hoopty
Youth Player
Posts: 431
|
Post by hoopty on Dec 17, 2014 22:42:34 GMT
Ryan and he made the transition to the Prem seamlessly. Not many did. Honourable mention to the great Ricardo who finally showed why he had been grossly overlooked for higher things at the tail end of his career.
Wilko is still around but in all honesty is unlikely to play first team for us now.
He's never exactly wowed fans or spectators but there is a reason he's picked by our and his country's managers again and again. He has the qualities of Rory Delap and even SJW. A selfless player who has maximised his career by dint of determination and hard work.
I have to say I'm a big fan of his character. Who has ever seen Whelan dive or roll around feigning injury? Who was looking after Aaron Ramsey when his leg was broken and all the Arsenal players were surrounding the ref? Who could ever say he gave less than his all?
I'd be very pleased if he finished his career at Stoke and progressed, as I'm sure he will, to a successful career in management.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 0:21:17 GMT
Ryan and he made the transition to the Prem seamlessly. Not many did. Honourable mention to the great Ricardo who finally showed why he had been grossly overlooked for higher things at the tail end of his career. Wilko is still around but in all honesty is unlikely to play first team for us now. He's never exactly wowed fans or spectators but there is a reason he's picked by our and his country's managers again and again. He has the qualities of Rory Delap and even SJW. A selfless player who has maximised his career by dint of determination and hard work. I have to say I'm a big fan of his character. Who has ever seen Whelan dive or roll around feigning injury? Who was looking after Aaron Ramsey when his leg was broken and all the Arsenal players were surrounding the ref? Who could ever say he gave less than his all? I'd be very pleased if he finished his career at Stoke and progressed, as I'm sure he will, to a successful career in management. Nice post, but completely the opposite for Ricardo - he showed us the player we knew he was, not necessarily every week, and he definitely had a dark side - but the guy was talented enough to play at the top level and tear defenders a new one - a bit of consistency and maybe a different attitude and he could have been a legend in the premier league (not just for Stoke). Whelan is great as well, bang average for many years but he finally stepped up and I hope he finishes his career with us, solid DM who never lets us down. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 0:28:21 GMT
Honestly think he'll go judging by the amount of links to other clubs, if him and Crouch went I'd be gutted because you just know we'd either get nothing for them and they're solid performers in the team. Got to really try and hold on to our talent right now...
|
|
|
|
Post by boskampsflaps on Dec 18, 2014 1:05:51 GMT
Unsurprisingly my favourite player.
As for him leaving, I really hope not, he has been fantastic for us since he signed (more consistently in recent seasons), and I don't think he will in the end, its just haggling atm I think we'll compromise, it's not like he'll want top wages or anything.
|
|
|
|
Post by snapotter on Dec 18, 2014 6:40:08 GMT
Whelan took on Abdoulaye Faye for not taking pre match preparation seriously.
That's everything you need to know about his character in one sentence.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lakeland Potter on Dec 18, 2014 7:00:40 GMT
Ryan and he made the transition to the Prem seamlessly. Not many did. Honourable mention to the great Ricardo who finally showed why he had been grossly overlooked for higher things at the tail end of his career. Wilko is still around but in all honesty is unlikely to play first team for us now. He's never exactly wowed fans or spectators but there is a reason he's picked by our and his country's managers again and again. He has the qualities of Rory Delap and even SJW. A selfless player who has maximised his career by dint of determination and hard work. I have to say I'm a big fan of his character. Who has ever seen Whelan dive or roll around feigning injury? Who was looking after Aaron Ramsey when his leg was broken and all the Arsenal players were surrounding the ref? Who could ever say he gave less than his all? I'd be very pleased if he finished his career at Stoke and progressed, as I'm sure he will, to a successful career in management. I don't actually agree that Whelan and Ryan made the transition to the Prem seamlessly. Ryan looked quite dodgy in his first Premier League game at Bolton but he learned quickly - and by the end of that September was looking every inch a Premier League centre back. Whelan never really nailed down an automatic starting place in that first season in the Prem. TP never seemed to trust him at first - or if he did, he got cold feet, and dropped him from time to time. It was only in the second season onwards that Whelan seemed to grow in consistency and consequently become an indispensable part of TP's line up. Since then he's been prone to the occasional "crisis" in almost every season, but has always knuckled down and fought his way back into the manager's plans. It says a lot for his character that he has done this, but seamless it was not. |
|
|
|
Post by LGH87 on Dec 18, 2014 8:13:03 GMT
The thing that shows Whelans importance and character the most is the number of times and amount of money spent to try and replace him and nobody has ever managed to.
