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Post by trickydicky73 on Sept 13, 2015 6:34:42 GMT
I am struggling, to be honest. Who are our nailed on starters? Who can be relied upon to organise us into something like the team from last season?
Is anyone genuinely worried, or will we come good? I am getting a bit concerned, because other teams have improved and I don't see many games where I can say "We'll beat these" with any confidence.
Say something that will soothe me before I go all Biscuity!
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Post by wearestoke80 on Sept 13, 2015 7:53:50 GMT
I would say, butland, muni and whelan are nailed on staters
I'm not worried just yet. We have to give the likes of Shaqiri, Joselu and, afellay time to adjust to the premier league. We should definitely start bojan next week, we look a miles better side with him in it. We really could do with 6 points from the next 2 home games
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Post by cobhamstokey on Sept 13, 2015 8:03:18 GMT
For me nailed on starters are
GK Butland RB Johnson LB Eric DM Whelan AM Bojan when fit RW Shaq CF Diouf
Our best side
GK Butland
RB Johnson CB Ryan when fit CB Muni LB Eric
DM Whelan DM GCam (though only by default) would be Chsrlie at home but too much of a loose cannon
LW Arni AM Bojan when fit Ireland when not RW Shaq
CF Diouf
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Post by Bombus on Sept 13, 2015 8:08:18 GMT
At home with everyone fit and ready I'd play:
Butland
Johnson Shawcross (C) Muniesa Pieters
Whelan Van Ginkel
Shaqiri Bojan Arnautovic
Crouch
Away:
Butland
Johnson Shawcross (C) Muniesa Pieters
Whelan Cameron
Walters Bojan Shaqiri
Diouf
Or something like that anyway - I still think Crouch has a lot to offer with the right players around him.
Struggling to find a place for Afellay, Adam, Ireland and Joselu?
Give it some time. I thought we played well against both Liverpool and Tottenham. With eleven men (or even with ten) we probably would've grabbed the three points against West Brom more or less with ease.
Stoke City 4 Leicester City 1
COME ON!!!!!!!
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Post by Bombus on Sept 13, 2015 8:09:16 GMT
For me nailed on starters are GK Butland RB Johnson LB Eric DM Whelan AM Bojan when fit RW Shaq CF Diouf Our best side GK Butland RB Johnson CB Ryan when fit CB Muni LB Eric DM Whelan DM GCam (though only by default) would be Chsrlie at home but too much of a loose cannon LW Arni AM Bojan when fit Ireland when not RW Shaq CF Diouf +1, mate.
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Post by premiershipteamfor10years on Sept 13, 2015 8:10:19 GMT
I just don't understand why so many Stoke fans rate Muniesa as a CB.
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Post by stokemark on Sept 13, 2015 8:22:50 GMT
I just don't understand why so many Stoke fans rate Muniesa as a CB. Because he is a likeable guy with a new song about him ?
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Post by nutterpotter on Sept 13, 2015 8:29:38 GMT
I just don't understand why so many Stoke fans rate Muniesa as a CB. Well if Shawcross rates him (he said Muniesa will play for Spain), that's enough for me.
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Post by roylandstoke on Sept 13, 2015 8:58:12 GMT
Starters for me would be: GK Butland RB Johnson/Cameron/Wilson/Wilko (my opinion of Bardsley drops pretty much every time I see him play) LB Erik CB Ryan(when fit)+ Muni(with no Ryan Muni and Cameron or Wilson)
Actually just trying to pick our best without Ryan shows how comprimised our line up becomes. We have a few players who are of similar levels and make good stand ins and only adequte starters. We only really have one nailed on CB and one definite holding midfielder. Almost by default Ryan and Glenn have become the most valuable players in the squad.
Once Ryan is back I would try Cameron next to Glenn. At the moment it could be worth trying to get the two CBs and Whelan's partner from Muni, Cameron and Wilson. Van Ginkel may turn out to be a decent player but at the moment he does not have the attributes needed. He may be more suited to a role where he can push forward from midfield but we have much better options for that role already.
We seem to have a squad full of No. 10s; Bojan, Shaqiri, Ireland) and creating a formation that can accommodate our best players is proving very difficult. Maybe when Ryan is back fit the defence will be so much more solid that we can do without the second defensive midfielder. With N'Zonzi back we have a top 6 squad; without him we have been very unbalanced. Is Charlie disciplined enough to play alongside Whelan? His stupidity against Albion would have earned him a final warning if I had been in charge. Could we try Ireland there, I know it's not his best role but he does keep the ball better than most and he should have the experience to adapt to playing deeper.
