Stoop Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Apart from us trying to hand them the game on a plate for the first 29 minutes I thought they were average Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quadzilla Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 21 minutes ago, Stoop said: Apart from us trying to hand them the game on a plate for the first 29 minutes I thought they were average I think you were watching a different game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groundhopping Owl Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Agree with the gist of the comments here - I thought Stoke were really impressive, especially the midfield three who were a superb combo with each player offering something a bit different. Woods and Etebo in particular were excellent. They had a lot of inherent advantages over us: quite simply they were quicker and stronger, and it really showed in that first 25 minutes before Matias' goal when frankly they played us off the pitch. As has been said, their main problem seems to be mental fortitude, which I suppose shouldn't be that surprising after a relegation. Our first goal shouldn't really have changed the complex of the game as much as it did, Stoke still had enough to beat us and could have killed the game by extending their lead in the last 15 minutes of the first half. The number of times they got in behind was frightening, although I'm not sure I've ever seen so many offsides in a single half (some of them were a bit questionable too). Instead they retreated bit by bit and just left the door open enough for us to get back into it and nick a point. Not sure I agree with all the Rowett bashing, I think he's a good manager and could do well for them given time. They need a win to kick start their season, but they're easily good enough to get it, their squad has a hell of a lot of talent in depth. Having had a quick look, their next five fixtures are Swansea, Blackburn, Rotherham, Bolton and Norwich - I fully expect them to find the wins in and amongst them that will kick start their promotion push. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kagoshimaowl Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 3 hours ago, Geosword said: I thought Stoke were actually a bloody good side. Yes, we gifted them a perfect start but for large periods of the game, we couldn't get the ball off them and it would've been game over if they got the third at any point. In midfield and up front, they were miles ahead of us. However, we have something they don't appear to have at the moment and that's mental strength. As soon as our players realised that they were defensively weak and could be got at, the tide turned. Stoke's defence seemed panicked at our every attack. Think once they sort out the defence or manager even, they'll bomb on. Don't think we'll play against a better side this season than we faced in that first 30 mins. TL:DR Thought Stoke were good but we showed real character to pull it back. Proud of the Owls tonight. Spot on matey. They were excellent, although maybe a bit shaky at the back. Great fight back. Definitely a point won and not two lost and I don’t say that about home games very often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torryowl Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 they kept the ball well but I don't recall dawson having too many saves to make and there defence looked at best shaky …..maybe they just had an off day but I don't see them as automatic promotion contenders and listening to the stoke fans as I walked back to the car neither do a lot of them . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Starling Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 I enjoyed the game today with both teams trying to win the game. It reminded me of the Sunderland home game last season where they looked as though they were going to batter us in the first half but we were better in the second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ever the pessimist Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Wood’s debut was good and he will improve them no end. It’s often the case a relegated side wakes up / adapts after the international break: I fully expect them to push forward from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socialist_Owl Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 (edited) I wasn't impressed. That first goal was a complete gift, and Afobe was 100% offside for the 2nd. Second half they fell apart. They'll be down here for awhile. Brentford looked head and shoulders above, they comprehensively bossed us. Carry on with the bizarre Rowett love in. Edited September 16, 2018 by Socialist_Owl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torryowl Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 7 hours ago, Stoop said: Apart from us trying to hand them the game on a plate for the first 29 minutes I thought they were average me and all stoop ……..played some nice passing football without creating too much ,only 4 efforts on target chuck in a defence that wobbled at the 1st sign of any pressure from us and average sums them nicely...……. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McRightSide Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 They have power going forward but were poor under pressure at the back. Unfortuantely our usual ultra-conversative approach prevented us from laying a glove on them most most of the match. When we did, they were shown to have a glass jaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride_of_the_road Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Too strong for us but they will struggle as they keep drawing games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouncing Owl Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Stoke will definitely pick up. They are a big and physical outfit and they have some quality ball players in Woods and Allen. They definitely won the midfield battle yesterday and they were dangerous in attacking areas. However, defensively they were awful. I don’t get it as they have good and experienced players in Shawcross and Pieters with Butland in goal. The defending for our first goal was terrible and they would’ve been a meltdown on here if we conceded that goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costello 77 Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 I expect them to improve by at least 10 places in this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swfcjack27 Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 First half an hour they looked every bit a premier league team with Woods and Allen running the game as mentioned. Could have totally collapsed and been embarrassed on the scoreline yesterday but the way we dug in was great to see and it’s one of those important points that feels like a win come the end of the season. Looking forward to going on Wednesday, always play well at the city ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreshOwl Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 They should have been out of sight at half time, not quite sure how they ballsed yesterday up as it was their game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bladeshater Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Stoke will be up there at the end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bulgaria Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 20 hours ago, CalmJimmers said: Their midfield is one of the best in the division if you look who they have. Woods, Etebo, Allen, Ince, Fletcher, Imbula, Clucas, Bojan, Afellay. Hard game against a team we always struggle to beat. Crikey, that midfield reads like a list of tropical diseases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Howes Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Just look at some of the players they have. No 2 England keeper Butland, two Holland internationals Martins Indi and Pieters with loads of caps, Fletcher with over 200 Man U appearances, Allen and Williams who were both stars in Euro 2016, the legend Crouchy who has 22 goals for England, and Bojan who played over 100 games for Barcelona. They've got huge experience and I suspect once they've got used to the division will be there or there abouts come the end of the season. For all we started terribly, to come back from two down against a team with that ability and experience shows real character. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torryowl Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 6 hours ago, Bouncing Owl said: Stoke will definitely pick up. They are a big and physical outfit and they have some quality ball players in Woods and Allen. They definitely won the midfield battle yesterday and they were dangerous in attacking areas. However, defensively they were awful. I don’t get it as they have good and experienced players in Shawcross and Pieters with Butland in goal. The defending for our first goal was terrible and they would’ve been a meltdown on here if we conceded that goal. I don't see having only 4 efforts on target as dangerous in attacking areas …….afobe took his goals well but that apart the were a bit crap as an attacking force considering the amount of possession they had in mid field . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Claw Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 we made em look good to be fair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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