Very True Mr Pottymouth. I actually reside in the Emirates complex. Not easy walking out of my flat to the huge erection of Tony Adams each morning. I do think Stoke would do better purchasing a bit of a playmaker / number 10 not just another big lump upfront.
Given our current squad, I would be more than happy with that line up! However, I dont think we would get the best out of Walters in the centre of the park and although anything would be better than Delap (from a possession and creativity point of view), I am concerned that Walters would become the scape goat for our lack of creativity - its not his game - he more of flank player, his natural position and one he played at Ipswich!
Nick ode Nick Joe both Nick and I and I think Smither's are worried about the future because of see below... We ain't signed anyone YET who will move us forward from last season. I don't think last season's squad is good enough. WHY is it that Sunderland can attract player's and NONE we're interested in signing for Stoke City? And, If they we're not asked/enquired about, ask yourself this. WHY is Tony Pulis not doing just that? It's not our best 11 that worries me Joe, It's the back up player's. i.e. Mama, etc etc. KTF dude cos right now I'm with Nick. Tony Pulis needs to get some player's in and sharpish. Happy with the last FOUR years but worried about especially, Tony's attitude towards our away games. We pay good money and we're just there too keep the opposition out. I've seen it since T.P. took over and it's not fair that we ALWAYS play for what we started with. NOT, what we could have, if he was a little more attack minded. That said, with our current squad, we ain't capable of playing that way. At home we do well enough, away it's painful too watch Joe. Worried, yep unless the 3 promoted clubs are worse than us we're in for a tough season Joe. Unless Tony see's the light.
Well said Potter! Dyer just signed on loan for QPR, I know a few will question asked about his fitness, but I think that argument has gone out of the window with Gudjohnson and Woodgate siginings! Another x international going begging for a 2nd chance!
Hmm the Longshanks creep seems hard to swallow Could he be the twerp from Middlesborough JD and Fries I think his name These last posts seem just the same Calling Potts a silly name Tis a schoolboy trait, what a shame So Longshanks = long legs Just Pee off you are the dregs
If KJ starts the season like he finished it we are in for some healthy competition but both won't be happy on the bench.We will pick up Injuries no doubt about that given we are challenging on so many fronts so we need plenty of alternatives, Walters has a great engine and is able to slot in most positions late on in games as he did last term when Delap,Pennant and Etherington were Subbed.
There was a young fella called oldnickyb his forte its seems is not poetry He's supports a team that like the long ball with absolutely no creativity at all. the team many say are a bit of a joke the hoof ups and throw-ins. It can only mean Stoke.
I think a formation change is the only way forward to both accomodate our more positive players and generally play more positive football. My concern would be, taht fro 3 full seasons (except for the very rare occassions) we have played 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 and hand and heart I dont think Pulis will every budge from this direct and defensive set up and this may be a reason why he either doesn't look at certain players or they won't come! Anyone else got any thoughts on our formations moving forward? I actually think that with us not having true prem league full backs that overlap (love Wiko by the way) a 3-5-2 may work? Begovic Huth/Shawx/? Pennant/Wilson/Walters/Deano/Ethrington Cole/Jones My logic is that Matty and Pennant pretty much play as wing backs anyway and walters would play more forward and Wilson and Deano would hold and hopefully link up better. It would leave us a little narro at the back, but potentially stop teams playing through us between the centre ciricle and our D?
