Stoke's official squad list Feb 13. I reckon we have 7 1st team players 7 squad and 2 squad/1st team. So at best 16. So we need at least 9 more quality players half of which must be players good enough to play each week and that is if we get no injuries. Others may not agree but I think we will need a massive clear out. Integrating that many players will be problematic to say the least and the job is huge. In my view TP jumped/pushed at the right time given the squad we have. I dont know what our juniors look like in terms of ability to move up and we may get two or three from that set up, but I have to say I am somewhat worried. Other's thoughts 1. Adam, Charles Graham -keep 1st team player 2 Begovic, Asmir-keep but will leave on transfer Butland to replace -1st team player but unproven at this level 3 Cameron, Geoff Scott -keep but squad player 4 Crouch, Peter James keep but has seen better days 1st team player/Squad 5 Shea, Dane Brekken -Doubt he will make standard and unlikely to feature-leave 6 Sidibe, Mamady -gone 7 Etherington, Matthew -given last season can only stay as squad player at best 8 Huth, Robert-keep 1st Team Player 9 Jones, Kenwyne Joel-would keep Squad/first team player 10 Kightly, Michael John -no not good enough for me-leave 11 Nash, Carlo James -can't see point-lets get younger keeper in 12 Palacios Suazo, Wilson Roberto-has not been fit and cannot see him featuring-leave 13 Pennant, Jermaine Lloyd -leave given issues re behaviour 14 Rana-Jerome, Cameron Zishan -keep 1st team player 15 Shawcross, Ryan James-keep 1st Team player 16 Shotton, Ryan Colin -keep but squad player for me 17 Sorensen, Thomas -keep competent back up Squad 18 Walters, Jonathan Ronald-keep squad player 19 Whelan, Glenn David -keep squad player 20 Whitehead, Dean -no go not good enough leave 21 Wilkinson, Andrew Gordon -keep squad player 22 Wilson, Marc David keep 1st Team Player 23 Nzonzi, Steven Nkemboanza Mike-keep 1st Tem Player 24 Owen, Michael James-retired
I think you highlight the big challenge for your board. They have to find a manager who can deal with this level of upheaval and produce a team effort, whilst at the same time effecting the transition to the sort of football and achievement that you fans and Coates' money want. A big ask. It certainly isn't Leslie Hughes - he'd just want to throw £30m at it (and £3.5m for his salary....and another million for his entourage). Di Matteo is second favourite at the bookies - now that would be more like it - good season @West Brom, good maintenance job @Chelsea - I think he's ready for a proper chance to build his own team long term. Good Luck guys
Cheers Tosh, As ye know, I've always been a Martin Jol fan. What has gone wrong this season?? Rumour has it that he is off to pastures new?
I think it's the press putting 2 and 2 together and making 43 out of it. He will be expected to do better next season, but he will also expect some financial support. He's already made three confirmed signings for next season - I can't see MAF allowing him to commit to that sort of spending (only £2m in fees but significant wages and two of them on 4 yr contracts) unless he is staying. The link with Hamburg is pie in the sky - he left there with bad blood on both sides.
Quite surprised at some of your suggestion Nick mate. Whitehead is a better player than Whelan and Shotton should be no where near the Brit whatsoever. Kightly has a goal or two in him so I would squad player him. Nzonzi i would get shut of him as anyone that does not want to pull the colours on should be shown the door chance how good they think they are! Other than that I largely agree with you mate!
I agree with everything you have said mate apart from the bit about Nzonzi, he handed his transfer request in in December, he had stood out by a mile this season and realised that he was too good a player and that the type of football we were playing was depressing (didnt we all) and that the players around him werent good enough. Personally I dont blame him one bit for handing in his transfer request WHEN HE DID as he was completely wasted with us and he obviously saw that too, but im sure that if we appoint the right manager he will stay.
I kind of figured it would have been pre Pulis leaving Ricc but had no idea it was as far back as December which actually makes more sense now!
