Excellent away win and the first prem win we have had whilst Floodgate has been involved even though he did stick him out of harms way a bit! Also no Rory so that also is a plus. I love Shotto's presence on the pitch he is very much like Wilko a local lad that plays with pride and it's not all about the money. I think if TP can get him on the training ground and practice on his crossing I feel we have a real star for the future there. Would love to see him figure more than Rory now as he can run and he is big and strong and not frightened to get stuck in either. I also feel he has a goal or two in him as he nearly proved again today. He seems like he can play almost anywhere too. Come on TP drop Delap and get Shotto in now! Also in our only other away prem win this season it was Shotto that created it!
Waddo End of it all you are right.. Shotton HAS to start more often, he's still learning but I'm really impressed with him. The more he plays the better he will get IMHO. Would actually like to see him play right midfield and NOT full back. He has pace, some skill and Rory has hardly anything left in his legs now after an hour or so. He did score at West Brom too! A great prospect and I hope T.P. sticks with him. Great to see another local lad doing well for the Mighty Potter's
Why does Delap need to be dropped in order for Shotton to play? I do like Shotton, though. He's decent on the ball, he uses his body well to beat people and he's a reliable defender as well. The good thing is it shows Pulis isn't completely against playing younger players (which we all assumed to be the case). Now we've got two right-backs that the manager trusts, I don't envisage seeing Robert Huth at full back again.......hopefully.
Fingers crossed on that Jose. Shotton has quite a long throw, perhaps Rory can help him to give it a bit more oomph and a flatter trajectory and hey presto a new improved Delap MkII, just what the prem has been waiting for
Funny how we won, with Shawry/Huthy back together and young Shotts running free, i would stick to the wing back idea in this formation for future away games just to see what happens. Deano had his best game for ages Roy
On paper we did, Huthy. However, Shottton is naturally defensive-minded and therefore virtually made it a 5-3-2 formation when we were defending.
Shotton had too defend because we played floodgate at R/B to help him out, Ethers did as normal helping out Wilson, so how anyone can come too the conclusion of a wingback system baffles me. Did floodgate or Wilson get into the opponents half? It was as normal 4-4-1-1, with walters running around as usual, but shock, horror so did crouch. Anyhows football wise mediocre, result wise ****ing fantastic.
I'll bow to your superior knowledge on this one Huthy as I was only going by Radio Stoke commentary, who seemed to think we were playing some variation of a 5-3-2. Either way, the tactics worked and it's a brilliant tresult.
Mighty Huth Correct not a brill performance but.. we won and we were NOT hanging on for 90mins.. The Welsh M erm NO OFFENCE but WHY play Shotton and not Rory? Well, for one Shotton is like 3 times quicker He's younger and fitter He can if we need, throw the ball Roryesk He's also a full back And much as I like Delap in short (he's passed it) KNACKERED after an hour or so. Shotton wasn't. NOT brilliant yesterday but we must have done something different? We didn't defend so deeply as we usually do with Rory we NEVER have an outlet away from home. Diao didn't play Rory didn't play My ONLY gripe was seeing floodgate starting and Shott's had to help him out, me mates told me last night I also think that T.P. has finally realised that like a few more, Rory isn't fit to play every week or twice a week.. i.e. Pennant? They also told me that Crouch and Walters ran their knackers off for the cause.
No offence taken Potts - my point was that they play completely different positions, so I don't understand why we have to drop one to accomodate the other.
He did I think because both Whelan and Whitehead IMO are better than Delap.. both on the ball, and off it. Like i said, Shotton/Whelan/Whitehead plus the two/three up front worked their socks off! Even Ether's got forward more than he usually would away from home. But, I'll have to rely on my mate and Huthy? I think went to Everton I didn't. Yep, we were hanging on for a while but, grinding out results is better than we've done recently. NOW Spurs at home, bring ..... it...... on
I agree, I was a little confused with the question - Dealp & Shotton play different roles and bring different options to the game, however I think the OP was getting at the fact that Shotton can throw the ball pretty well and as a bonus he can play football! That I would have to agree with!
I think we discussed this on one of the other threads Welsh - I was pretty convinced when I saw the team sheet that it was 3 CB's with Wilson and Shotton playing the wing back role - something I think we could play very well and accomodate all the CB's that TP has/likes to play! Huth and Floodgate at RB is no a solid foundation to set your back four up with and although we have all gone quite on the LB issues - Wilson is wasted there. So, for the 7th or 8th transfer window, all I want for christmas is a LB & RB that TP will be 100% happy with and play!
Shows how well he played, that the Oatcake posters were praising him!! And they're always slagging him off!!
