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Post by Ninjadmin on Feb 16, 2012 23:44:14 GMT
I tell you what lads, being in a box is fucking ace.
Rolled up there at 5:30, people assumed that we were rich so were being really really nice to us. Bare razz waitresses on demand at the touch of a button bringing ice cold pints (in glasses), 2 course meal served in the box... aaaand Jerome, Shawcross and Walters popped in afterwards for a chat.
I could get used to that.
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Post by Donkey on Feb 16, 2012 23:54:46 GMT
N'awwwwww what did they say? :3
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Post by Ninjadmin on Feb 17, 2012 0:02:14 GMT
Just the standard thing answering the normal questions like "hopefully we can get at Valencia at their place" etc... and that they had to dash because the coach for Crawley was leaving in 5 minutes with or without them.
Shawcross was super shy. Nice lad like, just didn't look me in the eye when he spoke to me, which I thought was weird for a giant footballer on megabucks. Expected them all to be right brash dicks.
Johnny Walters was way smaller than I expected, he was about my height. Jerome was about 3 or 4 inches taller and Shawcross is a fucking giant.
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Post by Dharma Bum on Feb 17, 2012 0:30:03 GMT
All the jailbait works up in the posh part.
As everyone else has said, they were a good side: eleven technically adept players with pace. Great stroke for their goal, but it was a bit of a fluke.
I thought the game was pretty even though overall. If we'd put away one of those chances when we were dominating in the first 15/20 minutes it might have been different.
Thought Deano was going to go on a killing spree at the end. Never seen him so wound up before.
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Post by aworldofmyown on Feb 17, 2012 7:11:41 GMT
they are a great side, their short balls, long balls, closing down, set pieces were far better than ours. A great strike, probably miss 99 times out of a 100, walters didn't hassle him though and just let him shoot.
a very weak ref who lost control at the end, after their late tackles that he 'missed'
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2012 10:02:22 GMT
I'll stop short at saying they were the best team I've seen down the Brit due their dishonest play, but they're up there.
I don't think now's the time to reflect on how badly we're playing, we we're marginality better last night, but still haven't got that burning Stoke City attitude. It'll be time to start asking questions of we get spanked at Crawley.
Don't be too disheartened.
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Post by The Swahili Bastardizers on Feb 17, 2012 10:24:34 GMT
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Post by The Swahili Bastardizers on Feb 17, 2012 10:35:58 GMT
Oh, and it finally puts the myth to bed of Spanish opposition on a cold, wet and windy Winters night at The Brit...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2012 10:43:23 GMT
Agree with all of that Gaznandi.
I must admit I always thought that there are far far tougher places than the Brit, Turkey, Napoli etc.
I was well impressed by Valencia, they were genuinely better at everything. Their centre half scored that goal ffs ;D Is there a centre half in England (of any nationality) that could do that?
Plus their European experience showed when we had them under pressure in the last 25 mins or so, going down, moaning at the ref, niggly fouls etc.
The thing they do brilliantly is give the ref some shit when they know that a throw/free kick has been awarded against them cos invariably they then throw themselves to the ground at the very next 50/50 and it goes their way.
But that sounds very ungracious, the far better side won and we will get battered over there but what the hell ;D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2012 10:49:39 GMT
Oh, and it finally puts the myth to bed of Spanish opposition on a cold, wet and windy Winters night at The Brit... We're dispelling a few myths lately. "oh, they won't like it in the snow" - Stoke lose. "oh, they won't like it with this wind" - Stoke lose, Wilson has to be put in the air raid shelter in case of blowing away. "oh, these Europeans won't like this cold wet night" - Stoke lose.
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Post by Revolver Ocelot on Feb 17, 2012 10:50:19 GMT
I agree Turts, Turkey looks naughty everytime I see a game there.
Also Topal (A turk funnily enough) played in midfield didn't he? ;D
I wouldn't have been surprised if it was Costa who banged it in from there as he has previous, but not that greasy currant. ;D
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Post by The Swahili Bastardizers on Feb 17, 2012 10:52:11 GMT
On a separate note, their centre half (the one that didn't score), Rami, is valued at £20mill....
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Post by The Swahili Bastardizers on Feb 17, 2012 10:58:40 GMT
Also, can't find a single match report that questions Dealbert's 'handling' of Crouchie....?
Not that it bothers me particularly, just that it's brought up relentlessly when we do it...
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Post by Dharma Bum on Feb 17, 2012 11:27:16 GMT
We should play Ric over there, purely for the lulz when one of their lot tries something snide and gets a slap in the chops.
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Post by Ninjadmin on Feb 17, 2012 12:18:35 GMT
Is there a centre half in England (of any nationality) that could do that? Cahill's for Bolton in the first game of this season wasn't too far off.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2012 12:25:42 GMT
Huth could scuff one of those fuckers in.
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Post by The Swahili Bastardizers on Feb 17, 2012 14:03:07 GMT
Anyone know why acting England manager was there..?
Crouch for the full England team or would he be there in his role as GB Olympic team boss..?
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Post by Donkey on Feb 17, 2012 14:41:09 GMT
Makes more sense if he was there for the England team.
No under 23's in our side and the over 23 spaces won't be filled by Stoke players when Beckham and Giggs are available.
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Post by One-Two on Feb 17, 2012 14:47:42 GMT
In the end, the game was decided by a wonder, once in a blue moon, strike. Without that, at 0-0, it's a really good result and we're happy.
We looked a much better team when Whitehead came on, probably because he mainly tried to play a simple pass to Pennant as soon as he got the ball.
Pennant was average going forward mainly, but he put in a cracking shift defensively, and read some runs very well to stop them being put through on goal.
Huth wasn't at his best generally, but he did make at least 3 crucial sliding blocks/challenges which kept us in the tie.
Jerome looked good again when he came on, and gave us something different, I'm still not convinced by Shotton though.
Pulis will probably be a bit angry about the way we lost discipline in the last few minutes, it's understandable though. The ref gives the foul on Etherington though, and none of that happens, if only he had 4 other officials to help him out...
Valencia knew every trick in the book. The first 3-4 minutes were relentless for them, they weren't coping and the momentum was completely with us, their player gets fouled, stays down for 2/3 minutes and lets everything calms down. We lost our momentum and they got themselves composed.
We didn't embarrass ourselves last night, and all it takes is a flukey goal next week and we're right back in it
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Post by One-Two on Feb 17, 2012 14:49:48 GMT
Does anyone know when the last time, before last night, Pennant and Etherington both played 90mins? Surely it can't be the first?
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