We were so desperately unlucky to come away from the game with nothing when it could have been a very different story had the referee not bottled the big decision of the game by not sending off Gary Neville on his 600th appearance for the club.

Wonder Strike… ©PA Photos

In the midst of the disappointment there were plenty of positives to be taken, the line-up great, the approach unheard of and our goal from Tuncay, sublime. As ever there is plenty to discuss so I’ll get on and do exactly that;

The line up – I think many had expected a typical Pulis .v. Top 4 team mentality we have grown to expect, the lone striker, the 5 across the back/middle, the use of Diao and 2 other defensive midfielders, sitting deep etc. Imagine our surprise when it transpired that Pulis had not only selected to play two out and out wingers but also include Marc Wilson! This was unheard of and a continuation of the theme seen this season whereby Pulis has changed tack slightly and allowed his players a bit more creative licence and indeed trusted them to do so. I can’t emphasise just how positive we have been this season and this game really confirmed that this is the way Pulis would like to go. This mind shift in approach musty be applauded and it has been great to watch too, but ironically some are now questioning if in the pursuit of changing our style we have lost what made us successful in the first place! It’s clearly a balance, but the defence of late have conceded some very poor goals and I’m not sure whether it’s a result of the new emphasis or whether it’s just sloppy defending, I think it’s probably a bit of both though my fear is that the Manager may think it is the former and go back to basics to correct things. Don’t get me wrong, fo course we still use the long throw and largely get the ball forward quickly but the increased use of the wingers and the balls to KJ’s chest and feet are most welcome and I hope TP does keep on with this and concentrate on hauling the back line in for extra practice.

Faye – This brings me nicely onto Faye. I, like many, have been happier with Faye’s form this season after a less than brilliant campaign last season but lately errors and more frustratingly, complacency seem to have crept into his game. We know he is a cool customer and likes a few more seconds on the ball than he should but he used to be sharp when he did things like that and now he looks laboured and to be quite frank a bit of a liability. I think this coupled with Huth’s excellence in that role makes a shift back into the middle for the big German the best option, though this obviously leaves us short in the fullback area where I fully expect us to strengthen in January, my money in that respect would be on Phil Bardsley.

Wilson – What a sight to see the young Irishman line up when many were on the verge of a call in to Mulder and Scully to find him after his virtual disappearance after a less than prolific debut. I’m not sure whether Pulis now thinks he is ready or whether this is a case of him giving him a game against a side we were unlikely to get a result from in recognition that he has been left unceremoniously on the sidelines? He had a mixed game for me, he likes to get his head up, which Is great but for me he lacks the ability to put his foot in and he also seems to be a bit slow of pace and indeed thought. I found myself screaming in frustration as he looked up to pick a pass only to have the ball pinched off his toes, I’m not sure if it’s because he was used to the slower Championship or whether he is just struggling with the pace of midfield having been a converted centre half. I like what I see for the most part though and time is very much on his side so I’ll not judge him too harshly, I just hope he doesn’t disappear now again for another month or two and this is the start of integrating him more into the side.

Walters – Hmm, I’ve gone to and fro on Jon over the last couple of months but on Saturday he was virtually anonymous in an attacking sense. I’m not sure whether that was because his job looked to be getting close to Scholes and this seemed to work, but he wasn’t always close to him and when the ball went forward, the lethargic jones struggled to keep the ball up there alone. I guess it’s a hard one and as I’ve said I am so surprised at the way we are setting up this season and I think 2 wingers, KJ and a non worker would just be a step too far for TP so I expect to see him stay there for a while. What is clear though is that Walters and Jones need to work with each other as at times on the pitch this season it’s as if they had just been introduced.

Tuncay – What an amazing finish from the Turk, he really livened the game up and always adds urgency into proceedings. It’s clear that there is a problem as I’m sure he hasn’t been dropped due to lack of effort or talent. With that in mind it’s a shame that he will most likely be off in January and he never got the chance to forge a partnership with KJ. I’m not sure who is to blame, whether it’s the manager, the player or both but if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. It would be a huge shame if he does end up leaving, but then the club goes on, it would just be nice if whatever was wrong was rectified and we managed to move on with a brilliant talent.

The Referee – Once again Stoke were on the wrong end of a poor decision from a referee. The decision to not send off Neville was astonishing and laughable in equal measure. As the Stoke fans sung, if it had been a Stoke player you would put your mortgage on that he’d be halfway down the tunnel on his way to get his Radox but not when it’s the big 4, no. The Managers both knew it, the fans both knew it and tellingly Neville clearly knew it, it was written all over the face as the right back winced. I’m desperately disappointed to have come away from the game having been cheated out of an advantage yet again and I find myself asking when we will get the rub of the green? People say these things even themselves out but we've had little to no luck since we have been promoted so there it's no wonder the staff and fans of Stoke are feeling pretty hard done by.

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