Been off line for some while but have read with interest the growing concern at our recent form. It is difficult to argue with the negative comments about our style of play for large parts of this season and truthfully for the large part of the last 4/5 seasons. I have watched the majority of our games in a variety of ways and at times it has been like watching paint dry. So little creativity, poor ball retention and despite having better players at the club, some poor combinations played, when better players remain on the bench. Our lack of ambition away is the most frustrating element of all and Pullis seems incapable of changing his tactics away from home. Limited is how I would describe his management style. He will however do enough to keep us up and today's result has just about made that a sure thing, so more than happy. Where do we go from here. More of the same or a change of style which will need a change of manager. If we change there is no guarantee we will retain our status in the PL under a new manager and therein lies the nub. We need to be careful what we wish for i.e Pullis gone. To illustrate I had the dubious pleasure of visiting St Andrews last week to watch Brum v Forest. Main reason to see Jack Butland. Truly awful standard, not an outfield player with any real ability, poor atmosphere, half filled stadium. I for one don't want a return to any other league, so being somewhat conservative and fearful of going back down, on balance I still just about back Pullis. By all means rip me apart but be careful what you wish for. By the way really liked Butland. 6 '4" controlled the box well, cleared up well when the ball went over the top and good shot stopper. Raw but plenty of ability. Good sound buy IMHO.
Welcome back, Northern. We needed the 3pts today and thankfully we got them. We need to win 2 or 3 more games to be absolutely safe but some of the pressure on TP will have been relieved today. The quandery for Stoke is whether to ditch Pulis or stick with him. I think you make good points regarding being careful what we wish for in terms of another manager. He has kept us in the PL which is where we want to be of course but many fans dislike the negative tactics Pulis employs and who can blame them when they are watching week-in week-out. Pulis just needs to alter his approach a little so as not to big-up the opposition as he tends to do every week. He needs to recognise the qualities of the current squad and to encourage the players to play with more freedom but it seems he is averse to that. So does he stay and keep us in the PL for a bit longer or do we appoint another manager with a more positive outlook and maybe risk losing our PL status as a result? I don't know the answer but I am prepared to support Pulis and hope he changes his style in order to push on.
WELCOME back Northern, How is that finger now mate? I seem to remember you we're having a problem with that, hope all's well with that. GREAT post IMO and although I thought todays game was (average) we got there in the end. WHY the heck Jerome does not start is baffling.. see his goal on MOTD. Great finish and one of the few highlights of a fairly dull game. BUT, a win is a win is a win as they say. ONWARDS? Let's hope so.
i dont like how we are under TP,but i agree with every thing you have written Northern Stokie,just look where brum and wolves are.
