Rapport från Dave, vår man på plats
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Dave for his reports this season. It has been very interesting every week when his mail has arrived to me. Very good reports and pictures Dave. You deserve your holiday in Barbados now, thanks again.
Aye up Duck,
You have to go back to the end of the 2005/06 season to witness a Stoke home fixture that had nothing riding on it. Having said that, in the Premiership you get an additional £750,000 for each league placing you climb. Fortunately for Stoke, I think the Wigan players (and their supporters by the look of it) had already started their summer holidays a couple of weeks ago. Although the first half had that end of season feel to it, Stoke finished off their last home game of the campaign with a rousing second half display. Fullers goal was quite brilliant and our two January signings (Ethers & B.T.) linked up well to score the second.
Wigans bright fluorescent kit made it hard to tell them apart from the Police & Stewards. They did have a good shout for a penalty fairly early into the game when Ab Faye got into a tangle with Wigans Scharner. Apart from that the only other first half action of note was when a Delap throw-in initially appeared to of been disallowed for going straight into the net. However, T.V. pictures showed that apart from that the referee had spotted an infringement on the Wigan goalie.
A additional highlight of the game for me was seeing Lawrence & Whelan fighting (NOT in the Fuller & Griffin sense of the word I must add) for the ball for the right to take a free kick. It shows determination and will to do well for the team.
The fans, who many had come in fancy dress (I didn't fancy any of them) were once again in full voice particularly in the second half when Stoke attacked the Boothen.
The days attendance meant that 500,000 supporters have passed through the turnstiles this season making it the highest average attendance for 45 years. The fourth ( maybe fifth..not sure) record in the clubs history. I'd also heard somewhere that around 50,000 different individual supporters (not including away fans) have seen us at The Brit in 2008/09. Don't you just love facts.
The team
Sorro - Another really consistent performance.
Wilko - Left back in the first half but switched to right back for the second half. Had his work cut out against the lively insomnia (sorry I mean N'zogbia)
Shawcross - Started at right back in the first half but looked more settled at centre half in the second period.
Ab Faye - Could of easily given away a penalty in the above mentioned incident. Apart from that he was as assured as always. Clean swept the supporters player of the season awards with 9 accolades.
Cort - Carried on from last week at centre half. Did OK again but was taken off at half time in the reshuffle.
Delap - Worked his tadgers off as per usual.
Whelan - Another good performance from Glen. Defence splitting pass that led to the second.
Lawrence - Inspiring. Desperately wanted to score.
Ethers - Did well. West Ham fans had said that he didn't get stuck in but he showed that he can be brave by going for the challenge that led to the second.
Fuller - Showed sheer grit and tenacity for his 10th of the season. A classic Fuller goal. 3 Wigan defenders had a go at stopping him.
B.T. - Like I said last week, B.T. does so much for the team that goes unnoticed. Good strikers header for his 7th of the season.
Pugh - Half time replacement for Cort. Slotted into left back. Nearly opened his league account with a screamer that just went over the bar.
Cresswell - Came on for B.T. at the end and I’m glad to say wasn't booed or sarcastically cheered. I was willing him to score to prove his doubters wrong.
Salif - Surprisingly made an appearance when he came on for Ethers. Was this to say farewell to the supporters? Time will tell.
The Stoke side that finished the match had an amazing 9 (NINE) players that had played for us in the Championship last season.
I love to see old favourites return to The Brit to do the half time draw. We've already had Hoekstra this season so to see Mark Stein on the pitch brought a tear to your eye. "STEINO............THERES ONLY ONE STEINO"..........Whose it gonna be next....? Dave Bamber....what about Keith Scott?
Again, fantastic scenes at the end when the players & staff completed a lap of honour. The only downside was the decision to play loud music like Tina Turners "Simply the Best" and Tom Jones "Delilah" throughout over the P.A. system. There was simply no need as the fans would of done a perfectly good job ourselves. The club keep reminding us that we are officially the loudest in the land for f**** sake.
Oh yeh, 3 or 4 supporters got onto the pitch. One was actually quite funny. He was dressed as a character off a T.V. show and even brought his own ball with him. The others were just knob heads and the Boothen made their feelings known.
I briefly bumped into some Swedish Stokies outside the ground after the match. Unfortunately, they were in the process of buying some badges off 'The badge man' and I was in a hurry. I managed to take a photo but I think they thought I was just some kind of weirdo...Sorry lads.
I’m on holiday for the Arsenal match (I know...part time supporter eh?) so this is the last report from me for the season.
What a season its been. The best ever as far as I’m concerned. Stoke players & supporters have now set the standard. We've got to keep it up next year.
So, have a good summer in the safe knowledge that....."WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE...WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE"
.........Dave
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