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Post by Lakeland Potter on Jan 6, 2019 10:33:28 GMT
We've tried it countless times and it hasn't worked since the early premier league days with TP. We don't have a midfield suited to it, we don't have attackers suited to it, and we got overrun by a league 1 side playing it today. We need 3 in midfield, either in a 4231 or 433, otherwise we get destroyed in the middle. I agree we lack 2-4 players for this formation, but it's also easy to say we don't have the players for the 4 3 3 formation. Anyway we need a target man able to hold the ball up, but still be a threat with pace and power. I also think I would have cashed in on little Joe just to bring in more size and power in midfield. I would also look for a young and pacy central defender to play alongside Ryan or Indi. Maybe a left winger too, but I actually think Clucas and maybe Etebo could do a good enough job as well, at least as long as we play in this division. We spent plenty in the summer both on fees and maintaining the wage bill. We spent enough to have ended up with a better and more balanced squad than we now have, without the need to get rid of Joe Allen. I accept that a player like Shaqiri had to move on and I was surprised that Butland didn't - but beyond those two we should not have tried to move on Joe Allen merely to free up space for the players we need to improve us. We simply needed to spend more wisely on transfer fees and wages. Martina was a complete waste of an expensive loan and McClean was a waste of a transfer fee and a wage. There have been others but those two are at the top of my list of last summer's disasters.
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Crouch
Jan 6, 2019 10:38:59 GMT
Post by robwahlmann on Jan 6, 2019 10:38:59 GMT
I agree we lack 2-4 players for this formation, but it's also easy to say we don't have the players for the 4 3 3 formation. Anyway we need a target man able to hold the ball up, but still be a threat with pace and power. I also think I would have cashed in on little Joe just to bring in more size and power in midfield. I would also look for a young and pacy central defender to play alongside Ryan or Indi. Maybe a left winger too, but I actually think Clucas and maybe Etebo could do a good enough job as well, at least as long as we play in this division. We spent plenty in the summer both on fees and maintaining the wage bill. We spent enough to have ended up with a better and more balanced squad than we now have, without the need to get rid of Joe Allen. I accept that a player like Shaqiri had to move on and I was surprised that Butland didn't - but beyond those two we should not have tried to move on Joe Allen merely to free up space for the players we need to improve us. We simply needed to spend more wisely on transfer fees and wages. Martina was a complete waste of an expensive loan and McClean was a waste of a transfer fee and a wage. There have been others but those two are at the top of my list of last summer's disasters. The disaster of a manager that we brought in wasn't able to do this unfortunately, and when we get a replacement in this will be his job. I can't see us keep on spending without shipping some out. Joe is the easiest to replace as I see it, and also someone who we can hope to get decent money for.
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Crouch
Jan 6, 2019 10:46:50 GMT
Post by Lakeland Potter on Jan 6, 2019 10:46:50 GMT
We spent plenty in the summer both on fees and maintaining the wage bill. We spent enough to have ended up with a better and more balanced squad than we now have, without the need to get rid of Joe Allen. I accept that a player like Shaqiri had to move on and I was surprised that Butland didn't - but beyond those two we should not have tried to move on Joe Allen merely to free up space for the players we need to improve us. We simply needed to spend more wisely on transfer fees and wages. Martina was a complete waste of an expensive loan and McClean was a waste of a transfer fee and a wage. There have been others but those two are at the top of my list of last summer's disasters. The disaster of a manager that we brought in wasn't able to do this unfortunately, and when we get a replacement in this will be his job. I can't see us keep on spending without shipping some out. Joe is the easiest to replace as I see it, and also someone who we can hope to get decent money for. I suspect it would be more costly to replace Joe than you seem to think. I suspect his unavailability could have been a contributory reason for yesterday's toothless display. Given the opposition that was probably our worst display of the season and that it happened without Joe in the side is probably far from a coincidence. We could get a replacement but given that it is the January window and not the summer, I don't share your view that buying a satisfactory replacement would leave much money to spare to strengthen the other areas of the squad which we both accept need strengthening.
