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Post by numpty40 on Jan 3, 2011 21:56:03 GMT
Like who?
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 3, 2011 21:57:46 GMT
Someone that will fit the way we play, Noble, Annan, Bradley, Diame and players of that ilk. Ireland couldn't be further away from what we need.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 3, 2011 21:58:16 GMT
Beggars can't be choosers Bayern. Ireland would be a very useful addition to our ranks.
I am with prestwich though. We really do need to ship out some of the shit that we have acquired along the way.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 3, 2011 22:00:27 GMT
I think he'd be another Tuncay/Gudjohnsen. A pointless signing that will end up costing us millions. There is no doubt he is a fantastic footballer but he is a player that just isn't right for us. The only position I could see him playing in is on the right wing.
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Post by numpty40 on Jan 3, 2011 22:02:13 GMT
Ireland does work hard but has natural ability as well. He's obviously not the sharpest tool in the box but Pulis does like to work with footballing misfits and realise their full potential. Look upon Ireland as a challenge!
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Post by joinerssquire on Jan 3, 2011 22:06:47 GMT
I think he'd be another Tuncay/Gudjohnsen. A pointless signing that will end up costing us millions. There is no doubt he is a fantastic footballer but he is a player that just isn't right for us. The only position I could see him playing in is on the right wing. I think thats pretty much spot on. I like Ireland as a player but I think he's far too lightweight to play in our midfield the way we play. For my money an upgrade on Rory is our No 1 priority.
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Post by harryburrows on Jan 3, 2011 22:06:52 GMT
So long as we have weaknesses in the team (and we do) we should try to improve every window. It isn't essential, as we would almost certainly survive with this squad, but it is far better to try to improve - trying to stand still usually means that you fall back. Dead right. Our squad is stronger than at just about anytime in my living memory. I'm 43 but have very little memory of the Waddington era given my tender years at that time. Ours is a progressing squad but as soon a you stop progressing and looking to progress, decline is almost inevitable. We must continue to look to bring in better players within the financial constraints laid down by the chairman. We have already done a very good piece of business this window, I hope we do more but if we don't I certainly won't be panicing. dont agree about the strong squad ,our 1st team is good but not much cover anywhere ,we have two midfield players ,whelan as backup and then nothing .same along the back 4,and so on
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Post by march4 on Jan 3, 2011 22:22:02 GMT
I think he'd be another Tuncay/Gudjohnsen. A pointless signing that will end up costing us millions. There is no doubt he is a fantastic footballer but he is a player that just isn't right for us. The only position I could see him playing in is on the right wing. I think thats pretty much spot on. I like Ireland as a player but I think he's far too lightweight to play in our midfield the way we play. For my money an upgrade on Rory is our No 1 priority. Anyone who would drop Rory is a lunatic He is our best central midfielder and getting better all the time.
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Post by Davef on Jan 3, 2011 22:25:07 GMT
Well of course the squad is the strongest it's been for many years, but that's down entirely to the amount of money that's been spent on it.
When you actually sit down and look at it a bit closer, it isn't that strong and we're actually only a couple of long term/ish injuries away from having pretty big problems.
That fact that Rory Delap, at nearly 35, has been asked to play three full matches over the busy holiday period suggests that Tony Pulis doesn't have much faith in the likes of Glenn Whelan or Marc Wilson and it's pretty clear that he doesn't have much time for either Tuncay or Gudjohnsen, leaving just Jones, Fuller and Walters to battle it out for the front positions.
In defence we can call on Higgy to do a decent job but beyond that, injuries to any of the back four would give us quite a problem.
It's just a pity that we couldn't have chalked up another four points from those Blackpool and Fulham games to have taken the pressure off us a bit.
