Credit to West Ham, said most Stoke fans, the majority of whom were happy to escape from the Boleyn with a point following a second half battering...
"We had a good first half, the midfield sat high up the pitch and pressed West Ham well although we didn't really create any clear cut chances other than the one we scored. Walters won the physical battle against Tomkins and McCartney which couldn't be said of Kightly. Second half, Pulis reverted to type and it seemed that we came out with the sole intention not to concede. The more patient, measured passing largely went out of the window and we were humping hopeless balls upfield which came straight back at us. Can't complain with a point at Upton Park because we've found it difficult there recently and they're in good form, but with a little more positivity and different personnel in the attacking roles then we could have had a convincing victory."- joethestokie
"A good performance on the whole and a point I wouldn't have expected before the match. I thought NZonzi, Bego and the back four were brilliant. Adam and Matty were very poor today. There's times when we look very slow in the middle. Thought a draw was about the right result. I think we struck lucky with them missing Jarvis and Benayoun."
- cobhamstokey
For me, it was a good game. We were excellent first half but again struggled to extend their 'keeper but second half, they upped the pace and tempo and at times, we were over-run with our goalkeeper and centre halves keeping our heads above water. We weathered the storm and got ourselves back into it (were Walters and Matty offside on those two occasions?) but for me the substitutions cost us. Overall, our point was a deserved one."
- davejohnno1
"If people can be happy that we yet again threw away points to an average side then it shows the ambition of a Stoke fan and the Stoke board. Another dismal display by the tactical dinosaur who should be shot for crimes against football. As for West Ham, they're just as bad along with the likes of Sunderland. They really know how to kill the sport and take away any enjoyment people have had for it."
- tonysplanb
"Pretty good first half from us. Some nice play (and some sloppy stuff as well), but some nice pass and move. We shaded it and deserved the lead - such a shame Nzonzi's shot didn't go in as I think we would have won that. Second half - why, oh why can we never put two bloody halves of good football together? They battered us and exposed Geoffrey down our right time after time. Good point in the end, but goals remain a BIG issue - time to drop Crouch."
- sufolkstokie
"I thought they played into our hands trying to out-muscle us. They would have been much better off avoiding an arm wrestle and stringing the passes togther. A lack of width was there undoing, their injuries helped us. Maiga played well (given that he is not a regular starter) as did McCartney; he gave Cameron a bit of a run around at times. When Carroll goes WHU will miss him big time."
- boomboom
"I would have accepted a point before the game, It feels like two points dropped after the majestic first half performance. But on balance I'm satisfied with one point after the hammering we took in the early second half. If we had lost that I would be going spare."
- emery1985
"West Ham were excellent second half and played at a real tempo for half an hour before running out of steam. We weathered the storm superbly really and could have nicked a win had the linesman been as attentive as the one on the opposite side of the pitch. I enjoyed the game and I am rarely able to say that when leaving a Stoke fixture of late. It was a good and well deserved point where both sides could argue that they did enough to win."
- davejohnno1
"I do hate it when we are 1-0 up at half time. We always seem to come out of the blocks scared of the lead and hoping to keep it. We were so slow to start in the second half and the complete opposite of the first half. I'm still happy with the point but we could have got all three if we'd have stuck to the game plan we had in the first half. What does Tony Pulis do at half time, sit them down with a hot chocolate and play 'Sail Away' by Enya?"
- stokiematt1992
"Bobby Moore is a West Ham legend. Despite him being one of the few English players ever to be genuine world class, and his obvious achievement no other English player will ever accomplish, his West Ham connection means to like him is to like West Ham so refuse to acknowledge his status. It's sad that some of us are so given to hatred and love to relish malicious vicious abuse. it's a sad reflection on modern football fans."
- JoeinOz
* Comments originally posted on oatcakefanzine.proboards.com
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