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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Apr 8, 2015 23:03:28 GMT
I'm really really glad that we have recognised fullbacks playing in their recognised positions. It's massively better than having converted centre-backs there, but I still think they should be better than they are. I'm far from being a Hughes Hating Wankstain, in fact I'd rim last Friday's vindaloo residue from his hole, but I don't know why. Neither Pieters or Bardsley have done anything particularly wrong but I'd still prefer Muniesa (CB I know) and Cameron (whatever position you think, I know) at those respective Left / Right roles.
I dunno if I'm just a stickler for character or if I'm being a dick or if I'm actually right.
If I'm being a dick, can anyone explain to me why I prefer these two? I'm not being a dick for the sake of it!
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Post by 2004 on Apr 8, 2015 23:09:04 GMT
Muniesa is terrible at LB. You only had to see Burnley home game to realise that however he is brilliant at CB. Pieters is a really solid player and should be first choice LB. RB is where the problem is because Phil is a bit crap and Geoff doesn't like playing the position. I don't really mind who plays there now but a new RB is needed in the summer for sure.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Apr 8, 2015 23:11:24 GMT
Yes.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 23:13:05 GMT
Muniesa is a centre half, that's that for me!
Pieters does a good job at left back generally I wouldn't go as far as to say he's really good but solid is an appropriate word!
We are dying for a good right back however, Geoff is the best we have right now :l
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Post by terrorofturfmoor on Apr 8, 2015 23:13:18 GMT
Peiters at left-back for me every day of the week!!!
Love Muniesa, but just doesn't do it for me at full-back.....better at centre half along side Ryan!!!
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Post by PotterLog on Apr 8, 2015 23:15:16 GMT
Pieters is fine. I honestly think my first choice for right back would be Marc Wilson.
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Post by Gods on Apr 8, 2015 23:24:00 GMT
I really like Pieters, very solid and tough as old boot leather.
I don't see how Sparky goes about asking for money for a new right back though. He signed Bardsley on a 3 year deal 9 months ago despite having given Wilko an extension a week earlier and having both Cameron and Wilson who can play there too.
I don't see how he can go after a 5th player who can play at right back without offloading at least 2 of the incumbents, Coatsey would laugh him out of his office.
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Post by unknown182 on Apr 8, 2015 23:28:46 GMT
Still can't make my mind up about Bardsley after nearly a full season. I'd like to think we'd be in the market for a right back in the summer.
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Apr 8, 2015 23:29:51 GMT
You're definitely being a dick, I have no evidence or facts to back this up, I just like calling people dicks.
Dick.
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Apr 8, 2015 23:31:13 GMT
I don't understand why I've never warmed to Pieters.
Proper LB playing LB? Check.
Not shit? Check.
Bit mental (ie. personality? He punched a fucking window!) Check!
I honestly can't see why I'm so, well not anti, but "hoping we get someone else in" for a LB... What's he done to make me think that?
Come on Oatcake psychologists, delve into my psyche.
Bardsley less so because he's been Hughes' worst signing yet apart from Sidwell. Nowt against Hughes, by the way!
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Apr 8, 2015 23:37:47 GMT
You're not warming to Pieters because we've been starved of a natural Left-back for so long that simply seeing one is enough to trigger your brain into thinking what you're seeing is not natural, a dirty great Dutch hallucination, so instinctively your reaction is to display confusion and angst against him, as he's not what you've become accustomed to, I.E a lumbering great CB shoved in there like a goliath, throbbing phallus.
Or you're just a dick.
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Post by Gods on Apr 8, 2015 23:38:09 GMT
I don't understand why I've never warmed to Pieters. Proper LB playing LB? Check. Not shit? Check. Bit mental (ie. personality? He punched a fucking window!) Check! I honestly can't see why I'm so, well not anti, but "hoping we get someone else in" for a LB... What's he done to make me think that? Come on Oatcake psychologists, delve into my psyche. Bardsley less so because he's been Hughes' worst signing yet apart from Sidwell. Nowt against Hughes, by the way! I think you quietly hoped that punching that window would not prove to be a one off moment of madness from Pieters and that we had a living, breathing, unhinged lunatic on the books. When Pieters turned out to be Mr. Sensible the consummate professional you feel badly let down and that disappointment is manifesting itself in an irrational dislike of the Dutchman. |
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Post by skip on Apr 8, 2015 23:50:05 GMT
PLB - your psyche won't let you admit that we have a functioning left back on the books. Some would call it cognitive dissonance, others would call it, supporting Stoke.
