*** Stoke v City - FA Cup Round 4 Official Match Thread ***

[Risby]

We all know what stoke are going to do, but that doesn't make them less effective. They will create chances for their strikers and that means we also have to be clinical when we get ours.
Vinnie coming off is a worry, but if our midfielders get stuck in and Dzeko puts away his efforts, we will be laughing at full time.

[stevefromdonny]

not playing to bad, but again we are pissing about with ball, mind it could be the grass as it looks to me quite long and we carnt/wont play it on the floor

[Swales4ever]

We are so much better than Stoke it's ridiculous but the fear is there that they will fluke one as they do so often.

very true.

Also glad to see You were not the Japanese lass, who was overlooking behind the Britannia fences... :-)

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Was it the ankle or knee he twisted?? Hope it ain't too bad

From the replay the ankle..Better than a knee injury phew

relieved at understanding my poor assessment, indeed!

A did my ankle and didn't play or 3 months. Hope it's not serious.

Yap. still relieved it's not knee tho, Andy.
could have been season over, then. and You know it's always hard to guess where You end up with a bad knee injury.

Fucking Stoke land... there always something wrong waiting there...

I would not be too sure it's his ankle.That's what the commentator said and he is usually wrong.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Tevez is nowhere near the palyer he was , disapointing.

[Ted Hughes]

Are we Dzeko bashing today?

No, but a striker who isn't willing to slide in is pathetic. Mario played that pass to Sergio in May on the floor and Carlos/Sergio do it so why not him? 2 yards out it doesn't matter how it goes in just that it does, ask Joleon when he scored with his arse!

I'll have to see it again but he looked way too far away to get a touch.

Because he isn't anticipating it. His instinct should get him there.

On some occasions it's fair enough him hanging back as he would be offside but he could have helped himself to 2 or 3 goals there with a bit of striker's instinct.

[Beefymcfc]

I am yes as he looks fucking hopeless. Flat footed in the box on a number of occasions when attacking the six yard box could have brought dividends. He is pathetic.

I think some of his general play has been great but I'm absolutely fucking baffled as to why he isn't just tapping those into the net.

That last pass from Tevez was exactly wher you would want it & expect it. What the fuck was Dzeko expecting ?

Van Nistlerooy would be on a hat trick.

We are going out of the cup here unless we step it up. Their offside goal served notice of what can happen. You can't defend against stuff like that because there is no plan behind it other than lump it in & see where it bounces. We really need to score or we are at the mercy of that kind of shit.

Bloody hell Ted, what is it with people today! Our play has been superb, even when they've played 8 at the back. To get that statement is a bit baffling and very defeatist. How do we step it up? I think what you mean is to just score.

[Cocacolajojo1]

Look at all those empty seats!! The champions are in town for gods sake.

Arrogant much?

[AG7]

I'll take a draw right now ... but I am afraid even for that we need to score 1 today ... they'll nick 1 anytime in the second half. I hope we score first quickly after restart though, if only to calm my nerves here ...

[Beefymcfc]

Are we Dzeko bashing today?

No, but a striker who isn't willing to slide in is pathetic. Mario played that pass to Sergio in May on the floor and Carlos/Sergio do it so why not him? 2 yards out it doesn't matter how it goes in just that it does, ask Joleon when he scored with his arse!

I'll have to see it again but he looked way too far away to get a touch.

Because he isn't anticipating it. His instinct should get him there.

On some occasions it's fair enough him hanging back as he would be offside but he could have helped himself to 2 or 3 goals there with a bit of striker's instinct.

Like I said, I'll have to see it again but for me it looked as though he had to hold the line and then the ball was played 2 - 3 yards in front.

We'll see but if that's the only thing we are jumping on his back for then I'll give it a miss.

[Ted Hughes]

I am yes as he looks fucking hopeless. Flat footed in the box on a number of occasions when attacking the six yard box could have brought dividends. He is pathetic.

I think some of his general play has been great but I'm absolutely fucking baffled as to why he isn't just tapping those into the net.

