The narrow pitch at stoke - QPR all over again?

I personally don't think our away form is completely down to the size of the pitch. Pulis' tactics are a bigger part of the problem in my opinion. At home we tend to either hoof it to Crouch or Jonny or more commonly these days, give it Whelan and see if he can spray to Matty or Jermaine.

 

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Do any of you rate Delap?[/QUOTE]

To be fair to Rory, he's been pretty good for us this season, at home anyway, which I think suits him best. He is very good at what he does best which is tackling, breaking up play, working hard and reading the game. He is a much better player than some realise. You don't play 300 plus Premier League games if you're ****.

 

I like the looks of young Shotton by the way. What is his natural position? I've seen him play at RB, RM and upfront... ?

 

I have no doubt that Pulis' tactics play a part. However, if that was entirely the problem, then it would mean that fixing said tactics would bring the away form up to near the home form, and with that sort of record, you guys would be pushing for a top 4/5 spot. Whilst you have a decent side, I don't think there's the quality to do that by any means, and I don't think you guys think that either.

Something at the Britannia is inflating the home form. Might be the pitch size, might be the crowd getting behind the lads, I don't know.

 

Right back in reality. Very fine young player. I like the lad. Young, pacey, great work rate, good cross. Always nice having a local lad playing for the first team.

 

The fans do play a part for sure.

When Pulis lets the players loose a bit away from home we can look a good team. It's frustrating that we know we can play better away from home, it's not that we're not capable.

 

Stoke City

 

All fans play a part in their teams performances. Helping to create an atmosphere gives the players a buzz.

 

im sorry but Stoke really annoy me .. they can get results at home very well, which is the main part of any successful side but they do it mainly through stopping any sort of decent football being played and just man handleing the opposition into their goal. Obviously being in the premiership shows they have good players but most of them are just tall and good in the air, its the same old **** every game with them.

 

Well I don't think that adding or removing 2-3 metres on the left and right of a pitch really makes a difference except if you have a player who can make very long throw-ins, like Delap. And to be fair to Stoke they can pass the ball when they want to and their defence is quite good too. As for their away form, I think it's down to their Europa League campaign. Until now, they've always had a European match in the same week they've played away in the PL.

 

I think we should play 451/4231/4411.. (but not with Ben Arfa)

Krul
Santon Saylor Colo Raylor
Cabaye Tiote
Obertan Marvo Guti
Ba

Quick, flowing, attacking, passing and technical football with those 3(Guti/Ober/Marv) all enterchanging to cause havoc to Stoke's phyiscal but not exactly technical or pacey defence.

 

No, he is ****e and is only useful for throws at home, which are becoming less and less effective! He often plays on the wing away, mid 30's, not natural pace, a woeful first touch - BUT - closer to the sidelines for thr throws taht are even less effective on LARGER pitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He does break up play well, but offers very little else (although you can tell he thinks a good game) and quite frankly it is a disgrace that he plays every game week in week out. Mr Poolis claims there is a rotation policy, but not for his beloved love child who is "full of ard work" a "smashin bloke" and "rides a bike for charity" - it is frankly absurd! TP has his fabourites who play to a set "negative" formula and above all are complete YES men, which is why they play and others get left out or shipped out as TP shows how far he can piss up a wall - what a man!

 

Not so, if you look at our away form over the last 3 seasons its worse than a lot of the teams that were relegated, I think we had won something like 6 games in that period! Also, our Euro squad is slighty different to our prem and they travel straight to the away venue from europe - so no extra traveling and the 90 mins away just makes up for the 3 days training they would miss! Were just ****e away - end of!

 

Do I rate Delap..
NO I don't like Smither's say's he can tackle and that's it. His passing, more ofthen than not is diabolical. He struggles to play the whole 90 mins and he's there for the long throws IMO. I heard a guy on local radio say last week.. " Even David Beckham could not get a place in a prem team every week, Delap does why" He's too old and past his best.. see Smithers comments I agree 100 per cent.

Tuncay was way better he's left. So is Whelan, Whitehead and Palacios when fit.

We do actually have the 2nd WORST away record of ANY Prem teams who have stayed up for more that one season. Bolton are worse but at least they have a go away from home, we don't. Pulis is to blame for that and WHY Delap plays when we leave Whelan, Palacios on the bench for me is not right.

One note I don't think anyone has mentioned.. The Europa league games the pitch is bigger. So far we've played four games on it and WON all four.
Kind of makes a mockery of the small pitch theory! We've played really well and it is not excuse to say we're playing away on a Sunday after playing on Thursday nights away in Europe.. like Smither's said.. we're CRAP simple as, we defend and HOPE to gain a pt. I blame Tony Pulis because we DO have the player's. He just doesn't pick the right team/formation away from home.

 

The only thing that annoys me about stoke is that you used to play 4 cbs across the back 4. I don't know why but having a tree like huth at RB really annoyed me. It worked for you though What is your expected back 4? I also despise huth for his stamp on Shearer in his Chelsea days and his general thuggish behaviour. Good song though

 

It doesn't work for us. Huth is uber ****e at right back. Cannot really blame for not liking Huth. I'd say this will be our back 4:

Wilkinson-Shawcross-Upson-Wilson

 

My prefered back four..

Wilkinson Shawcross Huth/Upson Higginbottom not fit yet.

HUTH we all KNOW is NOT a full back and he does I admit, use his elbows/push more often than he should do. He's NOT the only CH who does this though.
And, Rooney gave him a left hook a couple of seasons back in front of the linesman.. I guess he gives more than he takes. The ref did NOTHING to Rooney surprise, surprise.

WHY Tony P uses FOUR full backs ONLY He knows.. and Wilson is a Centre mid.. NOT a right back. Don't blame the Stoke fans cos we're ALWAYS complaining about this tactic.

J.Terry is just as bad IMO and I loved the way he pretended to slip, once he knew he couldn't catch RVP yesterday.. CLASSIC!

 

How many times have you been to the Brit and witnessed a full 90 mins? Zero? Thought as much.

Many Stokies are like myself, we are happy as long as opposition fans are whinging or simply trying to pigeon hole us. It helps us in the long run.

And the debate about the pitch width is hilarious. We have also had supposedly sensible human beings suggesting that we leave the grass long to make it more difficult to play 'the beautiful game' which after all. is supposed to be with the ball on the ground at all times correct? Little triangles?

As others have said, check out how we played at Wembley and in Europe these last few months with the wider pitch.

Our strong home form comes from the fact that we have committed players (some are even local youngsters) playing in front of equally committed and local fans.

This combines to make the Brit a truly exciting experience all round for young and old alike.

We are Stoke City and we will as always play how we want! UTP!!!!!

 

if the pitch size isnt a factor, then why is it resized for every Europa/Pl match. If it didnt make a difference you'd just leave it at the larger size

 

im sure it says in the paper that stoke have only scored 2 goals from open play this season is that right?