A bit about you:
Well since last time I last did this; things have changed. Not long after I was training to be a croupier, however I was let go because there was not enough people on the course to carry on, same day I got asked to an interview for my current job and I am now a Football Database Researcher for SoccerAssocation.com which is based in Nottingham.
Name: Matt Morris, however I’m known as Mozzaa.
Current home town: Stoke-on-Trent (a lot of travelling!)
Birthplace: Stoke-on-Trent
How long have you supported your team? Well my first game was Exeter away in 1992, I was 6 months of age so I do not count that, I started to regularly go Stoke games in 1996; so a good 19 years.
Overview of your club:
We are a club in progress, with massive expectations after our fantastic 13/14 season – it is safe to say our season thus far has been up and down with defeats to Villa, Burnley and you guys at home! While going to Man City, Spurs & Everton and totally deserving to win. We have had no luck with injuries and it’s quite amazing how well we’re doing when you consider that all of our key players having either an injury or international duties for a long period of time. Potentially, Stoke could be the team to watch in the second half of the season (again!).
Favourite thing about your home ground: The people around me, it is about it – don’t fancy switching do you?
Favourite match played by your team & why: Match itself – it can’t be anything else but beating Bolton 5-0 at Wembley, not many teams will go to Wembley and beat a team on a similar billing so emphatically. In terms of experience, Valencia away I doubt will ever be beaten – the entire week was immense.
Favourite player of all time who played for your club: It would have been Graham Kavanagh, but he left a bitter taste in most fans mouths and he’s the only player who has made me cry when they left. So I will go for Sergei Shtaniuk– not many outside of Stoke would have heard of him, but the guy was an absolute colossus and was far too good for us at the time, genuine Premier League player playing in Division 2. Rory Delap deserves an honorary mention too – he was more than just a throwing machine.
About our forthcoming match against you:
Well you are coming into decent form, so I am more confident – if you were really struggling and playing terribly I think an absolute spanking for us would of been the more likely – it will be a close game, but hopefully we get a bit more fortune than we did in the game at our place.
Your favourite current player in your squad and why? Steven N’Zonzi – just class and even though he was appalling vs Arsenal, it was his first bad game in a very long time. He has been the player he should be, it is not a coincidence when he plays well – we play well.
Player in your squad we should most fear and why? Bojan – quite obvious really, he is better when Diouf is upfront because Mame (who has gone to AFCON) is such a pain in the backside for defenders to mark and keeps them interested giving Mr. Bojangles the space to work his magic (like Everton). Where as with Crouch it does not work as well…but still, he is the man.
Player in our squad you most fear and why? Ulloa, that is only because he has been a regular scorer for you and we have a worrying knack of conceding some right awful goals at the moment.
Up and coming prospect in your squad? Ollie Shenton, a local boy who made his professional debut against Portsmouth and has been on the bench a lot in recent times, he’s only 16 and already been pushed up the Under 21’s and it’s a safe bet he will be the first of our recent emphasis on making a brilliant academy to make that step up. Our academy for years has been under-utilised, so it’s nice to see a few talented players coming through – Charlie Ward, Eddy Lecygne (recently played for France U19’s & been in match squads since Everton away) and Sam Coulson are very talented players too.
Where do you think you’ll finish this season? I think in the Top 10 again – the league is not great and a few seasons back we would be struggling, I would take mid-table and an FA Cup win mind.
How do you think you’ll do against us? Like I say, I think it will be a tough game. Stoke away from home are a much better side than we ever have been in the Premier League and with Moses returning, I feel a 2-1 Stoke win
Any other comments? – GOARN STOKE, could be a loud day – Stoke’s biggest away following of the season! Approx 3200!