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Crouch
Jan 6, 2019 12:53:34 GMT
Post by robwahlmann on Jan 6, 2019 12:53:34 GMT
The disaster of a manager that we brought in wasn't able to do this unfortunately, and when we get a replacement in this will be his job. I can't see us keep on spending without shipping some out. Joe is the easiest to replace as I see it, and also someone who we can hope to get decent money for. I suspect it would be more costly to replace Joe than you seem to think. I suspect his unavailability could have been a contributory reason for yesterday's toothless display. Given the opposition that was probably our worst display of the season and that it happened without Joe in the side is probably far from a coincidence. We could get a replacement but given that it is the January window and not the summer, I don't share your view that buying a satisfactory replacement would leave much money to spare to strengthen the other areas of the squad which we both accept need strengthening. I think a target man must be the priority, if not we will not reach the play-offs.
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Crouch
Jan 6, 2019 14:40:46 GMT
Post by deadwait on Jan 6, 2019 14:40:46 GMT
Please don't think of writing Peter Crouch off just yet. It's obvious that defenders still struggle against him, which is more than we can say regarding Afobe and Berahino. The big man is also invaluable when defending corners and free kicks. People talk negatively about lumping the ball up to him. Why? He is the only striker we have capable of holding the ball and laying it off. Of course it doesn't have to be a continuous ball to Crouchie if there is a better option. He should be an integral part of the team and not just for 2 or even 5 minutes on the pitch, which is an insult for such an asset.
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Post by madmickthe3rd on Jan 6, 2019 15:09:34 GMT
Please don't slag off Crouchie everyone. He has been a fantastic servant to this club and has scored some very important and some very memorable goals. Yes, he should probably call it a day now but he still has a strikers brain, like yesterday, by knowing where to be at the right time. You cannot teach that instinct. He is more of a goal poacher just like Lineker was.
If the club keep offering him a contact on x zillions of pounds a week then he, like all of us would, keep playing as long as the money is still on the table. Thus if he is asked to come on a substitute he does not have the option to say "no, I am not good enough anymore" does he so don't knock him for simply doing what his contact asks him to do! If the other wannabe's were capable of stepping up to the mark then he would have been long gone by now I would think. Irrespective he gets my appreciation for the job he has done even if he is a couple of years past his sell by date now. It happens to every player and we should remember him for the good things he has done at Stoke.
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Post by terryconroysmagic on Jan 6, 2019 15:24:28 GMT
Please don't slag off Crouchie everyone. He has been a fantastic servant to this club and has scored some very important and some very memorable goals. Yes, he should probably call it a day now but he still has a strikers brain, like yesterday, by knowing where to be at the right time. You cannot teach that instinct. He is more of a goal poacher just like Lineker was. If the club keep offering him a contact on x zillions of pounds a week then he, like all of us would, keep playing as long as the money is still on the table. Thus if he is asked to come on a substitute he does not have the option to say "no, I am not good enough anymore" does he so don't knock him for simply doing what his contact asks him to do! If the other wannabe's were capable of stepping up to the mark then he would have been long gone by now I would think. Irrespective he gets my appreciation for the job he has done even if he is a couple of years past his sell by date now. It happens to every player and we should remember him for the good things he has done at Stoke. Don’t think too many are slagging off Crouchie but rather the sorry mess we’ve become when as the Club with the highest spend and wage bill we are still looking to him. Bit part cameos are where he should be and that’s not disrespecting him but rather an indictment of the state of our recruitment
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Post by madmickthe3rd on Jan 6, 2019 16:33:47 GMT
Please don't slag off Crouchie everyone. He has been a fantastic servant to this club and has scored some very important and some very memorable goals. Yes, he should probably call it a day now but he still has a strikers brain, like yesterday, by knowing where to be at the right time. You cannot teach that instinct. He is more of a goal poacher just like Lineker was. If the club keep offering him a contact on x zillions of pounds a week then he, like all of us would, keep playing as long as the money is still on the table. Thus if he is asked to come on a substitute he does not have the option to say "no, I am not good enough anymore" does he so don't knock him for simply doing what his contact asks him to do! If the other wannabe's were capable of stepping up to the mark then he would have been long gone by now I would think. Irrespective he gets my appreciation for the job he has done even if he is a couple of years past his sell by date now. It happens to every player and we should remember him for the good things he has done at Stoke. Don’t think too many are slagging off Crouchie but rather the sorry mess we’ve become when as the Club with the highest spend and wage bill we are still looking to him. Bit part cameos are where he should be and that’s not disrespecting him but rather an indictment of the state of our recruitment Totally agree mate. Unbelievable that after all the money wasted on uninterested and very average players we still have to rely on him to come off the bench and get us out of the shit like yesterday. At least when he does come on he tries his absolute best for us, even if that best doesn't pull up too many roots these days. If some of the other players showed half the passion and commitment of Crouchie we would be in a far better place right now.
