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Post by cobhamstokey on Mar 5, 2023 11:28:58 GMT
This. Sadly, not a chance we sign either of us these two in the summer. They’ll be both be relegated and they’ll both go back to help their teams get promoted. Then we’ve two key gaps in midfield to plug. It depends doesn’t it? I could see Pearson staying at Bournemouth but no guarantee at all Soton have a role for Smallbone. It depends on who their manager is and how he wants to set them up. Smallbone fits so strongly how Neil wants to play that I think there’s every chance he’ll see us as a better career option at this point? I’d say we have a better chance of getting Pearson than Smallbone. It strikes me even if they go down that he won’t get games plus he’s not this big name the clubs going down think is good enough for them. Plus he’s not got great sell on value (at least i hope that’s how they’re thinking ) A good end of season run should hopefully give us a better chance of signing players. Right now I can see us needing GK RB LB CB x 1 (minimum) 1 x DM 1 x AM 1 x Target man minimum. Hopefully those leaving can free up some decent wriggle room. Of those on loan I’d try for Sarkic Hoever Sterling Pearson Smallbone All have improved us add to that a target man and creative CM and we’ll be looking good. I can see us being in with a shout for Sarkic (If he wants to be a no.1) Hoever (didn’t seem popular with the fans) Sterling (though not if what the poster was told by some of his friends). Not sure he’ll get offers from the prem though Pearson
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Mar 5, 2023 11:35:26 GMT
It depends doesn’t it? I could see Pearson staying at Bournemouth but no guarantee at all Soton have a role for Smallbone. It depends on who their manager is and how he wants to set them up. Smallbone fits so strongly how Neil wants to play that I think there’s every chance he’ll see us as a better career option at this point? I’d say we have a better chance of getting Pearson than Smallbone. It strikes me even if they go down that he won’t get games plus he’s not this big name the clubs going down think is good enough for them. Plus he’s not got great sell on value (at least i hope that’s how they’re thinking ) A good end of season run should hopefully give us a better chance of signing players. Right now I can see us needing GK RB LB CB x 1 (minimum) 1 x DM 1 x AM 1 x Target man minimum. Hopefully those leaving can free up some decent wriggle room. Of those on loan I’d try for Sarkic Hoever Sterling Pearson Smallbone All have improved us add to that a target man and creative CM and we’ll be looking good. I can see us being in with a shout for Sarkic (If he wants to be a no.1) Hoever (didn’t seem popular with the fans) Sterling (though not if what the poster was told by some of his friends). Not sure he’ll get offers from the prem though Pearson Possible but Pearson’s a proven commodity at this level and they’ll likely lose a couple of their better midfielders back to the Prem.
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Mar 5, 2023 11:45:01 GMT
The Pearson and Neil relationship and Pearsons family being up this way and the fact they dumped him as soon as they signed newer players will carry a lot of weight I think, I reckon we’ll sign him.
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Post by cobhamstokey on Mar 5, 2023 11:46:01 GMT
I’d say we have a better chance of getting Pearson than Smallbone. It strikes me even if they go down that he won’t get games plus he’s not this big name the clubs going down think is good enough for them. Plus he’s not got great sell on value (at least i hope that’s how they’re thinking ) A good end of season run should hopefully give us a better chance of signing players. Right now I can see us needing GK RB LB CB x 1 (minimum) 1 x DM 1 x AM 1 x Target man minimum. Hopefully those leaving can free up some decent wriggle room. Of those on loan I’d try for Sarkic Hoever Sterling Pearson Smallbone All have improved us add to that a target man and creative CM and we’ll be looking good. I can see us being in with a shout for Sarkic (If he wants to be a no.1) Hoever (didn’t seem popular with the fans) Sterling (though not if what the poster was told by some of his friends). Not sure he’ll get offers from the prem though Pearson Possible but Pearson’s a proven commodity at this level and they’ll likely lose a couple of their better midfielders back to the Prem. I guess we just need to find a player of his type will need to trust AN on this. He’s certainly demonstrated how key it is to have a good DM in the team. I’m sure that it could bring the best out of Baker too if he’s given a more advanced role. Exciting times ahead hopefully.
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Post by clarkeda on Mar 5, 2023 13:36:19 GMT
The Pearson and Neil relationship and Pearsons family being up this way and the fact they dumped him as soon as they signed newer players will carry a lot of weight I think, I reckon we’ll sign him. I agree, the fact he mentioned so clearly about wanting game time and being homesick in his very first interview. Add that with the relationship between player and manager I’m sure he could hand in a transfer request and we’d sort out the missed loyalties he’d lose in doing so.
