Tony's Plan B

If there is one criticism (and there arn't many) you could label at Tony Pulis, it's his general lack of a back up plan when things start to go wrong, or his original ideas don't work for him.
There have been times in the past when TP has tried to put square pegs in round holes, who can forget playing Chris Greenacre and Carl Asaba, two out and out strikers, on the wings, and his persistance in playing Richard Cresswell, again a striker, on the left wing. This is something he at times got away with in the Championship, but most defonatly won't get away with it in the Premier League.
The 2-2 draw at Newcastle showed fans shoots of a new side to Tony Pulis, a Tony Pulis that wasn't scared to drastically change things when the going got tough. Ricardo Fuller was dropped to the bench after a sub-standard performance in the Carling Cup, a controversial move at the time, but one which proved to be a tactical master stroke when Fuller lit up the game as he made his appearance from the bench. The decision to play Danny Pugh on the left wing was also a surprise. Although Rory Delap is not a genuine winger, he is at least right footed, and with the left footed Pugh on the other side, the team looked to have found a new balance.
But it wasnt until Salif Diao got injured that we really saw Tony pull out his plan B. At 1-0 down, which was soon to be 2-0, Pulis resisted the temptation to replace Diao with Seyi Olofinjana, which would have been a straight swap, one holding midfielder for another. Instead, Pulis threw on Glenn Whelen, an altogether different player, a creative midfielder many fans have been crying out for.
With a verbal dressing down at half time ringing in their ears the players emerged in the second half a different team, a midfield consisting of Pugh, Whelan, Amdy Faye and Delap looked the most balenced midfield we've seen in a long time, certainly since we've been in the Premier League.
Is it no coincedence that all of a sudden the game changed, it was Stoke taking the game to the home side, and it was Stoke who earned a point with attacking football rather than hanging on for dear life. It was a promising move by Tony Pulis, and with Michael Tonge, Tom Soares and the soon to be returning Liam Lawrence waiting in the wings, as well as a large transfer kitty to raid in January, the comeback at Newcastle would have provided many a Potters fan optomism for the coming weeks.

Police Block Extra Blackburn Tickets Request

Lancashire Police have today forced Blackburn into not releasing further tickets for Stoke fans for the upcoming clash at Ewood Park. It had been hoped that 7000 tickets would be made available to Potters fans for the game, but police have now intervened and restricted the allocation to just 4700, which has now sold out.
This is massive blow to many Potters fans who have yet to get their tickets and were hoping to taking advantage of the clubs' genourous offer of free coach travel.
Unfortunatly this is yet another example of how poorly Stoke fans are treated by the police in this apparant 'free country'. We've had all the Micky Mouse policy of the Greater Manchester Police enforced on us recently, and yet despite the club's decision to remove the Away Card scheme for 'good behaiviour' us normal fans have again been punished.
Coincedenly both Manchester United and Liverpool fans were given the full 7000 allocation for their recent trips to Blackburn with no objections from the police.
One rule for the 'big' teams and another for the rest.

'The Wall' Snatches Last Gasp Point For Jekyll and Hyde Potters

Newcastle United 2-2 Stoke City

Abdoulaye Faye returned to haunt his former employers with a stoppage time equaliser as Stoke faught back from 2-0 down at half time to draw 2-2 on Tyneside.

Tony Pulis made a few suprise changes to the starting eleven with Ibrahima Sonko prefered to Leon Cort at centre back, Danny Pugh coming in for his first start of the season on the left wing, and perhaps most suprising of all, Richard Cresswell chosen ahead of Ricardo Fuller in attack.

The changes to the team however appeared to backfire as Newcastle dominated the opening exchanges, and deservadly took the lead on eight minutes when the lively Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez played through Michael Owen who swept the ball past Thomas Sorensen for the opener.

It was just the kind of start we didnt need and we didn't have to wait long for things to get worse, as the Potters appeared to be continuing where they left off on Tuesday's following the hugely disappointing performance against Derby in the Carling Cup.

On 24 minutes Geremi played in Obafemi Martins who played the ball across Sorensen to provide Owen with a simple tap in to double the home sides' advantage. At this stage the wrist slashers were sharpening their knives as memories of last month's capitulation at Old Trafford came flooding back, with Newcastle threatning to run riot.

Just before the second goal Glenn Whelan had replaced the injured Salif Diao and his introduction gave the midfield some much needed balance as the Potters steadied the ship and held out to go in only two down at half time.

Fresh from an ear bashing from the manager, Stoke came out fired up for the second half and were dealt a stroke of luck when an injury to Newcastle midfielder Danny Guthrie appeared to unsettle the Magpies and forced them onto the defensive.

Fuller replaced the ineffective Rory Delap and was quickly into his stride as he skipped past Fabricio Collocini before squaring to Sidibe who reduced the deficit on the hour.

