These are testing times in football as we approach the business end of the season. With nervy title races, gritty relegation scraps, tempestuous fights for promotion and the Champions League yet to be decided; we face an exciting finale to what has already been a memorable season. Despite Liverpool progressing in Europe, thus ending any doubt they are a club in crisis, it was Stoke City’s return to form which I found particularly gratifying. After two demoralising defeats, Stoke bounced back with a 1-0 win at Norwich on Tuesday, to move back within a point of the league leaders.

With both Stoke and Liverpool seemingly rejuvenated – their penance surely served? - confidence has been restored and I am hopeful 2008 may yet materialize into the year of the underdog. Hold onto your oatcakes; we’re in for a pulsating end to the season.

Firstly, let us assimilate the events of the last fortnight…

After a sojourn as league leaders, Stoke suffered two harsh defeats, culminating in a crushing loss at QPR. The degradation of this 3-0 thumping had distended from the disappointment of Preston, with the presence of the Sky cameras rubbing more salt into Potters’ wounds. This maudlin feeling lasted until the 91st minute against Burnley; when Lenny Lawrence (aka Golden Balls) coolly dispatched a a last gasp penalty, via keeper and post, to salvage a vital draw for the Stoke; memories of England V Greece came flooding back.

Which brings us nicely to the events of last Tuesday, when Stoke recaptured their form by grabbing a slender 1-0 win at Norwich. It was a crucial victory for Stoke one that puts us right back in the promotion race.

If Lawrence was an expected hero against Burnley, grabbing his 14th goal of the campaign, Tuesday’s match-winner, Mama Sidibe was possibly the unlikeliest of suspects; after scoring only his 2nd goal of the season. For me however, the real match winner was again Rory Delap, the genuine unsung hero of this incredible season. Again, it was his lethal long-throw which set-up Mama’s goal; whom even with his woeful scoring record would’ve found it virtually impossible to fluff. A friend of mine suggested Sidibe reminded him of John Fashanu, Ex-frontman of ‘The Crazy Gang’ and also of Gladiators fame. I prefer to think of him as a poor man’s Heskey, but it did get me thinking about the strong resemblance to Joe Kinnear’s Wimbledon. The very same spirit, which defined Wimbledon under Kinnear, captures the very essence of this Stoke City team.

I’m not getting at Sidibe mind; he does give this team something with his admirable work-rate and contagious attitude, and this team relies heavily on him. Nonetheless, Sidibe is to Premier League striker what Lilly Allen is to Ghetto Princess.

Now, we are having a wonderful season, so it is hard to cast aspersions, or blame anyone in particular for our sudden down turn in fortunes. But what the heck. Salif Diao’s form has been woeful since he returned to Stoke and results, when he has started games, have certainly reflected this. In stark contrast, games in which Delap has started have ended well for the Potters and it’s not purely because of his dangerous throws; though they do help somewhat.

What stands out most in Rory’s absence is the extra time and space gifted to the opposition. This indicates the work Delap puts in and his tireless work ethic. At present, in this department, Diao has been found wanting. At QPR, minus Delap, we looked exposed, as Diao failed to close down their midfield; and two of their goals were a direct result of this. The third was obviously down to Griffin’s scandalous dismissal as they took advantage of their extra man. In Griffin’s defence, despite Griffin being a euphemism for Premier League reject, like Sidibe, he is a vital component of this Stoke team, and when he is not palying, he is sorely missed.

Admittedly, I was one who called for Daio’s inclusion at QPR, but I now realise this was just wishful thinking. And with Whelan returning from suspension against Watford, he surely has to come in alongside the examplery Delap.

The Stats

Let me bore you with the statistics. We’ve scored 61 goals in games that Delap has appeared in & conceded just 49. We’ve scored 12 goals Diao has appeared in & conceded 15. For minutes they have been on the field we’ve conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game that Delap has been involved in; comparing to 2.3 goals per game for games involving Diao, & we have to remember Delap has been involved in the majority of games until recently. Make of these stats what you will, but IMO Rory Delap is a major factor in our success & without him we look far more vulnerable. Bear in mind that both played together at Norwich, and played well, but it wasn’t until Diao left the field that we went on to score.

Watching Liverpool last Tuesday (with the Stoke commentary blaring through my PC speakers), I drew huge encouragement from the Red’s performance, which confirmed their miraculous turnaround of late. Yes, they may well only finish fourth in the PL, remain a rasher short of a fry-up, but victory in Europe is far from beyond the realms of possibility; and their performances, since the resolving of the Owners/Rafa confrontation, have improved enormously. Likewise, Stoke seem to have turned a corner on Tuesday night, after seemingly losing their way in their bid for automatic promotion.

Two weekends ago it was an altogether different story, as I enjoyed a deserved break in the wonderful setting of Killarney (Co. Kerry). And it went a little something like this…

The Road To Killarney

The road to Killarney was a treacherous one, insinuating caution up ahead. The wind whistled hostilely, the rain blew boisterously on the wind, as I left the sharp rocky undulations of Galway in the west, for the green, luscious and rolling hills of Kerry in the south. However, as I revelled in the charms of the place they call ‘The Kingdom’, I couldn’t shake my reservations, not only about Stoke’s game on Sunday ,but also, that this better be worth the journey. For Stoke, things didn’t quite go as planned.

