I admire Stoke, little resources, good work ethic, good manager, good balance in the squad. They have a specific style/method and they stick to it and execute it well. Not afraid of them though, they can just be difficult to play precisely because they're actually a good team and play honest and most teams will struggle against a side who will just work hard for 90 minutes.
Well, Crouchie's not good at scoring with his head, but he is great at flick-ons and glancing headers. Kenwyn Jones, however, is a ********ing beast in the air.
True. I certainly think that Crouch will improve Stove's attack, and Jones is a good target man. Stoke are a decent team, and will be a tougher test than Bolton for sure. Liverpool certianly have the tools to beat them though.
Only 5 years ago, Peter Coates bought Stoke City for £1.7 million!!! Including debts and subsidizing losses, Coates put in about £12 million before Stoke reached the Prem. In the last 2 seasons, Stoke City have earned more than £82 million in Prem TV/Prize money! Peter Coates, the owner of Stoke is a local businessman who is mega-rich. Although Stoke are heavily dependent on TV money, their owner is willing and capable of subsidising the football club and fueling their spending. Coates has been afilliated with Stoke City for more than 20 years, so is clearly not a fairweather owner. He is a benefactor owner and essentially rescued the club from looming bankruptancy and brought them into the Prem. If Stoke can stay up for the next few seasons, then Stoke could stabilise into an established Prem side - like Bolton. A great success story for the Club. Credit to Pulis for his work in gaining promotion and keeping Stoke in the Prem for the last 3 seasons. Stoke fans must be in dreamland right now.
Oh... Suarez - Kuyt Downing - Adam - Lucas - Henderson Enrique - Agger - Carra - Skrtel Pepe Subs: Doni, Coates, Johnson, Spearing, Maxi, Bellamy, Carroll
Starting XI out now with Reina, Enrique, Skrtel, Carragher, Agger, Downing, Henderson, Lucas, Adam, Kuyt, Suarez.
Eh? -----------------Reina------------------------- -----Skrtel---Carragher------Agger--------Enrique----- -------------Lucas------Adam---- ------Henderson----Kuijt------Downing--- --------------------Suarez--------------------- Subs:-Doni, Carroll, Johnson, Maxi, Spearing, Bellamy, Coates. Good bench but Skrtel at right back is a surprise.
I seem to remember a pacey left-footed player with the same name as our current player, Stewart Downing, galloping down the left flank causing havoc amongst our defence and causing Skrtel to fall on his ass numerous times.
That's my initial worry, although Hyypiä last minute's pulling out and Carragher's reported refusal to play there (apparently feeling that Darby was better able to play there than him) was the major cause. This time, I reckon they have worked on the drills.
We have a CB at RB, so do Stoke. Huth is playing there. After this match, Johnson will be back, Kelly is close too.
Huth has played there for Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Stoke numerous times...Skrtel's forays into wider roles haven't been great.
Would you have opted for Flanno or Coates there? I wouldve thought that either would provide more attacking ability but then again Skrtl does bring a certain steel to the position.
Someone PM a link, posi-rep if you do. Baadier, i would've had to download vstream to play your link, and i dont need the spyware. thank you though