Best result tonight?

[LincsRover]

I wasn't sure if I wanted Stoke to win and get complacent for saturday or to get their arses kicked and lose confidence, but risk a backlash against us??!! I've made my mind up by taking what I believe to be stupid odds of 11/4 for £40 on Stoke to win - at home against an inconsistent Liverpool! Seems ridiculous they are not favourites! I have been kmown to be wrong though!

So come on Stoke, but I hope they knacker themselves up for Saturday!

 

[rich1471]

Hi I'm with you put £30 on Stoke to win tonight hope he put crouch on scores 2 as Liverpool just gone 1 up

[LincsRover]

Bugger! I'm dead lucky me......!!!!

 

[Donnywolf]

.. anything that means they are not effectively out before the Second Leg

[Drover]

I think a draw might be best,means they can still win the semi over both legs,so still all to play for in second leg.Think worse senario would be them getting thumped,causing then to take our game more serious.

[hoolahoop]

A narrow defeat would keep them on their toes, especially with the games they have in January.

[LincsRover]

Possibly the best result for those who can't make it on Saturday, I've just heard on radio 5-live that the TLO Donny vs Stoke game is live on 5-live sports extra. I'll be at the game but if I wasn't I'd definitely tune in!

 

[the vicar]

Stoke were SH-t tonight lets hope it continues saturday

[Filo]

They were shit first half, miles better second half, but I do think they can be got at on the counter attack

[Metalmicky]

I thought they were far from shit and very competitive. We'll have a tough game on Saturday...

[Chris Black come back]

Like every game, I go in wanting and hoping Rovers to win - but anyone who thinks we can beat Stoke is smoking crack. If Hughes fields even half of that front four then we are going down heavily. These are some of the finest players in Europe. Will enjoy the spectacle and seeing our lads up against this lot of superstars.

[hoolahoop]

Like every game, I go in wanting and hoping Rovers to win - but anyone who thinks we can beat Stoke is smoking crack. If Hughes fields even half of that front four then we are going down heavily. These are some of the finest players in Europe. Will enjoy the spectacle and seeing our lads up against this lot of superstars.

If we all thought that way there would be no reason to turn up and watch. We've turned over bigger teams a lot of bigger teams .

DF is a good manager and if we can make them gag from the start then we can pull this one off. Some of the proudest biggest names have fallen to us over the last 12 years ........these are no different.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I agree Hoola. Course Stoke should win 9 times from 10.

Just as in the Carling Cup run, we do have players who can upset their more illustrious opposition. If Stoke think they'll be in for an easy game, I think they'll underestimate the underdog factor.

If our game is 10% up on all round performance and theirs is 10% down, the result won't be inevitable.

I remember Harry Redknap after the Spurs game saying for the first 10 minutes, it was like playing Barcelona. We had chances to go in front before an Adam Lockwood cock up, gifted them the first goal which got them going.

The form Williams is in, he can score against anyone. Let's hope we get in first.

[colincramb]

Of course we can win the game. What a stupid thing to say we have no chance. Bradford won at stamford bridge last year. Oldham did for Liverpool a few seasons back. Yes, 9 times out of 10 they win the game, and win it well. But to say there's no chance is ridiculous. They aren't Barcelona, they are a mid table premier league team. It can be done

[the vicar]

They were shit first half, miles better second half, but I do think they can be got at on the counter attack

Yes I agree with you all the way

[Chris Black come back]

I'll be shouting for Rovers as loud as the next bloke, but Stoke have striking power way in excess of anything Bolton, Villa, Man City or even Arsenal fielded against us. Look at where Bojan and Shaquiri came from. These are genuinely world class players.

Am sure we can put up a good showing but let's be honest about what we are facing. Now, if Hughes decides to rest them all...

[Crowle Rover]

Of course we can win the game. What a stupid thing to say we have no chance. Bradford won at stamford bridge last year. Oldham did for Liverpool a few seasons back. Yes, 9 times out of 10 they win the game, and win it well. But to say there's no chance is ridiculous. They aren't Barcelona, they are a mid table premier league team. It can be done

Excatly. And what about the league cup run all those years ago?

Who'd have given us a chance against City and Villa?

[colincramb]

Personally, I wouldn't put bojan or shaquiri anywhere near world class. If they were, they wouldn't be plying their trade at Stoke mate. They are very good players, but saying they are world class is a tad over the top

[swintonrover]

I'll be shouting for Rovers as loud as the next bloke, but Stoke have striking power way in excess of anything Bolton, Villa, Man City or even Arsenal fielded against us. Look at where Bojan and Shaquiri came from. These are genuinely world class players.

Am sure we can put up a good showing but let's be honest about what we are facing. Now, if Hughes decides to rest them all...

I'm sure World Cup Finalist Robin Van Persie will thank you for that. How long did he last? 20 minutes?

[Chris Black come back]

33 minutes. He was 22 at the time and wouldn't play in a World Cup Final for another five years.

That aside, we're all backing a Rovers' win on Saturday, so let's leave it at that.

[Padge_DRFC]

Keegan has to play in this game over Middleton.

[RoversAlias]

Personally, I wouldn't put bojan or shaquiri anywhere near world class. If they were, they wouldn't be plying their trade at Stoke mate. They are very good players, but saying they are world class is a tad over the top

They both clearly possess world class abiility, they just don't show it consistently. I don't think 'they play for Stoke' is a very good argument either, the money coming into the Premier League now has allowed some really quality players to join midtable teams like Stoke (Cabaye at Palace is another example). Hell, Newcastle have apparently launched a near £20 million bid for Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon, who has been linked with all the top clubs for the past 12 months.

[LincsRover]

As Richard Scudamore said when the new sky TV deal was announced he was "proud" of the fact that the team finishing bottom in the premiership would be bigger, financially, this the biggest team in Holland - Ajax. All premiership teams have money to buy world class players now, and thanks to this obscene situation teams like TLO Donny will find it even harder to compete with any team who has premiership money.

 

[ravenrover]

If Crouch or Walters are selected we will be in for a long hard afternoon at the back. Our midfielders had better get used to having track runners form their midfield as well in that situation.
I would put Williams or Tyson on Shawcross and keep knocking balls into their feet he, Shawcross, would be on his 2nd yellow before half time.
However their defence looked as though it could be exposed by a bit of pace so if Evina gets cracking down the left that could be interesting.
A good performance is all I want and if we manage to cause an upset even better.
However my head still sees a Stoke win. JMHO

[Sammy Chung was King]

They are dropping into a bad run, that will continue against us.

[The Red Baron]

Not really a surprise. Might give us more of a chance.

http://mobile.stokecityfc.com/news/article/changes-on-way-at-donny-2888073.aspx