Stoke City: Potters not at the races, says Whelan
GLENN Whelan admitted Stoke's usual battling spirit deserted them in the first half at Newcastle when they looked like they'd given up the ghost.
Stoke never looked like getting a result in the North East once Yohan Cabaye headed Toon into a 14th-minute lead.
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JUMPING JACK: Glenn Whelan beats Newcastle's Davide Santon to the ball. Picture: Alex Severn
Papiss Cisse added a second, four minutes later after his clever run was picked out by Cabaye's superb pass.
Whelan said the double whammy had left Stoke reeling.
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He said: "We were okay for the first 10 minutes, but then they scored the goal and heads dropped.
"They looked like they were going to win the game easily and that's disappointing because that's not like us."
Perhaps it could have been different had Jon Walters scored from close range before Newcastle's opener, but there was no doubt the home side deserved their victory as they outclassed Stoke to move up to fourth in the table.
Whelan added: "We wanted to get off to a good start and keep their fans quiet. Jon had a chance, but it's just not going for him at the minute.
"He's done ever so well for the team, but we just need something to drop for him. It was unfortunate because, had that gone in, it would have been a different game. But it's all ifs and buts now.
"I thought we were comfortable until they scored the opener. They got a little bit of luck because the ball came back off the bar and fell to their player rather than one of ours.
"That's just the luck Newcastle are getting at the minute, although you have to give them the greatest respect because they are doing very well and are up there for a reason."
Whelan says Stoke felt they were still in the game when they came out for the second half, although Newcastle struck another blow on 57 minutes with Cabaye's curler into the far corner from 20 yards.
Whelan said that realistically put the game beyond Stoke's reach.
He added: "The second half was much better and we gave it a right go, but again something dropped for their boy and it sneaked in the bottom corner. At 3-0, the game was virtually over.
"It is soul destroying because at half-time we knew the next goal would be crucial. Had we got it, we were back in the game."
Stoke's poor performance shouldn't detract from an excellent display from Newcastle who won their sixth game in a row to move into the final Champions League spot.
Whelan said: "They are there for a reason, but I think they are getting a bit of luck as well. Take nothing away from them though, they deserved their win.
"They look a top side and one that can make the Champions League."
Stoke's ambitions of finishing in the top ten were dented by a defeat which leaves them with one win in their last eight games.
However, Whelan believes the 14th-placed Potters can still finish in the top half, particularly as they still have home matches against Arsenal, Everton and Bolton, and only QPR to face away.
He said: "We knew this would be a tough game because of the way Newcastle have been playing. But we have three games at home where we feel more comfortable.
"But we have to lift ourselves. We have four games left where we have to get something to finish off a good season and not let it just fade away."
Comments
by soccerfoot11
Thursday, April 26 2012, 11:52PM
“quick question wheater, does your mummy know you get on the computer ?? im sure , only being 10 yrs old, its not allowed to b talking to strangers the way you do !”
by wheatear
Thursday, April 26 2012, 8:56PM
“Quick question soccerfoot has stonemel given you permission to call him mel or are you acting with overselous familuarity? naughty naughty!”
by DJ_Stoke
Wednesday, April 25 2012, 4:27AM
“......what a GLORIOUS SEASON! We're singing for Jermaine!”
by jpj_58
Wednesday, April 25 2012, 1:15AM
“It is quite obvious that Davejjohnson
is the bigger culprit in this on-going
war between him and SF - he is the one obsessed
with having a go at Sf and Stonemel, instead of
ignoring both and trying to comment on Stoke,
which they both do constructively
Maybe its hard for him to try and defend another
inept performance and in no way blame Pulis and his
yes-man side kick for their own lack of tactical skill
and thats why he resorts to picking on Sf and Stonemel.”
by NOONESHOME
Tuesday, April 24 2012, 6:25PM
“Why don't you children put your dummies back in for gods sake, and get down to some constructive debating about the club we obviously all love with a passion,albeit in different ways,some like DJ,and Potterforlife, and others who prefer to be low key about the style of management, and others(i won't say who),and there does seem a lot of them,who prefer the more robust style of saying it how they see it.Whether correct or not everyone is entitled to their say without being lambasted(except in good humour).So come on guys lets come up with some ideas for TP and his staff to have a go at,as he obviously reads these columns.”
by Davejjohnson
Tuesday, April 24 2012, 8:13AM
“Oop's I seem to have upset that bloke who said a day or two ago that he would not respond to my posts. So much so that he has actually responded to my post. I feel terrible now cus that makes him look like some stupid bloke who just can't resist responding because it means so much to him because he's a very sad individual with nothing better to do. Of course that was never my intention, honest.”
by soccerfoot11
Monday, April 23 2012, 10:14PM
“The ignorance of johnson is unparallelled !
Countless people have come on this site after the latest Pulis and co debacle denouncing the continued lack of any plan, misuse of players and useless tactics that have plagued the team for the last 2 seasons !But he still continues his bent agenda toward me and mel. If Pulis were to follow how he and a few of his cronies think, which he seems to be doing, we will be in the Championship, never mind the bloody Champions league. At least we aim high and have expectations for our team instead of the " who gives a damn if we win, lose or draw as long as we get a good sing song out of it". People like johnson and his crew are the type of people who kept us wallowing in the lower leagues for so long because they have no expectations or standards for their team ! supporting a team to him is doing the conga after we get thrashed by the opposition !
what could be more disrespectful ??”
by Davejjohnson
Monday, April 23 2012, 9:52PM
“It's a season of what might have been. If TP came on this site each week and read the advice offered by such football genius's as Stonedmel and Soccerfoot we would be playing in the Champions League next season. I mean Mel's done it all, a real local legend. And Soccerfoot's been watching football on TV in America for the last 35 years so what he doesn't know ain't worth knowing. Someone who had never heard of John Barnes and claimed to have been to Stoke's FA Cup semi final at Old Trafford in the 70's telling people about football, what a joke.”
by Stoke_Oracle
Monday, April 23 2012, 7:49PM
“Oh for God sake Whelan.....Forget stating the obvious. If that's the case all the players who weren't at the races should give their wages to the travelling fans and be dropped for the next match.NOTHING TO DO WITH RACES THOUGH, You'r just not good enough along with 3 or 4 others. Watch the replay of Newcastle's midfield, that's what you suppose to be doing!!!”
by stonemel
Monday, April 23 2012, 7:09PM
“by bexhillpotter
Monday, April 23 2012, 11:29PM
"The tactics employed are designed to suit the players we have. Unfortunately several of the players are just not good enough for this league, and must be culled in the summer and replaced with better!"
I believe this statement to be severely flawed!
This sort of statement may be true of a manager newly coming into a club and having to find a solution to improve performance but it is totally wrong when applied to the situation at Stoke.
Tony Pulis has acquired players over a long time and each player he buys he has chosen to fit into his way of playing.”