The 2011/12 Gary Speed Memorial Thread

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I love and will love Jonathan Woodgate until my dying breath but is he really at right back against Gareth Bale (and Lennon when they swap)?! It's gonna be a tough day for him.

[Lineker]

He's been playing there ever since Wilkinson got injured.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

The other Stoke player I love is Etherington. I always wished we'd never sold him, much preferred him to Davies who we kept for longer on the other flank....

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Ok, let's not give away too many deep throw-ins today.

[MJB]

Who's taking Stoke's throw ins?

[Lineker]

Ryan Shotton.

I echo the Matty Etherington love although today he can just fuck off.

[Jimmy]

Shotton. Scrappy game so far but Stoke deservingly have the lead - they just look so dangerous from set pieces. Spurs need to start getting it together, they've started slow.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I don't mind Tottenham going behind as long as we don't concede a second in the next ten minutes or so. Then Stoke will slow a little and we'll get more space. In fact if they try to play like this all game then there'll be huge spaces at the back late on if they're not defending a narrow lead.

[Lineker]

Etherington

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Stoke's game plan is definitely working. They shortened the pitch to stop our fast guys having so much space behind the defence and narrowed it for the throws. Would like to see how the size compares. I know that the smallest legal pitch is actually pretty small...

[The Future]

That was directly from Shotton's throw wasn't it? they have got another Delap now

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I'm looking forward to 'Arry's half time team talk, though I bet the players aren't...

[Liam]

Stoke's game plan is definitely working. They shortened the pitch to stop our fast guys having so much space behind the defence and narrowed it for the throws. Would like to see how the size compares. I know that the smallest legal pitch is actually pretty small...

Unless they've shortened it further, that is always the size they play. There has been all that talk about how it is smaller than a regulation UEFA size pitch, but the FA rules are different, allowing Stoke to have a smaller pitch in the Prem.

[MJB]

They have shortened it further. You can see the old lines.

[Colly]

They have shortened it further. You can see the old lines.

From Europe. They've been playing the narrowest allowed all season, if its shorter today they'll be in bother...

[MJB]

Ah right yeah sorry. I'm on my phone and didnt read Liam's post.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Ahhh UEFA rules. That explains it. (Y)

[Lineker]

Bassong and Defoe are coming on for Assou-Ekotto and Lennon.

[Starvinho]

Spurs to win 4-3, calling it now...

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I can't see us NOT scoring. We just need a few AND to concede no more - which I'm not so comfortable about.