***Official Stoke Tafia vs Gods Own Matchday Thread***

[twosips]

It still really bugs me that Yaya coasts through games. He has all the ability in the world but we saw absolutely nothing going forward from him today. He burst forward once, in the 86th minute, beat two men and got pulled down. We just don't see that from him anymore and its an absolute shame. A huge waste.

I'm not going to have a go at Yaya as it's clear that he's been told not to move. His job is to play the ball out of defence and nothing more; as if we're playing 2 different teams - one attack, one defence.

How many runs have you seen him go on, runs that come natural to him? He doesn't get forward anymore and can only influence play within our own half. Maybe it will work but it's disappointing to think that one of our more influential players is not being utilised to the best of his abilities.

Oh i know its most likely orders. Just that's what makes it so frustrating. He's totally wasted as a player who just passes it sideways.

[Beefymcfc]

Have the masses advocated Nasti and Rekik as a CB pairing next season?

Saying that, it's probably better than what we are seeing at the moment. In fact, get the kids on, let's start again because this holistic crap isn't cutting it.

Plenty of City fans have suggested that for THIS season. "Why don't we sign a cb, bring Rekik back & let Lescott go ?"

There is the answer. Two injuries at the back= season over.

We need to find real top quality defenders.

Mate, you are a Lescott Licker, get over it. I think he's our best CB but it's clear that his contract doesn't allow him to play.

F&B have the reigns, you are happy with that so surely must be appy with their decisions on a change in manager. Don't complain when it bites you on the ass. Just take it mate.

Oh fucking Mancini again.

I didn't want him sacked, I didn't want Hughes sacked & I don't want this bloke sacked.

It is becoming fucking impossible to discuss football on here.

Some fucker write a list of things we are allowed to say.

Ha ha ha, what you talking about Willis? Mancini has gone and won't be back mate. We move on with the hierarchy and you were more than happy for it to move on.

What you've got to accept is that things will change and players will move on, just like managers. Just a pity that Pellers doesn't see Lescott as a better player than Nasti. Personally, I'd go for Joleon as he is far better in every aspect but those bove don't see the same.

Shame.

[Beefymcfc]

It still really bugs me that Yaya coasts through games. He has all the ability in the world but we saw absolutely nothing going forward from him today. He burst forward once, in the 86th minute, beat two men and got pulled down. We just don't see that from him anymore and its an absolute shame. A huge waste.

I'm not going to have a go at Yaya as it's clear that he's been told not to move. His job is to play the ball out of defence and nothing more; as if we're playing 2 different teams - one attack, one defence.

How many runs have you seen him go on, runs that come natural to him? He doesn't get forward anymore and can only influence play within our own half. Maybe it will work but it's disappointing to think that one of our more influential players is not being utilised to the best of his abilities.

Oh i know its most likely orders. Just that's what makes it so frustrating. He's totally wasted as a player who just passes it sideways.

Yaya, the new De Jong or Gaz Baz.

[Moonchesteri]

Can we please ditch this crap 442 thingy? Everyone from Manchester to Moscow can see it's not working

[Ted Hughes]

Have the masses advocated Nasti and Rekik as a CB pairing next season?

Saying that, it's probably better than what we are seeing at the moment. In fact, get the kids on, let's start again because this holistic crap isn't cutting it.

Plenty of City fans have suggested that for THIS season. "Why don't we sign a cb, bring Rekik back & let Lescott go ?"

There is the answer. Two injuries at the back= season over.

We need to find real top quality defenders.

Mate, you are a Lescott Licker, get over it. I think he's our best CB but it's clear that his contract doesn't allow him to play.

F&B have the reigns, you are happy with that so surely must be appy with their decisions on a change in manager. Don't complain when it bites you on the ass. Just take it mate.

Oh fucking Mancini again.

I didn't want him sacked, I didn't want Hughes sacked & I don't want this bloke sacked.

It is becoming fucking impossible to discuss football on here.

Some fucker write a list of things we are allowed to say.

Ha ha ha, what you talking about Willis? Mancini has gone and won't be back mate. We move on with the hierarchy and you were more than happy for it to move on.

