Stoke City Post Match Thoughts

[Citizen Erased]

That back line need not play together again without some proper training together. Zero communication and absolute no leadership to be seen.

I'm grateful most were not available for selection last season based on that performance we would have been down.

Acid test will be 10 games in, but that showing was a shower.

Cafu tried and was sent off for it.

[welovebooth]

Is the team fit?

[Jimmy Badfellow]

It is the first game of the season so,all though it's been a bad day,judgement has to be reserved. Lets look at all the other bonfires that have been pi**sed on today........Derby,Doncaster,Wrexham,Notts County,Huddersfield.....and Barnsley that have no hope....win 7 nil!

[ragingpup]

Yes, I'm with Jimmy. No need to overreact. As with every other season at this level, we are going to get spanked. The disappointing thing today was that stoke didn't really have to work too hard, our defence was awful. We know Morrisson is a very good player but was very off the pace. Not really surprising as its his first competitive game in 8 months.

I'm sure there is better to come from him if he stays fit, likewise Hall and Peltier but already they are confirming my worst fear that all three are not going to be available for large chunks of the season and as a result we end up with non stop flux for poor Cam to cope with.

Taylor has produced some stinking performances, as did Warne. But both have a tendancy to then produce great shows soon after so best hold judgement, at least until the new players have gelled a bit.

Rusty. Very rusty. But here's where Taylor gets the chance to show his ability to manage a rocky situation as he has done before. Increasingly, it is a side in his own image now and let's hope he can knock them into good shape. Let's get behind him.

UtM

[MagyarMiller]

Luckily I was at work til 7 so only caught up with bits and bobs on here.

Even more luckily, I actually tried to book the day off to go to this one, but couldn't get the leave.

But as Paul Ince might have said, we drew the 2nd half and almost won it, and we're not bottom

Onwards and upwards 👍

[Derbymiller]

An awful first 45 mins, I think they were scared to play football and hoped to keep it tight until the second half. All three goals were mistakes and shocking marking, we desperately need a left back Bramall is not championship level, unfortunately mt doesn’t think we do, so we will how long before the penny drops. That was not a captains performance by Morrison, absolutely awful, his own performance and that of his organisation skills. 3 at the back doesn’t suit us. Midfield looked like a load of blokes that just met in the car park, Cafu had a poor first 45 mins but improved after the break, he was unlucky to be dismissed, however his style of play means that will happen a few times. Hugill needs to look in a mirror, if he thinks that is what is needed from a centre forward then god help us, Kelly caused them more issues than Hugill would have done if he was still playing. The lad from wolves was good and we were better second half, but that was the only highlights. The bench was very poor, this squad is six players away from not being beaten like that a lot. Hall was missed a lot as our set piece defending was terrible, what has the new coach been teaching them. Also why oh why do we kick every ball from the goalie long, numerous times today a simple pass to a defender was on, to play out from the back. We have to improve a lot and try to create something to score a goal from open play, we look shocking going forward today. 45 games to go but that squad is relegation and I think we all know that, three players will not be enough.

[MillerBill]

An awful first 45 mins, I think they were scared to play football and hoped to keep it tight until the second half. All three goals were mistakes and shocking marking, we desperately need a left back Bramall is not championship level, unfortunately mt doesn’t think we do, so we will how long before the penny drops. That was not a captains performance by Morrison, absolutely awful, his own performance and that of his organisation skills. 3 at the back doesn’t suit us. Midfield looked like a load of blokes that just met in the car park, Cafu had a poor first 45 mins but improved after the break, he was unlucky to be dismissed, however his style of play means that will happen a few times. Hugill needs to look in a mirror, if he thinks that is what is needed from a centre forward then god help us, Kelly caused them more issues than Hugill would have done if he was still playing. The lad from wolves was good and we were better second half, but that was the only highlights. The bench was very poor, this squad is six players away from not being beaten like that a lot. Hall was missed a lot as our set piece defending was terrible, what has the new coach been teaching them. Also why oh why do we kick every ball from the goalie long, numerous times today a simple pass to a defender was on, to play out from the back. We have to improve a lot and try to create something to score a goal from open play, we look shocking going forward today. 45 games to go but that squad is relegation and I think we all know that, three players will not be enough.

