***Official Match Thread: Stoke v City***

[Wonderwall]

The joy of us winning was destroyed for me when Chelsea scored late....

ha ha, I know exactly what you mean.

[Original Dub]

The joy of us winning was destroyed for me when Chelsea scored late....

ha ha, I know exactly what you mean.

Yeah, it was a kick in the bollox alright.

[twosips]

The joy of us winning was destroyed for me when Chelsea scored late....

Same. Felt almost irrelevant. Still gutted now

[Ted Hughes]

I wasn't even aware of Chelsea's game until ours had finished.

more pissed off when i saw Lukaku hit the ball straight at their keeper from 4 yards out on motd.

[Goaters 103]

Cant argue that Chelsea game though. Gaz Baz's two yellows were both fully merited, and Chelsea should've had a pen in the first half for a blatant Naismith handball.

Now, Everton - the team that's really helped us in our two recent title wins - can no longer play a factor. Bollox.

[Ted Hughes]

Cant argue that Chelsea game though. Gaz Baz's two yellows were both fully merited, and Chelsea should've had a pen in the first half for a blatant Naismith handball.

Now, Everton - the team that's really helped us in our two recent title wins - can no longer play a factor. Bollox.

Yeah but it can happen in any game v anybody at this stage, when the pressure is on to take 3 points from every single game. I wouldn't put it past City to win at Anfield & draw v someone like QPR.

But I don't have the same faith in Chelsea or Mourinho not to fuck up, that many do. I agree with Lampard; just concentrate on winning the next game, & leave the fucking up to them, rather than setting targets of what is likely to happen & when.

[Wonderwall]

Cant argue that Chelsea game though. Gaz Baz's two yellows were both fully merited, and Chelsea should've had a pen in the first half for a blatant Naismith handball.

Now, Everton - the team that's really helped us in our two recent title wins - can no longer play a factor. Bollox.

Yeah but it can happen in any game v anybody at this stage, when the pressure is on to take 3 points from every single game. I wouldn't put it past City to win at Anfield & draw v someone like QPR.

i don't have the same faith in Chelsea or Mourinho not to fuck up, that many do. I agree with Lampard; just concentrate on winning the next game, 7 leave the fucking up to them, rather than setting targets of what is likely to happen & when.

I agree we probably need to win every game until the end of the season, and its do-able., Away at spurs is usually a happy hunting ground as is the swamp, but Anfield is probably our trickiest game left, that and the last game of the season at home to southampton, that will be a very difficult game if the pressure is still on. Maybe for Southampton too!

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Cant argue that Chelsea game though. Gaz Baz's two yellows were both fully merited, and Chelsea should've had a pen in the first half for a blatant Naismith handball.

Now, Everton - the team that's really helped us in our two recent title wins - can no longer play a factor. Bollox.

Yeah but it can happen in any game v anybody at this stage, when the pressure is on to take 3 points from every single game. I wouldn't put it past City to win at Anfield & draw v someone like QPR.

But I don't have the same faith in Chelsea or Mourinho not to fuck up, that many do. I agree with Lampard; just concentrate on winning the next game, & leave the fucking up to them, rather than setting targets of what is likely to happen & when.

'If we were chasing baconchops' rag outfit I'd say season over. But looking at the Chavs' reaction last night suggests they are playing under incredible (and unnecessary) pressure every game. If we win the next 5 or 6 games things might look a good deal better for us.

[Cocacolajojo1]

Fernandinho had some truly awful moments first half, but he also had some great ones both attacking & defending. His failure to set up Aguero for a goal was absolutely criminal, but the run that got him there was superb, as was the pass to Silva for Agueros careless handball (which incidentally was a worse mistake than anything Fernandinho did wrong).

Second half, Fernandinho had some great attacking play & imo, occasional mistakes aside, he looked a lot more like the allround player we signed from Shakhtar, than the 2nd rate Nigel DeJong we have tried to make him into. If we're just looking at the bad bits & ignoring the good, then Aguero was shite. If we're looking at both aspects over 90 mins, both players were looking much more like their true selves.

