July/August The season started in July out in Split and the return the following week at the Brit. The tails were up with the 1-0 win in Split. Now came real stuff and the Premier League opener against Chelsea and the first game for Andre Villas Boses, or AVB is easier! Terrific rear guard performance helped us earn our 1st point of the season. No mean achievement. Then it was off on our travels again to beautiful Switzerland and Thun. Another Thursday game and another 1-0 win. So on the Sunday we were off east to Norwich, one of the three newly promoted teams. Norwich had looked good in their first game at Wigan and achieved a point if my memory is correct and I was feeling nervous about this game! Without playing well we were fortunate to equalize late in the game through KJ. So the home game against Thun resulted in us scoring 4 goals and we were reaching the Group stages. The European tour could really start now! So, on a positive note we were still unbeaten and next up were the Baggies. Sure three points there! So at The Hawthorns we had to wait until the 89th minute for our latest sensation Ryan Shotton to literally snatch a late winner. In my view a debatable goal which could easily been disallowed. Anyway these things even themselves out over a season! We also had the bonus of three signings with Crouch, Palacios and Jerome signing on 31st August! So after three games we have 5 points. Much improved on last year! September Next up Liverpool and King Kenny with his side full of internationals ! Another battling performance and a Walters penalty following one of those many fouls that Carragher commits in his own area which he did not get away with this time! Soft penalty yes, but definitely a penalty! A great 1-0 win. 8 points now and flying! Back on the European Tour now and off to Kiev and we thought we had three points until an injury time equaliser by Kiev! 1-1 still not bad result and one that could be crucial later on in the group matches! Nine matches played and unbeaten as yet! Happy days So onto Sunderland and yet another Sunday EPL game away from home. A delayed flight home apparently did not help preparations. We faced Sunderland with Steve Bruce under pressure win no home wins to date. So we went into the game with expectation of a point at least. What Stoke produced was a very inept performance and a 4-0 hammering. The explanation offered was the travelling that the team had undertaken and the lack of time and preparation that was allowed. Surely the EPL should give those teams in Europe some home games after Europe? I believe that a good deal of the away support went away feeling very depressed given the manner of the defeat. Next we had a 3rd round League Cup (or whatever it’s called now) meeting with Spurs who were playing some superb football. Much changed sides appeared and we managed to win through on penalties 7-6. No problem. Personally I thought this was a competition that perhaps we did not have to take too seriously given the Europa group games we were committed to until middle of December. So after Spurs we had the small matter of the EPL Champions visit to the Brit. I will recall this for the closure of the M6 northbound at Junction 13. This resulted in only arriving in the ground when Utd were one up and 38 minutes played. I arrived as I think Stoke got into the game and the 2nd half just got better. Crouchie got the deserved equaliser and along with it his first EPL goal for Stoke. Giggs missed a sharp chance at the death. That would have been very harsh on Stoke and a point was a very fair result. So in fairness I think we had got over the aberration of the Sunderland result. So we were looking forward to Europe again and the visit of Besiktas. We arrived to learn that the Turks had been in town since this morning and had toured Stoke-on-Trent! The Turkish support was terrific and really helped create a lively atmosphere. Stoke went one down and I believe that the goal was very simply created down the right (our left) and played into space behind Huth was for unexplained reason playing left back! Stoke recovered and came back to win 2-1 with goals from Crouch and a penalty from Walters. October Next up was a Sunday jaunt down to South Wales and newcomers Swansea who had impressed with their tippy tappy football which, impressed the plaudits. Again, we were concerned how TP would set the side up but defensive errors and the woodwork made it certain we returned home pointless. A 2-0 defeat was little more than I expected and I remember that tackle by Wilko for which I thought he was fortunate to be still on the pitch at the end! So followed another game on a Saturday at 3pm! It was Fulham who were also involved in the Europa League. It was a dour game and we had to wait 80 minutes for the first goal from Walters and then Delap wrapped things up in the 87th minute. I have to say that I do not recall much from this game really, so it did not excite me at all. Of more concern was the continuing trend of fewer shots than the opposition and considerably less possession. Maccabi were the next visitors at the Brit and having chatted to a Maccabi supporter in the Harvester who had travelled from the US to watch the game I thought it was men against boys to be honest. Jerome stupidly got sent off for an elbow and TP immediatedly changed the