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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 21:52:47 GMT
"I have concerns for both of these clubs.
Stoke's problem won't come this season. It's true that they haven't been as formidable at home this season with just four wins and 12 goals from their 10 home league games.
But just two defeats in their last 10 matches would point to a pretty solid outfit that will stay up with ease. They might even notch up a highest top-flight finish since they were fifth 40 years ago.
But sooner or later Mark Hughes is going to have to break up this ageing side. Only five of his squad are under 25 and, of those, Bojan is out for the rest of the season. The manager will have to think hard about new blood and work hard to assimilate them into his system"
Whilst he's right about under 25's, is our squad an ageing one bearing in mind players don't reach their prime until their late 20's?
Begovic 27
Bardsley 29
Shawcross 27
Wollscheid 25
Muniesa 22
N'Zonzi 26
Whelan 31
Arnautovic 25
Ireland 28
Moses 24
Walters 31
Butland 21, Cameron 29, Huth 30, Wilson 27, Pieters 26, Sidwell 32, Adam 29, Bojan 24, Diouf 27, Crouch 34, Odemwingie 33.
Not loads of teenagers or players in their early 20's admittedly, but arguably the next 2 seasons should see a large part of their squad in their prime. Seems to me like he's written a load of old bollocks there to be fair......
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Post by Olgrligm on Jan 30, 2015 21:54:12 GMT
It seems to me we have a pretty good balance. It would be nice to have a few up and comers from the youth team, but I'd say the blend of ages across the first team squad is about right.
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Post by Davef on Jan 30, 2015 21:56:04 GMT
I think he also meant to say "highest top flight finish since they finished 9th one year ago".
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 30, 2015 21:56:31 GMT
Jonathan Pearce is one of Tony Pulis' best friends.
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Post by outspaced on Jan 30, 2015 22:05:22 GMT
JP's brain is addled. His reaction to that France goal in the World Cup confirmed that.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 22:06:46 GMT
I would say that the squad is in its prime ....????????
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Post by stokiejoeofalsager on Jan 30, 2015 22:07:03 GMT
I think he also meant to say "highest top flight finish since they finished 9th one year ago". Yeah, can't see us notching fourth to be fair, but wishful thinking from him it has to be said. |
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Post by stokeramblers on Jan 30, 2015 22:08:42 GMT
Jonathan Pearce is one of Tony Pulis' best friends. Was just about to put the same. We've got his good friend Tony to thank for this ageing squad..! |
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Post by unknown182 on Jan 30, 2015 22:11:13 GMT
It's just a reaction of a guy that's probably never watched us play this year and has been asked what his thoughts are. Errrrm... Aging squad? yeah, that'll do.
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Post by boothenboy75 on Jan 30, 2015 22:11:39 GMT
Every single side is an ageing side, that's life Johnny you fat twat.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 22:15:43 GMT
In short, he's talking shit.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 22:20:10 GMT
We have the perfect balance, I'm not even slightly worried! As long as you have a couple players on FIFA with a potential of over 80 you're doing just fine!  |
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Post by sportsman on Jan 30, 2015 22:21:53 GMT
Can't stand his voice on commentary
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Post by DentySCFC on Jan 30, 2015 22:25:12 GMT
Should've sticked to Robot Wars.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 22:29:55 GMT
Should've sticked to Robot Wars. Preferred him on Hole in The Wall myself.... |
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Jan 30, 2015 22:30:00 GMT
Can't stand his voice on commentary His idea of top notch football commentary seems to be to scream as loud as he can. It clearly impresses the managers at the BBC. Plus he is a big mate of TP. Surely that can't have coloured his view of SCFC and Mark Hughes can it? |
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Post by thedeadlyshart on Jan 30, 2015 22:34:02 GMT
The majority of our squad will be slowing down considerably in the next couple of years. So, he's right, we do need to bring in some younger players in the next couple of windows if we want to maintain our current status of not having to worry about relegation. We are not in trouble yet though.
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Post by lordb on Jan 30, 2015 22:35:12 GMT
He's got a point but he's over played it.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Jan 30, 2015 22:38:17 GMT
He's got a point but he's over played it. He could apply it to almost every team in the country though. It's just column filling bollocks. |
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Post by coates on Jan 30, 2015 22:39:04 GMT
Considering players aren't in their prime until they are about 26 that is aload of shite, any ageing squad is a team full of lots of 29,30+ players not under 26/27.
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Post by coates on Jan 30, 2015 22:41:47 GMT
"I have concerns for both of these clubs.
Stoke's problem won't come this season. It's true that they haven't been as formidable at home this season with just four wins and 12 goals from their 10 home league games.
But just two defeats in their last 10 matches would point to a pretty solid outfit that will stay up with ease. They might even notch up a highest top-flight finish since they were fifth 40 years ago.
