As mentioned further up. It's like playing a modern day Wimblebon, or an Alardyce team.
Stoke play for yardage. It's all about 20 yards here - throw in or free kick - another 20 yards there, - throw in or free kick - followed by a nother 20 yards again - throw in or free kick.
Do they train by watching footage of the Green Bay Packers, or something. Horrible, horrible style of football to watch.
Saying that, they're one of the more successful teams in modern years using that style of play and tactics.
Did domeone get a grip of the referee at half time? I've seen this situation a number of times this season, where a ref has a mare of a first half, then comes out for the second, and is the polar opposite of his first half performance.
First half, he hardly gave us a thing. Some of his decisions were bizarre in the extreme. Second half, it was almost like he was trying to make up for it, as he couldn't give us enough in the first half of the second half ( or as Pulis would tell you - the third quarter
)
I am convinced that someone has to be saying something to the refs at half time. The refferee's assessor or someone must be giving it the , "you fucked up there or you got that wrong there, etc. etc., so pull your socks up, and get on your game" as the difference in first and second half performances are stark, and as I say, I've seen it numerous times this season from several different refferee's.
As for the game itself - We still wern't that convincing. We still sat back a bit too much for me, as they were there for a mauling, yet our own confidence just doesn't seem to want to manifest itself, and press the game unless we get caught out.
We know we have it in ourselves to impose ourselves on anyone if we need to. We've done it to United, City, Arsenal and many others this season, yet seem to be very hesitant to do it to so called lesser teams.
The shit teams just seem to drag us down to their level.
I was expecting the final onslaught in the last ten minutes, with Delap coming on, but he was off his game and nether of his hail mary passes or even his shotgun didn't work this time out, and our final rushing pass with Downing running the ball into the end zone was a bonus.
Who knew he had it in him, Eh! Well done Stewart. Now give us a few more of them.
Anyway, lets see which schizo team turn up against QPR midweek, as I hope it's the one that wins comfortably, not the one thats scared of it's own shaddow, as that could be very damaging under floodlights ( 4 shaddows
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