Alright boys, still browse since I joined before the cup final, like to see how you guys are doing as you seem (in the majority) a decent lot
I'm amazed you have 9 pages of how to beat Stoke :-)
Does that mean we have arrived? lol
Home form hasnt been what it was, surprisingly our away form this season hasnt been too bad (we had more away than home before the recent Norwich/Swansea games!) - not that the pundits seem to have noticed, its still fortress Britannia and our away form is apparently shit - good research chaps! (Lazy journalism)
Last night and Sunday saw a different approach from Pulis, now we are pretty much safe, the 10 men behind the ball attitude seems to have disappated, we attacked Spurs last night with high tempo and some decent football, were really unlucky not to take all 3 points
One of the OP commented on our game against you in December, to be fair I think Pulis just wrote that game off completely, played a second XI virtually as we had been on a bit of a stretch with Europa League and Sunday fixtures building up to it - after beating Spuds at home I think he just took that as a bonus and let you win! :-)
I'm hopeful of a good performance from us, get in your faces, and see the return of our 2 wingers in tandem (as they havent played together much lately)
Expecting Stoke
Begovich
Wilko Shawcross Huth Wilson
Pennant Whelan Whitehead Etherington
Walters Crouch
Ethers may miss out to Jerome who played OK last night - ME form not been good this season at all.
Walters not pulling up trees either but seems undroppable.
Be interesting to see if Henry Mancini plays small and skillful or tries to outmuscle us with your bigger lads - when teams come down to our level we tend to win, when they play around us or cut off the ammo from the wings we struggle for ideas - we only have plan A :-)
(Although the 4-3-3 in Valencia, although not the first team, were excellent and nearly pulled off a shock!)
I fancy a draw to be honest, a win would be great, but would take a point.
Will be a good atmosphere though, 5.30pm kick off so plenty of time for a beer first
If any of you are coming from Macc/Congleton way, you should pop into the Stoke supporters branch in Biddulph (about 10-12 miles away from the ground) - its at Knypersley Sports Club, at 2pm Biddulph Town FC are playing at the venue, you can have a beer and watch that game (finishes about 4pm) then get off to the game in peace!
We run 6 coaches from there (so about 350 of us), no room on the coaches alas but good ale and some TV football on in the bar or Staffs County League footy outside - Bidd Town are top of the league, playing 5th placed Abbey Hulton so should be a good game
No mither there, and 2 games of footy in the day.
Good luck after Sat, have a peaceful day out.
