Stoke (A): Build Up

[SB]

It's a tricky game and given our result and performance last season it is the ideal way to make the statement that this year is different, if we can put in a good performance and get a good result, a poor result and performance will just say nothing has changed, and could knock confidence going into some bigger games.

Totally agree & a win would do the world for our lads confidence & I believe we're capable of overturning last years result. But I think we'll put in an improved performance but get a draw.

[DannyMan2006]

Stoke away is always a tricky match & im sure some of the top 4 will drop points there. Considering some of our stars haven't trained with the rest of the squad yet I'd say a draw will be acceptable.

If we are taking draws against teams like Stoke we may as well not bother this season. They are an average premier league side. Sure, some top sides will drop points against them, but one of the top sides normally drop points between them against every team in the league.

We have a tough start to the league and drawing against teams like Stoke will mean we are miles away from the top within ten games. We need to be going their to win and start getting some momentum.

[kingfunk]

Stoke will be tricky opponents again this season. They have added a couple of decent players.

[SB]

If we are taking draws against teams like Stoke we may as well not bother this season. They are an average premier league side. Sure, some top sides will drop points against them, but one of the top sides normally drop points between them against every team in the league.

We have a tough start to the league and drawing against teams like Stoke will mean we are miles away from the top within ten games. We need to be going their to win and start getting some momentum.

I agree to an extent but I'm not expecting Benteke to just walk into a new team & strut his stuff from the off. Goals will need to come from our midfield more likely so the main threats there are Milner & Lallana on recent form. Coutinho will probably get the match in Helsinki under his belt so he'll be way short of match fitness. Best chance of a goal may be Ings off the bench.

[SB]

Stoke will be tricky opponents again this season. They have added a couple of decent players.

And the dicked us 6-1 not that long ago at there place. They'll believe they've got our number & will fancy there chances. First goal is vital IMO.

[DannyMan2006]

Stoke will be tricky opponents again this season. They have added a couple of decent players.

They've signed players who are average. Players like Affelay who aren't good enough for a top side but will be good for them. Average though. Nothing more.

I agree to an extent but I'm not expecting Benteke to just walk into a new team & strut his stuff from the off. Goals will need to come from our midfield more likely so the main threats there are Milner & Lallana on recent form. Coutinho will probably get the match in Helsinki under his belt so he'll be way short of match fitness. Best chance of a goal may be Ings off the bench.

Every team which includes Stoke have the problem of not being right at it. They've signed players as well and will not be as smooth as what they will be like in October. We should look at it as a chance to catch them cold.

[kev776]

Some of you sound like The Bodge bigging up the bluenoses, we have to be thinking of killing off Stoke or we really are a mid-table team with a history.

[DannyMan2006]

Some of you sound like The Bodge bigging up the bluenoses, we have to be thinking of killing off Stoke or we really are a mid-table team with a history.

Truth of the matter is that all we are is a top 6 side with hopes of finishing top 4. I wouldn't put any money on us coming top 4. We've lookd drab in pre season and whilst it's not always a pre cursor, especially as 4 of our best players havent featured - we hardly look like a fluid side.

We look a side that is heavily reliant on Coutinho for a bit of sparkle and magic.

[Chris]

We are going to **** these cunts. Theres been quite a bit of hype about their summer business which seems to be based on names they are actually linked with rather than signing, they didnt sign Shaqiri, Yarmolenko or Konoplyanka and instead ended up with a scrub who couldn't even perform in Greece for a team where half the league are under their control and lose on purpose!

Begovic was **** last season but Nzonzi is a massive loss. Hendo and Milner are going to tear **** up.

[SB]

Some of you sound like The Bodge bigging up the bluenoses, we have to be thinking of killing off Stoke or we really are a mid-table team with a history.

You do realise that what we discuss on here has nooo impact on what goes on out on the pitch don't you Kev! Please tell me you agree now ok?

[RedReet]

Truth of the matter is that all we are is a top 6 side with hopes of finishing top 4. I wouldn't put any money on us coming top 4. We've lookd drab in pre season and whilst it's not always a pre cursor, especially as 4 of our best players havent featured - we hardly look like a fluid side.

We look a side that is heavily reliant on Coutinho for a bit of sparkle and magic.

Not sure I agree with that. Bar the last game, I think we have looked quite good, all things considered.

I don't think our defence has done too bad (bar Lovren last game) and Gomez and Clyne have stood out. Henderson and Milner have looked very good in midfield and I can see both of them providing lots of goals and assists. Ibe and Markovic have shown glimpses and Ings has done okay when played through the centre. Origi looked good first game but has struggled a bit since, but up front has been our only main concern IMO and that's why we bought Benteke.

Edit: Forgot Lallana who looks like he can have a great season if fit, so I'd be just as confident of him creating something as Coutinho.

[BigChief]

We're putting too much (unnecessary) pressure on ourselves for this match. If we win this 9-0 will we be guaranteed a top 4 finish? No. The first match (or first couple of matches) don't often dictate the 'mood' of a team going into the rest of the season. Its just the first match, that's all.

I'm going for a 2-1 win. Benteke and Henderson the scorers.

[RedReet]

We're putting too much (unnecessary) pressure on ourselves for this match. If we win this 9-0 will we be guaranteed a top 4 finish? No. The first match (or first couple of matches) don't often dictate the 'mood' of a team going into the rest of the season. Its just the first match, that's all.

I'm going for a 2-1 win. Benteke and Henderson the scorers.

Psychology plays a massive part in football and to lose again to Stoke after the last humiliation and after spending millions this summer would be a crippling blow and one that I think we would struggle to recover from. Factor in a manager that’s under extreme pressure, an unhappy fan base and quite a few players struggling for form, then I think there is more than just 3 points at stake.

I agree that winning or losing won’t decide our fate at this stage, but it will have a big say in how our season goes. If Mignolet hadn’t have saved that penalty against Stoke two years ago, do you think we’d still have went on to challenge for the title? I certainly don’t.

I think we'll blow them away early doors, go 2 up. They'll pull one back second half to make things nervy for us, but Ings will come off the bench to secure the 3 points.

[Exiled_red]

We're putting too much (unnecessary) pressure on ourselves for this match. If we win this 9-0 will we be guaranteed a top 4 finish? No. The first match (or first couple of matches) don't often dictate the 'mood' of a team going into the rest of the season. Its just the first match, that's all.

I'm going for a 2-1 win. Benteke and Henderson the scorers.

I think that under Rodgers we seem to have got off to some fairly slow starts which have meant that we have had to perform really well later in the season to achieve our goals. It's a cliche but they say that titles aren't won in the first half of the season but they can be lost then. Although realistically we aren't going to win the title the same principle holds. If we can build momentum from the start of the season, who knows where we might end up.

[Fosterbloke]

Stoke will be tricky opponents again this season. They have added a couple of decent players.

Just two?