Stoke post match thread

[Akiva]

Gods sake Pep, massive error resting Sterling and Silva, their professional athletes and Sterlings practically still a kid. All momentum from good run of games lost by that poor team selection and a tough March to follow, so frustrating!!!!

How do you know that was the reason we drew?

We had our chances to put the game to bed and didn't take them, that's all there is to it.

 

[Gabriel]

Ya but today was not the first time he played in that position.

True, but when Toure plays in the deeper role we try and utilise the entire length and width of the pitch. That said, Stoke were sprinting back 15-20 yards into their own half.

 

[Feed the Elk]

Why blame on Clichy ? The whole team fucked up including pep.Every one had a bad game besides Willy.

He kept getting in the way

 

[Blue Llama]

I don't remember the Stoke keeper having to make 1 save in.90 minutes. Sums it up really.

 

[daztrueblue91]

did he do something to you ? you really seem to hate him.

I hate players who are capable giving so much more than they currently give.

Clichy has the potential to be the best LB in the league but doesn't have the self belief.

I've seen he offer nothing going forward for the past 3 seasons and he is incapable of challenging an opponent in the air.

Add to the fact he constantly gets ripped to shreds by average wingers then it's no surprise I don't rate him.

If he attempted to attack and lost the ballon could accept it. But he's shit scared of attacking and constantly slows down any attack to play the easy option.

 

[Hungarian blue]

Another clean sheet!

Shame about other things, but mostly, how will we, if ever, replace David Silva? :) We were very bad but Stoke hardly even tried to attack in the second and we created a decent amount of chances in the end (very few before that mind...), so not everything's terrible.

 

[snorky]

Bridge was a better player than Clichy.

Sorry mate, Clichy was bad tonight, but no

 

[Uptop]

Fullbacks are really holding us back when our attacking talent get swamped in numbers. Compared to a Marcelo or Dani Alves acting as overlapping wingers, they are so limited going forward. Obviously thats an extreme example but Sagna and Clichy are probably among the least threatening fullbacks in the league.

If we had some genuinely threatening fullbacks it would surely help disrupt the bus and open up space for other players, particularly our wingers who will have a partner going forward with rather than left to do it all themselves.

The teams general tempo today was slow from the start. Not sure if its fatigue or players not putting in the effort but there wasnt much movement and we barely tested them until Silva came on. Even with a flat performance we still missed a few easy chances to score which again is a recurring problem.

 

[daztrueblue91]

What an absolute tosser you are. You sound like an entitled Rag! This is a fella that we got for a bargain price. He has helped win two titles for us and a number of other trophies and been an absolute professional throughout. Not a minutes problem at any point. He wasn't the worst player on the pitch tonight. I am beginning to really despair at some of our so called fans. Give your head a wobble fella. Get a grip and listen to yourself.

We got him for a bargain price because he's an average player.

Don't make it out like he was a bargain.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Amazing that when Navas plays there's 'nobody in the box' but when Sterling plays he racks up assist after assist.

Navas was dreadful as he is whenever he starts, and particularly against physically imposing bus parkers. He does a good job coming off the bench to stretch tired opponents, but he's a lightweight waste of space on nights like tonight, every single time. And I thank the Lord we will no longer have to watch Clichy turn and run backwards or play inaccurate passes after this season, and that's without even starting on his piss weak defending. We created enough chances to have won tonight after Dave came on, but we badly need to buy some penalty box muscle in the summer for games against boring lumpen bastards like Stoke. The parked bus is our single biggest Achilles Heel

 

[kaz7]

I hate players who are capable giving so much more than they currently give.

Clichy has the potential to be the best LB in the league but doesn't have the self belief.

I've seen he offer nothing going forward for the past 3 seasons and he is incapable of challenging an opponent in the air.

Add to the fact he constantly gets ripped to shreds by average wingers then it's no surprise I don't rate him.

If he attempted to attack and lost the ballon could accept it. But he's shit scared of attacking and constantly slows down any attack to play the easy option.

Has he shagged your wife or something?

 

[AlgarveBlu]

Delighted we kept a clean sheet...Navas was solid and Clichy played like Maldini so I'm taking the positives out of tonight