Stoke City Fc .... The Potters 1863

[ThaiPauly]

Good luck......definatley points to be had there..I hope you get at least 9

BTW Kitson scored a peach last night to give us a 1-0 win cheers

Did he really ??

Incredible, maybe it's about his level though at this stage of his career, as this Season in the Prem with Stoke would testify to...

If not that, then there was a problem with him & he didn't want to play to the best of his abilities at Stoke which is not a good thing..

Kitson is a very honest , articulate footballer.

He could have been playing for Ireland but refused on the grounds that he did not think it right as he was not born there but had Irish grandarents.

He has openly admitted that he made a big mistake going to Stoke. He said that thre was no pressure for him to do so, but he thought it was the right thing to do at the time.

He added that unfortunatley for him the way Stoke played did not suit his style...and that his time there was the stuff of nightmares.

He did not blame Stoke and felt he let them down. Especially the fans.

I don't think he'll be going back there, and I am sure if readinf can afford to buy him back they will, evidently only a small amount of the transfer fee has been paid, so its well within Reading's capabilities to spend the 2m or so that would be required to get him back, but bear in mind, he had a great fisrt season for Reading in the Prem. Just maybe, especially after the way Reading played last night, he'll get another chance, but playing the way it suits him and re-igniting his productive partnership with Doyle.

[technocracy]

Kitson is a very honest , articulate footballer.

He could have been playing for Ireland but refused on the grounds that he did not think it right as he was not born there but had Irish grandarents.

He has openly admitted that he made a big mistake going to Stoke. He said that thre was no pressure for him to do so, but he thought it was the right thing to do at the time.

He added that unfortunatley for him the way Stoke played did not suit his style...and that his time there was the stuff of nightmares.

He did not blame Stoke and felt he let them down. Especially the fans.

I don't think he'll be going back there, and I am sure if readinf can afford to buy him back they will, evidently only a small amount of the transfer fee has been paid, so its well within Reading's capabilities to spend the 2m or so that would be required to get him back, but bear in mind, he had a great fisrt season for Reading in the Prem. Just maybe, especially after the way Reading played last night, he'll get another chance, but playing the way it suits him and re-igniting his productive partnership with Doyle.

Kitson to be quite honest made his own mistake in chasing money instead of being loyal to Reading and suffering a season in the Championship. He could of got his head down at Reading and continued scoring and his beloved Reading now would probably be clear at the top - however - the fact remains he took the mecenary route wanting cash and to stay in the Premiership.

The thing that sticks in my throat about the whole thing was when he first joined the reason he stated he joined Stoke was because 'it wouldn't be fair to Reading fans to go and sit on the bench at some other club'! So essentially he seemed to believe that he could walk into the team and be a permanent fixture regardless.

Then when he was played up front and not just supporting Fuller (who is twice the player - albeit twice as petulant) he barely put in any effort expecting anything to handed to him on a plate. Even more annoying that he also said when joining 'he knows it'll be a tough season and he's up for a battle' and 'he'd spoke with gaffer and he knows full well the Stoke style of playing and it isn't an issue'.

The truth of it all is he gets a nose bleed passing watford gap and couldn't be arsed to put any effort into adjusting to life in Stoke or playing for Stoke - sure our style isn't the same as Reading but he didn't even attempt to try and fit in. Beattie has shown that a goal scorer in our team even with our style of play can score goals unfortunately Kitson just isn't that good.

All that said I hope he scored Reading the goal to get promotion and we get the money back we wasted on him.

[ThaiPauly]

Thats a little harsh.

Look what happened to Robbie Keane, Pascal Chimbonda, Jermaine Defoe et al

He won't be the first player to re-sign for his previous club and he won't be the last.

At least DK was HONEST about the situation, and how on earth can he know the managers style of play before he has even kicked a ball?

