Diego_Sideburns Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 (edited) Who would have thought five years ago that, after a top-flight absence of 23 years, Stoke City would achieve comfortable Greedy League safety, cup runs and now a first-ever F.A. Cup Final? All this has been done on the watch of a chairman, who has supported the club since the 1940s, and without smashing the club’s wage structure. A mixture of lazy journalism on behalf of large parts of the media, and football snobbery, has led to a dismissal of Stoke City as a physical, long-throw one-trick team. Tonight there will be many pundits eating their words. While many clubs seem to have tried to bury their working class roots under the torrent of money introduced by Sky TV, The Potters still embrace those roots, and anyone who has sampled the bear pit of the Britannia Stadium will realise that the Chairman, manager, players and supporters don’t give a damn for the opinions of pundits. Attacks from the outside have merely galvanised and strengthened a siege mentality serving the club. When Stoke won the League Cup in the 1971-72 season, one of their goals was scored by Terry Conroy, who is currently recovering at home after undergoing emergency heart surgery last month. He has already amazed doctors, who said he had only a one-in-10 chance of surviving, and today’s result should have helped with his recovery, with a Cup Final attendance as his next goal. The very astute and determined Tony Pulis was Gillingham manager when Citeh fans had left Wembley and were on their way to the Tube, before a Lazarus-style comeback got Citeh promoted. Pulis will be hoping he who laughs last, laughs longest, as he takes on the world’s richest club in the Final of the world’s greatest cup competition. As Citeh fans wait for everything to go pear-shaped as usual, the fat lady called Delilah is warming up her voice for the big day. If Stoke win the Cup, or if Citeh win the Cup and finish in the top four of the Greedy League, Stoke will enter the Europa League, along with the sixth-placed team. The Stokies have much to get excited about. Edited April 17, 2011 by Diego_Sideburns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 Nice post. Crap song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loftyboy Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 Who would have thought five years ago that, after a top-flight absence of 23 years, Stoke City would achieve comfortable Greedy League safety, cup runs and now a first-ever F.A. Cup Final? All this has been done on the watch of a chairman, who has supported the club since the 1940s, and without smashing the club’s wage structure. A mixture of lazy journalism on behalf of large parts of the media, and football snobbery, has led to a dismissal of Stoke City as a physical, long-throw one-trick team. Tonight there will be many pundits eating their words. While many clubs seem to have tried to bury their working class roots under the torrent of money introduced by Sky TV, The Potters still embrace those roots, and anyone who has sampled the bear pit of the Britannia Stadium will realise that the Chairman, manager, players and supporters don’t give a damn for the opinions of pundits. Attacks from the outside have merely galvanised and strengthened a siege mentality serving the club. When Stoke won the League Cup in the 1971-72 season, one of their goals was scored by Terry Conroy, who is currently recovering at home after undergoing emergency heart surgery last month. He has already amazed doctors, who said he had only a one-in-10 chance of surviving, and today’s result should have helped with his recovery, with a Cup Final attendance as his next goal. The very astute and determined Tony Pulis was Gillingham manager when Citeh fans had left Wembley and were on their way to the Tube, before a Lazarus-style comeback got Citeh promoted. Pulis will be hoping he who laughs last, laughs longest, as he takes on the world’s richest club in the Final of the world’s greatest cup competition. As Citeh fans wait for everything to go pear-shaped as usual, the fat lady called Delilah is warming up her voice for the big day. If Stoke win the Cup, or if Citeh win the Cup and finish in the top four of the Greedy League, Stoke will enter the Europa League, along with the sixth-placed team. The Stokies have much to get excited about. Good post Diego. What Stoke have done is really quite an achievement in todays game where money is king. Wouldn't bet against them bursting City's bubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 To be honest, there's a slight hint of jealousy on my part looking at Stoke and Bolton now, compared to 15-20 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted April 17, 2011 Author Share Posted April 17, 2011 (edited) To be honest, there's a slight hint of jealousy on my part looking at Stoke and Bolton now, compared to 15-20 years ago. Citeh hanging on through the closing minutes last night brought back memories of the red goal we don't mention. If only.........we could have been in the Cup Final and playing in Europe. Edited April 17, 2011 by Diego_Sideburns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beag_teeets Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Citeh hanging on through the closing minutes last night brought back memories of the red goal we don't mention. If only.........we could have been in the Cup Final and playing in Europe. I didn't think of that but what a great point! As for Stoke, they were one of the first to get a "soulless bowl" stadium and for years it looked like being a white elephant as they bounced around not quite making it. I remember playing Stoke for years and assuming we were a much bigger club, they proved me wrong several years ago. They have their share of idiot fans but good luck to them, they've earned their success and most people will be behind them against City. