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Post by huddersstokie on Jan 11, 2008 10:15:40 GMT
STOKE CITY: I SHOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT, SAYS GRIFFIN Be the first reader to comment on this story
09:40 - 11 January 2008
ANDY Griffin completed his £300,000 move from Derby County to Stoke City today and then admitted: “I should never have left here last summer.”
Griffin has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with City and hopes to see out the rest of his career at the Britannia.
“Yes, I probably do regret not signing last summer,” said the 28-year-old defender.
“I don’t want people to think it was a rejection of Stoke City because at least 90 per cent of players would have done the same as me back then.
“I suppose you can get blinded by the lights of the Premiership and that’s why I chose Derby. I thought it was the last chance saloon.
"But when I was there, I kind of knew I had made the wrong decision. I realised it quite soon, but you live and die by your decisions.
“You don’t always realise how good a place is or how happy you are there until you are elsewhere.
“Now I am just happy to be back and it will feel good to be a part of the team again.
“It doesn’t really feel like I’ve been away because I’ve been down to watch five or six games and kept in touch with some of the lads.”
Now Griffin is planning one final crack at the Premier League with Stoke after joining the club that first launched his career more than a decade ago – and where he spent two spells on loan from Portsmouth last season.
“All credit to the manager, chairman and particularly the players for what they have done at Stoke this season,” added Griffin.
“The position they find themselves in by the middle of January is fantastic. If there’s ever a time Stoke City can push for the Premier League it’s going to be now ... and hopefully I can play a part and do what I can for the club.”
Griffin joined the rest of the Stoke players when they left for East Anglia this morning ahead of tomorrow’s tasty top-six Championship showdown at Ipswich Town, but is unlikely to start at Portman Road after nursing a calf injury for the past month.
“I got a bit of a calf problem four weeks ago so I’ve not really trained except in the gym. I will be down on my fitness, but that’s nothing hard work cannot put right.”
Griffin’s injury problems mean youngsters Andy Wilkinson and Carl Dickinson are likely to continue at full-back tomorrow after impressing against Newcastle United in the FA Cup last Sunday.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 11, 2008 10:18:33 GMT
What pisses me off is that if he was fit he would have probably waltzed right into the team at the expense of 2 of the best performers in the previous game. Wilko for me is our first choice right back by a mile and Dicko isn't far off Pugh for left back imo. Griffin is a good addition but he should earn his friggin place in the team first.
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Post by knowles on Jan 11, 2008 10:20:18 GMT
Four and a half year contract?! That is huge for Stoke!!
“I should never have left here last summer.”
No you shouldnt. Neither should you shake hands with our chief exec and then go off to Derby
That said, welcome back Griff
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Post by ben88 on Jan 11, 2008 10:24:23 GMT
i can see him getting a frosty reception to be honest, untill he puts in two or three brilliant performances there will be some neggativity towards him
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Post by PotteringThrough on Jan 11, 2008 10:27:51 GMT
Hopefully he'll come back in a blaze of glory then and become an integral part of the team that wins promotion!
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Post by oatcakemate on Jan 11, 2008 10:28:46 GMT
i can see him getting a frosty reception to be honest, untill he puts in two or three brilliant performances there will be some neggativity towards him I hope not Ben.Hes a Stoke player now and he has held his hands up. Welcome back Griff
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Post by Onneravineet on Jan 11, 2008 10:34:04 GMT
Welcome back Griff, bygones and all that, he's a Stokie now and that's good enough for me!
meanwhile back on planet "What the feck was that I just read" 4 AND AHALF YEARS!!! This normally doesn't happen at Stoke and is a clear intention that Griff is after hanging his boots up here. 4 AND AHALF YEARS.. PC I salute you
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Post by onlyonesirstan on Jan 11, 2008 10:35:37 GMT
ben88. Why should he get a frosty reception? He was offered a chance in the premiership and he took it. Loyalty doesn't happen in football now, not like the old days when we had the likes of Smithy, bluto, banksy etc. If you had a job for example at a local company, but then one in derby offers you much better pay, better chances of working with bigger companies etc etc, would you turn it down because of it being a local company? I don't think so.
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Joey Starr
Academy Starlet
Vis Unita Fortior
Posts: 222
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Post by Joey Starr on Jan 11, 2008 10:45:58 GMT
I've slagged off Griffin continually since the summer and have posted long speeches about how he could have retired a hero instead of ending up being disliked/ridiculed by Derby and Stoke allike. I read this thread agreeing with ben, but the welcome and loyalty being offered to Griffin from this board for putting the shirt back on - despite his perceived lack of loyalty before - is almost moving. We deserve the reward of some success for that spirit alone. I hope that Griffin feels this and it spurs him to do his best for us.
Proud to be Stoke
P.S. I know what you mean onlyonesirstan, but that is basically what happened with our pottery industry. Its never easy, but when any of us can make a stand/some sacrifice for those we live amongst without money always being the deciding factor, it is the very best thing we can do - after forgiveness I guess.
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Jan 11, 2008 10:53:51 GMT
4 and a half years?
Are we not expecting promotion for that time then as Griffin has consistently proved he's not good enough for the premiership.
