Life in the Prem….
By: James |
1 Comment
Portsmouth looked in control for the majority of the game to the delight of the Fratton Park faithful who came into the game expecting a solid display following the previous Thursday night’s qualification to the Uefa Cup group stages and the team did not disappoint. They played good football feeding it down the flanks and holding the ball with Stoke simply trying to prevent them doing this and attempting to counter using long balls and playing for set-pieces.
Pompey went one up after 25 minutes despite long-throws causing a problem and Stoke would rue Kitson’s missed chance early on when Defoe picked up the ball and found Crouch who finished with a spectacular overhead kick. Stoke’s long balls were being picked up easily. Defoe looked desperate to score and had claims for a penalty turned away and rightly so as he lost his footing.
Fuller put in a typically committed performance and used his strength to scramble home an equaliser in the 48th minute stemming from a Rory Delap long-throw. It would clearly not be enough to steal a point however. Traore’s service to Defoe pointed to this as both he and Diop kept coming close. Simonsen did very well to keep out many of these efforts, depite getting booked in the process for a foul on Traore outside of the area.
It was not only Pompey that had a penalty shout however, Stoke had two of their own. Fuller latched onto the end of Michael Tonge’s ball through the centre before being brought down by David James as he attempted to take it around him. Fuller was also the man in the middle of the second penalty controversy as Sol Campbell appeared to fall on top of him. Yet again claims were turned away.
It looked as if it was not to be for Jermaine Defoe as his 50th minute effort hit the post but he would only have to wait another minute as his persistence finally paid off when his right-footed shot beat Simonsen to cap off a fine Portsmouth display. Stoke continued to battle away in the air but to no avail.
Another loss for Stoke then but by no means a bad performance. It cannot be forgotten that Stoke have encountered some of the Premiership’s biggest sides in their opening seven games. Liverpool, Chelsea, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Everton among them. There is as of yet, no great cause for concern whatsoever. Good news also comes in the form of chairman Peter Coates who has promised funds which will be made available for the January transfer window.
Home form will be crucial this season. Tottenham are visiting the Britannia this Sunday; here’s hoping….
Category: Stoke Team News
Chin Up….
By: James | 1 Comment
“It was like defending against the Red Arrows”. Tony Pulis’s reaction to Sunday afternoon’s events summed up the game well to be honest. Although Stoke came to life perhaps too late, Chelsea’s approach was a cautious one to begin with, a sign that Stoke are winning some respect in the Premiership. Leon Cort came close with a header in the second half only to see his effort cleared off the line by John Obi Mikel, {{ but unlike SOME Liverpool fans I don’t care for picking out ONE moment that COULD have changed the game 
}} before Anelka killed the Potters off completely in the 76th minute.
All is not negative however. Signs of the spirit that Liverpool came up against were still there and although Chelsea had many attempts to score a third, Stoke refused to go down any further. Sorensen, probably Stoke’s key man in this match pulled off some good saves to keep Stoke in the game and hopes alive. In the end though, Chelsea’s class prevailed and rightfully so, they got the win they deserved as they controlled the game in terms of possession mainly, maintaining their 100% away win record and taking them back to the top of the table.
It was evident that Ricardo Fuller, Stoke’s ‘talisman’, according to Pulis, despite looking lively after coming off the bench and long-throw specialist Rory Delap were missed but Stoke did well to battle bravely against such a force. It was just a shame that they left it so late to wake-up, by which point they were already a goal down.
Although Stoke’s one-dimensional tactics may not be the prettiest sight, their commitment is a wonder to behold so far this season. Some attempts were made in the second half to attack but as I’ve said before, do this and against big teams and you are taking a big risk, no two ways about it. The space Chelsea craved suddenly appeared and their passing meant Stoke couldn’t get near them. The price was paid by Stoke when Faye, who had a good game overall made the mistake which allowed Anelka to finish them off.
I won’t go too into detail over the Carling Cup game against Reading last Tuesday but once again what great determination Stoke showed to throw away the lead twice and still keep their spirits up to grind out a win on penalties. Aggressive defending, particularly in the air was once again on display. This attitude can only serve to help the progress of the club. “Last season there is no way we could have done that.” claimed Stoke assistant manager Dave Kemp. Stoke will be playing against Rotherham in the 4th round. In November. Pulis will hope that his men can bring the same grit to Portsmouth this coming Sunday.
