Stoke make Arsenal look amateurish with the final score 3 – 1 at the Britannia stadium FA Cup fourth round. It took 2 minutes for a Rory Delap throw to hit the back of the net from a fuller header. Arsenal looked stunned and took a good twenty minutes to settle down and start to pass the ball. Arsenal played a young team today , with Cesc Fabregas in midfield and Sol Campbell at the back. The majority of the second half was scrappy with both teams making mistake and Fuller having a strong penalty shout in the first ten minutes. Just before the break Fabregas kicked the ball which unfortunately hit white head on the upper arm giving arsenal rather lucky free kick which was converted into a goal leaving the score at 1-1 at halftime.

The second half started with Stoke playing in another gear passing well and giving Etherington many opportunity for crosses. Stoke were looking dominant when Arsenal made 3 substitutions Arshavin, Eduardo and Ramsey leaving me and the supporters around bite their nails. It was soon noticeable that the substitutes had little or no impact on the game and Sidbe was noticeably coming into his own making some good passes and important tackles and found himself charging down the right wing placing a perfect cross past Campbell to fuller resulting in stokes second goal. After the second goal Stoke were running the show crossing ball after ball into the box with Arsenal having only one more shot on target from Fabregas.With ten minutes to go Tuncay replaced fuller to try and run down the clock and give Arsenals defense some trouble. Tuncays tenacity led to City’s third goal with ethertington crossing to whitehead he sunk it into the back of the net. All that was left to do was bring on Pugh and pass the ball and count down the minutes.

Verdict
Average first half with stoke missing a few chances an Arsenal looking rusty.
Second half was brilliant Sidbe looked like a different player all the team worked hard and deserved the victory.

Stoke are at home to Wigan this weekend allowing fans to concentrate of football instead of dressing room boxing. Stoke have been in the media this week after claims of Tony Pulis and James Beattie having a punch up. Whatever did happen its believed that the pair have apologised and its back to business as usual.

The line up this weekend is anyone’s guess as there are rumours of Liam Lawrence picking up flu like symptoms. Beattie also might be out of the line-up this weekend as pulis hinted that he was to rest his knee but it wouldn’t surprise me if he started the first part of the game or sat on the bench. There are few hints of Glen Whelan’s fitness following the groin strain in Ireland’s world cup qualifier. Whitehead is back from his ban this week and should make it straight back in the first team which may displease some fans. Shawcross has also showed signs of recovery since coming off from the arsenal match which means one of the back four will have to give way Huth or Faye maybe?

All in all the team availability isn’t too bad if not a little blunt in attack. Lets hope Fullers on form !

Wigan are desperate for a win and haven’t won against Stoke in the last three appearances with Stoke not conceding. I would love to say that Stoke should take this easily but I am not so foolish. My prediction is a Stoke win at 1-0 only due to a returning Sidbe most likely starting over Tuncay.

Stokes Key Man : Mathew Etherington
Wigans Key Man : Rodallega

This weekend saw Stoke travel to Emirates Stadium this weekend and got beaten 2 – 0 for their troubles while you might think that this would upset fans , looking around the net there are a lot of positives to be found from this game.

With Ricardo Fuller on 4 yellow cards Tuncay started his first game for Stoke and didn’t dissapoint.Tuncay didnt stop running the whole game showing that his fitness levels are top notch. Throughout the game tuncay was making some very attack minded runs resulting in being caught offside on numerous occasions, although some may question the timing of his runs, Tuncay was playing a lone striker role with Sidibe behind looking for flick-ons and headers. A game with a more attack minded midfield in my opinion will be the game where Tuncay opens up defences and starts testing the goalkeeper. Another thing that impressed about Tuncay was his ability later on the game when Beattie and fuller can on, to play a deeper right sided midfield role.

All in all an exciting taste of what may be to come from the Turkish international. Praise from Tuncay aside Arsenal put on a great performance showing thier quality in both defence and attack.They were attacking stokes defence throughout the game and could have easily scored 4 or more. Arhavin is a different player when playing in the centre forward slot. He caused Faye and Huth constant problems at the back turning randomly and bolting leaving them scratching their head. It was always going to be an arsenal win and although stoke lost 2 – 0 improvements can defiantly be seen.

My man of the match:

Arshavin

Stokes man of the match:

Sorenson (yet another penalty save)

The KC Stadium Hosts SKY this week as Stoke to come to town. This will be a high pressured game which could see the home team not only losing three points but also their infamous orange manager Phil Brown.
Hull have had a tough time of it lately seeing them win 4 games in the last 12 month so they will be looking to win on Sunday.

Stoke on the other hand have been experiencing a relatively successful start to their second year at top flight. Losing only to Chelsea , Man United and Liverpool , coming into this fixture you would put money on a win if not at least a draw. Hulls attacking line is looking rather blunt at the moment with them not scoring a goal in 3 games . Hull’s Brazilian striker Giovanni won’t be starting against Stoke either on Sunday after picking up a red card. Stoke’s attacking line-up has been making steady progression with Beattie finding his form and fuller upto his usual trickery. Stoke also have good attacking options on the bench with Tuncay , Kiston and Sidbe returning from injury. The fans have been scratching their head lately as Tuncay has yet to start and Kiston mysteriously didn’t make the bench against wolves.

Etherington has also found his form of late giving an assist and goal at the weekend against Wolves. Stephen Hunt is Hull dangerman, it will be interesting to see if Pulis starts Wilkinson or Huth to combat hulls left wing. With the match being on Sky and the pressure that’s on Phil brown i can guarantee everyone will be talking about the subtleties of the match come Monday.

My prediction 2-0 to Stoke.

