Friday, 31 October 2008
Arsenal (H) Preview
Arsenal travel to the Potteries on the back of the epic 4-4 North London derby draw against Tottenham on Wednesday, and will be in no mood to fall further behind in the title race on Saturday afternoon (k/o 3pm). Arsene Wenger's men are a team that tradionally struggle against more physical opponants, but will need to be up for exactly that kind of battle if they are to bounce back, when they take on a Stoke side buoyed by the mid-week victory over Sunderland.
Stoke Team News:
Manager Tony Pulis has no fresh injury worries and is likely to field the same side that beat Sunderland 1-0 at the Britannia on Wednesday although he may decide to introduce Michael Tonge following his impressive cameo from the bench in Wednesday's win. Liam Lawrence underwent an operation on his troublesome ankle and is likely to return within the month.
Arsenal Team News:
Captain William Gallas is likely to miss the game with a hamstring injury with Kolo Toure favourite to replace him, whilst Emmanuel Eboue is also a doubt. Arsene Wenger may decide to introduce Abou Diaby to the team to provide more height and physical presence.
Probable Teams:
Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Soares, Olofinjana, Diao, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Silvestre, Toure, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Diaby, Nasri, Adebayor, Van Persie
Last Arsenal Visit To Stoke
Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal (23-10-1996)
Mike Sheron gave Stoke a first half lead but a disputed Ian Wright goal gave Arsenal a share of the spoils in what proved to be the last ever League Cup tie at the Victoria Ground. Arsenal provailed in the return leg with a narrow 5-2 victory at Highbury.
Satan's Little Helper Chosen For Gunners Clash
Controversial referee Rob Styles has been chosen to make his latest Premier League return in tomorrows clash with Arsenal. The mention of Rob Styles to most Stoke fans sends a shiver down the spine and starts to make the blood boil, mostly steming from the memory of our 2000 play-off defeat to Gillingham where Styles well and truely screwed us over and was rewarded for his awful performance with a promotion to the Premier League officials list not long after. Stokies may also remember Styles giving two penalties against Stoke during their 6-3 defeat to Crystal Palace back in 2004. Surely after a string of high profile recent errors, including that ridiculas decision to award Manchester United a penalty in their recent game against Bolton, Styles will want the game to flow without further controversy.
Big Mama The Daddy
IF there's one player in the Stoke squad overachieving at the moment it's Mamady Sidibe. A player who once scored just 3 goals all season whilst playing for Gillingham in the Championship, and who took until February to notch his first goal last season has become something of a cult hero among fans and is currently keeping £5.5 million record signing Dave Kitson out of the team with a string of fine performances. There isnt a Stoke fan out there who can surely question Mama's attitude and work rate and he is also now showing what a vital member of the team he really is. We all know and have come to accept that he isnt a 20 goal a season striker but given the amount of assists he provides, including that fabulous cross for Rory Delap's winner against Tottenham, and given that he will chip in with the odd goal now and again, such as the crucial winner against the Villa, he is most defonatly an indispensable member of the squad at the moment.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Ricardo Rises To Shoot Down Mackams
Stoke City 1-0 Sunderland
RICARDO FULLER headed home a trademark Rory Delap long throw in the 76th minute as the Potters earned a thoroughly deserved win against a poor Sunderland side, to lift themselves out of the relegation zone and into double figures for the season.
On a freezing cold night at the Britannia, Stoke lined up with the same eleven that were beaten by Manchester City on Sunday and quickly set about the visiting defence forcing several throw ins early on. Fuller was unlucky not to open the scoring when Mamady Sidibe flicked Delap's launch into the box into his path, only for Anton Ferdinand to block the effort on the line with the keeper beaten.
Seyi Olofinjana then tested Stoke reject Marton Fulop with a stinging drive from the edge of the box, but the Hungarian keeper made a good save down low to his right.
Sunderland's frontline of Cisse and Diouf, which had caused so many problems to north east neighbours Newcastle on Saturday, were finding it tough to break down Stoke's solid defence, with Ryan Shawcross looking particuarly comfortable alongside the ever impressive Abdoulaye Faye.
Stoke had every reason to feel hard done by at not being in the lead by half time, and started the second half where they left off in the first, with more aerial bombardment from Delap causing the increasingy panicky Sunderland defence problems, whilst Fuller's trickery on the ground was also proving a threat.
It was a Fuller run which almost lead to the opener on the hour when his shot was deflected across goal by Phil Bardsley only for the ball to trickle wide with the unfortunate Sidibe agonisingly close to turning it home.
Just when you thought it wasnt going to be Stoke's night, substitute Michael Tonge forced Ferdinand into yet another panicky clearance out for a throw. Delap produced his best throw of the night as Fuller beat Dean Whitehead to the ball and power it past the static Fulop. It was the least than the Jamaican magician deserved for all his recent efferts.