Last night proved it....2 games 1 goal a 50% strike record...something TP could not get out of him

[technocracy]

OH YES!!!!!!!!! 1 win down - 3 to go and safety will be ours. Boro and the Cartoon army will be down with the baggies!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOARNNNNNNNNNNNNNN YOU MIGHTY POTTERS!

Scrappy game - but who gives a toss the score is the most important thing!

and let me just add Manure . .. . HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!! A referee finally has the balls to fuc_k Rooney off - if all referees had the balls similar to him they'd have 9 man on the field most games. Here's hoping for a similar capitualtion against Villa!

[ThaiPauly]

GREAT RESULT for the Potters against the Baggies. that elusive away win..just a few more points now......however I must point out we were 13th this time last year.. then the other teams around you are playing teams involved in bigger things and they capitulate..I hope your run in is against teams with nothing to play for...

From what I saw you should have won by more!!(even though they hit the bar near the end)

Good luck, for me...Brom and Borough are gone...only one place left...hope its the barcodes...Mike Ashley deserves everything he gets

TP

[technocracy]

ahem . . . I SAY WE ARE STAYING UP, WE ARE STAYING UP!

Well next week we'll hopefully put the final nail into the dreamer Shearer and his Cartoon Army which will pretty much guarantee us safety. Now 6 points clear of them and next week it will hopefully be 9 - I certainly don't see them getting 9 points from there last 6 games!

Oh our run in is great! With the like of Blackburn, Wigan, Fulham, Hull in there the only 'top' team we have is Arsenal away our last game hopefully that should just be party!

HAPPY DAYS!

[MSingh]

An Away Win.....

[patklang]

GOARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRN STOKE,YOU MIGHTY POTTERS.

Not getting overt excited as we are not out the woods yet,but i would prefer our run in to any other relegation team.Looking at the games i think Sunderland are going to battle like mad to avoid relegation.

7games left and its in our own hands now.

Beatie and etherington signings by Pullis was a master stroke.

Now you carTOON fans for Saturday.

WELCOME TO THE BEAR PIT,THIS IS GONNA HURT.

[StevieH]

massive win that potters, well played. you're staying up.

[MSingh]

massive win that potters, well played. you're staying up.

Not yet they're not, they've got the Barcodes at Home next week which will have a huge bearing on who does actually stay up but let's wait & see...

[StevieH]

massive win that potters, well played. you're staying up.

Not yet they're not, they've got the Barcodes at Home next week which will have a huge bearing on who does actually stay up but let's wait & see...

they'll beat the barcodes at home though. stoke have got heart, something newcastle just don't have.

[MSingh]

massive win that potters, well played. you're staying up.

Not yet they're not, they've got the Barcodes at Home next week which will have a huge bearing on who does actually stay up but let's wait & see...

they'll beat the barcodes at home though. stoke have got heart, something newcastle just don't have.

True, i hope you're right..

[technocracy]

Oh yes we've got heart alright and we've got 26,000 loonies who scare the bejeebus out of all visiting teams . .

[Macclad]

Well done Stoke....great result....looks like you are staying up now!

Watched the Newcastle v Chelsea game live over here.Despite Shearers influence Newcastle looked a struggling team and a comfortable win for Chelsea.

I think Newcastles main hope of survival is that Sunderland and Hull are struggling also.

[rott]

What a difference 2 wins makes, very happy for you techno, it's still close and there's still a bit of a way to go but I think you'll stay up now. Is that right you've got Newcastle next week? Very, very interesting one that.

[MSingh]

What a difference 2 wins makes, very happy for you techno, it's still close and there's still a bit of a way to go but I think you'll stay up now. Is that right you've got Newcastle next week? Very, very interesting one that.

HUGE Game...

[technocracy]

Not just HUGE but HUGE . . .

Basically the lie of the land for us is if we win our next 2 games we basically safe since those 2 games are Newcastle and Blackburn.

It's a big ask particularly with the fact that it'd mean we would have won 4 in row HOWEVER both games are at the Britannia and we've proven time and again that we give anyone a game at the Brit.

