|
Post by Lakeland Potter on Jan 10, 2009 23:24:40 GMT
The lad who sits next to me and I spent much of the first half checking that it was Amdy putting in so much work in the middle of the pitch. I thought he was certainly the best player on the pitch in the first half although he saw a little less of the ball in the second half. If he can keep this up he'll be one of TP's better buys - not as good as Ab Faye of course, but still pretty damned good.
There was a lot of good stuff on view from Stoke tonight but Amdy's display was in many ways the most heart warming.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2009 23:30:36 GMT
The lad is a Premiership Ray Wallace! No team can function properly without one! If we can find a class act alongside him like Gleghorn was that season we lost to Leicester in the playoffs, we'll be fine. Although perhaps playing him and Diao, and letting the wingers have some freedom might also be effective for us.
|
|
|
Post by MrMagic on Jan 10, 2009 23:48:42 GMT
Amdy had a cracking game today. Pretty much everyone did as well to be honest, but I thought it was Amdys best game for Stoke.
I agree about Wilko, and don't think he can concetrate for a full 90 minutes, as the game wore on he seemed to get pulled out of position and made a few late mistakes.
Overall though a great performance from everyone.
|
|
|
Post by Olgrligm on Jan 10, 2009 23:52:38 GMT
Two good games in a row. Looks better with a more attacking partner and I think Diao would be the same.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2009 0:02:34 GMT
He is one of those midfielders who really should be a full-back...pace, strength and agility...but does well with those traits for sides like us, who end up defending more than we attack due to the nature of the players we have. If you can add players who move well off the ball alongside him to offer him simple balls, or just ask him to lump it, he is fine. Too many on this board want us to play all our flair creative players without thought for the realities of the game or the oppo we play. Amdy and Salif are 100% necessary to Stoke's survival.
|
|
|
Post by tsm on Jan 11, 2009 0:07:39 GMT
I don't think he came out of the blocks well today, but after the first 20 mins or so, couldn't fault his performance. Whelan the same - the middle of the pitch looked bad for us for the opening spell, but after that, much better.
|
|
|
Post by tazi on Jan 11, 2009 1:53:59 GMT
Totally dominated the midfield today and if Pulis can continue to get inside his head then if the saying is true 'which it is' of form being temporary and class being permanent' then Amdy Faye will be the steal of the century.
Long may it continue.
Tony Pulis is an absolute genius when it comes to transforming a players career because he gets to know what really makes e'm tick deep inside.
For some of those that would like to see Tony Pulis shown the door then it's such a shame that you fail to see the so called bigger picture.
|
|
|
Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 11, 2009 1:58:32 GMT
Him and Whelan played well today. First 10 minutes we weren't pressing but then suddenly both of them must have gone "oh f**k it" Whelan from nowhere sprung out of his position closed his man down this pushed Faye up and from there it was job on.
Credit to Cressy for marking Mascherano out of the game too.
|
|
|
Post by Davef on Jan 11, 2009 2:02:30 GMT
Faye has improved considerably from the moment Salif Diao had to go off injured and was replaced by Glenn Whelan at Newcastle.
|
|
|
Post by Paul Spencer on Jan 11, 2009 2:12:20 GMT
Two good games in a row. Looks better with a more attacking partner and I think Diao would be the same. This is a really good point MD. It's actually my only (but quite worryingly, and indeed quite serious) criticism of Pulis today. There is no doubt he intended to START with Salif and Amdy today. I don't think it's any coincidence that Amdy's game has improved DRAMATICALLY since he has had Whelan along side of him. I'm not suggesting that it's Whelan himself, that has made the difference, but rather, that he has improved so much due to Diao NOT being there, or actually more to the point, that it is not a defensive midfielder per se that is partnering him. I agree with you, I think that both Salif and Amdy look better when they don't have their mirror image as a partner in midfield. It is extremely worrying that based on the starting eleven that Pulis intended to start with today, that our manager doesn't seem to have made the same observation. EDIT: I started typing this before your post appeared above Dave!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2009 8:48:27 GMT
I'm very happy to sign the amdy faye appreciation thread!!! He did well again. For me, he's done well almost every game he has played (sending off against boro ). Against villa he was superb for me but many stokies were not prepared to give him a chance at that time As said above though, it needs to be amdy OR diao - not both please tp. Lets hope he's happy and will sign a contract extension.
|
|
|
Post by TheManWho on Jan 11, 2009 9:06:59 GMT
I agree he played well overall, and his workrate is tireless....
but his distribution at times makes you want to cry!
I myself thought Cresswell had a brilliant game along with the usuals (The Mighty abdoulaye, Whelan etc.)
|
|
|
Post by Northy on Jan 11, 2009 9:08:43 GMT
He had a good game as he did against Man Utd, maybe it's something to do with the smaller width on the pitch where the opposition don't get enough space? Whatever it works, we just need that little bit more creativity from somebody with him - Lawrence in the middle ?
|
|
|
Post by tazi on Jan 11, 2009 9:14:30 GMT
Lawrence will not hack it in the Premier League by playing on the right because not only has he got no pace but he cannot beat a man too.
