cort or riggott

[tonypuilsbarmyarmy]

who will you play on sunday cort riggott for me it will be riggott because cort will not be 100% fit at the moment.

what do you lot think

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

riggott won't be 100 percent fit either...

I would probably play cort, as riggott hasn't played any matches for a long time.

But I wouldn't be suprised if Riggott played instead of cort, i think he is better defensively....

But cort's goalscoring could be vital.

[stokeoptimist]

If Cort is fit maybe he will drop Shawcross, he didn't seem too pleased with him for giving away the two free kicks at Preston.

Anyway its good that we have some competition at centre half, I athink we are defensively better with Dickinson at full back than Pugh although the opposite is true when we are going forward!

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

^^^^
yep,defensively, on paper, we have a top team, it will gel soon.

I just don't like the look of simo at the moment, although i'm sure against QPR he will make a couple of wonder saves, i hope he comes out for some crosses, it puts the defence under too much pressure.

[FullerMagic]

Whichever one plays, it doesn't look like they'll be fully fit.

Riggott isn’t fully fit but will hope to play a big part in helping high-flying Championship outfit Stoke clinch promotion.

Southgate said: “Chris has been frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities and he wanted to get out and play some football.

“He’s not quite fully fit yet but Tony Pulis wanted to take him to Stoke and hopefully he can play a big part for them.

“From Chris’s point of view he wants to get out and play football and put himself in the shop window. He’s an experienced player and he wants to be playing every week.

“What the future holds remains to be seen but he needs to be playing football. That’s the key thing from our side of things and Chris’s.”

And neither Cort or Riggott seems to be a really dominant centre-half - so let's hope that that big sod Agyemang doesn't bully them.

[amathus]

they will both play some of the game each i reckon

[chuffed]

I also think TP may drop Shawcross, for Riggott, TP wasnt best pleased with Ryans performance Tues.

[nonameface]

Shawcross has been poor recently, if Cort is reasonably fit then he will play with Riggott. If not then Pulis doesn't have any real choice other than Riggot and Shawcross. It's nice to see that we have 3 good quality centre backs at our club now! This hopefully can only bode well for the remaining games.

[nottinghamstokie]

but surely 2 "not fully fit" centre-halves, especially never having played together before, in a game we have to win...would make NO sense at all ???

[mermaidsal]

If Riggott's in a state to man-mark properly and tackle, Riggott for me.

[okeydokeystokie2]

Is Riggott a right or left footer? Doesn't TP favour one right and one left in his central defensive partnership?

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

left.

[Jimbo]

You'd think that having spent at least £1m each on his central defenders that TP would be reluctant to drop either of them? That would suggest that Riggott is cover for Cort's lack of fitness following his knock at Preston.

I'm pleased we've brought Riggott in though, because now there's real competition for central defence, which will raise the games of both Cort and Shawcross.

[thisfootballclub]

Maybe Shawcross could do with a rest, he has been looking a little jaded recently?

I think bringing in Riggot is a great piece of business as he is proven quality and helps flesh the squad out further ready for the final push.

There will be times in the next 11 games when some serious composure is needed at the back and bringing in players like Riggot can hopefully help provide this.

[swampySCFC]

If we start changing things round now just because somebody has 1 bad game we risk destroying the team spirit

My guess is that Cort and Shawcross will play if Cort is fit. Shawcross will play for definite

[terrorofturfmoor]

Is Riggott any good at scoring??? if not, stick with Cort & Shawcross........ ;D

Failing that, I'd seriously consider giving Shawcross a rest, he seems to having one or two dodgey moments of late, after all, he is still young and has been thrown into first team action for a full season for the first time, he's probably feeling the effects a little now!!!

[scfclifer]

By Martin Spinks
STOKE City newcomer Chris Riggott was due to train with his team-mates for the first time today ahead of a possible debut in tomorrow's televised trip to QPR.


The 27-year-old centre-half is under starter's orders for a possible start at Loftus Road if Leon Cort fails a late fitness test on a badly-bruised ankle.

Manager Tony Pulis had been eyeing Riggott's recovery from recent injury problems at Middlesbrough for several weeks ahead of a probable loan swoop for the former Derby defender.

But he moved swiftly ahead of tomorrow's clash because of Cort's injury and the absence of reserve defender Gabby Zakuani with a broken toe.

"I'm delighted to get a player of his experience," said Pulis. "He's been a top Premier League player and has great ability - he could be just what we need at the moment.

"He's got a bit lost at Middlesbrough, so hasn't played for a while, but this is an opportunity for him to show what he's still got.

"The injuries to Leon and Gabby could leave us short of experience at a crucial moment, so now was the time to act rather than risking any spilt milk. The plan is to have him for the rest of the season and we'll take him with us tomorrow, then see if he's needed from the start or not."

Riggott made his name at Derby before a £3m move to Middlesbrough in 2003 for the first of 118 appearances that were to include their defeat to Sevilla in the 2006 UEFA Cup Final.

He was a regular alongside Gareth Southgate in central defence, but Southgate the manager has preferred the likes of Jonathan Woodgate, David Wheater and Robert Huth this season.

Riggott played the last of his nine appearances this season on November 11, but Pulis will monitor his fitness for the first time in training today.

Meanwhile, Pulis has hailed Salif Diao as the best midfielder in the Championship - when fully fit - but is refusing to confirm his return to the ranks tomorrow.

Diao is on standby for his sixth start since returning to the club in December as Pulis seeks a replacement for the suspended Rory Delap.

"I still say that if we have a fit Salif Diao he's the best midfielder in the league," said Pulis. "He's been doing loads of work on the training ground and in the gym. He's an absolute dream in terms of his professionalism.

"He eats well, looks after himself and is a top professional. But I've also got the option of Danny Pugh in central midfield. Danny is fine anywhere and doesn't mind where you play him as long as he's in the team."

Pulis will finalise his line-up shortly before tomorrow's 1.15pm kick-off as the club's medical team monitors Cort's recovery from Tuesday's injury at Preston.

Stoke face a Rangers outfit expanding its horizons after the influx of foreign money and league points following a poor start to their season.

"We need to bounce back after the Preston game. It was a good performance, we were just unfortunate in front of goal," added Pulis.

"It's lovely to have the enthusiasm being generated around the city at the moment.

"That hasn't happened for a few years and we're hoping this is just the start."



www.thesentinel.co.uk/staffordshiresport.html