“There is no reason why we can’t win it, we are in the final four and we have as much chance as the other three sides”-this is how Stoke City manager Tony Pulis described his sides chances of winning the FA Cup after guiding them to the semi-finals for the first time in 39 years.
You have to go back to 1972 to remember the last time Stoke won a major trophy. They defeated Chelsea 2-1 to win the League Cup but since this time the club has had no major trophy to talk about.
Now in 2011, Stoke have booked their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a tie against Bolton at Wembley, so the big question is can Stoke go on to win this prestigious trophy?
Tony Pulis thinks they have a chance but this season has been a very inconsistent one thus far, much to the frustration of the Potters fans. The team have played well in certain games and it has looked as though Pulis is building a team for the future that can responsibly hold their own in the Premier League. They have also had a poor run of form where they look to scrape through games by using the long throw of Rory Delap to barrage the opponent’s goal.
These poor performances have caused many Stoke fans to criticise Pulis, especially as the side are now only three points above the relegation zone. On the other hand, they are only eight points off Europe leaving their season in the balance.
However, all of the discontent and criticisms from the Stoke faithful were put to bed on Sunday as the Potters defeated West Ham 2-1 in the FA Cup quarter-finals. It was an emotional day for many in attendance with scenes of joy and happiness across the Britannia Stadium. The result has given the Stoke players and fans a new found confidence and excitement to turn their season around and bring a trophy home.
The semi-final at Wembley in five weeks time is a chance for Stoke to show that they are progressing into a side capable of lifting a major trophy, but to do this they need full support from the fans. The Stoke fans have been known to be some of the loudest and most passionate in the country and they need to get behind their team.
The spirit of the fans is something that Lou Macari will always remember after managing the club twice in the 1990s. "They are a proper club with proper fans," he says. It wasn’t just the noise at the Britannia that Macari remembered, as he felt the fans were just as good at the Victoria Ground which they left in 1997. “The moment the away team stepped out of the dressing room they walked into a wall of noise. As they made their way down the tunnel they got abuse. It was hostile. I liked that."
It was the fans who had a lot of prasie for Macari, just like they have done with Pulis after he got Stoke back into the top flight of English football. But Pulis will never get ultimate prasie until he brings in a major trophy like Tony Waddington who was the manager behind the League Cup success.
Waddington will always be a hero to the Stoke fans as he brought Sir Stanley Matthews back to the club and also attracted the likes of Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst and Peter Shilton. However, Pulis now has a great chance to become one of the greatest by winning a trophy with much more history.
Stoke made their first ever appearance in the FA Cup as one of the Football League’s 12 founding members. Only they and Accrington from the 12 are yet to reach the final. Out of the 20 current Premier League sides, only they and Wigan haven’t got to the last two, so if Pulis can end this 128 year wait, he will be a legend to the club.
There is no reason why Stoke can’t go on to the final and win the FA Cup, after all it is considered to be the magical competition. This magic appears to be working, as players who haven’t been performing in the Premier League are looking completely rejuvenated. Players such as Jon Walters, Kenwyne Jones and Jermaine Pennant all looked confident and dangerous against West Ham.
As Stoke got a favourable semi-final draw avoiding the two big Manchester clubs, there has to be a sense of belief that this can be their year. If the manager, players and fans come together for the benefit of the club then we may well be seeing Stoke lifting the FA Cup come May