The Stoketshirts.co.uk blog

This report in the Daily Mail suggests Tony Pulis is considering leaving Stoke City at the end of the season.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2295475/Tony-Pulis-quit-Stoke.html  Some may suggest it’s media speculation due to Pulis receiving criticism from fans.  However, the story does appear to have more than an inkling of credibility.  There were a few mutterings of frustration after the transfer deadline indicating the manager was frustrated not to have done more business.  He’s also implied previously a sense of exasperation at the size of Stoke City’s youth academy.  The academy is a huge asset for the future of the football club.  Chairman Peter Coates has said the club must become self sufficient.  A thriving academy is a big step towards achieving that but would Tony Pulis benefit?  At this stage Pulis has only played two players below the age of 24 throughout the current season, (Brek Shea and Ryan Shotton) one of which isn’t a first team regular, and one of whom (Shotton) turned 24 on October 30th.  This suggests youth development isn’t a priority for Pulis.  All things borne in mind the story may well be  entirely feasible but we probably won’t know for several months if Pulis will be with us for the start of the 2013/14 season. If he was to leave, all things borne in mind, he should be spared the indignity of a mid season departure.

Turkish international Nuri Sahin has spoken of his relief at leaving Liverpool.  He has said “I did not fail with Liverpool. Brendan Rogers wanted me to play as a ten, but I don’t play behind the strikers. I spoke to him and asked him why he wanted me to play there since it’s not my real position. The Mister couldn’t answer me”  He went on to say how pleased he is to be back at Borussia Dortmund and added  “For what it’s worth, I’m happy. I’ve left Brendan Rogers, thank God”. This can be seen as a classless bitter tirade but is that entirely fair?  Players often come out with glib soundbites to avoid controversy.  Sahin is fully entitled to explain why he feels it didn’t work out at Liverpool.  It’s also refreshing to hear a footballer prepared to state a strong opinion. It’s a pity more players aren’t so forthright.

Juventus manager Antonio Conte has said he may leave Italy.  After his teams 2-0 victory over Bologna Conte made it clear he was increasingly distressed by the abuse his team suffers.  On arriving in Bologna the Juve team bus was bombarded with rocks sticks and spit.  Conte was particularly disturbed by the sight of people carrying young children in their arms screaming vicious abuse and hurling missiles.  Only time will tell if Conte’s threat to leave is genuine or a heat of the moment outburst.  Meanwhile, Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea and Real Madrid will have taken note!

Central Coast Mariners players weren’t paid last week. Their ongoing financial wrangling continues to cast a dark shadow over their on field success.  They played well and beat an admittedly lethargic Brisbane Roar team on Sunday.  To be able to stay focused on the job in hand is testament to the players commitment to their job and the motivational ability of manager Graham Arnold.

The draw for the 2016 European Championship qualifiers is to be made in March 2016.  By then  UEFA could have a new member… Gibraltar.  In May member nations will vote to decide on Gibralter’s inclusion.  Gibraltar’s Football Association are bidding to join the international football community but for many years were stifled by a UEFA rule that states the ruling body will only acknowledge nations that are recognised by the United Nations.  However, this changed  in October  when the court of arbitration for sport instructed UEFA to award the British colony provisional member status.  The Spanish FA once stated rather fancifully they would boycott any tournament that involved Gibraltar.  When the draw was made for the 2014 Futsal European championships,  UEFA ensured that even if Gibraltar progressed from their  group  there would be no possibility of an explosive clash with Spain.  Should the vote fall in favour of the GFA it could open a period of political mayhem with Jersey, Kosovo and Greenland all eager to dine at one of football’s most lucrative tables.

When 17 year old Michael Owen burst onto the scene in 1997 it taught me a vital lesson…. football supporters can maintain wondrous childlike fascinations other people can’t!  Despite being 28 years of age and  carrying battle hardened cynicism like a medal, I immediately idolised Owen.   He was a very special player.  Talented, fast and exciting, with an ability to create a yard of space for himself and score goals from odd angles.  Michael Owen had the lot.  I hoped for the boy wonder’s inclusion in Glenn Hoddle’s World Cup squad and my wish was granted.  In St Etienne he scored his brilliant solo goal against Argentina my prodigy, rightly, became a global superstar.  On his return to club football he scored a brilliant hat trick against Newcastle.  As the plaudits rolled in the cap size remained the same.  The archetypal mature head on young shoulders. One of my dearest wishes was for Owen to beat Bobby Charlton’s England scoring record…. for Owen to make history, and to finally shed one of the ghosts of 1966.  Ongoing injuries scuppered that possibility but 40 goals in 89 international appearances is an impressive record for any player. Hampered by injuries his appearances have been intermittent in recent years an  his decision to retire from playing isn’t a huge shock.  In Michael Owen can reflect on English football’s great goalscorers.

