Stoke City Fan. The Cup

[mcshane in the 79th]

Well it's a ground we've been to loads of times before and we'll probably lose. Would have been nice to get a new place to visit or a home game against a top side. If you disagre I apologise but have no interest in arguing on in the internet. Have a nice day.

That was my feeling to start with, but am looking forward to it now. See how good the likes of Wood, Calderon, Dicker and Bennett (hopefully) really are

 

[trueblue]

It's not so much a 'gulf in fitness' but there's no doubt lower league players tend to tire against Premier League opponents simply because the pace of the game at that level is way beyond what we're used to. Look at how James Milner racing the length of the pitch at Villa last season or the number of times Dicker was caught in possession. Because of a top flight team's speed of thought and movement, if they play well we will have to work harder and therefore be more likely to run out of steam.

Stoke strikes me as one of the harder Premier League draws we could have got. The type of side that tend to be 'up for it', as opposed to the likes of Man City whose stars can be indifferent and then find it hard to get going once they realise they've underestimated the opposition.

Will be a good game if we play to our best although, as the Stoke fan correctly points out, while our passing game may be extremely effective against League One and Championship sides, it's surely nothing for them to be scared of. Not when you play the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United each week.

Hope the Stoke fans fancy the match and turn out in good numbers - if they do, it'll be a fantastic atmosphere. Much better than at one of the so-called 'glamour' clubs.

 

[perseus]

Stoke, I was disappointed at a the draw:

Mostly because it is

1) Familiar territory (not a ground not visited like the Emirates)
2) Stoke must be a well organised side to be that far up the Premier
3) Bloody cold up there
4) No glamour
5) Expensive trip
6) Stoke do not have an exciting style


In favour:

7) Good test, we might get a 0-0 draw and with Sorenson in goal we would need something special to beat him
8) Fans think it is winnable, but I think we have underestimated Stoke

 

[bristolseagull]

The rest of Joe's post I can understand, but why on earth would there be a gulf in fitness between the Football League and the Premier League? Part time non league clubs perhaps, but i don't see why the Football League would be less fit (if anything they should be more fit due to chasing around all the aimless hoofs for 90 minutes).

exactly what I was thinking, he'll be saying Stoke players can jump higher next.

 

[perseus]

It's not so much a 'gulf in fitness' but there's no doubt lower league players tend to tire against Premier League opponents simply because the pace of the game at that level is way beyond what we're used to. Look at how James Milner racing the length of the pitch at Villa last season or the number of times Dicker was caught in possession. Because of a top flight team's speed of thought and movement, if they play well we will have to work harder and therefore be more likely to run out of steam.

Stoke strikes me as one of the harder Premier League draws we could have got. The type of side that tend to be 'up for it', as opposed to the likes of Man City whose stars can be indifferent and then find it hard to get going once they realise they've underestimated the opposition.

Will be a good game if we play to our best although, as the Stoke fan correctly points out, while our passing game may be extremely effective against League One and Championship sides, it's surely nothing for them to be scared of. Not when you play the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United each week.

Hope the Stoke fans fancy the match and turn out in good numbers - if they do, it'll be a fantastic atmosphere. Much better than at one of the so-called 'glamour' clubs.

We cannot run like maniacs for the whole of 90 minutes. We have to pace our game like we do normally.

Southampton ran out of steam against Manchester United Reserves.

Just as the Stoke are running out of steam, bring on Craig Noone (or even better Kazenga Lua Lua) to run at their full backs.

 

[Brovion]

I can't see Pulis putting out more than 6 of his first team from whatever the preceding Premiership games is to the Cup match. Yes, their survival is looking good (like Brovian, I will now be watching for them to lose a few now) and they will start to take the Cup seriously now the latter stages are approaching, but not yet, not against a League One side.

I think Pulis will still expect to win a home tie against us with a side that is predominantly reserves, alongside 3 or 4 first teamers, with other first teamers on the bench just in case. He'll think that'll be enough, and he's probably right .... but only "probably."

...

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping. I'm hoping these aren't really the 'latter stages' as far as Pulis is concerned, more the half way point. I also hope he'll underestimate us and play a very weak team. The only thing that worries me is if we 'over-weaken' our team by playing the likes of the Argies (who may very well turn into good players but aren't there yet). If we take it more seriously than they do I really think we've got a chance. I also think it's actually an advantage for us to be away as our best performances seem to come away from home.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping. I'm hoping these aren't really the 'latter stages' as far as Pulis is concerned, more the half way point. I also hope he'll underestimate us and play a very weak team. The only thing that worries me is if we 'over-weaken' our team by playing the likes of the Argies (who may very well turn into good players but aren't there yet). If we take it more seriously than they do I really think we've got a chance. I also think it's actually an advantage for us to be away as our best performances seem to come away from home.

