STOKE CITY THREAD

As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
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MK Gould
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Post by MK Gould »

Wasn't looking forward to the game....for all the reasons that turned out to be true!

But still had a lovely night. Missus and daughter went to see show in West End so we went for pizza in Highgate beforehand (parked on hill looking down on the Grove!) - I would so love to live there - then parked up and walking to ground within 10 mins of dropping them at Archway station.

Anyway back to match.....
- Walcott had a negative impact on the game from about 5 mins onward and IMHO did not deserve to start at wembley anyway
- Cesc didn't look too badly hurt and I'm hoping came off BEFORE damage done. He continued jogging around while they were getting sub ready and that isn't a sign of someone whose hamstring is already gone
- Totally deserved the 3 points on a day when we didn't play that well (the mark of champions)
- Pulling 7 points clear of 3rd spot is just as important as getting within 1 point of Utd at this stage in the season. City now need to win 3 of their last 11 games (and Spurs, 4 of their last 11) just to get above us.
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augie
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Post by augie »

Havent seen the game or highlights yet but I would suggest that it was one of those games where the performance was largely irrelevent as long as we took the 3 pts 8)

Injuries to cesc and theo unfortunate but those 3 pts were far more important than beer cup final so no regrets for playing them in my opinion at least
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DB10GOONER
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Post by DB10GOONER »

The PL has to be our priority. Wenger was right to play both Cesc and Theo. I hope we win the CC on Sunday but it takes a back seat to the PL, FA Cup and CL.

Very important 3 points last night. 8)
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bergkamp10
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Post by bergkamp10 »

enjibenji wrote:Not looking good for cesc, 3 weeks minimum is the word
He play from the bench will be my guess, he want to play. Let's hope though it doesn't then curtail the rest of his season:? :cry:
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piresistible
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Post by piresistible »

Were the stokes fans proud when the biggest cheer of the night was when a stretcher came on for one of England's best players? Loots of mis-timed (?) tackles and usual championship (or lower) tackles from Stoke. Why want to be in th PL and then play dire football just to stay out of relegation? I would rather watch Northampton - who at least play football without violence! Northamptom also managed to beat some top teams this year! Stoke and co is why we have to reduce the premiership by two teams to make it impossible to stay up without playing football and the league within a league! I guess Stokes fans get what they deserve!
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TheCook
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Post by TheCook »

I was saying to a mate last night how it would be funny if Stoke somehow managed to qualify for Europe, and then in the first leg of their first tie, the ref goes, 'Time wasting, Yellow Card!' to Delap as he dithers over a long throw. And then gives him another five minutes later for the same offence.

I just don't know how they are allowed to get away with it ; If Clichy dithered over a throw in for 45 seconds he would quite rightly get booked.
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Boomer
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Post by Boomer »

TheCook wrote:I was saying to a mate last night how it would be funny if Stoke somehow managed to qualify for Europe, and then in the first leg of their first tie, the ref goes, 'Time wasting, Yellow Card!' to Delap as he dithers over a long throw. And then gives him another five minutes later for the same offence.

I just don't know how they are allowed to get away with it ; If Clichy dithered over a throw in for 45 seconds he would quite rightly get booked.
Oh and the irony from Walton in the 90th minute to tell US to hurry up for a goal kick!! :shock:
Don't think Chesny had a goalkick during the rest of the game yet as soon as the balls out of play he's signalled to hurry up! :roll: :banghead:
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LDB
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Post by LDB »

At risk of joining the legions of people who sweat over what the media thinks I have to say i dont think our defending last night (or for the last few months really) is getting the credit it deserves. Only thing to do is to keep it up to the end of the season and bring some trophies home to prove it but its slightly disappointing nonetheless.
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Arsenal 1991
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Post by Arsenal 1991 »

Squillaci looked much better. Djourou has got to be one of the best centre backs in the prem now. If only we'd had him fit for all 27 games. His record is currently 15 games, 13 wins, 2 draws and 4 conceded.

Also Djourou+Squill partnership has produced 5 wins out of 5.
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LDB
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Post by LDB »

Arsenal 1991 wrote:Squillaci looked much better. Djourou has got to be one of the best centre backs in the prem now. If only we'd had him fit for all 27 games. His record is currently 15 games, 13 wins, 2 draws and 4 conceded.

Also Djourou+Squill partnership has produced 5 wins out of 5.
I wouldnt call him the best in the prem, he is prone to making mistakes and letting players turn him BUT he is exactly the kind of defender that we've been missing since Sol first left - he does the simple things extremely well and is dominant in the air.

Wenger stumbled on Djourou really - i dont think Wenger counted on him being fit and in this kind of form at all this season, he was preparing to enter the season with two "sweepers" as our first choice centre halfs (kos/tv5) and if he had, imo, we would not still be in with a shout in 4 competitions.
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Arsenal 1991
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Post by Arsenal 1991 »

I think its a mixture of having a quality confident keeper and a tall commanding centre back. As someone said, its amazing the difference they make. :roll:

As you say if it hadn't been for injuries we would have Kos/TV or even Squill/TV and Almunia in goal. Injuries have helped us for once!
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mikeyb772001
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Post by mikeyb772001 »

Arsenal 1991 wrote:I think its a mixture of having a quality confident keeper and a tall commanding centre back. As someone said, its amazing the difference they make. :roll:

As you say if it hadn't been for injuries we would have Kos/TV or even Squill/TV and Almunia in goal. Injuries have helped us for once!

What does happen when TV comes back in 2019.

I dont think we should drop JD
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flash gunner
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Post by flash gunner »

mikeyb772001 wrote:
Arsenal 1991 wrote:I think its a mixture of having a quality confident keeper and a tall commanding centre back. As someone said, its amazing the difference they make. :roll:

As you say if it hadn't been for injuries we would have Kos/TV or even Squill/TV and Almunia in goal. Injuries have helped us for once!

What does happen when TV comes back in 2019.

I dont think we should drop JD
Drop Kos or Squillaci and play Djourou with Vermaelen
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Arsenal 1991
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Post by Arsenal 1991 »

mikeyb772001 wrote:
Arsenal 1991 wrote:I think its a mixture of having a quality confident keeper and a tall commanding centre back. As someone said, its amazing the difference they make. :roll:

As you say if it hadn't been for injuries we would have Kos/TV or even Squill/TV and Almunia in goal. Injuries have helped us for once!

What does happen when TV comes back in 2019.

I dont think we should drop JD
I disagree with Flash, the Djourou/Koscielny partnership is obviously working so why change it.
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LDB
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Post by LDB »

mikeyb772001 wrote:
Arsenal 1991 wrote:I think its a mixture of having a quality confident keeper and a tall commanding centre back. As someone said, its amazing the difference they make. :roll:

As you say if it hadn't been for injuries we would have Kos/TV or even Squill/TV and Almunia in goal. Injuries have helped us for once!

What does happen when TV comes back in 2019.

I dont think we should drop JD
Djourou and Koscielny keep their places for me. Vermaelen 3rd choice squillaci 4th.

My only concern is that we dont have cover for the ype of CB that JD is - signing someone like samba in the window would have been ideal but oh well, cant do anything about that now 8)
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