JawD 99 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Just reading this in the run up to our game this weekend (from .com) Stoke's victory at West Brom on Saturday was their first in the top-flight away from home, with the Britannia having hosted eight wins, four draws and three losses. Those wins came over Aston Villa, Spurs, the mackems, Arsenal, West Brom, Man City, Bolton and the smoggies. Hull, Fulham, Liverpool and Pompey all left with a point while Everton, Chelsea and Man United took all three. The Potters defence has kept seven clean sheets at home so far this season, including four of their last five games. I had us down for a point here, still on I reckon. Still really not hopeful for a win though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Onion 0 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I'm just hoping the week with Shearer and Dowie has gone well. Can't be confident but a win is certainly possible: despite their home record when all's said and done they're not a great side. We badly need to win one of these two away games coming up, or the pressure on the Portsmouth game will be huge. A win and some favourable results elsewhere would be massive, although it's obviously a lot to hope for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoggeordie 0 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I wouldn't be against going all out attack against these cunts. If we sit back we'll drop deeper and deeper until we concede like Boro et al did. Our only slight strength lies in Owen and Martins. Time to use the system that was so productive for them last season. Harper Raylor Beye Bassong Enrique Butt/Guthrie Nolan-------------------- Jonas Owen Martins-----------Carroll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14021 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 A five striker attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10978 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 2-1 Owen and S.Taylor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OTF 7583 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 (edited) Hopefully that doesn't mean that Martins and Owen will play up top on their own again. For mine I'd have: Harper H. Beye - S. Taylor - Bassong - Enrique Guthrie ----- Nolan ----- Jonas Owen Carroll --- Martins That's Nolan / Butt. Nicky will do doubt get the nod. Edited April 8, 2009 by OzToonFan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrossthepond 878 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Hope we go shit or bust for this game and don't go with the famous " hope to nick a point attitude". If the injury worries for beye etc clear up, o would start with Krull Beye. Staylor. Bassong enrique Lovenkrands. Smith. Guthrie. Martins Owen carrol What is your obsession with playing Martins as a winger? You keep talking about it. Fat Sam did that and it was terrible. Why would you play Krul over Harper who hasn't made a mistake since taking over for Given? Why would you start Smith? I'd rather have Nolan. I'd rather have Nolan's grandmother. I'd go with: Harper Beye S. Taylor Bassong Enrique Jonas Guthrie Duff Owen Martins Lovenkrands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shear class! 0 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Hopefully that doesn't mean that Martins and Owen will play up top on their own again. For mine I'd have: Harper H. Beye - S. Taylor - Bassong - Enrique Guthrie ----- Nolan ----- Jonas Owen Carroll --- Martins That's Nolan / Butt. Nicky will do doubt get the nod. SNAP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2207 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 The most important name of the team sheet will be Lady Luck, who has been dropped for most of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbsweeney 0 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I agree. If we can line up our best defence (a relative term in our case); i.e. Harper H. Beye - S. Taylor - Bassong - Enrique Then yes, offence may be our best defence. I don't recall how leaky (or otherwise) Stoke's defence is. What's it been like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OTF 7583 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Stoke's defensive record is very good when they're at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Bob Almighty! 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I fully fancy a 2-0 win to us here, with Owen to get back on the scoresheet. Just a feeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abdoulaye 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Stoke supporter here in peace. It's going to be a cracking atmosphere, whatever the result. Confidence is high and we should be going all out for a win, although a draw for us wouldn't be an absolute disaster. Feels strange to be going into this match as favourites of a sort, although anything can happen. If you've got any sensible questions I'll do my best to answer as honestly as I can. Up the Potters!