This will be the most routine 2-0 win that Stoke will ever have.

Make of this what you will. I've just been told that the club had planned an "early bird" deal that would have seen season tickets on sale by easter weekend, but because Zebra Finance have just gone bust they have had to abandon them plans and delay it.

I'm not even worrying about that scenario because I know it will happen.

Only if you can't fit them in. For the sake of an extra 1000 applications I'm sure we could have fit them in somewhere!

I'd personally be amazed if we ended up with 4 proven championship players in the summer that could walk straight into our team. It just won't happen no matter what TM says between now and August 9th. I predict we might get one on loan who has played a lot in the championship from somewhere, a couple of league one players (thinking Bauer etc), a couple of young players that we'll put on the bench for the season and give 5 minutes here and there too, and another premier league loan who has had spells in this league but hasn't really done it anywhere yet.

Realistic I'd say from what we have seen with our eyes over the past 6/7 weeks, instead of being deluded.

Biggest home banker this weekend anywhere in England this one. As it's my birthday on Sunday the misses has bought match & train tickets for me and my lad to go, cheers I think. 4-1 Villa, our goal coming in the 86th minute.

Championship and prem clubs have to complete all perm and loan signings by August 9th for next season. We're screwed.

10 years ago or something like that i read earlier.

I honestly think anyone expecting wholesale changes is going to be disappointed. Williams, Mulgrew, Smallwood, Bennett, Evans, Samuel will all still be around the squad IMO, could possibly see loan moves for Smallwood/Samuel but nobody is paying a fee for any of that lot. I think Dack will be sold, then hopefully Mowbray will bring in players ready to go into the first 11 next season, I'm not to hopeful though I have to admit.

I think Leutwiler, Gladwin, Hart, Rodwell & Downing will all move on permanent deals I could see Smallwood & Williams going out on loan to league one sides, nobody is paying a fee for those two. Evans, Bennett, Conway, Mulgrew & Samuel will all still be in the squad I think.

Yeah shame that. Leek is pretty much on my doorstep so I was thinking of going along later. It's a lovely little town too.

Reed should be the first name on the team sheet in central midfield, along with Travis. Both always look to get the ball moving forward as early as possible. If we persist with Smalllwood, Evans & Bennett in the same side next season then we're only going one way.

Evans was ok until he got his new contract, now he has reverted back to type. Been having a good laugh at the club for years that lad.

Because he'll be "fit by then" is my guess, plus no way is Tony going to risk upsetting him again.

Not sure, but I thought he played really well there at Bolton back in October with Reed alongside him, if that partnership could have got 10/12 games together then I think our defensive record would be a lot better, but for some reason Mowbray has to play one of either Smallwood/Evans, of if we're lucky both. They would be two of the first out of the door for me in the summer.

And Rodwell too, who most people on here were saying should get a 4 year deal after the Hull game. I accept that the injury's were a possibility of course they were, but all I'm saying is I can at least see why Mowbray did let Downing go out, after 3 clean sheets and 4 wins in a row, in hindsight it was a bit naïve.

Who was expecting the Bauer deal to be done? I don't recall any links with him in Jan, too many were fantasising over some weird pipe dream of signing Britt Assombolonga to worry about the defence. I complete agree that 3 of the 4 are not real centre halves, but they clearly are in TM's mind and you can tell that he thought that the four he had at his disposal would get him through to the end of the season, obviously now with Lenihans injury and Mulgrew possibly being out and our horrific run of form it looks a bad call, but I can at least see why he did let Downing go.

I think the Downing one is very good in hindsight, you have to remember that when we let him go, he was probably in TM's mind 5th choice centre half behind Mulgrew, Lenihan, Rodwell & Williams, and no doubt he wanted to get out and play football anyway, we had also just won 4 games in a row keeping 3 clean sheets on the bounce, I don't recall anyone slating the decision then. After that Hull game nobody on here could foresee the collapse that we would endure afterwards, with Lenihan picking up a injury straight away. I think it's a harsh one to beat TM with that.

I think we'll finish on at least 51 points to be honest, I can see wins against Wigan and Bolton, and another point or two somewhere else.

Can't see that at all.

Wouldnt actually mind if the dingles took a point there today.

More chance of Brereton getting a 1st team goal this season than us going down, it's just not going to happen. Next season is a huge concern though.

Will it last though? Sure, today was a party for them, Coventry did the same and sold over 30k for there first home game back after playing at Northampton. I imagine there attendances will increase of course they will, but they wont be selling out everyweek.

Yes I think you are correct, probably why Bolton started to get on top in the game in the second half.