Stoke City: Potters on the march to Valencia
STOKE City expect to be roared on by 4,000 travelling supporters in their win or bust game against Valencia tomorrow.
City will be backed by their biggest-ever following abroad as they attempt to upset the odds after losing 1-0 to the Spanish giants at the Britannia Stadium last week.
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The travelling fans will include 2,300 who snapped up City's official ticket allocation. The rest have bought tickets for the home ends in Valencia's Mestalla Stadium.
Stoke striker Jon Walters admits City are underdogs against La Liga's third-placed side.
But he says they won't be throwing in the towel in front of their travelling fans as they attempt to earn a place in the last 16 against PSV Eindhoven or Trabzonspor.
Walters said: "A lot of people say we have the best supporters in the country.
"They travel in great numbers, and they also got right behind us at Crawley and made a big difference, especially when we were down to 10 men.
"It is a big ask in Valencia, but we are not out of it at 1-0.
"Valencia keep the ball ever so well, are such a good team and have quality players, but we will go there and give it a go."
Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes said City were bitterly disappointed not to have been given more tickets for the game.
He said: "I expect there to be near to 4,000 supporters in Valencia for the game.
"It's a great shame we couldn't get a bigger allocation.
"There are a lot of people who haven't gone, but who would have bought a ticket in the Stoke end had they been available.
"Part of Valencia's argument was that Chelsea and Manchester United were given the same amount of tickets as we have been when they played out there and didn't sell out.
"Their argument was that they would have to move season-ticket holders and it was too difficult to do.
"We could only argue our case and try to convince them, but they had the power to say no."
Demand for tickets was so great that some fans queued from 3am on the day they went on sale to platinum members.
Hundreds of Stoke fans are expected to stay in the party-resort of Benidorm, which is a 90-minute drive down Spain's east coast from Valencia.
Scholes says the club have been proud of the behaviour and backing of their travelling fans throughout a Europa League campaign which has also included trips to Croatia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey.
He said: "It has been fantastic.
"Everywhere we have gone, the opposition has commented on how great the support has been.
"We have also been taking representatives of Staffordshire Police, and they have said the same.
"Our supporters have not only been well behaved, the way they have got behind the team has also been magnificent."
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by DJ_Stoke
Thursday, February 23 2012, 2:51PM
“Fair enough SF, but leaving 9 players at home surely indicates a change of plan and tactics?”
by soccerfoot11
Thursday, February 23 2012, 2:35PM
“the same old game plan and tactics week after week after week after week with basically the same result is proof enough to me that Pulis has and never will use mind games to try and fool the opposition !! He has plan A, and nothing after that”
by Jayenne
Thursday, February 23 2012, 1:11PM
“So are we accusing Pulis of faking ProZone stats and listening to his players and watching them train?
i honestly think this could be a good bit of management. remains to be seen”
by Pottedrengen
Thursday, February 23 2012, 1:04PM
“the 3 man attack was mentioned in the national press as well so it must be from a quote by the manager. Although knowing Pulis, the concept of 4-3-3 will probablu come out as a 4-5-1 instead with all five midfielders strictly forbidden to cross the midway line unless the lone striker actually manages to hold the ball.
As I'vce said elsewhere on this site there's nothing wrong with the players who were on the plane bound for Valenica. There's some really good players whose chances of playing have been very limited. But Pulis' tactics could deny them even that and we could end up using the same nine men before the goalie that we used away to Man City some time ago.
The selection of both Begovic and Sørensen is interesting, as tonight's game could be the final test on who stays in goal for the remainder of the season, well they both will, but who plays in the league, and who does the cup.”
by neilingdown
Thursday, February 23 2012, 12:49PM
“No probs Jayenne, were all on the same side, It's just a pity Mr Pulis isn't.
Lets hope the players ignore Pulis and play their hearts out for the red and white.!!”
by AMOODY_72
Thursday, February 23 2012, 12:45PM
“"Tony Pulis is now panicking and the supporters who have travelled to Spain are the ones who are going to be let down by us fielding a weakened team. They will all still have a great time but alot would have expected us to go there and give it our best shot. Pulis has now looked over his shoulder and has realised that our next two home games are now must win games with Chelsea, Spurs (which will be re-arranged) and Man City to follow. We are in this position beacuse of his sheer incompetence in the last two months. We have not had a fixture in Europe in this period and that was the time to put at least 6-8 points on the board, so therefore we could have gone to Valencia and given it our best shot and although the Swansea game is important it would not have been a must win game like it is now. We now find ourselves in danger of being dragged into a relegation fight due to our manager leaving the likes of Pennant, Jerome and Fuller on the bench and constantly playing players out of position. He says that Walters has looked very tired and empty over the last two days, his he for real, he has looked empty for the last three months yet he has kept playing him every game for 90 minutes. Pulis has totally lost the plot over the last few months and he is now becoming an idiot. I hope I am wrong but you fear the worst for tonight's game and if his decision backfires on him and we don't win against Swansea then whatever criticism Pulis gets from supporters it will be totally justified. Also when will he ever stop moaning about our fixtures, we have just had a break from Europe and yet during that time we have had our worst spell of the season. It is not the kick off times that are to blame it is your fault Pulis and it is about time you started to take some responsibility for your ineptness."”
by Davejjohnson
Thursday, February 23 2012, 11:27AM
“No one's interested Grassy.”
by mattyformore
Thursday, February 23 2012, 11:26AM
“Now now Davey, I have to admit it you have given me a few guffaws on here. But I should clarify that I have been laughing at you and not with you. Do you think Stoke will win ternate? Most importantly though, did you manage to prosecute the Sentinel with a view to closing them down?”
by Davejjohnson
Thursday, February 23 2012, 11:11AM
“No one's interested Grassy.”
by Jayenne
Thursday, February 23 2012, 11:10AM
“everyone has eben stating how 'great' valencia were at our place. I may be mistaken but I thought they were good but not as amazing as people are making out. they did have weaknesses and i think playing the more attacking personnel up front (bit stronger, trickier and ruthless) could work for us. we will need a bit of luck and Dave is right we could come a cropper. i think the first 20 minutes will be very telling. depends which Jones turns up too. I hope it's the one of old, hungry, interested not the lazy good for nowt that sometimes walks around the pitch. surely he wouldnt tonight of all nights?”