I know they have a reputation as a hoof ball team and tend to play rugby rather than football but looking at the players they've got they don't have a bad first eleven. They already have a strong defence with the likes of shawcross and Huth in there but they now have decent players in the middle of the park in Charlie Adam and Steven Nzonzi. Would have had both of those two at the stadium of light this summer, they have decent wingers in Pennant, Etherington and Kightly and add to that Walters who works his socks off every game and Crouch who is always a threat and we are in for a very tough game on Saturday. We will need a big improvement if we are to get anything and I can't see it at the moment.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Stoke City will be one of the hardest games of the season for anyone away from home. They are physical but they are also a canny side with some great individual game winners. If we get anything from the game I'll be very happy.
Some folk slag Stoke off but the simple fact is, they play to their strengths. Something we don't do.
They are well organised off the ball, which is why they're tough to beat at home, but on the ball they're ****, but their manager has found a way to make the best out of their available options. I respected them when they first started doing this, but not now however. They've had millions upon millions to spend, and how do they spend it? To continue their **** style of play. Their current system with their current manager will be enough to keep them in this league, but I don't see Stoke ever achieving much with it, and it's the same with West Ham and any team Fat Sam manages. I respect him for having his own style and there's more to his game then just lumping balls, but I really didn't see any of past sides doing it in the big time, and I really don't see WHU getting up their with the best. However, I think they might have found the perfect player to play in their system, and he could be the difference. Carroll.
I have an irrational dislike for all things Stoke from their cap wearing helmet of a manaer to their shallow fans to their piss poor style of play. Its bordering on NMG style hatred tbh.
Not an easy game at all, but Im having a tenner on us winning. Now Im not a jinx like Syd. so a tenner it is.
They're definitely favorites, but we have to peg this as a very winnable game - all we have to do is get our **** together.
Hoof Football, Who is mon. going to put on the lanky crutch,as said above they are a strong team, feeling IF we score first three pts. in the bag. ktf.
Stoke seem to be a different team these days, they get the ball down and pass it around a bit more. They also look quite dangerous and threatning when attacking. It won't be an easy game at all and Stoke will rightfully be favourites.
I'm always annoyed by Stoke. They have played **** football in the past, but as Quillips says, they are improving and have a strong first XI to address that. I think what annoys me most is that despite our spending since coming up again, and despite our revolving door of transfers (and therefore our vastly improved playing squad and manager), they seem to have improved just as much as we have in that time (if not more). The same goes for Fulham and WBA - these are teams I thought we would have left behind by now, when looking at gates and investment, but we haven't.
Evening Fellas ... Stoke r a very diff team nowadays and yes guess what they play football im sure u will find out ! the rugby crap is for others to shout not us !! My thoughts r simple we r run as a football club rite and we now as some top players .. and i will add i think more better players than safc In the past we av done what we need to do to survive and good at it to may i add !!! but now i think we are a def top 10 finish !! lets see as they see GOOD LUCK AFTER SAT !!