That last pass from Tevez was exactly wher you would want it & expect it. What the fuck was Dzeko expecting ?

Van Nistlerooy would be on a hat trick.

We are going out of the cup here unless we step it up. Their offside goal served notice of what can happen. You can't defend against stuff like that because there is no plan behind it other than lump it in & see where it bounces. We really need to score or we are at the mercy of that kind of shit.

Bloody hell Ted, what is it with people today! Our play has been superb, even when they've played 8 at the back. To get that statement is a bit baffling and very defeatist. How do we step it up? I think what you mean is to just score.

Just scoring isthe whole point of being on the pitch & I don't think our play has been superb at all, I think Stoke have been abysmal & we areletting them get away with it. We have had a couple of nice moves. The rest has been dire.

[Swales4ever]

Tevez is nowhere near the palyer he was , disapointing.

eh?
I thought he was great, industrious and quite effective, apart for squandering that chance on the far post... in Dzeko style.
I appreciate that You are so shitting about our back three lead by Lescott, that have decided for a different go... :-)

very sensible, General!

[ant london]

Shaun Goater would have been on the end of a couple of those....and Dzeko ought to be a far far superior player.

That says it all for me.

I don't disagree that he has done some good stuff in general play but he is in the team to put the ball in the back of the net and like Ted said he should be antipating those and running hard for the chance not hanging back

[Dwaring]

Tevez is nowhere near the palyer he was , disapointing.

He's not as far off as one might think. I agree he's been shit in front of goal. But that's about it. He's lacking confidence in front not shooting as he used to. He keeps getting it jumbled in his feet but you can't fault his runs and passes. They are still on point. If he get his finishing back he could be the best player on the squad.

[shawzy]

Tevez is nowhere near the palyer he was , disapointing.

Really! I thought he's busted a gut so far mate. His linkup game has been 1st class..He's been dropping deeper with Silva..Maybe Mancini will instruct to push him more up top with a solid 2 strikers 2nd half, or bring Aguero on..Id replace Dzeko at some point.Well below par today.

[I Just Blue Myself]

I thought Dzeko did alright so far, as did the whole team. Reading the comments on here either I must be going blind or the fuckwits singling him out for a slagging again. Think I'll go with the latter.

Silva was very unlucky with his shot there, superb effort.

[carolina-blue]

I thought we played well 1st half diddnt really give em a sniff carry on like that the goal/ s will come Just got to stay focused their whole second half will be built around trying to win cheap free kicks , Come on City time to end the Stoke win drought .

[Beefymcfc]

I am yes as he looks fucking hopeless. Flat footed in the box on a number of occasions when attacking the six yard box could have brought dividends. He is pathetic.

I think some of his general play has been great but I'm absolutely fucking baffled as to why he isn't just tapping those into the net.

That last pass from Tevez was exactly wher you would want it & expect it. What the fuck was Dzeko expecting ?

Van Nistlerooy would be on a hat trick.

We are going out of the cup here unless we step it up. Their offside goal served notice of what can happen. You can't defend against stuff like that because there is no plan behind it other than lump it in & see where it bounces. We really need to score or we are at the mercy of that kind of shit.

Bloody hell Ted, what is it with people today! Our play has been superb, even when they've played 8 at the back. To get that statement is a bit baffling and very defeatist. How do we step it up? I think what you mean is to just score.

Just scoring isthe whole point of being on the pitch & I don't think our play has been superb at all, I think Stoke have been abysmal & we areletting them get away with it. We have had a couple of nice moves. The rest has been dire.

Ok Ted, we'll beg to differ. You could say that Stoke are making us look good then. They just let us walk through them, Pulis would be up with that.

I blame Carlos for us not being in front though. All he had to do was touch that ball in the net rather than lashing out.

[Beefymcfc]

In fact, I blame Balotelli for not even being available to play. He's a wanker.

[Tokyo Blue]

Come on City. Keep playing your football and the chances will come.