The narrow pitch at stoke - QPR all over again?

I'd go 4-5-1 ^^^ agree.

 

If Marveaux supported Ba properly then I wouldn't be against it. I said 4-4-2 because Ba was isolated against Blackburn.

 

All pitches should be the same size? Stifles wing play? The main part of our game is getting balls into the box from the wings and Etherington and Pennant have found our pitch perfectly good enough for them to get adequate deliveries into the box. I think playing on a narrow pitch is a good test for an away side, as it tests you on how you can cope with it. That is why for 3 seasons United won each time here, because they were good enough to cope with the narrowness of the pitch.

 

True. But, I think Marveaux would happily play and link up in that position

 

I am sorry if this sounds arrogant, but I know an awful lot more about how my team plays than you do and I know we rely on Etherington and Pennant as our two main sources of goals, whether it's from the wings, getting us going on the counter or from set pieces. Away from home admittedly we do resort to the long ball quite often, as Pulis doesn't have much clue away from home but at home we play much better football, especially when Whelan plays in the centre, he is very apt at supplying the wingers with plenty of good balls to get us going forward.

 

I think Huth has been hard done by, by getting dropped after his outstanding performances last season at both ends of the pitch, but it would be harsh on Upson to drop him, after his exceptional performances of late.

 

I don't mind if Etherington and Pennant are the source of goals, but how exactly? Is it due to actual wing play, or is it due to just receiving long balls and then lumping crosses in?

As I said, Stoke have the home form of Man Utd, but the away form of Wigan. There has never, ever been such a massive contrast before in the history of the EPL. It's very abnormal, so why do you think that is? I think it has no choice but to go beyond the team itself, and I don't think that the Britannia having the narrowest pitch (along with Stoke's style of play) is a coincidence when it comes to such amazing home form.

 

If I am perfectly honest, less amd less! However what I will say, is when we do actually play (be it in 5 minute spells) we are a very good footballing team, thats why a lot of knowledgeable Stoke fans get very frustrated. Its not that we CAN'T play football, we just DON't under the current setup - why - FUK knows?

 

Yeah, it's a shame really, it must make you wonder what some of your players are capable of that you just haven't seen yet.

 

I can not believe there are FIVE pages of comments because our pitch is narrow.
It's legal
Before Liverpool beat us this week, we've only lost once this calender year at home.
Utd didn't manage it.
Chelsea tried and failed.

We didn't need or use HOOFBALL to score v Liverpool on Wednesday.

WHY not concetrate on the player's NOT the size of the pitch?

I'm sure it will be a good game, see you all on Monday night.

 

Skalpel
Yeah it really does anoy many Stokies to be honest.. But, we do use both wingers when fit at home and it's a fact that very rarely do we play BOTH away from home. I'm sure that if we did, results away would improve. Let's face it, we're CRAP away but very consistant at home.
I honestly do not think it's the pitch size and some facts here.. re the Europa League so far, played four won four on a bigger pitch. Which goes against the argument we're only good when our pitch is narrow. From memory, I'm sure Delap re the long throws didn't feature in any or most of those games either. Not full games anyway but I may be wrong and stand corrected on that. We've rotated the team so often it's difficult to remember, who plays where and when. ENJOY the game..

 

One point of note is that Bolton had the same sort of home form and away form as Stoke last season, with 10 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses, but only 2 wins and 12 losses on the road.

However, this season, Bolton has lost every single one of their 5 home games this season. Both of your home/away results were extremely extremely similar, so are you guys not worried that a similar sort of implosion could happen?

 

I think Newcastle will either win, lose or draw

Or possibly the match will be abondoned

 

Chappaz
Not really because as I've said many times. IF and it's always an IF we have both wingers fit Etherington and Pennant we are a real force at home. It's been pretty much like this for the last 3 seasons. So, It's nothing new to us the Stoke fans. I KNOW that Bolton actually have a worse away record than Stoke and ours is almost as bad as it could be. That stat, I found a week or so back. This is EVERY team since promotion to the Prem League. WHO have stayed up for one season or more.

I agree, it's an amazing stat and ONE I personally hate with a passion. I no longer go to away games because Mr Pulis is ALWAYS so bloody negative.
I will however be coming to Newcastle for our game as I have family up North. That, is the only reason I will travel away, UNTIL something changes and I'm not holding my breath hoping.

I also think that usually the Stoke fans are really up for the home games, the player's respond to that and so far, so good. I guess we will rely on HOME form to keep us here. It's served us well for 3 seasons and counting.

As for Bolton, I don't think our styles are that similar to be honest. They do rely heavily on Kevin Davies and it was only Sturridge on loan last season who made a difference to them... Strange how, now he's back at Chelsea, Bolton are struggling badly without him.

 

Think Holden and Lee having broken legs are a big blow for them too

It would be like Cabaye and Jonas getting bad injuries for us. Agree they rely too heavily on Davies - his best days are deffinetly behind him like

 

Two very good experinced wingers. They have got good pace, know how to cross and have a good work-rate.

What do you think is your best CM pairing? On paper.. I think your CM duo should be Whelan and Palacios.

 

I would agree with you. Whelan is very underrated

 

Back and....
Ture enough re Bolton but,
At least Bolton seem to TRY away from home, we don't I've seen it too many times now. I'm sure T.P. will keep us up but many like me simply
refuse to shell out for away games. Knowing that, Mr P is negative. Take the Arsenal game last week! WE get level via Crouch what does Pulis do.
Take off a threat and re place with Diao, a holding midfielder v Arsenal.. YOU Know what happened next.. I say, attack is the best form of defence.
Tony Pulis does not, ask any regular Stoke fan on here.

what gripes with me and many Stoke fans was talked about earlier..
We KNOW when Etherington and Pennant play together we're a different team. Mr P will NOT it seem's play BOTH away from home?
Usually, it's Delap on the right which, is a waste IMO. Pennant was on the bench on Wednesday, did'nt start? but when Ether's came off
Pennant re placed him I HOPE that both are fit and they play on Monday night. If not Delap will play out wide.. he's touching fourty
too slow and IMO passed it. But what do I know? He's there for the long throws IMO simple as. WHY Palacios or Pennant didn't start before Delap
I don't know. Someone on local radio on Wednesday night said after the game..
"Even David Beckham could not get a Prem place every week and he's younger than Delap!

 

Sanchin
Whelan Palacios.. I agree both can PASS and win the ball. Whelan was fantastic v Liverpool but the rest, including Delap were not. see above..

 

Do any of you rate Delap?