2 more win = 41 points in the bag.

I really cannot see teams with more than 40 points being relegated - mainly since Hull, S'land and Newcastle (Shearer can do many things but he ain't got a magic wand!) just cannot buy a win. I am excluding M'boro (now 5pts from safety) and WBA (now 8pts! from safety - chortle chortle!) from this because it would take an absolute miracle for either to stay up.

I've visited a few N'Castle message boards and there still as delusional as always - still thinking they should just turn up and win because they are playing 'little' Stoke . . . they really do live in some parallel football universe! Also apparently form means nothing now they have the Messiah Part 3. Another one is there ex-striker Mickey Quinn who on his Talksport show was saying that we deserved to go down because of our style of football and the Geordie dreamers deserved to stay up because of there fans!

The pot has really been stirred up! There ain't gonna be any love lost at the Britannia on Saturday that's for sure, I think the crowd will be at the loudest ever, it's been a simmering cauldron for the past few games but it might just boil over this weekend!

I sooooooooo want us humilate them with a good thrashing a live TV (the game is on Setanta in the UK)

[MSingh]

41 Points will keep you up Chaps..

Cos Boro aren't gonna get 14 Points & Newcastle aren't gonna get 12..

Win this weekend, then i'm pretty sure you'll beat us in a few weeks time at the Brit & that'll be it Gents...

Edit : Thinking about it, less than 41 Points will probably keep you up, but get to 41 just to be safe anyway..

[bkkjames]

41 Points will keep you up Chaps..

Cos Boro aren't gonna get 14 Points & Newcastle aren't gonna get 12..

Win this weekend, then i'm pretty sure you'll beat us in a few weeks time at the Brit & that'll be it Gents...

Edit : Thinking about it, less than 41 Points will probably keep you up, but get to 41 just to be safe anyway..

MS, I could be wrong but I think Newcastle and Boro already have more than 14 points, but then again, one can not be sure.

[MSingh]

41 Points will keep you up Chaps..

Cos Boro aren't gonna get 14 Points & Newcastle aren't gonna get 12..

Win this weekend, then i'm pretty sure you'll beat us in a few weeks time at the Brit & that'll be it Gents...

Edit : Thinking about it, less than 41 Points will probably keep you up, but get to 41 just to be safe anyway..

MS, I could be wrong but I think Newcastle and Boro already have more than 14 points, but then again, one can not be sure.

I meant 14 & 12 MORE points you crazy Kid...

[bkkjames]

41 Points will keep you up Chaps..

Cos Boro aren't gonna get 14 Points & Newcastle aren't gonna get 12..

Win this weekend, then i'm pretty sure you'll beat us in a few weeks time at the Brit & that'll be it Gents...

Edit : Thinking about it, less than 41 Points will probably keep you up, but get to 41 just to be safe anyway..

MS, I could be wrong but I think Newcastle and Boro already have more than 14 points, but then again, one can not be sure.

I meant 14 & 12 MORE points you crazy Kid...

at my age, i will take that as a compliment Singer

[sanmiguel]

Just seen on Skysports news you scabland bunch of throw in specialists have won 9 home games all seasons, which is none too bad.

So to make your simple lives a little simpler, if you'd like to make some easy money put it on black on white this weekend not on the mackems in disguise.... we're due a win.

[technocracy]

Just seen on Skysports news you scabland bunch of throw in specialists have won 9 home games all seasons, which is none too bad.

So to make your simple lives a little simpler, if you'd like to make some easy money put it on black on white this weekend not on the mackems in disguise.... we're due a win.

That's what I've been trying to get through to the gormless morons who inhabit your messageboards . . . but they still live in there parallel universe thinking it 'little old Stoke' and 3 'easy' points.

