Match Thread Stoke City - Coventry City [FA] Match Thread - Saturday 10th Jan (29 Viewers)

[Shannerz]

Should never have lost that. Yes, we made errors, but we controlled possession and were denied a stonewall pen. Opinions and all that.

Defended like a team that had never played together before.

You can't do that and then claim you were the better side.

 

---

[Grendel]

The irony is with all this jerking off over Hamer we need an O Hare type player to get the energy levels back in midfield

 

[quinn1971]

close so hopefully one of the next 2

Lampard said BTA and torp should be back for Saturday.. that’s huge news,

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

He looks much better in that position then when he's stuck out wide.

Very composed on the ball.

I agree, it was a good performance from him. We will need much better for the 20 game run in though.

 

[skybluecam]

He looks much better in that position then when he's stuck out wide.

Very composed on the ball.

Today the game was incredibly slow, in other games he has struggled with a lack of time on the ball. Still not convinced he is ready for this level, but it was a decent game from him.

 

[Hobo]

We lost to a great goal.
We hit the post twice.
The two debutants look like proper additions and very promising.
We now have one job to get over the line and we are in the driving seat.

We have a week to dust ourselves down and concentrate on the real business of beating Leicester.

 

[long way home]

With those 2 back its going to be interesting who misses out.

 

[Trueskyblue20]

With those 2 back its going to be interesting who misses out.

Brau and maybe Andrews (Wigan loan by then?)

Rushworth
MVE - Woolf - Kitch - JDS
Grimes - Eccles
Esse - Rudi - EMC
Simms

Wilson
Lati
Bidwell
Allen
Torp
Sakamoto
Minny
BTA
Wright

That’s the team for me. Torp, BTA, Minny and Sakamoto to come on and make a real impact to push it from 6 goals to 8.

 

[Gint11]

I’ll be completely honest and may get some backlash. Been a fan since I was 8 and I always want us to win of course, goes without saying however, I literally gave zero shits on this one today. The only thing I was bothered about was seeing the newbies and getting through it unscathed.

I WANT PROMOTION. 20 to go….

 

[MikeyMoo]

Of those 20 isn't it 13 at home and 11 away? I guess we can now rotate the front 3 every game pretty much, preferred front 3 get 60 minutes at home, the second set 60 minutes away? Does that keep everyone fresh enough and give everyone a chance to hit some form?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I’ll be completely honest and may get some backlash. Been a fan since I was 8 and I always want us to win of course, goes without saying however, I literally gave zero shits on this one today. The only thing I was bothered about was seeing the newbies and getting through it unscathed.

I WANT PROMOTION. 20 to go….

Likewise, when they scored, I shrugged my shoulders and went ‘fair play’.

I’d have liked to have won, got a glamour tie and went out on our shield. Talking to my Stoke supporting mate, even he said it’s ‘your focus was always going to be the league’. If we go up next week, we get 38 glamour ties to try and stay up.

 

[SkyBlueAussie]

Great result, exactly what we wanted. Lose with grace and move on.
Anybody that doesn't see the big picture is, frankly, probably a kid.

 

[MikeyMoo]

He will hit form, they all will, at the same time, and see us home.

 

[JohnWH]

Likewise, when they scored, I shrugged my shoulders and went ‘fair play’.

I’d have liked to have won, got a glamour tie and went out on our shield. Talking to my Stoke supporting mate, even he said it’s ‘your focus was always going to be the league’. If we go up next week, we get 38 glamour ties to try and stay up.

Convince us how Bournemouth away is a glamours tie

 

[StrettoBoy]

need torp and Asante back ASAP and hopefully they both stay fit for 20 games

I agree; they are both vital cogs in our team.

With them back and the two new loan signings things should start to look better, especially if Rudoni can rediscover his form.

 

[Flying Fokker]

Convince us how Bournemouth away is a glamours tie

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside?

 

[quinn1971]

I agree; they are both vital cogs in our team.

With them back and the two new loan signings things should start to look better, especially if Rudoni can rediscover his form.

That’s it, we need everyone back to their best, and hopefully they all stay fit, we can’t afford to be carrying anyone now,

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Convince us how Bournemouth away is a glamours tie

Towards the start of the end of the season, on the beach with a good fish and chips and ice cold, crisp beer… what’s not to like?

Midweek in the winter though…

 

[RoboCCFC90]

I think Kai and Frank summed it up pretty well in their post match pressers, not much in the game and it was a quality strike that won it for Stoke - I’m not overly fussed about the Cup, it was coming through today with minutes in the legs for all that needed it.

I didn’t think Kitch was at his best and really did struggle with their striker at times, Haji was again ineffective and I don’t think Rudi showed a lot either.

Esse looked really promising though, albeit seemed to tire towards the end. Yang seemed to lack confidence to go past his man.

 

[OldBedrocker]

The fans need to stick with the team. We've done better so far than *checks notes* every other team in the league.
We were hitting a wall and needed this break. We'll have BTA and Torp back and we already have 2 new recruits with the management seemingly aware we still need more help.
Turning on them now is pathetic honestly.

