Chapazz It has not been like this ALL of the time.. but it's getting more and more predictive. We have played well at home but this season we've rode our luck more than once. I don't blame the player's as such. We do have a decent team. IF they are given licence too play.. THAT is why I spoke about our away form before tonights game. Tonight, we looked like the away side and as one of the Stoke fans who have seen some great footie over the years.. it hurts like hell to see what T.P. is/has turned us into. I don't mind losing to any team but to play like that and lose kills me. Even his subs we're defensive and we needed to score.. Every fan in the League knows that our best C/H pairing is Huth/Shawcross.. to think that Pulis does not shows a total lack of respect to the fans IMO. Liverpool game last week was almost a carbon copy of tonight's game as far as how we played.. YOU would think Pulis would see that much and change it? Well done tonight you closed us down well and PASSED it.. we didn't do either of those things.
Spot on! It's maddening for us old timers as we remember when Stoke did play decent football. Pulis has to be the most frustrating manager in the premier league. he has the backing of a very rich chairman, immensley passionate fans and some real good players. Only problem is he does not know how to line his side up and what his best side is. He needs a right hand man that has more football knowledge than him to help him pick his side and chose his tactics. With the players we have I could put a better side out than Pulis!
Hey Toon fan here, my mate is a Stoke fan and I texted him when you lot were 2-0 down, and my opinion was that the style of play you guys are known for and certainly played in this game DOES NOT help you when chasing a game. Correct me if I am wrong but you have scored around 8 goals in the league in 10 games? Playing the same type of football when 2-0 down. It may get you a goal back but I can see it rarely getting you two back.
Pulis is trying to prove a point - as he always does. Firstly he views players as pawns in a game who are only successful if the Manager creates the opoportunity! Secondly, he hates the way footballers have developed into superstars, with a large majority being paid gross amounts of money that isnt proportionate to the talent throughout the league! Thirdly he is old school, in discipline (i.e. the manager balls and shouts and is always right) and in tactics (percentage football). Fourthly, he is the head and the body follows. Finally, he has a distasteful streak that almost wishes bad on people that dont fall into line, for instance telling the press that Demba Ba is a ticking time bomb and forcing players out of squad and refusing to play them! Oh and I almost forgot - he hates the press! So what does this all add upto I hear you say? Well its simple! Tony Pulis is trying to make a point, that you can compete at the highest level by simply obeying fundemental rules! Percentage football (Lads and dads sunday league), the manager is a dictator and the key thing - you dont need SUPERSTARS just abled body atheletes who can do a job! And you know what, to a point he has proved it right as 90% of his results have been obtained under thsi method, so in his timy little mind he is saying Fuk you to the English establishment - FA, Wenger, etc....... One problem that he, his YES men and some of the dying faithful have overlooked! Up until the start of this season, we were 3rd highest NET (Transfers In & Out) spending team for the previous 3 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Newcastle fan in peace... Stoke get a negative reputation because of a lot of the hoofing, throwing and general 'rough-em-up' box play, but what tends to get overlooked is that they are capable of playing some pretty exciting, direct football. Last night though? Awful. Why was Pulis persisting with Delap and his throw-in as the ONLY tactic to win the game when it was evident from the 10th minute that Newcastle had it sussed? Delap is generally a poor midfielder, and last night having him in there allowed Newcastle to control midfield. Stoke are a much better side without him and his throw ins. Stoke look a good side when they get it to Etherington and Pennant, who are more than capable of skinning full backs and putting quality balls into the box. Yet he brought Etherington off for the sake of EVEN MORE long throws. Stoke will finish top ten easily, but I was genuinely shocked at how one-dimensional their game plan was last night.
Should have mentioned.... that 'flat' low throw in Delap did twice was insane. Whatever people say about the tactic, that is really creative and very dangerous. But worth a starting place ?? nah...
Do you know Smithers, I was going to stop using not606 as I thought I was being counterproductive: well the BAD news is I am staying put and I will not rest until THAT S.O.B. Leaves my football club. I was here before he was born and (god willing) will be here after he has left. Anymore displays like last night and my blood pressure will go through the roof.
As I said on another thread, you will be waiting a long time. Pulis won't go until 2015 at the earliest I reckon.
The thing is, Coates won't sack Pulis even if we get relegated and Pulis would only leave Stoke for the Wales job and Speed looks like he might have that for at least another 4 years.
Damn it, got over excited as I was typing and bloody deleted my post, was ranting anyway. For last night, just wanted to say well done to Newcastle, played us off the park full stop. We were dire, not even that good. But take nothing away from you guys, you deserve to be where you are and good luck for the rest of the season. Decent team and decent manager. Generally agree with much of what has been posted, will add two major concerns: 1. Huth and Pennant to name just two by their body language not only looked disinterested and wanting to be somewhere else, but also seemed to have NO DESIRE at all. Huth looks likes a ghost of the player that graced our pitch last season. What the hell is going on behind the scenes and as others have asked, why the hell does TP insist on playing him out of position or third choice CB? 2. Stop our semi injured wingers and we have nothing else to offer, nothing coming through midfield. Hoofball time. Been said a thousand times before, no plan B. I thought Delap was history last season, at best a bit part player off the bench, but hey he is still with us, still starting! Plus Whelan really did resemble a headless chicken last night. If we can see this you can bet the professional managers out there have taken note and we now risk getting regularly stuffed, home and away. I am tired of teams coming to the Brit in recent times and giving us a football lesson. This fortress nonsense has to stop now and we need to regain winning ways soon or I really do fear for us. Forget the 'well we will have to settle for mid table' I see a relegation battle looming once again. Is that progress? The jury is out!!!UTP!!!
Agree, but would just like to add a to your point 1! Huth is not 3rd choice he is 4th choice as the other 3 have started over him in that position every game. Also he was not brought on to replace Shawx, Upson was! I dont mean to be petty bud!
In short Pulis has ****ed another quality player off!!!. Well done pulis!!!. How do you go from being the best player at the club to sitting on the bench for most of every game?. Pulis's head is ****ed up
No that's ok Smithers, I didn't make my point very well I admit, but I do groan inwardly every time I see Huth fill the full back position. Last season we only clicked into gear when TP finally appeared to ditch the notion that he was a RB and paired him up with Ryan. Full circle time!!
