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Post by stokecitydom on Aug 15, 2015 16:15:04 GMT
Firstly, great comeback & in the end it was thoroughly deserved. Special mention to Ireland & Arnautovic who I thought were superb.
I just think we still lack that presence in the centre midfield. Someone who can impose themselves onto the game. Someone who can stick his foot in when we're up against it, but on the other hand keep us ticking over when we are in control.
As I type this it dawns on me that I'm describing N'Zonzi, but I'm just not convinced we have adequately replaced him.
It's all well & good having the flair & skillful players like Arnie, Bojan & Shaqiri but if we cannot keep the ball & get it to them, then they become ineffective.
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Post by stokiojoe on Aug 15, 2015 16:17:27 GMT
Absolutely agree 100%
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2015 16:19:02 GMT
It's difficult. I know he's trying with Van Ginkel and Afellay but neither looked superb today. I guess in time we'll see. There will only really be the N'Zonzi role to fill when Bojan returns, so it's a 3-4 way battle for it.
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Post by Paul Spencer on Aug 15, 2015 16:24:31 GMT
Firstly, great comeback & in the end it was thoroughly deserved. Special mention to Ireland & Arnautovic who I thought were superb. I just think we still lack that presence in the centre midfield. Someone who can impose themselves onto the game. Someone who can stick his foot in when we're up against it, but on the other hand keep us ticking over when we are in control. As I type this it dawns on me that I'm describing N'Zonzi, but I'm just not convinced we have adequately replaced him. It's all well & good having the flair & skillful players like Arnie, Bojan & Shaqiri but if we cannot keep the ball & get it to them, then they become ineffective. It's hard to argue with any of that. First half we were completely overrun in midfield. Neither Afellay or MVG seemed able to put their foot in and impose themselves on the game. However it's still (very) early days and it's difficult to asses how good they're going to be until they have a chance to acclimatise.
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Post by stokecitydom on Aug 15, 2015 16:27:53 GMT
It's difficult. I know he's trying with Van Ginkel and Afellay but neither looked superb today. I guess in time we'll see. There will only really be the N'Zonzi role to fill when Bojan returns, so it's a 3-4 way battle for it. I'm not writing anyone off as it's obviously very early. I didn't think Affelay had the best of game but I think he'll be good cover for numerous positions. With regards to Van Ginkel, I haven't seen much of him, but I'm just not sure he's what we need in there. Hopefully I'm proved wrong & he turns out to be just what we need.
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Post by wearepremierleague on Aug 15, 2015 16:28:58 GMT
CM is the most important position on the pitch IMO. What we have isnt good enough
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2015 16:29:14 GMT
I think we need to splash out on one more player. A midfielder. Who? Fuck knows
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Post by Jimm on Aug 15, 2015 16:31:04 GMT
Youri Tielemans. 18, Huge resale value and someone who bridges defence to attack
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Post by greystokie on Aug 15, 2015 16:33:18 GMT
Firstly, great comeback & in the end it was thoroughly deserved. Special mention to Ireland & Arnautovic who I thought were superb. I just think we still lack that presence in the centre midfield. Someone who can impose themselves onto the game. Someone who can stick his foot in when we're up against it, but on the other hand keep us ticking over when we are in control. As I type this it dawns on me that I'm describing N'Zonzi, but I'm just not convinced we have adequately replaced him. It's all well & good having the flair & skillful players like Arnie, Bojan & Shaqiri but if we cannot keep the ball & get it to them, then they become ineffective. It's hard to argue with any of that. First half we were completely overrun in midfield. Neither Afellay or MVG seemed able to put their foot in and impose themselves on the game. However it's still (very) early days and it's difficult to asses how good they're going to be until they have a chance to acclimatise. Yes, I agree. I don't think there's a ready made Nzonzi replacement out there that we could afford. Both MVG and Aff have the pedigree and I think they just need a bit of time to adjust to the Prem and to playing in a Stoke side. In saying that, I'd certainly start Ireland next week!
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Post by smudger46 on Aug 15, 2015 16:34:34 GMT
Firstly, great comeback & in the end it was thoroughly deserved. Special mention to Ireland & Arnautovic who I thought were superb. I just think we still lack that presence in the centre midfield. Someone who can impose themselves onto the game. Someone who can stick his foot in when we're up against it, but on the other hand keep us ticking over when we are in control. As I type this it dawns on me that I'm describing N'Zonzi, but I'm just not convinced we have adequately replaced him. It's all well & good having the flair & skillful players like Arnie, Bojan & Shaqiri but if we cannot keep the ball & get it to them, then they become ineffective. why not give the man that turned the tide in the second half a run of a few games , I don't think starting the odd game here and there helps a player so as I say give Ireland a chance imo
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Post by jezzascfc on Aug 15, 2015 16:38:37 GMT
Ireland can play the number 10 role like no other player in the squad in Bojan's absence. Neither Affelay nor Rip seemed comfortable - caught between staying and going far too frequently. Ireland made a huge difference in linking play in the attacking third, especially in combination with Arnie (who was MOM for us I'd say). He has to start next week on that form, with one of Rip and Affelay scheming behind him.
