Tag Archives: Stoke

Stoke and Fulham do Splits

Posted on by
Reply

Thursday throws up Europa League qualifying action as three British teams get ready for tricky tests against teams from the continent as they look to keep the dream alive.

Stoke City are preparing for the start of what they hope will be a long and successful European journey when they face Hadjuk Split at the Britannia Stadium (Stoke 1/2, draw 13/5, Hadjuk 9/2).

This will be the first European tie for the Potters since 1974 and the Staffordshire club have come a long way in those 37 years.

Now heading into their fourth season in the top flight, Stoke have established themselves as a Premier League side under their manager Tony Pulis.

What has stopped the club from dropping down into the Championship has been their impressive home form at the Britannia, where even the Premier League’s top clubs don’t like to play.

With loud passionate fans who get behind their players this will be an intimidating atmosphere for their Croatian opponents.

Hadjuk have just got their domestic season off and running and sit in fourth place in the table after a victory on the first day of the campaign.

They will be looking to go back to Poljud Stadium with something to play for but the Potters, backed by their home fans, should take a lead to Croatia.

Fulham also have Croatian opposition on their hands when they travel to the Park Mladezi Stadium to take on RNK Split (RNK Split 5/1,draw 13/5, Fulham 1/3).

The Cottagers have already got their competitive season underway after seeing off Crusaders and NSI Runavik in earlier rounds, so they are getting used to these European nights.

Fulham have added to their squad this summer as they look to have another successful season in the Premier League and Europe.

Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise is one of the latest players to sign for the London club and his experience will be invaluable for this away trip.

Manager Martin Jol knows what these nights are all about and Fulham will be happy to be level pegging when they head back to Craven Cottage.

Edinburgh outfit Hearts get their Europa League campaign off and running when they travel to Hungary to take on Paks at the Stadion PSE (Pak 8/5, draw 11/5, Hearts 7/5).

However, they will do so without the aid of Andy Webster and Mehdi Taouil, who are out through injury, while David Obua is a doubt as he is currently dealing with passport issues.

The Uganda international, who scored against SPL champions Rangers on the opening day of the domestic season, is frantically trying to sort his papers so he can play in Hungary.

After what looks like a promising start to the season with the draw at Ibrox, Hearts will be full of confidence they can get a result against Paks.

The SPL side have had a tendency to come unstuck against continental sides, however they might just nick an away victory in this one.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Can Stoke upset Cup final odds?

Posted on by
Reply

Bet on the FA CupStoke City (18/5 to beat Man City) head to Wembley on Saturday afternoon to do battle with Manchester City for the FA Cup – and Tony Pulis’ side, despite being underdogs, can be more than just spectators.

The Potters are not fancied by the bookies ahead of their first ever FA Cup final, and although this is certainly justified – they face a City side which has had millions injected into it – Stoke should not be underestimated and can certainly spoil the party.

Some questioned whether Stoke could recreate their home form – which they rely on in the league – at Wembley in their semi-final against Bolton.

But the Potters managed a 5-0 thrashing over the Trotters to send them back up the M6 with their tails firmly between their legs, dispelling any doubt that they would not be able to play at the national stadium.

The club will be disappointed to be waiting on winger Matthew Etherington for the clash – the 26-year-old has been instrumental this season for Tony Pulis’ side – but is facing an uphill battle to be fit by Saturday morning.

Blues boss Roberto Mancini even stated that Stoke will be a tougher prospect than semi-finalists Manchester United as it is Stoke’s “game of their life” and Mancini’s side are 11/2 to register a 1-0 victory – the same scoreline they managed in the semi.

However, the Italian believes that history beckons for City – with the club trying to break their 35-year trophy drought.

Mancini is currently waiting on the fitness of talisman, Carlos Tevez,  who is EVS to score at anytime, but has been struggling with a hamstring problem for the last month. However, City’s desperation to get Tevez fit will not fill the rest of their team with confidence.

The Argentinian striker only managed seven minutes in the 1-0 win over Tottenham on Wednesday night, and Mancini is willing to wait until Saturday morning to make a decision on whether to include him.

It is a real concern for City that without Tevez their frontmen are simply not scoring enough goals. Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli have managed just one goal between them in their last six games for the Eastlands-based club.

Meanwhile, Stoke’s Trinidad and Tobago international Kenwyne Jones (50/1 to score a hat-trick) has scored five goals in his last six games and Jonathan Walters (5/2 to score at anytime) has managed five goals in six FA Cup games this campaign.

There is no doubt that this will be a physical encounter with both sides possessing battling midfielders. Four of the last eight encounters between Stoke and Man city have seen a side reduced to ten men.

Both sides head into the final in good form, with Stoke unbeaten in their last five games while Man City have won four of their last five matches.

However, in head-to-heads the last four meetings between the sides have ended in 1-1 draws (1-1 after 90 mins can be backed 11/2).

