Stoke City: We're not the real deal yet, says Gerry Francis
STOKE City's coaching consultant Gerry Francis says the club still has to prove it's a fully established Premier League outfit.
Francis, who is in his fifth season as part of the backroom staff, admits the club deserves all the plaudits for their progress since promotion in 2008.
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Gerry Francis says Stoke City still have to prove they are a fully established Premier League outfit.
But he added: "It's not true to say we are established because we haven't finished in the top half of the table yet.
"It's the hardest league in the world to stay in. There's been a lot of teams over the years that have come up and gone down again. And it's going to be even tougher this year.
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"Every year we have to try and improve."
He says he could never have foreseen still being employed by Stoke after first joining the club straight after promotion four years ago.
"I was only going to come back from retirement for one season," he chuckled.
"But it's been a hugely successful time and I've loved it. It's been really enjoyable.
"All the backroom staff have done a fantastic job and working with and coaching top players is always something I've had a buzz about."
Francis, who can gauge the effect of Stoke's support after watching games from the directors' box, says they must continue their headline role in years to come.
"Our fans are the noisiest I've ever heard and I've been around a while," he added.
"It's vital they carry that on. You still need that help and support which has made our home record, in particular, so good over the years.
"You've seen that with the GB team in the Olympics, the effect on the runners and the riders.
"It's the same in football if you think you can have 30,000 willing you on.
"That's why we have got the points at home to stay up because our points total away from home hasn't been so good – and that's something we have to work on.
"Sometimes, on bigger pitches, it's not always as easy to get our game going.
"But over the last four years we have slowly got better players in to keep the ball and recruited better technical players.
"And I think everybody, from the chairman through, should be proud of what has been achieved."
Comments
by talk212
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 1:56PM
“If you play mr owen a bit more sooner instead of the long ball up the pitch.and letting the giants attack im sure we will get better................”
by potterforlife
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 10:31AM
“Attended all the games but cannot answer simple questions about home games? who is soccerfoot?
Still took the opportunity to answer though? Why bother if it was not about you I was not speaking directly to you anyway?
Seems you cannot ignore what I have to say! certainly can not answer any questions, but I will give you one thing soccerfoot, you did make me laugh this time, what a liar!”
by jpj_58
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 10:05AM
“I was just wondering who is Gerry Francis's Hairdresser”
by johnwhite18
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 5:54AM
“A photo tell"s a 1000 story"s”
by PeterPotter
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 10:56PM
“oh and muzerawah, the only game i've missed this season was the Wigan game !Spent a week in Nice with a friend. But I also know what you mean about the simplistic opinions, it gets harder and harder on here to actually find someone who posts about Stoke City, It's usually posts from busybodies who are more concerned with someone like me not saying exactly what they want me to instedad of people talking about the mighty Potters
Shame really. Oh well, you can count on me to keep up my comments about Stoke City
Go arrrrrrrrrrrrn Stoke !!”
by Si1963
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 10:48PM
“Yawn”
by PeterPotter
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 9:13PM
“anybody see a single post by some fella named soccerfoot? No, me either. Living in fantasy world as usual, some folk ! Potterforlife, as the head and possibly original insulter and busybody I might add on here, are your comments not like the pot calling the kettle black by the way ? I can only imagine that ender, dap, bongo and the other champion insulters will be along shortly.I look forward to their comic relief since no England on tonight.
I enjoy posting on this wonderful site so look for more of me in the future !”
by potterforlife
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 8:51PM
“Darley, add two more both insulting other posters in the time it took me to make my post.
So that makes six posts in one day and all attacking others one way or another, yes I guess you could say half empty!”
by potterforlife
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 8:48PM
“I suppose your take on this article depends upon your glass in the first place, half full or half empty.
Being a half full kind of guy and knowing no matter what anybody states on here it is only opinions then I see it as a member of the management team stating we are improving, but then as a Stoke fan, that is what I would have thought I was supposed to see in this article.
Perhaps darleystokie the fact that soccerfoot has already posted four times on this article, two insulting the club and two insulting other posters tells us all we need to know about his glass, he sees the negative and relishes it!”
by Stoke_Oracle
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 7:43PM
“We'll be the real deal when we get another dimension to our tactics and go to places like Liverpool, Man Utd and Pulis in his pre-match interview convinces himself and the fans that we are not little Stoke anymore and we are actually capable of winning the game by attacking and scoring goals instead of hoping for a defensive error from a hoof up the field or a free kick! Come on Gerry tell the truth, after the way you used to play, there's no way you can agree with his tactics. What part can you be playing on tactical play? As a coaching consultant, this way of playing is not your doing surely?”