I've not posted in ages because I now work every Saturday and have missed my usual season ticket. I was none too pleased with the appointment of Hughes and to be honest I still don't rate him. The team this season is unpredictable and lacks any fight. I was real anti Pulis as you will all remember, but I do miss the fighting spirit he put into the players. We are heading towards becoming a team of prima donnas that are only here for the coin. No passion and still not enough goals!
Evening Gents, Just checking in It does indeed seem that numbers are dwindling and more are seeing through the smoke screen that is Mark Hughes (sorry) You'll not get passion or drive from MH or even any constant selection TBH and your once formidatle touhto beat team, has now lost its MOJO. I understand its a better brand of football and the direct route probably generates more goals and excitement, but thats what you all wanted from memory. We niether expected nor thought you would agre with our views on the man, but facts are he is as dour as a dishcloth with zero personality. I guess the decision you guys need to make is whether you want the more attractive type of game, or you want a variation of your old style. i dont know whats best but i still by my commens on MH. he may have got you to a great position last season but its wheher he can improve on that. Maybe he hasnt had the funding, i dont know enough about your board. But, I'd suspect they are cautious about giving him large sums due to past experience. Anyway, its a shame its killing off the passion your posters usually show. Keep the faith guys...Im sure Redknapp will be free in a few weeks...
I dont agree - I'm not a Hughes fan but he has had nothing to keep us afloat and move the team forward. The reason Pulis left was that he knew he would have no further control over the budget and had spent the war chest years in advance in our pursuit of survival. That team was already 2-3 years too old (and not good enough) when he left and we are now a further 18 months down the line. What Hughes achieved last year was unbelieveable, what is happening this year is a reasonable expectation. The simple fact is we were unable to attract anybody of note, he took the job and for that I am grateful. Was he and is he my choice - No.
Hmmmm...I honestly believe that the REAL problem is at board level, Uncle Peter does not have access to the family cheque book...that belongs to Ms Denie and you know what bookies are like with their money. It is her Sky TV money box. I know U keep gpung on about TV revenues but....
I do think that is the main problem. PC ran it as his club with TP as his closest aide, now control appears to be through members of a board with business at the forefront of their agendas. This family run club theme seems a distant past.
This season worries me to be honest. I think there are three key factors that get you relegated if you are a mid table type premier team. 1. Not scoring enough goals 2. Conceding either too many or very sloppy goals 3. Injuries to key players Since we were promoted we have basically only had a problem with not scoring enough and have been tight at the back and realistically done well for injuries. This season all three are blighting us. Some of the goal conceded have been woeful including both Man Utd goals on Tuesday and even the Liverpool goal on Saturday where we failed to react to the ball hitting the bar. Begovic has had a bit of a mare in goal this season, but defensively we have been poor. In attack we look good on the break but finishing is a joke. Without a doubt we have missed some absolute sitters. Points were there against Liverpool and Man Utd and how did we not beat Leicester and Burnley (oh yes joke goals conceded and awful finishing). With Odemwinge out we have no natural finisher. Injuries have piled up to key players and whilst we have kept our head above water on that front, it is a problem. So if we don't want to be in a dog fight we need to improve on all fronts. Hughes is paid to deal with defence and attack and he needs to sharpen them up and quickly.
Excellent post if I may say. Will we be in a dogfight this season? I hope not but we need to tighten up in defence, and find a way of breaking down teams at home.
Spot on, if you don't score goals you don't win games. Our strike force has always been our weakness and although we do create more chances our technical ability I front of goal isn't good enough. Walters was never good enough and the Crouch and Owen deals were not the right players for our club. The heart of our back 4 is the key problem and this is why we are losing games. Huth's absence has been notable and the reliance of Wilson (a defensive midfielder who played 3 seasons at LB) who does not have the physical attributes at this level is suicidal. Injuries are just part of the game.
Hughes is the best manager we have had imo, we should have beaten Liverpool and got a point against Man utd. Its brilliant to watch and im absolutely loving it. I wasnt keen on Hughes appointment but boy has he proved everyone wrong. Fantastic signings and fantastic football. I honestly do not know what most people on here are watching, infact looking at some comments I would guess that they dont watch the game and just go off the score when they put teletext on. Huth is back too so we can hopefully sort out the silly goals we are letting in. we are on target to get 47 points and we should have won many more games, West Ham, Leicester spring to mind. I dont comment on here anymore as its far too negative and fickle (not everyone though). This is the most ive enjoyed being a stokie in the past 20 years and if people are moaning about it then i suggest they take up tiddly winks. up the potters
it does my head in mate and its not just on here. Its everywhere, its in the stadium, on forums, on facebook etc. Ill tell you what the problem is now at stoke and its not Coates, its not the manager and its not the club. The problem are the "fans", people forget who we are and where we have come from. I mean seriously last season was incredible but the chances of repeating that was virtually impossible especially as there is no money available. People moan about Coates but without him we would still be sitting in League 1 FACT!, hes dumped so much money in our club its ridiculous, people need to look at Stokes finances before making judgement. Last season we got £68 million for finishing 9th in the league, our wage bill was £60 million, thats without running costs. They are running the club brilliantly and we are doing it on our own 2 feet. Does everyone want us to become like Chelsea or Man City?. The problem is the fans. I used to like posting on here and after Pulis went it was much better but now all people do on here is slate Hughes, after he broke all records (record points and record wins). Its pathetic and fickle.
This is the first time I`ve been able to get on the site for ages,Internet explorer(my usual way of getting on here) and google chrome both said site unavailable! I got on today via Hull City not606!! Anyway I couldn`t agree more with this post,ricc. To be honest I was against Hughes but I think he is doing OK. I think he`s made some really good deals(apart from Arnautovic & Ireland) and considering we`ve had some really bad injuries(Huth and Odemwingie particularly) I think we`ve been very unlucky in some games. Like most fans,though,I am anxious about our position,but that goes with being a Stoke fan!
Well chaps I have returned and yes I can still get access so that is good. Will try and keep PP and others interested with some comments following games. I can not make Palace on Saturday but will up for the Chelsea game Cheers Cris
