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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 6:09:24 GMT
He's fun to watch. If we're going for a 3 man midfield and not putting Bojan at #10 then I'd far rather Imbula there than Allen.
That aside I don't know how it's going to work out, but I'm just enjoying seeing him and Bojan play again.
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Post by mouseykanga2 on Jul 13, 2017 6:13:26 GMT
Far better infront of 2 solid midfielders, he can roam forward knowing that he has a backup behind him. He his a very good player.
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Post by nott1 on Jul 13, 2017 6:15:15 GMT
Our best player preseason..........and now we are getting rid!!!!!
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Post by mouseykanga2 on Jul 13, 2017 6:18:19 GMT
His confidence was shot because to much was made of him losing the ball. He takes men on which won't work out all the time. He doesn't become a bad player overnight. A young ya ya in the making !
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jul 13, 2017 6:19:22 GMT
He's a £18 million signing... Money isn't always representative of the quality you get though is it Imbula £18 Million - Largely shite for most of his time here Arnie £2 Million - Good Palacios £8 Million- Shite N'Zonzi £3.5 Million - Good Maurice Edu Free - IncredibleDidn't think Palacios was that good
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Post by FullerMagic on Jul 13, 2017 6:19:33 GMT
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/stoke-on-tour-stoke-reject-loan-offers-for-record-signing-giannelli-imbula/story-30437688-detail/story.html"We've invested a lot of money in G. If a club comes and a bid is on the table that we think makes sense to us then we would consider it but at the moment no one has come up with anything that is attractive to us.
"It's more loans, which really we're not interested in to be perfectly honest."
"Giannelli is a good player. There are elements of his game where he needs to be stronger in and he understands that – and he's working to try to address that. That's what he has to do. He lost his way somewhat during the season and I couldn't really justify to myself or the other guys in the team to play him, given what he was able to produce.
"He understands he has to be better this year. He has made a good start in the first games."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 6:23:05 GMT
Him and Adam didn't offer much protection to the back four at all*. Him and Adam never have. That isn't their game and they are both spare men in a three. At Blackpool, Adam was a virtual quarterback with two ball winners in front of him.
Whelan hasn't offered much protection for seasons and Allen played too far forward last year to be even considered a partially effective shield.
The only shield we had in the midfield was Geoff Cameron, and even he can have his moments in there.
It's pretty obvious where our defensive issues are, and it's been obvious for seasons. Teams cut through the middle of our side and get straight at the back four far too easy.
Fletcher should help in that regard but we need younger, more vibrant legs in there or at least try to bring Allen back and reign him in a bit in the short term if we aren't investing in another body.
*From the 10 minutes or so that I saw of them together...
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Post by VolvicStokie on Jul 13, 2017 6:34:10 GMT
I think Imbulas problem was we all THOUGHT he was this defensive midfielder who would replace N Zonzi
When in reality, he's still so young and learning the game himself, he has bags of room for improvement.
Anyone with eyes can see, his strength is making players look fucking stupid by effortlessly gliding past them.
His weakness is defending. Ok... No biggy. All players have weaknesses.
Deploy him with a defensive midfielder behind him and let him be the play maker.
Not necessarily as a 'number 10' but a player who wants the ball and can get us moving from the middle.
Currently we're looking like we'll start with Fletcher and Allen. 2 wingers. A number 10 Then Berahino
Thats fine, but who gets the number 10 role will be so.. so important this season.
I suspect Bojan will get first dibs and a run in the team, if it doesn't work out well... Then I'd imagine there's a place up for grabs
Cmon G... Work your balls off to get in this side!
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Post by Claus_SCFC on Jul 13, 2017 6:50:25 GMT
Get rid!
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Post by cobhamstokey on Jul 13, 2017 6:56:56 GMT
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/stoke-on-tour-stoke-reject-loan-offers-for-record-signing-giannelli-imbula/story-30437688-detail/story.html"We've invested a lot of money in G. If a club comes and a bid is on the table that we think makes sense to us then we would consider it but at the moment no one has come up with anything that is attractive to us.
"It's more loans, which really we're not interested in to be perfectly honest."
"Giannelli is a good player. There are elements of his game where he needs to be stronger in and he understands that – and he's working to try to address that. That's what he has to do. He lost his way somewhat during the season and I couldn't really justify to myself or the other guys in the team to play him, given what he was able to produce.
"He understands he has to be better this year. He has made a good start in the first games."
Spot on analysis. I hope we're as tough with the Arnie deal and sell him for what he's worth.
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Post by MrPresident on Jul 13, 2017 7:00:02 GMT
Him and Adam didn't offer much protection to the back four at all*. Him and Adam never have. That isn't their game and they are both spare men in a three. At Blackpool, Adam was a virtual quarterback with two ball winners in front of him. Whelan hasn't offered much protection for seasons and Allen played too far forward last year to be even considered a partially effective shield. The only shield we had in the midfield was Geoff Cameron, and even he can have his moments in there. It's pretty obvious where our defensive issues are, and it's been obvious for seasons. Teams cut through the middle of our side and get straight at the back four far too easy. Fletcher should help in that regard but we need younger, more vibrant legs in there or at least try to bring Allen back and reign him in a bit in the short term if we aren't investing in another body. *From the 10 minutes or so that I saw of them together... Agree but I think it depends largely on our formation. 3 at the back with 2 wing backs, 1 holding player should be sufficient - especially now we've signed Fletcher who can do that CDM role better than anyone we had last season. Away from home against better opposition then maybe go with 2 sitting in, whether that's Fletcher & Cameron or Fletcher & Delph, I don't know but Imbula can't do that role
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 7:17:15 GMT
He was largely awful last season.
