Stoke City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithe]

I thought Downing played better tonight. Took defenders on, linked up well with players around him and scores a great diving header at an angle.

But even, presumably, full of confidence after his goal he didn't seem to want the ball in positions that would hurt them, technically he could be a very good player but I'm beginning to doubt that he will ever have the mental strength to be top class.

[jonzy85]

Probably is important to keep a bit of perspective...the nature of hte defeat is going to make everything seem a lot worse.

I thought it was a solid enough performance up until the 70 min mark. Pulis made the changes that worked, Kev Mac did nothing to respond. How was Ireland not brought on for either NRC or Albrighton. People bang on about Petrov, but I couldnt believe how unfit NRC looked. It was him that just stopped when he had been tracking Etherington for his cross for the last goal.

It is depressing the quality that Stoke can bring on and then look at our bench.

Positives .....
 All in all it was a fairly good defensive display...how many chances did they actually create? Friedel was brilliant at anything he had to do except his kicking wasnt great. I dont understand people being so eager to get rid of him. Is it just his age?
Downing was very good in the 1st half...went out of it a bit in the 2nd, maybe he could have been replaced also. Albrighton, once again showing he looks the real deal. Young and Gabby were great also.
I think we may take Petrov's range of passing and ball retention for granted.

6 ponts from 12, not great, not terrible...especially considering our Euro rivals (if we are still considering ourselves in the mix) have lost points.
It's not all doom and gloom, we were unlucky, was never a free against Pennant.

[KevinGage]

in fairness we beat you fair and square, you had your chances and never took them, and also that teletubby you have at the back needs to go. And if all you have is heskey to come on god help you.

we are stoke

Do not feed the troll.

No, lets feed him.

Feed him to the facking pigs.

[Small Rodent]

in fairness we beat you fair and square, you had your chances and never took them, and also that teletubby you have at the back needs to go. And if all you have is heskey to come on god help you.

we are stoke

If it were two "bigger" teams playing tonight, the Pennant dive would be analysed again and again and would be the headline tomorrow.

[Villafirst]

MON's departure timing is certainly bearing fruit. He basically caused chaos by upping sticks and taking his cronies with him. Inconsistent results in my opinion will continue like this for some time yet. Ierland and Cuellar should've come on after about 70 minutes. Why can't we bring the Fonz on instead of Heskey?

[Somniloquism]

I thought Downing played better tonight. Took defenders on, linked up well with players around him and scores a great diving header at an angle.

But even, presumably, full of confidence after his goal he didn't seem to want the ball in positions that would hurt them, technically he could be a very good player but I'm beginning to doubt that he will ever have the mental strength to be top class.

Funny because I saw him have another goal scoring chance and a run and cross that lead to the collins chance. Plus the interplay between him and Young that lead to the ball across the box a foot from the line and no deflection / finish to make it 2 on the stroke of half time. And before that he was the only one giving it a try with two (admittedly tame shots) at the stoke goal. He disappeared second half because Kmac decided to change the formation and swap wings and suddenly his only option was to come inside when he had the ball into a very congested centre. Albrighton disappeared at the same time on the other wing.

[PeterWithesShin]

Probably is important to keep a bit of perspective...the nature of hte defeat is going to make everything seem a lot worse.

I thought it was a solid enough performance up until the 70 min mark. Pulis made the changes that worked, Kev Mac did nothing to respond. How was Ireland not brought on for either NRC or Albrighton. People bang on about Petrov, but I couldnt believe how unfit NRC looked. It was him that just stopped when he had been tracking Etherington for his cross for the last goal.

It is depressing the quality that Stoke can bring on and then look at our bench.

Positives .....
 All in all it was a fairly good defensive display...how many chances did they actually create? Friedel was brilliant at anything he had to do except his kicking wasnt great. I dont understand people being so eager to get rid of him. Is it just his age?
Downing was very good in the 1st half...went out of it a bit in the 2nd, maybe he could have been replaced also. Albrighton, once again showing he looks the real deal. Young and Gabby were great also.
I think we may take Petrov's range of passing and ball retention for granted.

6 ponts from 12, not great, not terrible...especially considering our Euro rivals (if we are still considering ourselves in the mix) have lost points.
It's not all doom and gloom, we were unlucky, was never a free against Pennant.

But we have also only won 2 out 6 games so far and are yet to play any "top" side. And the manner of our 3 defeats in league and cup are very worrying. either battered, or showing unbelievable naivety/ineptness. Neither of which can be easily rectified imo.
All the more frustrating as in glimpses we show what we can do in a positive way. But you can't play well for 15 mins, score only once and then expect to win. Or not very often anyway.

[jonzy85]

Probably is important to keep a bit of perspective...the nature of hte defeat is going to make everything seem a lot worse.

I thought it was a solid enough performance up until the 70 min mark. Pulis made the changes that worked, Kev Mac did nothing to respond. How was Ireland not brought on for either NRC or Albrighton. People bang on about Petrov, but I couldnt believe how unfit NRC looked. It was him that just stopped when he had been tracking Etherington for his cross for the last goal.

