Stoke City FC - The Best Is Yet To Come

[Camo]

im pretty happy with my defence, its just right-back that i need to strengthen, thats why im going for him

and centre midfield is another are i need to strengthen, thats where o'shea comes in

[AnfieldRoad92]

Whoa, what a novel concept: playing O'Shea, a midfielder, in midfield! I can't honestly say that I've ever seen him play in midfield, he's always filling in in defence. I suppose that's why I assumed you were strengthening your defence.

[Camo]

well hes a CDM in my game, so no reason why he cant play midfield

[Camo]

Anderlecht vs Stoke City

Sorenson

Griffin---Shawcross---Faye---Pugh

Lawrence---Tonge---Olofinjana---Etherington

Camara---Kitson

Zitka

Wasilewski---Juhasz--Kruiswijk---Van Damme

Gillet---Biglia---Polak

Bulykin---Frutos---Boussoufa

KEY PLAYERS

Stoke

HENRI CAMARA

The striker has been hugely impressive in his first two appearances scoring two goals. The partnership of him and Kitson has been working fantastically so far, stoke will be hoping he fires against Anderlecht.

Anderlecht

LUCAS BIGLIA

The Anderlecht captain is there driving force in midfield. The Argentine will be constantly feeding his strikers, if he plays well stoke will have a problem.

MANAGERS

Tony Pulis

" Anderlecht are a great team, we will be really tested today." I know my boys can get a result here, i would be happy with a draw, even more happy with a win."

Ariel Jacobs

" I've stressed to my boys that this game won't be easy." The boys can't take that attitude into this game, we will lose if they do." Stoke will put up a big fight, i expect a hard fought contest."

[Camo]

predictions?

[Chelsea11]

1-0 to Stoke

[Camo]

thank you my friend

[Camo]

i've played the match, will start writing report

anymore predictions?

[Nino]

Triple post and Double post on the same page only a few hours apart oh my

[Camo]

get over it

[Camo]

STOKE FINISH BELGIUM TOUR ON A HIGH






FIRST HALF

Stoke lost to Liege last week and were hoping to leave Belgium on a winning note. The game didn't take long to heat up, Dave Kitson was brought down 21 yards from goal by Anderlecht defender Juhasz. Etherington took the free kick, his shot hit the wall and was deflected harmlessly to the keeper Zitka. Anderlecht had the lead with there first chance of the game. A long ball across the field was collected by Bulykin who then crossed it in to Frutos who chested it down, turned past Shawcross and curled it past Sorenson, going in with a little help from the post. Anderlecht had the lead in 8 minutes. Etherington got the ball on the wing, beat a defender and sent a cross in for kitson but the Anderlecht defence held strong. Stoke were level minutes later when Etherington played a perfect pass through the defence to an onside Camara who advanced towards goal and slotted it calmly into the net.

Stoke had a second goal when winger Liam Lawrence sped down the right, played a pass into the box where Michael Tonge was unmarked, he tried to place to place his shot pass Zitka, who got a hand on it but could only push it into his own net. All of a sudden stoke were one goal up. Anderlecht almost had there second goal when captain Lucas Biglia passed the ball to Frutos in the box who turned his marker but Stoke keeper Thomas Sorenson was up to the task and dived in front of the ball to halt him. Stoke should have had a third when Camara passed it to Kitson who broke through the defence, he was one-on-one with the keeper who charged out, it looked like an easy finish but Kitson fired it past the post, it was an embarrassing miss and the Anderlecht fans let Kitson know. The half died down with both teams failing to create and good chances.

Stoke managed to create a chance when Etherington sent a deep cross into the box which looked to be going straight fro Camara but Biglia got his head to it first. Stoke had a third goal when the Anderlecht defence were caught off guard by a Camara pass to Kitson who had a heap of space in front of him. He sped past a defender and blasted a shot into the bottom corner from 8 yards. Stoke had opened up a 2 goal lead. Stokes defence were playing brilliantly with Anderlecht failing to get any shots away. Sorenson was having an easy day. Stoke were pushing for a fourth goal, Kitson got the ball in midfield and played a through ball for Camara who beat a defender, he was in the clear but he rushed his shot and it went past the post for a goal kick. half time.

