STOKE CITY THREAD

[Arsenal 1991]

Apparently (could be a load of crap but sounds plausible) we nearly signed Subotic for £15m originally but he had a change of heart and felt that he owed Dortmund one more season. So we quickly had to get someone and ended up with Squillaci.

With the emergence of Djourou we don't desperately need someone with the quality of Subotic but someone in that mould, like Samba as you said!

[flash gunner]

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.

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.

I still think Kos has a lot to learn he has played well recently but overall has had as many bad games as good, where as Djourou has generally been solid and i feel we miss him more when he hasnt played than we miss Kos. I think Djourou has the makings of a top class defender about him. Vermaelen has to be first choice CB for me so would displace every other CB therefore Kos goes

[Boomer]

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.

Agreed and these 3 points are bigger then people might think to realise.

I now all the wins count but the pressure is now on ManU. We're a point beyond and a game ahead. So Utd this weekend need to restablish the gap but away they're not great. I still except them to beat wigan but who knows.

Then Utd go a game ahead us and play the Chavs in the week....away!
Then the next weekend see them playing Liverpool again away.
Although we play first on the saturday I don't except them to be picking up the full 9 points.

If things go really bad we could even be top still with a game in hand!

[LDB]

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.

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.

I still think Kos has a lot to learn he has played well recently but overall has had as many bad games as good, where as Djourou has generally been solid and i feel we miss him more when he hasnt played than we miss Kos. I think Djourou has the makings of a top class defender about him. Vermaelen has to be first choice CB for me so would displace every other CB therefore Kos goes

I rate vermaelen but what is there to say that he is any better than koscielny? Both are very similar style CBs. Remember that Vermaelens card isnt spotless - he was a part of the defence that shipped a tonne of goals last season. Djourou and Koscielny have built an understanding so it makes sense that until the end of the season to stick with them when fit and it can then be properly assessed in pre-season.

[Jak_TedDrakeLoveChild]

Just want to say a big thanks to the guys who let me and my mate
double up with them in block 6 for the second half!

My original seat was three away from the scummie stoke fans and I feared
for my membership if I had to stay there for the 2nd half!

Thanks again gooners