Wheels are coming off boys - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...r-Steven-Nzonzi-submits-transfer-request.html Stoke City midfielder Steven Nzonzi submits transfer request Stoke City have suffered further turmoil after it emerged midfielder Steven Nzonzi has submitted a written transfer request. Nzonzi, who was named Stoke City's young player of the year, is determined to leave the Britannia Stadium only nine months after his £3 million arrival from Blackburn Rovers and has informed the board of his desire to find a new club. Stoke have turned down his request but Nzonzi's surprise move is likely to alert former Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce, now in charge at West Ham United, while Norwich also retain a strong interest. Telegraph Sport understands Nzonzi's decision has no connection with the departure of manager Tony Pulis earlier this week and the 24 year-old has been disillusioned since the end of last year. Stoke are stepping up their search for a new manager, with a shortlist expected to be compiled over the weekend, and it appears one of the first tasks for Pulis's successor will be to persuade Nzonzi to stay. Peter Coates, the Stoke chairman, said: "I can confirm that we have received a written transfer request from Steven Nzonzi. We are not unduly worried about the situation as he is our player and has three years remaining on his contract." It is the second time in the last year that Nzonzi has handed in a transfer request, after asking to leave Blackburn last July. The French under-21 international was frozen out by then Rovers manager Steve Kean before completing his move to Stoke on the final day of last summer's transfer window. He performed impressively in the first half of Stoke's season, with Pulis even claiming he could eventually play for a team in the Champions League, and scored his first goal in the home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur this month. Nzonzi, who is advised by his father Fidele, is believed to be keen on a move to enhance his hopes of becoming a senior France international. Stoke are set for major changes this summer regardless of Pulis's exit, with Michael Owen, Jermaine Pennant, Dean Whitehead, Rory Delap and Mamady Sidibe leaving after their contracts expired. Whitehead, a £3 million signing from Sunderland in 2009, has a number of options on the table with Hull, Leeds, Blackburn and Nottingham Forest interested in offering him a deal this summer.
I thought he would have wanted to see who was coming in and what the transfer kitty would be like before jumping ship? Having said that he looked too good to be playing for Stoke at times last season and I empathise with his frustration.
Said exactly the same thing to my mate down the match Smithers and also on here umpteen times this season. Nzonzi was way too good for us with the players around him offering him no support whatsoever. When you play with poor players they make you look poor too, so you can't blame the lad for wanting to further his career. But again why jump ship so early when he does not know who is coming in, or does he?????? Plus it does not say exactly when he put in the request. It may have been whilst Pulis was still at the helm!
Can't say I agree. Good players play well with poor players round them if they put the effort in. He did half a good season and took his bat and ball home. He did the same at Blackburn and I thought his attitude was poor back end of the season. Smacks of more money etc. To be frank if he is going to sulk and want to go and he is that good stick a £7-10m price tag on him and let him go and make a profit on him. I opened up another thread about our squad and the massive rebuild needed and this is further proof of that
I first saw N'Zonzi play against Newcastle at the Brit in November and thought he was a class above the rest of the team. I then saw him in the return at SJP and although he played OK he rarely ventured beyond the half-way line. I then went to the Norwich game and he was lucky not to see red. It's disappointing that he should want to leave after only one season but he has seemed moody and disinterested for most of the second half of the season. Like you say, Waddo, are the wheels coming off?
Have to disgree with you on that one Northern mate. I played 5 a side last season for a team and the players were lazy and slow and could not read a pass. Good balls were intercepted and not run onto and it made the play maker look like a poor player as a result. Lots of times this season I've seen Nzonzi gather and win the ball and look for a pass on only to find absolutely nothing on. As a result he has sometimes been caught in possession with no one to help him out. Tonights Sentinel says it's down to unfulfilled promises. So what exactly did Stoke promise him that they have not fulfilled??
lets not all get carried away, his transfer request was handed in in December, im sure that if we appoint a decent manager he will stay.
