1 player to take the team to the next level

[cantspellwontspell]

a real QUALITY central midfielder, that in my opinion is actually all we need

I rate whelan, but I'm not sure he can step upto THAT level I am talking about, also Diao is 32, Delap is 33 in the summer

I'm happy with the Keeper, he's got 5 years left in him

happy with the back 4
Wilko if he can maintain this level or improve is about 24
ryan has a decade left in him ;D
Abdy probably has 1-2 years (more if he looks after himself)
Higgy has probs a few years in him

Lawrence is 27 , should be in his prime so is etherington

Fuller n Beattie have a few more seasons in them yet.


So its just those CM spots that trouble me

[daveray26 nealy 27]

whelan is getting better and better, just like our super ryan......but another top central midfielder would be fantastic,....in pulis we trust

[cantspellwontspell]

I agree he is getting better and better and at just 25 has years left in him, he would have to improve some more to get to the kind of level I am talking about

[march4]

We need to stregthen when and where we can Dave. Blackburn have told Robinson to go, so would we want him? If Kevin Davies could join, would we turn him down? If Boro go down, would you sign Wheater?

This is all assuming no one tries to snap up any of our players. I am sure Big Sam will try to tempt Abdy for example.

This summer is going to be very interesting and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a shock departure.

[cantspellwontspell]

Apr 19, 2009 15:40:28 GMT march4 said:

I am sure Big Sam will try to tempt Abdy for example.

ROFLMFAO ... what do you think Abdy's lap of honour was about , it was like sticking 2 fingers in Fat Sams face to say: "I am so effing happy here, why would I move to blackburn" as he's already had one bid rebuffed in january

[march4]

Apr 19, 2009 15:42:40 GMT @cantspellwontspell said:

Apr 19, 2009 15:40:28 GMT march4 said:

I am sure Big Sam will try to tempt Abdy for example.

ROFLMFAO ... what do you think Abdy's lap of honour was about , it was like sticking 2 fingers in Fat Sams face to say: "I am so effing happy here, why would I move to blackburn" as he's already had one bid rebuffed in january

It doesn't mean he will leave us, but Big Sam will make a concerted effort to sign him for the third time.

[cantspellwontspell]

he may do, but he will be wasting his time

[Lakeland Potter]

Dave, don't fall into the trap of thinking that one player will take us to the next level because one player would not make much difference. Buying just one player and expecting that to do the trick is plain stupid. Just ask Hull fans what difference Bullard has made to their squad.

Any single player is just one minute away from an injury which can keep him out for the season or for the rest of his career. Looking at yesterday's bench it is clear to me that we need four or five players better than what we currently have. I have no doubt TP will try to get them after shipping out some deadwood and some other players who are now not of the quality we need to push on.

[apb1]

We need a good full back, a cover centre half better than existing, an ace central midfielder and a forward at least as good as current to get to the next level.

[diaofan]

Tom Huddlestone may be that player.

Big, strong, young and actually likes to shoot from distance!

Apparently wants to leave Spurs as well.

[FullerMagic]

Sir James of Bullardshire?

He'll be loving those trips to MK Dons and Barnsley on his £35,000-a-week. Still, at least there'll always be that half hour at West Ham to look back on

[MrDBrent]

Apr 19, 2009 15:57:46 GMT diaofan said:

Tom Huddlestone may be that player.

Big, strong, young and actually likes to shoot from distance!

Apparently wants to leave Spurs as well.

agreed hes a good player from seeing him previously and today

[339187]

Funny you should post this Dave; I was thinking much the same thing (although not with a specific position in mind). The way TP has built the squad, and the way certain players have improved/matured over the season, it seems that just a couple of additions could do it.
John, I can't agree that four or five are needed. Depth on the bench would be great; but one or two more additions of the calibre of a Beattie (not easy to do; I know) could make a good squad VERY MUCH better.

[DodgyDino]

I would love to see Tevez in a Stoke shirt, I know theres no chance but hes the type of player i would go for.
Hes a grafter, Never gives up and knows where the net is, Just the type of player that would suit our style of play........Although hes only 5 foot and a dog end.

[Paul Spencer]

I certainly think we need more than one player to take us to the next level, however I do think that probably the most important signing would be a collosus (metaphorically speaking) of a man in midfield.

If we could push the boat out and make one (very) big money signing in the summer then for me it would be for a player who can take control of the game in the center of the park, be able to maintain possession and find his colleagues regularly with some excellent passing ability.

If said player comes with the same 'run through brick walls' spirit as Abdoulaye then even better.

Who this player is and whether we could actually afford him ... I have absolutely no idea.

[Deleted]

Does anybody know if that guraine n'daw fella is still on our radar?

[Sparkiee]

Whelan is superb. It's impossible to knock him, he puts a constant performance week in week out

[Malex]

I think we may have the answer in central midfield with a certain Mr Danny Pugh!! It's where he's had by far his best appearances for us and I reckon that if he was given some more time to prove himself there he'd turn a fair few heads.