setup of the team to retain our lead of three goals. Maccabi then had a player sent off in a hilarious incident which will live with me. For those who do not recall, one of their players’ boots became undone after an altercation with Shotton. He flicked the boot of in anger only to see it hit the linesmen. Cue the Seddon stand to roar their disapproval of this sedacious act. The referee got the nod from the linesman and he got his marching orders as well, to even the team numbers up! You can see this on youtube if you want. The game finished 3-0 and now we were talking about qualification. Surely 10 points would see us through? With one home game left and two away we could even win the group! Back to the EPL, Sunday lunchtime kick off beckoned in the capital at ArseNIL. As most of you know I am off an age that I dislike ArseNIl with a passion. I was unable to attend this year but by the sounds of it we were in it until a certain RVP was introduced with little more than 20 minutes left. Result 3-1. On the positive note, no fisticuffs in the dressing room afterwards. Next up on the Wednesday were King Kenny’s men again in the league cup. You could just see that KK was determined to bring some hardware back to Anfield and he was still smarting from the recent EPL defeat. It took a Suarez moment to end Stoke’s resistance and complete a pretty miserable 5 days for Stoke. Newcastle were our next visitors, a Monday night televised SKY match and we honestly did not turn up. Newcastle had been playing well, but I just did not think we started to compete until we were 0-2 down. Early injuries were suffered to Shawcross and Wilson did not help. But it seemed to me that TP took far too long to decide when to sub both players We got one back after half time and briefly it looked as if we might steal a point. Then with Huth decided when an innocous cross was coming over to push very hard a Newcastle man into Upson? just as he was going to head out. Utter stupidity!! So the penalty was converted and the game put out our reach. Stoke finished the game with a whimper. So from having 9 matches unbeaten before the Sunderland game, now we were beginning to have serious doubts. Goals were being leaked and the defence was not settled. Again we did not seem to be firing on all cyclinders and there seemed to be no plan B if injuries or sending offs changed the course of a game. And why continue with Huth in a full back position? One way to piss off one of your most important players!!!!! That takes up to the end of October and is enough for today. Will be back probably Wednesday night!
November. So into November, four games here and although the last 3 games ended in defeat and left Stoke short on confidence, there was hope that matters would be turned round with games against Maccabi (A) Bolton (A) and both QPR and Blackburn at home. On the European tour again to Israel, and given that we had disposed of Maccabi in a quite routine manner at home, this game should not have proved to be much of a problem. We went two up through Whitehead and Crouch. Maccabi grabbed one back and by the end we were just seeing out time. Soro was even booked for timewasting. Anyway 10 points now and surely we had qualified! Hoping Stoke would get back in good time to prepare for the away game with Bolton for another Sunday away game. What followed was another defeat in which we were overrun. A Begovic blunder, gifted Bolton with the lead. He handed beck to Bolton the ball just outside the area, thus allowing Bolton to take a quick free kick whilst he was still standing on the penalty spot. The rest is history. Lesson, if goalkeeper gathers ball, kick it long and hard downfield to ensure the kick cannot be taken quickly! This goal spurred on Bolton who had yet to win a game at home and they quite honestly just ran rings round Stoke. They managed 5 goals and felt they owed us that after the Wembley stuffing we gave them in April. I was less than impressed with TP trotting out excuses of number of games, always away games from home after Europa league games, little time for preparation, was beginning to sound like a record. We have a squad, use the players!!! Anyway after a hammering, QPR was next our home game. They were leaking goals and losing away from home almost the same as Stoke! Stoke started brightly and opened the scoring. Higgy played in the Europa league in Israel and this was his first EPL game. Poor old Higgy just was stationary as Heider Helgusson who headed home a great cross from the left to make it 1-1. Then shortly QPR before half time got a second goal through Luke Young after some swift passes. In the second half QPR went 3-1 up and then Stoke got a second goal through Shawcross and then we were upset we did not get a penalty when Huth was brought down from behind! It ended 2-3 but the defence on the day was chronic. Higgy was absolutely out of his depth at left back. It was simply obvious that we needed full backs on the right and left. TP do not play centre backs at full back please. Have I said this before somewhere! The next game, and last in November against Blackburn became crucial as we could not afford another slip up. We desperately needed to post some points as with 8 games in December and some tough ones in there. As it turned out, this was the only EPL game of the season that Stoke