It's interesting to see that Stoke have something like the fifth best home record in the Premier League, particularly as for the first few years of its life the Britannia Stadium held little fear for many opposition teams. I think the one positive that cannot be argued with is that we've given the Premier League back something that has been lacking, passionate, vociferous fans who aren't scared or too bored by the Premier League experience. The away matches I've attended this season, particularly at Anfield, have made me feel embaressed for some of the home support. They seem more like tourist attractions, where the attendees are expected to turn up, empty their wallets and go home.

The mentals against Arsenal, Villa, Spurs et al have all made it worth it. The pleasure some teams and fans will take from seeing us relegated, because we remind them of the passion they're lacking, is what will drive us on from now until May.

Goarrrn Stoke!

I agree that there is a problem with teams coming to the big grounds and 'parking the bus' – its getting to the stage where i look forward to an away game more than a home one because of this – but i don't blame the likes of Stoke. Their football against us was far better than so-called exciting teams such as Tottenham and Newcastle anyway…

The fact of the matter is Josh, that our failings are always going to be highlighted more than the fact that the teams at the top, cheat, dive & roll around with little injury evident (I aimagine Pulis would fine anyone other than Fuller if they tried this), harangue and swear like navvies at supposedly 'respected' refs, punt the long ball (which then gets turned into a superb 50 yard pass).

When we can blow £10-15m on a player, like Bolton have on Elmander , Newcastle have on Collocini, or Middlesbrough have on Alves and we still play to our current style then fair enough.

Are Stoke allowed no transitional period to try and establish themselves before changing their style, finances and time don't allow for this. Apparently we should be taking on the CHampions League Finalists of recent seasons, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea all at their own game. How long do you think we'd last and how boring do you think the game would be as a spectacle?

As for Manchester United, we may as well have turned up at the Boxing day game against them , put the ball in the back of our own net in the first minute and gone home having given them three points. They cheated, dived, moaned, swore and harangued their way to a difficult win because Stoke dared to give them a game. Gary Neville must be expecting a call from the Referees Association when he retires from playing I'm sure they'd fast track him as he attempts to referee every game as it is. The swear box at their training ground must be full of Wayne Rooney's pay slips, this vile little creature, f;d and blinded his way through the game constantly at the officials yet no card was issued. He the elbowed a Stoke defender under the nose of the linesman and trotted away with not even a talking to. The same incident didn't even merit a mention on the local highlights program. Neither did Ronaldo's stamp on another defender, the second time he threw his toys out in such a manner in as many games. Again not even a talking to.

It's not just the fast free flowing style of play that you struggle to adapt to Josh, it's the undeniably one sided officiating, it's the David vs Goliath financial battle that you try to take on paying over inflated prices for average players to try and compete.

And what to we get? Football snobs like Oliver Kay or glory hunting followers of the 'Big' four getting riled when we don't roll over. The sooner a European or even Arabian League is established and the franchise's of Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea sod off and play in them the better. They'll be able to whine about Manchester City being involved with them but they have so much money I suppose it doesn't matter. Effectively that's what it boils down to and that's why we play the way we play, finance.