We are crying out for an exciting player

[scfcbiancorossi]

Watching Buckley run rings around our midfield on Saturday and Dembele doing similar for Peterborough the week before highlighted how we literally don't have any exciting players in this team. You think to years gone by with the likes of Ric, Pennant, Etherington, Arnie, Shaq, Bojan and of course, the great Tuncay Sanli and there's normally been someone on the team sheet capable of getting the fans off their seat. I can't think of anyone right now.

In addition to simply exciting the fans, it goes without saying, having a cultured midfielder with flair would also serve a huge purpose given how static and unambitious our dour midfield is. We need an attacking mid who can beat a man, carry the ball and create chances. So many other teams in this league have one and it makes a massive difference.

Our one paced midfield and lack of wingers is absolutely the problem right now.

[JoeinOz]

There’s Powo but he’s injured. There’s Treez but he isn’t 100%. Fran provides some lovely touches.

[theonlooker]

Powell, Vrancic and Campbell?

Are there three more exciting or better in their respective positions in the division?

[Gods]

Shorn of Powell and with Therese at half cock we definitely lack sex appeal if I'm not mixing my metaphors!

In lieu of this perhaps the marketing department could loose off 2 or 3 hundred fireworks at the end of each game?

Just an idea anyway.

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 8:55:28 GMT theonlooker said:

Powell, Vrancic and Campbell?

Are there three more exciting or better in their respective positions in the division?

Really? Sorry but Vrancic is absolutely not an "exciting player". He's a fairly solid championship midfielder but he's hardly the guy to get you off your seat.

Powell is a top player for us and definitely as close to a flair as anything we have but I'd say he's extremely efficient over exciting.

Campbell looks all over the place at the moment.

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 9:11:13 GMT Gods said:

Shorn of Powell and with Therese at half cock we definitely lack sex appeal if I'm not mixing my metaphors!

In lieu of this perhaps the marketing department could loose off 2 or 3 hundred fireworks at the end of each game?

Just an idea anyway.

I like it... It would probably wake us up..

[boskampsflaps]

I think we have them but there isn't a good base behind them to play off, the midfield is a shambles even if all fully fit, if that gets sorted then we may see a bit more from them.

[moon]

I think we lack a boring player, a midfielder who breaks up the play, plays boring passes that always go to their intended target but doesn’t try anything too fancy, a player who rarely takes on his man, a player with a lot of stamina, a player who relies on his brain instead of blistering pace, a player who needs to offer nothing in the final third because that is not his job. Preferably one who is as angry as Roy Kent.

[bayernoatcake]

I think what struck me most with Dembele was his pace and directness, we definitely don't have that.

But I would say Powell and Campbell are definitely exciting.

[hyaduck]

Nov 30, 2021 9:28:38 GMT moon said:

I think we lack a boring player, a midfielder who breaks up the play, plays boring passes that always go to their intended target but doesn’t try anything too fancy, a player who rarely takes on his man, a player with a lot of stamina, a player who relies on his brain instead of blistering pace, a player who needs to offer nothing in the final third because that is not his job. Preferably one who is as angry as Roy Kent.

We have a boring manager don’t need boring players as well

[tommycarlsberg]

We’re in the Championship. Any Championship ‘flair’ player would be getting you off your feet for one game in ten.

If you don’t enjoy watching the consistently great at this level Nick Powell then that’s shame. He’s one of my favourite ever Stoke players.

[The Toxic Avenger]

We've got a decent amount of creative/attacking players, as Boskampsflaps says, what we need is a more effective base behind them to allow them to play.

[gingerninja]

I think what makes it look worse is the way opposing players simply glide past our midfield Ayers, only a slight change of direction and they are past with little or no resistance. It's painful to watch at times and happens way too frequently for my liking.

[unknown182]

Wright-Phillips looks like he could be that player from what I've seen of him. Hopefully he gets a cameo at some point this season.

[prestwichpotter]

A spine of Bursik, Souttar, Powell and Campbell is certainly exciting when they're all fit, but alas that hasn't yet happened.......