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Post by march4 on Jan 3, 2011 22:28:00 GMT
Well of course the squad is the strongest it's been for many years, but that's down entirely to the amount of money that's been spent on it. When you actually sit down and look at it a bit closer, it isn't that strong and we're actually only a couple of long term/ish injuries away from having pretty big problems. That fact that Rory Delap, at nearly 35, has been asked to play three full matches over the busy holiday period suggests that Tony Pulis doesn't have much faith in the likes of Glenn Whelan or Marc Wilson and it's pretty clear that he doesn't have much time for either Tuncay or Gudjohnsen, leaving just Jones, Fuller and Walters to battle it out for the front positions. In defence we can call on Higgy to do a decent job but beyond that, injuries to any of the back four would give us quite a problem. It's just a pity that we couldn't have chalked up another four points from those Blackpool and Fulham games to have taken the pressure off us a bit. I think that is a very reasonable post. It is the forward positions that worry me most. Without KJ and Ric, we have nothing at all for attack. We have to sign another forward in Jan, it is the only priority now JP has joined. Midfield and defence can wait.
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Post by joinerssquire on Jan 3, 2011 22:28:19 GMT
I think thats pretty much spot on. I like Ireland as a player but I think he's far too lightweight to play in our midfield the way we play. For my money an upgrade on Rory is our No 1 priority. Anyone who would drop Rory is a lunatic He is our best central midfielder and getting better all the time. Yeah right - he's getting better at passing it into the crowd with every match. Fine servant, great bloke and all that but his time is running out.........
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Post by vickyground on Jan 3, 2011 22:40:27 GMT
I'm not too fussed if we sign no-one in this window. I'm not saying that I'm satisfied with the midfield, but I'm confident that our present squad will see us to safety, no prob. However, we could do with off-loading some of our deadwood and I reckon that Gudjonson should be the first to be shiped out.
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Post by march4 on Jan 3, 2011 22:42:35 GMT
Anyone who would drop Rory is a lunatic He is our best central midfielder and getting better all the time. Yeah right - he's getting better at passing it into the crowd with every match. Fine servant, great bloke and all that but his time is running out......... One bad pass in the last 3 games, where he has been nothing short of our most consistently impressive performer. On Saturday, he was chasing back, keeping the team shape, winning header after header, challenging, encouraging others, tackling, filling in. Passing is for others in our team. He has a good 4 years left at the top. He will soon be only the 2nd player in Prem history to complete over 100 games for 4 different clubs and he has never played better.
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Post by joinerssquire on Jan 3, 2011 22:51:58 GMT
Yeah right - he's getting better at passing it into the crowd with every match. Fine servant, great bloke and all that but his time is running out......... One bad pass in the last 3 games, where he has been nothing short of our most consistently impressive performer. On Saturday, he was chasing back, keeping the team shape, winning header after header, challenging, encouraging others, tackling, filling in. Passing is for others in our team. He has a good 4 years left at the top. He will soon be only the 2nd player in Prem history to complete over 100 games for 4 different clubs and he has never played better. A laughable assessment even by your standards. Consistantly impressive performer ?? Just who do we have to do the passing in the team if not central midfield? The defenders are told to launch it skyward towards KJ etc and our other central midfielder is supposed to runaround like Roadrunner on speed. Another 4 years at the top level?????? Do me a favour!! If he has never been better then I'd hate to have seen him when he was poor. You think he's great - I dont, so we will agree to disagree. Mind you, you also think Mama is a modern day Di Stefano ;D
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 3, 2011 22:58:15 GMT
Delap has been consistently good this season.
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Post by joinerssquire on Jan 3, 2011 22:59:43 GMT
Delap has been consistently good this season. Bayern - not from where I sit he hasnt.
