Monroe Transfer

I'm sick of X Factor fans.

Very good point. Surprised no-one at the club thought of this.

Yeah, Perch did all the hard work.

Let's just say that today showed Hughton's failings (and thus ours) off quite blatantly; - We dominated possession in the first half, but created hardly anything from it. Stoke - who were beyond awful in the first half - didn't make it easy with their men behind the ball tactics, but we really didn't do enough and it took a penalty that should have never been awarded (as in, Huth shouldn't have been so stupid in the first place). Which leads me on to my next point... - Playing one man up front AT HOME. So pathetically one dimensional. Carroll had next to nothing to get on the end of because he was always being crowded out by their defenders. We can't rely on him like that. Ben Arfa is great and all that but too often he had to drift because there wasn't a player in a forward position for him to pass to. We desperately need a decent striker to pair Carroll with. Nolan in the hole isn't good enough - get Ben Arfa in there if you have to. Which leads me on to my next point... - Kevin Nolan. Utterly invisible unless he was facing the keeper when we had a free kick, or if he had to shout at the ref about a decision. Scoring a penalty doesn't take away from a dismal performance. He can't be dropped though because he's the captain. Which leads me on to my next point... - Hughton's subs. Time and time again, this is proving to be by far his biggest weakness. He's clueless when it comes to subs. Ben Arfa off after an hour? Why? We're at home, stop being so cautious, go for another with our best player. Tiote off? What's the point? He had a decent game and really solidified our midfield given Nolan's anonymity and Barton being so attack-minded. And what's he got against Lovenkrands? Ameobi scored two in the cup so I can understand why he came on but surely Lovenkrands would have been the better option given he's far more energetic and would better suit us playing the ball on the ground as opposed to in the air, which Stoke can deal with more easily. Hughton needs to stop trying to play it safe, it's costing us. Which leads to my next point... - What on earth was that second half performance about? Why so cautious? Felt like one of those times when you regret that the team had to go in for the half-time break. We never regained momentum of any kind till they'd scored. It's all well and good having loads of possession but pointless when you're nowhere near ruthless enough with it. Results like that will cost us dearly. 2 losses at home, when for large portions of the game we've been clearly the better side. Stoke deserved something out of the game, but not all 3 points.

Only if you pay monthly. 12 month prices stay the same.

What a guy.

Anyone else fear a boring 0-0?

To be perfectly honest, we've been beating the clubs I wasn't expecting us to (Villa, Everton, Chelsea). So I think Stoke today could go either way. They're very organised and although they look a bit one dimensional at times, Pulis is very tactically astute. It'll be a tough match even if it's at home. Hopefully today will provide evidence to support the belief that Blackpool was just a one-off, just one of those days. Ben Arfa could be the key again. Massive boost of creativity, makes us less reliant on Carroll. Big test for Tiote, and I expect another set of decent performances from Barton and Nolan (assuming Ben Arfa plays left wing ahead of Gutierrez) who should really be up for this especially at home.

You're right, the best teams never lose (cough Barcelona lost at home to a newly promoted club a couple of weeks back cough) and we're better off with the lesser sides never beating those who are supposed to be better than them. How dare they. Embarrassing post tbh. To each their own though and all that.

Ob yeah, he's made so much money off of us, clearly all he's here for.

Forster just conceded against Hibs.

To think I was mildly jealous of Boro bringing in Boyd. He's on the bench (again) and they're already 3 down at Watford. After 20 minutes.

Relegation is worth less than appointing Kinnear and Souness? What are you smoking?

This. Win and we've got the major confidence boost beating 2 top clubs in a row will bring. Lose and we can concentrate on staying up. No lose situation as it were.

Pretty sure the official one has them behind a Northern Rock board. It's in that vid somewhere.

Not worth posting.

Prefer it that way tbh. Never causes distractions and/or controversy. Portrays a decent, if safe, image of the club. Almost angelic compared to someone like Kinnear.

OH NO NOT THIS THREAD WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN

Anyone else disappointed by Vuckic again?

Class.

Easy now.

Come on the cobblers! Didn't Tozer just go there on loan? Started and is still on the pitch.

Brilliant. Just brilliant.