This is a question from a 20-something Stokie to the likes of NickyB and Potts, which I hope won't descend into a Pulis in/out ranting session. Seeing as we broke a few transfer records back in the 70's, played some fantastic football, had arguably our greatest manager had some of the greatest players around at the time: Did the team of that era under-achieve in only winning the League Cup? I appreciate a good bit of nostalgia about our glory years is needed now and then, it's good for the soul and it's fantastic to hear your memories of the days people of my age only read about in books. However, I ask this because the likes of NickyB, Potts and my grandad (RIP)wax lyrical about the team of the 70's and explain (at length) how today's team and manager pale in comparison, yet we still managed to reach an FA Cup final last year and have been in numerous quarter finals over the last few seasons. As an aside, I also hope you appreciate that this current Stoke side comprises of my generation's Glory Years. Potts, Nicky and others have seen the GREAT Stoke sides of years gone by - well, this is the greatest Stoke side I've ever seen, so I hope you understand why I occasionally get a little sensitive on here when all I see is negative threads. I'm not saying "You're not allowed to moan", I just hope you understand my reactions when I jump to the defence of certain people who've given me some of the best days of my life....
Jose, Firstly, what a great post, beautifully put and I WILL give it my best shot to answer you. I will start by saying and DO NOT take this the wrong way please, but when you 'get a few years under your belt' - the summers were ALWAYS warmer, the goals were ALWAYS more spectacular and the grass was ALWAYS greener. What I am trying to say is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to compare, kit, training, fitness, diet, alcahol consumption and of course the state of the pitches (see some of the vids that show the ploughed fields that Greenhoff etc HAD to play on. Jose, how would Waddo have coped with the Prem in 2011 - I would hazard a guess and tin hat on, NOT very well I would suggest, that is NOT a criticism just an observation, the media would have had a field day - Waddo did like a shandy or two!! Jose, I have NO real problem where you are coming from and I salute you for your attitude, as for me, I really DO NOT like to or really WANT to live in the past, just my attitude I guess. Yes in those days, there were really SPECIAL players who REALLY cared about Stoke, quoted on here a while ago, Jimmy Greenhoff was 'heartbroken' to be transfere to Man Utd - imagine KJ saying that?? Same game now, as of course then, somehow though we/I felt closer to the players, they were one of us, local lads, Skeels, Bloor, Tony Allen, Mike Pejic and the incomparable Denis Smith. Hope this goes someway to answer your question? Jose, I sincerely hope that in 40 years time YOU can post something like this on something like not606! Forever Stoke Nick
great post Jose, I am 31 and find it hard to compare what football was like 15 years ago to what it is now. I personally do not like where football is going as its all driven by money. Like nicky said I dont feel many players care too much about stoke city ( even though we pay their wages). Its a real shame the direction that football is heading and look forward to the day where the owners of Chelsea, Man city etc leave them in the ****. The days of having real committed players has ended and IMO if a bigger club came in for any player at our club they would hand in a transfer request without a second thought.
Jose, whilst I am still in philosophical mode, helped by an aged malt, I have this lovely vision, of your goodself in 40 years time - aged 60 soimethinhn on a Stoke City forum, corresponding with a youngster berating the manager Ryan Shotton, with words like: "In the good old days, Pulis would not have stood for this nonsense, none of these players could hold a candle to Shawcross, Fuller and big Mama"
Firstly, what a great post, beautifully put and I WILL give it my best shot to answer you. I will start by saying and DO NOT take this the wrong way please, but when you 'get a few years under your belt' - the summers were ALWAYS warmer, the goals were ALWAYS more spectacular and the grass was ALWAYS greener. What I am trying to say is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to compare, kit, training, fitness, diet, alcahol consumption and of course the state of the pitches (see some of the vids that show the ploughed fields that Greenhoff etc HAD to play on. Jose, how would Waddo have coped with the Prem in 2011 - I would hazard a guess and tin hat on, NOT very well I would suggest, that is NOT a criticism just an observation, the media would have had a field day - Waddo did like a shandy or two!! Jose, I have NO real problem where you are coming from and I salute you for your attitude, as for me, I really DO NOT like to or really WANT to live in the past, just my attitude I guess. Yes in those days, there were really SPECIAL players who REALLY cared about Stoke, quoted on here a while ago, Jimmy Greenhoff was 'heartbroken' to be transfere to Man Utd - imagine KJ saying that?? Same game now, as of course then, somehow though we/I felt closer to the players, they were one of us, local lads, Skeels, Bloor, Tony Allen, Mike Pejic and the incomparable Denis Smith. Hope this goes someway to answer your question? Jose, I sincerely hope that in 40 years time YOU can post something like this on something like not606! Forever Stoke .................................................................................................................................................................................................. The Welsh M What a brilliant post that is see the above becasue I can not add too much to the words of Nicky .." sorry I copied and pasted your words Nick" Hope you don't take offence, you put it across far better than I could have done. The Welsh M we will always respect your views and comments all I can say is this. ENJOY it whilst it lasts because despite some horrible things that are slowly ruining football. I still love to be there on a matchday. And we're all the same. The fact that there are decades between us age wise makes not a jot of difference. Once a fan, always a fan. I sincerely hope you get to see Stoke City for decades to come. NO WAY did I ever think that I would see Stoke in the Premier League so for that I'm thankful. Funny thing is that when I take my seat in the Boothen End. AGE doesn't come into it. We're all fans and we all love Stoke City.
Basically all i can remember Welshy, is playing in the gym with Greenhoffs twin sons (football), then sometimes we would go & stand out on the balcony (left of the boothen side), by the players wives box & watch the match. Then once it was over we would go back again & wait for either Greenhoff to come in & say right sons we are off, or my Grandad saying come on we are off (grandad was a steward & let me jump over the turnstile). first real memories were Crooks, but then we sold him. Chapman, but we sold him, Bould & Dixon & we sold them as well. Chamberlain, prob the best winger i ever saw in my lifetime, sold him. Then really it was in the **** divs, but with cracking players, Stein, Thorne, Cranson & Overson, Hoekstra, Biggins & a right back who could attack Hansen So i think you are right Welshy, this is probably the best times i have seen for many a year ( but only in the top div, because some of the seasons in the lower leagues were fantastic, but for different reasons)
1. Banks RB.Dixon LB.Pejic CD.Smith CD.Bould RM.Matthews(Yes i saw him play) CM.Hudson CM.Sammonds LM Chamberlain ST Greenhoff ST Ritchie Just a shot at the best side ever.
Morning Rock Ape - based in Gib perhaps? Not a bad side at all: here are a couple more - would suggest - Peter Dobing for Salmonds SP Tony Allen for Pejic - just!!!! Sir Stan RM ???? RW Terry Conroy - otherwise we upset Potts! Oh lordy - we need a full subs bench - help?
Deffo for Chamberlain So the side is now GK. Banks RB.Dixon LB.Pejic CD.Smith CD.Neil Franklin RM.Matthews(Yes i saw him play) CM.Hudson CM.Dobing LM . F.Steele ST Greenhoff ST Ritchie
Sgt Freddie steele used to train us, when I was an apprentice engineer.. Like Rock Ape I did see Sir Stanley play but not Freddie Steele. From what I have heard, YES maybe he would have... what a selection of player's above though.. Spoit for choice That sub's bench is a bit tasty too.
I'm so green with envy of the likes of my old man, your goodself and rockape got to see some wonderful footballers.
Rock - got to be Marsh - cos he WAS a Stokie, Dixon - not bad but remembered as a gooner rules him out in my book - same goes for Bould. Hard innit