Killarney itself; sleepy by day yet a bastion of activity in the evening, was both warmly friendly and infectiously relaxed. The surrounding landscapes of county Kerry were nothing short of breathtaking and the dreamy green meadows, grandiose mountains, calm soothing lakes and picturesque waterfalls, made for the most memorable of weekends. I even had the novelty of visiting one of the world’s most spectacular golf courses, coincidently sharing its name with my own surname. Now there’s identity for you.

It was the journey back however, which stands out most for me, as I desperately searched for a venue to witness Stoke’s televised trip south to QPR.

With Liverpool playing at a similar time on Setanta, especially considering their huge popularity in Ireland, my chances of finding a pub playing the Stoke game were slim to none at all. So, when I stumbled upon The Queens Hotel, in the historical town of Ennis (Co. Clare); whom in having the benefit of two separate systems, agreed to put the game on a small screen in the corner, I was obviously delighted. Randomly this “delightful” establishment featured in James Joyce’s masterpiece: ‘Ulysses’. However, it was the maelstrom created by the abnormality of these two particular games being played simultaneously, which made for an altogether surreal and testing scenario.

For those of you who don’t know by now, I am also a massive Liverpool supporter; an affection borne from three enjoyable years I spent on Merseyside, andthe eternal bond I will forever hold with Scousers. Nevertheless, however dilettante my support of Stoke City has been over the years, and pleasure Liverpool have given me, I have always maintained that if I had to choose, then Stoke City would undoubtedly come first. On Mothering Sunday, my allegiances and this integrity was well and truly tested.

It would turn out to be an afternoon of bittersweet emotion. Afraid the game may be switched over, I watched-on unobtrusively in the corner, sound turned off, as the Liverpool-Bolton match blurted out from the big screen. Determined not to let the Liverpool match distract me (despite Stoke’s 3-0 capitulation & the sheer noise levels of Liverpool’s brogue relations), I kept my eyes firmly on the Stoke match until the final whistle. In doing so, I proved to myself, if to no one else, that it is the Stoke fraternity where my heart truly belongs, and ultimately whose promotion to the PL would mean that much more. The road from Killarney then, was not a conversion as such, more like a strengthening of a faith, that just needed confirming. THE END

Conclusion

The clash of the Stoke and Liverpool matches that Sunday resulted in galvanising my fraternity for the team I have supported since childhood, and in doing so, may well have cured a very mild form of an identity crisis. It has been a similar situation for Rafa at Liverpool. Benitez, judiciously it now seems, decided to test the metal of Liverpool’s Yankee owners, calling their bluff to see how serious they were about Liverpool FC. It seemed risky at the time, but Benitez knew he had the full backing of the fans; acting as his safety net, and in-turn he received other assurances he was likely looking for. Moreover, His team look stronger as a consequence of this conflict, and he too, looks to be in a much stronger position, despite his many doubters outside the club, most irritatingly those on Rté. Deep down I,  like Benitez, knew the loyalty was always there; it just needed to be put to the sword to confirm what I had always suspected.

So, I am hoping both clubs will put their indignations behind them and the fortitude displayed of late continues to shine through until the end of the season. I havebeen mightily impressed by the resolveof both Benitez & Pulis this season, especially the way they are not afraid to make changes when things are simply not working. Pragmatic as Pulis is, he like Benitez has a ruthless streak, and I feel this is required for the current climate within football. Pulis surprised many when he stuck with Sidibe at Norwich in favour of top scorer Ricardo Fuller. But while this decision raised many eyebrows, it came off for our Tone, as Sidibe grabbed the winner. As I mentioned earlier, Sidibe works his socks off, and this is a huge asset away from homein this division. Fuller, despite his goal threat, is an individual and can at times go missing and also appear lazy.

Nevertheless, I feel Pulishas to delveinto the transfer market one last time if we are to achieve promotion. A catalyst in attack is needed to get us across the finish line, akin to Sheringham’s move to West Ham or, dare I say it, Merson’s moveto Portsmouth. There are rumours of Nugent coming in and he certainly fits this criteria. However, IMHO I would opt for more experience in our current situation (viz. Brian McBride or Jason Roberts). But considering our lack of financial clout, I suppose Jay Bothroyd will just have to do.

Tomorrow’s game at Watford will provide our biggest test yet and of course is the proverbial 6-pointer. But if Whelan comes in alongside Delap in and Riggott continues his impressive contribution to the cause, I have every confidence it’s a game we can overcome.

And wouldn’t it be just sweet if Liverpool triumphed in Europe again, wiping the smug smiles off the faces of first Arsenal, then Chelsea, and possibly United in the final? But, regardless of the events of the close season nothing will ever change the way I feel about Stoke City; successful or not in their quest for immortality. But, it would be possibly the proudest moment of a whole new generation of Stoke fans if we were to reach the Promised Land, and all ties with Liverpool FC were finally severed.

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