[potterburt]

Aside from all the players that everyone has mentioned, another thing to factor is the players the original OP is comparing to are players that had a good solid spine of grunt men around them, were the creative players when we had some good runs and a whole stadium of vocal fans that got behind the team. When said players got on the ball it was also the noise of the fans that made them feel exciting, which in turn probably spurned them on to do something with it.

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 9:36:05 GMT The Toxic Avenger said:

We've got a decent amount of creative/attacking players, as Boskampsflaps says, what we need is a more effective base behind them to allow them to play.

Surely we have to have a link between the midfield and the front players? Someone who can beat a man, carry the ball and pick it up in tight areas. We are painfully slow and one paced in midfield (and wide areas) and its costing us.

It's fine away from home, but at home where we have to break teams down, we are just totally static.

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 9:35:35 GMT tommycarlsberg said:

We’re in the Championship. Any Championship ‘flair’ player would be getting you off your feet for one game in ten.

If you don’t enjoy watching the consistently great at this level Nick Powell then that’s shame. He’s one of my favourite ever Stoke players.

Obviously I enjoy watching Powell because he's our best and most prolific player. But aside from the fact we miss him for half a season, I'm still not sure id put him in the hugely exciting category. And he also doesn't address this huge issue with our one paced midfield. But, that's not his job either. He scores goals, is efficient and is an all round good player for us.

[biglad180]

there are plenty of good young exiting players in the reserves of top clubs, ie Man city chelsea. but we never seem to get any, i think we need a much better scouting system. at the moment thats our best road to go down,

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 9:46:50 GMT gingerninja said:

I think what makes it look worse is the way opposing players simply glide past our midfield Ayers, only a slight change of direction and they are past with little or no resistance. It's painful to watch at times and happens way too frequently for my liking.

Well, maybe that's part the problem. Our shocking midfield makes these guys look like flair players 😆😭

[Gods]

Nov 30, 2021 9:28:38 GMT moon said:

I think we lack a boring player, a midfielder who breaks up the play, plays boring passes that always go to their intended target but doesn’t try anything too fancy, a player who rarely takes on his man, a player with a lot of stamina, a player who relies on his brain instead of blistering pace, a player who needs to offer nothing in the final third because that is not his job. Preferably one who is as angry as Roy Kent.

'Roy Kent'? It's Clark Kent we need right now!

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 9:28:38 GMT moon said:

I think we lack a boring player, a midfielder who breaks up the play, plays boring passes that always go to their intended target but doesn’t try anything too fancy, a player who rarely takes on his man, a player with a lot of stamina, a player who relies on his brain instead of blistering pace, a player who needs to offer nothing in the final third because that is not his job. Preferably one who is as angry as Roy Kent.

Really?!

[The Toxic Avenger]

Nov 30, 2021 10:10:48 GMT scfcbiancorossi said:

Nov 30, 2021 9:36:05 GMT The Toxic Avenger said:

We've got a decent amount of creative/attacking players, as Boskampsflaps says, what we need is a more effective base behind them to allow them to play.

Surely we have to have a link between the midfield and the front players? Someone who can beat a man, carry the ball and pick it up in tight areas. We are painfully slow and one paced in midfield (and wide areas) and its costing us.

It's fine away from home, but at home where we have to break teams down, we are just totally static.

We have to have a midfield to speak of first Nick. Vrancic, Powell, even Sawyers are capable of being that link player if they're played in that attacking midfield role, the key is getting the balance right and getting a midfielder capable of doing the dirty work behind them to give that that base.

Put a creative megastar in this team and we'd still have the same problems.

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 10:25:14 GMT The Toxic Avenger said:

Nov 30, 2021 10:10:48 GMT scfcbiancorossi said:

Surely we have to have a link between the midfield and the front players? Someone who can beat a man, carry the ball and pick it up in tight areas. We are painfully slow and one paced in midfield (and wide areas) and its costing us.

It's fine away from home, but at home where we have to break teams down, we are just totally static.

We have to have a midfield to speak of first Nick. Vrancic, Powell, even Sawyers are capable of being that link player if they're played in that attacking midfield role, the key is getting the balance right and getting a midfielder capable of doing the dirty work behind them to give that that base.