scored 3 goals, two from midfielders Delap and Whelan before Crouch got a 3rd. I have to say that I was impressed with the Pennant free kick which was flicked on by Delap. Blackburn scored a consolation through Rochina and he fired in another terrific effort which from memory flashed wide. I would simply ask why did Blackburn wait so long to have a go! There was audible relief at the end with 3 points won, around the ground. So up to 15 points now and we must move on from this! December So we come to December and 8 games beckon. First up on 1st December gives Stoke the chance to seal their Europa league qualification from the group. Dinamo Kiev were the visitors. Dinamo took the lead following an own goal through Upson. Stoke built pressure and in the second half Kenwyne Jones in a rare appearance netted following a cross from Pennant to make qualification certain. Only 3 players who played against Blackburn played tonight so TP was obviously thinking about our next Sunday afternoon jaunt to Merseyside and Everton! Stoke really had to hang on against Dinamo and there was real joy at the final whistle as qualification was achieved. Expectation was far exceeded. So the European tour will continue in 2012 and let’s hope we get a good draw! So to Everton, and amazingly another Sunday and another AWAY game. I say, very unfortunate but we have to get on with it. The worrying thing was that WOODGATE was again right back! No worry though, I think he did quite well today. Huth did even better by diverting Dean Whiteheads shot! 1-0 and to be honest I do not think that Sorenson was over troubled until he had to go off with around 20 minutes left! No worries though we got through and took away 3 points. So 18 points and everything is looking better! These points were a real bonus. Sunday again (thanks Sky!) with Arry bringing his Spurs team to the Brit. The visitors were on a terrific run winning something like 9 games and drawing 1 of their last 10 games! Some run we dream of! For me this was the best game of the season as it had everything. Matty Ethrington had had a quiet start to the season, popped an early goal in as Spurs failed to clear a long throw. A second goal also resulted from a long throw when Crouch managed to flick the ball back for Matty to mishit the ball past Friedel. Wonderland 2-0 up against such a team playing such good football. Spurs moved up a gear but we got through to half time unscathed! In the second half Spurs won a softish penalty when Whelan tripped Modric. Adebayor stroked the penalty home and it was game on at 2-1. Spurs had a ‘goal’ disallowed which, seeing again on TV should have been given. These things even themselves up in the season! You could see every player was cream crackered and had given their all. The crowd were at its best as well. Just as good as at the United game. It was certainly a good day at the office and quite frankly decisions on the day went our way. Crouch did handball the ball for our second goal. Wilson played Adebayor onside for the goal that was disallowed. Thus, I could understand some of the angst shown by Arry and also our colleagues on not606. I think I managed to pacify Hoddlesisagod! It is getting late now so will sign off here. I was travelling yesterday but managed to write up to the Wigan so will get back as soon as possible! Hope you have enjoyed this as well! Cheers for now
I do not know what it is but I have edited my last post to say that 'Matty mishit his shot past Friedel.' Why it keeps reverting I do not know. This is the reason I am reposting that section and also out in something about Pennant going AWOl at Everton and being sent home.
December So we come to December and 8 games beckon. First up on 1st December gives Stoke the chance to seal their Europa league qualification from the group. Dinamo Kiev were the visitors. Dinamo took the lead following an own goal through Upson. Stoke built pressure and in the second half Kenwyne Jones in a rare appearance netted following a cross from Pennant to make qualification certain. Only 3 players who played against Blackburn played tonight so TP was obviously thinking about our next Sunday afternoon jaunt to Merseyside and Everton! Stoke really had to hang on against Dinamo and there was real joy at the final whistle as qualification was achieved. Expectation was far exceeded. So the European tour will continue in 2012 and let’s hope we get a good draw! So to Everton, and amazingly another Sunday and another AWAY game. I say, very unfortunate but we have to get on with it. The worrying thing was that WOODGATE was again right back! No worry though, I think he did quite well today. Huth did even better by diverting Dean Whiteheads shot! 1-0 and to be honest I do not think that Sorenson was over troubled until he had to go off with around 20 minutes left! No worries though we got through and took away 3 points. So 18 points and everything is looking better! These points were a real bonus. This was also when Pennant went AWOL and sent packing by TP when he got back to the hotel! Sunday again (thanks Sky!) with Arry bringing his Spurs team to the Brit. The visitors were on a terrific run winning something like 9 games and drawing 1 of their last 10 games! Some run we dream of! For me this was the best game of the season as it had everything. Matty Ethrington