But sooner or later Mark Hughes is going to have to break up this ageing side. Only five of his squad are under 25 and, of those, Bojan is out for the rest of the season. The manager will have to think hard about new blood and work hard to assimilate them into his system"
Whilst he's right about under 25's, is our squad an ageing one bearing in mind players don't reach their prime until their late 20's? Begovic 27 Bardsley 29 Shawcross 27 Wollscheid 25 Muniesa 22 N'Zonzi 26 Whelan 31 Arnautovic 25 Ireland 28 Moses 24 Walters 31 Butland 21, Cameron 29, Huth 30, Wilson 27, Pieters 26, Sidwell 32, Adam 29, Bojan 24, Diouf 27, Crouch 34, Odemwingie 33. Not loads of teenagers or players in their early 20's admittedly, but arguably the next 2 seasons should see a large part of their squad in their prime. Seems to me like he's written a load of old bollocks there to be fair...... not sure where he is going with the under 25 thing, players don't peak for another year or two. |
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Jan 30, 2015 22:47:17 GMT
How is Adam only 29?
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Jan 30, 2015 22:49:57 GMT
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Post by skip on Jan 30, 2015 22:53:15 GMT
Talking of his arse. Do you honestly think Hughes hasn't thought not so much the age as the pace of the squad?
Pierce - you fat non-experienced twat.
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Post by Gods on Jan 30, 2015 22:53:50 GMT
3rd oldest squad in the Prem 2014/15 according to this report, not a whole lot in it in truth though. I think you need a few real men for what it's worth  Manchester City 29,2 Queens Park Rangers 28,6 Stoke City 28,3 Leicester City 28,2 West Bromwich Albion 28,2 Everton FC 28,1 Burnley FC 27,9 Sunderland AFC 27,8 Crystal Palace 27,5 Hull City 27,4 West Ham United 27,4 Aston Villa 26,7 Chelsea FC 26,7 Swansea City 26,2 Tottenham Hotspur 26,2 Liverpool 26,0 Manchester United 26,0 Arsenal FC 25,9 Newcastle United 25,6 Southampton 25,3 |
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Post by hartzchoco on Jan 30, 2015 22:58:49 GMT
Yes. Fucking shocking, but yes. |
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Post by ashleyscfc on Jan 30, 2015 23:01:02 GMT
Can't say I dis-agree with the sentiment. We need to bring the average of the squad down. Especially if we wanted to balance the books by reselling players. Buying players under 25 will be far more beneficial long term, especially if we want to sell them too.
I was hoping with being linked with the likes of shaqiri, bakkali, roberto, traore. That we would be looking at building a younger squad to kick on together.
I can honestly say the thought of another two years with crouch and Whelan as regular starters is disheartening. We need to move forward, other players have shown their quality but this idea we have players that are either work horses or skill full is complete nonsense as we have seen with the Spanish pair.
Hopefully this will change in the summer as the days for Adam and Whelan in a midfield role or crouch as a static forward on his own should be numbered
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 23:05:40 GMT
The average age of the team against Rochdale was 26. If you replaced Wilson with Muniesa who's the better player arguably then it goes down even further.
A couple of youngsters to bolster the squad and that's pretty healthy as far as I'm concerned
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Post by foster on Jan 30, 2015 23:07:56 GMT
"I have concerns for both of these clubs.
Stoke's problem won't come this season. It's true that they haven't been as formidable at home this season with just four wins and 12 goals from their 10 home league games.
But just two defeats in their last 10 matches would point to a pretty solid outfit that will stay up with ease. They might even notch up a highest top-flight finish since they were fifth 40 years ago.
But sooner or later Mark Hughes is going to have to break up this ageing side. Only five of his squad are under 25 and, of those, Bojan is out for the rest of the season. The manager will have to think hard about new blood and work hard to assimilate them into his system"
Whilst he's right about under 25's, is our squad an ageing one bearing in mind players don't reach their prime until their late 20's? Begovic 27 Bardsley 29 Shawcross 27 Wollscheid 25 Muniesa 22 N'Zonzi 26 Whelan 31 Arnautovic 25 Ireland 28 Moses 24 Walters 31 Butland 21, Cameron 29, Huth 30, Wilson 27, Pieters 26, Sidwell 32, Adam 29, Bojan 24, Diouf 27, Crouch 34, Odemwingie 33. Not loads of teenagers or players in their early 20's admittedly, but arguably the next 2 seasons should see a large part of their squad in their prime. Seems to me like he's written a load of old bollocks there to be fair...... I agree. 1 attacker and a winger this year would solve the ageing problem. Not that there is one. |
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Post by hartzchoco on Jan 30, 2015 23:22:39 GMT
I think its a bucket of piss.
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