The Stoke City Topic Thread: Relegation? Staying up? Manager? Empty seats

[Jacko51]

Of the three teams who went down last year, one of them (in red and white stripes!) is odds on to be relegated again. Of the other two only one is in with a sniff of the play-offs. The season before, only one of the three got back up and only because they had an outstanding manager, not Paul Lambert. Promotion is far from guaranteed if Stoke should go down.

[Hagrid]

The beauty of it is that Stoke are not set up for an immediate challenge again, unless Coates lobs money at them (which he doesn't like doing).

 

They either keep Lambert, who no one rates, or they get another manager in, creating more upheaval. Their 3 good players (Butland, Allen, and Shaq) will all leave, and they leave behind a bloated, aged squad. Shawcross, Johnson, Pieters, Imbulla, N'Diaye, Choupo, Fletcher, Adam. All either getting on, not playing, or on massive wages (in certain cases all three).

 

Campbell's played here and there but it doesn't appear that there's many youth lads who will benefit from a year in the Championship (though I hear Souttar is alright). Maybe that Edwards who concedes about 9 every time he plays.

 

Its ideal. I envisage a 2-0 home defeat to Barnsley, as a midfield of Fletcher and Adam is overrun by a couple of jobbing football league lads, and the reality begins to set in for the 10,000 bandwagoners.

[For Us All]

Of the three teams who went down last year, one of them (in red and white stripes!) is odds on to be relegated again. Of the other two only one is in with a sniff of the play-offs. The season before, only one of the three got back up and only because they had an outstanding manager, not Paul Lambert. Promotion is far from guaranteed if Stoke should go down.

 

I'm not saying they'd come straight back up but I'm confident with their resources they could do it within three years.Money talks and with billionaire owners they will join the likes of Aston Villa & Wolves back in the PL.

[yoblet]

Pulis style worked for Stoke but the fans wanted a better style of football,the Barcelona reserves they signed weren't good enough and they sold Nzonzi who has proved he was there best player,championship is a tough league to get out of especially if you don't do it the first season.

[yoblet]

Stoke play Liverpool in the middle of there 2 leg champions league semi final,so it will be a Liverpool team with many stars rested.

[Santa]

Of the three teams who went down last year, one of them (in red and white stripes!) is odds on to be relegated again. Of the other two only one is in with a sniff of the play-offs. The season before, only one of the three got back up and only because they had an outstanding manager, not Paul Lambert. Promotion is far from guaranteed if Stoke should go down.

Stoke are in far better financial shape than all of those teams. Part of Sunderland's problem is that they were circling the plughole for a good few years.

[smithie]

I've set out my hopes for Stoke's mid-to-long-term future like a business plan;

 

Attendances next season (once relegation is achieved) - average 18-19,000

Attendances 2019/20 once the perverse novelty of relegation has gone - average 16,000

Attendances 2020/21 when the natives hoist "Come back Pulis" banners average 13,500

Therafter, a general decline resulting in successive relegations while we rise above them.

[RailwayRowdy]

Stoke play Liverpool in the middle of there 2 leg champions league semi final,so it will be a Liverpool team with many stars rested.

 

Like Arsenal did a couple of weeks ago, but still ran out 3-0 winners. I expect a similar result at Anfield, irrespective of when it is played.

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Last time Stoke won at Anfield the pitch had been cut using a grazing Brontasaurus.

[Guest]

How many have they won in last 17 games they beat Huddersfield and like the Vale its easier remember who they have beat as its a big ask win 3 out of 5 when you are near the bottom and everything does goagainst you .

Think even with 3 wins and 2 defeats they will not be safe there goal difference is minus 1 point .

They just got hope Southampton and Huddersfield dont find some form as in league table since xmas they are relegated with the baggies .

Id day 38 points is what all the teams who want be playing in that league should be aiming for .

[SuperValiant1876]

Great scorelines today. Bye Stoke!

[philpvfc]

Bad defeat for Southampton today, two 3-2 defeats in a week against top 6 teams has probably sent them down along with West Brom and the *****.

[mbycars]

Getting better and better

[jeffers]

Must be a record for a manager to take two teams down....well done Hughsie, premiership manager of the season for me.

[yoblet]

There fans are starting to say they dislike the premier league all of a sudden and the championship is better.Lardies...