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Post by scfcrmagic on Jan 7, 2019 13:41:56 GMT
Don’t think too many are slagging off Crouchie but rather the sorry mess we’ve become when as the Club with the highest spend and wage bill we are still looking to him. Bit part cameos are where he should be and that’s not disrespecting him but rather an indictment of the state of our recruitment Totally agree mate. Unbelievable that after all the money wasted on uninterested and very average players we still have to rely on him to come off the bench and get us out of the shit like yesterday. At least when he does come on he tries his absolute best for us, even if that best doesn't pull up too many roots these days. If some of the other players showed half the passion and commitment of Crouchie we would be in a far better place right now. totally and utterly agree with your comments, Crouchie gives his all on the pitch and that’s all we ask of all the squad ...he never had pace to lose in the first place ...but he does know how to score a goal, he’s no prima Donna and he isn’t afraid to miss which seems the problem With a lot of our boys...they don’t have a shot in case it all goes horribly wrong ...no blame that way ...
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:35:47 GMT
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Post by camstoke10 on Jan 15, 2019 22:35:47 GMT
Pathetic performance from him tonight, couldn’t win a header, and too slow, as much as I love him, it’s time for both him and the club to move on.
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:36:23 GMT
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Post by krypto88 on Jan 15, 2019 22:36:23 GMT
Should've never started. Brought nothing tonight.
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Post by benjaminbiscuit on Jan 15, 2019 22:37:35 GMT
Like it or not Diouf is the best forward at the club as things stand none of the others will ever score double figures in a premier league season like he did and in the right team could do again
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:39:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2019 22:39:15 GMT
Should've never started. Brought nothing tonight. Said this myself. Fucked us up tonight, personally. Afobe or Saido would've offered a lot more
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:41:31 GMT
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Jan 15, 2019 22:41:31 GMT
Time for the media career to begin Crouchy.
Thanks for the memories though, and that volley.
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:41:33 GMT
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Post by lee1982 on Jan 15, 2019 22:41:33 GMT
More interested in his media career these days
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:45:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2019 22:45:46 GMT
Crouch rarely wins a header,he can't jump and he's so ungainly he gives fouls away
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Post by DentySCFC on Jan 15, 2019 22:46:56 GMT
One thing you can hold Jones to task is for him to leave a 38 year old, immobile striker up front on his own at 2-1 was asking for trouble.
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:48:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2019 22:48:36 GMT
I could get why he went with him. An experience head alongside a young lad, However Crouchys days surely have to be numbered. He’s been a good un but enough enough now
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:51:03 GMT
Post by wuzza on Jan 15, 2019 22:51:03 GMT
It’s irrational but as we gradually sink into the mire it bugs me more and more to see Crouchy , Fletcher et al giving their views in the media on Utd, L’pool, Spurs etc etc.
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:51:20 GMT
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 15, 2019 22:51:20 GMT
No no. Miccmac says hes ace
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Post by stonestokie76 on Jan 15, 2019 22:52:46 GMT
He is 37!!, Wonder how many teams in the top two leagues have 37 old strikers!?
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 22:55:39 GMT
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 15, 2019 22:55:39 GMT
Tell that to the no nothing anti Crouch agenda fools. Funnily enough they’ve gone quiet Presume you enjoyed watching him play tonight?
