STOKE CITY THREAD

Monostich · Post by **Monostich** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 12:34 pm

People slate Stoke for how they play but you must realise that they don't have the resources that Arsenal, Chelsea, United etc have.

They have to play the way that suits them the best, why should they play pretty, short passing football with the sort of players they have?

At the end of the day, winning the title is about beating all types of different footballing teams.

Their supporters could ask "Why do Arsenal prance about with the ball for 90 minutes? Where is the muscle and end product?"

Also, do remember that Arsenal played the ugliest, long ball football under George Graham - he would have had Arsenal right up for these sorts of fixtures. (I personally enjoyed watching Arsenal under Graham).

Also, this goes for all supporters, not just Arsenal ones. Plenty of United fans I know moan about Stoke, get over it.

marcengels · Post by **marcengels** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:03 pm

Monostich wrote:People slate Stoke for how they play but you must realise that they don't have the resources that Arsenal, Chelsea, United etc have.

They have to play the way that suits them the best, why should they play pretty, short passing football with the sort of players they have?

At the end of the day, winning the title is about beating all types of different footballing teams.

Their supporters could ask "Why do Arsenal prance about with the ball for 90 minutes? Where is the muscle and end product?"

Also, do remember that Arsenal played the ugliest, long ball football under George Graham - he would have had Arsenal right up for these sorts of fixtures. (I personally enjoyed watching Arsenal under Graham).

Also, this goes for all supporters, not just Arsenal ones. Plenty of United fans I know moan about Stoke, get over it.

Agree that people shoudl stop moaning about how teams play - as long as their within the rules then so be it.

Dont buy this highlighted bit tho. The manager buys the players and moulds the team, chooses tactics - it a kop

out to suggest he is tied to playing with one style or set of tactics. Even on a tight budget. He elects to press this throw on tactic, and fair play to him...but don't excuse it because somehow he has no choice

LDB · Post by **LDB** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:54 pm

Monostich wrote:People slate Stoke for how they play but you must realise that they don't have the resources that Arsenal, Chelsea, United etc have.

They have to play the way that suits them the best, why should they play pretty, short passing football with the sort of players they have?

At the end of the day, winning the title is about beating all types of different footballing teams.

Their supporters could ask "Why do Arsenal prance about with the ball for 90 minutes? Where is the muscle and end product?"

Also, do remember that Arsenal played the ugliest, long ball football under George Graham - he would have had Arsenal right up for these sorts of fixtures. (I personally enjoyed watching Arsenal under Graham).

Also, this goes for all supporters, not just Arsenal ones. Plenty of United fans I know moan about Stoke, get over it.

Believe it or not there is a pretty large middle ground between Stoke football and Arsenal football. I love English football but we seem to have this mass psycosis that if somebody plays anything approaching "pretty" football and lose then that must be the reason they lost. Its Alan Hansen-esque bullshit.

That said, my only objection to Stoke is that stupid fucking towel which wastes about 30 seconds per throw-in but never seems to be added on at the end.

BRAZILLIANT 19 · Post by **BRAZILLIANT 19** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:55 pm

I think we should get Bendtner to stand 10 yards from the touchline as Delcrap is starting to take his throw.Then start running towards him at the same time as he starts his run up for the throw and then jump in front of him just as he launches it. The Pulis masterplan foiled. SIMPLES

kg1794 · Post by **kg1794** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:30 pm

BRAZILLIANT 19 wrote:I think we should get Bendtner to stand 10 yards from the touchline as Delcrap is starting to take his throw.Then start running towards him at the same time as he starts his run up for the throw and then jump in front of him just as he launches it. The Pulis masterplan foiled. SIMPLES

I would fucking love to see this

Wed Feb 24, 2010 7:00 pm

Yeah and you can bet your last pound that despite Arsenal players getting hacked to death and no Stoke bookings, as soon as NB52 does that...the ref will book him!!

LDB · Post by **LDB** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 7:59 pm

SammyDroppedHisShorts wrote:Yeah and you can bet your last pound that despite Arsenal players getting hacked to death and no Stoke bookings, as soon as NB52 does that...the ref will book him!!

Same old Arsenal, always cheating

j2ksorted · Post by **j2ksorted** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:47 pm

the amount of time he wasted towelling the ball last time!! wanker

mcdowell42 · Post by **mcdowell42** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:52 pm

Stoke and man shitty gone to extra time hope it goes to penalties and stoke lose they will b knackered and feeling sorry for them selves when they play us .We will now beat them 5-0

mcdowell42 · Post by **mcdowell42** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:53 pm

mcdowell42 wrote:Stoke and man shitty gone to extra time hope it goes to penalties and stoke lose they will b knackered and feeling sorry for them selves when they play us .We will now beat them 5-0

PS stoke now winning 2-1 we will now only win 4-0

mcdowell42 · Post by **mcdowell42** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:57 pm

PPS 3-1 to stoke think we are going to get a draw now

1989 · Post by **1989** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:12 pm

jensenscores wrote:You have to win the battle first with Stoke, they will be aggressive and direct, but if we can match them they have little to offer in terms of skill.
I agree with this Gooner fan and believe we can build up enough momentum and go on a 12 game winning run, like the great run we went on in 97-98 and pip United and Chelsea to the league.

Yeah, but we won't.

NBM · Post by **NBM** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:35 am

mcdowell42 wrote:PPS 3-1 to stoke think we are going to get a draw now

CYGooner · Post by **CYGooner** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:41 pm

Almunia
Eboue
Campbell
TV
Clichy
Fabregas
Song
Nasri
Rosicky
Bendtner
AA

I think we should start with this team Saturday assuming AA is fit. Campbell done well for the Stoke game in the cup and gives a physical presence against Sidibe while TV deals with the more mobile Fuller. I think we will have to absorb a fair bit of pressure so Eboue can get the ball and carry it out of defence as he seems to have more ability to do this than Sagna, although I am a bit concerned that he would leave is vulnerable defensively on the right side.

I reckon 2-1 Arsenal, Bomber and Rosicky to score.

digger · Post by **digger** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:49 pm

LDB wrote:That said, my only objection to Stoke is that stupid fucking towel which wastes about 30 seconds per throw-in but never seems to be added on at the end.

Agree. I have no problem with Stoke playing to their strengths within the law.... but Delap plays right midfield... him trotting over to the left flank, finding a towel, drying the ball etc takes a good minute to 90 seconds. If another player stood there for a minute waiting to take a throw in, they'd be booked for time wasting. I hope Wenger mentions that to the referee early on.