Pellegrini again changed a lot of stuff in this game, & asked players to do different attacking & positional jobs. Milner roving about, Fernadinho supporting the attacks whenever possible, Silva dropping deeper sometimes into Yaya's position (which failed). This was not the same City game we usually see.

I think I agree with all of that. I think we're agreeing, that it was deffo a team issue and then as the team played better players like Ferna1 player better as well?

Just to put it out there, if I get grey hair I want Sparky's hair colour. Say what you will about his managerial abilities but he has stunning hair. I want some.

[Wonderwall]

Cant argue that Chelsea game though. Gaz Baz's two yellows were both fully merited, and Chelsea should've had a pen in the first half for a blatant Naismith handball.

Now, Everton - the team that's really helped us in our two recent title wins - can no longer play a factor. Bollox.

Yeah but it can happen in any game v anybody at this stage, when the pressure is on to take 3 points from every single game. I wouldn't put it past City to win at Anfield & draw v someone like QPR.

But I don't have the same faith in Chelsea or Mourinho not to fuck up, that many do. I agree with Lampard; just concentrate on winning the next game, & leave the fucking up to them, rather than setting targets of what is likely to happen & when.

'If we were chasing baconchops' rag outfit I'd say season over. But looking at the Chavs' reaction last night suggests they are playing under incredible (and unnecessary) pressure every game. If we win the next 5 or 6 games things might look a good deal better for us.

The Liverpool game is a must win as we can close the gap as Chelsea will be playing Spurs in the CoC final. reduce the Gap and they have a game to play, it all adds up, I remember being a bit pissed off as we were never on the same amount of games as everyone else last season, always playing catch up but we held our nerve. Lest hope Chelsea cave in

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Cant argue that Chelsea game though. Gaz Baz's two yellows were both fully merited, and Chelsea should've had a pen in the first half for a blatant Naismith handball.

Now, Everton - the team that's really helped us in our two recent title wins - can no longer play a factor. Bollox.

Yeah but it can happen in any game v anybody at this stage, when the pressure is on to take 3 points from every single game. I wouldn't put it past City to win at Anfield & draw v someone like QPR.

But I don't have the same faith in Chelsea or Mourinho not to fuck up, that many do. I agree with Lampard; just concentrate on winning the next game, & leave the fucking up to them, rather than setting targets of what is likely to happen & when.

'If we were chasing baconchops' rag outfit I'd say season over. But looking at the Chavs' reaction last night suggests they are playing under incredible (and unnecessary) pressure every game. If we win the next 5 or 6 games things might look a good deal better for us.

The Liverpool game is a must win as we can close the gap as Chelsea will be playing Spurs in the CoC final. reduce the Gap and they have a game to play, it all adds up, I remember being a bit pissed off as we were never on the same amount of games as everyone else last season, always playing catch up but we held our nerve. Lest hope Chelsea cave in

If we give them the opportunity, I'm convinced they will.

[Ted Hughes]

Fernandinho had some truly awful moments first half, but he also had some great ones both attacking & defending. His failure to set up Aguero for a goal was absolutely criminal, but the run that got him there was superb, as was the pass to Silva for Agueros careless handball (which incidentally was a worse mistake than anything Fernandinho did wrong).

Second half, Fernandinho had some great attacking play & imo, occasional mistakes aside, he looked a lot more like the allround player we signed from Shakhtar, than the 2nd rate Nigel DeJong we have tried to make him into. If we're just looking at the bad bits & ignoring the good, then Aguero was shite. If we're looking at both aspects over 90 mins, both players were looking much more like their true selves.

Pellegrini again changed a lot of stuff in this game, & asked players to do different attacking & positional jobs. Milner roving about, Fernadinho supporting the attacks whenever possible, Silva dropping deeper sometimes into Yaya's position (which failed). This was not the same City game we usually see.

I think I agree with all of that. I think we're agreeing, that it was deffo a team issue and then as the team played better players like Ferna1 player better as well?

Just to put it out there, if I get grey hair I want Sparky's hair colour. Say what you will about his managerial abilities but he has stunning hair. I want some.