All that said I'd try: GK Butland RB Johnson LB Erik CB Muni CB Cameron
CM Whelan CM Ireland RW Shaq ( I would ask him to stay in the wide position more too) LW Arnie 10 Bojan CF Diouf
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Post by Stokeontrent on Sept 13, 2015 9:26:37 GMT
Gk / Butland
Rb / Johnson Cb / Shawcross (wilson why hes out) Cb / Muniesa Lb / Pieters
Cm / Whelan Cm / Cameron
Rw / shaqiri Cam / bojan Lw / arnautovic
St / diouf
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2015 11:17:09 GMT
I seem to recall we had the same discussion this time last season. It takes Hughes a couple of months to work it out
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Post by LphPotter on Sept 13, 2015 11:17:08 GMT
I just don't understand why so many Stoke fans rate Muniesa as a CB. Because he's very good there
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Post by upthefud on Sept 13, 2015 11:27:31 GMT
I think when everyone is fit id look to play:
Butland
Johnson Shawcross Muni Pieters
Whelan Adam
Shaqiri Bojan Affelay
Diouf.
With current options
Butland
Johnson Cameron Wilson Pieters
Whelan Sidwell
Shaqiri Ireland Arnie
Diouf
Muniesa looks half the player he is when he doesn't have Ryan alongside him
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Post by basingstokie on Sept 13, 2015 11:33:42 GMT
Just for shits and giggles
Butland; Johnson, Ryan, HUTH, Pieters Nzonzi, Whelan Shaqiri, Bojan, Arnie fuller
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Post by huddy on Sept 13, 2015 11:36:41 GMT
My problem is the manager doesn't know his best eleven!
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Post by bertiestan on Sept 13, 2015 11:43:42 GMT
I just don't understand why so many Stoke fans rate Muniesa as a CB. Because he's very good there I don't think he is though phil, people are blinded cos of where he came from, I've been saying it for ages that he's very over rated.
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Post by LphPotter on Sept 13, 2015 11:51:12 GMT
Because he's very good there I don't think he is though phil, people are blinded cos of where he came from, I've been saying it for ages that he's very over rated. He hasn't had the best start to the season, but he is a very good centre back, surely you saw that last season?
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Post by stokester1989 on Sept 13, 2015 12:06:41 GMT
BUTLAND
Not Sure not sure not sure not sure
Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure
Not Sure Not Sure
Manager : Stokester1989
Bench : Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure
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Post by bertiestan on Sept 13, 2015 12:12:06 GMT
I don't think he is though phil, people are blinded cos of where he came from, I've been saying it for ages that he's very over rated. He hasn't had the best start to the season, but he is a very good centre back, surely you saw that last season? His height and speed worry me a lot, having said that he looks more comfortable at the back with Ryan
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Post by ashleyscfc on Sept 13, 2015 12:44:01 GMT
For next week it's:
------------------- Butland Johnson/Bardsley Wilson Muni pieters ------------- Cameron - sidwell ------------ ---- Shapiri ----- bojan ----- Arnautovic - --------------------- diouf --------------------
Whelan and MVG were shocking for me yesterday.
When everyone's fit I'd play shawcross, maybe MVG with Cameron in midfield and definitely Johnson.
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Post by LphPotter on Sept 13, 2015 12:46:21 GMT
For next week it's: ------------------- Butland Johnson/Bardsley Wilson Muni pieters ------------- Cameron - sidwell ------------ ---- Shapiri ----- bojan ----- Arnautovic - --------------------- diouf -------------------- Whelan and MVG were shocking for me yesterday. When everyone's fit I'd play shawcross, maybe MVG with Cameron in midfield and definitely Johnson. Surely you can't drop Whelan just because of one poor game? So far this season, along with Butland, he has been our best player.
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Post by ashleyscfc on Sept 13, 2015 12:47:08 GMT
For next week it's: ------------------- Butland Johnson/Bardsley Wilson Muni pieters ------------- Cameron - sidwell ------------ ---- Shapiri ----- bojan ----- Arnautovic - --------------------- diouf -------------------- Whelan and MVG were shocking for me yesterday. When everyone's fit I'd play shawcross, maybe MVG with Cameron in midfield and definitely Johnson. Surely you can't drop Whelan just because of one poor game? So far this season, along with Butland, he has been our best player. Not because of one poor game. Because we have no player that did the work for him that nzonzi did and therefore he needs replacing with two players
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Post by Bera’s Beano on Sept 13, 2015 12:55:59 GMT
Surely you can't drop Whelan just because of one poor game? So far this season, along with Butland, he has been our best player. Not because of one poor game. Because we have no player that did the work for him that nzonzi did and therefore he needs replacing with two players That makes so little sense I'm speechless. So you're dropping him because there's no one in the squad who can play with him? Instead you'd replace him with 2 players to do his job and still have no-one to do the "N'Zonzi" job? (The N'Zonzi role does not exist, no player should be compared to N'Zonzi and generally writing a player off because he isn't as good as N'Zonzi at being N'Zonzi is just idiotic).
