This blog has been critical of Stoke in recent weeks – particularly after the Arsenal game. In fact it’s a good job work and other commitments stopped me writing one on after Monday because I was absolutely fuming.
But tonight we did a professional job.
I am not surprised, because anyone who saw the game two weeks ago knows that Tel Aviv are a bad side, lets be honest. Kiev weren’t great, Thun weren’t either, I wasn’t hugely impressed with Beskitas (although will concede they moved the ball about well) and Kiev weren’t what I expected, but Maccabi are the worst of the lot.
If we hadn’t been sloppy in the first half we would have been home and dry at the break, and barring another daft goal conceded we never looked in trouble.
There were plenty of plusses too. Danny Higginbotham’s return, Wilson Palacios playing well – and the not inconsiderable fact that, barring disaster, we are through for the first time in our history to the last 32 of European Cup competition.
There were a couple of negatives too – both personal, so hopefully you will indulge me some contemplation.
Negative one: I wasn’t there. For the third time this season I was watching the game on TV and I have to say…. its crap! I am someone who is used to being there at games. And its annoying me rather. I will admit it too. It’s not a case of money, I wish it was, I would feel less stupid. But the fact is I am petrified of flying– and I mean seriously scared. Like Dennis Bergkamp. I did go to Thun, on the coach, but I didn’t go to Split with my brother (he hasn’t been able to go to the Kiev or Tel Aviv games either, he works in a school)
What happens in the later stages I am not sure – but we will see. I also only get 20 days a year holiday at work and I had used a lot of it by the time the group games came around - I will admit that, as I have just tweeted, I didn’t expect us to get this far and didn’t think it would be an issue.
But it’s my own fault and boy, I am missing out.
Negative Two: Is a little more light hearted, but no less heartfelt. Chris Waddle. Actually not just Chris Waddle but Martin Keown too. Would it have killed either of these idiots to give us credit? Stoke City, the team no one gave a chance in the Premier League, but are still there, are now the team that no one thought would play in Europe, but are the best placed of all the British sides.
When Fulham were doing this, there was a love in with Uncle Roy Hodgson, Bobby Zamora, whoever. When we are doing it, there is nonsense about our style of play, how Palacios doesn’t fit in, how we bypass midfield. You name it.
Waddle surpassed himself with his constant assertions that Tel Aviv were “keeping the ball” and wittering on about the game plan they needed to beat us.
He has hated us for ages, and was absolutely gutted when we thrashed Bolton (I have watched that on DVD so much I could recite his commentary) but he reasoned tonight that we won that because “Bolton played long ball.”
His coup de grace came when the ref gave Tel Aviv a free kick towards the end. We had the ball, but to Waddle “Maccabi would have preferred the advantage.”
If that’s the level of his insight, then I have got to hope all our remaining away games are on ITV4 – or else find a girlfriend who is a psychiatrist to cure my fears!
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