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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 2, 2008 8:12:16 GMT
STOKE GO FOR LEESY CHOICE EXCLUSIVE 2/06/2008 Stoke boss Tony Pulis is making a move to bring Rangers and Scotland hitman Lee McCulloch back to the Premier League - as his first signing for the big time.
Pulis always has been an admirer of the big, powerful former Wigan attacker and will open talks with Rangers this week about taking him in a £1.5million swoop.
The Potters chief tried to sign McCulloch when he was at the Latics but he wanted to go home to play for his boyhood team.
However, Gers boss Walter Smith may ease him out of the side next season.
Rangers want Burnley's Kyle Lafferty for that position and are also closing in on a £1.9m deal for Derby's Kenny Miller.
Now Pulis is set to take a chance with an offer for McCulloch, who was a major part of Wigan's success story in reaching the top flight and looked the part in the Premier League.
The Stoke manager has been given money to spend but is finding it hard to get the right ones for his direct style and within his budget - but McCulloch ticks both boxes. www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/2008/06/02/stoke-go-for-leesy-choice-89520-20591832/
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Post by garymoore26 on Jun 2, 2008 9:27:06 GMT
i read about that this morning
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 2, 2008 9:42:22 GMT
Looks like a better version of Cresswell; a willing worker with a goal threat who's good on set-pieces for the left wing spot, as opposed to an out-and-out winger type? I think Pulis even referred to McCulloch at a fans' forum, when describing why he was playing Cresswell out wide this season and what benefits it brought to the team? I just wonder why Rangers would let him go, and why he'd want to come, having signed a 4-yr deal last year at the club he apparently idolises? Not one to wet yourself over, but I suppose it'd be a good bit of business and he'd fit ,ready-made, into a Pulis XI? I'd worry about a lack of pace and creativity though if he'd be our starting left-sider; he seems one who favours a 100% work ethic over any subtleties or real quality. www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A36463061
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Post by george2again on Jun 2, 2008 11:41:27 GMT
You have to say a typical Pulis choice - hard working, not blessed with pace, and a right footed left midfilder(If I rememeber from his Wigwam days). Certainly a step from Cresswell but why doesn't TP like pace? Without pace throughout the side this year we will struggle. Two wide players in lawrence and McCulloch in the Championship would be unrivelled but in the Prem ? We need pace in at least one of these positions thats for sure.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 2, 2008 11:52:22 GMT
Yeah, he definitely seems like another functional hard worker, rather than someone who'll unlock the door with a bit of skill.
We do need some pace desperately. He and Lawrence on the wings would be desperately one-paced and short of a trick.
We've just got to trust that Pulis knows what he's doing.
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Post by mikeyb99 on Jun 2, 2008 12:08:59 GMT
Not sure about this at all, agree with George and FullerMagic ... not sure what he would add that would make us a better Premiership outfit. For £1.5m it could be useful squad depth, but I hope this won't be Tone's answer for the left-side.
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Post by bobafett on Jun 2, 2008 14:27:54 GMT
Personally I'd be happy with this if it come's off . I said on the Jihai post that I think some stokies need a reality check on who we should sign . Mculloch is proven at premiership level as is Sun Jihai so both would be good aquisition's imo .
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 3, 2008 8:59:25 GMT
With the likes of McCulloch and Sun Jihai, I don't think you can automatically use the yardstick of 'played a lot of games in the Prem, so he's automatically good enough for us and the best we can possibly manage'.
If Walter Smith really is considering letting him go at a loss one year into a 4-yr deal, he can't have exactly set the world on fire this season.
And the Rangers forums suggest he hasn't exactly been a roaring success.
He practically went on strike to get this move to his boyhood club too, didn't he? So he'd have to feel he was right out of things up there to want to move with 3 years left on his contract.
We've just got to hope Pulis knows what he's doing.
It certainly doesn't seem a bad deal at 1.5m, but I'd worry about a lack of pace on the wings if the intention was to play Lawrence and McCulloch on the flanks every week.
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Post by tazi on Jun 3, 2008 9:01:07 GMT
Remember a interview a few years ago when Pulis stated that he's a good player.
Superb signing if this came off, so go get him in Tony!.
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Post by Mozzaa on Jun 3, 2008 9:10:43 GMT
Daniel Cousin has been mentioned aswell in Daily Record...if we get both of these i'll be a happy lad
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Post by leeklad on Jun 3, 2008 9:11:02 GMT
oh god
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 3, 2008 9:13:43 GMT
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Post by robin1302 on Jun 3, 2008 9:36:34 GMT
Don't rate Cousin and I think McCulloch is just the same as Cresswell so wouldn't be much point in getting him. Although TP knows best as proved on many occasions!
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Post by dexter97 on Jun 3, 2008 9:56:27 GMT
Better for someone like Hull I would've thought. They're particularly fond of their Cousins there aren't they?
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Post by lordb on Jun 3, 2008 10:02:41 GMT
Mculloch is much better & stronger than Cresswell
the issue re pace is important though.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2008 10:44:00 GMT
I'll trust TP's judgement on this one but I wont be rushing down the clubshop to have his name printed on the back of me shirt.
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Post by Maccca100 on Jun 3, 2008 16:36:33 GMT
Good solid player, better than what we already got, and superb in the air
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Jun 3, 2008 16:37:45 GMT
not a bad scoring record sign him up
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Post by Miniman on Jun 3, 2008 16:45:17 GMT
Seems TP keeps looking in certain regions...must be scouting with us being linked with many people from certain nations(Jamaica, Scotland etc.)