The goal predictably forced Sunderland into action and substitute Kenwyne Jones had their best chance of the night five minutes from time when he shot across goal, only to see Thomas Sorensen prove once again just how important he may well be towards out eventual success this season, when he produced a supurb save down low to his right.
Stoke were able to comfortably see out the remaining time and secure another crucial home win. This win takes a little bit of pressure off the Potters ahead of the clash with Arsenal at the weekend, and provides the chance to have a real go at Arsene Weneger's men who may well still be reeling following the dramatic events against Tottenham.
Man of the Match - Salif Diao - Produced the kind of performance we were used to 2 years ago, broke up everything in the middle and seems to have recaptured his eye for a pass.
Attendance - 26,731
Stoke City:- Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Soares (Tonge,69), Olofinjana (Amdy Faye,87), Diao, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller (Kitson,90)
Sunderland:- Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque (Reid,75), Whitehead, Yorke (Jones,45), Richardson, Diouf, Cisse (Chopra,62)
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Sunderland (H) Preview
Roy Keane's men travel south this evening for a clash against the Potters (k/o 7.45), in the first evening kick off at the Britannia since promotion. The Black Cats will be hoping to build on Saturdays Tyne/Wear derby victory over Newcastle. Stoke meanwhile will be hoping to build on their last outing at the Britannia where they defeated Tottenham 2-1 in a pulsating encounter, and will be looking to bounce back following Sunday's defeat at Manchester City.
Stoke Team News:
Stoke boss Tony Pulis may stick with the side that lost 3-0 at Manchester City but may decide to recall Leon Cort in defence, Amdy Faye or Glenn Whelan in midfield and Dave Kitson in attack to freshen the side up. Liam Lawrence will miss the game against his old club as he continues to recover from his ankle injury, but Rory Delap, Thomas Sorensen and Danny Higginbotham should all line up against their former club.
Sunderland Team News:
Roy Keane must decide whether to risk Craig Gordon who missed Saturday's derby game with an ankle injury, or stick with Marton Fulop against the side he nearly joined in the summer. Kenwyne Jones may also feature against the club he spent 3 months on loan with in 2005, as he continues to build fitness following his knee ligament injury.
Probable Teams:
Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Soares, Olofinjana, Diao, Delap, Fuller, Kitson
Sunderland: Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Tainio, Whitehead, Richardson, Cisse, Diouf
Last Sunderland Visit To The Britannia
Stoke City 2-1 Sunderland (17-10-2006)
Second half strikes from on loan Lee Hendrie and Vincent Pericard cancelled out Dwight Yorke's first half opener as the Potters defeated eventual champions Sunderland in a game remembered for a horror injury to new signing Rory Delap who suffered a a double leg break which ultimatly ended his season.
Greater Manchester Police Criticised (Again!)
You could argue the Greater Manchester Police are doing all they can to upset Stoke City and Stoke City fans, but that would be an understatement. Recent reports suggest GMP police, in Manchester for the Man City game on Sunday, ordered a group of Stoke fans home as they made their way to the stadium before kick off, claiming them to be potential risk of alcohol-related disorder, in spite of protests from the group that non of them were drunk or looking to, or having caused any trouble.
This is the latest is a series of decisions from the GMP, which have caused upset to Stoke fans, maybe an over-reaction following the trouble caused by Rangers fans in the city following the UEFA Cup Final in May, and our own history of crowd trouble.
Recent intellegence was the claim from the GMP for the farcical decision to impose kick off time changes to 3pm on Sunday for the Man City game and the upcoming 12.45pm kick off for the Wigan game on November 8th, as well as the decision to enforce increased security measures around Manchester before Sundays game, and this despite protests from Stoke City itself, Stoke fans having caused no major crowd disturbances for ther last 8 years as well as fans being forced to carry ID cards to away matches for the last 5 years.
If this recent intellegence is anything to go by then why hasnt the kick off times been changed for the trip to Old Trafford on November 15th, just 7 days after the Wigan game, and how come Merseyside police were abe to comfortably deal with visiting Stoke fans during our recent game at Anfield without enforcing any unnecessary increased security measures. With incidents like these its easy to see why normal friendly supporters are losing respect for the police.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Super City Leave Ramos On The Brink
STOKE CITY 2-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
JUANDE RAMOS was left clinging his job after a hard working Stoke display saw them claim a vital second victory of the season at the Britannia Stadium and open a gap between themselves and their under performing opponents
Even at this stage of the season you get six-pointers and this was certainly one of them, a must win given our recent dry spell of points, despite the at times encouraging performances.
The Potters started the game much brighter than their beleaguered opponents, who were facing the prospect of their worst start to a season in their history as well as being left adrift at the bottom of the table were they to lose. Spurs were never allowed to settle with the likes of Seyi Olofinjana and Salif Diao snapping into tackles in the middle of the park, whilst Mama Sidibe was proving to be a nuisance up front winning everything (as ever) in the air.
