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+----- Thread: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread (/showthread.php?tid=4585)
Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - Ska'dForLife-WBA - 22-09-2016
![[Image: DSC_0383.jpg]](http://s21.postimg.org/4d2nje3hz/DSC_0383.jpg)
Left Back By The Trent: Derek Statham on the attack at Victoria Park, 21st May 1982
This weekend will see Tony Pulis join the fairly select group of gaffers to have achieved a thousand matches as a manager in English football, and you have to wonder whether the football gods had this one scripted all along, because there's really no more fitting place for him to celebrate that distinction than at the Britannia Stadium. The question is whether or not it will prove a happy occasion for him, and by extension, for Albion.
The signs are good. Against the Potters in the Pulis era we've played three and won three, and Stoke's start to the season has been even more shambolic than last year, leaving them propping up the table with a weighty goal difference. In addition, there were signs of promise to our performance against West Ham (even with the caveats that we looked a nervy bunch at times, and they spent the entire match defending like a pissed Villa), and we look a much improved team with Nacer Chadli in the middle of the park. However, the pressure will be on Mark Hughes to turn things around, and Albion being Albion, this could prove a very tricky one.
Still, here's hoping for another cheerful Saturday, and thousands more ahead of it.
![[Image: DSC_0218.jpg]](http://s8.postimg.org/54pdz13hh/DSC_0218.jpg)
Right Back By The Trent: Wayne Fereday on the attack at Victoria Park, 19th September 1992.
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - drewks - 23-09-2016
Jeeez - I hate how you put these great pictures on, Ska'd - pictures that I really relate to - and they look so bloody OLD!!
What is the worth of looking at the table at this time of year? Stoke may be bottom but IMO they'll finish comfortably in the top 10 with the players they have. Even with the complaining, moaning scrote in charge.
Fancy us to do it again though this weekend, unless they do a hatchet job on our new Belgian superstar.
2-0 to us
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - talkSAFT - 23-09-2016
I read the other day that the Club had decided NOT to accept the 2,900 tickets allocation for the Away End, and made the decision to "take" only the 1,600 allocation. This is very worrying on 2 aspects:-
1. Sales had been so slow that the Club weren't confident enough that they would sell the further 1,300 tickets (The Club would be liable for the cost of any unsold tickets).
To me that's taking prudent financial housekeeping to a silly extreme. Apparently a lot of fans who had come in late for their tickets were told that they had sold out. No doubt hundreds of fans would come in upto today when they'd decided they couldn't NOT go. Even if as many as (say) 500 tickets were unsold, that would mean that 800 MORE fans would be cheering them on, but WBA would be 500 x £30 (say) = £15,000 out of pocket........big flipping deal! The extra support could be worth a point, or more. Who knows?
2. It's shocking that only a couple of thousand want to go to watch them in our nearest Away match. That says everything about the enthusiasm and mood throughout the Area. A couple of years ago we would have sold the 2,900 on day 1. Now we'll be a laughing stock!
No - I won't be there. (I live 300 miles from Stoke, and only manage 4 Home games a year). But 50 years ago I went to most Away games, when I lived in Brum. Away support to any Midlands derby would be a minimum 3,000, while 100 mile trips (London/NorthWest/Yorkshire) would be attended by 6 Coaches, a Train, and a few motorists. We'd ALWAYS take about 500 to these games, when Sheff Utd for instance would only bring about 300 to the Hawthorns, back then. We were renowned for our great Away support, and have been ever since until the last couple of years.
Bomber often says he's amazed at our Away support, and says it really lifted the Team when he was playing.
I'm afraid it's such a general feeling of pessimism that might get us relegated until somebody recognises this. And whose decision was it to save the Club a few thousand pounds? How narrow-minded!
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - Kookiebags - 23-09-2016
Afternoon All,
Not ready to sing TP's praises yet, but another good win would be more than acceptable. I expect Stoke to turn things around soon, and they may get some of the players they have been missing back on the pitch this weekend, but I would like to congratulate TP on 1000 games as boss and a solid win at 5 o'clock on Saturday
I would take 1 nil, but again, feel there will be goals in this one, and again, hope we score more than they do.
I still don't expect the team to do much different than they usually do, but the extra bit of class and guile Chadli brings, and another dose of good finishing may mean a good day at the office.
Cheers,
Kookiebags.
.
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - Forever Young - 23-09-2016
Stoke bottom, terrible run, Pulis's 1000 game, we always give teams a break, sadly I think we'll lose 2-1!! Agent Pulis will strike back for the Stokies!! I can see them singing Pulis loves Stoke all game, I might be wrong, I hope I'm wrong.
COYB
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - May68 - 23-09-2016
Stoke are there for the taking, but I reckon we're gonna park the bus and go for a 0-0. I hope I'm wrong.
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - valpayne - 24-09-2016
as forever said TP 1000 stoke shi*e TP former club which he's had a good record against and the pressure is on them
So to counter balance this select set of omens I'm booked into the studio at 3pm hope to emerge at 5 victorious but not confident 
nice piece on on TP on SSN and despite a lot of the negativity we all feel The man does seem to have the backing of a lot of players and managers in the game who think he is a lot better than he's given credit for make of that what you all will.
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - Worldclassalbion - 24-09-2016
Fat Boy Berahino not in the squad....................................ABOUT TIME!!
I fancy us today but I will be listening on the radio as even though we beat Wet Sham I will not get carried away and quite honestly couldn't be arsed to drive up the M6.
Pulis has done it before and always when under immense pressure. What is it, one win I thirteen. Lets see if Chadli can keep up the pace and get us playing the right away. Surprised Pulis hasn't dropped him
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - Ska'dForLife-WBA - 24-09-2016
(24-09-2016, 15:56)Worldclassalbion Wrote: Fat Boy Berahino not in the squad....................................ABOUT TIME!!
A virus, apparently; it's done for Galloway as well.
RE: Stoke vs WBA - Match Thread - Stairs - 24-09-2016
Rumour is Saido has a touch of the flu, same with Galloway. Whatever the reason, we do not need Saido and we should give players wanted to wear an Albion shirt the opportunity to prove themselves.
HRK is on the bench and is a perfect example. He wanted to play for us, he will put 100% in if he gets a chance and, if he does, I hope he gets a goal and the fans take a shine to him.