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Post by cvillestokie on Mar 5, 2023 13:47:04 GMT
Possible but Pearson’s a proven commodity at this level and they’ll likely lose a couple of their better midfielders back to the Prem. I guess we just need to find a player of his type will need to trust AN on this. He’s certainly demonstrated how key it is to have a good DM in the team. I’m sure that it could bring the best out of Baker too if he’s given a more advanced role. Exciting times ahead hopefully. It’s truly bonkers that we’ve waited so many years to bring in a DM. Each of our midfielders are more free to come in and play their own game now. Smallbone is starting to create and not just look busy pressing, Laurent has had the chance to make powerful runs into space. Priorities have to go: Target man / Goalkeeper / DM (day one of window) Everyone else
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Post by clarkeda on Mar 5, 2023 13:53:34 GMT
I guess we just need to find a player of his type will need to trust AN on this. He’s certainly demonstrated how key it is to have a good DM in the team. I’m sure that it could bring the best out of Baker too if he’s given a more advanced role. Exciting times ahead hopefully. It’s truly bonkers that we’ve waited so many years to bring in a DM. Each of our midfielders are more free to come in and play their own game now. Smallbone is starting to create and not just look busy pressing, Laurent has had the chance to make powerful runs into space. Priorities have to go: Target man / Goalkeeper / DM (day one of window) Everyone else I’d add right back to the first group.
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Post by spitthedog on Mar 5, 2023 13:53:53 GMT
I think it’s possible Soton will keep him even if they stay up, with the change of PL rules, that is 12 players allowed on the bench per game. That’s a 23 player match day squad. It’s going to have a huge impact on the Championship imo.
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Post by cvillestokie on Mar 5, 2023 13:55:03 GMT
It’s truly bonkers that we’ve waited so many years to bring in a DM. Each of our midfielders are more free to come in and play their own game now. Smallbone is starting to create and not just look busy pressing, Laurent has had the chance to make powerful runs into space. Priorities have to go: Target man / Goalkeeper / DM (day one of window) Everyone else I’d add right back to the first group. I think we are nailed on to sign Sterling, so I forgot to add that. Yes, I agree.
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Post by cvillestokie on Mar 5, 2023 13:56:36 GMT
I think it’s possible Soton will keep him even if they stay up, with the change of PL rules, that is 12 players allowed on the bench per game. That’s a 23 player match day squad. It’s going to have a huge impact on the Championship imo. It’s a great way for the league to continue to consolidate player power at the top while giving Championship teams a little bit more money in a few years to pay increasingly worse players increasingly more money.
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Post by leesandfordstoupe on Mar 5, 2023 15:53:56 GMT
Having Pearson to mop up has let him flourish. And that’s the reason he was getting unfairly slaughtered ( and that’s literally the word ) on here The abuse he was getting on here, Twitter and at the match was beyond the pale but people just couldn’t see it Take a bow lad I don’t think it was unfair and neither do I think he’s got all the attributes you might want him to have. He’s not quick, he’s not terribly physical, he’s not that adventurous in his use of the ball. I’ve changed my mind about non of those things but his play yesterday, his spatial awareness just that natural aptitude for being in the right place was outstanding and showed what a good player he can be despite the valid observations that made me think he was pretty meh.
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Mar 5, 2023 18:20:45 GMT
They are both team players though Anyway Allen is history hoping we can pinch Smallbone in the summer Allen’s headless chickening actively detracted from the team effort frequently though, as well-intentioned as it might have been. Smallbone is instrumental in making the manager’s system work. You do realise every post you make just confirms what the OP said? He's a players player - which by definition means he's not a fans player. Except when they have one of those days they can't be ignored. I'll guarantee he'll get the usual slagging off by the end of the season. Like Allen.
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Post by nonameface on Mar 5, 2023 18:29:40 GMT
Allen’s headless chickening actively detracted from the team effort frequently though, as well-intentioned as it might have been. Smallbone is instrumental in making the manager’s system work. You do realise every post you make just confirms what the OP said? He's a players player - which by definition means he's not a fans player. Except when they have one of those days they can't be ignored. I'll guarantee he'll get the usual slagging off by the end of the season. Like Allen. Allen was gash. This midfield is easily the best we've had since we got relegated.
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Post by clarkeda on Mar 5, 2023 18:48:44 GMT
You do realise every post you make just confirms what the OP said? He's a players player - which by definition means he's not a fans player. Except when they have one of those days they can't be ignored. I'll guarantee he'll get the usual slagging off by the end of the season. Like Allen. Allen was gash. This midfield is easily the best we've had since we got relegated. What you on about? This is one of the best midfields we’ve had since Nzonzi went.
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Mar 5, 2023 19:31:48 GMT
Allen’s headless chickening actively detracted from the team effort frequently though, as well-intentioned as it might have been. Smallbone is instrumental in making the manager’s system work. You do realise every post you make just confirms what the OP said? He's a players player - which by definition means he's not a fans player. Except when they have one of those days they can't be ignored. I'll guarantee he'll get the usual slagging off by the end of the season. Like Allen. Oh yes, all this incredible dirty work that mere mortals like us are just too plain stupid to see. The Dean Whitehead argument. It’s nonsense. Whelan actually was that kind of player. He was unfussy, often got undue stick from people who didn’t understand his role and we missed him when he didn’t play. He was disciplined and provided a platform for our forward play to build on. Pearson is the same. Smallbone and Laurent have both benefitted from us having that same discipline at the base of the midfield. Allen should’ve been that but he wasn’t. He didn’t provide that discipline, he went headless chickening hither and thither and our midfield was a mess as a result. I’ve seen Swansea a few times this season and he’s had the exact same effect.
