Appalling. No not the match but the reaction of the 'spoilt' supporters. It seems the so called best fans in the Premier League are showing truer colours by moaning incessantly at the team then wondering why they play with no confidence. Pulis is a man for whom some in the crowd love to hate. I think they are still sour at the fact that he proved so many wrong by getting us promoted and keeping us up in the first place. It seems such and easy a lame thing to constantly criticise the manager. Whilst it may not be the most exciting football to watch surely it is better than the cavalier attitude adopted by teams like Wolves and last year West Brom who play more attractive football but consistently leak goals. Moaning supporters need to be more patient and support rather than throw their toys out of the pram when they don't get what they want. The argument that these people pay their money and have a right to moan is credible to a degree but when it affects the players and staff negatively and also the fans around them who also pay their money might I add to watch a football match don't want to hear people groaning about the same stuff after 20 minutes of play. I wouldn't go to the cinema to see a film only to hear people behind and in front shouting that the director should have done this and the actor should be someone else! How can such a majority hero worship Tuncay who has yet to convince anyone( well at least me )of that status at Stoke and barrack Pulis a man who dragged this club to mid table in the Premier League is beyond me. Pulis loves to prove people wrong and it seems he will have to keep doing that at Stoke but he will. Top man Pulis!

We should be picking up 3 points against Portsmouth at home so i'm not impressed. This doesn't make up for the 5 points lost in the last two games.

It's the team selection that concerns me. TPs going to have some seriously agitated players in the dressing room if he continues like that.

It's all good and well saying that they need to work hard to make their way into the team, but when the likes of Whitehead and Sidibe are getting on ahead of Lawrence and Tuncay, questions will start to be asked. 3 international players (Lawrence, Whelan, Tuncay).. i just don't get it.

Anyway, back to the game. I thought Wilko was excellent, made lots of interceptions and played more passes down the wing rather than kicking the ball out of play.

I didn't realise Beattie was playing.
Sidibe should have done better when he had a good opportunity on goal. I'm not sure what position he plays but he's certainly not a striker.

Having read with interest the various articles relating to yesterday's 1-0 victory over Portsmouth, and also reading Lee's comments regarding many fans "Loving to Hate" Pulis, I agree with Lee that there is still a contingent that will do nothing but moan at how Stoke play. No doubt they were complaining at the 1-0 away win at Tottenham, and the victories over Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City, Aston Villa and others at the Brit last season.

However, I can see where the "Pulis sort em out" chants were coming from yesterday. Look at the last 3 games. Wolves at home, 2-0 up and threw it away. Hull away, 1-0 up and threw it away, and Pompy at home, conceding a penalty in the 7th minute, and a midfield showing nothing short of non-existent. The thing that is frustrating with Pulis' style of management, and this becomes particularly apparent away from home, is that he does not play to win. Ever. Instead, he plays not to lose, ensuring that all games rapidly degenerate into a non event as a spectacle as Stoke stifle out any attacking threat of the opposition, whilst not daring to create anything themselves.

I honestly have no problem with this against the big boys in this league. You look at how far this club has come in a relative short time and expecting us to go out toe to toe and outplay the Chelseas, Man Utds and Arsenals of this world is just ludicrous. However, the last 3 games, as far as Im concerned should have been 9 points. Any less is unsatisfactory. We have played 3 games against some of the poorest teams in this league, and if we are being realistic, we have a better squad than all 3, and should have won all 3 easily.

But against Wolves and Hull, the team started well, got a goal or two, before slowly retreating further and further toward our own goal, inviting Wolves and Hull onto us. This tactic could work if the midfield closed down better, but so often you see the opposition midfielders passing it around between each other, 20 yards from goal with no tackle being made. When we play at home, against all but the top teams, we should be attacking from the get go. We did it last season and it unsettles teams. This season though, we just seem to go through the motions. Playing Delap on the right just doesnt work. He doesnt have any pace to run at players, nor can he cross a ball. I understand TP wants him in the team for his throw (which has not produced a goal in many a while), so why not play him in the middle and drop the ineffective (see also useless) Whitehead? I think Lawrence on the right and Etherington on the left presents a dangerous threat, and can guarantee a much more dangerous supply for whichever strikeforce TP wants to employ.

Despite these comments, I am a fan of Pulis. He has taken this club to a level that many thought was beyond us. You cannot deny the mans accomplishments. I rate many of his signings. Beattie and Etherington were inspired signings in January, and the likes of Ab Faye and Shawcross speak for themselves. For me though, Whitehead should never pull on a Stoke shirt again, and how Collins is in the team over Higgy is a complete mystery. My only gripe, and I will admit to being vocally frustrated yesterday, is TP's team selections and game plan at home. I understand Lawrence and Whealan would have been tired after Ireland duty, but the difference Lawro made when he came on was staggering.

Yes, we are 9th in the league, which is fantastic, but the league is so tight again this year. We are 6 points from the Champions League places, but only 8 from the relegation zone. A few defeats on the bounce and we can get sucked in to where we do not want to be. So come on Tone, yes, keep it tight against the big boys, but we've got winnable games against Blackburn, Wigan, Birmingham, Fulham and Burnley coming up in the next 6 weeks or so. Lets show everyone what we can do.

TP kept them out again using the excuse that they had very demanding qualifying games in the week. Look at the rest of the Ireland squad who were actively involved in the Premier League this weekend, Duff, Hunt, Given, Dunn but to name a few (and they were on the Saturday). God help us if we ever do qualify for europe and have to play more than one game a week! They are footballers after all and it is the nature of their profession that they lose games, you would have thought they had just come back from Afghanistan the way Pulis is going on. The best remedy is to keep them playing not sat on the bench frustrated and dejected.

I have been a long time fan of Tony Pulis who got us where we are, but have to question his team selection.

Before the internationals I heard that Liam Lawrence was struggling with his back,but then he played two cracking games in a week for his country. Tuncay needs time to adjust? Well if he wont fit in, why did we spend a fortune on him. Huth and Collins are central defenders and cannot hold a candle to Andy Wilkinson and Danny Higginbottom at full back.

If they are all fit our midfield should be Lawrence, Whelan, and Etherington, with any one from Delap Whitehead and Diao.

The Portsmouth game was a disgrace and we just scraped in with a penalty save and the only quality move of the match.

We can do well in this league as long as we play our best team.

TOP MAN TP ????????? Lee are you certified???TP has lost it totally.That midfield with the exception of Etherington is by a mile the poorest in the league which has certainly come to light in the last three games and against fantastic teams such as Wolves,Hull and p/mouth!Delap-woeful,Whitehead-what can i say,dont even hear him mentioned and Diao very very average.Another poor effort from Beattie total bilge again did nothing,probably 3 games on the trot now still gets picked!!! Lets see how big TP's balls are next week when he has to drop either Huth or Wilko.Wilko had the game of his life on Sunday and is without doubt a far better full back than Huth is, but the spineless TP i feel will go for the name rather than the raw ability!Or he may go 5 at the back to save upsetting any of his old school,another positive move he may shock us with.Back to the slowest midfield in the land,how can they keep out the three internationals out.TP says they may be tired, then play them first and bring the other dead legs on when you have played your strongest team and are probably a couple up.Come on TP everyone else can see,for once in your life admit you are wrong!!!!!