What's the situation with WP at the moment as he hasn't featured in the last two games. I he injured or just not 'Stoke Fit' yet?
His knee is playing up - apparently! What I find strange is that TP is very vocal about fit players with good engines and legs (hence why he said no to Demba Ba?????) yet he spent 8 million on Palacious, coming back from a knee op and Woodgate had only played 3 prem games in 3 years or something stupid! Very strange, and potentially not money well spent but I feel it is just as much to do with protecting certain existing players.
Maybe he just bought him to shut us up moaning for a new CM!!!!! Then again, I don't think that's Tony's style either!!!!
Smithers Trying to be serious, I think it's both he's injured heard that last Wednesday and I'm certain he's not "Stoke fit" I think it was well documented when we signed WP? Arry didn't play him for reasons we know about so, it's no wonder he will not be starting every game. I think? that even if he was fully fit. Tony P would rotate as he is doing with Huth. Which, by the way I do not agree with. Huth n Ryan is IMHO our best pairing and he should have stuck with that.. but As Nick would say.. what do I know... Zilch I suppose. Let's hope WP gets more game time i.e. the Europa game on Thursday.. if he does not play, he won't get fit surly it's match practice he needs more than anything else.
I agree fully Potts! There is just an underlying hypocritical policy to the clubs transfer policy and team selection that must be heartbreaking (or at leats very confusing) for players who have joined or have not joined for various reasons!
Smithers I think this is what happened with Tuncay, Beattie, and Kitson.. all different reasons as to why they have now left the club I know but.. I heard T.P. say only this Saturday night that... we NEED all the player's to realise that "The Squad" will see us OK/through the season? NOT sure why Huth isn't first choice but I honestly can not see both Woodgate and Upson playing all season, every week and not picking up some kind of injury or knock along the way. Hope to God we're wrong, those of us who think that Huth might be on his way in Jan. As far as I know, as yet he has not publically said, I want to leave or I'm not happy here etc.. etc.. For now, i will trust in T.P.s own judgement although I do not agree with the Huth not playing sied of it.. no way could he play every game. Unless he's super human.
The rotation policy is not a rotation policy! As always certain players will play (subject to injury) regadless of form or abilty. I hope to GOD Huth is fine and is just waiting for his opportunity, because same as you, I think he is our best CB with Shawx and more improtantly has a further 6/7 season left in him - unlike Woody & Upson! It reminds me a bit of when Lawrence and Whelan came back from international duty and then neither could get back into the team! Obviously Liam went (would have been an excellent utilty player/wing cover) and Whelan had to wait a VERY long time to get a consistnet run back into the team! I dont understand saving a young, fit & quality player for the sake of older less fit players who are new to the squad - surely it should be the other way round? What are the odds on a behind the scene "discussion" which hasn't gone to TP's liking - you no - the naked flying head butt type?
At the risk of being extremely boring (don't answer!!) In Pulis some people trust Or You can fool some of the people some of the time, But you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Oh and I would pay good money to see Pulis attempt to headbut Huthy, preferably NOT naked
Nick I DID say "FOR NOW" in T.P. I trust with regards to Huth not being automatic first choice. Let's face it... I mean, If Huth told me it was a Friday and it was actually a Sunday. I wouldn't argue the toss that's for sure. Pulis v Huthy?? Two bars of soap and a wet towel.. aka Beattie v Pulis after the Arsenal game.. or so it was reported. Let's hope it's something and nothing i.e. just paper's talking as they will of course. I remember very well when James O'Connor told me personally that quote.."I will not be leaving Stoke City for some time" 3 weeks later he was gone.
Palacios has not gone missing after all! He's been found alive and well and on the subs bench ........................ and what a peach of a through ball to Jones late on last night.
Maybe that through ball is one of the reasons he doesn't play? All joking apart, hope he gets fit and gets a decent run on the team, the selection of Diao of him must mean that WP is not fit, unless TP as totally lost the plot?
It sure was a brilliant pass.. I think Jones should have put that ball away.. still, a great first half perfomance and I actually thought Diao did O.K. That, is a bonus but surly W.P. when fully fit will start many more games before Diao? Good rotation by T.P. last night and all those who came in did really well. I was also impressed with Ryan Shotton and if I was T.P. would not worry about giving the lad a full game in the League. He gets better, the more we see of him. That ref? Don't get me started
I think all the team played very well last night including Daio and Deano. Yes, the opposition were poor and didn't pose a threat, but we did the business. It looked as though we would score every 10 minutes and finish up with 9 but the sending off of Jerome put paid to that. Jerome looked sharp, scored one and made one but if I have a criticism, it was the first yellow which resulted from talking back to the ref. We were never going to get anything from that idiot so perhaps CJ should have kept quiet.
