Frustrated and angry is how I feel. And I think a few fellow Stokies on here might feel the same from what they type. The cup run masked how poorly last season went for us in my opinion. We had a good run between the FA Cup Quarter and the Arsenal match. Since then, apart from a couple of matches, we haven't looked right. Plus we've spent £70m in the past few seasons and still Pulis refuses to buy a proper left back, instead of just putting a centre half there or in Wilson's case a centre half/centre mid. Plus he refused to get a winger in in the summer, we were heavily linked with SWP though. He bought in Crouch, then uses him as a target man, which isn't playing to his strengths. The one time we played to Crouch's strengths we outplayed the **** and got a draw but should've won. The rest of the time our football has been dire, and brings back bad memories to the football served up in the binary season of 04/05. The fact he still persists with the same central midfield that took us up is incredibly frustrating. I love Rory for all he's done, but he is not good enough anymore. Whitehead, Palacios and Wilson are all much better centre mids than him. Pulis has taken us as far as he can in my eyes and if he carries on much further, playing his favourites, then there's a very real chance of relegation, let's not deny it.
OOOOPPPPS - sorry Hoops. 1,0001 apologies regarding Gerry Francis, no offence meant, for what its worth a cracking player, loved all about him except the 'mullet'! If I remember correctly GF and Tony Currie were vying for the same spot in Englands team at the time, I thing Currie was nicknamed The Edgeware Kid (not a million miles from the 'Bush'.
None taken. It was just a shock. He has been gone a long, long time now, but will always be part of Q.P.R. lore.
So what are your thoughts on Warnock - is he doing a great job and do you like the way he plays the team?
Believe it or not, considering we were staring L1 in the face 18 months ago when he took charge, we still have high numbers of Warnock haters. Me, I'm a big fan of him.
He always seems positive from the outside and shows a passion for the game and common sence from the outside!
Bloody hell Smithers, you're the ones we're trying to emulate apparently. Fulham and Bolton to an extent but Stoke are the side Nelly and most of us looked to at the start of the season as the Club to aspire to in establishing ourselves once more at the top table in English football. I presume its more so the style of play and not your results over the past couple of seasons that you're not happy with?
Style of play Refusal to try anything different away from home than just play 9-1-1 Play our best players rather than give his favourites, i.e. Woodgate and Delap games Refusing to buy a proper left back. Refusing to play to Crouch's strengths rather than lumping it to him. Refusing to drop the stupid long throw from our team so we can get some proper footballers like Palacios in there.
Fair enough!! Its funny but I just presumed the Stokies were all behind the tough Wimbledon-type play that we've grown accustomed to under Pulis. I suppose when you acquire quality players like you clearly have done its reasonable to expect a bit more "football" on show. Anyway, I think you boys have done superb since promotion. Just another quick question: Do you think your European adventure this season could have a negative impact on your league campaign?
It's an easy conclusion to come to but we have been away every time after a Thursday Europa game and we all know our away form is poor. I really do think it's coincidental. 1 down already after a joke of a decision by Webb!! Mind you Begovic is at fault also.