Seyi Olofinjana
Amdy Faye
Dean Whitehead
Wilson Palacios
Marc Wilson
Steve Sidwell
Charlie Adam
And I'm sure there's probably one or two more.
The only midfielder we've signed whose arguably better than Glen, but rather than replace him he compliments him is Steven N'Zonzi
|
|
|
|
Post by Lakeland Potter on Dec 18, 2014 8:21:46 GMT
The thing that shows Whelans importance and character the most is the number of times and amount of money spent to try and replace him and nobody has ever managed to. Seyi Olofinjana Amdy Faye Dean Whitehead Wilson Palacios Marc Wilson Steve Sidwell Charlie Adam And I'm sure there's probably one or two more. The only midfielder we've signed whose arguably better than Glen, but rather than replace him he compliments him is Steven N'Zonzi Dean Whitehead was a box to box (N'Zonzi position) player - as is Sidwell, although he can play the Whelan role. No way was Adam bought as a Whelan replacement as is shown by TP's early use of him in the withdrawn striker role. Given Adam's graduation from the Paul Scholes school of poor tackling, I don't think TP's worst enemy would suggest that he envisaged Adam as a replacement for Whelan. EDIT: Oddly, one player who could certainly have played the Whelan role was Abdy (not Amdy) Faye. For some reason TP never used him there although he had played in the position successfully for Bolton |
|
|
|
Post by mcf on Dec 18, 2014 8:22:11 GMT
Ryan and he made the transition to the Prem seamlessly. Not many did. Honourable mention to the great Ricardo who finally showed why he had been grossly overlooked for higher things at the tail end of his career. Wilko is still around but in all honesty is unlikely to play first team for us now. He's never exactly wowed fans or spectators but there is a reason he's picked by our and his country's managers again and again. He has the qualities of Rory Delap and even SJW. A selfless player who has maximised his career by dint of determination and hard work. I have to say I'm a big fan of his character. Who has ever seen Whelan dive or roll around feigning injury? Who was looking after Aaron Ramsey when his leg was broken and all the Arsenal players were surrounding the ref? Who could ever say he gave less than his all? I'd be very pleased if he finished his career at Stoke and progressed, as I'm sure he will, to a successful career in management. I don't actually agree that Whelan and Ryan made the transition to the Prem seamlessly. Ryan looked quite dodgy in his first Premier League game at Bolton but he learned quickly - and by the end of that September was looking every inch a Premier League centre back. Whelan never really nailed down an automatic starting place in that first season in the Prem. TP never seemed to trust him at first - or if he did, he got cold feet, and dropped him from time to time. It was only in the second season onwards that Whelan seemed to grow in consistency and consequently become an indispensable part of TP's line up. Since then he's been prone to the occasional "crisis" in almost every season, but has always knuckled down and fought his way back into the manager's plans. It says a lot for his character that he has done this, but seamless it was not. Didn't Whelan getting dropped often follow international duty as well? I'm not sure if he had broken into the ROI squad by the first season but my recollection was that he often seemed to go out of the side around international break time. |
|
|
|
Post by sheikhmomo on Dec 18, 2014 8:29:08 GMT
You can't really argue with Glenda can you. Well you can and I have but I was wrong. A model pro, no ego who eeks every last drop out of his given talent. Gets dropped, comes back better and keeps his place. What's not to love? Give him a contact Ebenezer Coates!
