Stoke

[Derek Hardballs]

3 wins in 20 for Nathan Jones. He must be under some pressure PK?

P.s. The ground looks good with the corner gaps now filled in.

If he's not under pressure from the board, he massively is from the fans now. We all know this is meant to be a longterm project. Problem is that we've now had nothing but shit for three and a half years, so patience isn't something in large supply at the moment.

The fabled Jones diamond needs specialist wingbacks with lungs of steel. He's tried to convert McClean on one side, who as with everything he does, fulfills half of those attributes, and has replaced fans favourite Tom Edwards on the other side with the inferior Tommy Smith. So we now have too ineffective players filling the most important roles in the team.

So we spent 70 minutes flayling around hopelessly with an attack consisting of Afobe resembling a bag of cement alongside our 'ox' in the box, Vokes. We then replaced them, ditched the diamond, brought Ince on, played with two conventional wingers, and voila, we spent 20 minutes battering them and looking miles better.

There was also a blatant handball which should have provided us with a penalty in extra time. No one ever uses that as an excuse anymore though as we're as threatening from a penalty as we are from a goalkick.

‘Long term projects’ like building the Statue of Liberty out of matchsticks admirable patience but ultimately pointless.