It was Stoke who now had the bit between their teeth as Newcastle, who had looked so dominant in the first half, lost their shape and seemed content to hold onto their lead rather than trying to increase it.

Fuller then tested Shay Given himself with a left foot volley before Abdoulaye Faye and Pugh missed further chances to bring the Potters level. Meanwhile Sonko was proving himself to be yet another long throw specialist in the Stoke armoury with several threatning launches into the box with Delap off the park.

It looked as though the Potters' valiant second half efforts were all going to be vain before Faye produced a dramatic equaliser a minute into stoppage time. Whelen delivered an inviting free kick into the Newcastle penalty area which saw Danny Higginbotham flick towards the back post where Faye was on hand to smash the ball past Given to complete a fabulous comeback, and send the travelling fans into raptures.

To compound a miserable second half for Newcastle, manager Joe Kinnear was sent to the stands by referee Mike Riley for complaining excessivly about Sebastien Bassong's foul on Fuller, which lead to the free kick in the run up to the equaliser.

After such a dismal first half performance this had been a superb effort from the Potters in what could turn out to be a crucial moment over the course of the season. This was more than a valuable point against a relegation rival, the comeback will give both players and fans alike the belief that Stoke can perform away from home, that they can compete when the going gets tough and that they can get those all important points needed for Premier League survival.

Man of the Match - Abdoulaye Faye - Produced vital blocks at crucial times and popped up with a deserved first goal for the club with that dramatic last minute equaliser. Again we ask, just what were Newcastle thinking when they let this man come to Stoke for just £2.25 million?

Attendance - 47,422

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, N'Zogbia, Geremi (Cacapa,82), Guthrie (Taylor,46), Gutierrez, Owen, Martins (Viduka,74)

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Sonko, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Delap (Fuller,57), Amdy Faye (Tonge,78), Diao (Whelan,21), Pugh, Cresswell, Sidibe

Newcastle United (A) Preview

Stoke travel to the north-east tomorrow to face Joe Kinnear's Newcastle United (k/o 3pm). The Potters will be looking to bounce back from the disappointing Carling Cup defeat against Derby on Tuesday night as they continue to look for their first away win the top flight. The Magpies currently sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference but have been improving in recent weeks with gritty 0-0 draws away at Chelsea and Middlesborough. With just three points separating the sides in the table, both teams will know how important victory at St James' Park could be in the fight for survival.


Stoke Team News:- The Potters are likely to welcome back Abdoulaye Faye for the game against his former club. Striker Dave Kitson continues to struggle with injury, whilst Tom Soares and Michael Tonge are available again having been cup tied against Derby. Liam Lawrence returned to training this week but this game comes too soon for his return to the first team.

Newcastle Team News:- Steven Taylor could return to The Magpies defence but faces competition from Sebastien Bassong who has been impressive in Taylor's absence. Newcastle are without injury victims Joey Barton, Nacho Gonzales and Alan Smith, but have Mark Viduka available to challenge Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins for a place in attack.


Newcastle Danger Man:- Shay Given - A hugely impressive performance at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago, enhanced his reputation as one of the best keepers in the Premier League

Probable Teams:
Newcastle:- Given, Beye, Bassong, Coloccini, Enrique, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Butt, N'Zogbia, Martins, Owen
Stoke:- Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Cort, Higginbotham, Delap, Diao, Amdy Faye, Soares, Fuller, Sidibe

Last Potters Visit To Newcastle

Newcastle United 4-1 Stoke City (16-01-2008)

Kevin Keegan's dramatic return to Tyneside highjacked The Potters' chances of an FA Cup replay upset after an entertaining 0-0 draw at the Britannia. The result could have been different had Ricardo Fuller and Ryan Shawcross put away early chances, but from then on Newcastle controlled the game and goals from Michael Owen, Claudio Cacapa, Damien Duff and James Milner took the tie away from Stoke despite Liam Lawrence's last minute goal of the season contender consolation.

Satan's Little Helper Does It Again As Cup Dream Ends

Stoke City 0-1 Derby County

Rob Styles, the man who produced one of the worst refereeing displays of all time, all them years ago at Gillingham, the man who gave two penalties against us at Crystal Palace, the clown who has proved time and time again that Stevie Wonder is indeed more useful as a referee, has done it again to us.

The Potters crashed out of the Carling Cup tonight after referee Rob Styles stole the show in awarding Derby a controversial last minute penalty that was promptly dispatched by Nathan Ellington, as Stoke blew a massive chance to make the semi finals for the first time since winning the trophy back in 1972.

Stoke could have been ahead inside the first minute when Rory Delap just failed to connect with Mamady Sidibe's left wing cross, when free inside the area.

