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Post by crapslinger on Jun 26, 2019 15:54:59 GMT
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/stoke-city-stephen-ward-burnley-3022422Nathan Jones hopes to tie up his sixth signing of the summer today and bring in Stephen Ward as a free agent. “He’s a wonderful player, a great character, very experienced. He’s been promoted – won the Championship twice. He’s an Irish international, I worked with him, he’s technically very, very good so he ticks every box. It’s just the aging process is the only drawback. “We feel he can do a wonderful job and we hope we can tie everything up today and get it done.” Triiiiifffffffccccccccccccccc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Attachment Deleted
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 26, 2019 15:55:13 GMT
Yeah - I take your point, Paul. There was no need to mention McClean in this context if he was mentally mulling a McClean-less future. Can't categorically rule out the LB choice will be Ward and McClean (Christ, writing that sentence was hard) But I'd still be amazed if we went from Justin to Ward. I read it as McClean might play on the left of the diamond in front of the left back. I'm open to any theory as they've all got merit at this stage as none of us know anything. That role would seem to be way out of McClean's comfort zone though.
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Post by rawli on Jun 26, 2019 15:55:24 GMT
McClean in front of Ward down the left side by the sounds of that interview. Very inspiring But that isn't a diamond is it? It's a crazy diamond
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Post by brinsleymaclagan on Jun 26, 2019 16:00:34 GMT
Jones is going back on all that he stated about the kind of team he wanted to build, so I think people are entitled to express their concerns, especially as the squad looks devoid of creativity. How’s he going back on his word he’s signing players that he wants to the the jobs he wants if he feels ward gives him what wants what’s the issue? Signing a 34 year old is not the end of the world, with the right strength and conditioning no reason players shouldn’t go on for years longer now. Give the lad a chance and see what he can do before we all jump on the he’s shit why have we signed him bus. Six signings in 24 hours only one over 30 and five under 26 and all the manager says are round pegs for round holes 🕳 So let’s see how it goes if it fails it fails Jones has already said they are his signings and for how he wants to play so he’s holding himself accountable already. I agree there are different opinions on this but I won’t lay a negative one without a ball being kicked in anger this season. He’s said he wants young, hungry players, especially in the full back positions, as they will need to be super fit and athletic to fit his preferred system, so he signs a 34 year old ex-international journeyman. Errrr I think we’re entitled to have a few concerns!
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Post by Gary Hackett on Jun 26, 2019 16:00:43 GMT
I read it as McClean might play on the left of the diamond in front of the left back. I'm open to any theory as they've all got merit at this stage as none of us know anything. That role would seem to be way out of McClean's comfort zone though. Or maybe he's making it up as he goes along
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Post by onepara on Jun 26, 2019 16:01:39 GMT
Yeah - I take your point, Paul. There was no need to mention McClean in this context if he was mentally mulling a McClean-less future. Can't categorically rule out the LB choice will be Ward and McClean (Christ, writing that sentence was hard) But I'd still be amazed if we went from Justin to Ward. I read it as McClean might play on the left of the diamond in front of the left back. Exactly.
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Post by nonameface on Jun 26, 2019 16:02:11 GMT
Yeah - I take your point, Paul. There was no need to mention McClean in this context if he was mentally mulling a McClean-less future. Can't categorically rule out the LB choice will be Ward and McClean (Christ, writing that sentence was hard) But I'd still be amazed if we went from Justin to Ward. I read it as McClean might play on the left of the diamond in front of the left back. This. Which either suggests McLean is a back up/rotation player or Allen/etebo are off.
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Post by crapslinger on Jun 26, 2019 16:05:38 GMT
How’s he going back on his word he’s signing players that he wants to the the jobs he wants if he feels ward gives him what wants what’s the issue? Signing a 34 year old is not the end of the world, with the right strength and conditioning no reason players shouldn’t go on for years longer now. Give the lad a chance and see what he can do before we all jump on the he’s shit why have we signed him bus. Six signings in 24 hours only one over 30 and five under 26 and all the manager says are round pegs for round holes 🕳 So let’s see how it goes if it fails it fails Jones has already said they are his signings and for how he wants to play so he’s holding himself accountable already. I agree there are different opinions on this but I won’t lay a negative one without a ball being kicked in anger this season. He’s said he wants young, hungry players, especially in the full back positions, as they will need to be super fit and athletic to fit his preferred system, so he signs a 34 year old ex-international journeyman. Errrr I think we’re entitled to have a few concerns! Don't talk sense on here the happy clappers will start pissing their pants , we have bought zero pace in thus far this is all very confusing, super fit and athletic ! two injury prone players and two 30+ year old plodders.
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Post by uskstokie on Jun 26, 2019 16:09:50 GMT
I personally I don’t think Ward is a bad signing. He is a very decent player. I would like to see us get another younger LB as well don’t get me wrong. But as a back up and as a good character to have at the club I don’t mind this signing
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Post by kelw on Jun 26, 2019 16:12:23 GMT
I personally I don’t think Ward is a bad signing. He is a very decent player. I would like to see us get another younger LB as well don’t get me wrong. But as a back up and as a good character to have at the club I don’t mind this signing Good to have players who have been there around players like Edwards and Lindsay to be fair. Won't do them any harm and having experience in the squad does no harm
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 26, 2019 16:16:41 GMT
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Post by silsdenstokie on Jun 26, 2019 16:18:39 GMT
Burnley fans rate him highly and reckon he'll be a good signing for us
Whilst he doesn't fit the 'young and athletic' bit, apparantly he's a good crosser
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Post by cobhamstokey on Jun 26, 2019 16:19:30 GMT
Happy with this. A very useful utility player.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jun 26, 2019 16:19:31 GMT
Maybe he's on trial? Or just training with us for fitness? On trial for what ! I was trying to convince myself that we might not actually be signing him
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Post by march4 on Jun 26, 2019 16:20:46 GMT
As a dressing room enforcer this makes great sense.
