Stoke City News 24/7Writer: Chris Baldwin 
Date:Friday January 30 2009
Time: 6:26PM
UK time is: 17:39:07
Choose your club
Other Sites
Network Navigation
Vital Partners
'If It's Football, It's Vital'
Stoke City vs. Man City
Britannia Stadium
31st January 2009
12.45pm
On Sky
Stoke vs Man C preview
Another lunchtime kick-off to suit the armchair fans sees Manchester City roll into town. The so-called 'richest club in the world' have found it difficult to splash the cash with the news that Kaka will not be giving us the pleasure of his company at the Brit. But the blue half of Manchester will still bring his Brazilian team mate, Robinho.
Vital Quotes:
Tony Pulis will certainly be pleased that he's finally got his first home match for three weeks after two difficult away ties and a week's warm weather training in Dubai. He's certainly more confident of a better performance from the team when we're at home: 'We're a match for anyone at our place'.
'If we play to our strengths, make sure we get on the front foot and we're competitive, which we weren't against Tottenham, then we can match them.'
Stoke City Team News:
Early worries that Andy Wilkinson had broken his foot earlier this week have proved unfounded, but he may find his slot taken by Andy Griffin. Danny Higginbotham is out after nursing an injury for the past week or so. Abdoulaye Faye should be fit again after being sick during the Spurs clash on Tuesday. James Beattie will make his home debut and will hopefully find himself starting alongside Ricardo Fuller for the first time if he is given a start after playing 45 minutes on Tuesday. Liam Lawrence is another who is desperate to return after he has had to sit on the bench since returning from injury.
Player to watch: James Beattie
Beattie playing alongside Fuller will provide an interesting test of how the remainder of the season could go. If these two gel quickly then times will get a whole lot better for Potters fans.
Man City Team News:
Manchester City are banking on Shaun Wright-Phillips and Pablo Zabaleta shrugging off minor knocks but are without suspended skipper Richard Dunne who starts a four match ban. City's consolation signing, Craig Bellamy, will play his second game since joining from West Ham 10 days ago.
Player to watch: Robinho
The Brazilian scored a hat trick against the Potters at Eastlands earlier this season and is one person the Potters' defence will be keeping a close eye on
Match Facts & Stats
Ref Watch:
Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire)
Next Fixtures:
Just two matches next month:
Saturday 7th Feb: Sunderland (away) kick-off 3pm
Saturday 21st Feb: Portsmouth (home) kick-off: 3pm
Your Comments
Be very careful of "City's consolation signing" ... you have been warned.
jackblue
This game should be a walk in the park for Manchester City.
Tudor
You're right it was a walk in the park for Man C - it's just that they were in a different park!
The Potters showed the money boys what real team spirit means.
BoothenP
Well, congratulations on picking up the three points today. You worked hard and were well organised, while some of our players looked like they were half asleep. Don't think many fans (Stoke or City) would have predicted that scoreline. No disrespect, but I don't envy you having to watch your team play like that every week though. That type of non-football makes Bolton look like Brazil!
Good luck for the rest of the season.
fifthcolumnblue
Have Your Say
Recent Articles
VIDEO: Pulis Leaves Stoke (Wednesday May 22 2013)
Thank you Pulis (Wednesday May 22 2013)
Players react to Pulis departure (Tuesday May 21 2013)
Stoke confirm Pulis exit (Tuesday May 21 2013)
Tony Pulis set to leave Stoke City (Tuesday May 21 2013)
VIDEO: Pulis Full Of Praise For Retiring Owen (Monday May 20 2013)
Oppositions view vs Southampton (Away) (Saturday May 18 2013)
Stoke players make pigs ear of prank... (Friday May 17 2013)
NEW POLL: Do you like the new Adidas away kit? (Friday May 17 2013)
Begovic wins Vital Stoke Player of the Season (Friday May 17 2013)
Archived Articles
Vital Members League (view all)
| 1. | lloyd_17 | 6 |
| 2. | The cord kid | 4 |
| 3. | vanhelcink | 1 |
| 4. | Benllech | 1 |
League Results (view all)
| Latest Results | ||||
| Southampton | 1 | - | 1 | Stoke |
| Stoke | 1 | - | 2 | Spurs |
| Sunderland | 1 | - | 1 | Stoke |
| Stoke | 1 | - | 0 | Norwich |
| Q.P.R. | 0 | - | 2 | Stoke |
| Stoke | 0 | - | 2 | Man Utd |
League Table (view table)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 10. West Ham | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | -8 | 46 |
| 11. Norwich | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | -17 | 44 |
| 12. Fulham | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | -10 | 43 |
| 13. Stoke | 38 | 9 | 15 | 14 | -11 | 42 |
| 14. Southampton | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -11 | 41 |
| 15. Aston Villa | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | -22 | 41 |
| 16. Newcastle | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | -23 | 41 |
Breaking League News
| Petrov Delighted With Assistant Coach Role
» Aston Villa : 22/05/2013 16:52:00
|
| Boateng Signs Two Year Deal
» Fulham : 22/05/2013 16:50:00
|
| Sullivan Warns Of Complacency!
» West Ham : 22/05/2013 16:49:00
|
| Lukaku Desire
» West Ham : 22/05/2013 16:48:00
|
| Carroll Withdrawal
» West Ham : 22/05/2013 16:47:00
|
| Carroll Fee Agreed
» West Ham : 22/05/2013 16:46:00
|
| Rooney Forced Out?
» Man Utd : 22/05/2013 16:44:00
|
Current Site Poll (view all polls)
|
|