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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 4, 2008 17:07:16 GMT
Do you think a fit Salif Diao, and Whelan are up to it?
Will Delap figure at all?
Rudolph Austin?
The move for N'Daw maybe means Pulis doesn't see Salif as a starter in the holding midfield role.
And is Glenn Whelan really good enough to be a starting midfielder in a team with pretensions of staying up? Personally, I really doubt it.
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Jun 4, 2008 17:08:49 GMT
whelan and delap are, diao isnt IMO
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Jun 4, 2008 17:10:13 GMT
We need to sign a player to accompany Whelan, someone creative and with real invention...
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Post by Homzy on Jun 4, 2008 17:12:19 GMT
It's a bloody tough one. Seeing that midfield written down and thinking about what it will be up against is a scary thought.
But you'd still have to rate Whelan and a fit Diao as two of the best players in our squad so there's definitely weaker areas of the team.
Obviously we can't strengthen in every position so the key is finding out where we can afford our weak links. Tough job for Super Tone!
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 4, 2008 17:15:32 GMT
Doesn't the move for N'Daw indicate Pulis is looking for a destroyer type to add to the central midfield ranks?
And Austin is billed as a defensive midfielder too.
In addition to his scurrying around, isn't Whelan supposed to be a creator of sorts, the type who'd play as the more advanced of the central duo?
I know he's got his fans, but I wasn't overly impressed with him, and I didn't see much to indicate he could cut it at the top level.
He just doesn't look a natural athlete; fantastic stamina, but a bit too one-paced a la James O'Connor?
Even his biggest fans at Wednesday were unsure if he was truly a top league player?
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Post by Championship Potter on Jun 4, 2008 17:20:26 GMT
For me Delap is a certain starter, Pulis will want to go with experience and Delap certainly has that with 200 odd Premiership games under his belt. However if we sign another central midfielder then I wouldn't be surprised if Delap is pushed to right back or left wing.
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Post by midfielder on Jun 4, 2008 17:23:09 GMT
I reckon this season will be about making ourselves difficult to beat. We really need a central midfield pairing that will compete and be prepared to stick the boot in. Whelan has impressed me for Ireland and I hope he continues that form into next season; I can only see Diao being a bit part player. His performance against QPR in particular showed he isnt a guy thats willing to scrap. Delap is adequate and will rarely put a foot wrong but I think we need two signings of a similar mould to N'Daw (ie brick outhouses) to provide a solid unit. Id think a young hungry prospect (Osbourne?) and an experienced pro that breaks play up like Hamann but maybe more realistic. Id really like to see us make a move for James Harper!
Improvements needs to be made throughout the squad though; at least one goalkeeper, full back, left winger & striker so whether C mid is priority is up to Tone. Ive got full faith though and can see signings coming through soon.
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Jun 4, 2008 17:27:16 GMT
We need two full backs really, and two strikers. They are my positions of absolute priority along with the left wing position.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 4, 2008 17:28:36 GMT
That's the conundrum, isn't it?
Delap was better than Whelan IMO, in virtually every game.
And yet it's Whelan who people are pencilling in as a likely Premier starter?
And still, that said, you've got to have your doubts whether Rory will contribute at the highest level at his age, long throw or no long throw?
We've got more 'decent' players currently on the books in central midfield than probably any other position so, from that perspective, it's not a priority - but I'm not sure how many could really do an adequate job for us next year.
So that probably puts into perspective how wide-ranging the rebuilding job Pulis has got on his hands is.
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Post by itsmorethanagame on Jun 4, 2008 17:31:06 GMT
I'm certain that one of our key signings will be a central midfielder. Tone will definitely be looking for someone with power and pace with a bit of ability too to sign.
I don't know who he would favour out of Whelan and Delap. I think they could both have slight chances of cutting it in the prem but to be looking at starting the two of them as your first choice pairing would be fatal.
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Post by Scanner on Jun 4, 2008 17:41:20 GMT
Fully fit, Diao's got to be a starter, but anything less than full fitness and its Delap and whelan. don't see centre mid as our biggest problem, Left mid, a premiership centre half and 2 strikers/widemen, and add a goalie to that!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2008 17:50:09 GMT
Not convinced that even a fully fit Diao is good enough for the Premiership. He's pretty conclusively failed there already. Happy to be proved wrong though, but I think we need a destroyer type to partner Whelan.
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Post by mikeyb99 on Jun 4, 2008 18:06:36 GMT
Diao is the only one good enough for the Premiership, fully-fit that is. Whelan will give it a good go, and I will be interested to see what he does with more time to place a pass, but I too was disappointed with his lack of creativity (which is what we signed him for).
Delap did a stirling job, but his complete lack of pace will cost us next year. Squad player.
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Post by Scanner on Jun 4, 2008 18:12:28 GMT
Not convinced that even a fully fit Diao is good enough for the Premiership. He's pretty conclusively failed there already. Happy to be proved wrong though, but I think we need a destroyer type to partner Whelan. Diao failed in the Liverpool squad, but at our level playing week in and week out he'll show his class as he did towards the end of the 06/07 season. but thats if he's fully fit! look at the difference in Delap last season
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2008 18:14:45 GMT
Not convinced that even a fully fit Diao is good enough for the Premiership. He's pretty conclusively failed there already. Happy to be proved wrong though, but I think we need a destroyer type to partner Whelan. Diao failed in the Liverpool squad, but at our level playing week in and week out he'll show his class as he did towards the end of the 06/07 season. but thats if he's fully fit! look at the difference in Delap last season He also failed at Portsmouth and Brum.