Shearer won't underestimate us that is one thing for certain and I can put a large sum of money he's had your defence practising set pieces all week. I fully expect him to line you up defensively and try to pinch something on the break - that's what most clubs have tried to counter the set piece threat. I have to give 'Boro credit however who did come and actually try and throw men forward and attack us unfortunately for them they couldn't score in a brothel!

Should be a good game however I still think we'll ask your back line too many questions and sneak a win. I think it'll be a close game but this said should we get an early goal your lot might just curl up into there shells and take a beating. It all depends on how you handle the throws - not just in the throw itself but the 2nd ball - if your defenders are willing to throw themselves at every ball you'll be ok - if not it might not be an enjoyable 90 minutes for you to watch!

I really cannot see us losing - maybe it's just because of our home record but also we have hit form and the team is gelling better than ever particularly Fuller and Beattie up front. Strangely our seasons under TP always seem to go like this! Start out steady but nothing exceptional then hit a bad patch around winter and start of year and come spring hit the ground running in excellent form!

Anyway cannot wait for this game - I seriously think we'll win it either a sneaky 1-0 or a romping 3-1 .. ..

[sanmiguel]

I was hoping to be in LOS for it but the prices for flights went up by 150gbp in the space of 5 minutes so will be watching it at Gatwick and arriving Sunday, it'll make the flight happier if we win.

Newcastle are draw specialists, but for some deluded reason i think we'll win, on the basis we have to and we were fcuken useless to throw away a 2 goal lead at St James's when we were the better team by a million miles (if you saw it you'd agree) even Stoke were singing 2 nil and you fcuked it up.

Anyway only 1.5 days to find out.

Owen and Oba have been useless of late theyre both too good to be consistently bad, and Shearers spotted the insignificant fact that they get <deleted> all help from midfield or anyone else.

Plus weve a proper centre back (Bassong).... back, and maybe Taylor.

[MSingh]

I'll sit on the Fence for the biggest Game of the weekend..

1-1

[ThaiPauly]

I'll sit on the Fence for the biggest Game of the weekend..

1-1

My prediction as well.

I hope that Fuller scores...I have just transferred him into my fantasy team

I have NO Newcastle players in my team.....which is really just as well

[technocracy]

Newcastle are draw specialists, but for some deluded reason i think we'll win, on the basis we have to and we were fcuken useless to throw away a 2 goal lead at St James's when we were the better team by a million miles (if you saw it you'd agree) even Stoke were singing 2 nil and you fcuked it up.

Completely agree we were absolutely gash in the first half! Mind you we still had Sonko in the centre of defence then who basically gifted both those goals! He's long gone to only making the occasional minor sub appearance these days.

The result will definately be determined on what mindset the Newcastle team turn up with and if they will wilt under not only the set plays but also the atmosphere. Most Stokies judge this as probably the most important game of the season thus far a real 6 pointer - we win 9 points clear of the bottom 3 and our nose just about over the safety line, lose and we're only 3 points clear of the bottom 3 and one foot back in the quicksand. Combine this with the media circus around the Shearer saga it really made this game that much more personal and I expect the atmosphere in the ground to be the loudest and most intimidating so far this season.

I personally ain't been this excited about a game for a long long time!

ps. . Thaipauly . . good luck with that there promotion charge - there is 4.8 million quid riding on it for us!

[patklang]

Just seen on Skysports news you scabland bunch of throw in specialists have won 9 home games all seasons, which is none too bad.

So to make your simple lives a little simpler, if you'd like to make some easy money put it on black on white this weekend not on the mackems in disguise.... we're due a win.

Thats rich coming from a shithole like Newcastle.

CARTOON ARMY

CARTOON ARMY

You only sing when your winning

Hope you arent going to the Brit saturday,there is a very warm welcome for you tackems,and please please done slash a stokie girl again as i would hate to see you lot with crap in your pants

[MSingh]

Plus weve a proper centre back (Bassong).... back, and maybe Taylor.

Glad you didn't put Taylor in the same sentence as " proper centre back "..

[rott]

H.T. 1-0, looking good.