|
|
|
|
Post by LGH87 on Dec 18, 2014 9:37:10 GMT
The thing that shows Whelans importance and character the most is the number of times and amount of money spent to try and replace him and nobody has ever managed to. Seyi Olofinjana Amdy Faye Dean Whitehead Wilson Palacios Marc Wilson Steve Sidwell Charlie Adam And I'm sure there's probably one or two more. The only midfielder we've signed whose arguably better than Glen, but rather than replace him he compliments him is Steven N'Zonzi Dean Whitehead was a box to box (N'Zonzi position) player - as is Sidwell, although he can play the Whelan role. No way was Adam bought as a Whelan replacement as is shown by TP's early use of him in the withdrawn striker role. Given Adam's graduation from the Paul Scholes school of poor tackling, I don't think TP's worst enemy would suggest that he envisaged Adam as a replacement for Whelan. EDIT: Oddly, one player who could certainly have played the Whelan role was Abdy (not Amdy) Faye. For some reason TP never used him there although he had played in the position successfully for Bolton When Whitehead first signed, he was playing alongside Delap in the middle of the park, so I think you can say he probably was signed to compete with Whelan. Adam, N'Zonzi & Edu all signed around the same time (same day?), signing three midfielders in one day would signal an intent from most managers that he would be replacing the current incumbent. I can't for the life of me remember what game(s) it was but Pulis did definitely use Abdy in midfield and I think he did perform well. Despite him being majestic in that first season, and undoubtedly a big factor in the player Ryan has become today, Abdy was a player on the turn, starting to regress he could never have lasted playing in the middle of the park, plus he was just too valuable in the heart of the defence. |
|
|
|
Post by dadofsam on Dec 18, 2014 10:11:11 GMT
My "speaks volumes for his character" example is the way he looked after Ramsey while the rest of the goon squad were waving imaginary cards and surrounding the ref to get Ryan sent off. That was real class.
|
|
|
|
Post by acstokie on Dec 18, 2014 10:21:14 GMT
Ryan and he made the transition to the Prem seamlessly. Not many did. Honourable mention to the great Ricardo who finally showed why he had been grossly overlooked for higher things at the tail end of his career. Wilko is still around but in all honesty is unlikely to play first team for us now. He's never exactly wowed fans or spectators but there is a reason he's picked by our and his country's managers again and again. He has the qualities of Rory Delap and even SJW. A selfless player who has maximised his career by dint of determination and hard work. I have to say I'm a big fan of his character. Who has ever seen Whelan dive or roll around feigning injury? Who was looking after Aaron Ramsey when his leg was broken and all the Arsenal players were surrounding the ref? Who could ever say he gave less than his all? I'd be very pleased if he finished his career at Stoke and progressed, as I'm sure he will, to a successful career in management. I don't actually agree that Whelan and Ryan made the transition to the Prem seamlessly. Ryan looked quite dodgy in his first Premier League game at Bolton but he learned quickly - and by the end of that September was looking every inch a Premier League centre back. Whelan never really nailed down an automatic starting place in that first season in the Prem. TP never seemed to trust him at first - or if he did, he got cold feet, and dropped him from time to time. It was only in the second season onwards that Whelan seemed to grow in consistency and consequently become an indispensable part of TP's line up. Since then he's been prone to the occasional "crisis" in almost every season, but has always knuckled down and fought his way back into the manager's plans. It says a lot for his character that he has done this, but seamless it was not. In the 2nd half of our first season in the prem Whelan was immense in the run in. He came on and scored a last minute equaliser at Villa and was outstanding thereafter. |
|
|
|
Post by Will_75 on Dec 18, 2014 10:22:38 GMT
Whelan took on Abdoulaye Faye for not taking pre match preparation seriously. That's everything you need to know about his character in one sentence. glad someone brought that up - a braver man than me most people! |
|
|
|
Post by Lakeland Potter on Dec 18, 2014 10:25:52 GMT
