My message to Stoke City players who hold our fate in their hands
We’ve got a huge eight games coming up for Stoke City and I can feel my own heart pumping a little quicker as we head towards the weekend – and I’ll only be watching.
I can try to take out my energy and anxiety in my garden, but I can imagine how everything is building up for the players who hold our fate in their hands. I want to see them come out of the traps for this final chapter, starting on Saturday against Queens Park Rangers, like their backsides are on fire.
You’ve put yourselves in this position so get yourselves out of it and make sure you win your home games. We’ve only won six games at home out of 19, less than a third, so roll up your sleeves, fight for those three points and make sure you get them. Don’t let anybody take anything from you. Don’t give your opposition anything back.
Produce and block, the two sides of the game. Think forward on the ball, show intent, want to score – and make sure you close the door behind you. Throw yourselves against it to keep it shut and if anybody manages to squeeze it open, make sure there’s a Rottweiler waiting for them.
Concentrate for 90 minutes, 95 minutes or 100, whatever it takes. If the referee makes a howling decision, get on with it – you can’t change him. Dig in again and make sure you still find a way to win. Accept no excuses. If you spot a teammate dropping a level, shake him up.
Stoke fans know what they want, they know what they want to see. If you can give it to them, they’ll let you know – and they’ll let you know if you don’t as well. But no one wants you to succeed more than those people in the home stands. They want to support you, lift you and carry you over the line. Give them something to get behind and they’ll give you 10 times back.
Come out roaring and leave nothing to chance. Win. Win. Win.
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