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Crouch
Jan 15, 2019 23:15:29 GMT
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Post by chuckrocky on Jan 15, 2019 23:15:29 GMT
Has he lost the ability to jump? He’s constantly losing headers to defenders that are five or six inches shorter than him.
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Crouch
Jan 16, 2019 0:42:29 GMT
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Post by callas12 on Jan 16, 2019 0:42:29 GMT
Should've never started. Brought nothing tonight. Whilst I'm not in anyway saying he had a great game I dont necessarily agree with your 'brought nothing tonight' comment. Crouch provided the knock on to Ince who in turn put the ball through to Tyrese to score his 1st goal.. Sure Tyrese appreciated the Crouch contribution even if that was the sole key moment he assisted in. I've been thinking after Crouch's last few games that refs are simply giving him a hard time with reference to the fouls he seems to keep conceding but after tonight I am starting to question if his attempts to get the ball are more his technique failing him now as he has always managed to pull it off in the past.
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Crouch
Jan 16, 2019 0:44:22 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2019 0:44:22 GMT
My God he was shite tonight*
*Cracking bloke, legend of the game, all round good egg, great podcast etc etc.
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Crouch
Jan 16, 2019 7:15:45 GMT
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Post by mickmacc on Jan 16, 2019 7:15:45 GMT
If the ridiculous full backs/wing backs Jones selected hadn’t been consistently caught upfield and cost us the game we’d probably be talking about how well he combined with Campbell who I know looks up in every sense of the word to him.
If anyone on here thinks Afobe or Berahino will ever come even slightly close to the career Crouch has had they’re insane.
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Crouch
Jan 16, 2019 7:25:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2019 7:25:19 GMT
If the ridiculous full backs/wing backs Jones selected hadn’t been consistently caught upfield and cost us the game we’d probably be talking about how well he combined with Campbell who I know looks up in every sense of the word to him. If anyone on here thinks Afobe or Berahino will ever come even slightly close to the career Crouch has had they’re insane. No one gives a shiny shit if Afobe or Berahino have as glittering a career as Crouch, only that they score a few goals whilst they’re at Stoke to get us out of this hole. Crouch’s career is over, finished. It happens to everyone.....
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Crouch
Jan 16, 2019 7:37:46 GMT
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Post by Block 22 on Jan 16, 2019 7:37:46 GMT
If the ridiculous full backs/wing backs Jones selected hadn’t been consistently caught upfield and cost us the game we’d probably be talking about how well he combined with Campbell who I know looks up in every sense of the word to him. If anyone on here thinks Afobe or Berahino will ever come even slightly close to the career Crouch has had they’re insane. And that is exactly why we are in this position. We cannot and should not at any cost, field players based on past reputations. He’s 38 years old, is always 5/10 yards behind the play, as static as an oak tree, cannot win a header, gives fouls away constantly and quite frankly he is painful to watch. There is no room for sentimentality in football and this is a big part of our demise. Shawcross, Fletcher, Adam, Williams, Bojan all the same. Once good, now not good enough is the sad truth, time for them to go.
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Crouch
Jan 16, 2019 7:39:21 GMT
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 16, 2019 7:39:21 GMT
If the ridiculous full backs/wing backs Jones selected hadn’t been consistently caught upfield and cost us the game we’d probably be talking about how well he combined with Campbell who I know looks up in every sense of the word to him. If anyone on here thinks Afobe or Berahino will ever come even slightly close to the career Crouch has had they’re insane. If only it was 2005 eh? He might have been useful then.
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Crouch
Jan 16, 2019 7:40:58 GMT
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Post by werrington on Jan 16, 2019 7:40:58 GMT
If the ridiculous full backs/wing backs Jones selected hadn’t been consistently caught upfield and cost us the game we’d probably be talking about how well he combined with Campbell who I know looks up in every sense of the word to him. If anyone on here thinks Afobe or Berahino will ever come even slightly close to the career Crouch has had they’re insane. Whose said they will?
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