A rumour today is that Stoke want to sign Jonjo Shelvey with a quoted fee of £7m. Shelvey started the season well, scoring 4 goals in the Europa League early stages. But lately his form has slipped, along with his place in the team. But at only 21 Shelvey has plenty of time to build a big career. Shelvey is not your typical Stoke player, but would give them a player who can attack and score from midfield. Right now we have Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Allen, Suso and Coutinho all competing for the positions that Shelvey likes to play. What are your thoughts on this? Is Shelvey still a big part of our future? is £7m a tempting offer in what could be a busy summer for us? will a loan be good for us and Shelvey?
We got him for like 2m, so not a bad return however I do feel like we could come to regret it if he starts fitting into Stoke's team. We made a mistake not sending Shelvey out on loan to a lower premier league club earlier.
I think loan loan loan is the thing to do with Jonjo if we can't offer him regular football, still not seen enough of the lad to say if he should go as most of his appearances were when we were naff all over the field. Loan him to Stoke or someone else wishing to take him and give him a lot of playing time.
While I don't think he's the quality we need, I'm reluctant to sell him just yet. I really hoped as the season went on, and since his introduction to the first team, that he would work on his mental toughness. That he would start learning from the best about vision and movement, and decision-making. He really hasn't done this, and that's a huge negative. I love his energy and his enthusiasm, but since he hasn't gotten any smarter, he looks like a headless chicken on the pitch. I think we should loan him out somewhere, to a top team. Perhaps even Spain. I know it's unorthodox, but there he could learn to control his energy into a good technical game. He doesn't strike me as someone who would be happy to go out on loan though, not at this stage. He did well at Blackpool but that's close to home - and not the level he should be at either. 7m? Maybe. If he goes out on loan, and gets better, he should stay. If he doesn't get much better, he's still young and could still get us 7m next year.
We paid 2m for him so what level should he be at? I think that should be taken into consideration. He needs more time. I thought he showed what he could do v United at Anfield before getting sent off, he hasn't been as good since
I really don't see why the £2m we paid for him needs to be mentioned, its got nothing to do with it. We paid £600k for Sterling, does that mean we'd take £5m for him now? By that theory, we'd be well and truly stuck with Carroll too
That's right,what we paid for him is irrelevant. However, I really do not think he is of the quality we need, the same as Tom ince, good players who will do well at a lower placed prem club or top championship team but lacking that ability we need to move us into the top 4. We still have a few players like this in the squad and I am sure they will be moved on over the next season or two to make way for better quality. It's a shame for shelvey because I thought he would really kick on this year but he seems to kick out more than kick on.
It'd be interesting to know who he's clicked with during training. A couple of first teamers don't seem to be improving so is he with those few. Would he up his game if he spent time in training with Gerrard or Agger or Johnson? Just a theory but could this be the case?
If reports are true, we have people out in Russia talking to Honda about pre-contract (his contract ends in the summer and doesn't want to re-sign). This would mean yet another player who is going to fill that position in behind the forwards. Unless Shelvey is going to play further back, which I don't see, then he'll be moving further and further down the pecking order. Frankly this year was his year to really push on and get a 1st team place, with a lack of forwards at the start of the season. But it hasn't happened and at his age time is getting short, a couple of years left for him to really make it as a Prem footballer. Just not sure he'll ever really do it. 7mill is a good offer, would be tempted to sell.
Totally agree (almost didn't since I'd missed the word 'not' ), players like Ince are not the way forward. We have plenty of potential young players, we need some for the now! I have doubts about Shelvey, he has good movement, passing and shot power but his others attributes are too lacking IMO.
Honda's record (statistics) aren't outstanding considering where he#s played but still decent for a midfielder... 2005-07 - Nagoya Grumpas: 90 games (11 goals) 2008-10 - Venio: 68 (24) 2010-13 - CSKA Moscow: 72 (19) Total: 230 (54)
