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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 24, 2020 14:08:33 GMT
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/stoke-press-conference-live-oneill-3772367First Question: West Brom victory - what are the improvements you want?Michael O’Neill: You never find the perfect performance and there’s always things you’re striving to do better like set pieces, retention of the ball, throw-ins. We maybe lost a bit of threat when Tyrese went off. Over the game, I felt if we had taken care of the ball a little bit on three or four occasions we would have created similar opportunities to the goal and the one in the second half. That would be areas, as a counter-attacking team, where we could have been more decisive. Swansea unbeaten for a while?Yes, they have good, young players in their squad and have been pushing for promotion pretty much all season. We have to be prepared that they will have the ball and will have to be patient to influence our control on the game. At times at home we’ve found that a challenge. Three points is massive because it takes us above the two teams above us so a lot at stake. How hard have you had to work to get his confidence and hunger and togetherness in the team?From when I came in, the fact we won the first two games was a big help. It’s difficult with a big group because you have to leave people out so you have to build that harmony, and we’ve trimmed the squad down now to 20 max for training. That gives us a chance to build a better feeling in the group. Having the likes of youngsters Sorensen, Ngoy and Verlinden, and Jordan Thompson, has invigorated the group. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but they’ve applied themselves as a group in games and training. Still hopeful of getting players out this month?Yes. Mark Duffy and Scott Hogan, who are on loan, haven’t played at all or much and it’s in their own interests to move on. A lot of teams were chasing the same players and we weren’t in the best position in the league, but now we are in a position where we don’t have to do anything silly and most deals will probably be loans and loan swaps.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 24, 2020 14:13:16 GMT
What about a left back?
We’ve looked at all positions. I’ve been pleased with Bruno and Stephen Ward is extremely experienced.
This window is difficult to get the players you want and then the more you bring in the more difficult you make it for yourself in the summer.
Josh Tymon is back now as well, a young full back and we have to see if he can push through between now and the end of the season.
With Bruno and Stephen, I’m not sure we will get anyone of that calibre.
Injuries - Campbell and Powell?
Tyrese won’t be fit for tomorrow, but optimistic for Derby, possibly.
Ryan Shawcross still isn’t ready.
How are you coping with workload?
Yes, we are keeping an eye on that and the Championship is a challenge mentally for players as well.
When we have the chance to give them a rest off their feet we’ve done that.
We’ve been fairly good with injuries and touch wood that remains the case.
We’ve got 18 games to go and every one of those will be physically demanding on the players, but we’ve been pretty good at managing that to date.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 24, 2020 14:17:00 GMT
Winning team - tempted not to bring in any new players?
I’m not actively spending every minute of every day trying to get players, in this window it’s a case of what becomes available.
It would be a case of taking a loan player, or a young player from a lower level with a point to prove like Jordan (Thompson).
Or there’s those out of the team who might not be scoring, but you don’t have the same appetite for that.
We’ve missed out on some of the younger ones we went after, but knew they would be difficult to get.
Stoke traditionally get a good result and then blow it next game, Swansea aren't the team they were earlier in the season?
There’s many ways to look at form.
The key is not to stay in one of those lulls for too long.
Over the last eight games I think our form would make us eighth in the table which shows we are going in the right direction.
Swansea are still in a strong position despite not being in the best of form and that makes them determined to turn it around.
I wouldn’t say form is irrelevant, but it doesn’t have the same significance as some give it, like West Brom who lost and are still top.
Batth and Lindsay - how have you improved them?
We’ve worked hard on the players defensively, not just the back four, but how we are out of possession.
You have to be a good team out of possession before you can become a good team with possession.
We’ve worked hard at stopping the opposition play because I think we are a good team when we win it in their half, but building from our own half there is room for improvement.
There’s confidence in our centre backs and with Jack Butland too and that always adds to looking like you are difficult to beat.
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Post by jeycov on Jan 24, 2020 14:19:13 GMT
Lots of positive comments re younger up and coming players
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Post by PotterLog on Jan 24, 2020 14:38:30 GMT
No new left-back then, strap in for Indi for the rest of the season.
To be honest as long as he stays fit I'm not as overly worried about that as I was.
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Post by kerouac on Jan 24, 2020 15:11:21 GMT
“We’ve worked hard at stopping the opposition play because I think we are a good team when we win it in their half, but building from our own half there is room for improvement.”
Music to our ears...!!!!!
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Post by mosquito on Jan 24, 2020 15:14:07 GMT
Don't suppose there is a link to the video, FM  |
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Post by spitthedog on Jan 24, 2020 15:23:49 GMT
Breath of fresh air this guy!!!!
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Post by scfc75 on Jan 24, 2020 15:28:07 GMT
I’d like him to adopt me.