Put a creative megastar in this team and we'd still have the same problems.

Understand your point mate and I'm not saying we don't need a competent holding midfielder, but I still don't feel Vrancic and Sawyers would ever be those guys. Frankly I don't rate Sawyers at all. Vrancic is clearly a fairly competent midfielder but I still don't see him as your midfielder for tight spaces, who will leave players for dead and open things up for the front men. The guys 33 next season and has struggled to hold his place down at times this season.

Powell's not really been utilised by O'Neil in that attacking midfield role so again, even if we had that strong defensive mid, we're still going to end up with this hapless gap between the front men and the rest of the side. And to the point, an unexciting (albeit at times efficient) team.

P.s I also think there's a serious lack of quality in wide areas (not having wingers doesn't help) and that needs to be addressed.

[The Toxic Avenger]

Nov 30, 2021 10:33:04 GMT scfcbiancorossi said:

Nov 30, 2021 10:25:14 GMT The Toxic Avenger said:

We have to have a midfield to speak of first Nick. Vrancic, Powell, even Sawyers are capable of being that link player if they're played in that attacking midfield role, the key is getting the balance right and getting a midfielder capable of doing the dirty work behind them to give that that base.

Put a creative megastar in this team and we'd still have the same problems.

Understand your point mate and I'm not saying we don't need a competent holding midfielder, but I still don't feel Vrancic and Sawyers would ever be those guys. Frankly I don't rate Sawyers at all. Vrancic is clearly a fairly competent midfielder but I still don't see him as your midfielder for tight spaces, who will leave players for dead and open things up for the front men. The guys 33 next season and has struggled to hold his place down at times this season.

Powell's not really been utilised by O'Neil in that attacking midfield role so again, even if we had that strong defensive mid, we're still going to end up with his hapless gap between the front men and the rest of the side. And to the point, an unexciting (albeit at times efficient) team.

I don't think that's actually what we've seen though this season mate, when Powell's been fit and we've had that balance. We were up there with the top chance creators in the division in August and September up to an including the West Brom game at the start of October. Get Powell, Campbell and one of Vrancic/Sawyers into the side in roles that suit them and with some protection and I think this is quite an exciting, front-foot team.

[bayernoatcake]

Nov 30, 2021 10:33:04 GMT scfcbiancorossi said:

Nov 30, 2021 10:25:14 GMT The Toxic Avenger said:

We have to have a midfield to speak of first Nick. Vrancic, Powell, even Sawyers are capable of being that link player if they're played in that attacking midfield role, the key is getting the balance right and getting a midfielder capable of doing the dirty work behind them to give that that base.

Put a creative megastar in this team and we'd still have the same problems.

Understand your point mate and I'm not saying we don't need a competent holding midfielder, but I still don't feel Vrancic and Sawyers would ever be those guys. Frankly I don't rate Sawyers at all. Vrancic is clearly a fairly competent midfielder but I still don't see him as your midfielder for tight spaces, who will leave players for dead and open things up for the front men. The guys 33 next season and has struggled to hold his place down at times this season.

Powell's not really been utilised by O'Neil in that attacking midfield role so again, even if we had that strong defensive mid, we're still going to end up with this hapless gap between the front men and the rest of the side. And to the point, an unexciting (albeit at times efficient) team.

Isn't that exactly what Vrancic is?

I don't think he gets into our best XI (Powell does) but in tight spaces up the pitch he's excellent.

[nottsover60]

If Buckley or Dembele played for us they would be injured by now. Powell and Tyrese certainly get fans standing up when they are fit and playing well. I said on another thread it isn't particularly the number of injuries we get, although we do seem to get more than our fair share, but that other clubs seem to be able to play their main man virtually all season whereas at Stoke the minute someone rises above average they get cut down.

I think the way Vrancic and Smith started the season with their set pieces it could have become a bit like Delap's throws but now they don't do the unexpected and the routines seem to have gone. I was really enjoying how we did something different for free kicks rather than just the hit and hope over the wall.

