stoke next

Pulis deserves to be recognised for doing that with a team, that on paper, shouldnt be doing as well as they are.

Which players that stoke have would get a sniff at our team?

Well where do I start? Most of their players would get a sniff but pennant,etherington,jones,crouch,palacios,woodgate,begovic would all walk into our side.
 
You may actually catch Stoke at the right time. Having played in the Ukraine last night, they may still be a little fatigued, both physically and mentally on Sunday. They are not used to playing away in Europe and even the best and most experienced teams sometimes suffer a dip in form after a midweek european trip.
 
You may actually catch Stoke at the right time. Having played in the Ukraine last night, they may still be a little fatigued, both physically and mentally on Sunday. They are not used to playing away in Europe and even the best and most experienced teams sometimes suffer a dip in form after a midweek european trip.

Stop making excuses just in case we actually win...<laugh>
 
The main thing I'd be worried about is Crouch, if he plays. Stoke's style of football suits him perfectly and I expect him to do well with them. Set pieces will be a nightmare with that giant ****er roaming about. Little 5 foot 7 Sessegnon will **** a brick.
 
The main thing I'd be worried about is Crouch, if he plays. Stoke's style of football suits him perfectly and I expect him to do well with them. Set pieces will be a nightmare with that giant ****er roaming about. Little 5 foot 7 Sessegnon will **** a brick.

I hate Stoke's style of play its terrible to watch but effective for them, but like you say Chappaz it will suit Crouch very much, it's sure to be a tricky afternoon for us. If we go one down the crowd will turn on the players and manager.
 
I see Kevin Freind is in charge on Sunday.

Not very freindly to us, we never get owt off that twat.
 
I know Reg, you do get the feeling that there is something not right with him & us.
 
I have to say, Stoke are utter ****e to watch but by God, they don't half play to their strengths.
 
I have to say, Stoke are utter ****e to watch but by God, they don't half play to their strengths.

<peacedove>

Stoke do not play for the MOTD armchair punters, nor for the worldwide audience.

We play for the city and the local fans and we play exactly as we like.

Get your tin hats out and bunker down - I predict a tough afternoon for you with the fans the way they are right now.
 
Crouch, Pennant, Etherington, Huth, Shawcross, Upson, Begovich, Jones would get in our tean dansafcman

Upson blows ass.

I don't think Stoke have much quality, but the thing is, the players compliment each other perfectly, so as an actual unit they play very well. In fact, I'd say Stoke are the ONLY team in the entire EPL where every single starting 11 player has perfectly matching attributes with the other players in the team. Every player has that Stoke style of play flowing through them.

For that reason though, I wouldn't take many of their starting 11 in our starting 11, because I don't think they would be as effective alongside some of our players who play differently.
 
Upson blows ass.

I don't think Stoke have much quality, but the thing is, the players compliment each other perfectly, so as an actual unit they play very well. In fact, I'd say Stoke are the ONLY team in the entire EPL where every single starting 11 player has perfectly matching attributes with the other players in the team. Every player has that Stoke style of play flowing through them.

For that reason though, I wouldn't take many of their starting 11 in our starting 11, because I don't think they would be as effective alongside some of our players who play differently.

So you wouldn't take crouch or jones instead of ameobi?

Or etherinton instead of jonas?

Or woodgate (fit) in your defence?

And no to palacios too?

Your something else lol.
 
So you wouldn't take crouch or jones instead of ameobi?

Or etherinton instead of jonas?

Or woodgate (fit) in your defence?

And no to palacios too?

Your something else lol.

I said I wouldn't take MANY of them you melon.

I'd take Crouch over Ameobi and Jones over Lovenkrands, even though I don't rate Jones at all, but Lovenkrands is far worse.

I'd keep Jonas over Etherington.

Woodgate isn't fit and probably never will be, so there's no point in saying 'IFs'. It's like asking if I'd take a past-it player if he was 10 years younger. Anyway, he used to be an amazing CB and he's still good, but I don't think he could get ahead of Saylor or Colo with the form they have now.

I'd take Palacios, but I wouldn't put him ahead of Tiote or Cabaye in CM.

So in-terms of actual starting 11's, I'd replace the two strikers and keep the rest. That's only because their other players just wouldn't suit the team we have though, and the ones who WOULD suit us would be kept out by the players in our strongest positions in the squad, i.e. CM's and CB's. I'd probably take their best LB's and RB's to replace Raylor and Simpson, but I haven't watched Stoke enough to know how good theirs are.
 
I've got nothing against Stoke at all. I envy them infact. They play to their strengths, have got 2 very good wingers and the commitment their players show is second to non. No team in the EPL will be looking forward to playing them, can the same be said about us? We're a soft touch.

I think this game has a draw written all over it. With the way things are going at the moment, I'll be happy with a draw.
 
People who think we have a better team than Stoke are way past the delusion stage. Pulls deserves to be knighted for what he's done for them. Dire football, but europe this season, past cup runs, and a good league finish, in 3 years in prem? Incredible.

Think of the money we have spent compared to them aswell.

on the money front im prity sure stoke have spent a lot more money than us in the last few years!!