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Lazaru 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Stoke supporter here in peace. It's going to be a cracking atmosphere, whatever the result. Confidence is high and we should be going all out for a win, although a draw for us wouldn't be an absolute disaster. Feels strange to be going into this match as favourites of a sort, although anything can happen. If you've got any sensible questions I'll do my best to answer as honestly as I can. Up the Potters!! I agree a draw wouldn't be a disaster for you as win your next home game and you'd be heading out of trouble, i don't even think a draw is the end of the world for us, though its not ideal! My hope is based on two things, one that Newcastle are ever the enigma and will do something you least expect of them such as go to Stoke and win when everything seems to point to a defeat, and two that since you finally got your first prem away win you'll go and follow it by losing one at home where you have an excellent record, football just works that way sometimes! If we do get a win then i don't think either of our clubs is going down to be honest, if you get a win then you're definitely not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrossthepond 878 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Acrossthepond I would try martins out left because A. It allows us to play two up front but still have three strikers playing. B. Duff and jonas have created nothing down the left where as martins pace might allow some balls down the channels that he could race onto. Can't see any sense in just persevering with something that's not working. What I saw of smith the other night was much better than what I have seen from Nolan, butt etc. He was commanding in midfield playing neat simple forward passes and his tackling was excellent. He was also very vocal, something else I think has been lacking in the middle. Naturally I would prefer Barton but I think he's still a week or two away. Krill again was great the other night. First time I've really seen him play. He was in control of the box, coming out to collect crosses and his kicking and distribution was excellent. We shouldn't stick with harper just becaause he's had to wait a long time. So Smith was commanding in a reserves game? Big deal. You've seen every PL appearance of his for us, right? He shouldn't be getting a game unless all of Guthrie, Butt, Barton, Nolan and even Geremi are injured. You say we shouldn't persevere with something that's not working, but you advocate going back to something that's proven not to work instead. And yes, we should stick with Harper, because there's no sense in dropping a keeper who's done nowt wrong in the middle of a relegation scrap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Smith's 'performance' against Man Utd was one of the worst I've ever seen from any central midfielder of ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoggeordie 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Enrique, Taylor and Lovenkrands all ruled out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abdoulaye 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 One of the things I've noticed from reading your board is there doesn't seem to be general agreement as to what would be your best team / formation for Saturday. I know you've had some injuries forced on you, but have you had trouble getting a settled starting 11 this season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Enrique, Taylor and Lovenkrands all ruled out. Shit That needs a Clay Davis smiley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 One of the things I've noticed from reading your board is there doesn't seem to be general agreement as to what would be your best team / formation for Saturday. I know you've had some injuries forced on you, but have you had trouble getting a settled starting 11 this season? We've had a massive problem with getting a settled starting 11. We've hardly ever had chance to field our strongest defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 One of the things I've noticed from reading your board is there doesn't seem to be general agreement as to what would be your best team / formation for Saturday. I know you've had some injuries forced on you, but have you had trouble getting a settled starting 11 this season? Pretty much all season it's really been least worst team (and that's before you start on all the off-field problems) then all change as soon as anything seems settled as we seem to have had our usual ridiculous over-abundance of injuries. Without wanting to sound like a broken record (too much ) it was one of the key issues with Keegan, he was looking to patch up the squad, not just a first 11 (others in the then management structure seemed to disagree). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 17749 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Enrique, Taylor and Lovenkrands all ruled out. Shit thats ok, our top notch recruitment team are bound to have another left back at the club by now.....isn't that right Dennis?.....Tony?.....are you lads there?...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Onion 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Bollocks. Ryan Taylor left-back I expect. I notice there was praise for Carroll (and Ranger) from Dowie today. Wonder if they're thinking of starting him Saturday? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplayerjj 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 ------------------------Harper Geremi----------beye-------bassong--------colo (duff) ------Nolan-------Butt (Guthrie if fit)----Guthrie -----------------------Owen ------------Martins--------------Carroll Basically, we are pretty fucked unless Vučkić comes on for his debut with 5 minutes left and scores a belter of an equaliser or a winner, come on son. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Lazaru 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Enrique, Taylor and Lovenkrands all ruled out. FFS i'm sick to death of the shafting we get with injuries, you could guarentee that when Beye finally returned from injury, other defenders would start dropping like flies! Enrique is a big miss, firstly because he's been in very good form and secondly because we have nothing adequate to replace him with on the left. They might end up playing Bassong there if he's fit, meaning Colo will have to get ready for a severe examination from Stokes big boys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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