I think there have been a lot of different factors contributing all season, & it's sometimes changed from one game to the next. But we had a bunch of players returning from the World Cup, some like Fernandinho & Silva, having had a nightmare, others like Zabba arriving shagged out; (Aguero & Fernandinho were actually playing whilst injured during the World cup too), Kompany injured, Aguero injured, Nasri injured, all coming back at a similar time, Deko injured, lacking in confidence, Fernando & Mangala new to the club, Yaya's brother died & he struggled, Negredo leaving, Lescott leaving two big strong players, now Yaya's been missing ; we have not been in very good shape this season.

Mentally Yaya was all wrong, Fernandinho came back having helped Germany to humiliate Brazil, Mangala got hit in the face with a frying pan just when he thought he had settled in the Premier League.

All this lot firing on all cylinders would be top of the league imo. Shit happens & we have had to deal with it. But we're still in there so far.

[mr_nool]

Finished early and got the Warsteiner in the fridge, cooling nicely, and I'm looking forward to the team getting themselves together and the manager picking the right team and tactics.

It's always a difficult one at a cold away night in Stoke and it doesn't help that we've got that little shit Mason refereeing the game but I've got that feeling that we might just break the whoodoo down there.

Come On The Blues!!!

Beefy is that a warsteiner in a fridge in Germany ?

Sure was pal and they were lush!

As for the game, what a fucking shock to start off in that way to go on to win in such a way. You could see us getting more and more into the game, confidence beginning to show. As one player picked up it seemed to rub off on the next; is it because they know Yaya's back?

Our back 5 looked lost in the 1st 20 and Joe was shocking. Mangala was all over the place and I'm not sure if Vinny was even on the pitch - I think we subbed him on after 35 mins.

The 2nd half was a totally different game where after 10 minutes we looked like the team of last season. What helped was that Hughes wanted to win which left gaps in the back, allowing us at least a chance to have a go. And it worked.

The referee didn't help us though. The amount of times we were kicked, pulled and shoved off the ball without being given anything was staggering. What compounded it for me was about 6 minutes into the 2nd half when Dave Silva was hoofed off the ball with nothing given yet 30 seconds later Kolarov did the same to one of their players and he was automatically pulled up.

All-in-all I think we were well deserving of the win, the score dictates that. The only downside was the Chelsea win after Gaz Baz was sent off. The ref wasn't going to until the Chavs surrounded the referee to which he duly obliged. However, he missed a little incident when Ivanovich pushed his fod into an Everton player, even though he was looking straight at it. Chelsea are a fucking joke and the way they manage their game is fucking sickening if you have anything about you when it comes to sportsmanship. Horrible cunts, and that's not Blue Tinted.

As long as Sergio is fine, he was smiling, and with Yaya coming back and Bony coming in, I'm looking forward to the run-in. Are you Mourinho?

He he ! Enjoying a second bitburger vom Fass,
in a great little hotel just off the Reeperbahn ! strangely quiet these days.....

great result with a weird game plan. It seems like allowing Stoke to come at us worked ,because they did play an open game. You know, not like Chelsea playing a back six and three just 5 metres away in midfield.

A few miles away pal over the otherside of Dusseldorf. Had a few Bitburgers last night after golf and will be sharing a few at the carnival this weekend. Love Germany, it's where it's at.

And Chelsea, fuck 'em!

iIm heading towards your neck of the woods in the end of May. The boys team I'm coaching are playing a tournament in Uerdingen.

[iwasthere2012]

Fernandinho had some truly awful moments first half, but he also had some great ones both attacking & defending. His failure to set up Aguero for a goal was absolutely criminal, but the run that got him there was superb, as was the pass to Silva for Agueros careless handball (which incidentally was a worse mistake than anything Fernandinho did wrong).

Second half, Fernandinho had some great attacking play & imo, occasional mistakes aside, he looked a lot more like the allround player we signed from Shakhtar, than the 2nd rate Nigel DeJong we have tried to make him into. If we're just looking at the bad bits & ignoring the good, then Aguero was shite. If we're looking at both aspects over 90 mins, both players were looking much more like their true selves.