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Post by march4 on Jan 3, 2011 23:01:32 GMT
One bad pass in the last 3 games, where he has been nothing short of our most consistently impressive performer. On Saturday, he was chasing back, keeping the team shape, winning header after header, challenging, encouraging others, tackling, filling in. Passing is for others in our team. He has a good 4 years left at the top. He will soon be only the 2nd player in Prem history to complete over 100 games for 4 different clubs and he has never played better. A laughable assessment even by your standards. Consistantly impressive performer ?? Just who do we have to do the passing in the team if not central midfield? The defenders are told to launch it skyward towards KJ etc and our other central midfielder is supposed to runaround like Roadrunner on speed. Another 4 years at the top level?????? Do me a favour!! If he has never been better then I'd hate to have seen him when he was poor. You think he's great - I dont, so we will agree to disagree. Mind you, you also think Mama is a modern day Di Stefano ;D No one in our central midfield is there to pass the ball. They have one job and only one job - protect the back 4. On Saturday, Ryan went on a suicidal run down the pitch and lost the ball. Who filled in at centre back? and didn't just fill in, he kept perfect position, organised Wilko and Higgy and snuffed out the attack. Later on in the game, it was Wilko having a rush of blood. Who kept the back 4 intact and organised? And how many headers has Rory won in the last 3 games - it must be over 100. Finally, we would never have scored at Blackburn without him. The first goal came from 4 successive throws; the first of which from the half way line. He is as essential now as ever before, he is our best known player and he is a model pro. Long may he thrive.
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Post by joinerssquire on Jan 3, 2011 23:04:40 GMT
A laughable assessment even by your standards. Consistantly impressive performer ?? Just who do we have to do the passing in the team if not central midfield? The defenders are told to launch it skyward towards KJ etc and our other central midfielder is supposed to runaround like Roadrunner on speed. Another 4 years at the top level?????? Do me a favour!! If he has never been better then I'd hate to have seen him when he was poor. You think he's great - I dont, so we will agree to disagree. Mind you, you also think Mama is a modern day Di Stefano ;D No one in our central midfield is there to pass the ball. They have one job and only one job - protect the back 4. On Saturday, Ryan went on a suicidal run down the pitch and lost the ball. Who filled in at centre back? and didn't just fill in, he kept perfect position, organised Wilko and Higgy and snuffed out the attack. Later on in the game, it was Wilko having a rush of blood. Who kept the back 4 intact and organised? And how many headers has Rory won in the last 3 games - it must be over 100. Finally, we would never have scored at Blackburn without him. The first goal came from 4 successive throws; the first of which from the half way line. He is as essential now as ever before, he is our best known player and he is a model pro. Long may he thrive. So Alan Hudson, the best player I have ever seen in a Stoke City shirt, would never get into a team that you were selecting because he can pass and isnt there to protect the back 4?? Says it all.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 3, 2011 23:05:12 GMT
Delap has been consistently good this season. Bayern - not from where I sit he hasnt. He has from where I sit. He is in the team to do the defensive things and he does it bloody brilliantly. His passing is a bit cack but he's not in the team to do that. And until we can get someone better than him (we haven't managed to do so in 3 years spending 17 million quid) then we will be "stuck" with him. I can live with that.
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Post by Olgrligm on Jan 3, 2011 23:08:31 GMT
Delap is the most underappreciated player in our squad. Should probably be in the running for player of the season. I do go into a bit more depth on that here and can't be bothered to type all that out again, but March's post gets an awful lot of things right about Delap against Everton.
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Post by joinerssquire on Jan 3, 2011 23:12:25 GMT
Bayern - not from where I sit he hasnt. He has from where I sit. He is in the team to do the defensive things and he does it bloody brilliantly. His passing is a bit cack but he's not in the team to do that. And until we can get someone better than him (we haven't managed to do so in 3 years spending 17 million quid) then we will be "stuck" with him. I can live with that. I refuse to believe that there isnt a player out there who can do all that Delap does, perhaps not the hurling the ball 40 metres, and can add another dimension to our game by being able to pass the ball. I think 'a bit cack' is underselling his passing inability. I cant think of another central midfield in the Premier League that he would get into but I'll leave it at that. Some people think he's fine for our style of play and I'm not doubting his contribution but I think he is pretty limited and until we upgrade its going to hold us back if we have any pretentions of evolving our style and progressing.