Lawrence should play in the middle.
|
|
|
Post by griffoisalegend on Jan 11, 2009 9:25:16 GMT
I think Lawrence will be fine on the right, he's the best right mid we have so why not play him there?We've missed him in my opinion, we've had no one in wide positions who can hold the ball up with any nouse, and i'm sure he'll get to the byline and whip crosses in for us, win corners and work his arse off, without beating his man - he'll still be effective, more so than a Delap on the right.
We've got no one who can beat a man apart from Fuller (And Etherington maybe) , Lawrence fits in with the Pulis unit and so will slot right back in i would've thought - he had a damn good game against Villa , so why not against other teams?
Lawrence is the "best footballer" we have in my opinion, so play him in the position he did so well last year, he hasn't been given a chance at all with his injury, so lets see what he can do on the right? He'll be fine, he dominated the championship , i can't see him doing that in the premiership, but surely he'll fit in??
|
|
|
Post by tazi on Jan 11, 2009 9:28:07 GMT
We need someone that favours playing on the right but for now i suppose Liam will have to do. If we manage to get the above in then Liam should only play in the middle.
|
|
|
Post by stokie63 on Jan 11, 2009 9:34:45 GMT
thought amdy was superb and my mom mattys got quality and will get better and better.
|
|
|
Post by griffoisalegend on Jan 11, 2009 9:36:41 GMT
I always thought Amdy was the weirdest signing, didn't think he offered us much at all.
Now i see the genius behind the shoddy passes, well done Tony Pulis.
|
|
|
Post by One-Two on Jan 11, 2009 9:38:00 GMT
The only poor player today was Whelan. He constantly took too long on the ball and that bodged clearance almost lost us the game. Credit for the close freekick though, but apart from that he was very disappointing
|
|
|
Post by rabbigan on Jan 11, 2009 12:49:01 GMT
Faye was our best player against Man U and again today. Really shithot battling midfield performance. Have become big admirer of him. Thought Whelan did ok. Wilko also did OK ,but he cant pass and could have cost us the game with the fould on Babel. However I would keep playing him in preference to Griff as I am sure he will get better and better.
|
|
|
Post by apb1 on Jan 11, 2009 12:56:00 GMT
Amdy and Delap in the middle with Lawrence and Etherington wide?
Whelan Olofinjana and Diao as cover, with Delap able to switch to either flank if it's a wide player who's out?
Whither Tonge and, to a lesser extent, Soares? 8th and 9th choice midfielders mustn't have been the carrot dangled in front of them. Actually 9th and 10th as even Pugh is in front at the moment...
|
|
|
Post by griffoisalegend on Jan 11, 2009 13:12:05 GMT
That would be my midfield apb .
|
|
|
Post by walrus on Jan 11, 2009 13:22:17 GMT
Amdy was very good yesterday, he never missed a tackle and never gave the ball away. I just wish he offered a little more going forward though.
|
|
|
Post by robbo2009 on Jan 11, 2009 19:16:02 GMT
Etheringion wasn't man of the match
there were 11 man of the matches
the hole team were immence
|
|
|
Post by euan ouzami on Jan 11, 2009 20:57:14 GMT
Amdy was superb today. Our best player for me. I love football...for me, Whelan was our weakest man. I agree, whelan worries me. In particular the sliced clearance across our penalty area and then, mistimed rescue challenge - if Kuyt had gone down would have been a penalty. Amdy was MOM for me
|
|
|
Post by evans1863 on Jan 11, 2009 22:35:39 GMT
Well I thought Whelan looked good again, slow start but came to life after that.
Him and Faye are a better partnership than Faye and Diao. It's not about ability, its about getting a balance and if Tone spots this then he will keep Diao out of the team fingers crossed.
|
|
|
Post by eddiecurrent on Jan 11, 2009 23:59:56 GMT
I agree, although he is prone to moments of absolute shitness even when he has a great game - you just have to cope that nothing comes of them.
|
|
|
Post by Paul Spencer on Jan 12, 2009 0:05:09 GMT
Him and Faye are a better partnership than Faye and Diao. It's not about ability, its about getting a balance and if Tone spots this then he will keep Diao out of the team fingers crossed. It's weird innit ... I think you'd be hard pushed, to find one single Stoke fan who thinks that Amdy and Salif work together. Yet this EXACTLY the partnership that Pulis intended on starting with against Liverpool yesterday. A worry?
|
|
|
Post by PotteringThrough on Jan 12, 2009 0:33:48 GMT
Whelan and Amdy were excellent together. They both made a couple of mistakes here and there but were quick to get back in and break the play up.
Whelan is impressing me more and more though now.
|
|
leftwingking
Lads'n'Dads
abdoulaye faye is my mate
Posts: 70
|
Post by leftwingking on Jan 12, 2009 12:41:00 GMT
Amdy was superb today. Our best player for me. I love football...for me, Whelan was our weakest man. i think whelan should have been MOM for me, his passing and awareness was quality when he got the ball, him and faye certainly didnt look out of their depth at all
|
|