Stoke – Deserved a draw and at times played some decent attacking stuff but also showed some deficiencies too and 2nd half I felt we were the better team and on top when they scored the second goal. First half they were much better and deserved to lead and could have had a few more. They got away with the hand ball
They have tons of talented players and it is ridiculous they are where they are in the league. Even today against a team that has been on the ale most of the week, they did not exactly dominate although they scored two good goals (from their point of view) and had a few other decent efforts just wide, onto the post or saved. The sub bench alone has a player that cost over 10 million was it in Afobe, the Wales captain Williams, former Barcelona player in Bojan, Charlie Adam and Diouf. Every single one of them will probably be on double or even triple the wage of our highest earner.
Jones has not seen much on an upturn in results. They have drawn a lot and been harder to beat but the real test will come next season as the crowd will expect them to be definitely in the top 6 and in around the automatic places. That is where they should have been this season but a disastrous managerial appointment saw Rowett make a right pig’s ear of it. Imagine Wilder with that squad?
Not quite sure Jones has got what he wants yet at Stoke. He is playing a similar formation to the one at Luton and has two players supporting one front man and then a three in the middle. The side at Luton pressed and worked hard to regain possession and played attacking football. They got it forward quite quickly but then moved it about in the final third. Still not sure he has got his blueprint on this Stoke side yet and with a mixture of old players who lack pace and dynamism and some good ones who can play the way he wants; it will take a while to mould things together. They have parachute payments though so can still spend but think he may do it differently than the Ince/Afobe type of signings.
They do have some players that probably need moving on and some older players are leaving I see in Fletcher, Adam etc. They need to actually sign some players at this level who are younger and hungry. Too many seem to have gone through the motions this year.
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Opponent man of the match – Etebo ran the game first half. Big, strong and powerful, he got on the ball and we struggled to hold up his runs and play. He faded a bit after the break. Vokes scored a good goal but was quieter after that. The lad at the back Bauer was decent too and got forward well. Butland is a very good keeper and although not troubled too much today; if we did not get Henderson, he would be a superb signing but probably on wages even at this level in excess of what we could afford and cost over 10 million pounds sadly.
Weak link – No one was really awful but I will comment on some players who are very talented but seem to be very average now and have contributed to such a low placing. Woods is a player I loved at Brentford but seen him a number of times for Stoke and he looks nowhere near the player I remembered being one of the best at this level in his position. I think Wilder could really turn him back around and would love us to sign him to add competition in the midfield area as we do not have a like for like type for either Fleck or Norwood and he can kind of do a bit of both. Tom Ince cost a lot of money but today he showed that he is just sort of ambling along now after looking like he would go on and be some player. Still got talent (good run and shot that hit the post) but does not do enough
Shawcross is a player that has been there for ages and seems to have regressed quite a bit when I have seen him this year. He was talked about as being an England player only a few years ago. He scored a good goal today and then saved (!) a goal and should have been sent off really and facing a ban for the start of next season.
Henderson 7/10 – No chance on either goal even though the first one was from range. He was a bit slow down to a few other shots and the Ince one nearly beat him but hit the post when he seemed to take ages to react. Outside of this his handling was good and he came off his line a few times well. Made one ***** save right at the end to ensure we got a point as Afobe came in on goal.
Baldock 6.5/10 – McClean was a tricky opponent for him and he got away from him and got a few crosses in. He was decent on the ball when he had it but could not penetrate much to begin with but gradually moved up the field and started to attack more. Won us a few corners with breaks down the right. His final ball still was not there again when in good positions but his energy levels were high again.
Stevens 7/10 – Another good performance. He has been so consistent recently. He was caught out on the first goal a bit and seemed to be looking for offside (not seen it back yet so not sure if it was off?). He got penned back a bit by Stoke and could not advance like he normally does. Second half was much more like it as he got down the flank and played almost as a winger. Dowell helped as we had another player willing to run with it and create space/draw men. He took his goal superbly again and is on fire for a full back/wing back in terms of goalscoring with 4 goals in the final month and a bit.
Egan 6/10 – Like the rest of the defence, not sure they were tight enough to the likes of Vokes and Ince and we sat off and allowed them to run at us – not helped by the forward players not keeping the ball and the midfield not pressing. He was just a bit slow to deal with things and I felt they moved off the defence and caused problems and could have scored a few more. After the break he was more into it and we were tighter and more disciplined. However, sliced out for the corner they scored from. He must be exhausted at all the singing he has been doing – on the pitch and on the team bus! Not quite McCartney but he really has penned an epic song that will always be remembered!
O’Connell 6/10 – Caught ball watching a few times today. He made some clearances and tried to get forward but felt he was more reserved today. Poor on the first goal as his header lacked distance and width and the lad got on it and hit a good shot. After this I felt he lost his man on a few other occasions but was more forceful in his challenges and defensive play second half.
Basham 6/10 – A bit up and down, literally! He got forward but sometimes stumbled when it came to the final part (he fell over his own feet in true Bash comedy style at one point). Defensively he was ok and kept it simple but lost his man crucially on the goal – you should never score a volley from a corner really and did not get tight enough. Came off for Madine as we went to 4 at the back for the final period of the game.
Fleck 7/10 – First half I felt him and Norwood were passive in their play on and off the ball. We did not really get close enough to stop them coming through the lines and it was too easy the ball coming into the front men. On the ball he was a bit safe too and not really running with it. Second half, alongside Lundstram, he was so much better and like a different player. He ran with it, snapped at players heels and dictated play. If Etebo was the best player in the first half, he was the best player in the second half. Nearly scored with one low shot. One sublime ball to Baldock nearly made a goal. We need to see that every game and for both halves from him. He inspired much of the comeback and the good play after the break.
Norwood 6/10 – His passing early on was kept nice and simple and he did not try too many adventurous balls. However, I felt him and Fleck sat off in terms of pressing and harrying and they had too much time on the ball and had runners getting beyond us. He tried to move it on quicker as the half went on but a game where he was quite ordinary. Surprised he went off though as we never normally take him off but heard reports he may be facing a hernia operation and that is why he is not making himself available for Northern Ireland – does seem to make sense with him not playing for them in recent games either as he probably wanted to not risk really injuring it and putting him out for a longer period.