Andy Tillson - Pottering On

2013-05-06 13:18#98209 Arvind :

2013-05-06 13:14#98207 Gashead :

2013-05-06 13:08#98202 Arvind : ZOMG! Papadopoulos! And for 8m! Bargain. Corchia on a free! Highway robbery.

I couldn't resist when he offered to me for £8m, I didn't even need a new CB. Same with Corchia, I didn't need another RB but when someone of that class is available for free I can't resist.

Annoying that Papadopoulos is cup-tied in the CL, he's been class since coming in.

I know the feeling

Milner for that fee is quite cheap as well, but I've never rated him

Milner's been decent, he's scored once and assisted once in 4 games so far. He's been good out on the right.

Results

http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/GasHead94/media/560a55de4562c7d2352f3bea2fcea8e1_zps441c669c.png.html

Stoke are still unbeaten in the Premier League after the month of January. Stoke started the month off with relatively easy wins against Aston Villa and Cardiff in the Premier League. After that they faced off with Sheffield United in the FA Cup, even with a distinctively weakened side they breezed past the Northern side. Following that another 3 games in the Premier League came up with Sunderland, Norwich and Blackburn standing in the way of another 100% win month. None of them could force a draw against high flying Stoke.

Table

http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/GasHead94/media/EnglishPremierDivision_OverviewStages_zps44dcdca2.png.html

Stoke City's Player of the Month - Abel Hernández

Abel Hernández filled in well with the absences of Wilfried Bony, who was at the African Cup of Nations. The Uruguayan striker netted on 4 occasions and assisted with another 3.

Congrats on going top of the league, well deserved

Stoke City have signed 2 players on deadline day. Uruguayan midfielder Gastón Ramírez from Southampton and Italian striker Manolo Gabbiadini from Atalatana for fees of £14m and £7.25m respectively. Both players are highly regarded in world football and Stoke staff are considering the moves as coups.

Gastón Ramírez started his career off with Peñarol in his native Uruguay before moving to Italy to play for Bologna for £2.6m. He spent just 2 years in Italy before catching the eye of many top clubs around Europe. Despite the interest of some of the top clubs in Europe he decided to make the move to then recently promoted Southampton in a move rumoured to be around £12m. 3 years at the west coast club finishing on a high last season in 7th place.

Stoke’s great run of form and sudden interest in the playmaker had Southampton licking their lips knowing that Stoke do have a lot of money to part with after last season and this season’s successes. The priced the Uruguayan at £14m and Stoke matched the valuation instantly. Southampton accepted but did leak the move in the media in hope of a bidding war between Europe’s top clubs, it didn’t happen.

Stoke’s other deadline day signing Manolo Gabbiadini started his career of with Italian side Atalanta but in 2010 he was signed in a co-ownership deal with Cittadella but after great performances over the course of the season Atalanta bought back Cittadella’s share in the player. Gabbiadini continued to show he was a top Italian talent and Juventus turned their attention to signing the player, which they did, in another co-ownership deal. However Atalanta won the rights of the player in 2013 for just £1.1m.

Two seasons back at Atalanta he had another great 2 seasons before Stoke turned their attention to the striker after losing Stracqualursi to injury over November for a 4 months and Bony being at the African Cup of Nations. Stoke managed to acquire the player for a fee of £7.25m, quite a bit under the valuation of Atalanta. They agreed to sale the player for under their value out of respect for the player and he wouldn’t be signing for a Serie A rival.

Great update Gas! Great job and I think that you should sell Stracquirsi now that you have Gabbiadini!

2013-05-06 20:15#98348 PaukerJ : Great update Gas! Great job and I think that you should sell Stracquirsi now that you have Gabbiadini!

Thanks!

I tried to sell him, I accepted an offer from Norwich but he rejected them aside from that I only got crap loan offers where I still paid the majority of his wages. Unless I'm planning on loaning players out for experience I tend not to allow myself to accept offers where I'm still the majority wage payer.

Results

http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/GasHead94/media/2701664967c817e377b43bd48a0a0204_zps8bd7f12d.png.html

Another unbeaten month! Stoke have gone from strength to strength this season and have had a real knack of winning games that many see as unwinnable. Wins over Liverpool and Arsenal showed that they have what it takes to continue the form and win the league.

