasons that I am not a Hughes fan. He moans about a lack if clean.sheets, when Huth was fit he didn't pick him. Andas for our home 'record' !!! Hope all goes well SIS...adios from a cold and foggy Bedfordshire
SIS, totally agree. I said last season that Hughes failed to inspire me and wondered how he managed with the players. Yes we make more chances but convert fewer of them. I think Hughes is doing ok but the team seem to need a rocket up them at the moment. I hope we get a striker in January.
Nick, if I may offer a "neutral" perspective, Hughes inherited a pretty decent Stoke team/squad from Tony Pulis - a Stoke that seemed good enough to finish middle/top half and not flirt with relegation. Clearly, if Hughes was charged by Peter Coates with adopting a "more pleasing to the eye" style of play, then there was always going to be the risk that results could be affected negatively whilst the change, and any new players brought in to help introduce the change, gelled. Personally, as for Leslie Mark Hughes himself, yes he did well as Manager of Wales, but there are still mixed views on his time as Manager. He was unlucky to be replaced at Man City, yet had a torrid time at QPR where I think he bought badly. Stoke gave him the chance to "redeem" himself and to re-build his reputation, but for me the jury is still out.
You have it spot on Taff...nothing more I could add to that. Looking forward to Ireland agin the All Blacks pm. Have a good day
Most of the posts on here in the preceeding years have been pure animosity between pro Pulis and anti Pulis fans. This is often all we had to discuss because in general ther performances were the ususal club survival games. Since his departure and the Hughes appointment (which very few were excited about) the debate quickly dwindled when the results came pouring in with very little spend. This year has been poor and we have almost returned to the Pulis era, however again Hughes has spent very little (I think I have read that it was 1.5 million net this season and something like 7.5 million net over his tenure) and it is very difficult to criticise when you are working with the embers of a previous bonfire. I noted that he has already said that he will have no money in January again - and this is in total contrast to TP's 100 million spent in 3.5 seasons. The only debate we as fans can have is about the club and not the manager or team, because unfortunately they are not on a level playing field (pardon the pun).
I have been "quiet" since the Burnley match. It is demanding of our ability to KTF , when game after game we do not get the points that we as Stokies arguably have a right to expect these days. Having said that , what kind of faith would we have if we were winning every match ? Then we would not need a faith. What bothers me is that the owners are not prepared to invest in new player/s . The current squad has shown so far that it is incapable of holding a top 7-9 position in the league , which should be reachable for us now. Good grief ! , even WHU are above us. We need new players , the defence is not good enough. Now with Moses joining Odemwingie on the sick list and Arnie playing in his own little world ( contributing nothing ) the attack is relying solely on Bojan. Thank goodness we have him , but he cannot do it alone. Okay , Jon Walters is putting a "shift" in as well. But I reitterate , we need new players , but the owners won't finance them.
Yeah and here I go again...where IS all of the additional SKY money going??? In someones's Coates pocket
