Fuck's sake we beat Fulham 4-0, the team is rejuvenated and we have to play this rugby team next up. There always is a penalty decision that we don't get, Suarez gets kicked all over the place and the usual moaning from Pulis about diving when its his team that crosses the line between physicality and downright rugby tactics. Howard Webb is in charge so a refereeing controversy is nailed on for this.
All that aside, I'd definitely look to play Coates, they'll be a real danger at set-pieces, especially the likes of Crouch and we need height and a physical presence at the back, so we should consider going with three at the back, and allow Johnson and Enrique, the wing-backs to just bomb forward as there will probably be more space down the wide areas as they'll defend deep and leave little space between the lines. We really need to be taking our chances, we dominated them last season and yet lost 1-0. To be fair to Stoke, conceding 3 goals at home and having one of the best defensive records in the league is impressive, they'll press us and not let us have time on the ball like Fulham did.
Going to be a tough ask but three points at their lot, considering our fairly poor record against them in recent years, would be a huge sign of progress.
RIP Charlie Adam senior.