I don't think we'll see the Argies starting a game again this season, barring a major injury crisis. Think they have missed their (albeit small) chance to shine this year. Unless the Plymouth game doesn't get moved I'd expect the same sort of team as Watford with Elphick and Brezovan the only changes

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

The rest of Joe's post I can understand, but why on earth would there be a gulf in fitness between the Football League and the Premier League? Part time non league clubs perhaps, but i don't see why the Football League would be less fit (if anything they should be more fit due to chasing around all the aimless hoofs for 90 minutes).

Remember what Poyet said after the Villa game? He said how the gulf in fitness really plays a part. Villa were able to muster up an extra 10 sprints compared to our players. Theres a huge difference.

 

[perseus]

I can't see Pulis putting out more than 6 of his first team from whatever the preceding Premiership games is to the Cup match. Yes, their survival is looking good (like Brovian, I will now be watching for them to lose a few now) and they will start to take the Cup seriously now the latter stages are approaching, but not yet, not against a League One side.

I think Pulis will still expect to win a home tie against us with a side that is predominantly reserves, alongside 3 or 4 first teamers, with other first teamers on the bench just in case. He'll think that'll be enough, and he's probably right .... but only "probably."

As for the reaction yesterday, I actually think that was an understandable kneejerk reaction to be disappointed as it's neither a glamour trip, nor a solid chance to progress. But the slagging off of everything Stoke for a while on here was just tiresome, and the puffing chests out talking us up as virtual favourites, or having to rest players against the cloggers of Stoke, was just plain embarrassing.

30 mins after the draw and we are already worrying about those big boys playing too tough .... jees, do we ever wonder how our reputation is formed?

In the Cup match, Pulis played like Brighton with a few players dropped and Sorenson in goal, who is arguably their best keeper anyway.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

We cannot run like maniacs for the whole of 90 minutes. We have to pace our game like we do normally.

Southampton ran out of steam against Manchester United Reserves.

Just as the Stoke are running out of steam, bring on Craig Noone (or even better Kazenga Lua Lua) to run at their full backs.

Noone is cup tied and Lua Lua i believe isn't injury free yet or our player so both currently arn't options, otherwise a brilliant masterplan

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Remember what Poyet said after the Villa game? He said how the gulf in fitness really plays a part. Villa were able to muster up an extra 10 sprints compared to our players. Theres a huge difference.

Then, but has it changed since? - has his training methods and drills closed this gap?

 

[Joebananas]

Evening Brighton fans.

Maybe "massive" was errr, well a massive word to use to describe the fitness element but I still believe it plays a big part. In the Premier you are playing against some of the worlds best players and your own technical ability won't usually get you through unless you have the fitness to compliment it. Against cardiff in the last round it was 0-0 after 90 minutes but the extra time period we walked all over them as they tired badly and we slotted 2 easy goals and could have had more. I also remember ( sorry to names drop) Steve Coppell saying this to me when he was at Reading in the PL, that once you get to the Premier League you can suddenly afford the best of everything in every department eg specialist dieticians, Personal Trainers etc etc whereas in the lower leagues the staffing levels had to be far less with some roles being multitasking roles working on diets, fitness, massage blah blah blah for the whole team. This is simply due to the huge gulf in annual revenue. Stoke will get something like £60 million for just staying in the PL whereas the team coming up as champs of the Championship get something silly like 1 million for winning that league. They are up against it before they start hence why you do get the yo yo effect between the Pl and the Championship. WBA a good example of that.

Pulis obviously cannot go buying the Torres's and Carrolls of this world so he relies very much on his team being able to compete over the full 90 minutes and although no stats to hand, we do score a lot of late goals and this can only be down to a high level of fitness. I think this is the key to undoing you guys. You should be up for this game and come with the intention of getting a result, and if you do then fair play to you. We certainly need to treat you with respect and not assume it will be a walk over otherwise I can see an upset and, well, Stoke City over the years have been very good at snatching defeat from the jaws of Victory especially when we are classed as the favourites for once.

I am beggining to think this could be quite an intriguing tie after all. Sincerely hope you bring a good following.

 

[ExmouthExile]

I think Pulis will go for this one with a full team as our Premier league survival looks easily on course for another season and hey why not go for it and a day out at Wembley for the long suffering fans.

What suffering? did I miss something?