Stoke City vs Aston Villa Match Thread

[Michel Sibble]

No Sylla? Bit odd.

[Lambert and Payne]

I was dissapointed with the Bowery selection until I read this, I know believe its fate he will score a hattrick

In all seriousness, I'm not looking forward to this.

[Monty]

May be Lambert intends to hit Benteke and Bowery with long balls to hold up play with Gabby and Weimann grafting in midfield. Pretty sure the inclusion of Bowery is simply one based on defending set pieces and high balls into our box.

The best way to attack Stoke is not with long-balls, they'll eat that up all day long. Why do managers always fall into this type of fallacy? It's quite insane.

[JUAN PABLO]

   
27   23-Feb-13   A   Fulham   L 0-1
28   02-Mar-13   H   West Ham United   L   0-1   
29   10-Mar-13   A   Newcastle United   L   1-2   
30   16-Mar-13   H   West Bromwich Albion   D   0-0
31   30-Mar-13   A   Everton   L   0-1   



stokes last 5 games

why is Lambert worried about them

they are shite , play your best players , you are running out of games !!!!     

[seanthevillan]

Seems like a strange selection but I wouldn't sack Lambert just yet, let's see how we line up (I'm guessing Bowery on the right) and how it goes.

[JUAN PABLO]

Stoke   1 win in 12 and that was Reading at home

Lambert you can be a plonker at times

[Matt Collins]

I do see the logic in having at least four players who can defend set pieces. I just would have thought that the sacrifice in playing Bowery in terms of our cohesion and threat would have meant we should go for the slightly shorter Sylla in midfield.

I agree with others. We want to get a grip on the game. I'm not sure that Weimann, Gabby and Bowery will enable us to do that in the way that Bannan, CNZ and Sylla could do (not that I'd play all three of them)

[eastie]

My usual site is down , would anyone please be able to help me via pm?

[danlanza]

Cmon Villa ffs. Win and win well. UTV.

[supertom]

Methinks this will be painful to watch. Very painful. Stoke will probably fancy this as the win they need to all but guarantee safety.

It's complete and utter madness for Lambert to shoot himself in the foot like this. Of course Bowery might score the winner and he'll think he's pulled off a master stroke, but even so, this just seems like a choice that's destined to fail.

[aj2k77]

I'd sell my arse for a win today.

[brontebilly]

Bowery on right wing is very negative. Just on for extra height it seems. Should have played an extra midfielder. Big task for Delph and Westwood.

Got away with one there. Keep your arms by your sides Baker ffs.

[seanthevillan]

Mexican tv reckons that was a penalty for Stoke.

[Matt Collins]

I've suddenly got a lot less confident about a win here. I imagine Pulis will have looked at this side and thought, 'they're frightened of our threat'.

Let's see though before we use this team selection as justification for sacking the manager!

[Lambert and Payne]

It was NEVER penalty. Ball hit at him from 4 yards and he had his arms down