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Post by pez75 on May 23, 2008 11:56:40 GMT
Speculation: Is he leaving Sunderland? Is he coming to Stoke? Does Pulis want him back? Was he really injured v Southampton? Is he a money-grabbing cunt (or just a typical professional footy player)?
Fact: Our best centre half since Sergei.
I'd have him back in a flash.
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Post by scfcstudent85 on May 23, 2008 12:03:11 GMT
He is a quality centre half and I think he would cope a lot better that Cort will in the Premier League. His positional play is excellent and playing along side shawcross would make a good pairing. Also, everybody welcomed Griffin back last year under almost identical circumstances and Higgy is a much better player
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on May 23, 2008 12:08:20 GMT
Difficult one.
Better than what we've got, but would leave a sour taste in the mouth, given his utter twattery in engineering his move.
scfc student, the Griffin and Higginbotham situations were not identical at all.
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Post by scfcstudent85 on May 23, 2008 12:11:51 GMT
How do you mean that they were different? Both had the choice of staying at Stoke in the Championship or going to play for a Premiership team and both opted for the later. I don't blame either player for making the decision that they did but I can't see that the situation was that different.
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on May 23, 2008 12:14:40 GMT
Griffin wasn't our player. He was a Premiership player on loan to us, and when offered the choice between a big money move to another Prem side and a move to a Championship side, he chose the Premiership side. Don't blame him.
Higginbotham was club captain, we'd resurrected his career after Southampton couldn't give him first team football, and the first chance he got, he was crying in the press about how he wanted to move. I don't begrudge him wanting to play in the Premiership, I do begrudge the fact that, as club captain, (the on-pitch symbol of unity and leadership) that he was prepared to unsettle the club to get his own way.
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Post by scfcstudent85 on May 23, 2008 12:18:56 GMT
Fair enough, I see your point. I still think that the situations weren't all that different as we did seem to resurrect Griffins career a bit as he wasn't playing at Portsmouth and he was also meant to be a Stokie at heart. But yes, I do see the differences in the way they left.
But I'm guessing overall the main point is, like it or not, Higgy is better than what we have got and would make a good addition to the squad.
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Post by followyoudown on May 23, 2008 13:33:13 GMT
I'd prefer Riggott but Higgy is twice the defender Leon is and when we have a club captain who turned us down to join Derby and a manager who has exited clubs in the past under questionable circumstances I don't think we should be getting too hung up on loyalty.
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Post by jay1610 on May 23, 2008 13:37:32 GMT
followyoudown, he isn't twice the defender that Leon is IMO, he just has a touch more pace and is vocal. Cort's blocking and ability to close down is better than Higginbotham's. I want Higginbotham back though.
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Post by followyoudown on May 23, 2008 13:51:06 GMT
jay it's all about opinions but I think Cort is quite weak when the ball is bouncing around, Cort's is in his late 20s and this is his first sniff of the premiership after non-league, Hull and Palarse, Higgy's started off with Man Ure and has played in the premiership for Derby, Southampton and SundIreland which tends to suggest he is the better defender.
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Post by lancer on May 23, 2008 17:55:51 GMT
Can't recall him having a bad game in a Stoke shirt, and he scored some great goals. The fact that he jumped ship for a bigger pay packet doesn't alter the fact that he was a class player for us. I'd love to see him back. With what we have already, Ryan and Leon, Dicko, Wilko etc, plus A.N. Other, we'd have some defence there. He keeps a good back line.
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Post by Jamo on the wing on May 23, 2008 18:02:45 GMT
I don't think we have room for morals I'm afraid. In my opinion if he were available we would not really expect to get anyone better than Higgy. He didn't cover himself with glory when he left but for playing reasons i see no reason not to sign him if we could get him.