A draw away at the Veltins Arena wasn't what Stoke deserved, conceding in the 91st minute for Schalke to level the tie. An away goal could prove vital for Stoke.

Table

http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/GasHead94/media/EnglishPremierDivision_OverviewStages_zps8efcb6bb.png.html

Stoke City's Player of the Month - Wilfried Bony

Wilfried Bony's return from the African Cup of Nations early February was a real shining light for Stoke, scoring 5 times over the month and scoring winning goals over Liverpool and Arsenal.

Another superb month! THE TITLE IS YOURS! (Soon anyway :P)

Keep going, the League Title is yours!

I feel sorry for you. There isn't enough comments on this story for it's quality!
Anyway, prem's yours, hopefully.

Stoke City striker Peter Crouch has slammed boss Andy Tillson in the media today. The former England international was an integral part of Tillson's inaugural season but last season was told he would not be part of Stoke's future and will not have a part to play in the season. Crouch rejected the notion of leaving and decided he would stay and fight for his place, something he failed to do and made 0 first team appearances. In January 2014 then Premier League side Nottingham Forest agreed to take the striker on loan with a view to a permanent deal. At the end of his deal no move materialized because of his wage demands, being on £45k per week at Stoke. Crouch has refused to leave the club unless another club matches his wages, something no one seems willing to do.

Crouch has now come out and called manager Andy Tillson out his handling of the situation "he just left me to rot in the reserves" said Crouch "I have more than proved my worth to this club, I was key for Tillson in his first season" Crouch went onto say how Tillson would have been sacked by Stoke if it wasn't for his goal scoring exploits "without me, Tillson wouldn't be where he is now. He'd be fired. My goals led the club to 7th".

Tillson issued a quick response by saying "Crouch is obviously angered with the way his relationship with the club has deteriorated. I told Crouch he wouldn't play at the start of last season, he chose to remain here". Tillson went on to address Crouch's claim that he would have been sacked without his goals "Crouch has a short memory, he wasn't the top scorer that season, in fact, he wasn't even in the top 3. I have worked hard to be where I am, I'm insulted by his ludicrous statement".

It appears that Crouch has soured an already poor relationship with Stoke and with his contract running out this summer it couldn't have come at a worse time. He wasn't expected to be offered a new contract before but now, Stoke will be glad to see the back of the problematic striker.

2013-05-07 18:56#98543 Louis O. : Another superb month! THE TITLE IS YOURS! (Soon anyway :P)

Thanks. If I don't win it, I will retire Tillson.

2013-05-07 20:06#98588 BFC_Michael : Keep going, the League Title is yours!

Almost there, let's hope I do it.

2013-05-07 20:30#98603 Toon : I feel sorry for you. There isn't enough comments on this story for it's quality!
Anyway, prem's yours, hopefully.

It's okay, I'm just glad people read it. My small, loyal audience is fantastic. I appreciate you saying it's quality, though. I try to make the story enjoyable, easy to read and to make it look attractive in lay-out.
____

Thanks for reading, guys. Really appreciate it.

Loving the story, although I haven't commented much lately. Definitely have high hopes for Gaston, make sure you use him wisely.

2013-05-07 20:40#98614 Devil. : Loving the story, although I haven't commented much lately. Definitely have high hopes for Gaston, make sure you use him wisely.

Thanks.

Well, I tried not to disrupt my main tactic because it has been working extremely well, as you can see by the results. There is no AMC role in this tactic, so I have Gaston playing out wide. Risky, I know but he has managed to pick up a couple of goals and assists out there. Still very effective.

2013-05-07 20:34#98610 Gashead :

2013-05-07 20:30#98603 Toon : I feel sorry for you. There isn't enough comments on this story for it's quality!
Anyway, prem's yours, hopefully.

It's okay, I'm just glad people read it. My small, loyal audience is fantastic. I appreciate you saying it's quality, though. I try to make the story enjoyable, easy to read and to make it look attractive in lay-out.

Yeah I know I've just seen some stories I'd consider not as good that have had more recognition. I'm sure lot's of people read it and don't comment very often (I'm one of them), but still, I hope you are noticed more because you deserve it!