For any other reason it makes little sense.
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Post by uskstokie on Jun 26, 2019 16:20:59 GMT
Welcome Stephen Ward!! 🔴⚪️
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Post by Gary Hackett on Jun 26, 2019 16:22:45 GMT
I read it as McClean might play on the left of the diamond in front of the left back. This. Which either suggests McLean is a back up/rotation player or Allen/etebo are off. McClean won't be playing in Etebo and Allen's positions.
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Post by kelw on Jun 26, 2019 16:25:31 GMT
Been brilliant for ROI and can actually cross a ball.
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Post by crapslinger on Jun 26, 2019 16:27:49 GMT
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Post by Northy on Jun 26, 2019 16:28:39 GMT
We seem to be signing characters, lets hope all the characters bond
definetly curtain for Pieters then with this signing
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Post by crapslinger on Jun 26, 2019 16:29:11 GMT
Been brilliant for ROI and can actually cross a ball. And should be slow enough to keep up with Vokes bonus !
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Post by Clayton Wood on Jun 26, 2019 16:32:38 GMT
Shares in Poundland are trading up on the news.
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Post by kelw on Jun 26, 2019 16:33:57 GMT
Been brilliant for ROI and can actually cross a ball. And should be slow enough to keep up with Vokes bonus ! No idea what that means He can defend and put a ball in. Do you have to have pace to cross a ball or have the ability to do it?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2019 16:36:40 GMT
How’s he going back on his word he’s signing players that he wants to the the jobs he wants if he feels ward gives him what wants what’s the issue? Signing a 34 year old is not the end of the world, with the right strength and conditioning no reason players shouldn’t go on for years longer now. Give the lad a chance and see what he can do before we all jump on the he’s shit why have we signed him bus. Six signings in 24 hours only one over 30 and five under 26 and all the manager says are round pegs for round holes 🕳 So let’s see how it goes if it fails it fails Jones has already said they are his signings and for how he wants to play so he’s holding himself accountable already. I agree there are different opinions on this but I won’t lay a negative one without a ball being kicked in anger this season. He’s said he wants young, hungry players, especially in the full back positions, as they will need to be super fit and athletic to fit his preferred system, so he signs a 34 year old ex-international journeyman. Errrr I think we’re entitled to have a few concerns! By all means question whether this is the right signing (I'm unconvinced personally), but he's hardly a journeyman (2 clubs in 12 years?) People seem way too hung up on the 'youth' angle - Jones has emphasised the need for good pros, athleticism, hunger and desire to succeed much more often than the need to be young. So far he's signed Davies (26), Lindsay (23), Powell (25), Cousins (25) and Gregory (30) whilst also releasing Adam (33), Fletcher (35) and Haugaard (27), so that's already a shift to a younger demographic with the likelihood that Pieters (30) and Diouf (31) will also head for the exit this summer. Chances are we'll see a general lowering of the squad's average age by the end of this window and perhaps a couple of windows after that. Whilst Jones may have mentioned having a youthful squad, he also said (re. this summer's recruitment) “It will probably be in the region of six or seven. Key ones. Good characters, good athletes of varying ages and experience, but ones we think will take us forward.", so there's going to be some older, more exerpeinced faces around the place too.
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Post by silverdollar on Jun 26, 2019 16:38:30 GMT
He's nothing more than a back-up, surely?! But yeah, even as a back-up, there's no comparing JJ with this fella. We need pace. We need somebody willing to overlap everytime we go forward. God help us when the injuries hit us. You've got to hope so haven't you? I am coming to believe Bayern that you are a negative virus on this site. This player is thirty three yes but his CV is good. Jones has to turn around not only the team but the mentality in the dressing room and around the team. This player has played and won the Championship twice and has also held down a place in a team that has to fight for its life in the Premiership. I have no doubt at all that a one year investment in this player will have a positive affect on the actual team playing on the pitch.
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Post by medwaypotter on Jun 26, 2019 16:39:21 GMT
If he's been signed just for experience and only for a year, makes you wonder what Eric did wrong ?
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Post by werrington on Jun 26, 2019 16:39:25 GMT
Burnley fans rate him highly and reckon he'll be a good signing for us Whilst he doesn't fit the 'young and athletic' bit, apparantly he's a good crosser I see crapslayer has chosen not to quote you re the Burnley fans view mate He was all over that one fucking Barnsley fan who was negative on the other thread
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Post by Gary Hackett on Jun 26, 2019 16:40:01 GMT
To be fair he WAS a decent player but so was Ashley Williams. I just hope he's fit enough for the most demanding role in the team. We'll have to see.
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Post by Pugsley on Jun 26, 2019 16:40:12 GMT
How is he better than Pieters?
He isn't.
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Jun 26, 2019 16:42:40 GMT
I hope there's a plan. It doesn't on the surface make a lot of sense.
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