Pellegrini again changed a lot of stuff in this game, & asked players to do different attacking & positional jobs. Milner roving about, Fernadinho supporting the attacks whenever possible, Silva dropping deeper sometimes into Yaya's position (which failed). This was not the same City game we usually see.

I think I agree with all of that. I think we're agreeing, that it was deffo a team issue and then as the team played better players like Ferna1 player better as well?

Just to put it out there, if I get grey hair I want Sparky's hair colour. Say what you will about his managerial abilities but he has stunning hair. I want some.

I think there have been a lot of different factors contributing all season, & it's sometimes changed from one game to the next. But we had a bunch of players returning from the World Cup, some like Fernandinho & Silva, having had a nightmare, others like Zabba arriving shagged out; (Aguero & Fernandinho were actually playing whilst injured during the World cup too), Kompany injured, Aguero injured, Nasri injured, all coming back at a similar time, Deko injured, lacking in confidence, Fernando & Mangala new to the club, Yaya's brother died & he struggled, Negredo leaving, Lescott leaving two big strong players, now Yaya's been missing ; we have not been in very good shape this season.

Mentally Yaya was all wrong, Fernandinho came back having helped Germany to humiliate Brazil, Mangala got hit in the face with a frying pan just when he thought he had settled in the Premier League.

All this lot firing on all cylinders would be top of the league imo. Shit happens & we have had to deal with it. But we're still in there so far.

So to sum it all up, I think everyone agrees that we've been pretty shite this season so far and all of our players have not performed to their own high standards for various different reasons. But do we have enough points to stay up. Yes and then some.
We're still second in the league and yet to fire up on all cylinders. If we hit a vein of form similar to the results we had before Christmas, then who knows. I think we have one more chance left. We have to take it now, which is seizing the reins a lot earlier than we did in the previous two titles. If we rein in Chelsea again they may well cave in. If we do that and then slip up again, I don't think we will be given a second chance.

[Blue In Bolton]

The thing that pissed me off watching the first 40 minutes last night was that the same awful half-arsed performances that have permeated (Chelsea away apart) since the Burnley home match. Yes, our defending was still shaky in the second half last night but I am confident if we attack like we did we will do it again and it is about time that we retained the league.

[Burt]

Fernandinho had some truly awful moments first half, but he also had some great ones both attacking & defending. His failure to set up Aguero for a goal was absolutely criminal, but the run that got him there was superb, as was the pass to Silva for Agueros careless handball (which incidentally was a worse mistake than anything Fernandinho did wrong).

Second half, Fernandinho had some great attacking play & imo, occasional mistakes aside, he looked a lot more like the allround player we signed from Shakhtar, than the 2nd rate Nigel DeJong we have tried to make him into. If we're just looking at the bad bits & ignoring the good, then Aguero was shite. If we're looking at both aspects over 90 mins, both players were looking much more like their true selves.

Pellegrini again changed a lot of stuff in this game, & asked players to do different attacking & positional jobs. Milner roving about, Fernadinho supporting the attacks whenever possible, Silva dropping deeper sometimes into Yaya's position (which failed). This was not the same City game we usually see.

I think I agree with all of that. I think we're agreeing, that it was deffo a team issue and then as the team played better players like Ferna1 player better as well?

Just to put it out there, if I get grey hair I want Sparky's hair colour. Say what you will about his managerial abilities but he has stunning hair. I want some.

Just a word of warning mate.

Never........................ever......................EVER call that cunt sparky. It's Leslie...............OK?

[Goaters 103]

Fernandinho had some truly awful moments first half, but he also had some great ones both attacking & defending. His failure to set up Aguero for a goal was absolutely criminal, but the run that got him there was superb, as was the pass to Silva for Agueros careless handball (which incidentally was a worse mistake than anything Fernandinho did wrong).

Second half, Fernandinho had some great attacking play & imo, occasional mistakes aside, he looked a lot more like the allround player we signed from Shakhtar, than the 2nd rate Nigel DeJong we have tried to make him into. If we're just looking at the bad bits & ignoring the good, then Aguero was shite. If we're looking at both aspects over 90 mins, both players were looking much more like their true selves.

