Still in it at 1-0 down so lets hope TP gets three decent stikers on in Spain and we go for it as we have nothing to lose now! [video]http://www.golofan.com/stoke-city-0-1-valence-amazing-goal-topal/8702/[/video]
Hate to say it Waddo but we haven`t got 1 decent striker let alone 3!! I honestly can`t see where the next goal is coming from!
To be honest Joe me neither mate. Was listening to praise and grumble whilst waiting to get off the car park and everyone was saying pretty much the same. Where are the goals going to come from? This long balls in the box is clearly not working and we need to be more direct on the ground and through midfield.
Trouble is Waddo,we haven`t got the midfield players to do this! What do you think of Palacios?To me he is a big disappointment. Maybe I should just go to bed,I`m rambling!!
Joe I personally think like all good players that come to Stoke they very quickly get disillusioned with our style of play and not having anyone to pass to and soon become broken players and shadows of what they once were. I watched Valencia tonight and their passing was fantastic, neat little deft flicks and quick one two's they tore us apart. We can't put more than 3 straight passes together. Like I've said on here many times before, anyside that can pass and play football will always beat us!
Sleeping problems guys.. Hence the late post.. For me? Valencia were as we already knew a class apart from us simples.. Waddo, I sat there and said to my mate.. For Christ's sake WHY does it take one of our lads two sometimes three touches to bring the ball under control? Valencia every one of their player's is a "footballer" he can trap it, flick it, pass it SHOOT.. Same old problems as you said Waddo. We NEVER had a half decent midfield since promotion, such is Tony's tactic whatever he thinks that is.. Heard a guy on P and g say.." both Pennant and Etherington were doubled marked all night.. yep they were so.. by may calculations.. where in God's name we're the other spare Stoke player's? We gave them far too much space, sat back first half and paid the price.. NOT good enough but I honestly NEVER thought we would be. WHAT A goal that was some strike but, we sat off and that is what class will do to you!
No disgrace but......... Well at least that display puts to bed the myth that a top Spanish or Italian team 'wouldn't like it up them' on a cold winter's night at the Brit!! Now we know the difference. Hey ho, after Saturday against Crawley at least Pulis can say: Now we can concentrate on the league
We are not even close to being able to compete against Valencia, but I think Swansea or Norwich would have given them a better game. On the plus side, there was some great defending by Wilkinson & Shawcross, and Pennant at times did some useful things. You could see that we would be in for a hard night, when after the initial 5 minutes, both their full backs took up station 5 yards inside our half, and Pennant and Etherington (who looks a totally spent force) were once again forced to start from 15 yards outside of our box. The inability of seasoned pro's like Delap and Whitehead to control a football in anything less than 5 touches is truely amazing.Yes they both run, but go and buy 2 Jack Russel Terriers, because they can run anc probably control the football better as well. For all our effort, their keeper had one direct shot to save (the deflection off Shotton). We have a right to expect a team to fight and put effort in, and to be fair, the players did do that, but after 4 years in supposedly the best league in the world, and yes after 94 million (and Huthy re your earlier post, like it or not, that is what we have spent, and all the extra money generated from SKY et all has been swallowed up in additional salaries and ground development), we still have a team created in the image of its manager: one that works hard but has ABSOLUTELY NO CREATIVITY. What is more, there is no chance of attracting such a player, while the prehistoric tactical genius in the hat is allowed to prowl the touchline. He has taken us as far as he can, thanks for getting us in the Prem, but at the end of the season he has to go. All this talk of "he's never been relegated" etc can only last for so long - after all the Titanic had never sunk before. Like everyone on here, I just can't see any possibility of goals from open play, especially when you look at how deep the midfield plays. The whole situation might improve if everyone played 20 yards higher up the pitch, but Mogadon Man would never allow that - I am at Crawley on Sunday, and I swear that if Delap is even on the bench on Sunday I will not be responsible for my actions if I am within 10 yards of TP.