What you've got to accept is that things will change and players will move on, just like managers. Just a pity that Pellers doesn't see Lescott as a better player than Nasti. Personally, I'd go for Joleon as he is far better in every aspect but those bove don't see the same.

Shame.

I'm pretty certain he's rested Lescott for the games coming up, along with Aguero, Navas, Fernandinho.

But my point isn't about Lescott, it's about his replacement. Some were suggesting we fuck him off this season because Rekik & Nastasic would be cover for Vinny plus 1. Some are suggesting that happens next season.

I think he's a gonner & that may be right because his legs may be about to go, but I don't see Nastasic as his replacement & I don't see Rekik as good enough to lace Nastasic's boots.

Imo, we need two centre backs when Lescott goes & Nastasic as 4th choice.

[bleedBlue]

Fuck fuck fuck...what the fuck happened to my team...since when ball possession is a problem for us?... wht the hell is wrong with our attack... at this rate we'll be lucky to make the 5th place
...

I was the number 1 mancini basher...now im regretting. ..going to be a long season.


With our recent performance, I dont give a shit about the champions league... just give me my old city...


So far I see ZERO improvement. .

Oh yes by the way ...yaya's age has caught up with himm.. he's far older than he claims....

[Michael Brookes]

Can we please ditch this crap 442? Everyone from Manchester to Moscow can see it's not working

The incredible thing is that we don't even try to play as a proper 442... I mean I know that's our formation but;
- with a 442 you need wingers. We have one, and he doesn't stay wide.
- Then you you need to b2b midfielders who are dynamic in support and attack, we play yaya as a holding DMC which isn't a position that exists in a 442.
- you need to play direct and with a quick tempo... 2 banks of 4 sweeping forward stretching their defence... We are actively looking to slow the game down, often to a strolling pace trying to make 4-5 passes to move 5 yards forward.

I agree, either ditch 442 or play it properly

[Risby]

Can we please ditch this crap 442 thingy? Everyone from Manchester to Moscow can see it's not working

I agree totally with this. 4-4-2 hasn't worked and the balance between attack and defence has been shite.

When they analyse our games, does nobody have the bollocks to say - this shit isn't working, change it.

[Beefymcfc]

Can we please ditch this crap 442? Everyone from Manchester to Moscow can see it's not working

The incredible thing is that we don't even try to play as a proper 442... I mean I know that's our formation but;
- with a 442 you need wingers. We have one, and he doesn't stay wide.
- Then you you need to b2b midfielders who are dynamic in support and attack, we play yaya as a holding DMC which isn't a position that exists in a 442.
- you need to play direct and with a quick tempo... 2 banks of 4 sweeping forward stretching their defence... We are actively looking to slow the game down, often to a strolling pace trying to make 4-5 passes to move 5 yards forward.

I agree, either ditch 442 or play it properly

Good points. To me it looks like we want to play 3 at the back and tuen the FBs into WBs. It's just a matter of pedantics.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

well that was as bad as last season. Four games in and we've played well against some cones and looked awful in the other three. The only positive is we're still above the rags.

Let's hope he's not our Juande Ramos

Bollocks.
That was way worse than anything witnessed in league last season. Cardiff too. Hull was about the same as we were in our worst last season.

[Ted Hughes]

well that was as bad as last season. Four games in and we've played well against some cones and looked awful in the other three. The only positive is we're still above the rags.

Let's hope he's not our Juande Ramos

Bollocks.
That was way worse than anything witnessed in league last season. Cardiff too. Hull was about the same as we were in our worst last season.

Can't agree with that.

We started last season needing a last min goal to rescue us v Southampton, got the runaround at home to Wigan, humiliated by a half arsed Spurs team, battered to pieces by Everton & took to the cleaners by Southampton (with Garcia at centre back).

It was depressingly similar.

[Beefymcfc]

well that was as bad as last season. Four games in and we've played well against some cones and looked awful in the other three. The only positive is we're still above the rags.

Let's hope he's not our Juande Ramos

Bollocks.
That was way worse than anything witnessed in league last season. Cardiff too. Hull was about the same as we were in our worst last season.

The worst thing about your statement is that nobody could really argue against it. Other than the Toon game I've had no confidence whatsoever. The problem I have is that I'm not sure who is at fault?