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Post by werrington on May 23, 2008 18:05:25 GMT
Get him back on-board
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Post by Pembo on May 23, 2008 18:30:49 GMT
If available at less than we sold him for, I don't think there's much better in the kind of market we'll be operating in. Pulis would always prefer a solid Brit wherever possible. If Riggott can be tempted closer to Derby, maybe we'll see the pair of them. And they'd both come as 100% guaranteed fits in the dressing room etc, with their characters known quantities to Pulis. Good call on Riggot and Higgy ;D cant see it though
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Post by SneydGreenStokie on May 23, 2008 18:41:06 GMT
As we are now in the premier league, we will have to sign players that will be looking to better deal themselves. We were in the championship and sunderland the prem when higgy left. If we had gone up, he would still be here. We are bound to sign some twats along the way but as long as they do there all for the club and help to establish us, then who cares. I was disappointed when higgy left but who can honestly blame him or be surprised of offered the chance to treble his wages and play in the top league in the world??? We will be cherry picking some of the top players in the championship and the shoe will be on the other foot. If the opportunity to re-sign him at the right price came along, I think it would be a good signing. He is a leader and a bloody good defender. The type of player who would bring the likes of Shawcross/Dicko etc on. I would be pleased with a £4-5 million double swoop for Higgy & Fulop.
SGS
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Post by RAF on May 23, 2008 19:22:30 GMT
I find it fucking hilarious that some people on this thread saying they wouldn't have him back because of the way he went to Blunderland are the same people who were quite happy to see Griff return. What exactly is the difference? For the record if he couldn't perform well in team with 40 mill spent on it, what the fuck will he do for us? We can do better.
H
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Post by Jamo on the wing on May 23, 2008 19:24:59 GMT
I find it fucking hilarious that some people on this thread saying they wouldn't have him back because of the way he went to Blunderland are the same people who were quite happy to see Griff return. For the record if he couldn't perform well in team with 40 mill spent on it, what the fuck will he do for us? We can do better. H RAF, He did in all fairness sign some shit with his £40M ;D (although he did manage to keep them up!). I reckon with a bit more common sense you could have a team as good as them without spending anywhere near as much.
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Post by 4kingal on May 23, 2008 19:32:46 GMT
We got over Griff returning we could get over Higgy returning IF it were to happen, can't see it happening though
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2008 22:25:58 GMT
As I said in a post above H, the difference between the Griff and Higgy situations is that Griffin wasn't our player, while Higgy was club captain and cried like a little girl when he couldn't get his way.
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Post by DodgyDino on May 24, 2008 8:58:01 GMT
Nobody can blame him for going to better his career, It was also at the time a good deal for Stoke. He was always a good player for us who gave his all and organised the defence, Something we havent had since. If he came back i would welcome him although i would have one or two reservations as to wether he IS good enough for the top flight.
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Post by jay1610 on May 24, 2008 9:12:21 GMT
jay it's all about opinions but I think Cort is quite weak when the ball is bouncing around, Cort's is in his late 20s and this is his first sniff of the premiership after non-league, Hull and Palarse, Higgy's started off with Man Ure and has played in the premiership for Derby, Southampton and SundIreland which tends to suggest he is the better defender. I wasn't disputing that he has had a better football upbringing and has experience of higher level just don't think he is 2x the defender as they have different strengths/weaknesses. I think that they would work quite well together, but where does that leave Ryan
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on May 24, 2008 9:32:10 GMT
Shawcross is a fantastic player, better than Higginbotham imo and should be a permanent fixture next year, OR he'll leave for bigger and better things. He oozes class and to have a player like him at the club is brilliant.
Higginbotham IS better than Corty, and football isn't about "love for the club" anymore, there's too much money in the game to hold it to that, especially in the top flight, if he improves your squad - which he will, sign him up.
Full backs should be the priority though, because our current full backs will get destroyed by every premiership winger in the land.