To be fair guys we all knew/know that thisb game is irrelevant to where we stand as a club! Postive Points: Only lost 1-0 Valencia only had 5 shots on target. We played with 2 wingers. We gave it a go and were probably more positive than we have been in a long time. Whitehead didn't have his leg broken. TP was proffessional in his after game interview. Negative Points: 1 deflected shot on target. Didn't close down or clear our lines well enough. Continued HOOFING Palcious lasting 50 minutes (This looks worrying now) Delap offering nothing all game (probably did no more running than Palcious) No quality in midfield all game. Walters playing his 1000th game in a row and is now ony 7 Goals in 40 app this season (4 of his goals have been penalties!). Jerome cant get a start! Pundits and press refering to TP's team selection and subs as inconsistent and no continuity!
Smithers, This is by and large an excellent summary. The only point that I would add is that as an away side in a European tie, 5 shots on target is a pretty decent effort. For me, true progression after 4 years in the EPL would involve being able to retain the ball better than we have previously done, and to have been able to open defences with what you could call slightly more clever play. Without harping on about "when I were a lad", the sort of passing and movement that we saw from Valencia in the final third, was something that the team which featured Hudson, Greenhoff and Conroy for eaxmple was perfectly capable of doing. People wanted to receive the ball, could control it first time (on treacherous surfaces) and were prepared to move and receive. The football that Stoke now play, is undoubtedly a faster pace and is 90 minutes worth of effort, but as the better sides show, and even the newly promoted teams, if you can not attack with pace and skill (which means having creative midfielders who can threaten the goal), then there is not much liklihood of ever improving. All that the Valencia game reinforced, is that in 4 years, TP's style of play has not evolved one iota.Our declining goals scored, diminishing home results and difficulty in obtaining points all point to one thing - eveything changes and you have to improve or you originally stand still and then you decline. Anyone at all who follows Stoke on a regular basis, must see that this is a team in decline that still needs a major rebuild - one left back, still two CM's who can attack and distribute the ball, probably a left winger (when was Matty's last really good game) and if we are going to persist with one of Crouch or Jones in the target role, Walters or Jerom have to play up front, not as almost 5th midfielders. Clearly I am no fan of TP, but the seedes of demise for our great club are clear for us all to see, if we can be botherewd to pull our heads out of the sand. This is why I think he should be asked to move on at the end of the season.
Personally, i thought that Valencia were no great shakes, yes thet passed it around nicely at times, but so do Arsenal & we can beat them. For me Stoke were exactly the same as we have been all season, very poor: No Fight No Spirit No Creativity No Midfield No support to the front men Piss poor quality on set plays Playing players out of form Wrong substitutions Constant Hoofing Wide deliveries into the box allways hit the first man or completely overhit The team from the first season after promotion would have beaten them by 2 or 3 goals, Valencia are not that good, but unfortunately we are absolute dross at the moment. I fully expect us to beat Crawley, but as for the league (on current form) we could be in for a tense time.
As I did attend the Brit last night (as I have for all the home Europa games) I will offer my view on the game: Overall I think that we deserved a draw since Valencia, though good on the ball, did not create a lot and neither keeper was troubled. Defensively we did well especially Huth, ShawX and Wilko Midfield was non-existent, Delap is past it and WP does not look fit Jonny ran his nuts off again and deserved Stokes MOTM but Crouch was left to try and deal with long high balls into him which is not his game First 20 mins we looked quite lively but then Valencia got more into the game and we began to sit back. Their goal was a stunning strike from distance but we allowed the player to advance forward in acres of space. We battled throughout but offered little threat up front. Second half (yet again) we showed improvement but with no creativity we were never going to score I am of the opinion now that Stoke are far too predictable and cannot vary their tactics. Their reliance on set-plays from corners and long throws is no longer working. The noise from the fans was good especially 2nd half In summary then, a battling performance but lacking in creativity and thus striking threat. Let's hope we turn it around somewhat in the PL and do manage to reach 40pts but as a lot on here are saying, where are the goals going to come from?