It is depressing the quality that Stoke can bring on and then look at our bench.

Positives .....
 All in all it was a fairly good defensive display...how many chances did they actually create? Friedel was brilliant at anything he had to do except his kicking wasnt great. I dont understand people being so eager to get rid of him. Is it just his age?
Downing was very good in the 1st half...went out of it a bit in the 2nd, maybe he could have been replaced also. Albrighton, once again showing he looks the real deal. Young and Gabby were great also.
I think we may take Petrov's range of passing and ball retention for granted.

6 ponts from 12, not great, not terrible...especially considering our Euro rivals (if we are still considering ourselves in the mix) have lost points.
It's not all doom and gloom, we were unlucky, was never a free against Pennant.

But we have also only won 2 out 6 games so far and are yet to play any "top" side. And the manner of our 3 defeats in league and cup are very worrying. either battered, or showing unbelievable naivety/ineptness. Neither of which can be easily rectified imo.
All the more frustrating as in glimpses we show what we can do in a positive way. But you can't play well for 15 mins, score only once and then expect to win. Or not very often anyway.

Yep you're right....trying really hard, too hard, to put a positive spin on things.

[TimTheVillain]

I bet KevMac gave them the 'hairdryer' lol

Leadership please and fucking quick.

[Somniloquism]

MON's departure timing is certainly bearing fruit. He basically caused chaos by upping sticks and taking his cronies with him. Inconsistent results in my opinion will continue like this for some time yet. Ierland and Cuellar should've come on after about 70 minutes. Why can't we bring the Fonz on instead of Heskey?

We couldn't bring the Fonz on as for some Reason KMac doesn't like him. Whether he carried some "1st team player now" attitude back to some of the reserve games I don't know.

I agree with the first point on the timing of the departure but any other club of our stature would have had a permanent manager sorted by now. We could be another 2-3 weeks without one. We could easily still be on 6 points and out of the LC before he joins as the next three games are Bolton, Blackburn and Wolves. All teams with a fighting spirit and a physical/agricultural element to their game.

[hilts_coolerking]

But we have also only won 2 out 6 games so far and are yet to play any "top" side. And the manner of our 3 defeats in league and cup are very worrying. either battered, or showing unbelievable naivety/ineptness. Neither of which can be easily rectified imo.

It's a good point.  We've haven't put in a wholly convincing performance since the opening day of the season.  And that came against a side currently rooted to the foot of the table with zero points.

There were some positives to take from tonight's game but we look desperately in need of some leadership.  Really desperate.  It's all very well saying "It's worth waiting for the right man" but we don't even know how long we're supposed to wait.

[PeterWithe]

I thought Downing played better tonight. Took defenders on, linked up well with players around him and scores a great diving header at an angle.

But even, presumably, full of confidence after his goal he didn't seem to want the ball in positions that would hurt them, technically he could be a very good player but I'm beginning to doubt that he will ever have the mental strength to be top class.

Funny because I saw him have another goal scoring chance and a run and cross that lead to the collins chance. Plus the interplay between him and Young that lead to the ball across the box a foot from the line and no deflection / finish to make it 2 on the stroke of half time. And before that he was the only one giving it a try with two (admittedly tame shots) at the stoke goal. He disappeared second half because Kmac decided to change the formation and swap wings and suddenly his only option was to come inside when he had the ball into a very congested centre. Albrighton disappeared at the same time on the other wing.

His performance was symbolic of the team over the recent past, when we're on top he looks decent and looks like he could really press on become an important player but as soon as the pressure starts to build he melts.

[Somniloquism]

I bet KevMac gave them the 'hairdryer' lol

What, stood upright in the corner with a little old lady sitting in front having a blue rinse and reading knitting weekly.

[Bunny@Stoke]

Poor quality game from two average teams to be honest. Although saying that it could quite easily have been 3-3.

If anyone doubted why RF10 is my lads' hero then they'll know after tonight. Our best player for the last 3 years and, criminally on the bench, he alone changed the game. Can't believe better teams than us have never bought him to be honest.

Really rate Allbrighton, he's a player. Quick, good feet, works hard but most of all intelligent. I'd take him over Wallcott now and he's miles ahead of Downing who (goal apart) hid all night. Young flattered to deceive and I thought Reo-Coker was as decent as anyone for you.

You pummelled as at 0-1 and the half time whistle couldn't come quick enough.

Vocal support from you lot was excellent, but pretty poor numbers (1400-ish out of 2900?). What's that about?

You looked solid, but I didn't see too much quality to be honest. Poor game which we maybe needed the points more than you and my nipper enjoye his first night match, despite often nodding off on my shoulder. Says it all.

Some tw@ nicked his rucksack too after the winner with his Stoke coat etc in. Tools.

Take care Villans. You know decent Stoke fans have a lot of time for you, a proper football club.

[Somniloquism]

Take care Villans. You know decent Stoke fans have a lot of time for you, a proper football club.

I also like any team which allows us to play to our strengths and gives season altering results when we are in a bit of bad form. Bolton is ours I believe.