While some 0-0 draws are absorbing and entertaining the same can’t be said of Stoke City’s game at Villa Park on Saturday.  In fact at times it was difficult to watch.  Villa pressured us early on but lacked the craft to create anything substantial.  Stoke were unadventurous and we seemed to have settled for a 0-0 draw from the start.  Dull though it undoubtedly was there were some positive aspects of our performance.  We displayed characteristic tenacity to gain a point.  Organised and  disciplined, we rarely looked likely to concede a goal.  We’ve now conceded fewer goals than any other Premier League team.  As has been the hallmark of Tony Pulis’ reign… we are hard to beat!  A defensive record like ours is impressive for any team in any league in the world… some additional attacking drive into our approach would be most welcome.

An infuriating aspect of the match was Ryan Shotton’s sending off for two yellow cards.  The first yellow was avoidable, not giving the ball back for a free kick was foolish. Ryan’s second yellow was an absolute travesty. Fabian Delph cheated for no reason other than to get a fellow professional sent off.  For too long authorities have talked of removing diving from the game but decisive action is yet to be asserted.  Shotton now has to serve a one match ban while Delph’s horrendous anti football hoodwink goes unpunished.  If they aren’t prepared to act administrative bodies should spare us their futile fatuous empty posturing.

Having charmed much of Europe it’s now increasingly likely Michel Platini’s idea to stage the 2020 European Championship across the continent will come to fruition.  The plan has proved to be unpopular with one poll stating that 82% of fans oppose the proposed format.  The reason this formula was even suggested was borne of UEFA’s decision to expand the competition from 16 to 24 teams.  As well as diluting the quality of football on offer it makes staging the tournament considerably more complicated and much more expensive.  The problems finding bidders to host for the 2020 competition suggests  UEFA’s number crunchers are seemingly oblivious to the current precarious state of the global economy.

On Sunday Brisbane Roar were beaten by Western Sydney Wanderers.  Brisbane are a much different team than the one that won two consecutive A-League titles under Ange Postecoglou.  Style panache and fluidity have been replaced by disjointed nervous vulnerability. During much of Postecoglou’s reign Brisbane carried an aura of invincibility, an aura borne of one simple factor… winning games of football.  Since Postecoglou was replaced by his assistant Rado Vidosic, the players have lacked the previous years technique and, more significantly, the hunger that drove them to be crowned champions.  Hopefully Vidosic and the players can address the flaws and Brisbane can launch a defence of their title, but the point has to be made, Brisbane Roar have well and truly lost their aura.

Few can deny that Lionel Messi is the outstanding player of the modern era.  Messi combines agility with skill and, of course, goals.  The method which leads to many of the goals brings inevitable comparisons with Diego Maradona.  Amid the unquestionable brilliance  he has another requirement to fulfill in order to be truly regarded amongst football’s all time greats.  Despite what some of UEFA’s  sponsors and marketing executives would like us to believe, the World Cup remains the pinnacle of world football. At a World Cup players are out of their comfort zone and face different challenges.  if Messi is to be  placed in the same bracket as Zidane, Pele and Maradona he needs to confirm his status by displaying his genius in Brazil.