The odds of either side winning on penalties is 11/1 and may just be a likely outcome, especially if it is nervy affair, which Cup finals so often are.

So expect a tight final with the Potters more than holding their own against their so-called superior opponents.

However, ultimately, we see a narrow Man City win to seal a great week for Mancini and co that will go some way to make up for the fact arch-rivals Man United are also likely to celebrating more success themselves over ther weekend.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Baggies out to end Stoke hoodoo

Posted on by
Reply

It has been a painful weekend for West Bromwich Albion as they have had to sit back and watch Black Country rivals Wolves and West Ham both win to leave them in second-bottom spot in the Premier League table.

Wolves thrashed Blackpool 4-0 at Molineux, while Avram Grant’s Hammers pulled off a surprise 3-1 win against a resurgent Liverpool to boost their battle to beat the drop.

Roy Hodgson’s men will get their opportunity to jump back out of the bottom three at Stoke on Monday evening, but the omens are not good as the Baggies have not won in the Potteries since 1982, while they have lost all three Premier League matches against Tony Pulis’ side to date without scoring a goal (Stoke 10/11 To Win).

Albion should be boosted by the return of key men Marek Cech and Youssef Mulumbu from respective groin and hamstring problems for the trip to the Britannia Stadium.

And Hodgson will hope they can inspire his team to a first win (3/1 Away Win) in five games as they could move up to 16th with three points, while a fourth draw (5/2 Draw) in their last five league outings would be enough to get them out of the relegation places.

Stoke will not have any sympathy for the Baggies’ plight and Pulis will be looking for his side to make it eight wins from nine in their last nine league meetings.

A win for the hosts will move them into the top ten, eight points clear of the relegation places and within touching distance of safety for another season.

Winger Matthew Etherington is rated doubtful for the game as he struggles to overcome a back injury, while Abdoulaye Faye is struggling with a hamstring strain.

Jon Walters is expected to keep his place in the side if he fails to recover in time while striker Mamady Sidibe will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon last week.

John Carew snubbed West Brom to join Stoke on loan from Aston Villa in January and the Norwegian hitman will no doubt look to show the Baggies what they missed out on by grabbing a goal (9/2 First Goalscorer).

Looking at the game, everything points to a fifth successive home win for Stoke in all competitions and an eighth straight away defeat for West Brom.

However, if Hodgson can get his men fired up from the word go, they may profit from the fact Stoke are consistently slow starters to games, which is reflected by the statistic that they have yet to score a goal in the opening 15 minutes of a game so far this term.

The Potters are much stronger in the second half of games and have scored six goals later than the 90-minute mark – more than any other team in the Premier League.

Therefore, it could be that West Brom start well but are pushed on the back-foot as the game progresses, which is worth considering when pondering the outcome.

Prediction: Stoke 2 West Brom 1 @ 7/1
Value Bet: Half Time/Full Time: WBA/Stoke @ 25/1

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Stoke sweat on key men

Posted on by
Reply

Stoke City (5/1 to be relegated from Premier League) are hoping injuries picked up by Jon Walters, Kenwyne Jones and Jermaine Pennant this weekend are not serious.

All three players were withdrawn in the second half of their 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Saturday and Stoke’s medical team will assess the trio this coming week.

Potters assistant manager Dave Kemp said: “We started the game very slowly and we let West Ham have too much of the ball. But after we got the goal we started playing better.

“But every time we got up a head of steam, we picked up an injury. That affected us. On reflection it could be two points lost, but maybe it was one gained.”

Kemp added: “It is a groin with Kenwyne, a hamstring possibly with Jermaine and an ankle with Jon Walters. I don’t know how serious those injuries are, we will have to wait and see.”

The stalemate saw Stoke climb out of the relegation zone on goal difference whilst West Ham (8/15 to stay in Premier League) remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

West Ham’s Scott Parker was pleased to see his side pick up their first points of the season, after he opened the scoring at the Britannia Stadium.

The Hammers star said: “It is a platform for us to build on.  We have got off to a bad start and come here low in confidence.

“We can leave high in confidence and take a lot of positives.  We look forward to Tottenham next Saturday.”

Under pressure boss Avram Grant was absent from the dugout at the Britannia on Saturday due to a religious holiday.  However, Parker quelled any suggestion that the manager’s absence affected the West Ham dressing room.

Parker said: “It is always going to be difficult when the manager is not there. We all understand the circumstances.  That is football. We have just got on with it and got the result which is good.”

With Grant not on the touchline, West Ham coach Paul Groves filled the void and was pleased with what he saw.

Groves said:  “We have faced different types of challenges with the types of teams we have played lately, like Chelsea and Manchester United.

“It was pleasing that we stood up to this challenge and the work-rate of the group was fantastic. It was a decent performance. We created a number of half-chances in the first half and probably controlled the first 45 minutes as much as you can in terms of playing against Stoke and dealing with what they throw at you.”