[GazMcNicol]

Apr 19, 2009 15:52:05 GMT Lakeland Potter said:

Dave, don't fall into the trap of thinking that one player will take us to the next level because one player would not make much difference. Buying just one player and expecting that to do the trick is plain stupid. Just ask Hull fans what difference Bullard has made to their squad.

Any single player is just one minute away from an injury which can keep him out for the season or for the rest of his career. Looking at yesterday's bench it is clear to me that we need four or five players better than what we currently have. I have no doubt TP will try to get them after shipping out some deadwood and some other players who are now not of the quality we need to push on.

I agree, our squad is paper-thin compared to other teams at our level, we need 4-5 experienced players who can take the team forward, not just warm the bench.

[Birchesheadpotter]

Tom Huddlestone would be the perfect player. Harry seems to rate him despite not playing him, but would he turn down £5-6-7million??

Would also love another forward with pace. If/when Fuller misses games, we'll need someone that can fill his boots and even challenge him for a starting place... Although I suppose Zigic wouldn't be a bad plan B. ;D

Id also be looking to replace Higginbotham, and bring in another winger. We've only got 2 wide men in the whole squad, Lenny and Ethers, both of whom are completely different types of player. I havnt seen the both of them have a great game for us together as yet, and having someone ready to step on to replace either player would help massively.

[Paul Spencer]

Apr 19, 2009 17:13:45 GMT Birchesheadpotter said:

Tom Huddlestone would be the perfect player. Harry seems to rate him despite not playing him, but would he turn down £5-6-7million??

Would also love another forward with pace. If/when Fuller misses games, we'll need someone that can fill his boots and even challenge him for a starting place... Although I suppose Zigic wouldn't be a bad plan B. ;D

Id also be looking to replace Higginbotham, and bring in another winger. We've only got 2 wide men in the whole squad, Lenny and Ethers, both of whom are completely different types of player. I havnt seen the both of them have a great game for us together as yet, and having someone ready to step on to replace either player would help massively.

I agree with every single word of that BHP.

[kingdeano]

we need more than one player! we need 2 full backs, a solid box to box midfielder to play with whelan, and another quality striker.

[mermaidsal]

I think it's way bigger than one player, every possible credit to the squad we have now but if we do manage to finish as the 11th or 12th best club in the country we'll have MASSIVELY overachieved. We've got an aging squad and a thin one, it's going to take half a dozen quality signings, Abdy or BT calibre, to make us a consistently mid-table Prem side. The trick is how we manage that and keep the continuity and team spirit that's making the second half of this season so brilliant, but despite the media we've done ourselves a lot of favours and good players aren't go to be anything like as nervous of coming to Stoke as they were a year ago.

[fradleyhomes]

Huddlestone would be a quality signing

[theprinceofstyle]

Apr 19, 2009 17:13:45 GMT Birchesheadpotter said:

Tom Huddlestone would be the perfect player. Harry seems to rate him despite not playing him, but would he turn down £5-6-7million??

Would also love another forward with pace. If/when Fuller misses games, we'll need someone that can fill his boots and even challenge him for a starting place... Although I suppose Zigic wouldn't be a bad plan B. ;D

Id also be looking to replace Higginbotham, and bring in another winger. We've only got 2 wide men in the whole squad, Lenny and Ethers, both of whom are completely different types of player. I havnt seen the both of them have a great game for us together as yet, and having someone ready to step on to replace either player would help massively.

Totally agree with that Huddlestone looked a class act today for Spurs his passing today was different gravy!! would love see Fuller,Ethers and Lennie running on to them kind off balls. But i would be looking to ship Higgy out defensively hes okay but his distribution is shocking! We need that bit more off the full backs and i do believe Wilko can keep stepping up to another level.

[crimesy]

I think a real top quailty CM would be brilliant. Delap's throws have only seemed to work at home this season as well so Whelan and whoever it may be would be a real threat away from home.

[stoke624]

with the season we've had we should be able to attract better players than last summer--another striker to replace Kitson and Cresswell will be required and if he doesn't sign for Citeh,Daniel Sturridge would be a great signing(a young,quality striker who's brother plays for Hanley Town!!!)A second choice would be Negredo of Almeria who scored 2 more today to take his total to 18 in La Liga !!

[mickstupp]

Apr 19, 2009 16:55:17 GMT @pjnottj said:

Does anybody know if that guraine n'daw fella is still on our radar?

Apparantly so mate, I`m keeping my fingers crossed on this one cause he is a top player. Would fit perfectly in our side as a much classier (and younger) version of Diao

[chris72]

The player would take would be Barry Ferguson,i know he had a bad time with injuries at Blackburn but everytime ive seen him for Rangers he has played well all being in a poor league.He is leader and would give Glen Whelan more freedom to play.

[Mason_Stokie]

Apr 19, 2009 20:55:14 GMT chris72 said:

The player would take would be Barry Ferguson,i know he had a bad time with injuries at Blackburn but everytime ive seen him for Rangers he has played well all being in a poor league.He is leader and would give Glen Whelan more freedom to play.

and a pisshead.
would be good for dressing room morale?