Stoke City

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Great 3 points that sees us in second place for now - although we did have some iffy periods second half. Some observations:

Lowe isn't fit; he was blowing out of his arse with over 20 minutes to go. And I know I'm biased but Cullen would have gobbled up the couple of chances he had. It's what he does.

Great from Kasey Palmer on two counts. First, his bravery in getting his goal and, equal first, the way he clattered that spunkbag Maclean, a player I really, really don't like. He loves to dish it out but bitches and whines when someone fouls him. I'll never forget the way he did Joe Allen, a club team mate, when Wales played Ireland - put Joe out for a while. It's a pity that Ducks, or someone like him, wasn't playing because Maclean would have been stretchered off after that tackle on Connor. Still, Kasey did just fine and he must start against Blackburn, as must Fulton who had a great game.

Finally, has Grimes become colour blind or what? The last few games he's almost passed as much to the opposition as his own players. Maybe it's time Cooper gave him a rest. Anyway, enjoyed the game for the most part, particularly the first half when we looked different class. If we can replicate that sort of form for 90 minutes, we can be a real force this season.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
If we hadn’t dropped points in the previous 2 games we’d be up with Reading and stretching from the pack. Now we have to work hard at sticking with Reading. They are getting results and banking points - good bad or ugly.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Last night was a validation of everything we have been posting in this group about Fulton .... and listen to what Andy Pandy has to say about Fulton in the post match ,,,, (video) Steve Cooper | We played some of our best football of the season so far | Swansea and (text) Cooper heaps praise on "brilliant professional" Jay Fulton | Swansea. The latter are quotes from the first part of the video, which was all about Fulton.

When a manager makes statements like that about a player it begs one question .... hey, bonehead, why hasn’t he been starting?

if Fulton doesn’t start on Sat then I’ve lost all patience and respect.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
if Fulton doesn’t start on Sat then I’ve lost all patience and respect.
Have you got any left to lose? :D

Totally agree that Fulton had a stormer that all could see, whereas much of his good work, the dirty nuts & bolts stuff, often gets overlooked. I'm still purring about that first half performance when we looked as good as at any time under Cooper. I'm hoping that as he gains experience he's becoming a better manager and starting to get to grips with his squad. But, no matter how well anyone plays in the next few games, he'll have to ring the changes to avoid fatigue in the team.

Some stats: POSSESSION: 50-50 SHOTS: 18-3 OT: 6-0 CORNERS: 10-2 FOULS: 13-17 GOALS: 2-0

The possession surprised me as the general feeling I had was that we easily edged it - apparently not. And I'm pleased that we almost matched Stoke for fouls because they are a physical team who like to show the boot; Maclean in particular. Note how he berated Connor after he clearly took him out with a nasty foul. Then note his own reaction when, in turn, Kasey wiped him out. Priceless!! Thank you, Kasey, good to see you standing up for a team mate; warmed the cockles of my heart did that - as well as the legs of Maclean. :LOL:

Now we need to underline that win by beating Blackburn. If we can play as we did in the first half last night then we'll bank another juicy three points but we can't sit back and expect it to happen. Blackburn are a free-scoring side, so our defenders have to be at it from the get go. Keep the oppo out and hopefully our good football will create chances for us. COYS!!
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
@ivoralljack ... left to lose? Not really, which is why I've called him Andy Pandy after the Shit Streak started over a year ago.

The only change I would make for Sat is to replace Lowe with Palmer or Cullen (I'd prefer to see Cullen since he's ours).

Manning / Bidwell is a toss-up, both equally capable although I do like Bidwell's desire to drive to the far post for crosses.

Perhaps, Naughton and Cabango will swap, but I think Bennet gives Naughton something extra, so I'm not fussed about who starts there.

Dhanda has earned another start. Why not? He has a creative streak that we need to cultivate and that can only be done with playing time. When he hit the post early on, he started the move that sliced through Stoke and he could have sweetly finished it. We haven't seen something like that in a while.

On Palmer, I keep coming back to the question I posed when he arrived ... why would Bristol ship him out on loan. Doesn't make any sense after the money they paid for him. Are they really loaded in that role that he's surplus.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
On Palmer, I keep coming back to the question I posed when he arrived ... why would Bristol ship him out on loan. Doesn't make any sense after the money they paid for him. Are they really loaded in that role that he's surplus.
I like Palmer a lot and want him to do well....... obviously. Trouble is, if he does too well then Brizzle are going to want him back - either that or hike his transfer fee to a level that we won't be prepared pay.
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Palmer certainly put himself about when he came. Not a shy lad at all. Big, mobile, skillful and willing. Not a lot to not like unless he has an attitudinal problem we don't see.
 
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