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Apr 8, 2015 23:55:15 GMT
PLB - your psyche won't let you admit that we have a functioning left back on the books. Some would call it cognitive dissonance, others would call it, supporting Stoke. Sounds like how perfectly normal, good, well-functioning kids eventually re-assimilated themselves towards Western values after shedding their Hitler Youth allegiances? |
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Post by ayem on Apr 9, 2015 0:12:58 GMT
I've never had a problem with Pieters. Given time, him and muniesa could make a solid left side.
I prefer Cameron at RB. I think he is less a premadonna and more a player who recognizes he only has so many years left (in regards to his RB/CDM position). IMO this summer isn't the time to go searching for a RB. Bardsley and Cameron are serviceable and will both be sellable next summer. Efforts to sign new players would be better spent at the wings, striker, and another CDM alongside Nzonzi.
I like our healthy back line, one of the best in the prem. Despite our scoring, our GD isn't bad, which speaks volumes about the defense Stoke has played.
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Post by PotterLog on Apr 9, 2015 1:48:01 GMT
I don't understand why I've never warmed to Pieters. Proper LB playing LB? Check. Not shit? Check. Bit mental (ie. personality? He punched a fucking window!) Check! I honestly can't see why I'm so, well not anti, but "hoping we get someone else in" for a LB... What's he done to make me think that? Come on Oatcake psychologists, delve into my psyche. Bardsley less so because he's been Hughes' worst signing yet apart from Sidwell. Nowt against Hughes, by the way! The reason you've not warmed to him is that he's a bit less than what you expected. Frustration at years of wrong-shaped pegs in wrong-shaped holes has led you to develop a bit of a fantasy of what an actual, dedicated full-back is like. No longer the lumbering centre-half hoofing the ball into touch and crogging people left right and centre - welcome the dynamic, skillful, committed full-back who's not only got great positional sense and tackling ability but is also explosive in attack, has a range of passing and a devastating delivery. In contemplating what life would be like with a "proper" left back, your brain simply didn't allow for the satisfactory, unspectacular, generally reliable but somewhat limited and occasionally fallible player we have. There's yer psychology. |
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Post by terrorofturfmoor on Apr 9, 2015 3:15:42 GMT
You're definitely being a dick, I have no evidence or facts to back this up, I just like calling people dicks. Dick.  Dick!!! |
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Post by terrorofturfmoor on Apr 9, 2015 3:18:51 GMT
Pieters is fine. I honestly think my first choice for right back would be Marc Wilson. that's actually a good call potter....Wilson played right-back under Pulis before playing left-back and actually did really well from what I remember!!! |
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Post by ohbottom on Apr 9, 2015 5:53:20 GMT
I don't understand why I've never warmed to Pieters. Proper LB playing LB? Check. Not shit? Check. Bit mental (ie. personality? He punched a fucking window!) Check! I honestly can't see why I'm so, well not anti, but "hoping we get someone else in" for a LB... What's he done to make me think that? Come on Oatcake psychologists, delve into my psyche. Bardsley less so because he's been Hughes' worst signing yet apart from Sidwell. Nowt against Hughes, by the way! I think this is what's known as "Grass-is-always-greener" syndrome. First described by the famous Austrian psychologist, Sigmund Grass-is-always-greener |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 6:53:56 GMT
Pieters for me......Altho I do agree, I prefer Geoff at right back too
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Post by lordb on Apr 9, 2015 7:49:56 GMT
I don't think any of our right back options are anything other than average for this league.
Gone off Pieters tbh
I agree that there is room for improvement
However at the end of the day we have no duffers in our squad with the exception of WP & maybe Wilko.
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Post by timbo1988 on Apr 9, 2015 7:59:48 GMT
Right back is a must buy position look at the teams who are 12th upwards and Bardsley is the worst option there maybe Swanseas options push him close! He is limited in the ball and going forward and defensively he has cost us 4-5 goals this year! Trippier is who I hope we can buy!