Pellegrini again changed a lot of stuff in this game, & asked players to do different attacking & positional jobs. Milner roving about, Fernadinho supporting the attacks whenever possible, Silva dropping deeper sometimes into Yaya's position (which failed). This was not the same City game we usually see.

I think I agree with all of that. I think we're agreeing, that it was deffo a team issue and then as the team played better players like Ferna1 player better as well?

Just to put it out there, if I get grey hair I want Sparky's hair colour. Say what you will about his managerial abilities but he has stunning hair. I want some.

Just a word of warning mate.

Never........................ever......................EVER call that cunt sparky. It's Leslie...............OK?

There's a few other names more fitting for Hughes, most of which aren't printable. S****y? FFS.

[Im_Spartacus]

Fernandinho had some truly awful moments first half, but he also had some great ones both attacking & defending. His failure to set up Aguero for a goal was absolutely criminal, but the run that got him there was superb, as was the pass to Silva for Agueros careless handball (which incidentally was a worse mistake than anything Fernandinho did wrong).

Second half, Fernandinho had some great attacking play & imo, occasional mistakes aside, he looked a lot more like the allround player we signed from Shakhtar, than the 2nd rate Nigel DeJong we have tried to make him into. If we're just looking at the bad bits & ignoring the good, then Aguero was shite. If we're looking at both aspects over 90 mins, both players were looking much more like their true selves.

Pellegrini again changed a lot of stuff in this game, & asked players to do different attacking & positional jobs. Milner roving about, Fernadinho supporting the attacks whenever possible, Silva dropping deeper sometimes into Yaya's position (which failed). This was not the same City game we usually see.

I think I agree with all of that. I think we're agreeing, that it was deffo a team issue and then as the team played better players like Ferna1 player better as well?

Just to put it out there, if I get grey hair I want Sparky's hair colour. Say what you will about his managerial abilities but he has stunning hair. I want some.

Just a word of warning mate.

Never........................ever......................EVER call that cunt sparky. It's Leslie...............OK?

There's a few other names more fitting for Hughes, most of which aren't printable. S****y? FFS.

Cunt / clueless always covers it for me.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Fernandinho had some truly awful moments first half, but he also had some great ones both attacking & defending. His failure to set up Aguero for a goal was absolutely criminal, but the run that got him there was superb, as was the pass to Silva for Agueros careless handball (which incidentally was a worse mistake than anything Fernandinho did wrong).

Second half, Fernandinho had some great attacking play & imo, occasional mistakes aside, he looked a lot more like the allround player we signed from Shakhtar, than the 2nd rate Nigel DeJong we have tried to make him into. If we're just looking at the bad bits & ignoring the good, then Aguero was shite. If we're looking at both aspects over 90 mins, both players were looking much more like their true selves.

Pellegrini again changed a lot of stuff in this game, & asked players to do different attacking & positional jobs. Milner roving about, Fernadinho supporting the attacks whenever possible, Silva dropping deeper sometimes into Yaya's position (which failed). This was not the same City game we usually see.

I think I agree with all of that. I think we're agreeing, that it was deffo a team issue and then as the team played better players like Ferna1 player better as well?

Just to put it out there, if I get grey hair I want Sparky's hair colour. Say what you will about his managerial abilities but he has stunning hair. I want some.

Just a word of warning mate.

Never........................ever......................EVER call that cunt sparky. It's Leslie...............OK?

There's a few other names more fitting for Hughes, most of which aren't printable. S****y? FFS.

Cunt / clueless always covers it for me.

I can't think of him as being anything other than 'Spews'.

I absolutely loathe and detest the Scummy swine.

[Ted Hughes]

I think think he's one of the least unpleasant managers we come up against.

And he kept the moaning down to an absolute minimum after this game.

Make no mistake, had that been Wenger, Ferguson, Mourinho, Rodgers, all the talk would now be about the ref, with a few cheat references to Aguero.