Popular Post Lord Snooty Posted December 26, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 26, 2019 Merry Christmas Everybody! Evening everybody. I hope you have all had a good day. I have. There's nothing quite like Christmas. Yes, I know there's the relative moaning about it. That is to say, folks moaning about it relative to other fun they could be having. Not moaning about the relatives- though it's often much the same thing. But I think there's something to be said for having a couple of steady days gorging on Quality Street and what have you. Doesn't do any harm once a year. Time at home and a few old traditions. Burning good Brandy on an already cooked pudding, listening to the Queens speech and bringing the livestock into the living quarters to the be slaughtered. Really makes me feel a connect with the past. The weeks can become long monotonous drags during a long and damp November when your hood never seems to spend longer than an evening furled up and rolled away. It's nice to get the twinkly lights up, get tucked up nice and cosy and watch some pap on the telly. Goes back to the hunter gatherer doesn't it. Well, not the telly bit , obviously, or the Quality Street. But y'know, getting back in the cave by the fire and warming your cockles, not to say your heart. Or something. From what I gather it's something The Monk agrees with. He's given the boys Christmas day off to spend with their families. "You have to use different ways at this time of year. I've been in every Christmas Day for 24 years but each group is different. You need to work with them and understand if it can get them to a better feeling and fresher place. I like to work on trust. You treat them (the players) like adults. The only time that changes is if they show you any different." And I can see the benefit of that. There's a grueling period up ahead, the games are coming thick and fast and in all honesty a day with the heels up watching Morecombe and Wise is probably as good a thing as charging about in the cold on the training pitch. It's not like they're going to lose any sharpness with the speed the fixtures are coming at us, whipping up like leaves in a storm. Relaxation is under rated in football if you ask me, and as long as the women folk aren't in the ear I'm all for the boys having a day at home. Besides, seeing the kiddie winks enjoying it all can be a real boost for the batteries. One man who doesn't agree with me and The Monk though is Stoke Gaffer Michael O'Neill , who it would seem hasn't spent any of his previous Christmases watching any of the myriad versions of Dickens Classic tale- A Christmas Carol. He's had the Stoke boys in on Chrimble day and doesn't give a hoot what anyone thinks about it-: “Time off is not something we can afford. The Christmas programme here is unique and we have to see this as an opportunity to get points." His side are currently stuck at the foot of the Championship table, have players on good money who haven't adapted well to life in what is genuinely one of the most competitive Leagues in the World and are struggling for confidence. It's a genuine question here. Will getting a set of depressed , under performing players who are already in a mindset of losing and feeling down and gloomy in for training on Christmas day, dragged away from their families... make them perform any better? Personally I doubt it. When you're in that situation you need a pick me up, not a basting. Been said before and it'll be said again - There's more to the managing lark than making them work hard and picking a team. Man management! Maybe I'm becoming a soft old goat as I get older. We'll see of course who's right, O'Neil or Monk. The proof will be in the pudding.. =============================================== STOKE - V - WEDNESDAY Thursday 26th December, 2019 Kick off : 15:00 Stoke =============================================== TEAM NEWS Stoke will check on full-back Stephen Ward (back) and winger James McClean (hamstring) before the visit of Sheffield Wednesday. The Potters will start the match bottom of the Championship table after Wigan's draw at Blackburn on Monday. STOKE Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Butland Smith Batth Lindsay Ward Allen Cousins Clucas Ince Gregory McClean =============================================== Wednesday striker Steven Fletcher missed Sunday's win over Bristol City because of illness, but may return. Sam Hutchinson is back after a two-match suspension for the Owls, who are third after a five-game unbeaten run. WEDNESDAY Predicted line-up (4-4-2): Dawson Palmer Iorfa Lees Fox Reach Luongo Bannan Harris Rhodes Fletcher =============================================== Match facts Stoke are winless in seven league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D4 L3) since a victory back in November 2005. Sheffield Wednesday haven't completed a league double over Stoke since the 1952-53 campaign. This is Stoke's first home league match on Boxing Day since 2015, when they won 2-0 against Manchester United in the Premier League. Sheffield Wednesday have won their last five league matches on Boxing Day, and haven't conceded a goal in any of their last seven matches played on that day. Stoke have won only once in their last six Championship matches (W1 D1 L4), losing last time out, despite taking the lead vs Middlesbrough. Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan was the match-winner for the Owls last time out, netting from the spot vs Bristol City - he hasn't scored in consecutive league games since April. =============================================== FORM GUIDE Form Guide Sponsored By Gamble Aware: =============================================== COME ON WEDNESDAY! 