Ric As promised I will not be negative tonight.. well done Tony Pulis, well done the whole team and squad. We're now past that 40pts mark and well safe for another season.. I did not enjoy the first half one bit but I pays me money and has my own oppinions. 2nd half much improved and IF Crouch does not get an England call up I'll be very sruprised. Great cross from J.P. bang av it, well done Crouchie I tipped him to score 15 goals this season only two more to go then. Also thought J.P. was excellent too. KTF Ric
A day or so late posting re: the Wolves game but it was a good win I thought. Decided to take my son-in-law to the Brit and booked my tickets 3 hours before kick-off. Not many seats remaining but I managed to get two behind the goal opposite the boothen end (memories of being behind the goal at the Stoke-end when I was a lad!) Created a couple of chances first-half and how Walters did not score from Crouch's knock down I'll never know, but the Wolves goal was sloppy. Better second half and Crouch's header from a brilliant cross from JP was excellent. Crouch was man of the match IMO and Pennant also did well. 41pts and safe, well done.
Not many people been on to discuss the game but I thought I put my bit in! I thought it was a pretty sloppy game, typical of a team fighting for survival and team that doesn't kill teams off. The first half was poor highlighted by two poor goal keeping errors and one of the misses of the season from Walters! 2nd half was much better, although instigated by Wolves attempts to attack. I didnt think we did much wrong to be fair, just didnt seem to have that extra bit of skill to kill of what is effectively now a championship team! 45% possesion (at home) and equal shots on target was not exactly brilliant, it was also never a free kick leading to the 2nd goal - that for me is the worry! Crouch's header and Pennant's cross were both excellent! I thought Pennant and Crouch were top draw, as were Huth and Shawx. The CM's did their jobs as did Wilson at LB (what a waste). Shotton had a torid time dealing with Jarvis (who for me was by far the best player on the pitch) - Walters and Ethrington were average at best - worrying times for them pair as we are effectivley playing with a man down offensively because we rely on their inputs so much! Overall a good result and the magical 40 points + has been achieved, even though the cut off this year will probably be nearer 33 points! Another solid result so fair play to the lads and TP.
Smithers, a pretty good account of the Wolves game. We did win, however, so well done to the team and TP. I didn't want to appear negative in my post but I do feel that Stoke are very predictable in their play relying too much on set-pieces (the goal, Jonny's miss, and another header from Crouch). They also lack pace in my opinion which means they don't break forward quickly enough and opponents are able to get back behind the ball. Nevertheless 41pts with 6 to go is good. Just hope we get something from Villa tonight.
P Potter Let's all stay positive whatever happens tonight let's just have a go at Villa.. How many times have i said that and it's all gone belly up? KTF lads NO pressure at all now so, Tony Pulis up n at em.
Begs Shotts, Huth, ShawX, Wilson Delap, Palacios, Whitehead, Ethers Jones, Walters Subs include Crouch, Jerome and WOODGATE!!! Thoughts on tonight's team
Awful really and it goes back to my comment of giving people a chance when others are not perfroming! The back 4 pretty much picks itself with a little bit of rotation. Delap on the wing - well that ones been done to death. I know PENNANT played the full game on Sat but Ethrington was well below par as was Walters - why they are not rested is beyond me! Nice to see Jones get a run but why Jerome isnt getting a full run with Walters having a rest is mystery only TP can answer! Hope we get a result but TP keeps picking the wrong players - IMO!
The other day I was going to post saying even though Shotton at right mid (internet wasn't working though) is a little bit negative, but it's far better than Delap, and now he's out there tonight!!! Can't complain too much though really, didn't think Pennant would play after having 90 minutes on the weekend, , given his lack of game time before that, but as Smithers said, Walters should have been rested, and I think Matty should have been too, but I'm pleased Palacios is playing. By the sounds of it Jones is playing pretty well in the first 10 mins.
Thoughts on today's team ? Er WHY is Delap or Shotton playing on the right and Pennant isn't starting? Whitehead/Delap have done absolutly nothing listening to the game what's new? Ether's has hardly touched the ball? The legend Denis Smith say's we've been the better team?? Am I hard of hearing? Four corners to Villa non to Stoke.. one header Delap on target? Sounds like another game where we're giving the opposition 3pts.. Now look at our bench and think WHY are Jerome/Crouch/Pennant not starting? WE could with a WIN go into EIGTH place before the Fulham game. Same old same old, we are not keeping the ball SORT IT T.P. big chance don't let it slip away as Smithy thinks Villa are not looking too good in defence. I think that's all for now. NOT happy but hey we're SAFE now.
Regardless of the result, the selection and subs are generally poor - nothing new there! Glad for the point though!
A up lads just thought id give my 2 pence worth, I thought the first half was pretty flat performance wise but I thought we looked quite comfortable at the back. Kenwyn Jones IMO is not good enough by a long shot and God know whats happened to Etherington. You are all right in saying Pennant should of started (whats with Delap on the wing again???) and thought he and crouch played well when they came on. Second half I thought we were much better, but I personally feel that should be Walters's last full 90 mins, he looks a shadow of the player at the beginning of the season and looks completely fooked. I think we have just overused him and now its showing. Give him a good break stick him on the bench and get him ready for next season. My personal positive on the night was Palacious, It was very nice to see a Stoke player put his foot on the ball and knock it around, he looked really sharp and didnt seem to suffer from fatigue. I think he will be a massive positive for the side next season when he will be firing on all cylinders. On the whole not a bad performance UTPssssssssss
Ric Did you listen to the game or have you SEEN it? Sounded woeful to me but as you said, improved 2nd half and thanks too Pennants CROSS "Something Delap nor Shott's are really capable of and I include Etherington in that. We scored from a fee kick by Pennant. HATE to be negative and a pt is good anywhere in this League I know. BUT why didn't T.P. just ATTACK with the right player's from the START. Just heard T.P. say " We've played TWO games in three days? Erm SO have HALF the other ****** teams. ???????? Walter's /Ether's/ Delap did didley squat if I heard correctly? ONLY Palacios Begovic and our defence come out of this with some Kudos. We seemed to have more throw in's than days in a year. On a Postive NOTE we DID have more of the ball than Villa. That's ok then Tony we're on the up. Is this a FIRST away from home this season?
I was hoping Jerome might have got a game tonight specially as Walters seems a bit washed out. Still they can all have a good rest now as no match this weekend, still a point is a point, just wished we had gone for it a bit more.
A great result tonight and we may have pinched all 3pts but for the late disallowed goal. Seems like Pennant made a difference when he came on. What is the highest points total we have achieved since getting to the Prem - we should have a good chance of bettering it.
2008/2009 - W12, D9, L17, GF38, GA55. Points:45. Pos: 12th 2009/2010 - W11, D14, L13, GF34, GA48. Points:47, Pos: 11th 2010/2011 - W13, D7, L18, GF46, GA48. Points:46, Pos: 13th 2011/2012 - W13, D10, L15, GF38, GA52. Points: 48 Pos: 12th (Based on average per game and rounded up!)
I think out of the games we have left i reckon we will win: Everton and Bolton Draw: Arsenal and QPR Lose: Newcastle Giving us 8 points and a total of 50, finishing 11th
