What does Pulis see in Griffin that us fans don't?

[stokie01]

The last two goals yesterday were basically his fault. He's not fast enough. He just let their wingers walk past him.
And that let them produce the crosses that got them the goals.

So what does Pulis see in him?


And for Aston Villa next Saturday i would say drop Griffin and put Dicko and Wilko at the full-back positions as Aston Villa's wingers are Agbonlahor and Ashley Young.
And i really doubt Griffin can stop them producing goals.
But Dicko and Wilko in the other hand, they can just crush them in the strides.

Comments please.

[nonameface]

Totally agree about Griffin not being good enough but after seeing Wilko's reluctance to kill as was seen last year I'm not sure if he is upto the challenge of the premiership. Seemed like he was in awe being on the pitch with premiership players...forgetting that he is one.

[eriksson74]

I am staggered that Griffin gets a start, he was so off the pace it was a complete joke. His positioning, passing and general all round play is poor.

To have him as captain compounds the problem. At one point in the 2nd half he was bollocking Liam to pick up the man Griff should have been, so Griff could go free and pick up no one.

[themightyboosh]

to b fair to wilkinson he was played out of position why play him left back and griff right back surely it would make more sense to play them both in their proper positions rather than playin them in each others?

[You want salad on kebab boss?]

He really isnt that bad and I think its unfair to single him out for the defeat, if your pointing fingers look at Shawcross and Wilkinson fannying around with Davies for there 2nd, the 3rd was probably a mix up from the same 2 defenders again, dunna start getting on players backs I thought some peoples negativity towards players might of eased slightly this season with us knowing we are in the best league in the WORLD and the need for us to stick together through thick and thin !

[AlliG]

The last two goals yesterday were basically his fault. He's not fast enough. He just let their wingers walk past him.
And that let them produce the crosses that got them the goals.

???


From what I saw the last 2 goals were free kicks lumped 40 yards into the penalty area with our central defence asleep allowing 2 almost free headers, but I suppose why bother about such trivialities?

Griffin has been a big disappointment since his return and looks a pale shadow of his former self, but,, I do wonder who will take the blame for all our future defeats, global warming and the recession once Griffin is not in the team.

[Deleted]

I'm hoping we have 2 new quality full backs in for next week with dicko & wilko as backup.

[Oatcake Andy]

Whilst Griffin didn't have a good game I can't see how he can be directly blamed for the 2nd and 3rd goals. Yes, he shouldn't have given the free kick away but at the end of the day we are going to give away free kicks in that area for better challanges that Griffs and with all due respect with the height in our team we should not be conceeding goals from free kicks that far away from goal on a regular basis. If our full backs are going to be terrified about giving free kicks away that far away from goal it is going to make their job significantly harder.

I'm not sure whether this is a positive from Griff was several times he was required to clear the ball in central defence and did so. Whether he should have been in that position to do so I am unsure but I do wonder if he was worried about our performance in the center and was trying to help out in that area too much?

I couldn't criticise his work rate and effort and whilst that alone isn't enough at this level it should at least be acknowledged. I'd like to see him at left back and I assume that it is TP placing him there rather than Griff thinking it is his best position? And no I'm not criticising TP either as I'm sure - pray - he will get the right/left back situation shortly

No I am not Griff's older brother and I can't see him lasting at right back without a significant improvement but rather than just lay into the bloke lets have a more reasoned debate?

I await a good smiting

[jarhead]

People forget we played NUFC at home in the cup and Wilko,Dicko played in there comfortable positions and had Duff,Nzgobia,Viduka etc in there pockets and looked good enough and were praised by every pundit there including the master Hansen.

Then for the replay Pugh was put left-back Zak in at righ-back and we lost 4-1 against 10 men so that must say something that the defence with those two in it worked?

[RAF]

Whilst this 'Sticking with players through thick and thin' is all very noble, there is no time for sentiment in this league.
If the player isn't good enough he needs dropping and fucking off sharpish, and Griffin I'm afraid hasn't been up to the task since Charlton away last year. Yes he wasn't the only one to blame yesterday but for someone of supposed premiership experience he was a complete let down.

H

[Davef]

The foul he gave away for the third goal was really, really poor, especially as he is supposed to be our captain and is undoubtedly our most experienced Premier League player. We were probably out of the game at 2-0 down, but at 3-0 we were totally dead and buried.

The Bolton player was going away from our goal and it was a totally pointless, foul. Really unprofessional. Things are going to be hard enough this season without stupidity like that.

[kingdeano]

i wish someone will tell me why griffin is captain?? when the first goal went in yesterday a decent captain would of rallied the lads together and said right lads its a fluke goal and we dont deserve it, were still in this game so come on. what did our captain marvel do?? stand with his fucking hands on his hips!!! great motivation

[tony harrison]

Can't understand why he is playing for us anymore. Last season our season turned on his injury and the introduction of Riggot, Cort and Shawcross at the back.

We were a different team from then on.

Griffin is too slow, does not mark very well and he may have influence off the pitch, which makes him Pulis' choice of captain but on the pitch he is not a captain but just a player who is playing above his standard.