I agree with most of that,this was a very frustrating afternoon.Apart from Blackett,Fred and Victor nobody came out of this match with much credit.The four at the back gave us more stability in the second half and just before the shocking decision to send Kafu off, we were getting stronger.I cannot say any more on the numerous bad refereeing bad decions.MT has said he needs to sign more players and that is borne out by the weak bench we had today.The chairman needs to fast track these signings this coming week before our next match.That is a MUST.

[MillersTime]

three players will not be enough.

Not sure. Fergie, Hall, Lindsay and Green to come back from injury, plus Tiehi eventually signing (presumably). That is suddenly much more depth to the squad. Trim a bit around the edges with players moving on if possible, JJ, Eaves, Bola, McCart (He looks really slow and like the game is a second too fast for him, never looked capable IMO) and use their spots for another striker, another winger perhaps? Plus I'd still be looking for a RB. Where else would you be looking? Oh, left back, yeah fair enough. So perhaps we are 4 short? Have to trust that Kioso isn't the guy from those that have seen him train but I still don't really like that decision. Money driven so it may be. Lots of pressure on the new young lad suddenly, seems unfair and risky.

[gru]

Couldn't see game to comment on it seen Cafu his sending off that a home decision no way that was a 2nd booking. Like I said need a left back we haven't got one his natural position at the club then we can return to a back 4.

[Walt]

An awful first 45 mins, I think they were scared to play football and hoped to keep it tight until the second half. All three goals were mistakes and shocking marking, we desperately need a left back Bramall is not championship level, unfortunately mt doesn’t think we do, so we will how long before the penny drops. That was not a captains performance by Morrison, absolutely awful, his own performance and that of his organisation skills. 3 at the back doesn’t suit us. Midfield looked like a load of blokes that just met in the car park, Cafu had a poor first 45 mins but improved after the break, he was unlucky to be dismissed, however his style of play means that will happen a few times. Hugill needs to look in a mirror, if he thinks that is what is needed from a centre forward then god help us, Kelly caused them more issues than Hugill would have done if he was still playing. The lad from wolves was good and we were better second half, but that was the only highlights. The bench was very poor, this squad is six players away from not being beaten like that a lot. Hall was missed a lot as our set piece defending was terrible, what has the new coach been teaching them. Also why oh why do we kick every ball from the goalie long, numerous times today a simple pass to a defender was on, to play out from the back. We have to improve a lot and try to create something to score a goal from open play, we look shocking going forward today. 45 games to go but that squad is relegation and I think we all know that, three players will not be enough.

I'd agree with all of that DM except I'd push back the LB comments-
Bramall had a reasonable game yesterday except the silly yellow card
The first goal was admittedly scored by Stoke's RB but Bramall had been pulled over to mark someone else and there was an overload because neither Wiles nor Cafu got back - this was actually a problem too much of the time but Bramall stood up pretty well
When we switched things second half and Fred played on the left for a bit, we actually matched Stoke (except for Cafu getting sent off)
But the second and third goals and the cross for the first goal all came from us not having a RB - Fred & Haks were constantly out of position and torn wide open - I don't blame them - they clearly had no idea what they were doing and weren't properly prepared
When Peltier was on the pitch, we had a RB and somehow Stoke didn't look nearly as dangerous

So I think that 3 players would do the job if MT does his job - for me yesterday was all about really, really poor management

For me, we need to go 4-5-1 (I thought this before Stoke & now I'm more certain than ever)
Viking (obvs)

Peltier/Dexter - Perm any 2 fit CBs- Bramall (we need to sign cover, unless we can rely on Bola)

Fred - Ollie - Cafu - Jamie - Green

Georgie


midfield will hopefully have Tiehi for back up - Wilesy could be a sub but we'd do better to get any cash that we can
Up front try to move on Hugill or Eaves (I don't see much difference between them TBH) and keep the other to warm the bench with JJ

That line up would have done better yesterday (OK, you'd have had to play someone else instead of Jamie but at least people would have been in positions they know & not, as you rightly said like a load of blokes that just met in the car park)

I know it's heresy but we don't play a system that suits Wilesy - we should take whatever is on offer for him...