Good use of rhyme oldnicky b, But people differ, don't you see We have moved forward, some may say, But Rome was not built in one day It must be said, without a doubt, That you want Tony Pulis out Thats up to you, its your own call, but that does not befit us all, We've only been here three short years, with staying up amongst our fears Build the squad, now that the key, But thats not sorted out in three You want to play, like Arsene's team And spend, spend, spend to reach our dream You don't want Tony, as our gaffer You want Mourinho, or maybe Rafa I've watched this club, a long, long while Without success, whatever style So lets enjoy, for now at least, And let King Tony, serve our feast It may be Dann, it may be Cole It's what they do in front of goal Chill out my friend, it will be fine, When Messi signs the dotted line
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...er-Cole-deal/story-12940005-detail/story.html STOKE City are digging in their heels over Carlton Cole's wage demands to safeguard the club's present salary structure. Boss Tony Pulis would rather walk away from a £4.5m deal, which could rise up to £6m, for the West Ham striker than risk upsetting dressing-room morale. Stoke's hierarchy and Cole's representatives are ready to resume contract talks after they stalled six days ago. Any prospective move has been delayed because Cole is currently away in Switzerland as part of the Hammers' 26-man pre-season training squad, while Pulis is overseeing Stoke's preparations in Austria. But the suspicion remains that a stand-off suits the player's contingent to give other clubs time to step in with a bid for the 28-year-old Londoner. Premier League new boys QPR have also been linked with a move for the England international as they plan for their return to the top flight. Pulis has long admired Cole â despite a modest record of 11 goals in 43 appearances last season as West Ham were relegated to the Championship â and has pursued the former Chelsea frontman on a number of occasions without success. Stoke chairman Peter Coates, pictured right, has previously revealed the club were hopeful a deal could be done once Pulis returned from the continent. "Tony likes to be around for these things," said Coates. "Now we've done a deal with the club it really needs his input with the player because he likes to talk to them and make sure they are on board, and he is on board and everything is ok from his point of view. "But we see that as a work in progress and hope that something can be done." Pulis will also discuss the protracted pursuit of Birmingham pair Scott Dann and Cameron Jerome when he returns and meets with Coates tomorrow. Centre-half Dann is still on the radar, despite the acquisition of former Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate earlier this week. Meanwhile, Pulis is declining to comment on reports linking him with a £6m bid for Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge. Robert Huth will miss tonight's first pre-season friendly of the summer against Austrian part-timers FC Thal after being granted permission to fly home last night for the birth of his second child. Pulis plans to play at least 20 of the remaining 24 fit players at his disposal this evening before the squad hot foots it to nearby Graz Airport at the end of their annual six-day stay in The Alps. He stressed the fixture was little more than an extended training session to round off a tough week's work on the road and training pitch.
Sorry I haven`tbeen able to get back on line since yesterdays debate and I take on board everything you all said and have to agree with most of the comments.I also have the same concerns about our negative play and extreme `tardiness` in the transfer market.I felt that at the end of the season the extreme limitations of the sqaud were laid bare and all we`ve done is get rid of Abdy who was a decent back-up for Huth or Shawcross and replaced him with a continually unfit Woodgate!!So I was playing Devils Advocate a bit.It`s just that ,nicky ,your sole mantra seems to be `get rid of Pulis` which is very negative! But Nicky I liked your Ditty It was very witty My rhymes are Sh---y I`ll do no more rhymes after this so feel free to carry on taking the P--s
Im quite surprised Nicky that u keep beltin out about TP and signings ... we are who we are ... if we could pull in Messi im sure he would but evolution takes time and we are where we are !! gettin to be a little bit bigger than a small fish in the big prem pond !! its tuff out there all clubs want the same players that become available ? We are no diff regardless of who it is ... rewind 18 month and CC was the hottest property around in an England shirt and rippin up defences .. top player .. The only thing i would like is a top midfielder approx 10 mill !! cuz we know the rest are comin ! Common sense to me !!
Morning Joe and morning Palm A little banter does no harm Regarding Pulis I am consistant Sorry if I seem quite persistant His style of football goes against my grain That's why he gives me such a pain We will agree to disagree Who is right or wrong we'll wait and see
I dont agree that Cole was the hottest property, as Jose pointed out with his stats, he has never scored over approx dozen goals in a season playing best part of 45 games a season! and is prem goal return is quite poor for a player that starts every game and plays all game! 12 million last year was a joke, 6 million package this year is about right! However, 65k a week at that expensive in todays market yet QPR have picked up Dyer, trying for Bullard and will probably pip us to Cole? We need quality and not quantity - if establishing ourselves as a proper mid table team (I.E. 10th and above) year in year out then we need to concentrate with our best team in the right position playing in the league and rotation and squad players playing in all the early stages of the cups as they are not important until quarter finals onwards! We dont need 5 excellen players and 20 average to poor, we need 6 Excellent, 12 Good and 7 development players!
