will Pulis ever drop Cresswell??

[Deleted]

surely our strongest 6 attacking players for Mondays game are:

Lawrence-Delap-Whelan-Pearson
Fuller-Ameobi

but the big question is will Pulis ever drop Richard Cresswell??? If he tries to accomodate him either up front or on the left surely it will be to the detrement of the team........

[northantsash]

why, because cresswell seems to know where the net is?
give cresswell a break, he's been played out of position for 90% of the games this season, an most times when he has played up top he has scored goals.
i agree prestwich that they are our best 6 players going forward but i don't think we should be criticising cresswell when he gives 100% every game. yes there are faults with his game but most of these stem from the fact that he can't play as a winger.

[biddulphchav]

I hope he does drop him to be honest. He's done well this season but we've got better options at the momet. Personally think him & mama on the bench. Mama to come off if we're ahead and looking to hold on to our lead and Cresswell if we're chasing the game. Then again we have Gallagher who could cover forward and on the left. Thats the good thing about this squad - we've got plenty of options going forward, and I honestly think that for once we've got what it takes to go all the way!!

[RAF]

If he tries to accomodate him either up front or on the left surely it will be to the detrement of the team........

It didn't stop him playing Periwinkle when he was just released from prison because and I quote 'He was chomping at the bit to get on the field' so what exactly has changed?

H

[Deleted]

gostoke89 where did I criticise Cresswell? His goalscoring record is good all things considering but of late he's struggled IMO. Yes he scored at Sheff Wed but he also missed a sitter to put the game to bed.......

[jezzascfc]

There is surely no place for him (or Mama) in a fully fit and free from suspensions squad now we have Ameobi and Pearson.

Both could be decent options off the bench, especially as Gallagher seems to be one of the two odd men out of the loanees.

[northantsash]

by saying it would be to the detrement of the team, surely implying that he is inferior to the 6 forward players you mentioned.
i think that pulis probably will drop cresswell, but id sooner have him start than bothroyd, sidibe, or parkin as he represents more a goalscoring threat.

[Deleted]

He is inferior to the other 6 players, hence the need to pick our strongest team irrespective of how he has done this season. Pick your best players at all times..............

[FullerMagic]

It'd be a massive shock if, barring suspensions/injuries Mama and Cresswell aren't on the bench for the remainder of the season.

I can see Bothroyd being recalled next week(?) when his first month is up, now Wolves are charging and are potential play-off opponents - so at least Gallagher should be okay to join them on the bench for the last few games?

[Lakeland Potter]

I reckon FullerM has got it spot on.

[surreystokie]

Maybe, maybe not, but he did criticise him at the week-end, saying that, had RC scored (with his missed sitter) we'd have got all three points.

[BigMama]

i expect to see cresswell benched monday... surely he cant place ahead of shola and fuller... and id like to see pearson start as he did on sat just gone.. dont get me wrong his work rate is second to none... but it doesnt half wind me up when he trys to take players on and never does!

[JoeStoke]

I hope he does drop him cus he has been poor since christmas, and his first touch is a disgrace for a professional footballer. BUT he wont get dropped

[FullerMagic]

Who do you think he'll start ahead of then, joe?

Ameobi?
Fuller?
Pearson?

I can't see how he can possibly start? It'd be an act of lunacy given that we're shelling out well over 1m in loan fees and wages for Pearson and Ameobi and Fuller is our most talented player by a country mile.

Pulis' selections are sometimes..er...unusual. But I can't see how even he can go so far off the beaten track as to find a starting place for Mama or Cresswell in the run-in.

[jay1610]

I don't see why everyone is so intent on dismantling the team that stood us in good stead before the arrivals of Pearson/Ameobi/Riggott although they may well have genuine class what will this do for the "team spirit" that was widely spoken of around Christmas? Cresswell et all got us this far and IMO should have an active role in helping us seal the deal.

[FullerMagic]

I'm sure he will do - but I can't see how it can be anything else but from the bench?

[The Toxic Avenger]

You can't afford to be sentimental in this game though Jay - are you suggesting we don't play the expensive new quality we've signed to help seal promotion? The team is looking tired.

[jay1610]

No, I agree that Cresswell should be used sparingly and probably from the bench now that we have Ameobi and Pearson. My point was that people shouldn't be so quick to cast him out from the matchday 16 and lambast him for recent form after he has been quite important in getting us here.

[The Toxic Avenger]

I agree.

[jay1610]

Have Some Karma Then

[pez75]

Cresswell's goalscoring record is decent, especially as he has played most of the season out of position, but his recent form has been pretty awful.

You can forgive him being crap on the left, but up front he looks toss too tbh. His decision-making & ability to pass are frankly embarassing for a professional footballer, and if he has ever beaten his man in any game, I am yet to see it.

No time for sentiment, we need to start winning games, so bye cressy hello Ric.

[jay1610]

"His decision-making & ability to pass" have been bad LATELY. Don't you think that might be because he's trying to hard to prove himself in his natural position now that there is increased competition? I'm not trying to prove you wrong or stick up for Creza but I think people are too quick to criticise. Yes he's been bad lately, move on, Pulis WILL have seen this and if he doesn't drop him then he will have had a word in his ear. All this Pulis-LoveChild signing stuff is rubbish!

[dexter97]

The team for the remaining home games, barring injuries, will be;

Nash

Griff - Ryan - Riggott - Pugh

Lawrence - Delap - Whelan - Pearson

Ameobi - Fuller


Dicko will replace Pugh away from home.


The bench is more difficult to call, with:

Simo
Cort
Wilko
Dicko
Cresswell
Mama
Bothroyd / Gally

all vying for a place.

We really should walk it now, but this is Stoke...

[jay1610]

Pretty sure Cort will have a starting place tbh dexter, he is the club's record signing. I know Pulis also shelled out a lot for Shawcross but it is easier for him to explain to Ryan why he isn't playing, experience etc than it would be to Cort. Lol

[lordb]

the team for the rest of the season should be whatever is the right XI on the day.

[dexter97]

You could be right, but with Cort struggling a bit in the last few games, and Ryan raring to go again, I think he'll get the nod on Monday.

[basingstokie]

Agree Dexter, slightly concerned that Cort doesn't play & Gally/Diao not even on bench, but IMO that is a good enough team

Personally I hope Boothroyd gets recalled, I'd be sorry to see him go, but Pulis will then put Gally on bench because imo he is more likely to be a match winner from the bench than boothy

matt

[dexter97]

I don't think we'll see Diao for a couple of games, possibly the rest of the season.