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Stoke’s decline flying under the radar – May 12th 2012
If a side isn’t in the title race or threatened by relegation, then it seems that they’re not really newsworthy. Maybe that’s why nobody’s talking about how poor Stoke have been this year.
Because of their side’s lack of media visibility, we rarely get to hear the thoughts of Stoke fans, but I’d be amazed if they were completely satisfied with the return offered by their players this season, or even the job done by Tony Pulis.
Stoke are no longer an upstart in this league, they’re an established top-level team, and surely the bar has to be a little higher than the limp 14th finish for which they’re headed.
How is Pulis not under more pressure?
Yes, the Europa League has been a new distraction for the club to deal with, but it’s not as if there have been peaks and troughs to this season – Stoke have been poor all the way through. Sides who suffer from having to take part in European fixtures traditionally tail off in the last third of the year – from March onwards – whereas Stoke have had any zest in their play since August.
It hasn’t been good enough, especially given the resources now at Tony Pulis’ disposal. Maybe he’s reached the tipping point of his time in the Potteries, maybe he’s taken them as far as he can. There’s been no injury crisis and there’s been no lack of financial support, yet the same menace and force of will that has characterised their play in during their topflight tenure has been conspicuous by its absence. This season feels like an afterthought, and there hasn’t been the same desire – especially at home.
Strange – very half-hearted. Where’s the ambition?
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