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Post by leesandfordstoupe on Mar 5, 2023 20:01:55 GMT
You do realise every post you make just confirms what the OP said? He's a players player - which by definition means he's not a fans player. Except when they have one of those days they can't be ignored. I'll guarantee he'll get the usual slagging off by the end of the season. Like Allen. Oh yes, all this incredible dirty work that mere mortals like us are just too plain stupid to see. The Dean Whitehead argument. It’s nonsense. Whelan actually was that kind of player. He was unfussy, often got undue stick from people who didn’t understand his role and we missed him when he didn’t play. He was disciplined and provided a platform for our forward play to build on. Pearson is the same. Smallbone and Laurent have both benefitted from us having that same discipline at the base of the midfield. Allen should’ve been that but he wasn’t. He didn’t provide that discipline, he went headless chickening hither and thither and our midfield was a mess as a result. I’ve seen Swansea a few times this season and he’s had the exact same effect. Definitely a player that needs a very strict brief to be an effective part of a team. Very glad he’s gone or we might have had another manager who took an age to work that out.
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Post by FullerMagic on Mar 9, 2023 18:11:19 GMT
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Post by slash on Mar 9, 2023 18:14:31 GMT
very much deserved, that.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Mar 9, 2023 18:15:41 GMT
Bit surprised Laurent didn’t get it but there wasn’t much to choose between them. Just glad there were a couple of actual candidates for once
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Post by knype on Mar 9, 2023 18:17:06 GMT
It was between Smallpiece and Laurent surely? After a slow start he's hit form and looks potentially a top player who would should look to try and steal
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Post by dirtclod on Mar 10, 2023 14:49:31 GMT
I just love that we have two players who could deserve it! How long has THAT been missing?
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Post by shrewspotter on Mar 10, 2023 14:58:04 GMT
I just love that we have two players who could deserve it! How long has THAT been missing? Id actually argue 3, Wilmot hasn't put a foot wrong either
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Post by desman2 on Mar 10, 2023 15:02:41 GMT
In the case of both Smallbone and Pearson, we should be at least trying to sweeten them up now because you can be sure that if their form persists then there will be other clubs ready to sneak in.
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Post by dirtclod on Mar 10, 2023 15:12:03 GMT
I just love that we have two players who could deserve it! How long has THAT been missing? Id actually argue 3, Wilmot hasn't put a foot wrong either Good point.
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Post by logdog on Mar 10, 2023 16:25:26 GMT
And that’s the reason he was getting unfairly slaughtered ( and that’s literally the word ) on here The abuse he was getting on here, Twitter and at the match was beyond the pale but people just couldn’t see it Take a bow lad I don’t think it was unfair and neither do I think he’s got all the attributes you might want him to have. He’s not quick, he’s not terribly physical, he’s not that adventurous in his use of the ball. I’ve changed my mind about non of those things but his play yesterday, his spatial awareness just that natural aptitude for being in the right place was outstanding and showed what a good player he can be despite the valid observations that made me think he was pretty meh. It was unfair. He’s a young(ish) inexperienced player finding his way in the game. There’s a reason he’s on loan to us & can’t get in the Southampton team right now. Someone with all those attributes would be playing regularly in the Premiership, never mind being on loan to us. You need to show some objectivity.
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Post by FullerMagic on Mar 16, 2023 10:56:25 GMT
Interesting to see if he actually gets on the pitch (maybe even starts?) for Ireland this month against France? www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southampton-will-smallbone-stoke-city-8255680“I’ve been a big fan of Will since the day I walked in the club. Even at the start when people didn’t think he was doing so well, I could see – a bit like with Ki-Jana Hoever at the moment – the progression in him. “He trains brilliantly every day, he’s tactically incredible for his age in terms of his understanding when to go, when to jump. Technically he’s very good and he’s getting better. “It’s just that final third bit that we need to add. Even at Middlesbrough when he gets his shot, I think when Will is bang on it, that goes in the net.” “I’ve had a lot of players over my different clubs who weren’t internationals and went on to be internationals and Will will be as good as any of them.”
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Post by GreaterGlasgowstokie on Mar 16, 2023 12:16:20 GMT
We'll be handing Southampton back a ready made player that we've shown great patience with, really, what was the point?
He'll be a good player
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Post by werrington on Mar 16, 2023 12:39:18 GMT
We'll be handing Southampton back a ready made player that we've shown great patience with, really, what was the point? He'll be a good player It’s how loans work
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Post by march4 on Mar 16, 2023 12:40:06 GMT
We'll be handing Southampton back a ready made player that we've shown great patience with, really, what was the point? He'll be a good player Southampton look as good as relegated to me.
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Post by scfc75 on Mar 16, 2023 12:44:47 GMT
We'll be handing Southampton back a ready made player that we've shown great patience with, really, what was the point? He'll be a good player It’s how loans work It was probably ok when Souttar was developing at Fleetwood..
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