Tonge a cert for the left?

[FullerMagic]

Presumably he will be as there are few other options,he has got an impressive season there under his belt 4-5 years ago as a youngster, and his signing makes no sense unless he's been earmarked for that role...

Interesting that he hasn't really played there for several years though, and he himself now sees himself as a central midfielder.

Every manager at Sheff U, including Warnock (who saw what he could do there as a teenager) and Blackwell who also saw what he did there has persisted in playing him in the middle, even in the absence of an out-and-out left-sided player.

I was reading an interview with him tonight in that 'Sentinel Weekend' football thing, and he made it clear again that he now sees himself as a CM, saying something along the lines of ' Yes, I did play left midfield for Sheffield United 4 or 5 years ago, but since then I've predominately played centrally, so I definitely prefer it in the middle'.

It'll also be interesting to see how much of a nailed-on starter Soares is in the middle, apparently his best position, as well as having the extra string to his bow as cover for Lawrence where he's done a job at Palace.

[potters11]

Evening Grapey.

A nailed on cert if you ask me. He seemed to be Plan B, maybe C, when our friends from South Wales fell out with us over Ledley, so we were left with Tonge. Will do a job on the left for us, and maybe the Ledley deal will get the green light in January, at this point, Tonge will then be added to the list of around of half a dozen players wanting to play in central midfield.

[BiddulphStokie]

tbh he is to slow for a prem lw

[BiddulphStokie]

i think he has come in as a back up versitile player

[sheikhmomo]

Presuming all our various midfielders and defenders are fit, our line-up against Everton will be fascinating to see and to be honest Pulis has is work cut out to convince us that there is more method than desperation to the summer's activity. A couple of outgoing loans to championship sides in the next week however, might clarify the picture.

[Jamo on the wing]

I think he plays, with the possibility bit of rotation between him and Soares.
TP like his wide players swapping flanks and I think he may see Liam and Tonge (no not another video!) doing just that. Tonge like Liam is very comfortable on the ball and can pick a pass, he also has a good eye for goal.
I think he'll be a good addition.

[sheikhmomo]

The strange thing about so many midfield purchases is that if we're going to play the standard four, two of them (Lawrence and Delap) are virtually un-droppable if fit.

[Jamo on the wing]

Agreed shiekh.
I think first choice is now a four that consists of:

Liam Rory George Tonge

[FullerMagic]

As Momo says, there's possibly a whiff of late-window desperation hanging heavy in the air over a few of our dealings - not to say they won't do a good job for us , or they won't prove shrewd buys.

Tonge wouldn't have been in the top 3 or 4 choices if you asked the average Championship fan in the street, Family Fortunes-style, to pick an affordable Championship left midfield option for a promoted team - mainly 'cause he hasn't played there since 2003, with even the perception amongst the Sheff Utd fans being that he's got very stale at Bramall Lane.

He certainly doesn't provide the pace even TP admitted we "desperately needed to add, beyond a question of a doubt" (but neither would Ledley have).

In fact, Davies at RB, Higgy at LB and Tonge at LM are all totally left-field signings, aren't they?

Davies is on record as recently as last week as saying he's 'far better' at centre-half, a position where he's attracted amazing plaudits at So'ton, and played the best football of his career.

They all consider themselves something other than what they're going to be asked to play for us this season.

If Pulis gets them part of a functioning and effective unit playing at RB, LB, and LM, he'll deserve all the credit in the world, as they aren't exactly recently-proven, custom-made fits there to the layman...

And if we want the option of Delap's throws, quite where Soares will fit in, with everyone fit, is anyone's guess.....

[sheikhmomo]

I expect it to be that as well Jamo. I know it's becoming a bloody cliche but Delap at right back would allow a few more options in midfield but if he hasn't tried it by now, you have to start thinking it's a complete non starter for Pulis (and perhaps Delap himself?)

[Jamo on the wing]

He probably could play RB but I think we'd miss him as a spoiler in the middle. Whether we like it or not we've got a hell of a lot of defending to do between now and May and Rory does an excellent job of helping our defenders out. I'm not sure that we could accommodate two attack minded centre midfielders, I reckon we would get ripped to bits.

[FullerMagic]

I haven't been able to gert a proper handle on Soares' style of game.

I read a couple of Palace fans describing him as an 'effective water carrier', while others described as him as 'skilful, but with a tendency to go missing'. With all shades of grey in between.

Difficult to reconcile the 2 - and I'm still none the wiser about whether he's more of an attacking force or a hard-working protector? I read an interview with Peter Taylor saying he could do both roles. But I stopped taking Peter Taylor seriously a long time ago

[sheikhmomo]

I think even if we play him in the skillful, creative role he'll have to bring his 'water carrying' to the party.

Lets face it there's only Ricky in the entire squad who's excused water duties!

[PotterLog]

Sept 5, 2008 21:19:57 GMT FullerMagic said:

In fact, Davies at RB, Higgy at LB and Tonge at LM are all totally left-field signings, aren't they?

