|
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2009 18:07:41 GMT
Tony has a very high opinion of this lad and has done for a while. I don't know the ins and outs but i will be amazed if he has purchased him to be a squad player. He will be a regular starter and personally think he'll be captain. It could work well for Stoke but for one reason only and that is if he plays along side someone with flair and creativity. This guy will run, chase, close down anything and will go from box to box, he could be a real pain for opposition. He and everyone else is aware of his limited attributes. If he is picking up all the bits and doing all the graft then this leaves someone with ability to play as a playmaker like we've been after since the season finished. Someone who can control and run the midfield and generally have a free role knowing that Deano is there to do the hard work. Tony isn't daft he's planned ahead, he's got his grafter who is a natural replacement for Rory and now he wants his playmaker to replace Glenn. This will be a successful pairing in my eyes. On the other hand it would be a step back if both Deano and Rory were to be the midfield pairing as they are the same player and that leaves us with no footballing ability in the middle, very dangerous tactic. i really think that rory will play a big part next season, looking at the team we have, we will still rely heavily on his long throws so at the moment it looks more likely we'll have a centre mid pairing of rory and whitehead, with last season's best midfielder - whelan - being dropped, unless of course rory is put at right back
|
|
|
Post by tazi on Jul 24, 2009 18:12:54 GMT
Can't see Whelan getting dropped, in fact far from it because i see him as being the lynchpin in the centre of midfield now there is the likes of Whitehead doing the spadework. Whelan has come on leaps and bounds and not only does he himself get stuck in but he also has the ability in splaying a pass or two in an instance.
I can see both Rory and Dean sharing the graft equally in the sense of sharing the matches/workload between them or in other terms one on the bench and one out on the pitch.
|
|
|
Post by FullerMagic on Jul 24, 2009 18:14:45 GMT
If Player-CoachMan comes in, maybe we'll see both Delap and Whelan start te season on the bench.
|
|
|
Post by The Berlin Wall on Jul 24, 2009 18:16:44 GMT
Whitehead good box to box midfielder? Personal I would of liked to have spent that on a creative midfielder
Whelan to warm bench now
|
|
|
Post by onebollockbarry on Jul 24, 2009 18:24:44 GMT
Tony has a very high opinion of this lad and has done for a while. I don't know the ins and outs but i will be amazed if he has purchased him to be a squad player. He will be a regular starter and personally think he'll be captain. It could work well for Stoke but for one reason only and that is if he plays along side someone with flair and creativity. This guy will run, chase, close down anything and will go from box to box, he could be a real pain for opposition. He and everyone else is aware of his limited attributes. If he is picking up all the bits and doing all the graft then this leaves someone with ability to play as a playmaker like we've been after since the season finished. Someone who can control and run the midfield and generally have a free role knowing that Deano is there to do the hard work. Tony isn't daft he's planned ahead, he's got his grafter who is a natural replacement for Rory and now he wants his playmaker to replace Glenn. This will be a successful pairing in my eyes. On the other hand it would be a step back if both Deano and Rory were to be the midfield pairing as they are the same player and that leaves us with no footballing ability in the middle, very dangerous tactic. i really think that rory will play a big part next season, looking at the team we have, we will still rely heavily on his long throws so at the moment it looks more likely we'll have a centre mid pairing of rory and whitehead, with last season's best midfielder - whelan - being dropped, unless of course rory is put at right back His throws became ineffective almost the second half of the season and a good quality playmaker will always create more assists and score more goals than Rory's throws will do. I personally see him as an impact player, someone to come off the bench with 30 to go and launch it in there.
|
|
|
Post by mikeyb99 on Jul 24, 2009 18:48:00 GMT
I'm massively concerned that the OTT transfer fee means Whitehead will be dropped straight into the first team. If he's genuinely in as a replacement for Rory I won't be too bothered, but dropping Whelan would show a huge step in the wrong direction.
Prove me wrong Tony - Whelan IN - or else another playmaker. NOT Whitehead alongside Rory for God's sake!
|
|
|
Post by Beardy200 on Jul 24, 2009 18:49:36 GMT
If Player-CoachMan comes in, maybe we'll see both Delap and Whelan start te season on the bench. I'd be happy with that myself. Some people seem to believe that Whelan is a world-beater because he was the best central midfielder we had last season. He's far from that and in my opinion average. Yes he had some good performances but i can remember twice as many when he was practically invisible. Bring in the new boys and take a seat Glenn
|
|
|
Post by stokeoptimist on Jul 24, 2009 18:50:59 GMT
At least we now know who the new club captain will be
|
|
|
Post by luke45 on Jul 24, 2009 18:54:15 GMT
Anybody got a picture of Whitehead holding up a Stoke shirt?
|
|
|
Post by griffoisalegend on Jul 24, 2009 18:55:16 GMT
I actually believe that this lad will turn out to be a bigger success at Stoke City than Dean Ashton ;D
We'll see.
|
|
|
Post by DelapsWankingArm on Jul 24, 2009 19:33:43 GMT
Anybody got a picture of Whitehead holding up a Stoke shirt? Ahh want one me self anyone?
|
|
|
Post by suttontiger on Jul 24, 2009 20:16:18 GMT
Bloody eck,£5m Clubs like ours are getting fleeced. Huge transfer fees for the likes of very ordinary players like Whitehead and Zamora is criminal
|
|
isoza
Spectator
Posts: 43
|
Post by isoza on Jul 24, 2009 20:21:45 GMT
Presume the 5million is dependent on us reaching the Champion's League Final and beating Real Madrid 5-0 in the final.
Still think he's a good signing...
|
|