SECOND HALF

Stoke were straight onto the attack in the second half, Lawrence crossing it in for Kitson, the Anderlecht defence cleared it as far as Tonge who's shot from distance went so close to going in, just missing. Anderlecht were launching attacks at Stokes defence but all of them failing to produce a shot on goal. The momentum was swinging is Anderlechts favour, launching attack after attack, stokes defence withstanding all of them. Anderlecht had there goal when Biglia picked out Bulykin in the box, stoke screams for offside waved away, all he had to do was slot it past Sorenson which he did with ease. Anderlecht were back in with a chance, only a goal down.

Anderlecht were awarded a free kick after Ryan Shawcross crashed into Vlceck who had just been subbed onto the pitch for Anderlecht. The resulting free kick was an easy save for Sorenson. Camara was played through the defence by Kitson, but he was ruled offside to the delight of the Anderlecht fans. Stoke put some fresh legs on the pitch bringing Glen Whelan on for Olofinjana. Anderlecht wasted there best chance of the game when a cross into the box found Frutos in some space, he was released on goal but instead of shooting he passed across to an unmarked Bulykin in front of goal, Bulykin hesitated and was knocked down by Abdoulaye Faye. No penalty was awarded and the ball was booted clear by Danny Pugh.

Anderlecht were being forced to shoot from distance by Stokes defence, Biglia's shot from 25 yards going wide. Anderlecht kept attacking but Stokes defence held strong. Stoke had a chance when Camara received the ball from Kitson, he sped past a defender with explosive speed, took a shot from 6 yards but had it superbly tipped away by Zitka. Whelans corner was cleared and Anderlecht were trying to counter attack. Bulykin raced up the wing before playing it back to the middle where Gillet had some space, he then slipped it to Frutos who was free in front of goal. Anderlecht were going to equalize at the dead but Frutos' shot struck the post and was dived on quickly by Sorenson. Anderlecht may have well just lost the game. What followed was a tense few minutes but Stoke managed to hang on to the final whistle.

Stoke - 3 - 2 Anderlecht
Frutos (8')
Camara (14')
Tonge (19')
Kitson (40')
Bulykin (61')

Man Of The Match
Dave Kitson

[Camo]

so thats pre-season done

any comments on the report?

[AnfieldRoad92]

Nice win, hope the boys do well for you in the regular season. With preseason done, does that mean that transfers are about to start?!?!? That's what I want to see!

[Camo]

well i would have had some more signings by now, if it wasnt for my bids getting constantly rejected

but there should be some signings coming up soon, after the arsenal game

[Cahill4]

O'Shea would be a good get.

[AnfieldRoad92]

I imagine it's a little harder getting your manager prestige up managing Boro than it is United or something. Let's hope you get all your targets, Boro could definitely use the help.

[Camo]

uh dude this is stoke, not boro

[AnfieldRoad92]

Touché. Sorry, just got back from a night at the pubs with friends anyhow, anyone below the top four is essentially equally inferior, right?!? lol, I swear I'll pay closer attention in the morning. But until then, let's see to it that you acquire all transfer targets.

[Camo]

thanks mate

so who wants the season to start tonight?

[AnfieldRoad92]

I do!!!!! I'll be up for at least another hour entertaining my mates and checking back on this. At least do a preview, who is your first league game against?

[Camo]

arsenal my friend, should be tough

[SBFC-Chris]

that will be tough, but hopefully you can nick a point or two. great report as well, btw

[Camo]

thanks for the support

[AnfieldRoad92]

Definitely hit them on the counter attack. When I play Arsenal with Liverpool, I find that I only ever get opportunities on counter attacks down the middle since their wing backs are so overrated. I'd stack the midfield and pump it down the middle for the opener.

[Camo]

im pretty good at counter attacks with Camara, i'll just have to defend well and strike when the opportunity comes