I'm absolutely certain that Pellers wouldn't allow for what we have seen as he is the one who takes the brunt when it comes to the blame game. If that's the case, and I have no doubt, why is he still persevering with the same attitude?

Very strange.

[zabbadabbado]

We are looking fucking awful, not just awful, FUCKING AWFUL.

What the fuck has Pellegrini done to us ?,we cant defend, cant attack, cant keep possession, we have nothing in midfield, our passing is so slow and predictable. This man came with a reputation as a man who knows how to play football, fucking hell Stoke should have won that 3 -0,, top 4 ?,mid table more like..

I predict we carry on like this the engineer wont see Christmas, dreading the Derby for the first time in a long time.

This is what happens when you sack a manager for finishing second after winning the Premier League the previous season.

The sooner those two Spanish pricks fuck off the better

We were jst as bad several times v Stoke under Mancini & in fact lost.

I don't remember starting a season playing this bad under Mancini ?.And i don't remember playing this woeful at Stoke under Mancini ?,i remember a couple off hard luck stories where we dominated and lost.A fundamental difference to just looking dire as fuck and creating absolutely nothing of note in front of goal.

[geepeetee]

I don't remember starting a season playing this bad under Mancini ?.And i don't remember playing this woeful at Stoke under Mancini ?,i remember a couple off hard luck stories where we dominated and lost.A fundamental difference to just looking dire as fuck and creating absolutely nothing of note in front of goal.

Anybody want to buy Phil Collins greatest hits????

[Goaters 103]

Dreadful today, again. Doesnt look like we have much idea of what we are trying to do and we carried little or no threat as an attacking force.

4 games in, weve been fookin dreadful in 3 of em and dont seem to be making progress. Am hoping we are about to improve 200% otherwise embarrassment in Plzen and getting dry bummed by the Rags on our own patch awaits. Garcia at centre half? Again? Jesus wept.

Goimg forwards today we looked as pacy as a pissed tortoise nailed to the floor.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

well that was as bad as last season. Four games in and we've played well against some cones and looked awful in the other three. The only positive is we're still above the rags.

Let's hope he's not our Juande Ramos

Bollocks.
That was way worse than anything witnessed in league last season. Cardiff too. Hull was about the same as we were in our worst last season.

The worst thing about your statement is that nobody could really argue against it. Other than the Toon game I've had no confidence whatsoever. The problem I have is that I'm not sure who is at fault?

I'm absolutely certain that Pellers wouldn't allow for what we have seen as he is the one who takes the brunt when it comes to the blame game. If that's the case, and I have no doubt, why is he still persevering with the same attitude?

Very strange.

I think the worst thing about his statement is that it's total bollcoks.
Yes we were poor but was it really way worse than Southampton away or Sunderland away? Or Spurs away or the Fa Cup final.
No it was equally as shit not 'way worse'.

[Blue Since 76]

Bollocks.
That was way worse than anything witnessed in league last season. Cardiff too. Hull was about the same as we were in our worst last season.

I can sense an argument about managers here which I'm going to sidestep. However today we were without Kompany and Silva which has always made us look worse.

What I will say is we were pretty poor for most of last season. The title winning season we were brilliant at the start and end of it. Last season there were only a handful of games where we played anything like that (rags away is the only one off the top of my head) and the rest of the time we only saw fluent play for short periods in games.

This season is starting in a very similar pattern, even the pre-season games. Newcastle is the stand out because it wasn't our normal pattern of play.

So two different managers, yet the pattern of play is similar and the way games are going is similar.

So is it the players?

[jsbluemoon82]

I will never accept that getting rid of Mancini was justifiable for finishing second in the league and getting us to a cup final. MP being brought in to make us more entertaining is a joke! His interviews are boring, his football so far seems to be the same, and his tactics seem underwhelming for someone having "the engineer" as their maxim. Mancini was entertaining even in defeat.

We'Il never learn as a club!

[Jorgobot]

How was the game? I missed it due to work.

[ruralblue]

How was the game? I missed it due to work.

Brilliant! !! End to end stuff. Shit loads of chances bit of a thriller. So unlucky not to get six or seven.