28 8 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Owl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Merry Christmas MiLord. Merry Christmas one and all. Head says we've got the beating of Stoke. Heart says we usually let ourselves down. Hope not. UTO 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morepork Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 (edited) Merry Christmas Snoots. Thanks for another year of life saving humour. I'm left thinking how absolutely priceless it would have been to see HRH with a photo of Dave on the desk, embellished with a lipstick kiss mark, perhaps. Edited December 26, 2019 by Morepork 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cognacbarnowl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Good morning Snoots. Got me a little kerfuffled there buddy as I usually scan this around 6a.m. WOW!! I thought, only posted 2 minutes ago, so his Lurdship must've had a god xmas day. Kinda forgot I am up late, DOH!! We need to potter off down there, fire in a few goals, close up our defence as tight as a kiln and come home with three points, me Owld china. UTO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul G Wisbech Owl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Stokes form looks rotten, but we struggle to put together three wins on the bounce. Hope we can break the hoodoo and give Stoke a good hammering. UTO Happy Christmas to all Owls fans. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osowl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Great OMTD as always, small point isn't Fox out? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cognacbarnowl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 4 minutes ago, osowl said: Great OMTD as always, small point isn't Fox out? Available for selection according to GM, FFS, get a reyt emoji up for him Neil ya Nellie. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanharper Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Ref Watch - John Brooks Still in his 20s and we've only had 4 games under him before, 2 against QPR and 2 against Reading, resulting in 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats (both against QPR). He's reffed Stoke twice and they lost both games. Largely unnoticed apart from failing to award a penalty to us when Pudil had the audacity to get booted in the head I give him 6 Courtneys on the GeorgeCourtneyometer p.s. Don't worry we've got one we've heard of for Sunday's game against Cardiff. Chap called Robinson... 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Snooty Posted December 26, 2019 Author Share Posted December 26, 2019 33 minutes ago, alanharper said: p.s. Don't worry we've got one we've heard of for Sunday's game against Cardiff. Chap called Robinson... FFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cognacbarnowl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 4 minutes ago, Lord Snooty said: FFS Another six match ban for FFFFS. I wonder if the old, "Who's yer father" song is banned by the PC brigade these days ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumbullowl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Merry Christmas one and all. Hark now hear the Wednesday sing, United ran away, We will sing forever more, Because of Boxing Day. Stoke 0 Wednesday 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewswfc Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Merry crinbo everyone. 0--2 too the mighty owls today. Fletch and Rhodes on the score sheet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest timrud Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 2-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holmowl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Nuhiu’s photo on the Queen’s desk...genius mate. Any result possible today. Stoke have been tripe but have the players to be up with West Brom and Leeds. They are massively under-performing. Hoping Fletcher is fit. Really want to see the Fletcher & Rhodes Christmas Special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzy logics Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Had doubts about today, but just turned cricket on and first thing I see is a Wednesday flag, 2-0...its an omen I tell thee UTO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel The Tree Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Snooty's OMDT really is the jewel in Owlstalk's crown Hope everyone out there had as nice a Christmas as we did here on Billy's shoulder And hope the lads can carry their impressive run on well into the New Year and beyond ... 'ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmontonowl Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Well it is generally agreed that Her Majness wanted to demonstrate the succession in her photos. Bit concerned that Stoke might stick it to us as this charitable time. But figuring another 1-0 to us might still be on the cards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OWLERTON GHOST Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Cinnamon Golden Grahams & Milk all over my new dressing gown FFS .... Merry Christmas everyone ... 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lombardo Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Brilliant Snoots, as always. A win on the road and the next 2 games at home would be brilliant. Maybe even catch Bleeds up as they are now due a mare.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogerwyldesmullet Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 Thanks Mlud They’ve got a good manager and good players but I’m not sure they’ll be in a good mood especially if Christmas was cancelled. Then again, maybe having been denied mince pies will fill them with rage and energy. We will need to stand up to them and I predict one of our tough nuts (Reach or Hutch) will see red today. 1:1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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