Stoke are at home this week playing host to newly promoted wolves and with stoke losing to Portsmouth 4 – 0 on Tuesdays carling cup match you can belive that Pulis wont be allowing the team to repeat thier poor performance. Wolves come to the Brit after picking up 2 draws in 4 games and will be looking to pick up three points whilst Stoke will be trying to make in three in a row.

There are rumours this week that Tuncay will be starting the match after impressing Tony Pulis at Portsmouth , The Turkish internatinal captain hasnt yet started for stoke due to questions of match fitness amongst other things , but has shown some quality when being brought of the bench. Win lose or draw all Stoke fans will be happy to see him start if he gets picked.

There should be plenty of goals at the birt with wolves keeping only one clean sheet in 10 . Wolves Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is also on great form and could cuase trouble for Sorenson although im sure Faye will have something to say about that.

Stoke are off to white hart lane this weekend to play an on form Tottenham. Jermain Defoe is out for the clash this saturday after being send off in last weeks match against Portsmouth ,Giovani dos Santos and Luke Modric are also going to be out of the fixture with an ankle injury and Modric’s fractured leg. Stoke meanwhile have no real injury problems but cant use the german defender Huth due to picking up a 3 match ban for violent conduct after Stokes 2-1 win against West Ham.

Tottenhams possible Line Up:
Gomes, Cudicini, Corluka, Hutton, Naughton, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Bassong, King, Woodgate, Dawson, Lennon, Bentley, Jenas, Palacios, Huddlestone, Kranjcar, Keane, Pavlyuchenko, Crouch.

Stokes possible Line up:
Sorensen, Collins, Faye, Shawcross, Wilkinson , Etherington , Whelan , Delap ,Lawrence , Fuller , Beatie

Tottenham are on form at the minute so i am expecting a tough game whist stoke’s away form is known to be very poor this season the potters have only lost one game out of 4 tough fixtures. Stoke will be up against it on saturday and need to start with thier defence on top form as tottenham will be looking to finish the game of early . It will be an interesting match i am hoping that stoke will win but will be more than content with an away point.

Well, not long got back from the match, what can you say ? ? Losing to the Champions isn’t really anything to be ashamed of, however I can’t help having a bitter taste in my mouth. I though the 4-5-1 formation wasn’t a bad way to go, however I would have liked to see Tuncay start. Also although Huth had a half decent game, clearing up and scrappy balls I felt that Lawrence played out of his skin covering both Evra and Nani while Huth kept drifting into his natural center half role, I feel Wilkinson may have been a better option. Other than that what else can you really say ? I think we missed Fuller today as he gives any defender problems, but still lets look forward, on to Everton next week, go on Stoke !! We’ll be with you !!…………..and it could be worse………we could be Hull fans.

Gaz

Stoke are playing the big boys tomorow Man United at Home heres my view on how Stoke will compare to the premier leagues reigning champions. Sir Alex Ferguson has been praising Stoke City this week saying that “Stoke are a club on the up and they are going to be a force this season”. Such compliments show how far we have come in under Pulis and Coates.Having said that Man United are expecting to start with thier best possible team as its crucial for them to pick up the full three points if they are going to take the premier league this year.

Usually with a home match against the top 4 i am being optimistic and touting a possible Stoke upset but with Fuller and Beattie and Tuncay not a certanty to start its going to be hard to see where a goal could come from. After the dramatic carling cup clash against Blackpool i cant wait to get the Britiania and watch some football Stoke will be working hard for eveything thats garenteed and hopefully we can make it hard for them and have a competative game and no late goals!

A great game for the fans tongiht who could of forseen that ? Andy Griffin scoring a stoppage time winner in a 4:3 mash up of a match espcially when Stoke were 2-0 and looking slow and leggy in the first few minutes of the second half. The second goal seemed to give the team the push they needed and Ricardo Fuller And Mathew Etherington replaces Beattie and Soares with Tonge replacing the injured Diego Arismendi.

With the team missing every chance they got they stepped it up to another level with Stoke scoreing 3 goals in 5 minutes giving Stoke the lead at 3:2 only for Blackpools Ben Burgess to waltz through and equalise almost instantly.

Stoke then battled to take every chance they count with Liam Lawerence notably shooting just over the bar and Andy Wilkinson shooting at the keeper and fuller unfortunatly picking up and injury leaving stoke with ten men.Everyone thought that extra time was the only outcome of the game ,everyone but Andy Griffin as he put the ball in the bottom corner to give Stoke the game. Brilliant game to watch but it shows the distance between our first team and second team when it comes to match fitness.

This week sees Stoke City take a trip to the Reebok Stadium to face Gary Megson’s Bolton. Pundits are tipping the match to be a hard fought game as bolton are looking to secure thier first home win of the season and Stoke are looking to get thier first away win.

Stoke this week have been nursing injurys from the previous game at Chelsea with Thomas Sorensen and James Beattie picking up injurys. Sorensen suffered some back pain in the match and seems to have recovered whilst Beattie Turned on his ankle which looked pretty nasty , but after an X-RAY this week it was confirmed that the ankle wasnt broken as suspected and the swelling was more likley to be a burst blood vessel. Whether or not Beattie and Sorenson will be starting this weekend remains to be seen wit Pulis hinting at a yes “I think Thomas will be fine, and I’m also hopeful James will be the same.”

Saturday will be a big match for Stoke as they will be wanting to put any doubt that they can improve on the away from from last season to bed by picking up 3 points on saturday , but Bolton wont go down without a fight . I predict a stoke 2-1 win.

Boltons Reebok Stadium Home of Saturdays Match

Reebok Stadium