Howmanheyman

"Only three top half grounds, you say?"

They haven't even got the grace to be in danger of relegation. They're the ugly brother of Coventry City.

Ah Pardew, weeth zis passing you are spoiling us.

They've stunk out the PL for years, mind. I'm struggling to think of one redeeming feature they have as a club or one moment where you thought well of them? Has anyone ever thought 'oh! That'll be a canny match, I'll watch that!' in a game involving Stoke?

The craic about an improved deal seems pretty plausible to me. I can't understand CT's reluctance to consider a Mike Ashley run club trying to save money?

Very disappointed at their winning goal. Not a lot in the game overall and apart from a nervous start we were ok without really creating much. A point would've been fair and I'd have accepted that. We move on and hope we get a striker in Jan.

That's us beat then.

I hope Pardew has been feeding them raw steaks for breakfast. I also hope one or two of their lot get wound up as they're prone to.

I wish we had 50% of their luck. We'd be top half easy.

Krul Debuchy Coloccini Williamson Santon Sissoko Cabaye Tiote Anita Gouffran Remy Ben Arfa and Shola to come on if all is going well and tie up one or two Arsenal defenders/hold the ball up. I'll be surprised if Pardew does anything too different to this. I'd be tempted to put Haidara on for Santon but maybe leaving the same pairing might be better for this game. You could try and shoehorn HBA in there but who would you leave out and where would you play him? To me, that's our best formation against the likes of Arsenal and although HBA will make us stronger offensively I'd be a bit worried we'd end up a bit less compact which we may need to be at times. Had this been Stoke at home and Tiote was available, I'd put HBA in Sissoko's spot as he needs a rest. It's defensive when we haven't got the ball and should become 4-3-3 when we attack as long as the players are disciplined and fit enough to stick to it. (I'd put Obertan handing out the half time oranges duties and Steven Taylor doing the 'C'mon! Lets go!' pre-game duties as they leave the dressing room).

(I won a years subscription on Gifs-R-us.com, this morning).

Aye, heard merson come out yet again with that belter.

We're due to beat these as it's been a while but after some of the results we've had I'll settle for a point.

I see, said the blind man.

Think the two bairns have spotted a Ref in the corner of the room. Anyway, lovely pic.

Really? Which one the blonde or brunette? There was just some Christmas stuff when I walked past Fenwicks window the other day. Might pop into town today.

Only you could know anything about that kind of bet never mind score on it. Well done!!

Your neighbours dog is a freak?

Don't go for a piss half way through chopping chillies. "Trust me."

A good striker would give everyone a huge boost. Buying Cisse in Jan made us push on for fifth, 90 mins away from third. The team is better now. What would a decent striker do this time?

I'd bring on Ben Arfa against these if we're in the game and looking to win it a la Man U.

Just spotted this on their match thread pre-game. (oatcake). "Newcastle generally don't do draws. They did draw at home to Southampton earlier this month, and lost to Hull, so Stoke should match that. Like Spurs they are very good against lower placed opposition but poor against top half of the table sides. If Stoke are a genuine top half of the table team they have a good chance of winning."

I had a pizza with lots of hot sauce added to it last night after quite a few bottles and cans throughout the day night. My underpants are now like the Japanese flag.

I agree totally. A similar performance and line up against Man U will do for me. We'll need Gouffran, we'll also need all three of Tiote, Cabaye and Anita so do you take a chance and put Ben Arfa on for Sissoko? I'd only be tempted as Sissoko looked fucked at times yesterday but then again, he wasn't in what has been his usual position lately so maybe that didn't help? The one thing I would worry about is them breaking and Debuchy being isolated if HBA did play there. A big performance and the rub of the green could get us the points but the early kick off wont help as a Christmas game with a later kick off and a more pissed up support would've been a lot better.