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Post by ashleyscfc on Sept 13, 2015 12:58:48 GMT
Not because of one poor game. Because we have no player that did the work for him that nzonzi did and therefore he needs replacing with two players That makes so little sense I'm speechless. So you're dropping him because there's no one in the squad who can play with him? Instead you'd replace him with 2 players to do his job and still have no-one to do the "N'Zonzi" job? (The N'Zonzi role does not exist, no player should be compared to N'Zonzi and generally writing a player off because he isn't as good as N'Zonzi at being N'Zonzi is just idiotic). Yes because as we all know, there's no player in the squad like nzonzi. Therefore whelans inability to get up and down the pitch, dribble, keep hold of the ball and challenge is made all the more apparent. Therefore, and I'd do it anyway even if we'd still got nzonzi, he should be dropped for a better combination. Which for me should be sidwell and Cameron or sidwell and MVG
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Post by crapslinger on Sept 13, 2015 12:58:52 GMT
BUTLAND Not Sure not sure not sure not sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Manager : Stokester1989 Bench : Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Not Sure Is that you MH.
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Post by Bera’s Beano on Sept 13, 2015 13:06:10 GMT
That makes so little sense I'm speechless. So you're dropping him because there's no one in the squad who can play with him? Instead you'd replace him with 2 players to do his job and still have no-one to do the "N'Zonzi" job? (The N'Zonzi role does not exist, no player should be compared to N'Zonzi and generally writing a player off because he isn't as good as N'Zonzi at being N'Zonzi is just idiotic). Yes because as we all know, there's no player in the squad like nzonzi. Therefore whelans inability to get up and down the pitch, dribble, keep hold of the ball and challenge is made all the more apparent. Therefore, and I'd do it anyway even if we'd still got nzonzi, he should be dropped for a better combination. Which for me should be sidwell and Cameron or sidwell and MVG But compared to Whelan, Sidwell is a steaming pile of shite who shouldn't be any nearer to our starting 11 than Texeira. Whelan does the exact job he needs to do, he breaks up play, passes fine without the flare as he just has to play the simple pass, yes yesterday he was awful, but he was surrounded by 9 other awful outfield players on the day. It was an off day for all, away to Arsenal who will be challenging for the title and where they press much higher than most teams in the league. How anyone can call for Whelan to be dropped so far this season is beyond me, it is your opinion and fair enough but as far as I'm concerned at the moment with how fragile we look, you take Whelan out of the line up and every game looks like a defeat from Kick off. I'd play Cameron next to Whelan if I thought we had another CB who I was ok to bring in but I can't stand the thought of Wilson or Wollscheid at CB for 90mins as they give me many many heart attacks through games in situations where even the most average defender would be fine. I believe Hughes would play Cameron next to Whelan if he had any faith in Wilson or Wollscheid, which does beg the question why he didn't get a centre back in the window, although Jedinak can play there and in Midfield which I assume was the thinking, but for some reason his wages weren't met. Big Problems at the moment, but as far as I'm concerned it will all be fine and we'll finish 11th.
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Post by chiefdelilah on Sept 13, 2015 13:08:06 GMT
That makes so little sense I'm speechless. So you're dropping him because there's no one in the squad who can play with him? Instead you'd replace him with 2 players to do his job and still have no-one to do the "N'Zonzi" job? (The N'Zonzi role does not exist, no player should be compared to N'Zonzi and generally writing a player off because he isn't as good as N'Zonzi at being N'Zonzi is just idiotic). Yes because as we all know, there's no player in the squad like nzonzi. Therefore whelans inability to get up and down the pitch, dribble, keep hold of the ball and challenge is made all the more apparent. Therefore, and I'd do it anyway even if we'd still got nzonzi, he should be dropped for a better combination. Which for me should be sidwell and Cameron or sidwell and MVG It isn't his job to 'get up and down'. He's a HOLDING MIDFIELDER.
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Post by march4 on Sept 13, 2015 13:10:40 GMT
3 positions are nailed down certainties; Butland, Whelan and Walters.
The rest is much of a muchness.
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Post by stokiemarc on Sept 13, 2015 13:50:55 GMT
Dropping Whelan would be suicidal at the moment. Think he was probably just a bit tired yesterday and it showed in the first 20 mins but he settled into it after that.
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Post by Kjones9 on Sept 13, 2015 14:07:03 GMT
Next match I'd go:
Butland
Johnson Wilson Muniesa Peiters
Cameron Whelan
Shaqiri Ireland Arnautovic
Diouf
2 defensive, holding midfielders. Let the rest worry about attacking.
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