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Post by stokemanusa on Aug 15, 2015 16:40:02 GMT
Youri Tielemans. 18, Huge resale value and someone who bridges defence to attack Belgium is a hot bed for young inexpensive talent atm. Anderlecht and Brugge especially. It's the new eredivisie of the 90's and early 2000's.
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Post by ayem on Aug 15, 2015 16:43:06 GMT
I'm still thinking give them time, but there were obvious problems in the midfield. Affelay runs about with the ball too much and didn't allow play to build. Mvg still doesn't have a grasp on the team. But altogether they've has two games against two good teams and may come good at Norwich.
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Post by Jimm on Aug 15, 2015 16:43:12 GMT
Youri Tielemans. 18, Huge resale value and someone who bridges defence to attack Belgium is a hot bed for young inexpensive talent atm. Anderlecht and Brugge especially. It's the new eredivisie of the 90's and early 2000's. Yep, so much young talent over there. If you take a risk, the reward can be massive. I've seen Youri Tielemans a few times and he's a fine central midfielder who can control the pace, defend and run forward with the ball
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Post by stokie1997 on Aug 15, 2015 16:49:03 GMT
I seriously think that Leroy Fer on loan would be a good signing for us, similar player to nzonzi, decent defending from midfield and linking up the play. Plus he'd help defending corners with his height. He'd be worth a loan
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Post by stokecitydom on Aug 15, 2015 17:14:38 GMT
Firstly, great comeback & in the end it was thoroughly deserved. Special mention to Ireland & Arnautovic who I thought were superb. I just think we still lack that presence in the centre midfield. Someone who can impose themselves onto the game. Someone who can stick his foot in when we're up against it, but on the other hand keep us ticking over when we are in control. As I type this it dawns on me that I'm describing N'Zonzi, but I'm just not convinced we have adequately replaced him. It's all well & good having the flair & skillful players like Arnie, Bojan & Shaqiri but if we cannot keep the ball & get it to them, then they become ineffective. why not give the man that turned the tide in the second half a run of a few games , I don't think starting the odd game here and there helps a player so as I say give Ireland a chance imo I like Ireland & I think he's a useful player, especially away from home. However, when everyone is fit then surely you'd expect Bojan to be in that attacking midfield role. I don't think Ireland would be the man to be sit alongside Whelan.
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boz
Spectator
Posts: 33
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Post by boz on Aug 15, 2015 18:46:18 GMT
Got to agree, don't think we have replaced nzonzi directly, in the two games so far he has been a big miss. Someone has mentioned Leroy Fer, what about Alex Song, did well at West Ham.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2015 18:50:04 GMT
I agree that we would benefit from a central midfielder who can dominate away from home,but let's not pretend that Nzonzi did this regularly because I'm struggling to think of many games where he did.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2015 18:55:13 GMT
I think Fonzy has dropped a bollock leaving when he did, he could have lead this team to anywhere he wanted.
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Post by upthefud on Aug 15, 2015 18:54:57 GMT
I know I keep banging this same drum but until MVG finds his feet it's between Sidwell and Adam, Charlie has to start for me.
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Post by stokerstayinup on Aug 15, 2015 19:00:02 GMT
Firstly, great comeback & in the end it was thoroughly deserved. Special mention to Ireland & Arnautovic who I thought were superb. I just think we still lack that presence in the centre midfield. Someone who can impose themselves onto the game. Someone who can stick his foot in when we're up against it, but on the other hand keep us ticking over when we are in control. As I type this it dawns on me that I'm describing N'Zonzi, but I'm just not convinced we have adequately replaced him. It's all well & good having the flair & skillful players like Arnie, Bojan & Shaqiri but if we cannot keep the ball & get it to them, then they become ineffective. Ireland is our most under rated player.
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Post by Gary Hackett on Aug 15, 2015 19:56:56 GMT
I'd start Whelan and Adam next week behind Ireland as the centre 3. Van Ginkel needs time and to be eased in slowly same as Allefay but he looks purely like he's better out on the left to me.
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Post by sportsman on Aug 15, 2015 20:01:01 GMT
I agree that we would benefit from a central midfielder who can dominate away from home,but let's not pretend that Nzonzi did this regularly because I'm struggling to think of many games where he did. Fucking bang on. Getting sick of this nzonzi bollocks now. Fans are moaning now about the same things I moaned at about nzonzi for years. Nzonzi was quiet and anonymous for 90% of his games, yet now he's fucking zidane.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2015 20:07:10 GMT
I agree that we would benefit from a central midfielder who can dominate away from home,but let's not pretend that Nzonzi did this regularly because I'm struggling to think of many games where he did. Fucking bang on. Getting sick of this nzonzi bollocks now. Fans are moaning now about the same things I moaned at about nzonzi for years. Nzonzi was quiet and anonymous for 90% of his games, yet now he's fucking zidane. Don't get me wrong,I rated Nzonzi and he was superb for us under Hughes' reign. But I don't remember him controlling many games away from home at all. I know that it would be pretty difficult for us to sign a midfielder who has the attributes to do this but a lot of Stoke fans seem to be pretending that Nzonzi was that good that he used to do such a thing,when he didn't.
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