[robwahlmann]

Griff wasn't that bad yesterday. Shawcross and Wilko really had a poor game, but so had Whelan and Cresswell in my opinion.

[You want salad on kebab boss?]

Is this the anti-Griff thread, fucks sake lets put the 2 hot heads (dicko & wilko) and see if we improve and how long it would be before either of them see red !

[bst0ke]

whelan was prob one of the better players until pulis took him off, hence thats why some people booed when he was brought off. griff had a shocker and wilko also didnt play very well although i thought he was playin out of postion.

[Davef]

Aug 17, 2008 13:22:00 GMT You want salad on kebab boss? said:

Is this the anti-Griff thread, fucks sake lets put the 2 hot heads (dicko & wilko) and see if we improve and how long it would be before either of them see red !

Griff is the captain and our most experienced Premier League player yet yesterday he was one of our poorer players. He gave away possession far too many times and his lack of pace will undoubtedly see him in trouble and on the receiving end of quite a few yellow and red cards.

Not many people think Dicko and Wilko are the answer to our full back problems, but I'm not quite sure what your point is?

[Admin]

Aug 17, 2008 13:25:07 GMT bst0ke said:

whelan was prob one of the better players until pulis took him off, hence thats why some people booed when he was brought off. griff had a shocker and wilko also didnt play very well although i thought he was playin out of postion.

Thanks heavens for that! I thought Whelan was our one player in the first half who actually looked Premier League standard!

I was very disappointed to see him subbed.

[bst0ke]

Same here smudge. couldnt believe it when he toook him off. when clearly seyi (dont know spell is 2nd name ha) didnt even look to be in the game.

[You want salad on kebab boss?]

My point is Davef, that he probably is the best option we have at the moment and his prem experience could be vital this season and I for 1 would rather have griff than the other players capable of playing in that position at the moment !?

[bst0ke]

Aug 17, 2008 13:34:57 GMT You want salad on kebab boss? said:

I for 1 would rather have griff than the other players capable of playing in that position at the moment !?

Young and Agbonlahor will tear him apart with their pace next week.

[You want salad on kebab boss?]

I never said they wouldnt, but if 1 of the hot heads play, I bet anyone a tenner 1 of them would see red !

[bst0ke]

Aug 17, 2008 13:43:03 GMT You want salad on kebab boss? said:

I never said they wouldnt, but if 1 of the hot heads play, I bet anyone a tenner 1 of them would see red !

thats why we need to bring two full backs in quick !

[stokesaint1]

Kingdeano makes the most valid point. Griffin is absolutely NOT a captain. Perhaps taking this "burden" away and moving him back to LEFT back may help his form but I, for one, am convinced that one of the main reasons we finished last season off so well was because Griff was out injured. Loved the guy first time back on loan but hasn't been the same player since. Perhaps the security of a four year contract has left him with a lack of the same drive and motivation. Sort it Tone. New Captain at least.

[You want salad on kebab boss?]

Who for captain then ?

LL not for me, gives 110% but for my liking he can get easily wound up by the opposition !

If you think about there really isnt a leader in our side, how old is Vince Overson ?

[bst0ke]

Lawrence does give 100% but knowing him he would get himself sent off or picking up stupid bookings for arguing with the ref. E.g pickin up a silly bookin yesturday .

[Davef]

Personally, I'd give you the exact same odds on Wilkinson, Dickinson and Griffin getting a red card if they're up against Agbonlahor and Young.

[mikeyb99]

Pulis' Griffin infatuation is almost as chronic as his love for Parkin, Pericard, 'Lil Ant, and Buxton - they aren't good enough, they will never be good enough.

Griffin gets ripped to shreds week-in week-out and must be one of the worst players ever to have featured in the Premier League so regularly, and with so many clubs. He can't do the basics of defending, he's very slow, and offers nothing moving forward (awful crosser, hit-and-hope long-ball man).

Griffin must go - and the captaincy must be passed along before the Villa game.

[Deleted]

Griff was average yesterday and the free kick he conceded for their 3rd was stupid. What talent he had seems to have been lost over the years but i still think he's out of position on the right.

Fact is, none of our back 4 are currently Prem standard. Let's get real, we got a taster yesterday of what to expect this season, and from a below-average side. If Wilko and Dicko continue to be near the first team squad it will simply demonstrate that we have no depth. If they start games, well, we're in trouble.

We held our own for 20 minutes yesterday then lost our way. Griff struggled and was helped out by Rory on numerous occasions. The season, and the games, WILL get harder as we will be up against much better teams, and players, than we came up against yesterday.

Yesterday showed to me why Riggott stood out when he came to Stoke on loan last season. He has what Shawcross and Cort don't currently have - the ability to read a game and the ability to 'boss' forwards. For a 'smaller' CH he still won his fair share in the air and his positional sense was good. Cort's too 'nice' and Shawcross has a bit of learning still to do. Are they liabilities in the current first-team set-up? I would say so.

Faye will be a huge help I'm sure but I'd say that if we are to bring in 4 new faces in the next few weeks, at least 3 of them should be defenders.