Category: Stoke Team NewsLet’s be honest….
By: James | 11 Comments
I felt it necessary to reply to anybody still claiming that Steven Gerrard’s offside goal should have stood and that it is for this reason that Liverpool did not win against Stoke City at home. What a lovely excuse this is to cover up Liverpool’s shortcomings in front of goal at Anfield on Saturday.
Stoke did well to stick to a game plan and got the result they deserved. However it is very rich, comic even,despite whether the decision was right or wrong, for a club talking of winning the Premiership before a game to be pointing to one moment in the game (after only two minutes!) that apparently changed the its whole course. True champions should be clattering home goals from all angles in a match against a newly promoted outfit surely?
Yes, you can be pedantic and obsess over statistics aferwards but statistics do not win you games, as the Reds found out the hard way. Stoke may have had hardly any possession and hardly attacked Reina’s goal at all, but give them credit where it is deserved, for despite all of this they ground out a point, which they need to be doing this term if they want to stay up.
You only have to look back as far as last season to Derby’s Premiership campaign after their promotion from the Championship to see that. Attack these big teams, open up the floodgates and you will pay a devastating price. Derby of course ended their season with the lowest amount of points ever recorded for a Premiership side and were relegated by the end of March.
Stoke were resolute against a big side, proving that they would not be bullied and had every intention of staying up this season. Any talk of Stoke ‘ruining football’ for the fans is ridiculous and I feel this does not even warrant any further mention. What do you expect, it is Stoke City after all. If you want sexy football you can look elsewhere. If you like to see good, committed, tactical football then you’re in the right company.
So Liverpool fans, surely if you are good enough to win the Premiership you shouldn’t be relying on one decision to win you a game over a newly promoted side? At the end of the day you can play and pass the ball really well all day and this you did, but chances need to be taken. So swallow your pride and applaud Stoke for getting behind the ball and getting something out of a game that wasn’t expected. Fairplay to them.
Category: Stoke Team NewsEffort….
By: James | 1 Comment
Liverpool at Anfield seemed a daunting prospect as they came fresh from a comeback win over Marseille last Tuesday, with the defeat of Manchester United still fresh in their minds, which no doubt created a buzz amongst Rafa’s men. It was not just the thought, however premature, that the Reds could this season mount a serious title challenge serving as an incentive to win this game. Kop talisman Steven Gerrard was chasing his 100th goal for his club.
Stoke expected a very difficult game and Liverpool duly delivered. It was after only two minutes that Steven Gerrard thought he had reached his landmark goal from a free-kick. It appeared to have evaded everybody as a curling ball from the left floated into the far corner. Dirk Kuyt had thrown himself towards it seemingly to no avail, however an offside flag was waving and it was ruled that contact had been made, much to the dismay of Mr.Gerrard who had reeled off and was already celebrating as his team-mates rushed to congratulate him. It was game-on.
Although Liverpool dominated over the 90 minutes, Stoke’s strong backline made sure that Thomas Sorensen need not get involved any more than was needed. He had to react well on a number of occasions, but was equal to what Liverpool threw at him. He kept his cool as Liverpool’s wave of attacks came at Stoke. Salif Diao, returning to the Stoke starting line-up and earning Pulis’s praises, did well against his former club to protect the defence and they appeared to know exactly what they were doing as extra training paid off with great organisational skills on show. Abdoulaye Faye was another key-man for Stoke. He did well to recognise the need to drop back to centre-back from his original defensive midfield position and made sure that Fernando Torres saw as little of the ball as possible.
Liverpool pinned the away side back into their own final third towards the later stages of the game as frustration crept in, when it became apparent that long-range efforts were not paying off. Stoke remained committed as men their men hurled themselves into the way of Liverpool’s wasted, desperate attempts on goal in the closing minutes and they walked away with a well-earned point, despite Liverpool really feeling they should have picked up all 3.
Stoke will hope to build on what they have learnt here in a real test in Premiership football which they passed with flying colours. This result can surely only create confidence in the ranks and rally the team to help their effort to avoid relegation this season. Nevertheless, a well-salvaged point for the Potters. In fact their first ever away point in the Barclays Premier League. They can be very proud of this preformance.
The majority of the side that played at Anfield can expect a rest for tomorrow night’s 3rd round Carling Cup tie with Reading.
Category: Stoke Team News
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