Well yeah, apart from Davies at RB...

[PotterLog]

Sept 5, 2008 20:47:36 GMT FullerMagic said:

It'll also be interesting to see how much of a nailed-on starter Soares is in the middle

There's no chance Soares will ever start for us in the middle. There's just no way Pulis would bring in a 21-year-old lad for that job. IMO he's been brought in as cover/a sub for either flank.

[MrBigJobby]

i reckon its got 3-5-2 written all over it, with combo of higgy/sonko/davies/cort at the back and lawro/ab faye/oli/delap/soares/tonge/whelan/faye

i see it as the only way to get delap and lawro in

[Claus_SCFC]

May I remind you that wingers, "real" wingers, you know the kind that take on a fullback, beats him and sprints down the wing to deliver a cross - they do not exist in TP's football universe. I know we were chasing Dramani and Akale, who both might fall into that categori, but they wouldn't have been in our starting 11, they would have been "impact players", "options off the bench" or whatever TP likes to call this kind of talented players that he doesn't trust to put in a hard days work.

There is no doubt in my mind that Tonge is our new leftsided midfielder, and I agree with Potterlog that Soares is brought in as cover for Lawrence and Tonge.

Good luck to both of them.

[Big Al]

i totally agree with Mr big especially now tp mentor harry tried out and succeeded with it last Saturday

[Alvechurch Assassin]

I think we are all forgetting that it's all about an 18 man squad. There will be injuries ans suspensions throughout the season so most of these players will be getting a game, regardless of the starting line-up against Everton.

I do think that Tonge will play LM against Everton, and I also think TP may play Rory at right back.

Possible team-

Sorenson
Rory Faye Higgy Griffin
Liam Oli Whelan Tonge
Fuller Kits

Bench-
Sonko
Soares
Cort
Simmo
Mama
Cressie
Dicko

Shawcross definately out on loan. Diao/Wilko way down the pecking order and Pugh lost in the wilderness.

[Trouserdog]

"Square pegs in round Holes" is TP's favourite game when it comes to signing players and slotting them in the team.

We now have a squad consisting of virtually nothing but centre halves and central midfielders. Normally you'd have to question what the fuck Pulis was doing with a tactic like this, but if it's a solid two lines of four that he's after, then you can perhaps see the thinking behind it.

I can't see any other option than Tonge on the left, and at this stage I'm hoping he turns out to be akin to Lawrence in regards to a reported lack of pace being more than compensated for by skill and bucketloads of 'aaaaard work.

The biggest midfield question mark is whether Soares will start in the centre, or whether he'll be first-in-line to replace any of the starting midfielders in the event of injuries/suspensions. Like Momo says, I'd consider Lawrence and Delap, and arguably Oli as well, undroppable after their performances so far, so I reckon he'll start on the bench.

[surreystokie]

The biggest worry right now is that, with difficult games coming up, they won't have had a chance either to play together or against each other, in training, due to badly timed internationals.

Sorry, I meant a ludicrously timed transfer window, which should finish in early August, instead of its end, starting in early July, just as teams return to training and all football club admin staff (almost >: ) have finished with holidays.

[lurcherman]

Didn't Pulis say he may pick different players for different matches or summit like that?

Could be thinkin on the lines of -

a right back with a bit of pace who likes to get forward...... play Tonge
a right back who's a bit slower and sits a bit deeper....... play Soares

[nott1]

I don't think there is any need for a transfer window at all. What's it's purpose? We could be signing the much needed LW now, and not having to wait until January!

[huddersstokie]

I like to put my Tonge straight down the middle – Oh dear.....I am starting to sound a bit too much like Mr Sausage now!!!

[hanibal7]

sorrenson

rb-- davies cd--- faye lb---- higyy

5 midfield
lawrence----- oli----- delap------ tonge------ soares
kitson

fuller

[vestanpance]

Sorensen

Delap - Faye - Sonko - Higgy

Liam - Whelan - Oli - Tonge

Kitson - Fuller

Simonsen
Davies
Cort
Soares
Cresswell
Sidibe
Dickinson

[lordb]

sorry but has Soares ever played on the left?

invisible smiting accepted if he has!

[jay1610]

Sept 9, 2008 12:40:55 GMT hanibal7 said:

sorrenson

rb-- davies cd--- faye lb---- higyy

5 midfield
lawrence----- oli----- delap------ tonge------ soares
kitson

fuller

12 men?

[Mozzaa]

Sorenson

Davies AB Faye Sonko Higgy

Lawrence Oli Delap Tonge

Fuller Kitson

Bench: Simo, Cort, Shawcross, Whelan, Soares, Cresswell, Sidibe

[chellster]

Sept 9, 2008 19:20:10 GMT jay1610 said:

Sept 9, 2008 12:40:55 GMT hanibal7 said:

sorrenson

rb-- davies cd--- faye lb---- higyy

5 midfield
lawrence----- oli----- delap------ tonge------ soares
kitson

fuller

12 men?

I count 11