Have watched all Stoke's PL games one way or another but today was inept rubbish. Last week against Arsenal we played some pretty stuff at the back and into midfield but thereafter the final ball was poor and everything was at a snails pace from midfield moving forward. What you can't do is to try to out pass Arsenal on their own patch. Today was just terrible. Either one of three things happened. 1. When we break someone mainly Cameron or Nzonzi slows it down allowing Norwich to get back behind the ball 2. We get some space and play it into the front men who can't control it and they had their pockets picked all day 3. We launched it 60 yards and it sailed over Jones' head. The side has limited pace and is now trying to play more football but with no cutting edge. We will play sides that are simply better at playing this game and average that Norwich are, they played better more incisive football. One shot on target said it all and I fear that our intensity and ability to put sides under pressure is being lost with this approach. It does take time to change but sides coming here will be relishing a slow methodical approach rather than up and at em.
against Arsenal we created chances and Arsenal did some good defending cutting out some very good crosses, then again it was only Arsenal..............................................
Mm last three PL games 7 shots on target at an average of one every 39 mins. Not going to score too many I feel with that ratio. The other issue is in the same period we have a ratio of getting the ball on target only 25% of the time, which is pretty poor. Was surprised we did not try to bring in more firepower up front as we are seriously lacking and have been for two years.
how many shots did we have though, I think it was 9 in all. if you look at stats for most games not many shots on target by teams in the bottom half of the prem at Arsenal. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24098512 if people are unhappy with these stats AWAY to Arsenal then I give up.
We are going to have upsets, they wanted it more, but over the last 7 games we are moving in the right direction and it's still early doors yet.
All entitled to our opinion. I have been pretty bored watching our passing brand because of the pace of it, Man City excepted where we were excellent. I agree it is a step in the right direction to get them trying to play given the dire stuff we served up last year. The issue is can he develop it so its a brand of football that controls games and leads to plenty of chances and goals. With the players we have I am very doubtful of that. Now is that Hughes' fault, no. He inherited most of the players and a limited budget in the summer. I read your post stating now we have struggled in a game people are all over the board criticising. I chose not to post for the first 6 games to give me chance to reflect on all of them and at present the jury is out, not on Hughes but on the squad. Did they deserve criticism today. They surely did.
I thought Pulis was back in charge. This was not a Mark Hughes type game. I left before the end and so did about 100 season ticket holders from the same area. Was that a resounding BOOOOOO I heard when the final whistle sounded. I was just leaving the car park but it sounded that there was not just me who was dissatisfied at the performance.
I agree everyone is entitled to their opinion I just think its very harsh for everyone to go over the top with one bad performance,
Whilst a poor performance, we have to acknowledge that Walters, Jones & Crouch are a waste of 20 million and 100k a week and until this area is addressed we will struggle. This is an inherited problem and one we must no forget has been 5 years in the making!
Simply not good enough yesterday, I thought I was watching a different team. Bad day at the office? Oh and the fact that at least MH has seen that Walters is complete and utter **** Jones almost as bad. I thought Cameron was the ONLY Stoke player who did OK as did Pieters. PLEASE get rid of Walters, Adam and Jones they we're all CRAP yesterday. WELL played Norwich they, Out thought, out passed, out tackled and out played us. Let's move on and HOPE that Walters and Co buck their feckin ideas up.