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 10:36:03 GMT The Toxic Avenger said:

Nov 30, 2021 10:33:04 GMT scfcbiancorossi said:

Understand your point mate and I'm not saying we don't need a competent holding midfielder, but I still don't feel Vrancic and Sawyers would ever be those guys. Frankly I don't rate Sawyers at all. Vrancic is clearly a fairly competent midfielder but I still don't see him as your midfielder for tight spaces, who will leave players for dead and open things up for the front men. The guys 33 next season and has struggled to hold his place down at times this season.

Powell's not really been utilised by O'Neil in that attacking midfield role so again, even if we had that strong defensive mid, we're still going to end up with his hapless gap between the front men and the rest of the side. And to the point, an unexciting (albeit at times efficient) team.

I don't think that's actually what we've seen though this season mate, when Powell's been fit and we've had that balance. We were up there with the top chance creators in the division in August and September up to an including the West Brom game at the start of October. Get Powell, Campbell and one of Vrancic/Sawyers into the side in roles that suit them and with some protection and I think this is quite an exciting, front-foot team.

I don't see it Rob. Maybe I'm thinking of years gone by with better players but I just don't see these guys as being remotely exciting players, perhaps willing to concede slightly on Powell but I still see him as more efficient over exciting.

I'm not denying Powell is an excellent player for us but he's not played as an AM in that role where he can pick the ball up in those areas, drive forward and make things happen. More often than not we lump it up to him. Thankfully he's pretty good in the air and he's scored a shit load of headers.

Frankly, Campbell is a complete unknown at the moment. Clearly he's been nowhere in the cameos we've seen so far but we need to give him game time and see if he can get anywhere close to the performances of last year.

[The Toxic Avenger]

Nov 30, 2021 10:44:39 GMT scfcbiancorossi said:

Nov 30, 2021 10:36:03 GMT The Toxic Avenger said:

I don't think that's actually what we've seen though this season mate, when Powell's been fit and we've had that balance. We were up there with the top chance creators in the division in August and September up to an including the West Brom game at the start of October. Get Powell, Campbell and one of Vrancic/Sawyers into the side in roles that suit them and with some protection and I think this is quite an exciting, front-foot team.

I don't see it Rob. Maybe I'm thinking of years gone by with better players but I just don't see these guys as being remotely exciting players.

I'm not denying Powell is an excellent player for us but he's not played as an AM in that role where he can pick the ball up in those areas, drive forward and make things happen. More often than not we lump it up to him. Thankfully he's pretty good in the air and he's scored a shit load of headers.

Frankly, Campbell is a complete unknown at the moment. Clearly he's been nowhere in the cameos we've seen so far but we need to give him game time and see if he can get anywhere close to the performances of last year.

So is it more in terms of what you'd like to see aesthetically than what we actually need, Nick? Because it was working pretty well with those players, certainly with Powell in the side?

I think Powell's headers have come from good balls from out wide and set pieces rather than 'lumping it up'. We weren't doing that at the start of the season and if anything we should be doing it more at the moment because we don't have any presence in midfield.

[scfcbiancorossi]

Nov 30, 2021 10:36:12 GMT bayernoatcake said:

Nov 30, 2021 10:33:04 GMT scfcbiancorossi said:

Understand your point mate and I'm not saying we don't need a competent holding midfielder, but I still don't feel Vrancic and Sawyers would ever be those guys. Frankly I don't rate Sawyers at all. Vrancic is clearly a fairly competent midfielder but I still don't see him as your midfielder for tight spaces, who will leave players for dead and open things up for the front men. The guys 33 next season and has struggled to hold his place down at times this season.

Powell's not really been utilised by O'Neil in that attacking midfield role so again, even if we had that strong defensive mid, we're still going to end up with this hapless gap between the front men and the rest of the side. And to the point, an unexciting (albeit at times efficient) team.

Isn't that exactly what Vrancic is?

I don't think he gets into our best XI (Powell does) but in tight spaces up the pitch he's excellent.

I've been pretty disappointed with Vrancic. I was never expecting him to be an exciting player but I thought he'd be one of the first names on the team sheet, particularly with our crap midfield.