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Post by greyman on Apr 9, 2015 8:45:46 GMT
I'm really really glad that we have recognised fullbacks playing in their recognised positions. It's massively better than having converted centre-backs there, but I still think they should be better than they are. I'm far from being a Hughes Hating Wankstain, in fact I'd rim last Friday's vindaloo residue from his hole, but I don't know why. Neither Pieters or Bardsley have done anything particularly wrong but I'd still prefer Muniesa (CB I know) and Cameron (whatever position you think, I know) at those respective Left / Right roles. I dunno if I'm just a stickler for character or if I'm being a dick or if I'm actually right. If I'm being a dick, can anyone explain to me why I prefer these two? I'm not being a dick for the sake of it! Point of order. There's this myth that under Pulis we played with 'converted centre backs' at full back. This wasn't often true because usually we just played with four centre backs. I'm not saying it's right or wrong because it obviously was effective, as it has been for him at Palace and Brazil, but let's forget this idea that he's ever been all that interested in putting players in a traditional full back role. He's done it but he's not all that bothered about it. |
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Post by Pugsley on Apr 9, 2015 9:18:58 GMT
Perhaps we should put in bids for Dani Alves and Marcello to cure our cronic full back woes?
Talk about talking absolute shite.
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Post by metalhead on Apr 9, 2015 9:39:44 GMT
Pieters is a solid left back. At 26, he's also young enough to improve his game if he stays with Stoke. Bardsley, I don't particularly rate. Had some great games, but some nightmares too. Geoff is more consistent than Bards, less prone to diving in in my opinion and offers a far better attacking threat, but he still isn't the complete package. He's just the best right back we have right now. He also doesn't want to play there and at 29 (30 in July), time isn't on his side.
I would still look for a right back in the summer, with the aim of moving Phil along and assessing exactly what Geoff wants. If he wants to play centre midfield, he's got to appreciate that he will unlikely be a first teamer. If he wants to try for right back, then he deserves a fair crack because he improved immensely last year and has played very well at times this year. If he doesn't, then Geoff may leave as well. I'm in no doubt though that Geoff would be a solid right back and utility man for another club and we'd regret letting him go.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 9:52:39 GMT
First & foremost, a club at our level hopes for a full-back that simply doesn't make bad mistakes. We have that in Erik. He's not Cafu, admittedly, but the fact is he's (imo), first choice LB and that area isn't a priority for strengthening.
I can't recall the last 'bad' game he had, and Wilson came in for him against Chelsea and had a shitter, reinforcing the fact that Erik is No1.
Muniesa's no good at LB, that's also been proven.
So, in short, stop thinking too deeply about it, enjoy what Erik has to offer, and switch your attention to other more pressing areas of the pitch. Such as RB, CH, CM, RW, CF.
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Post by Jamo on the wing on Apr 9, 2015 10:12:15 GMT
I think Erik is fine in a team/formation that needs fullbacks to defend first and foremost.
Bardsley is very similar and on the whole does the job he's asked to do.
We can't afford overlapping fullbacks in the system he have as it leaves us hideously exposed to the counter attack.
If people want flying fullbacks the system would have to change dramatically.
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Post by huddy on Apr 9, 2015 11:05:59 GMT
This is like bald men fighting over a comb.In truth I don't think any of our full backs are that good.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 12:32:15 GMT
For me I'd say the following:
Pieters is our best/most consistent left back. The difficulty sometimes is with the odd injuries he keeps picking up, I'm sure if he were to stay fit his overall game would improve dramatically.
Muniesa should be playing alongside Ryan in the middle. Thought he excelled earlier on in the season most noticeably at Tottenham.
Bardsley- I'm probably going to go against the majority here and say he is my most preferred right back, not because I think he is the most reliable (Geoff), but I love his enthusiasm to get forwards and his passion. Reminds me of Wilko and we all knew of his limitations. I agree there are certainly better right backs out there but whether or not Hughes will buy one we will have to wait and see.
I think the biggest issues all of the above players have is their ability to stay in a settled defence...all have been prone to picking up injuries this season although a few of these are probably because they are being asked to already play whilst having niggles. A settled back four can only help with communication and organisation which would probably see a tighter defence.....a tighter defence means less flack for those players.
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Post by Mint Berry Barks on Apr 9, 2015 20:26:17 GMT
Whenever I find myself asking if I'm being a dick, it usually means I'm being a dick.
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Dick!!!