Both sides lacked creativity in the first half as neither keeper were really tested. But it was during the first half that the first real controversy of the game took place. Richard Cresswell, playing left wing, charged down a clearence, before slotting past Roy Carroll for what we thought was the opening goal, only to find out that Styles had in fact pulled play back for a handball.

As the second half began both sides looked to up the tempo, but it was Derby who had the bit between their teeth and should have taken the lead five minutes into the second half when Ellington produced an inviting cross which saw former Potter Kris Commons crash his header against the bar, before Rob Hulse somehow managed to head the rebound wide from six with an open goal in front of him.

It was Stoke's turn to attack next, Ricardo Fuller missed a glorious chance to open the scoring after he headed over when unmarked from six yards. With the clock ticking down Derby hung on as Carroll superbly tipped away Cresswell's header from a Glenn Whelan free kick before defender James Tomkins heroicly denied Fuller from the rebound.

Derby then came closest to breaking the deadlock when Miles Addison flicked a Commons corner against the post, with Ellington inches away from turning the ball home.

Carroll was again called into action when he smartly tipped away a curling 25 yard Whelan free kick as the game headed for extra time.

But it was time for Styles to take centre stage. Derby took a quick short corner that caught the Potters' defence unaware. The cross was charged down by Andy Griffin but Styles agree with protests from the Derby fans and awarded a penalty for handball. It was a 50/50 decision but whether it was a penalty or not, it was no more a 'handball' than Cresswell's had been in the first half. It was yet another example of how Styles treats touch and go decisions when Stoke are involved. Ellington kept his nerve and stroked away the penalty to send the 5000 travelling fans into raptures, as Stoke were once again left to ponder what might have been.

In all fairness Derby probably deserved the win, Stoke were just not at the races at all on a disappointing night. It's always a bitter pill to swallow when you lose in controversial circumstances with such a massive prize on offer. I'm sure all Stokies would rather see three points in Saturday's crucial game at St James' Park over a win tonight, but I fear this one is going to take some time to get over.

Man of the Match - Glenn Whelan - Top draw delivery from set pieces and was one of only a few Stoke players who actually looked a threat

Attendance - 22,034

Stoke: Simonsen, Griffin, Cort, Sonko, Higginbotham, Delap, Olofinjana (Pugh,81), Whelan, Cresswell, Sidibe, Fuller.

Derby: Carroll, Connolly, Powell, Tomkins, Stewart, Kazmierczak, Green (Teale,90), Addison, Commons, Hulse (Villa,86), Ellington.

Derby County (H) Preview

Carling Cup Quarter Finals

Derby County are the visitors to the Britannia tonight (k/o 7.45) as the Potters look to reach the semi final of the League Cup for the first time since winning the competition in 1972. The Rams will be hoping a victory tonight can kick start a league campaign which has failed to really get going following relegation from the Premier League last season.


Stoke Team News:- The Potters are without striker Dave Kitson who is still recovering from the knee injury he picked up in the league win over West Brom. Michael Tonge and Tom Soares are cup-tied and so unavailable for tonight's game. Steve Simonsen is expected to once again replace Thomas Sorensen in goal.

Derby Team News:- Derby are without defenders Claude Davis, Dean Leacock and Martin Albrechtsen through injury whilst Luke Varney and on loan Arsenal man Nacer Barazite are both cup tied. Former Potter Kris Commons should line up to face his former club tonight.


Probable Teams:
Stoke:- Simonsen, Wilkinson, Dickinson, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Pugh, Olofinjana, Whelan, Delap, Sidibe, Cresswell
Derby:- Carroll, Connolly, Powell, Tonkins, Stewart, Kazmierczak, Commons, Addison, Green, Hulse, Ellington

Last Derby Visit To The Britannia

Stoke City 2-0 Derby County(08-08-2006)

Tony Pulis celebrated his first home game back in his second spell as manager with a 2-0 win over the Rams. Vincent Pericard touched home Peter Sweeney's cross for a first half lead, before Darel Russell reacted first to a save by Rams keeper Lee Grant to head home the second mid-way through the second half. Stoke went on to complete a double over Derby with a 2-0 at Pride Park later in the season, but it was the Rams who were celebrating promotion to te Premier League come the end of the campaign.

Stoke Face Hartlepool In The FA Cup

In an uninspiring FA Cup draw the Potters have been drawn away to League One side Hartlepool United in the 3rd round. The game could be viewed as a potential banana skin but should provide an ideal chance to make progress in the competition.
The two sides last faced each other in the 1992/1993 season where Hartlepool inflicted a rare defeat on the soon to be championship winning Potters, by triumphing 1-0 at the Victoria Ground.
The game should take place on January 3rd although this is yet to be confirmed.