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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 10, 2020 13:56:06 GMT
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/stoke-transfers-oneill-celtic-rangers-3723274Michael O'Neill takes centre stage this afternoon when he conducts his customary pre-match press conference ahead of the Millwall game tomorrow.
But you can bet the questions about Gary Rowett and Millwall will soon veer towards his plans in the January transfer window.
There are plenty of names to be thrown his way as Stoke have been linked with all kinds of players, many Northern Ireland internationals and many from north of the border.
He will also be quizzed, no doubt, on the next likely exit from the bet365 after seeing Cameron Carter-Vickers followed out of the door this week by Badou Ndiaye and Peter Etebo.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 10, 2020 13:58:01 GMT
First Question: How's training been?
It’s been good. The players are in good spirits because players out of the team had an opportunity against Brentford.
Injuries?
All good apart from Ryan Shawcross.
Hopefully the nine day period to the next game will give him a chance then.
Is there enough in the current squad to escape?
Yes, I believe that. We’ve narrowed down the training group which makes it easier to build spirit with less disgruntled players, but there are areas where we are a bit light and vulnerable, so we are looking, but they have to be players who can affect the starting 11.
We’d probably like a bit more youth and Verlinden and Ngoy have added to the training since coming back.
Do the youngsters have the ability to get into the starting 11?
Yes. They are both wide players and it’s an area where we don’t have a lot of options.
The two lads give us additional options as does Tyrese.
The young players have certainly invigorated the squad.
Millwall doing well?
Gary has had a positive impact going in there.
They’ve found a system that works for them, they are decent off set pieces as well and they have that bit of buoyancy and consistency in their form, but we are moving towards that as well.
Stoke need a win?
Yes, but they are hard to predict when they are coming.
For us, the main thing is to build on the performances against Wednesday, Fulham and Huddersfield.
The team is certainly showing good signs of progression, but that can only be reflected in three points.
We’ve been decent at home, but equally we have to take every opportunity to win here.
Transfer window - If our better players leave are you worried the rest might not get Stoke over the line?
I wouldn’t want to lose any of our better players, but you have to address that when it arises.
The level of fee, player’s current salary are all factors to consider on any players.
The players that have gone out have freed up wages and we have been out looking, but it’s tricky because our league position maybe makes it less attractive to come and because of FFP it may be a loan situation.
But whatever, they have to be the right types of player.
Have the club said if a certain offer comes in for certain players they have to go?
No. The club has paid good money for players and that is always a factor on players, but no there has never been any conversation about `we must take that.’
We are looking for players that are maybe cheaper, but has that hunger and desire and relish the opportunity to come to this club and see it as a positive step in their career.
More leaving than coming?
Yes, well we’ve had three players go out.
That’s created room in the squad and room in the wage budget as well, but equally there’s still one or two on the periphery and it hasn’t worked out for them.
Difficult when they’ve been brought by one manager and are working for another, so there’s a benefit for them to move on.
I don’t envisage us bringing in five or six, but if that many went out it would give us a more focused group to work with.
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Post by sneydgreenstokie1 on Jan 10, 2020 14:00:40 GMT
Sounds like he has made his own bomb squad then
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Post by SCFC92 on Jan 10, 2020 14:10:44 GMT
Sounds like he has made his own bomb squad then Almost forced to.. I think his previous work in finance is going to help us (it should be the CEO's job but we know how well he is doing) he is creating head room for wages whilst refocusing our squad, energising it with youth and most importantly, slowly but surely dragging us away from the mire. Happy with things atm, and so happy with the calm, collected and above all "realist" media conferences. |
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Post by sneydgreenstokie1 on Jan 10, 2020 14:16:55 GMT
Am totally in favour of the bomb squad to be honest.
He needs to have players around him who want to play and have something to offer.
Anyone else needs persuading that their future lies elsewhere
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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 10, 2020 14:51:27 GMT
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Post by spiderpuss on Jan 10, 2020 14:55:24 GMT
He seems the best man for the position we are in. We should get out of this mess we are in.
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Post by scfc75 on Jan 10, 2020 14:57:48 GMT
Hard not to like him isn’t it. Calm, measured, and whilst we don’t all agree with his selections each week he seems to be slowly turning the ship.
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Post by Gary Hackett on Jan 10, 2020 15:27:24 GMT
He knows what he's doing, let him get on with it.
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Post by crouchpotato1 on Jan 10, 2020 15:43:06 GMT
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Post by cheekymatt71 on Jan 10, 2020 15:44:12 GMT
His substitutions have been the best from any managers in the past few years.
Has brought on attackers when we are losing on got late goals from Diouf, Vokes, Campbell from the bench.
Also I liked when he subbed off Ward for BMI in the Fulham game. Ward was getting a rinsing at LB and was leaving way too much space so brought him off before half-time to make us more solid with Indi
He definitely reads the game better than the likes of Rowett-Jones-Hughes whos subs were completely unfathomable
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Post by elystokie on Jan 10, 2020 17:03:56 GMT
I genuinely think we've finally struck gold in appointing this guy, happy days  |
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Post by iglugluk on Jan 10, 2020 19:38:01 GMT
Everytime I see his interviews I find him to be convincing, i must say.
Tentatively i feel he is the best manager we've had since Hughes ( mk1 as opposed to mk2 ).
Hopefully he is able to carry on his good work.
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Post by nickpowellgoals on Jan 10, 2020 22:31:19 GMT
Liked him when he was appointed. Like him even more now!! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2020 8:01:54 GMT
Sounds like he has made his own bomb squad then Who's in it? Federici, Duffy, and Hogan are about the only players that havent featured at all. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2020 8:28:25 GMT
I'm actually feeling fairly confident today. Certainly more so than usual.
The inclusion of Ngoy and Verlinden give us more exciting options out wide, and the performance of Campbell their last time out is extremely encouraging too.
Certainly should be the end of Ince, which can only be a good thing.
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