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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 24, 2020 15:38:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2020 15:46:59 GMT
So, if we lost "a bit of threat when Tyrese went off" and he's not playing vs Swansea, how will we pose a threat instead?
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Post by nott1 on Jan 24, 2020 15:51:18 GMT
I'd give N'Goy a start in place of Ty as he seems a similar pacy type to me!
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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 24, 2020 18:30:22 GMT
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Post by zerps on Jan 24, 2020 18:33:59 GMT
When the team play well it saves the transfer team a fortune 😄
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Post by FullerMagic on Jan 24, 2020 19:49:49 GMT
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Post by jezzascfc on Jan 24, 2020 19:52:57 GMT
From lack of game/bench time of late, I reckon Duffy, Hogan, Diouf and maybe Fed are part of it. |
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Post by lordb on Jan 24, 2020 19:55:16 GMT
So, if we lost "a bit of threat when Tyrese went off" and he's not playing vs Swansea, how will we pose a threat instead? Different opposition Vokes caused problems at their place However that depends on getting in and around him |
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Post by mrcoke on Jan 24, 2020 21:54:26 GMT
That is possibly the most sensible measured comments I have read from a Stoke manager.
Total absence of any bull, waffle, or meaningless platitudes. I love the comment on possession. "You have to be a good team out of possession before you can become a good team with possession.
"
When Rowett arrived I was impressed with his early comments, but as the summer went on I began to think I hope this guy can live up to all his talk and smelt a fraud. After the signings, pre-season, and 10 matches my suspicions were confirmed.
MON's comments and demeanour get more impressive as the weeks pass and the results demonstrate we have a man of substance. I expect we will get set backs along the journey and some poor performances, but I believe our club is now in safe hands.
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Post by GoBoks on Jan 24, 2020 22:21:03 GMT
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/stoke-press-conference-live-oneill-3772367First Question: West Brom victory - what are the improvements you want?Michael O’Neill: You never find the perfect performance and there’s always things you’re striving to do better like set pieces, retention of the ball, throw-ins. We maybe lost a bit of threat when Tyrese went off. Over the game, I felt if we had taken care of the ball a little bit on three or four occasions we would have created similar opportunities to the goal and the one in the second half. That would be areas, as a counter-attacking team, where we could have been more decisive. Swansea unbeaten for a while?Yes, they have good, young players in their squad and have been pushing for promotion pretty much all season. We have to be prepared that they will have the ball and will have to be patient to influence our control on the game. At times at home we’ve found that a challenge. Three points is massive because it takes us above the two teams above us so a lot at stake. How hard have you had to work to get his confidence and hunger and togetherness in the team?From when I came in, the fact we won the first two games was a big help. It’s difficult with a big group because you have to leave people out so you have to build that harmony, and we’ve trimmed the squad down now to 20 max for training. That gives us a chance to build a better feeling in the group. Having the likes of youngsters Sorensen, Ngoy and Verlinden, and Jordan Thompson, has invigorated the group. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but they’ve applied themselves as a group in games and training. Still hopeful of getting players out this month?Yes. Mark Duffy and Scott Hogan, who are on loan, haven’t played at all or much and it’s in their own interests to move on. A lot of teams were chasing the same players and we weren’t in the best position in the league, but now we are in a position where we don’t have to do anything silly and most deals will probably be loans and loan swaps. Thanks FM! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2020 22:41:05 GMT
So, if we lost "a bit of threat when Tyrese went off" and he's not playing vs Swansea, how will we pose a threat instead? Different opposition Vokes caused problems at their place However that depends on getting in and around him We were then playing a Jones team. Can't recall which tactical system he used on the night, but if I was an opposition defender I would not lose any sleep over facing Vokes. In his favour though is that Swansea don't have a lot of tall men. But I would play N'goy as I don't think Swansea nd WBA are that different in that they both play an expansive game, which might allow us to make a few stabs when the defence has strayed too far. N'goy is the closest to Ty that we have for pace and power. |
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Post by mrcoke on Jan 24, 2020 23:33:16 GMT
Monday night was about absorbing pressure and hitting them on the break with fast players.
Tomorrow Swansea will play a cautious game, in view of our recent improved form. So they may do the same as we did on Monday and there will be little chance of hitting them on the break.
MON in his PC alluded to our difficulty in breaking down defences. Since MON arrived we have won as many away as at home and had 2 x 0-0 draws.
I think tomorrow it will be case of Vokes up front and hitting long balls to him. Vokes has scored 5 goals from almost as few matches as Campbell, which is a good record despite his immobility and inability to jump high.
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Post by Gary Hackett on Jan 25, 2020 3:12:32 GMT
I actually enjoy listening to his pre match comments whereas with Jones and Rowett I wanted to insert a blunt filleting knife into them.
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