had had a quiet start to the season, popped an early goal in as Spurs failed to clear a long throw. A second goal also resulted from a long throw when Crouch managed to flick the ball back for Matty to mishit past Friedel. Wonderland 2-0 up against such a team playing such good football. Spurs moved up a gear but we got through to half time unscathed! In the second half Spurs won a softish penalty when Whelan tripped Modric. Adebayor stroked the penalty home and it was game on at 2-1. Spurs had a ‘goal’ disallowed which, seeing again on TV should have been given. These things even themselves up in the season! You could see every player was cream crackered and had given their all. The crowd were at its best as well. Just as good as at the United game. It was certainly a good day at the office and quite frankly decisions on the day went our way. Crouch did handball the ball for our second goal. Wilson played Adebayor onside for the goal that was disallowed. Thus, I could understand some of the angst shown by Arry and also our colleagues on not606. I think I managed to pacify Hoddlesisagod! And next was back to Europa League and a journey to Turkey to take on Bekitas for the last game in the group. Not that I was there in person but I was told by others including Malcolm Clarke that this trip with his daughter was the highlight of all the away games they both attended. Malcolm wrote a terrific article in the Outcake sold outside the Brit at each home game. Hope some of you have seen it. Fuller started and scored a great goal to make it 1-1 but for me TP more or less put out a second team. Upson got sent off for a tackle which resulted in a penalty and we eventually lost 3-1. The Turks gave their team fantastic support apart from throwing coins at Pennant. Anyway TP says, we at this club don’t moan we just get on with it. If ONLY! Hurrying back from Turkey came another important game against Wolves. Yet again the game was away from home. Here again was our new right back WOODGATE. He was playing against Matt Jarvis and within 10 minutes was booked for last tackle. Come 20 minutes he is again late with a tackle and concedes a penalty. We await another yellow card but fortunately we got away with that! So TP made his best decision of the day ( according to Woodgate) and subbed Woodgate and put Shotton at right back and brought on Pennant. Pennant changed the game and we stormed back to win yet another away game 2-1! TP, please understand centre backs do not equal full backs! I know from experience playing in the Southern Amateur League. I was a centre back and asked to play left back, and the result was that I was crap! So was Woodgate against an out and out winger! So before finishing for Xmas we had the small matter of a midweek trip to the Etihad stadium. Normal service resumed with Mancini’s pretenders and a 3-0 loss. No worry 2 home games to follow over Xmas against a struggling Villa side and Wigan on New Years Eve. Kick off 17:15 on Boxing night for Villa. Again televised (thanks Sky!). I managed to get up for this game and it was utterly forgettable. I think I have previously said that the most exciting thing that happened was the journey home. There was so little goalmouth incident and it really looked as if the players were wanting to get back to the Christmas pudding! In the game on New Years Eve Wigan looked as if they were more up for it and went in front much to the disgust of the Stoke support. Wigan deserved their 1st half lead. But Stoke pressed in the second half and equalised late in the game through a Walters penalty and Jerome himself snatched what we thought was a winner only to be denied by a ‘soft penalty’ when Shotton was involved in a collision with Rodiega. These things even themselves up over a season!! So it ended 2-2 and overall I think that for the way we played in those two games we were fortunate to get 2 points. So at the turn of the year 19 EPL games played, 10 at home and 9 away with 26 points won and were in 8th position, it was probably reasonable to think that we could gather something around 48 points given that we may not have so many more Europa League games. Will get back on January and on next week. Cheers
I did not another 3 pages on the train this afternoon upto town and will post again soon! Thanks again
January 2012 First up was Blackburn away, where Steve Kean was under pressure to win some home games to help them out of the bottom three. Stoke went for it (amazing) and played well. Crouchie got both goals and showed us how skilful he is on the floor. He should be going to the Euros IMHO and to hell with his age. The game finished 2-1 and we were back bagging points. 29 points magic and consolidated our 8th position. Back to the FA Cup which brought such joy in our first FA Cup Final. More humble surroundings this time at Gillingham for the 3rd round. There was much hype before the game with the Gillingham Chairman trying to rile TP. TP got plenty of backing at the game from both the travelling support and the home support and his team did enough to win 3-1 to take us to Round 4. TP played a reasonably strong side and showed his determination to win this particular tie. For me it could have been four or five really, if the pitch had been half decent. I was recalled the unhappy memories of League 2 play offs and Clive Clarke and Graham Kavanagh being sent off. Still a rubbish ground. Of greater amusement was the Phil Taylor video was must have been standing more or less next to me at the game! