0-0 All over then on

[unkownperson]

Sat?

I think so ;d

[GeoFox]

I'm not sure, either 0-0, 1-0 or 0-1, could go either way really! But no doubt it will be dull and tight. Although Megson will want to stick with a winning side I don't think he can stick to the tactics of the Villa game - they worked then but this is at home. You're probably a more physical team than us so to win I really think we have to play proper stuff. Whether we will remains to be seen...

[filbert85]

Be like the Charlton game I reckon, we looked like we had a real hangover from the cup last time - can't see it being any different this time around.

Only thing this time round is we're playing at home, but not sure how much of a difference that really makes at the Walkers these days - the place is hardly a fortress. Still I shall do my best to be in fine voice in the stand despite a rather persistent cough!!

And I sincerely hope it's warmer than the last time I saw Stoke play. Went to the Britannia towards the end of last season - that place must be the coldest spot on earth!

[GeoFox]

If theres a positive filbert, it was fairly warm today.

As for the match, I was pretty stunned to say the least when I heard the team selection. I thought he may tamper with it a bit from the Villa game but perhaps to give us more emphasis going forward, NOT to replace the more attacking and good performers from the Villa game with 3 of the biggest wastes of space to be seen at the club.

So the game begins:

------------------Fulop
----McAuley N'Gotty Kisnorbo
Stearman--------------------Mattock
---------Chambers Clemence
------De Vries - Campbell - Cort

Utterly shocking, we were run off the park in midfield with only 2 players there (1 of which is a defender) in the first 45 mins. And the 3 up front were garbage - how he could leave out Hume and Fryatt I don't know. De Vries isn't good enough, Campbell looks lazy and disinterested...and Cort frankly looks the worst player to have worn the City shirt (when including things like workrate and attitude alongside quality).

Furthermore, I still think Stearman and Mattock, particularly the former are too defensive players to be playing wingback - the quality of balls in the box from Stearman was dire. Kaebi, one would think would be far better in this role but we'll never know because we never get to bloody well see him.

First half we were awful and very lucky to come in 1 down. Second half on come Fryatt and Hume and we look better....and low and behold Fryatt scores a nice goal early on. Cort still looks useless, and when Kishishev came on we finished with the same team that played against Villa. can't fault the 2nd half performance though I still think that 7 of 11 players being defensively minded is far too many for a home game. Frankly 2 points lost as a result of Megson's team selection...he has to learn from his mistakes quickly, things aren't good! Incidentally I dread to think of our formation in the Chelsea game!

Fulop - 7 - Stoke didn't have too many shots on target. Did ok but kicking was a bit dodgy.

McAuley - 6 - Solid but gave away too many free kicks.
N'Gotty - 7 - solid but not at his best.
Kisnorbo 7 - similar

Stearman - 6 - Solid enough - not too great coming forward but not his fault being out of position.
Mattock 7 - similar to Stearman but I thought he did the task asked of him well.

Clemence 7 - solid in the middle but too much pressure is being put on him.
Chambers - 5 - May as well not be there really. Completely out of position

De Vries - 4 - Tried but not good enough.
Campbell - 4 - Waste of money and lazy
Cort - 3 - rubbish!

Subs:
Fryatt - 8 - well worked and taken goal. Changed the face of the game completely and livened us up.
Hume - 7 - worked his socks off...didn't really come off today though. But better than the 1st half alternatives.
Kishishev - 6 - quiet but a much needed midfield accompaniment to Clemence.

Att: 23,654. good crowd. Atmosphere was a bit lacking today but the football was uninspiring. The crowd were very critical on the team at H/T.

[filbert85]

Ten out of ten for sports journalism there Geo! Have an exalt.

Couldn't agree more about Cort - he was completely hopeless. A few of the fans around me were making excuses for him - he's been out a long time, lacks sharpness, always injured etc. Sorry, but I don't buy it. Not just today but against Charlton as well, he just couldn't be bothered to chase balls which I thought he had a chance of getting to. Unless it's played into feet, he's not interested. And even then he'll probably mis-control it or something stupid. De Vries is no Thierry Henry but at least he goes for the fucking ball and tries to get something out of it.

I thought Sterman was useless as well on Saturday. He stood off and stood off Ricardo Fuller for the goal and made some very iffy decisions elsewhere. Chambers was unlucky - I think he's an excellent little player but that was the worst I've seen from him. He was very influential against Villa.

I was saying at half time, bring on Matty Fryatt and Hume - lo and behold, a positive substitution from Gary Megson! I never thought I'd see the like. Much better in the second half but I don't think we ever looked like winning the game. I actually think Mattock overlapped well in the second half, if anything he worries me more at the back. I know people say he's young and his time will come, but what is he doing in the bloody team then??!!

As for DJ, a real disappointment. He doesn't look at all sharp and his touch has definitely deserted him. I'm pretty sure he will improve, but the price tag was definitely overinflated.

We have got to start winning games like this at home though! Stoke were very much under the thumb in the second half but a lack of quality in midfield is really hampering us. Clearly in this particular lineup, we don't have a midfield so are playing five defenders and Chambers who should really be in defensive midfield. I'm sorry, but people crying for Martin Allen, this is his doing. FOUR goalkeepers on the bloody books and not enough midfielders to go round!! Doesn't take a rocket scientist to work this one out.

Best of luck with Chelsea tickets!! I'll try myself but don't hold out much hope. Mind you, they should follow Man Utd's example - they gave 11k to Cov and still packed the home stands. Chelsea barely managed a Leicester attendance against Rosenborg the other week.