The narrow pitch at stoke - QPR all over again?

Don't know and for sure can't be bothered to work it out.

A goal is a goal is a goal in my book, no matter how you get to it and winning is everything.

I am certain that many goals come from set plays these days. All part of the game.

Being as you credit us for having 'ruined football', do I sense a certain Northern arrogance here? Do you consider your team the new Barcelona?

Be careful, as the season is still young and as they say a marathon, not a sprint. UTP!!!!

 

As has been said before, narrowing the pitch (legally within the rules!) aids Delap's throws. If you have bothered to check recently though, we don't tend to score too many goals from his throws these days.

Even at Wembley he was able to get the ball into the penalty area anyway, something the pundits said he would not be able to do.

They also said that Bolton would outplay us on the bigger pitch too......so much for pundits opinions!!!

 

Huth was an absolute boss for my fantasy league team last season, it was disappointing to have to drop him from my team this year after he was dropped by Pulis. I'll never forget watching him score the 2 goals late on against Sunderland before our 4-4 against Arsenal

 

Frankly, I think Stoke are a little hard-done by for their style of play. I've watched almost all of their matches so far this season, and I think opposing fans still picture their play from the season following promotion. Don't get me wrong, their strike force relies on balls in the air, that's inevitable considering who they have, but otherwise I think their midfield counters with some pace and determination, and I've been impressed by how they hung with the top sides without resorting to simply parking the bus.

 

Actually agree with this. As pointed out, if you have a large strike force you are going to play to their strengths. When we had AC we bombarded teams with long balls up to him and we are hardly afraid to pump balls up to Ba/Besty/Shola either.

Their central midfield doesn't inspire but they have decent wingers who can actually cross, so with their aerial threat they are bound to be a danger.

The Delap throw hasn't done them any favours in getting rid of the 'unattractive' tag, however it is a set piece weapon which is effective. It's like complaining about Beckham taking free kicks because they happen to be useful.

 

No because marveux has had several good appearances, unlike you

 

DO YOU actually read before posting? thought not!
We have played four, won four on a the Europa size pitch.. we've played since Jan 2011 on that size pitch and the smaller sized pitch and ONLY lost TWICE. In the League at HOME. It's green, I promise you it is grass and if any team can not play on it.. TOUGH **** As Oatcakes has said, we'll play on whatever we like/prefer and HOW the HELL we want to.

Our home record is BETTER than many of othe prem teams. Give it a rest and whover said... Stoke are always same old ****.

We're you a Newcastle fan cos I hope you are eating your words come Monday night.

 

If you're so brilliant on Europa League size pitches then why do you make it smaller for the league then?

 

Why?
Because it doesn't really make too much difference. WHY? Because we the fans don't have a ******* clue WHY. But as we've said.. we CAN play at wembley and HAMMER what was at the time, a very good Bolton side. we HAVE to make it BIGGER for the Europa League games because that's the RULE.

The F.A. also have a RULE as to the size of the pitch and we stay WITHIN those RULES. I didn't say we we're brilliant, I said we played and won all four games, so far.

You want to know what's really stupid. We beat Liverpool in the League, admittedly we we're LUCKY but our pitch size was RAMMED down our throats because they lost.
WE played Liverpool last week, league cup on the same SIZE pitch and lost by the odd goal. Not ONE Liverpool fan complained about our pitch this week.. First time around they also complained that, the grass was too long, Because they lost, as did the Arsenal fans I kid you not.

WHY was that I wonder.?

 

Kenny Dalglish always looks for excuses. He is a prick

 

Jonas
Either way, Wenger complained and we've beaten Arsenal twice at home. It wasn't just K.D. who complained, their fans on here did. ******* hillarious.

This week, they were ******* giving us loads of credit for giving them a decent game and WE lost. Even more ******* hillarious.

I'm sure Monday will be a good game, big pitch, small pitch makes no difference IF it wasn't in the media every other week, I doubt many fans would even notice.
It's at MOST a yard and a HALF narrower hardly like five a side is it? I actually notice the difference in length more as I sit behind the goals home end. It's hardly worth a mention and I doubt most player's even notice it when playing on it.

Honest oppinion is... Usually, our fans are very loud and the pitch is quite close to the fans in comparision to say Arsenal for example. That, I think helps our player's more than anything. Teams like Chelsea, Utd, have in the past, murdered us on the "Smaller pitch" why is it, they didn't this season?

Funny ole game innit!

 

To be fair, the pitch shouldn't be an excuse. Stoke play with wingers, as do we, why should we automatically fail just because its a smaller pitch? It's going to be a hard game, one which we will lose imo but if the players have serious ambitions of playing in Europe, we have to be taking points off teams like Stoke, who come the end of the season will be up there, like it or not.

 

Lol. I wouldn't have even noticed tbh haha. I think whoever is up for the game the most wins. Its the same in every game really

 

The long grass is the worst thing about Stoke's pitch, its like playing football in the jungle, the only way to get anywhere on there is trying to hoof it up the pitch. Plus their elbowing and grabbing of the oppositions goalkeeper is ridiculous.

Well, it was probably becasue the grass was too long.

 

Lucass
Like I said, it's HILLARIOUS to use our pitch as an excuse. YOU didn't complain last week or did you?
A JUNGLE

Jonas
Well said Enjoy the game.

 

Its the standard moans you always get if you're not winning. I had to laugh reading the live updates on Skys Scorecentre last week for Stoke away to Arsenal, where at 1-1 at half time an Arsenal fan had e-mailed in moaning about the delays for throw-ins. Its a dead ball, they're perfectly entitled to send the big lads forward just like everyone else does for free kicks and corners. Although I am dubious about the ballboys with towels...

 

Quite right re Delap,
It hacks me off big time and for what it's worth I'm a Stoke fan and IMO Delap should not be anywhere near the first team. Said it before, he's too old, too slow and well past his best. Palacios SHOULD be playing before him but ASK Pulis why this is we're all anoyed with his team selections especially away from home.
We were losing v Liverpool last week and Delap took an age to run for the ball, wipe it and throw the effin ball. I don't like the towel idea either.

 

I don't whinge about the long throw because as far as i'm concerned its a weapon in the same way a tricky winger can be. but the towel does me make me cringe somewhat.

 

It's the fact that now, the long throw is past it's sell by date. Every team expects it and prepars for it.
As for the towel, it wastes time, and I would like to see it stopped personally. My MAIN point was this..
Delap IMO is NOT worthy of a place in our team simply because he can " sling it" the rest of his game
is below, well below par for a Premier League player/midfielder.
I HOPE that once Palacios is fully fit, he will replace Rory and we move on.
Funny thing was said early in the season. Delap himself was quoted as saying.
"I'm surprised that I am actually starting so many games" say's a lot when Delap is one of the oldest player's
in the League. Pulis obviously see's something in Delaps game that I and many Stoke fans don't see.

 

Do Stoke have very long grass on their pitch?

That would make a lot of sense. Makes no difference to their long ball play whilst it hampers teams who want to play it on the floor.