Brammer Gone...Duberry To Follow?

Yesterday Dave Brammer signed on a permanent deal with Millwall...will Stoke City Captain Michael Duberry follow him out given the interest from Premiership Reading?

Link: Sentinel

Lee Hendrie

Blackburn reportedly no longer seeking to acquire further midfield cover.

From earlier reports it would seem that just leaves Sheffield United as the only Premiership team openly expressing an interest in Lee.

Perhaps today will bring us the good news we are hoping for on this front.

Link : Sentinel

Fergie Forecasts Foster Future

Sky Sports News....Alex Ferguson confidently predicts ex-Stokie Ben Foster will be England's No.1 keeper.

Sky Sports Link

Stoke Not Really At The Races ! Fulham 3 Stoke City 0

Not many places between these teams in the leagues at the moment,but the gulf is obvious. 2-0 would have been a fairer reflection on the match,given more than a suspicion of offside in Fulham's final goal.That said,at times,incisive Fulham players made Stoke look decidedly sluggish.Uncharacteristic mistakes by our defenders did not help the cause.

Confirmation,if we needed it,of the wisdom of Pulis'statement not so long ago that Stoke are still very much a work in progress, and that we should not get carried away by our own inflated expectations.

This reality check will have done us no harm as we go into the final part of our league programme, and for the more distant future too.As Tony Pulis said when interviewed after the match...if we were going to have an off day then it was better in the cup than in the remaining 17 league matches.

Reading his expression I couldn't help thinking that he was actually pleased that yesterday's distraction from the main business in hand was now out of the way!!

Bring on Ipswich...and normal service!

Solved? - Mystery Of Spy Plane Over Manchester United's Training Ground.

Alex Ferguson speaks of a man in a 'Biggles'hat spying from a plane over MU's training ground....almost certainly it was Tony Pulis.

The Fulham Independent....Messageboard

Just a brief look tonight reveals the same sort of concerns that we have had on occasions....re signings,ticketing,and so forth.Sad to see that now distant past indiscretions by a few less thoughtful Stokies still colour opposing fans view of us.A real shame.

One posting concerns itself with the need for a club song :

"Song for Fulham -- 70s Man, Friday, January 26, 06:29:51pm
One thing mentioned earlier in the week on this Board was the unimaginative chanting at Fulham. We desperately need our own song: Stoke have Delilah and we really need to find one for ourselves."

LINK : The Fulham Independent

Hoefkens Staying...And Fingers Crossed on Hendrie

Happy that Carl Hoefkens has decided against moving to FC Bruges,and is staying at Stoke City.A matter of quality in depth here,to make sure that we have sufficient players to sustain the current push toward the top.

The situation with Lee Hendrie seems to be more problematic.Hopefully in due course it will be resolved in Stoke's favour.

On Cloud Nine!!!!

Official confirmation by Stoke City FC website that Salif Diao has left Liverpool and signed up with us until the end of the season.

Young Man Utd winger Lee Martin has joined on loan until the end of the season.

Plenty of positive noises emanating from the club indicating that other quality players will be joining Stoke before the transfer deadline on January 31st......

It just gets better and better...

Sadly Hoefkens will be leaving, it seems, to return to Belgium....but from what we have seen of Wilkinson recently a ready made replacement is to hand.

Stoke City Interested In Lee Martin From Manchester United

Small item in today's Daily Mail suggests that Stoke are pursuing an interest in 19 year old winger Lee Martin of Manchester United( according to Wikipedia he recently returned from a successful loan spell at Rangers though this, was to a degree, affected by injuries)with a view to possibly playing in the Cup match against Fulham this Saturday.

Sidibe's Goal Hot Streak Predicted Last October !!!

A psychic Stoke City fan, who wishes to remain anonymous, foresaw Marmady Sidibe's current goal fest way back in October 2006.So far he has not given any prediction on promotion in May.

More Great News From Stoke City FC !!

Sentinel carries news of Salif Diao's return,Brammer's departure,and,tantalisingly,still a good prospect of Lee Hendrie rejoining the Potters......(But... "Blackburn Rovers are to make a £1million bid for Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie - Daily Star")

LINK: The Sentinel

Oatcake Messageboard.....Spot On Not_Nick_H !!

(Click Image to Enlarge)

Disappointing...But Not Disastrous

Stoke failed to capitalise on a healthy 2-0 halftime lead.After outplaying highly placed Preston North End,they failed to take 3 points or even, in the end, salvage one.

Stoke clearly impressed Preston fans, but then faded to concede defeat albeit to a last minute goal.

To listen to some Stoke fans the end of the season,if not the world, is nigh.As things stand it is not all bad news.The club are still only a whisker from the play off places.Griffin and Matteo will make major positive contributions.We can be confident that other quality imports will arrive before the transfer deadline given just a little luck.

Positive moves would include giving Rooney more opportunities up front rather than persist with Pericard,and bringing in another goalkeeper to put some pressure on Simonsen.

Griffin and Matteo Signed Up By Stoke

Details to be finalised,but both should be available away at Preston tomorrow.

LINK : Sentinel

Private Eye : Latest Issue...Well Worth A Read !!