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I hope the seats in all stands at the final are replaced with giant hungry homicidal carniverous fly-traps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted April 18, 2011 Author Share Posted April 18, 2011 I hope the seats in all stands at the final are replaced with giant hungry homicidal carniverous fly-traps A bit harsh tarring the Citeh and Stoke reprobates with the same brush as those corporates and F.A. hangers-on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 A bit harsh tarring the Citeh and Stoke reprobates with the same brush as those corporates and F.A. hangers-on. Nope, I'd piss on the resulting sludge to help it get down the drains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share Posted April 21, 2011 Citeh hanging on through the closing minutes last night brought back memories of the red goal we don't mention. If only.........we could have been in the Cup Final and playing in Europe. Nick Hancock wrote an alternative history of football called 'What didn't happen next'. In the chapter 'But what if Hughes had not scored that goal?' Hughes slices it high and wide and it bounces harmlessly on the running track. As Hallworth punts the goal-kick upfield, the ref blows for full-time and Pointon disappears under a mountain of blue-shirted team-mates. The win gives Latics the psychological lift they need to secure Premier League football for 1994-95 - Ipswich are relegated with Sheffield United and Swindon. However, ManUre fall away badly and Blackburn catch them at the last to win the title. Taggart is left fuming and begins a mass clear-out of those players who haven't the guts to play for him. Denis Irwin returns to Latics. Cantona retires and sets up in business writing those little poems that go inside birthday cards. In the F.A. Cup Final, Latics have beaten Chelsea home and away in the League, and they continue to be Chelsea's bogey team as sub Andy Ritchie scores the only goal, with Mike Milligan lifting the Cup. By November Everton sack manager Mike Walker, but Joe Royle turns down their overtures, as Latics are still in the Cup-Winners' cup, after their two-leg win over Viktoria Zizkov. Latics have their best season in the Premier League, finishing ninth. They also reach the Final of the Cup Winners' Cup, where a speculative last-minute shot by Andy Ritchie from the halfway line catches David Seaman off his line and wins the all-English Euro-clash with holders Arsenal. ManUre continue to fail and Taggart becomes manager of Wales. He is not happy when he cannot get Ryan Giggs released by Barcelona for any of his twelve games in charge, owing to groin strains, head colds, calf niggles, paella poisoning, wrist injuries picked up during matador training, etc, etc. It all goes to show history is determined by that fine line between a volley and a miss-hit volley, and their consequences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy_Fent Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 Nick Hancock wrote an alternative history of football called 'What didn't happen next'. In the chapter 'But what if Hughes had not scored that goal?' Hughes slices it high and wide and it bounces harmlessly on the running track. As Hallworth punts the goal-kick upfield, the ref blows for full-time and Pointon disappears under a mountain of blue-shirted team-mates. The win gives Latics the psychological lift they need to secure Premier League football for 1994-95 - Ipswich are relegated with Sheffield United and Swindon. However, ManUre fall away badly and Blackburn catch them at the last to win the title. Taggart is left fuming and begins a mass clear-out of those players who haven't the guts to play for him. Denis Irwin returns to Latics. Cantona retires and sets up in business writing those little poems that go inside birthday cards. In the F.A. Cup Final, Latics have beaten Chelsea home and away in the League, and they continue to be Chelsea's bogey team as sub Andy Ritchie scores the only goal, with Mike Milligan lifting the Cup. By November Everton sack manager Mike Walker, but Joe Royle turns down their overtures, as Latics are still in the Cup-Winners' cup, after their two-leg win over Viktoria Zizkov. Latics have their best season in the Premier League, finishing ninth. They also reach the Final of the Cup Winners' Cup, where a speculative last-minute shot by Andy Ritchie from the halfway line catches David Seaman off his line and wins the all-English Euro-clash with holders Arsenal. ManUre continue to fail and Taggart becomes manager of Wales. He is not happy when he cannot get Ryan Giggs released by Barcelona for any of his twelve games in charge, owing to groin strains, head colds, calf niggles, paella poisoning, wrist injuries picked up during matador training, etc, etc. It all goes to show history is determined by that fine line between a volley and a miss-hit volley, and their consequences. what is known as Parallel Universe syndrome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razza699 Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 (edited) why do people spell City like Citeh ? that bugs me Edited April 21, 2011 by razza699 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share Posted April 21, 2011 why do people spell City like Citeh ? that bugs me It's how Mancs pronounce it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 why do people spell City like Citeh ? that bugs me says the poster who can't spell 'neck'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24hoursfromtulsehill Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I'll be rooting for Stoke Citeh in the FA Cup Final - if I'm not doing something better. I have an unquenchable thirst for Man Citeh farce and disaster. Things look promising for Wemberley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macca Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Wonder where Stoke would be if they didn't receive annual topup payments from the owner of Britannia BS? Definately spent more than the club earned to get into the Premier League. I wouldn't call that prudent but it worked for them. That said their achievement now that they are in the Premier League has to be applauded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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