This should have lead to the opening goal within the first ten minutes, when Stoke, a side which can only play football in the air if you listen to some parts of the media, produced a flowing counter attack on the left involving Dave Kitson and Rory Delap, with the later providing home debutant Tom Soares with a chance to instantly make a name for himself, however he shot tamely across Gomes who made a reasonably comfortable save low to his right.
Spurs finally worked themselves some space and almost punished Stoke for their earlier miss when Luka Modric slid in Darren Bent who may well have scored had it not been for a superb block by the recalled Ibrahima Sonko.
Despite the earlier miss, Soares was providing a welcome addition of pace and creativity to a side which particularly when without Ricardo Fuller had been lacking in this department somewhat in recent weeks, and so it proved when the former Crystal Palace man was involved in an incident which exploded the game into life. A long ball forward saw Sidibe flick on to Kitson who immediately tried to release Soares coming in from the right. Welsh defender Gareth Bale was the last defender and made a mess of trying to bring the ball under control, allowing Soares to gain half a yard on him and head for goal, only for the left back to haul him down in a last ditch attempt to make up for his error.
Referee Probert immediately pointed to the spot and produced a red card for Bale. It was down to Danny Higginbotham to give the Potters the lead from the penalty spot, and despite having to re-spot the ball four times due to the strong winds around the stadium, he held his nerve and drove the ball into the bottom corner to send the crowd into raptures.
If ever a team were there for the taking it was surely Tottenham at this point, rock bottom in terms of league position and confidence and now down to ten men in a crucial game, many may have expected them to roll over.
However, much to the home crowd’s annoyance Stoke reverted to their old tactic of sitting off their opponents when ahead and allowed Spurs to get themselves back in the game.
Right-back Alan Hutton was allowed to get forward unchallenged and let fly with a strike from the edge of the box which found its way to Bent, via a deflection, who re-adjusted himself to fire through Sorensen’s legs and bring Spurs level.
It was a goal Stoke had brought on themselves, and were almost punished again when Sorensen was forced into a good save down low to his right following a strike from Jermaine Jenas.
Despite the man advantage it was Stoke who were the happier to hear the half-time whistle. After re-grouping they came out fired up for the second half, and quickly regained the advantage when the impressive Soares found Sidibe wide on the right. The big Malian produced a cross of high quality which found its way to Delap at the far post to prod home and once again give the Potter the lead.
From then on there was only ever going to be one winner as Spurs struggled to get back into the game and the introduction of Ricardo Fuller from the bench for the ineffective Kitson, gave Stoke a new dimension to their game.
Stoke won a series of throw ins which Delap, in trademark style, launched into the box giving keeper Gomes , already struggling with injury, more problems as Stoke threatened to extend their lead.
Against the run of play Tottenham should have equalised when a slip by Sonko on the edge of the box provided Modric a free pop at goal, but the far from impressive Croatian international fired well over.
You could argue Spurs were fortunate not to be reduced to nine men moments later when Hutton challenged Sorensen and appeared to leave his foot in the challenge which left the Danish keeper with a nasty cut above his eye, forcing Stoke into a change with Steve Simonsen making his second successive appearance in the first team.
A long stoppage followed when Spurs defender Vedran Corluka suffered what looked like a nasty injured when he was knocked unconscious after being clattered by his own keeper. Thankfully Corluka regained consciousness whilst on the way to hospital.
The now desperate Spurs threw on Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko in an attempt to get back into the game and would have been encouraged by the forth official signalling for eleven minutes of stoppage time as a result of the injuries to Sorensen and Corluka.
Stoke’s defence looked comfortable with everything Tottenham threw at them, Andy Griffin controlled the threat of the dangerous Aaron Lennon whilst Abdoulaye Faye produced yet another faultless display in the heart of the defence.
Despite being ahead it was Stoke who were doing all the attacking and should have wrapped things up when Soares missed a further chance for a deserved goal when he blazed over when well placed in the box. Soares’ trickery had caused the Spurs defence problems all afternoon, and after nut megging Didier Zokora, Jonathan Woodgate bundled over the youngster to concede another penalty and give Ricardo Fuller the chance to finish Spurs off.
Incredibly Fuller’s penalty struck both posts before Delap crashed the rebound against the bar as Tottenham clung to a hope of salvaging something from the game.
Spurs’ afternoon went from bad to worse when substitute Michael Dawson saw red for a high challenge on Sidibe, before Fuller missed the chance to rub further salt into the wound when he smashed a shot against the bar following a mazy run through Tottenham’s depleted defence.
All in all a deserved win for Stoke, and a vital one not just in terms of the league position, but more so that the victory restores a sense of belief that the Potters can be competitive and pick up the points needed for survival. This was far from a perfect performance but its games like this that the result is so much more important.
Man of the Match – Tom Soares - Added a spark to Stoke’s play and deserved a goal for his efforts.
Attendance – 27,500