Been thinking about this now for awhile. Most Stoke fans will agree we have had a pretty hit and miss season this term with an horrendous start to the whole campaign. Granted the EPL has been turned upside down this season with lots of shock results. But what got me thinking was, "where did it all go wrong?" The conclusion I came to was " The Aaron Ramsey" incident! Before that game we had dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup 3-1 at home, dumped Man City out of the FA Cup scoring 3 goals again at home after holding them to a 1-1 draw at their place and looked a side that most teams including the top 4 feared to play. During that fateful game we were at one point leading Arsenal by 1-0 once more, before Bendtner equalised just before half time. We were more than capable of taking them that day and then Ryan accidentally got involved in the tackle that was to become legendary amongst the Arsenal fans. after the tackle we went to pieces and let in 2 soft goals late on for Arsenal to win 1-3. The following week we had to travel away to Chelsea in the next round of the Cup. We were fancied by some to go there and snatch a draw that could have brought them back to the Brit once more. I remember watching that game and watching our players shy out of tackles that they would have otherwise gone in for for fear of being branded a dirty side. I think we went quite a few games after that one without picking up any cards. We were being banded about in the media as "bully boys" and "dirty players" It seemed to me that after this incident we lost that battling and fighting spirit that saw every single player not matter what their ability was to give 100% It wasn't long after we were back at Chelsea getting hammered 7-0 The team I saw beat Arsenal and Man City was not the same team I saw lose 7-0. We started the new season in the same manner as we ended it "Tame." That tame even the dingles beat us 2-1 at home on the first day of the season, one of the few wins they had for a long spell before their now resurgence. Our players now look like broken spirits and former shadows of what they were. Huth and Wilko are probably the only 2 that haven't changed. TP needs to get that fighting spirit back into the players and get the Brit a place where teams fear to come. I sensed ages ago that the Brit was flat compared to how it was. I've lost count now the amount of times I've had to listen to "where's your famous atmoshere?" I also noticed that we went quite a few games not so long back without a rendition of Delilah. I think this Sunday is probably our biggest game of this season, a make or break game! If we win TP will once again be the Messiah and a dream day out to Wembley, but I fear that should we lose, he may well just have lost the crowd! Thoughts?
I've been saying this to my brother (the non Stoke supporting one) quite a few times over the past few months. It is a valid point. Our form, from the Ramsey incident onwards to the end of the season was awful. Up until then we were performing well in the league, were in the FA Cup Quarter Finals, Shawcross and Etherington were starting to look like England material, and both of them, as well as the team have been well below par. I think that incident has certainly had an effect on Ryan, as he doesn't seem to want to make tackles anymore, he shys away from a lot now. Since that incident, we don't look as hungry or as determined as we used to.
I've gone right off your brother! Joke. Who does he support? I have to admit, Stoke have lost their 'sense of urgency' somewhat - but I don't think its due to the Ramsey incident.
The one in the picture (remember the one I posted on here a while back?), he's a Stoke fan and has been the best part of his 28 and a half years, but my other brother is an Everton fan. He's a little older than my other brother. He started supporting Everton in the mid 80's when they were 2nd best in the land, so I guess he was a glory supporter of sorts, but he has carried on supporting them through their very tough times in the 90's and still does now. I guess my brother is the reason why i've always had a soft spot for Everton, and if I have a 2nd team they'd be mine certainly, plus I really like David Moyes, top manager.
weve gone right off because we have a useless manager who has got more and more negative every game. The players are unhappy (not surprisingly being asked to play that ****e hoofball). If pulis stays IMO we will be relegated this season. I hope im wrong!.
Yes, I remember the picture, thats who I meant. Didn't know you had two Everton, they aren't so bad - I don't mind there manager either.