Who is turning on them?

 

[SkyblueTexan]

Needs playing time and we need a real star midfielder to drag us by the bollocks over the line

As I said, unless we are getting more players in this window to free up slots then I don’t know if loaning out Andrews (who I agree may not be the one to drag us over the line) is such a good idea just because of our small squad.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

No one is going to care about this game if we beat Leicester, but we do need to get out of this slump. It is always hard to judge a cup game when you play a weakened team, playing against a team who are also probably concentrating on the league as well. For me we continue to look laboured and like something is not clicking, as well as some players being out of form, and in certain cases appearing also to not really be putting 100% in.

Most of us said we wouldn't be bothered on the outcome of today, and I wouldn't say that I am at this point. I just hope we can give a good account of ourselves next week and put Leicester to the sword in a convincing way that makes me feel that we have shaken this shit spell off.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I think Kai and Frank summed it up pretty well in their post match pressers, not much in the game and it was a quality strike that won it for Stoke - I’m not overly fussed about the Cup, it was coming through today with minutes in the legs for all that needed it.

I didn’t think Kitch was at his best and really did struggle with their striker at times, Haji was again ineffective and I don’t think Rudi showed a lot either.

Esse looked really promising though, albeit seemed to tire towards the end. Yang seemed to lack confidence to go past his man.

In fairness to Haji, could’ve had 2 goals on another day.

More effective than in more recent game.

 

[RoboCCFC90]

In fairness to Haji, could’ve had 2 goals on another day.

More effective than in more recent game.

Yeah I agree with that Mucca in fairness.

Maybe on a different day his header goes in and we go on to win, but on this day in line with his recent form the miss was no real surprise.

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

Brau and maybe Andrews (Wigan loan by then?)

Rushworth
MVE - Woolf - Kitch - JDS
Grimes - Eccles
Esse - Rudi - EMC
Simms

Wilson
Lati
Bidwell
Allen
Torp
Sakamoto
Minny
BTA
Wright

That’s the team for me. Torp, BTA, Minny and Sakamoto to come on and make a real impact to push it from 6 goals to 8.

Eccles out, drop Rudoni back and play BTA at 10 if he’s fit enough

Rudoni has been trying to do too much at 10 and getting in EMC’s way, and he’s not the same energetic pressing player BTA is

then we’ve got a host of options to change the 10 and wings if needs be

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Eccles out, drop Rudoni back and play BTA at 10 if he’s fit enough

Rudoni has been trying to do too much at 10 and getting in EMC’s way, and he’s not the same energetic pressing player BTA is

then we’ve got a host of options to change the 10 and wings if needs be

I'd be amazed if BTA starts straight away

 

[Nick]

Eccles out, drop Rudoni back and play BTA at 10 if he’s fit enough

Rudoni has been trying to do too much at 10 and getting in EMC’s way, and he’s not the same energetic pressing player BTA is

then we’ve got a host of options to change the 10 and wings if needs be

So play rudoni out of position just to fit him in?

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

No one is going to care about this game if we beat Leicester, but we do need to get out of this slump. It is always hard to judge a cup game when you play a weakened team, playing against a team who are also probably concentrating on the league as well. For me we continue to look laboured and like something is not clicking, as well as some players being out of form, and in certain cases appearing also to not really be putting 100% in.

Most of us said we wouldn't be bothered on the outcome of today, and I wouldn't say that I am at this point. I just hope we can give a good account of ourselves next week and put Leicester to the sword in a convincing way that makes me feel that we have shaken this shit spell off.

I honestly believe a lot of the 'not clicking' is down to the way Rudoni is playing. He's just slowing everything down and often getting in the way. He's just not playing like the player we know he can be.

And Wright's recent performances aren't helping either.

Not saying they're the only reasons, but considering how important they are to the team and they are, when on form, two of our best players it stands to reason when they're not they have a bigger impact on the team not clicking.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Haji has to score the header

 

[quinn1971]

Eccles out, drop Rudoni back and play BTA at 10 if he’s fit enough

Rudoni has been trying to do too much at 10 and getting in EMC’s way, and he’s not the same energetic pressing player BTA is

then we’ve got a host of options to change the 10 and wings if needs be

Wouldn’t be surprised if rudoni drops out against milwall, BTA and looks like esse can play there, we’re best when BTA is pressing from the front, as good as rudoni is he’s struggling, when he’s fit he prob starts, not a bad problem to have

 

[mark82]

The irony is with all this jerking off over Hamer we need an O Hare type player to get the energy levels back in midfield

Agree, just not O'Hare himself. Need someone with the potential to be able to step up a level.

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

I'd be amazed if BTA starts straight away

I would too but if he’s recovered and trained well it’s definitely an option

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

So play rudoni out of position just to fit him in?

Not really out of position, he’s a midfielder and pretty versatile

or Grimes holding, Rudoni central and BTA pressing if that makes you feel better

 

[quinn1971]

Does Asante come back in the 10 or in for Simms or wright..franks got some nice problems to have

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

Does Asante come back in the 10 or in for Simms or wright..

10, all day for me