Today's Sun has published the oldest players in the Prem and it is interesting to note that Stoke City has the 5th (Delap) and 7th (Diao) oldest players in the league with a combined experience of 506 apps and 23 goals! Obviously their skill set is not in the creative side of the game, but is their age the reason why we struggle to make an impact in the middle of the park and does this contradict the transfer policy of "evolving" a younger and more valuable team? Not having a dig, but I was shocked that Dealp was 35+ and Diao was 34+ given that the average prem player is approx 26 years of age, which is inflated by the likes of Giggs at the ripe old age of 37!
Too old, Too slow - BOTH applies to BOTH, don't let's mention Greased Lightning or is it Lightning McQueen - Mr Mama Sidebe!
OH my God, PROOF at last FACT'S are as you said Smither's ya can't argue with. GET RID of both and FAST TP what we've been shouting for the last GOD know's how long.
Dont get me started on Delap again for ****s sake, my blood pressure is high enough!!!. JUST GET THEM BOTH OUT OF THE CLUB ......FAST!!
Let's not be too harsh on Delap. He has given everything for this club and will continue to do so when he is asked. He is one of the players who has helped to get us where we are now. I know that most games leaves us fuming because of his inability to find a team mate with his attempted passing, but last Thursday he played quite well and hardly put a foot wrong. I agree that we need to have someone in the middle who can pass the ball better than those we have already, but lets not take it all out on Rory.
Smit I don't just take it out on Rory, Whelan ain't much better as showed last week v Hadjuk. I too thought Rory did ok but he get's knackered after 70 odd mins and we bring off either Pennant and or Etherington. Turns out that Ether's has a cracked rib, but even so. Very rarly is Rory subbed. THAT is exactly why we need, quicker, fitter,faster,better footballer's in the middle. THANK YOU RORY I love what he's done for Stoke City. But even Rory said last week Smit. I was surprised HOW many times he was asked to start games. Enough said because it's something we've done too death I think.
Would Rory still be playing if he didn't have the missile of a long throw? Under Pulis probably but under any other premier league manager I think not!
At least we're acknowledging that, apart from playing crap football and not having the legs to last a game, Rory is not the one to blame! ;-) Let's hope that by the end of August there will be someone else we can focus our attention on... (but best not raise our hopes too much!)
If you look at the weakness on our squad, it is generally the older players that are the areas of weakness. The average age for Higgy, Collins, Whelan, Fuller, Diao, Whithead, Delap & Sidibie is almost 32 years of age, compard with the average age of Walters, Begovic, Shawx, Huth, Wilko, Wilson, Ethrington, Pennant & Jones being just under 26 years of age! its almost like we have 2 differnet teams within our squad, and whilst experience is very important (as shown by the likes of Giggs, Lampard etc) not at the extent of competitive fitness!