Dean Whitehead was a box to box (N'Zonzi position) player - as is Sidwell, although he can play the Whelan role. No way was Adam bought as a Whelan replacement as is shown by TP's early use of him in the withdrawn striker role. Given Adam's graduation from the Paul Scholes school of poor tackling, I don't think TP's worst enemy would suggest that he envisaged Adam as a replacement for Whelan. EDIT: Oddly, one player who could certainly have played the Whelan role was Abdy (not Amdy) Faye. For some reason TP never used him there although he had played in the position successfully for Bolton , so I think you can say he probably was signed to compete with Whelan. Adam, N'Zonzi & Edu all signed around the same time (same day?), signing three midfielders in one day would signal an intent from most managers that he would be replacing the current incumbent. I can't for the life of me remember what game(s) it was but Pulis did definitely use Abdy in midfield and I think he did perform well. Despite him being majestic in that first season, and undoubtedly a big factor in the player Ryan has become today, Abdy was a player on the turn, starting to regress he could never have lasted playing in the middle of the park, plus he was just too valuable in the heart of the defence. In TP's days we only ever played with two central midfielders so ANY central midfielder we signed would be playing alongside any other central midfielder. When Whitehead played with Delap it was Whitehead who tended to play in the box to box role, when he played with Whelan it was Whitehead who tended to play in the box to box role. He was by nature a box to boxer and that's how he tended to play. Whelan was not a box to boxer and always tended to be the more defensive of the two central midfielders whoever his partner was except if TP wanted to shut up shop, when Whelan, and anyone else in central midfield, played defensively. |
|
|
|
Post by dadofsam on Dec 18, 2014 10:50:19 GMT
All this attacking midfielder talk will have Tone spinning in his dugout - remember "the cage" and "the back 8"
|
|
|
|
Post by Fenparkpotter on Dec 18, 2014 10:59:00 GMT
All this attacking midfielder talk will have Tone spinning in his dugout - remember "the cage" and "the back 8" I originally thought Whelan was too well practiced in the cage system to adapt - his "heat map" statistics must have formed a perfect square over a season under TP! Obviously he was really trustworthy to do his job, and has done fantastic since MH took charge. Thought we'd lost a real gem when we sold Eustace, but bringing in Whelan around the same time worked out remarkably. |
|
|
|
Post by 2004 on Dec 18, 2014 11:13:54 GMT
Whelan has been quality for us for only 500k as well!
|
|
|
|
Post by chiefdelilah on Dec 18, 2014 11:24:14 GMT
I thought Abdy showed pretty convincingly in that Everton game why he wasn't suited to a two man midfield.
|
|
|
|
Post by metalhead on Dec 18, 2014 13:54:32 GMT
Certainly hope he stays.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kjones9 on Dec 18, 2014 13:56:40 GMT
Evolution.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChesterStokie on Dec 18, 2014 14:13:18 GMT
When Whitehead first signed, he was playing alongside Delap in the middle of the park, so I think you can say he probably was signed to compete with Whelan. Adam, N'Zonzi & Edu all signed around the same time (same day?), signing three midfielders in one day would signal an intent from most managers that he would be replacing the current incumbent. I can't for the life of me remember what game(s) it was but Pulis did definitely use Abdy in midfield and I think he did perform well. Despite him being majestic in that first season, and undoubtedly a big factor in the player Ryan has become today, Abdy was a player on the turn, starting to regress he could never have lasted playing in the middle of the park, plus he was just too valuable in the heart of the defence. In TP's days we only ever played with two central midfielders so ANY central midfielder we signed would be playing alongside any other central midfielder. When Whitehead played with Delap it was Whitehead who tended to play in the box to box role, when he played with Whelan it was Whitehead who tended to play in the box to box role. He was by nature a box to boxer and that's how he tended to play. Whelan was not a box to boxer and always tended to be the more defensive of the two central midfielders whoever his partner was except if TP wanted to shut up shop, when Whelan, and anyone else in central midfield, played defensively. Box to box central midfield players under Pulis? That made me laugh. I take it you mean our own box to our own box? |
|
|
|
Post by Laughing Gravy on Dec 18, 2014 19:05:58 GMT
In TP's days we only ever played with two central midfielders so ANY central midfielder we signed would be playing alongside any other central midfielder. When Whitehead played with Delap it was Whitehead who tended to play in the box to box role, when he played with Whelan it was Whitehead who tended to play in the box to box role. He was by nature a box to boxer and that's how he tended to play. Whelan was not a box to boxer and always tended to be the more defensive of the two central midfielders whoever his partner was except if TP wanted to shut up shop, when Whelan, and anyone else in central midfield, played defensively. Box to box central midfield players under Pulis? That made me laugh. I take it you mean our own box to our own box? Six yard box to 18 yard box. |
|