Proud Potter, not too sound disrespectful we all have own opinions, but Huth probably had his worst game this season, walters again (as you say), ran his nuts off but did absolutely nothing (like he has done since the season began), Etherington might as well get back too gambling, so he can bet inplay (£ 100 i wont beat the man & £ 2000 Wilson will not pass too me). Delaps in the team basically for his throws, but now even he cant chuck it past the first man, he should retire with dignity & the full support of the Stoke fans. How the hell Fuller never got on the pitch, when we were desparate for some creativity , absolutely baffles me. A very, very upset Stoke fan, because we could have won that game.
Think there's some seriously harsh things being said on this thread. Yes it wasn't great in the first half and we should've closed down for the goal but sometimes you have to hold your hand and say "fair play, great goal." Thought in the first we were ok in patches but the passing still wasn't great. 2nd half I thought we were much better, played higher up, played at a higher tempo, closed them down, got round the sides, got crosses in and put them under pressure. Things just didn't drop for us when we needed them to. Things were ruined in the 2nd half when they started slowing the tempo with their typically Spanish, cheating, diving tactics. They did so much of it that some people near my brother left early because they were so disgusted with them. I was encouraged by the 2nd half and I hope we build on it. Disappointed yes but proud of the lads. Man of the Match - Too tough to call. Pennant and Wilkinson.
Dont want an argument, i want discussion. 2nd half sgt?, what actually happened 2nd half? Like i said earlier, we were as poor as we have been all season. They were as good as Wigan, West Brom, Villa & Sunderland.
Really don't know what you saw in the 2nd half but I saw a massive improvement. Best we've played in a long time, that I've seen anyway. I get criticised for being negative about the team, now I say something positive about them and I get criticised for that! I can't win!
My views for what they are worth. I agree in the first 20 minutes it did not look as if we had too many problems to worry about bar the early breakaway when they outnumbered us momentarilly until Super Jon intercepted the pass which was intended to their wide player on the left. Jon Walters also created a good chance for himself in the first 5 minutes which he blasted just wide. Jon also won a fair number of balls in the air and although nothing came to fruition he did his bit! So for those he just ran around like a headless chicken I would not necessarilly agree. Last night was the best performance since Spurs at home. The last two home EPL games were very, very poor. We can not operate midfield with Delap. It was just too much for WP. What help did he get? NONE in my view. I said before the goal we were just allowing them to run at us and giving them to much space to either pass or cross the ball at will. When Whitehead and Jerome came on there was a 10 minute period when we looked much more threatening. Saying that only the single deflected shot on target. Mention is made of wrong subs. Tell me please what Fuller did against Sunderland when he came on. I wish I knew where the goals are going to come from but when we depend on a long throw I think the future looks bleak. Wilson just not giv eany support to Matty who seems so pissed off at the moment and lacking confidence. I was just hope that TP plays his strongest team ( note I did not say 'a strong team') on Sunday and if we go a goal ot two up we really rub it in and score more preferably 4 or 5. (In my dreams). I am looking forward to going to a new ground on Sunday but any going it is basic . The terrace is very low. I am told parking is not easy so arrive early if you are driving. I have been told to take the A264 turn off on the M23 and then head North back towards the ground and try and park up there. Also looking forward to visiting Valencia. I hope that TP does not play a weakened team. I also hope he leaves Delap at home. His wayward pass cost us the goal! Have to say it was a wonder strike. Hope some of this makes sense. Still knackeered from last night I agree that
Dont take it too literately sgt, i would just like to ask, in what way did we improve? We were garbage all night & whoever voted for Jonny Walters as MOM are not Stoke supporters, he was toss, like another 7 who decided to turn (not) up Anyone can come in & give their views. We were gash, they are not much better.
Hold on to your hats.......................... I actually totally agree with what Mighty huth has posted in this thread and has got it spot on. They werent anything special and IMO the whole stoke team look so unhappy with how they are being asked to play. We have been awful for a long time now and I dont fancy the next 2 prem fixtures one bit. Im just glad we got 30 points on the board so quickly, also did anyone else sense a very negative atmosphere at the brit, especially after they scored?. I sense that people who were sitting on the fence about Pulis are becoming as frustrated as the rest of us!!
