A bit about you:
Name: Matt Morris, however I’m known as Mozzaa.(I work as a Football Researcher for SoccerAssociation.com in Nottingham, been there for over a year. I also write for 4231Stoke when I get the time.)
Current home town: Stoke-on-Trent
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 20 years!
Overview of your club:
Well, we are now a club many people like to watch (unless you are Arsenal, shame eh?) Shaqiri has bedded in, Arnautovic has been fed Beefcake with a half dozen Oatcake – and more recently Joselu has come into the fore and is proving himself to be a favourite already, really is a bit of class is ‘Jos’.
Favourite thing about your home ground: The warm climate. In all seriousness, I would say it is probably the supporters, when we get going that is, it is rare and far between these days though. – The ground was a balls up soon as the plans were made (it’s a long story but the ground is the wrong way round to which they wanted it to be.).
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 beat – 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.
About our forthcoming match against you:
Tough, even more so this year – Mahrez has surpassed even my favoured eye and Vardy will never have this form ever again, Kante is f’n fantastic & Drinkwater has gone really under the radar by a lot.
Your favourite current player in your squad and why? Joselu – There is just something I love about the guy, works hard, technically fantastic on the ball & I think Shaqiri will be even better with his ability to keep the ball and lay it off. His song is catchy as hell too (goes to the tune of Vindaloo)
Player in our squad you most fear and why? I say every time, Mahrez. Always been a fan (as you guys are well aware!) this season he has turned into something I don’t think anyone saw coming – this year anyway
Up and coming prospect in your squad? We have signed a lot of promising young players over the Summer like Moha from Barcelona, Molina from Real Madrid – while some of the old guard like Shenton and Lecygne are still there; the lower groups we have Ngoy, Silva (former Benfica Youth captain), Verlinden from Standard Liege and countless other; it is certainly a promising academy as things stand.
Where do you think you’ll finish this season? I would be shocked and gutted if we finished lower than 9th, we are still so inconsistent.
How do you think you’ll do against us? I have no idea why, I just have a gut feeling we are going to win; you guys seem to have a slight dip in form (about time!) & I think Stoke are due a really good all-round performance.
General Questions:
January transfers/possible links? In general, Stoke won’t let go of anyone unless we sign replacements. Crouch won’t go anywhere – Hughes loves him, even overtaken Diouf which in my eyes is an utter travesty, Sidwell I would let go & let Shenton take his space of doing nothing, but if needs be he’ll be on the bench.
The forgotten man Stephen Ireland seems to be interesting clubs in the Middle East, still a good player and surprised no one else in England have taken a look. There is strong rumours we are in for Imbula from Porto for big cash; but I don’t think it’s as close as the continent seem to think it is & Hughes seems interested in bringing in another striker – which is mental, bordering crazy. For me, the most important signing would be Arnautovic to a new deal, the Austrian enigma – sadly, it’s going drag I feel.
Which three teams do you think will go down? Villa, Bournemouth & Swansea
Who do you think will win the league? – With torture, Arsenal.
Any other comments? – You guys have been a breath of fresh air, Thanks from Football Fans.