He still hasn't grasped the effort and defensive side to be a Prem footballer.
However reflecting on it I'd rather have him in my team than any other of our midfielders be cause when he does turn it on he's one of the best players I've seen.
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Post by towraytek on Jul 13, 2017 7:19:21 GMT
I'm no technical pundit but from MH comments in that Sentinel article it looks like we haven't given up on him. He comes over as being a good professional who has just lost his way a little. I would love this to work out for both club and player.
Ek
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Post by clarkeda on Jul 13, 2017 7:21:20 GMT
Could be like A new signing this year, along with Bojan.
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Post by wuzza on Jul 13, 2017 7:22:11 GMT
Was hoping for some sign that he had cottoned on to what was going wrong but all I've seen is a continuation of the same old problems - a lot of fairly aimless bursts forward and liable to be robbed of the ball in suicidal areas.
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Post by skelman on Jul 13, 2017 7:43:44 GMT
Could be like A new signing this year, along with Bojan. Thought he looked much more a part of the squad yesterday and had a pretty good run out last night. He' definitely got both talent and room to improve. Unfortunately for him he has an £18m label his forehead, which is not actually his fault. Maybe he needs a mentor and buddy and perhaps Darren Fletcher can offer that, following his illness. "Not one to bark orders, Fletcher orchestrates in a measured way that brings out the best in those around him". Perhaps we'll get the chance to see if a decent offer doesn't materialise
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Post by Jamo on the wing on Jul 13, 2017 7:53:51 GMT
As has been mentioned earlier, the only viable position for him is in an orthodox 3 man midfield.
To my mind we can't have him and Bojan in the same starting XI as it would leave hopelessly exposed.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 12:35:12 GMT
Could be like A new signing this year Another bad signing? That'd be two Imbulas.
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Post by shrewspotter on Jul 13, 2017 12:40:57 GMT
Imbula is a gonna in Hughes' eyes, he is only playing to keep match fit in the hope that someone will stump up 8-10m. He is nowhere near the first team and will be gone by 1st September
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Post by cwpscfc on Jul 13, 2017 13:41:43 GMT
Imbula to Torino? 18m???
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Post by Theninjabadger on Jul 13, 2017 13:44:11 GMT
14:38 TORINO IN IMBULA TALKS
Torino have opened talks with Stoke City over the transfer of French midfielder Giannelli Imbula, reports Tuttosport.
Imbula is being linked with an £18m switch to Turin, a fee which would see the Serie A club break their transfer record.
Stoke, who broke their own transfer record sign Imbula last summer, are open to letting the midfielder go after an underwhelming debut season in England.
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Post by GeneralFaye on Jul 13, 2017 13:47:26 GMT
Not a chance they'll pay £18m surely? As I've said previously, I do like Imbula but if there's a prospect of getting our money back and replacing him with Delph then we should get it done asap.
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Post by Theninjabadger on Jul 13, 2017 13:52:18 GMT
Not a chance they'll pay £18m surely? As I've said previously, I do like Imbula but if there's a prospect of getting our money back and replacing him with Delph then we should get it done asap. You'd think it would be a deal that could rise to £18m. We would be very lucky to get half of that upfront from Torino. Either that or it's complete bollocks and sky don't know their arse from their elbow
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Post by philb on Jul 13, 2017 13:54:09 GMT
His positioning was woeful. His defending was diabolical. His decision making just outside our own area was suicidal. Other than that he was superb.... Ball at his feet bursting forward the lad has talent. How he drops his shoulder is fantastic. But defensively he simply has no idea He was just as bad a couple of times outside the oppositions area. He was about 10 yards from the edge of the area and a ball ballooned up in the air over one of there players. I saw Imbula look at him as the ball was coming down and he hesitated then looked like for all the world his thought was 'f*ck that I'm not running 10 yards to try and challenge that defender in the air' He just stood in no mans land and watched the defender have a free header and clear it. Sadly it was quite comical.
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Post by riccyfuller93 on Jul 13, 2017 14:13:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 14:37:14 GMT
The only thing GI has grasped is very large bags of British currency.
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Post by nott1 on Jul 13, 2017 15:07:30 GMT
TORINO IN IMBULA TALKS
Torino have opened talks with Stoke City over the transfer of French midfielder Giannelli Imbula, reports Tuttosport.
Imbula is being linked with an £18m switch to Turin, a fee which would see the Serie A club break their transfer record.
Stoke, who broke their own transfer record sign Imbula last summer, are open to letting the midfielder go after an underwhelming debut season in England.
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Post by pez75 on Jul 13, 2017 15:29:13 GMT
His positioning was woeful. His defending was diabolical. His decision making just outside our own area was suicidal. Other than that he was superb.... Ball at his feet bursting forward the lad has talent. How he drops his shoulder is fantastic. But defensively he simply has no idea Yep. I think you're spot on. His tracking back was pathetic, he got tight to the ref on one of his jog backs and that was the closest he got to anyone on his many walk backs. I spent the first half watching him without the ball and he's diabolical. Watch it back and you will see a guy aimlessly saunter back, and stop while nowhere near a man. He never spotted any of their players making runs either. He can look ok when he going forward but even then he loses possession. He's not up to this level, his occasional surges forward completely negated by the glaring weaknesses in his game. He'll never play consistently for Stoke. No wonder Porto got rid Just a hunch, but I am guessing you weren't a fan to begin with?
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Post by mattythestokie on Jul 13, 2017 15:31:25 GMT
I think 12million plus and we have to sell.
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Post by johnnysoul60 on Jul 13, 2017 16:18:09 GMT
Makes sense 18 months and doesnt look like and EPL player , talented for sure but maybe suited to a slower league and a different style
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