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6tQqjHEePY&list=UUQWUOtOIppfMMomdeRGxYxA&index=1&feature=plcp Anyway TP may not have been welcomed by their Chairman but he was by the crowd and also a good number were happy to share a drink afterwards with him in the Gills Bar after the game. So the following Saturday, Stoke were up at Anfield. Another point was won. TP ensured we defended and held the line. However King Kenny failed really with his tactics playing 4 at the back and two centre halves. Carroll was poor and worth £3.5 million not £35 million. Terrific result and we could have gone for 3 points to be honest. What did West Brom and Fulham do later in the season? So now 30 points and only 10 more for safety as far as TP was concerned! The next games were WBA (H), Derby (4th Round FA Cup) Man Utd (A), Sunderland (H), Fulham (A) and then Valencia (H). So reasonably looking one would think 6 points from the home games and possibly a point at Fulham. January ended at the Brit with the WBA return, played in high, high winds. WBA in my view were not phased by the weather and Stoke were not really playing with any idea. From memory, I thought WBA bossed the game and really deserved to win. Sitting close behind TP he seemed clueless how to change things. WBA went in front and Jerome (again) equalised very late in the game, having been kindly given 12 minutes playing time. WBA decided they better go and score another, so when they won a free kick out on the left they promptly converted it from outside the area right across Sorenson. Earlier the WBA 1st goal was a speculative 25 yard shot which obviously took some deviation in the wind . A poor game for Soro bar one super save when he pushed a shot onto the bar. So WBA had finally beaten us. Very disappointing!! And boy was the crowd were quiet! The 4th Round of the FA Cup saw us travelling down the A50 to Derby with over 5000 supporters. This saw again Jerome playing as he did in Round 3 and again scoring. Huth added a second to ensure a safe passage through. Derby enjoyed a reasonable amount of possession but in reality did not threaten the Stoke goal to any significant extent. So what chance of Wembley again? Spirits were reasonably high again hoping that we might get a home draw next. Our luck was not in as we were pitched against Liverpool at Anfield. So it was back to the EPL and a return to Old Trafford. I watched the majority of this game on the PC and saw that we conceded two penalties but could have conceded a third when Wilkinson handballed. Pennant conceded the first for a tackle and Walters the second for a push. Says enough really that forwards were conceding penalties! The game finished 0-2 but I do not recall any worthwhile efforts from Stoke. So that takes to end of January and with those defeats against WBA and Man Uts left us on 30 points. So it was essential TP sorted things out for the visit of Sunderland.
Hi Mrs Pottermouth here, i am new to this site. My hubby potts for whatever reason can't get on this site,and would like some help getting back on this site to post his views.Can any body help me please, he was in hospital for a couple of days and has been locked out of this site of cause lol. Steve has e-mailed Nicky B but even with his help no luck so far. Best wishes to you all Chris
Well I hope Pottermouth is OK. I miss him on here if he is not here everyday or night. He seems a nocturnal owl as he has trouble sleeping. Le tus know how he is and my blog of the seson seemed to hit a chord with him.
Not sure exactly what you mean by locked out, but using his email address and this link http://www.not606.com/login.php?do=lostpw he should be able to reset his password if that's the problem, otherwise contact cyprussyd http://www.not606.com/member.php/1000459-cyprussyd, hope this helps.
Pistol Pott's here matie, just can not reset or login lost me password so basically until Cyd whom I have contacted can help I'm up the creek without the preverbial. Thanks to the missus at least for now I can keep in touch with you guys. Thanks for that info Pistol OH and CRIS I'm fine thanks mate, just hacked off and the missus created her own account trying to help out! I HOPE to be back SOON. Being a female ain't funny at all. Hope to get sorted sooner rather than later. P.S. Nicky, I Hope you read this? and thanks for trying to contact someone? and replying to my personal e-mail, I really appreciate it! Heard nothing as yet so the wife is trying to help me out here too! In the words of Balliotelli "WHY ME"
Morning ONE and ALL WELL, I'm finally back, what the hell happened I know not? Thanks to the good wife. I was totally hacked off tbh so while I was out last night, she created her own profile I have now sorted things and SHOULD be O.K. THANKYOU SYD for your help too! Pistol, thanks buddie but, I think I will stick with my new BLOODY password and SOD trying to reset it AGAIN! Cris, just read your latest effort brilliant work. The Sentinel should employ you next season mate, you seem to be more accurate with almost everything you have written. I for one appreciate you taking the time to do this. One word FANTASTIC work Cris! Pott's
