Not sure about Onouha but the media have reported our interest in SWP and Bellamy a couple of times, so it would seem there's an interest from Pulis but maybe the wages issue is what's putting them off? Both of them must be on at least £60k a week.
Agree about the wages, but isn't Crouch on even more? Can't see how we're going to improve if we won't pay higher wages. I understand we shouldn't put the finances of the club at risk, but come on, Coates is loaded. Birmingham went from 9th to relegated, it could happen to us too, if we don't improve. Steve Bruce said he thought Onuoha was immense last season, I think he'd be a better option than Woodgate. Younger, and fitter.
SWP and Bellamy would be brilliant signings but I cant see us agreeing with the wages that they will want.
Bellamy could be a decent signing IF we could get him, SWP no thanks, I don't think that he would entertain leaving Man City for anything less than 75k a week and besides that his distribution is woeful, he can run and occasionally shoot but he can't cross, which is key to how we play.
Smither's Agreed about the three player's mentioned. I said this on another thread today. WHY don't we speculate TO ecumerlate? Re the wages if only I had P.C.s money I would sign em. SWP is better on the right wing than Delap enough said. But, It simply won't happen.
We all agree with that bud! Only thing is, I feel that both our wingers are better players with better distribution (although SWP is better infront of goal) and I cant see SWP playing back up! Bellamy I would love, but my head says slightly too injury prone and very expensive, but unstoppable on his day!
I think at this stage in his career Bellamy wants to play and Man City basically p*ssed him off last season, so if a deal was agreed, possibly a straight swap for Tommy seen as Man City are so keen on him? SWP still thinks he's big time so I doubt he would leave City, especially as he has a slim chance of Champion's League football, if anyone gets injured or Man City get an easy group he has a chance. But seriously, has anyone ever seen SWP cross a decent ball?
Never seen a decent cross and he generally just runs into full backs and gives the ball away! He is classic example of how money has ruined the game, he has never been worth the money and thinks he is far better than he actually is! I cant see Man City funding his wages on a loan to a prem team like they did with Cardiff, and I cant see him halving his wgaes either! However you never know\?
Smithers I know Etherington and Pennant are possibly the best two wingers in one team, in the League. Thing is, what happened when Ether's or Pennant are injured. I'm pretty sure we are going to be very lucky if BOTH play the whole season. Hope I'm wrong but it's bound to happen. When it did last season, we struggled when both didn't play! And it's accumalate Bellamy might be worth it cos he's a dangerous player but would have to take a pay cut because of his age surly. But, I won't be fussed if we miss all three.
I would have liked Eagles but he was always going to follow Coyle to Bolton I suppose, I think Taylor may have had a certain promotion bonus on his mind when signing for West Ham?
Well it's pretty typical of what were talking about earlier L. Mr Ps approch to player's. Eagles I mentioned a while back and got shot down because they said. We can do better than Eagles! And, I think? we were also linked with Taylor too. Funny how he's chosen West Ham and not us. IF of course he was " one of a few player's we are looking at" To quote T.P. Worried cos once any of our decent player's are injured, and they will be eventually. We're struggling I think.
I honestly think Eagles wasn't going anywhere but Bolton, Coyle being ex burnley manager and all that, that move has probably been in the pipeline for a while. "Apparently" Taylor was spotted at the training ground the same time as Woodgate..., although he would get game time here he probably didn't want to play second fiddle to Ethers and like I said before a big juicy promotion bonus probably swayed it for him. Someone like Stephen Hunt would do us, cheap and cheerful, works 'ard, good crosser, gets the odd goal, he's not going to play every game anyway, decent cover IMO.
After our lengthy debates on the other thread 'L' I have looked at things slightly differently. However, I cant help but think that we need a busy player in the middle of the park. Itwill create a temp that our current CM's struggle to do and will help to break up play - ideally they would be able to put their foot on the ball and pick a pass. Taylor would have been perfect for cover on the left and someone mooted that he could play left back as well! I think Walters could be used as cover for Pennant ( he often drops in there on 70 minutes anyway), especially if we get a pacey striker aswell!
I completely agree, Stoke are just getting by in the center of the park and like you said we need someone who can pick out a pass as well as defend, for example bringing in someone such as say Reo-Coker (on big money) would just be like buying a younger Delap, neither have the vision or passing ability to take the squad up a level. Its a tough call as to who we bring in, I see that we have been linked with Lucas again... I also hope that there's something in the Bellamy rumours as he can play in the Walters role and also on wing, would be a nice signing for us.
So Mr L - you are comng round to the thought albeit slowly that we DO need to improve in both quality AND in depth, that's ALL I have been saying since our first season in the prem, which was absolutely worth waiting for and yes even I said - WITH GRATITUDE thank you TP and PC. BUT since that time considerin how much money has been spent we have NOT significantly improved the standard of our play, especially away from home. I will argue till the cows come home that Pulis cannot manage a 'flair' player, it is completely against his nature, it is not that he will not change, he cannot change. In his own words as a young man studying for his coaching badges he was ( and still is) a huge fan of Italian defensive tactics, 'catenaccio' and all thatm I know for a far a fact that one oif his favourite matches (mine to strangely) was Jose's Inter against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, in the Europeam Cup semi final 2nd leg. Quite simply the very best defensive display, arguably EVER. 2 ranks of 4 at the back - sound familiar, ok the difference was of course Schiedner (spelling) in midfield and Milito up front. By the way - how I wish that Pulis is or could be the 'Welsh Mourinho' - I would eat nothing else but Humble Pie - breakfast, lunch and dinner for 12 months AND a day. But I cannot see me changing my diet anytime soon. PLEASE Pulis, prove my wrong and to be 'the biggest fool in christendom'
Nik - you do bring a smile to my face! I dont think the problem is pureley that we cant afford the type of players we need to further the squad, I also think it is that we look at the wrong type of players! Like for Like doesnt improve and rigidly retaining your setup or formation doesnt allow for a new style of player! This I think is the biggest issue we have, but its that leap of faith we need to try and change and develope our team,squad and style! 'L' made some interesting points about the tactics deployed by TP, and I think that thought process is what is potentially holding the team back. The Delap example is one that shows all TP's error of judgement! He is at best a holding/defensive midfileder who can break up play, however you need an ubelievable engine and legs to play that role for Stoke becasue of our lack of possession and competent full backs who can play us out of trouble! Delap doesnt have the legs and his massively expossed when played on the wing as eithe cover for Matty/Pen or as a narrower defensive option away from home! However again his lack of legs, speed and stamina (especially for a team that rarely has more than 40% possession) causes us more issues for our back 4 as he is often left for dead. The general resluts when we play this type of football (often reffered to as negative) is a loss or at best a draw and hence my logic is that against lower opposition he might aswell evolve and try and get differnt sorts of players in to try and improve and adapt to different game scenarios!
I never said that the team didn't need improving, of course it does, like I said before better players make for a much more efficient system. The problem Pulis faces on a daily basis is that it's incredibly difficult to bring in better players, but it's also pointless bringing in a player on 35k a week when he's hardly any better than what we already have, it's an incredible waste of money. So is bringing in a player that doesn't fit into the system like an attacking midfielder, your ball winning midfielder is going to have to work four times as hard while your attacking midfielder is sitting there on the halfway line waiting to get the ball from the 35% possession that we enjoy over 90mins. Stoke are at that point where they have to decide is it really worth spending a huge chunk of the Chairman's money (that he won't get back) to try to get in to the top ten, or be patient and try to get what they can with the current budget.
