Huth Tackle!

Appeal turned down?

 

Aye, it was never in doubt.
Surly Meyler can sit back and look forward to an apology now.

 

Hello Sunderpitt, thanks for wishing us luck, both in Europe and in general however, you've got it completely wrong about some things I'm afraid:

Many of us have a problem with Stoke as well, because we don't like the football. Pulis MADE the best of the players we had but then did two really irritating things, amongst others.
Bought players that were better at playing crap football
Impulse bought skilful players, mostly to get a player like the above in a two-for-one, and didn't even play them (at least not consistently)
He currently does not get the best out of both the whole squad, by not playing the best team, and the team he plays; we quite often have no shots on goal in the first half.

I also feel like the fans are not really behind the team as they were in the first two seasons; we have the "We'll play how we want" song but I never sing it; we are not playing how I want. I also think that the team, or more specifically, Pulis, does not like the fans either, and I find it difficult to back someone who seems to have subtle, but very spiteful, digs at the fans in the media or however else.

I can't be sure that you think that, like Bruce, the fans are putting pressure on Pulis, but it isn't because of the results; it is the way he persists with either tactics that worked well in a completely different type of game, or tactics/players that clearly aren't working.
However, he SHOULD concentrate on playing more entertaining football, but I think that, again, this is what the fans are putting pressure on Pulis for; our results have actually been pretty good, and I don't think anyone isn't pleased with our position in the table and results as a whole.

There are many fans who have the opinion that you think, but I really don't think that they exist in as great a number as talksport would suggest, or even BBC Radio Stoke suggests; either way, if things go on, I will soon be amongst the majority.

 

I must say that I have been caught by surprise regarding the level of bad feeling towards Pulis from many Stoke fans..

 

Good to hear there are some sensible Stoke fans (and a few sensible Mackems too). Well said! What a palaver!

 

The way I see the discontent from Stoke fans to Pulis is because:
1. As a newly promoted team, you will be playing teams of superior quality week in week out.
2. So you have to make the most out of the resources at your disposal, be it hoofball or tippy-tappy, etc.
3. For Pulis this meant only one way of playing football, and its not 'pretty'.
4. This however didn't matter as survival was a major achievement.
5. Several seasons later & £millions spent, it would be expected that this style would have evolved into something more expansive.

 

This - Well said

 

Well it is not a surprise that there is more in football that unites fans than divides them. Yes at times if the team is struggling you need to win ugly. But teams like Manure, Arsenal and L'Pool have all been successful playing winning attractive football. One of my highlights was last week against Norwich, when Sess nutmegged a thuggish defensive midfielder (he had been kicking lumps out of out midfield, Cattermole is injured) Sess then passed the ball out to Frazier Campbell, Sess kept running, he is only about 5ft 5 ins and from a great centre from Campbell scored a cracking headed goal. It is what I and many other fans go to football for. Bale, who plays for the Spuds is probably worth the admission fee alone. We the fans need and demand exciting, entertaining football. At times there is a need also to be pragmatic, I think MoN believes in defending and 'counter punching' that is fine boxing recognises it as a very good tactic and if keeps us up the table I am a happy fan.

We also have myoptic fans, although I admit Iwould find it difficult to have this conversation with a Newcastle fan. So lets hope Stoke do OK in Europa and EPL and start to prove everyone wrong with their brand of exciting entertaining football.

 

Apple PIe
YOU have it spot on Sir .. NOW? we have the player's to play better football and, we have this season.. for me not often enough.
The reason Tony P does not use our best player's even when we have a fully fit squad.
To stay up, we did the best we could, any team would.. but after x years staying up with ease really. HE as Manager should be able to see that. If we the fans can.
Something is badly wrong. He will use the excuse that we're in FA cup, Europa and of course we HAVE to stay up. MANY teams would give their right arm to be in our position squad wise.. the PROBLEM we the fans have is simple... Our bench is usually used for the better player's.. Pennant, Palacios, Whelan or Whitehead and Delap, if fit plays most weeks???? He aint good enough he said himself that he is surprised that he plays as often as he does.. It's up to Tony Pulis and while he is here.

I honestly can not see him changing our style and we have to accept that.

MON saw something was wrong at Sunderland? What a difference and I am not surprised. Good luck for the rest of the season fella's.

 

I have to agree with that. Very well put Ryan, can't argue with that. Summed up my feelings perfectly.

It's becoming really difficult to defend Pulis right now. It's almost as if, after last season he didn't like how popular we were becoming with some of the media and feared the siege mentality would go, so now he's saying more and more controversial things, to make everyone hate us again. Hence bringing back the us and against the world philosophy that was evident for the first 2 seasons in the Prem. However if this is his plan, then it is failing miserably as we aren't showing anywhere near as much passion as we used to. I love my club and I love what Pulis has done but any football fan with a brain stem knows our players are capable of playing good football.

 

That is part of it for sure. From the Quarter-Final to our 3-1 win against Arsenal last season, we really looked good and were playing some really neat football, mixed in with a direct style of course but it was still easy on the eye. We knocked four past Newcastle, 5 versus Bolton and even went to Spurs and attacked and lost 3-2 scoring 2 magnificent goals. After that I thought that Pulis had sussed it and we were set for more of the same this season, especially when we bought Crouch and Palacios. However that was not to be. I think the majority of Stokies found ways of defending our style over the past few seasons, but now it's becoming virtually impossible to defend the crap that Pulis has played since November especially. It's so frustrating because we Stokies know of the technical ability that we possess in areas, like Pennant, Matty, Whelan, Wilson, Crouch, Palacios. All very capable with the ball at feet and comfortable spraying it around but they are being denied at expressing themselves.

The Man United game in September showed what we were capable of. We outpassed them at times and played some really good football and really should've won comfortably rather than drawing 1-1.