At West Brom on Sunday we registered our first win of the season.  It’d be pointless to deny that it was an horrendous game.  Understandably, the massed ranks of connoisseurs in the away end didn’t care too much!  Winning an away game is a great feeling.  Winning away with a threadbare squad after a game on the previous Thursday is a gargantuan effort from our players.  It’s worth noting that of all the English sides to play in European competition in midweek we were the only one to win at the weekend.  Poor though the game was it’s worth emphasising that West Brom were no better than Stoke.  In the second half  we contained their threat in comfort.  The nature of our late goal exacerbates the notion that West Brom were unlucky but in actual fact they looked as lacklustre as we did for most of the game.  At least we have the excuse of having played a game only three days before to fall back on!  In his post match comments Roy Hodgson suggested the goal should have been disallowed.  He may have a point but Ben Foster should have collected Walters’ ball with the minimum of fuss.  From the point where Shotton nicked the ball there was a second, that seemed to last an hour, where everyone stopped and looked to see if the ref had blown for a foul.  After gleefully placing the ball into the net Shotton himself looked back!  The whistle remained silent, the goal stood and we’d grabbed victory.  35 more points and we’ll be assured another season the top flight!

Despite the low key start to our season,it’s been a prosperous one.  To have played seven games, remained unbeaten, and only conceded two goals is better than many of would have dared dream of.  We’re soon to enter new territory with our Europa League campaign.  The draw could have been much kinder.  We face Dynamo Kiev,  Besiktas and Maccabi Haifa… three teams with European heritage.  To reach the next round would be a huge feat.  One thing in our favour is us… the fans.  The Guardian report of  the FC Thun game described The Britannia Stadium as an ‘unforgiving’ venue.  That perception needs to be  reinforced.  Home form will be crucial to our chances.  Our guttural roar is a huge asset.  Get the Brit shaking with that raucous din!

Eventually, the transfer window proved productive.  We need Wilson Palacios to inject some much needed drive into the midfield.  Palacios was a talented youngster when he arrived in England.  His career hit something of a dead end following his brother’s death.  He still has the drive and the talent in him.  Again, the supporters can play a part by simply helping  him to feel welcome!  Sing his name and make sure he knows he’s wanted.    The signing of Peter Crouch is our rock the city signing.  Big name player with international pedigree.  Some question the wisdom of this signing.  It is a risk but all signings have an element of risk.  There’s one way to win over the doubters and thats to be part of a winning team.   A few goals wouldn’t go amiss either!  Tony Pulis will be relieved to have a deeper squad to select from.

Manchester City’s ruthlessly efficient destruction of Spurs shows that, finally, we are beginning to see where all the money’s gone. It was an impressive display that hammered out a warning to the rest of the league.  The pace and power of their midfield bamboozled Spurs.  After the game Arry looked depressed.  Having to admit that he’d had to persuade Luca Modric to play must have hurt as much as the result.  They were up against a top quality team but to be so comprehensively, effortlessly dismantled points to deeper problems at White Hart Lane.  Manchester City’s display was the performance of the week, for a few hours anyway…

In his excellent book ‘Manchester United ruined my life’ author, Man City supporter Colin Shindler remembers 1968.  1968 was the last time Man City won the league.  The elation and acclaim was short lived however when they were upstaged weeks later when their loathed red neighbours lifted the European Cup.  Last season when they won their first trophy for 35 years, they were overshadowed somewhat by Man Utd securing the league title a few hours before.  On Sunday when the sky blues left the pitch at White Hart Lane they must have felt they had set the marker for the rest of the league to follow, only to be usurped yet again by their red nemesis! 

There are times when some football stories get a life of their own and grow out of context.  In  the hyperbole drenched world of the Premier League some irrelevant things get unjustified airtime.  That can’t be said about Man Utd’s 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal.  That game is a piece of history. Man Utd’s brilliance was so absolute that you can honestly say that Arsenal  got off lightly.  It was also the day an idea died.  Arsenal were exposed.  With a depleted squad and forced to field youngsters, Wenger sent them out to play the only way he knows.  Even 1-4 down they just carried on doing what wasn’t working.  It’s an old saying: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.  You even get the feeling that faced with the same situation he’d do the same thing again. The camera caught his humiliation several times in the second half.  He really looked like a man not waving but drowning.  Wenger may continue as Arsenal manager for years to come, but Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2 will be etched in the mind as a milestone, for varying reasons. 

It’s great to see Chris Powell enjoying some success as Charlton Athletic manager.  As a player he was a solid reliable professional.  Football doesn’t always provide justice but Powell’s  England selection in 2001  was just reward for his commitment to the game. Never the most flashy or glamorous player, he can  reflect on those 5 England appearances and proudly remember his playing career.  If he carries  the same level of application into management Charlton will have a gem on their hands and promotion will surely beckon.  Good luck Chris!!