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Post by march4 on Jan 3, 2011 23:12:36 GMT
Thanks for the support Bayern and MD. Every successful team has a Rory type player.
Of course, Huddy had Josh Mahoney to protect the back 4 and before that Waddo used Micky Bernard.
It is an interesting thought about Huddy in the modern game though. I suspect he would be the last player TP would sign. There is no position for him in our current set up.
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Post by joinerssquire on Jan 3, 2011 23:15:13 GMT
Thanks for the support Bayern and MD. Every successful team has a Rory type player. Of course, Huddy had Josh Mahoney to protect the back 4 and before that Waddo used Micky Bernard. It is an interesting thought about Huddy in the modern game though. I suspect he would be the last player TP would sign. There is no position for him in our current set up. That is a tragic thought that a player of Huddys ability couldnt be 'found' a place in the current team. Most managers would build a team around such a player.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 3, 2011 23:15:17 GMT
He has from where I sit. He is in the team to do the defensive things and he does it bloody brilliantly. His passing is a bit cack but he's not in the team to do that. And until we can get someone better than him (we haven't managed to do so in 3 years spending 17 million quid) then we will be "stuck" with him. I can live with that. I refuse to believe that there isnt a player out there who can do all that Delap does, perhaps not the hurling the ball 40 metres, and can add another dimension to our game by being able to pass the ball. I think 'a bit cack' is underselling his passing inability. I cant think of another central midfield in the Premier League that he would get into but I'll leave it at that. Some people think he's fine for our style of play and I'm not doubting his contribution but I think he is pretty limited and until we upgrade its going to hold us back if we have any pretentions of evolving our style and progressing. I agree and I'm not saying there isn't, what I am saying though is that we don't have that player on our books.
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Post by march4 on Jan 3, 2011 23:21:00 GMT
Thanks for the support Bayern and MD. Every successful team has a Rory type player. Of course, Huddy had Josh Mahoney to protect the back 4 and before that Waddo used Micky Bernard. It is an interesting thought about Huddy in the modern game though. I suspect he would be the last player TP would sign. There is no position for him in our current set up. That is a tragic thought that a player of Huddys ability couldnt be 'found' a place in the current team. Most managers would build a team around such a player. Only Waddo built a team around Huddy. There weren't any other takers then and I don't think there would be many now. It's a bit like Tuncay; managers don't seem to trust players who are 'free spirits' in spite of their great skill.
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Post by joinerssquire on Jan 3, 2011 23:28:44 GMT
That is a tragic thought that a player of Huddys ability couldnt be 'found' a place in the current team. Most managers would build a team around such a player. Only Waddo built a team around Huddy. There weren't any other takers then and I don't think there would be many now. It's a bit like Tuncay; managers don't seem to trust players who are 'free spirits' in spite of their great skill. Hudson in the Arsenal midfield, in Fabregas' role would be as outstanding for them as he was for us. Similarly Hudson could play the Scholes role that he has performed over the years at Man U but better!! Perhaps this isnt quite the same as the way Waddo built things around him here but you cant tell me that a player with Hudsons skill couldnt thrive today. I just ain't having that.
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Post by PickSCFC on Jan 3, 2011 23:47:26 GMT
Mama is back this month and he will be like a new signing to us, we wont need to go out and buy a striker
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Post by musik on Jan 3, 2011 23:51:01 GMT
Most of all, we need a top quality 0.6 goals per game goal scorer. Not just someone who used to score goals.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 3, 2011 23:52:04 GMT
Mama is back this month and he will be like a new signing to us, we wont need to go out and buy a striker ;D Nearly as amusing as WD's player ratings thread.
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Post by vickyground on Jan 4, 2011 12:06:22 GMT
Delap is the most underappreciated player in our squad. Should probably be in the running for player of the season. I do go into a bit more depth on that here and can't be bothered to type all that out again, but March's post gets an awful lot of things right about Delap against Everton. Great read.
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