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Post by Akinbadbuy on May 24, 2008 9:34:55 GMT
I don't want him back. For me its a recipe for disaster. If we are going to have aspirations of staying up then we need to be signing better quality than higgy. I don't think he's a bad player, I just don't think hes right for us. He is a good Championship player, but I dont think hes premiership standard. Having said that I work with a guy who is a Sunderland supporter and he said higgy was a good player and had done reasonably well for them. Im not convinced though.
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on May 24, 2008 9:36:34 GMT
I don't think there are many(If any) players who are BETTER than him who'd even consider joining us.
He wasn't just a good champ player, he was a fucking super one.
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Post by lordb on May 25, 2008 8:16:30 GMT
agree with stickitoncortshead
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Post by DelapsWankingArm on May 25, 2008 12:22:59 GMT
Defo!!
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Post by glouscesterstokie on May 25, 2008 12:57:39 GMT
i dont think so, perhaps maybe for cover at the back incase shawcross or cort got injured
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 30, 2008 8:47:26 GMT
Interesting that Spinksy goes big on the mention of Higgy in this article?
STOKE CITY: CASE FOR DEFENCE Be the first reader to comment on this story
STOKE CITY BY MARTIN SPINKS
09:40 - 30 June 2008
Stoke legend Denis Smith is backing City's attempt to sign an experienced centre-half ... and says his recruitment could be crucial to their Premier League prospects.
And Smith, below, can see the merits in both Anthony Gardner and Danny Higginbotham - just two of the more prominent names to be linked with a move to the Britannia Stadium this summer.
"The problem is finding an experienced centre-half in the kind of John Terry mould," says Smith, "because there just aren't so many around these days.
"It's a vital position to the spine of the team, something you build a team around, and if you are tight defensively, then that is clearly vital to your chances.
"An experienced centre- half is crucial because as bigger players they don't tend to grow into their bodies until later than other players, so become better with age, plus that bit of Premier League experience is vital in knowing what you are up against.
"Strikers at the top level have an extra trick or two up their sleeve and you have to be ready for that, while they also think half-a-yard quicker than other strikers."
Gardner is currently looking to end a seven-year association at Tottenham, while former City captain Higginbotham could be available after just one season in the top flight with Sunderland.
"Gardner maybe hasn't had that much experience, but he has trained with top players and he does have the physique and pace you need at the top level," says Smith.
"You wonder why Higginbotham hasn't done it at Sunderland because they obviously thought he could when they took him from Stoke.
"But I personally wouldn't have any problem seeing him come back because he seems to be a leader and gives you balance being left-sided.
"As long as he's all right in the dressing room, which he seems to be, I can see why Tony Pulis would be looking at him again."
Smith, who played at centre-half nearly 500 times for Stoke between 1968 and 1982, is particularly intrigued to see how Ryan Shawcross copes with his first season in the Premier League.
"Players at the highest level are quicker thinking, so he will have to improve his reading of the game, but that will come.
"I actually got better once I did my knee because I lost a bit of pace and had to read the game better.
"He's not lightning-quick either, but again that will come as he grows into his body. It just takes a bit longer for the bigger players.
"It will be a testing season for him after an outstanding first campaign, but I think he'll be OK."
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Post by jezzascfc on Jun 30, 2008 9:35:58 GMT
I hated him for engineering his move, but understand football is all about money these days.
He is one of the best two or three centre halves I have seen in a Stoke shirt in my over 30 years of support.
Would I have him back? Yes, and as captain.
Let's not cut off our nose to spite our face here. As said above, he is probably the best English centre half we could realistically attract (better than Gardner), and would take little time to settle back in.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jun 30, 2008 9:39:04 GMT
I'd have the mercenary cunt back if I'm being honest. We always need better players and he is better than what we have. It's a no brainer.
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Post by sheikhmomo on Jun 30, 2008 9:46:38 GMT
Of course any lingering resentment would have to be put to one side should we have him back but I would still question the widom of any deal. If he has a good season and a better offer comes in how do we know the 'ankle' wont start playing up again? It seems to me that with players like him, the only way there heads don't get turned is if they're playing shit and no ones interested!
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