[Ever Wolf]

Originally Posted by BLACKANDRE

Genuinely interested in your reasoning for the former. Stoke have spent a lot of money to be where they are, so I don't see it personally.

He has spent a lot but he also has his team NAILED.

The best defence in the premiership before Christmas. If you watch his movements during a game, he gets his players into position everytime for the littlest thing (a throw in in the middle of the pitch comes to mind) and always stays on top during games. Unbeaten 10 games before the City match says a lot especially in this crazy season we're having.

I think he's a great manager, Stoke are an established Premier League side now and everytime I've seen them this season I've been very impressed by their work ethic and energy.

[WOOLCOCK]

Originally Posted by BLACKANDRE

Usually something like that would be followed by shock, then silence. Only pissed up football fans in Scotland, hey?

I've learnt never to be surprised at how football fans react to any situation, let alone the bloody Scots!

I cried with laughter the first time I saw it. Of all the places to do that, you do it a) with 000s of fans watching you and b) in the biggest match of your teams' season.

[SJFC]

Originally Posted by WOOLCOCK

Assuming the bloke survived with no bad injuries, I'm gonna have to say this is funniest moment of the season:

That'll be Craig Gordon out another year then

[danny_boy]

The Hibs fan who posted that in the other Football thread said that he walked away with no injuries, but then again if that happened to me at a football ground I'd probably make the same claim as I leave the stadium with a limp and clutching my ribs

[Abk™]

Manager of the Year - David Moyes
Player of the Year - Robin Van Persie/Juan Mata
Best youth player (21 or under) - Oscar
Best summer signing - Michu
Worst summer signing -
Goal of the season - Leighton Baines vs Newcastle
Biggest surprise -
Biggest disappointment - Losing at home to QPR
(Any) Prediction for the 2nd half - Arsenal to finish out of top four, Chelsea to finish above one of the Manchester Clubs

Originally Posted by WOOLCOCK

Taking into account my limited viewing:

Manager of the Year - David Moyes (Steve Clarke a close 2nd)
Player of the Year - Van Persie
Best youth player (21 or under) - Nastasic (purely on Snrub's pimping of him)
Best summer signing - Van Persie/Michu
Worst summer signing - Marin or Sahin (purely from lack of game time rather than performance based)
Goal of the season - Baines vs Newcastle, Jerome vs Southampton (big fan of Van Persie vs Fulham as well)
Biggest surprise - Everton, Newcastle struggling
Biggest disappointment - bugger knows. Anderson's injury problems because he's played well and I can think of sod all else
(Any) Prediction for the 2nd half - Tomas Rosicky will still not be a football.

Seriously don't think Everton are struggling. They are doing well if anything taking into account their current situation on transfers etc.

[WOOLCOCK]

I meant Everton as the surprise package up the table, with Newcastle an added surprise at the other end of the table. Probably shouldn't have used a commar though in retrospect.

[Abk™]

Oh okay, get it.

[Lightning]

TBF we're always at a disadvantage and will struggle with that fat bellend Kenwright leading the club.

[THE DARK ANDRE]

Originally Posted by Ever Wolf

He has spent a lot but he also has his team NAILED.

The best defence in the premiership before Christmas. If you watch his movements during a game, he gets his players into position everytime for the littlest thing (a throw in in the middle of the pitch comes to mind) and always stays on top during games. Unbeaten 10 games before the City match says a lot especially in this crazy season we're having.

I think he's a great manager, Stoke are an established Premier League side now and everytime I've seen them this season I've been very impressed by their work ethic and energy.

I'm not really interested in statistics such 'best defence in the league' because you can also point out how Stoke have only scored 21 league goals, only two teams have scored less. As for the organising his team part, you could say that about a lot of managers.

I just don't see how Pulis can be rated so highly; he has a such a massive wage budget to play with yet has Stoke playing incredibly ordinary football just to finish in mid table every season. If we're going to include the likes of him then surely people like Sam Allardyce and Michael Laudrup should be in with a shout?

Originally Posted by WOOLCOCK

I've learnt never to be surprised at how football fans react to any situation, let alone the bloody Scots!

I cried with laughter the first time I saw it. Of all the places to do that, you do it a) with 000s of fans watching you and b) in the biggest match of your teams' season.

The biggest thing for me was witnessing his own team's supporters in the same stand jumping up and down celebrating when it happened, almost as if they had scored

[Ever Wolf]

Originally Posted by BLACKANDRE

I'm not really interested in statistics such 'best defence in the league' because you can also point out how Stoke have only scored 21 league goals, only two teams have scored less.

Football is a results business. Good defences get you results just as much as scoring goals.(unless you're United who have 3 top strikers at their disposal)

When he took over again Stoke were mid table in the Championship. Now a mid table Premier League side, FA Cup final 2 years ago and European football. He deserves some credit.

Because Wolves on the other hand were mid-low table Premier League side, now mid table Championship.
I know Wolves have nothing to do with what we're discussing but it's the polar opposite of Stoke