He added: “It was different in the second half, but I felt that we showed good character, good spirit and good togetherness in terms of answering one or two questions when they managed to get the goal early on.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Pulis eyes Stoke evolution

Posted on by
Reply

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has told his side to stay “nice and tight” as he looks to add a cutting edge to their strong defensive qualities in the Premier League (Stoke 1/7 – To Stay Up).

The Potters have defied the odds since their promotion from the Championship in 2008 although their robust approach to the game has often drawn criticism while the long throws of Rory Delap have also played their part in claims of a direct approach.

Pulis could not care less, however, although he is looking to take some of the pressure off his defence by adding more goals to the mix following the summer arrivals of Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jermaine Pennant and Kenwyne Jones, among others.

Gudjohnsen and Pennant could be handed Stoke debuts on Monday night when Aston Villa make the trip to the Britannia Stadium, with the Villans still led by caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald given the delay in new manager Gerard Houllier formally taking charge (Stoke 6/4, draw 9/4, Villa 9/5 – 90 minutes).

“We are looking forward to the game,” said Pulis. “Bringing the new players in has given the place a lift, it has given it the bubble it needs, and what we need now is a good performance and a good result.

“We have more options up front and to score goals, which has always been a major worry for us, but we have to make sure we stay nice and tight as a group.

“Over the two seasons of the Premier League we have had 26 clean sheets and we have to work hard to make sure we maintain that but we now have more quality and cutting edge up front.”

On his marquee signings, Pulis added: “With Pennant and Gudjohnsen we are hoping they will give us that.

“(Marc) Wilson can also score goals from midfield so we are hoping they will be able to add a bit more to us when we have the ball.

“But we won’t play any differently, we will play to win.

“Sometimes the reputation we have for a certain style is unfair but I’m not bringing the players in to change the style or reputation or curry favour with people outside who say we do this or that.

“I will always do it the way I think is right and how it suits this club.”

Villa also have big ambition for the future when Houllier does finally arrive after freeing himself from his commitments as technical director of the French Football Federation.

The former Liverpool boss wants to win trophies, break into the top four and also help his players improve their game.

The 63-year-old said: “I’m hoping to be here for the Bolton game (on September 18) or right after the Bolton game.

“I’ll attend the Bolton game and maybe we will start from after there.”

Villa can be backed at 9/1 to finish in the top four this season while they are 16/1 shots for FA Cup glory.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Strikers could stay at Stoke

Posted on by
Reply

Strikers James Beattie and Dave Kitson could both be available to boost Stoke City’s firepower in the new season, manager Tony Pulis has admitted (Stoke 15/2 – to be top Midlands club).

The duo have been linked with moves away from the Britannia Stadium, after falling from favour at the end of last season.

And they were both left at home on Saturday when the Potters beat Burnley 2-1 at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium. Beattie has played less than 45 minutes of pre-season so far, while Kitson has been confined to playing in second-string friendlies.

But Pulis said supporters should not read much into that.

Pulis told the Sentinel: “Beattie trained with the other players who never came, because I wanted to give Mama Sidibe, Ricardo Fuller and Tuncay time in the middle.

“James would have just sat it out, so he had a training session back at the ground instead and I’m told he worked his socks off.

“Beattie and Kitson are both Stoke City players.

“At the moment they are working hard to keep fit and if we need them, we need them.”

Beattie’s future at Stoke (3/1 for top half finish) has been in major doubt since he clashed with Pulis over the manager having allegedly gone back on his word regarding the club’s Christmas party. The player initiated a club disciplinary action against Pulis, but it went against him.

Kitson failed in his first season at the Britannia Stadium but won his place back for a time last season and looked to have impressed Pulis, finishing with eight goals in the campaign – three of them coming on loan with Championship side Middlesbrough.

Beattie played in 24 games last season and only scored two goals – both in the 2-1 win against West Ham in October. But he had scored seven in 16 games at the end of 2008/09.

Beattie has been linked with a £1.5m move to West Brom, but Pulis refused to comment on the speculation.

The Potters manager also said there was “no truth whatsoever” in reports that he had tabled a £9m bid for West Ham striker Carlton Cole.

However, he said: “We are not just after a striker, but three or four players if we can.

“We have money to spend, but it’s got to be the right players at the right prices.”

City are shortly to learn the extent of injuries to midfielders Glenn Whelan and Rory after both went off during the first half against Burnley.

Whelan looked the more serious after pulling up with a calf strain that could sideline him until the start of the season on Saturday week.

Delap went off after his back locked, but Pulis was hoping to see him back in training ahead of tomorrow’s friendly at Bristol Rovers.

Player-of-the-year Matthew Etherington remains under treatment for the groin injury sidelining him on Saturday.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.