Stoke City: Tony Pulis puts City on alert over stronger top flight

“JTFLINT2009,US Supporters,will always be true supporters,but we wont keep quiet.We will voice our concerns,& will not sit by while,st someone wastes our money on his own Ego trip,turning good players into robots,playing dire football that no one with any sort of football brain could accept,as for europe,i enjoyed our tour,watching excellent football played by our european clubs,i don,t think they would say the same about how we approached the games,regardless of the results we probably,bored them to tears,still we have next season to look forward to,we should all hope it,s going to be a vast improvement to what we witnessed last season.”

“mel, we may not have Europa football on the schedule next season, but I'd be surprised if any Stokie did not have hopes that we can clinch a European spot next season!”

“nelliebell no wonder the new season is looking full of gloom is us supporters aren't feeling optimistic! So much belief of how we will fail that we aren't looking at how we can succeed! Supporting Stoke is becoming like routing for England in the Euros. No belief that the team will succeed!”

“Yes Pulis u should be worried because they have shown they can all play football with flair and skill,something sadly lacking at the Brit,the season has not started,& already it,s looking gloomy for us potters.”

“Mel, this undeniable threat of no Premiership football exists only in your mind. Surely you are not thinking that the few regular moaners on this site are in any way representative of the majority of Stoke supporters.”

“DJ! European football is not still on the agenda this season and fans are complaining because they are worried that there is a undeniable threat of no Premier football the season after. They are looking for some sort of response to this threat because, just like you, they love their club!”

“European and Premier league football was on offer, and still is thanks to Tone... Sorry it's not enough for you m8”

“i think tp should be more concerned in getting our team and tactics right,forget about others and get our team right and change our style,progress is paramount not only for the team but for the fans,we deserve much more than what was on offer last year.”

“I'm assuming you're refering to me that you call "Potren". Actually it's got nothing to do with neither potatoes nor pottery (nor whiskey!), but it's more or less untranslatable!

I dont find myself in disagreement with you. In fact I wasn't even referring to myself. I long for a footballing Stoke as much as anyone.

However I dont see the current Euros as a particular bad example of roughing it. On the contrary I think there have been some gorgeous football played by the likes of Russia, Denmark, and Germany, and Poland and Ukraine even. In last night's game between Denmark and Portugal I even remarked on the absence of shirtpulling, wrestling and unholy dances during the corners. And that in a game where Pepe was taking part!”

“Potren; Every word you say is true but I would differ with the second paragraph.
I think what most fans would like is for a return to proper footballing skills.Today most matches, not just Citys, resemble more of a wrestling match. Can you imagine how Stan would fare in todays game, a "run" along the wing would result in three guys scissoring him and then stamping on his feet. All this is very prevalent in the current European Cup games with the foot stamping becoming a scinical art form and very painful , remember Eduardo with his foot hanging off a few years ago. That must have sickened all genuine soccer lovers, thankfully he recovered but will he ever be the same player again?.
I personally think Vidic of Man Utd started the penalty area wrestling in the prem and regretably it seems to have become part and parcel of the game internationally. Will the game ever return to better times where todays antics would not be tolerated, or will it develop into something even worse, I just dont want to know!”