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Post by MrMagic on Jun 3, 2008 17:51:05 GMT
I'd have to disagree with the idea that this would be a "superb signing" He might be a decent addition to the squad though.
The attempted purchase of a very direct style player indicates that we are likely to play to our strengths, which is a relief. All of this talk of passing it about more had had me worried.
I am concerned about the notion that we cannot find the right players for the money we are prepared to pay. Haven't we been here before? It's about time we got realistic about what is required to survive at the level we have moved to.
We will need better quality players than Mculloch Cousin and Gardner if we are going to make a real fist of staying up.
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Post by itsmorethanagame on Jun 3, 2008 18:10:17 GMT
MrMagic, we will need better players I agree. However, we cannot expect every signing to be a key player. Gardner would be a free transfer and McCulloch's quote is 1.5m; both would be decent squad additions and at those fees I would hope not the key quality players we will be putting all our hopes on! As for Cousin
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Post by crimesy on Jun 3, 2008 21:23:31 GMT
heard that rumour earlier, wasnt sure if it was true though
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Post by expectedtoulouse on Jun 3, 2008 21:53:20 GMT
McCulloch has 9/20 for pace on FM and Parky has 8/20 so that doesn't really bode well. I remember him at Wigan, he was very good in the air, but lacks the skill and pace to be a James McFadden type player. Would be a decent player though, he would add a bit more than Cresswell, but hopefully not TPs best shot at the left wing spot.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 4, 2008 10:14:15 GMT
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Post by MrMagic on Jun 4, 2008 11:40:11 GMT
I cannot see how McCulloch has enough pace for the Premier League. He's looked dog-slow for Rangers on the couple of occasions I've seen him on TV and the SPL is played at a snails-pace compared to the Prem.
If Tony is anticipating playing him upfront, maybe. If it is to play in the wide role he had at Wigan, he looks slower than Cresswell. It's a suprising move for me, and I hope it's not true. Given Tonys approach to returning to players he's tried to sign permanently it may well be.
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Jun 4, 2008 11:42:47 GMT
I cannot see how McCulloch has enough pace for the Premier League. He's looked dog-slow for Rangers on the couple of occasions I've seen him on TV and the SPL is played at a snails-pace compared to the Prem. If Tony is anticipating playing him upfront, maybe. If it is to play in the wide role he had at Wigan, he looks slower than Cresswell. It's a suprising move for me, and I hope it's not true. Given Tonys approach to returning to players he's tried to sign permanently it may well be. Lawrence is dog slow. Is he going to be shit on the right in the top flight?
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Post by MrMagic on Jun 4, 2008 11:47:07 GMT
Lawrence is not Dog slow! Sorry SIOCH - I'd forgotten myself for a moment, we are not allowed to question anything on here are we?
I'm not criticising the club or Tony. It just seems a suprising choice given that the main thing we are lacking is pace, thats all.
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Post by Dallas Cowboy on Jun 4, 2008 13:23:52 GMT
Lee McCulloch, the name really gets the pulse racing, doesn't it?
I would be concerned about his age more than anything else.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 4, 2008 22:17:11 GMT
express.co.uk/posts/view/46828MCCULLOCH STOKES UP INTEREST FROM PREMIERSHIP Wednesday June 4,2008 By Scott Burns
STOKE CITY want Rangers star Lee McCulloch to spearhead their long-awaited return to the Premiership.
Potteries boss Tony Pulis is a long-time admirer and is ready to make moves to see if Rangers are prepared to sell and if McCulloch would consider a move to the Britannia Stadium.
Pulis, who tried to sign McCulloch when he was at Wigan, would be prepared to pay around £2.5 million to land the 30-year-old and would also be able to offer him a significant wage rise to return to the Premiership.
Stoke’s biggest problem though could be trying to persuade McCulloch to return to England because he quit Wigan last summer to return home for family reasons.
Stoke director of football John Rudge said: “We are currently working on our targets for the new season and we are go through our list talks to targets, agents and their clubs.
“We have a lot of names on our list and it is now a case of doing our homework and trying to get the best players who we feel would help strengthen our squad for the step up to the Premier League.
“Lee McCulloch is certainly a player who would fit the bill for the type of player we are looking at but we don’t even know if he would be available.
“He did really well for Rangers and as far as we are aware he is happy up there and, as I said, I don’t even know if they would be prepared to sell him.”
Stoke have also been linked with a move for want-away Rangers striker Daniel Cousin but Rudge has insisted he is not on their radar.
“We have been speaking to something like 25 agents a day offering us hundreds of players now that we are in the Premiership, Rudge admitted.
“We have a list of players and I am in regular contact with the manager and Daniel Cousin is definitely not on our list.
“We are aware he is available but he is not one of our summer targets.”
Cousin’s most likely destination looks like Fulham - who saw a move for him fall through because FIFA refused to give him special dispensation to play for a third team in a season.
The Gabon international is likely to go there in part-exchange for Northern Irish international Steve Davis - although the Ibrox side would have to pay an additional £700,000 and also be able to match the midfielder’s Premiership wages.
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Post by itsmorethanagame on Jun 4, 2008 22:35:33 GMT
You'd think the Sentinel would be getting up to date information wouldn't you rather than having to trawl the internet for it.
As for Rudge's quotes, they suggest that we aren't that close to signing anyone and we are still in the very early stages. There is a long way to go yet I guess and it is important we don't blow the cash for the sake of it.
2.5m sounds a bit steep for McCulloch. Just can't see why he would want to leave Rangers as well?
On the plus side, it is good to see that we weren't thinking of wasting 3m on Cousen.
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