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Post by Scanner on Jun 4, 2008 18:17:00 GMT
Diao failed in the Liverpool squad, but at our level playing week in and week out he'll show his class as he did towards the end of the 06/07 season. but thats if he's fully fit! look at the difference in Delap last season He also failed at Portsmouth and Brum. you'r just being picky now! ;D
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Post by Bullseye on Jun 4, 2008 18:18:10 GMT
For me its Whelan and AN other signing which I trust TP to make. Diao i think could still surprise a few people if he's up to full fitness. Delap will make excellent, hard-working, long-throwing cover for the 1st team.
I just prey to god Tone doesn't play him on the right!!
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Jun 4, 2008 18:56:27 GMT
I remain optimistic about Whelan, but very much pessimistic about both delap and diao. And in fact most of the team is in with delap and diao, but some of them will surprise me i'm sure.
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Post by Birchesheadpotter on Jun 4, 2008 19:07:36 GMT
Honestly, I think that people will see just how good Whelan this season. I too thought he might be a bit too 'one-paced' but watching him towards the end of last year, he seemed to get from one end of the pitch to the other in time to support Fuller on more than a few occasions, only to be ignored of course I just dont know what kind of player you'd play alongside him? He seems to be a box-to-box character, but do you want someone with brilliant creativity that might not be as willing to help out at the back, or someone al la N'Daw, to sit and break up play? Personally I think the way TP is, we'll go with no.2. And for us to survive that might be the right option IMO
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Post by Olgrligm on Jun 4, 2008 19:28:37 GMT
When Whelan first got here, he wasn't at all impressive, he was shy of a battle in midfield and tended to keep out of the way. Happily, he seemed to get stuck in a lot more as time went on, which is a bit interesting because he was a regular started at Wednesday so he can't have been lacking match practice? He's worth a go I reckon, as is Diao providing he has no more injury breakdowns. As for Delap, his throw would be an asset because Premiership teams seem to be crap at dealing with something a bit different like that, but I can't see where he'd slot in unless we had a disappointing summer and put him at right back with Griffin at left back. Good player to bring on when we're in the lead or for the last 10 minutes, maybe?
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Post by bumblebee82 on Jun 4, 2008 19:40:01 GMT
Whelan will def be up for it, maybe a fully fit diao cud do a steady job but i would like to c a creative midfielder sign for us who could open teams up, diao and whelan are to similar!!!!!
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Post by chrispk76 on Jun 4, 2008 19:44:51 GMT
would pulis leave delap and his throw out? i don't think he would, maybe whelan might have to take a back seat to someone with a more creative mind?? who knows
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Post by bumblebee82 on Jun 4, 2008 19:50:09 GMT
whelan is more of a player who can sit in the front of the defence and play the simple passes, wud delaps throw ins be useful in the premiership against the likes of top quaility defenders? ???
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Post by chrispk76 on Jun 4, 2008 19:54:21 GMT
depends who you've got attacking the throw for me delap was a better player than whelan last season,after his dodgy start. but then whelan maybe more suited to the prem?? only time will tell hey
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Post by bumblebee82 on Jun 4, 2008 19:58:43 GMT
delap for me is abit lazy at times and tink will get beaten alot for pace, he's not one of my fave players i must admit. tink he wud be a gud squad player!
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 4, 2008 20:13:29 GMT
I thought Delap had a sensational second half of the season and a terrible first half whle he was getting his fitness up. From January onwards, he was much better than Whelan overall though IMO, and was one of our top players. If he had more pace left, I really think he could do well for us.
Pulis will be really loathe to lose his throws.
But the Premier's a whole different ball game, and when you think even a poor team who nearly got relegated like Fulham had a Murphy-Bullard combination, and Reading and Brum had highly-rated players like Harper and Muamba as part of their duos, it starts to make you realise what's required.
I'm just waiting to see if this 'more time in the Premier League' argument actually holds water and whether we'll see Whelan emerge as the genuine playmaker his fans think is in there.
He certainly has the energy (despite him always looking knackered like Chris Waddle and James O'Connor used to) and the attitude. But I didn't see a whole lot more? He certainly hasn't got any change of pace at all.
I suppose only time will tell if Diao can offer anything. He could have a chance if his dismal form last year was solely down to his shocking fitness.
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Post by Thank you from Moorlander1 on Jun 4, 2008 20:24:20 GMT
We need to sign a player to accompany Whelan, someone creative and with real invention...
We had a natural in SJE,please come back all is forgiven.{:>o)
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Jun 4, 2008 20:25:21 GMT
We need to sign a player to accompany Whelan, someone creative and with real invention... We had a natural in SJE,please come back all is forgiven.{:>o) Pisser. Karma Moorlander.
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Post by garyhackett on Jun 4, 2008 22:34:32 GMT
Pulis didnt sign Diao to sit on the bench, he will be one of the first names on the sheet, i expect Austin to be his understudy on the bench.
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Post by Malex on Jun 4, 2008 22:49:37 GMT
Just to be different I'd go for Pugh as the defensive midfielder and Sid the attacking option
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