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Post by vientianescfc on Jan 11, 2008 11:00:41 GMT
Just like I said in the post that Mrsg posted on - what was the point in him apologising for anything as the first thing Stoke fans will do is say 'I don't believe him'.
Some of you REALLY need to wake up . . he was offered a chance to play in the Prem and most likely a pay packet far in excess of what Stoke could offer - so all of you 'loyalty' people are telling me if someone offer you twice your current salary and a high grade job you would say ... erm no thanks. Get real!
Mrsg also said there was NO agreement made with Stoke to sign and even if there was a verbal agreement it means shit all until a contract is signed!
As for replacing Dicko or Wilko well he's a better player - like it or not! He is far more attacking minded than either and his distribution quality is far better also.
Good to have you back Griff - just ignore the blinded 'loyalty' fools who'll with the combined IQ of 10 will probably boo you and even be hard enough to call you judas or some other mongelite name.
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Post by oatcakemate on Jan 11, 2008 11:01:56 GMT
Good Post PiiBaa
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Hairystool
Academy Starlet
Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!
Posts: 187
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Post by Hairystool on Jan 11, 2008 11:07:47 GMT
Welcome back Griff!
Sorry it wasn't a continuous stay from last season but if you perform to the level you did then I think the madness of six months at Derby will be swept under the carpet!
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Post by mark71 on Jan 11, 2008 11:08:18 GMT
Welcome back Griff.
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Post by onlyonesirstan on Jan 11, 2008 11:11:02 GMT
PiiBaa. Well said mate, and totally agree.
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Post by stokietony on Jan 11, 2008 11:13:42 GMT
Great signing and welcome back Griff. But 4 and a 1/2 years surprises me.
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Post by tijuanabrass on Jan 11, 2008 11:17:35 GMT
As good an apology as could be expected. A goal like last year's against Coventry and all will be forgiven.
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Post by RAF on Jan 11, 2008 11:33:44 GMT
Four and a half years for a player that quite clearly can't cut it in the Prem is very strange considering we are supposedly aiming for the Prem this season.
Still welcome back Griff great player at this level, just hope you will be happy with the bench at best if we do get promoted.
H
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Post by Admin on Jan 11, 2008 11:36:30 GMT
To be fair to Griff, he can hardly be accused of "not cutting it" in the Premiership when he's at a bag of shite club like Derby County! I doubt many players would have cut it in the firwst half of the season there.
I'll welcome him back but nowhere near as enthusiastically as I did when he returned last year. He needs to earn our trust again... and I'm sure he will.
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Post by PerCyfilth ....Captains Log on Jan 11, 2008 11:39:32 GMT
Lets be honest he will have to go some to shift Dicko after his recent performance against Castle. Nice problem to have though.
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Jan 11, 2008 11:41:37 GMT
Smudge He's not 'cut it' at Newcastle or Portsmouth..............and thats before he prematurely aged!
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Post by RAF on Jan 11, 2008 11:41:58 GMT
Well McEverley seems to be cutting it rather well in the same position in the same side, even if the results still aren't going their way. Griff has had his time in the top flight, and in my opinion has had his day at that level, thus no bids from other Prem clubs. That said he is a great addition to the squad, even if 4 and a half years seems a bit OTT.
H
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Post by batfastard on Jan 11, 2008 11:48:57 GMT
i like griff and wish him luck at stoke lets hope he can score another goal like he did against coventry
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Jan 11, 2008 11:49:50 GMT
Career Stats Pld Y R Cards 2006/07 Stoke City 32 10 1 2005/06 Portsmouth 20 6 0 2004/05 Portsmouth 18 6 0 2003/04 Newcastle United 5 2 0 2002/03 Newcastle United 22 7 1 2001/02 Newcastle United 3 0 0 2000/01 Newcastle United 14 2 0 1999/00 Newcastle United 1 0 0 Lots of yellow cards might indicate he struggles! Anyway follow the party line and welcome back Griffo.......
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Post by mrblobbysdad on Jan 11, 2008 11:52:01 GMT
Griffin is class in the championship. As soon as he is fit I think we'll all see what he's about again and will be an integral part of the team. Given his experience in the top flight im sure he'll prove to be a good influence on the younger Dicko and Wilko who will be ready to step in when Griff is hanging his boots up.
Welcome back Andy, you're a Stokie again!
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Post by StokieSC on Jan 11, 2008 11:53:23 GMT
I fucking knew he'd say that ;D
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Post by citytillidie08 on Jan 11, 2008 11:54:25 GMT
welcome back good to see you back next month they will be saying you are a legend again
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Post by vientianescfc on Jan 11, 2008 11:55:06 GMT
Why does lots of yellow cards indicate he struggles? ???
Ryan has 8 yellows in 25 appearances this season does he struggle also?
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Post by cmonstoke1983 on Jan 11, 2008 11:56:49 GMT
One good thing about Griff spending 6 months or so at Derby is the fact that we've probably been able to get him for cheaper than it would have cost us if we'd have had to pay portsmouth for him
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Post by PotteringThrough on Jan 11, 2008 11:58:17 GMT
McEveley is out for four months I think, so this makes it an interesting signing!
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