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Post by bayernoatcake on Aug 1, 2015 17:48:34 GMT
Seemingly played more centrally today and apparently that's where he was playing for Olympiacos and it's been suggested by a few Barcelona sorts on Twatter that it's his best position.
Could we have misjudged what we've bought him for? Ie not the wing but back up/competition for Bojan or maybe to play even deeper?
And if so, where does it leave Ireland (hopefully not on the wing)? And the need for wingers?
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Post by The Drunken Communist on Aug 1, 2015 17:50:55 GMT
It obviously means we're getting rid of Bojan.
I've heard Barca have activated a buy-back clause.
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Post by mywaydesolzan on Aug 1, 2015 17:50:58 GMT
Looked good when he came inside. We need wide players with pace.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 17:52:49 GMT
He was quite positive in that he took players on,I reckon he could still do a job on the wing.Why else would we have signed him ?He's not going to take the place of Bojan when he's fit is he
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Post by psvafellay on Aug 1, 2015 17:52:55 GMT
Seemingly played more centrally today and apparently that's where he was playing for Olympiacos and it's been suggested by a few Barcelona sorts on Twatter that it's his best position. Could we have misjudged what we've bought him for? Ie not the wing but back up/competition for Bojan or maybe to play even deeper? And if so, where does it leave Ireland (hopefully not on the wing)? And the need for wingers? The first time Afellay played on the wings was when he was 23. At Psv he played CVM, CM and as AM. Psv coach Philip Cocu said if we signed him it would've been for te midfield.
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 17:59:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 17:59:49 GMT
What position has he played for the national side during his 50 caps?
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Post by FullerMagic on Aug 1, 2015 18:03:47 GMT
Hughes:"I think he can play in a number of areas for us and of course he can certainly play in the wide areas as well," the City boss added.
"He likes to be involved in games and he is technically a very good footballer and he likes those key central midfield areas as well as out wide, but I thought today was an opportunity to have a look at him in the middle of the park.
"I haven't seen a great deal of him in that position but I have been impressed with him in training so I thought it would be worth having a look at."
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Post by psvafellay on Aug 1, 2015 18:04:09 GMT
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 18:09:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 18:09:38 GMT
Hughes seems to think he could be an asset playing in numerous positions,judging by his comments. Looking forward to seeing another technically superb footballer in the red and white stripes of Stoke City.
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 18:12:41 GMT
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Post by Paul Spencer on Aug 1, 2015 18:12:41 GMT
Seemingly played more centrally today and apparently that's where he was playing for Olympiacos and it's been suggested by a few Barcelona sorts on Twatter that it's his best position. Could we have misjudged what we've bought him for? Ie not the wing but back up/competition for Bojan or maybe to play even deeper? And if so, where does it leave Ireland (hopefully not on the wing)? And the need for wingers? He definitely didn't play where Bojan would play, ie. in the 'hole' in a 4-2-3-1. After 15 mins he came in off the left flank and we switched formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 with he and MVG playing as the middle two of the four. The same formation we played last season after Bojan got injured. As time goes by, I wonder if Hughes is going to ditch 4-2-3-1 unless Bojan is available and may possibly stick with 4-1-4-1 even when he is.
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 18:13:45 GMT
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Post by ayem on Aug 1, 2015 18:13:45 GMT
4141 maybe down the line?
Johnson Ryan Muniesa Pieters Van ginkel Odemwingie bojan affellay arnie Diouf.
But lacking defensively but lots of creativity.
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 18:15:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 18:15:38 GMT
The lads a class act who likes to get on the ball. I was excited when we signed him but after seen the lad play for us I'm even more so! Bojan won't be fully fit till for weeks possibly months so what a signing this lad will be. I'd be showing Ireland the door asap
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Post by sportsman on Aug 1, 2015 18:18:31 GMT
I can't wait for him and RVG to be fully settled in and firing. Two massive players for us this season i think. I've predicted RVG to be player of the year this season. There i said it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 18:20:18 GMT
The lads a class act who likes to get on the ball. I was excited when we signed him but after seen the lad play for us I'm even more so! Bojan won't be fully fit till for weeks possibly months so what a signing this lad will be. I'd be showing Ireland the door asap Agree but no need for the slight on Ireland. Afellay himself has been short of games himself, so will need to be rotated a bit. Ireland will be perfect until Bojan is back 100% - which I'm guessing will be Christmas time-ish. I think Afellay is going to be a magic signing, I really do.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Aug 1, 2015 18:20:26 GMT
Seemingly played more centrally today and apparently that's where he was playing for Olympiacos and it's been suggested by a few Barcelona sorts on Twatter that it's his best position. Could we have misjudged what we've bought him for? Ie not the wing but back up/competition for Bojan or maybe to play even deeper? And if so, where does it leave Ireland (hopefully not on the wing)? And the need for wingers? He definitely didn't play where Bojan would play, ie. in the 'hole' in a 4-2-3-1. After 15 mins he came in off the left flank and we switched formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 with he and MVG playing as the middle two of the four. The same formation we played last season after Bojan got injured. As time goes by, I wonder if Hughes is going to ditch 4-2-3-1 unless Bojan is available and may possibly stick with 4-1-4-1 even when he is. Possibly and it certainly worked last season and would suit MVG more. But not that what ayem has put! So that leads us back to needing 2 more wingers!
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 18:22:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 18:22:29 GMT
The lads a class act who likes to get on the ball. I was excited when we signed him but after seen the lad play for us I'm even more so! Bojan won't be fully fit till for weeks possibly months so what a signing this lad will be. I'd be showing Ireland the door asap Agree but no need for the slight on Ireland. Afellay himself has been short of games himself, so will need to be rotated a bit. Ireland will be perfect until Bojan is back 100% - which I'm guessing will be Christmas time-ish. I think Afellay is going to be a magic signing, I really do. Nothing really against Ireland mate, he's done ok for us but I really don't rate the lad. I think we've not got 3 players (Bojan, afellay, and Adam) who could all play that role if needed. It would free up wages elsewhere
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 18:24:01 GMT
Agree but no need for the slight on Ireland. Afellay himself has been short of games himself, so will need to be rotated a bit. Ireland will be perfect until Bojan is back 100% - which I'm guessing will be Christmas time-ish. I think Afellay is going to be a magic signing, I really do. Nothing really against Ireland mate, he's done ok for us but I really don't rate the lad. I think we've not got 3 players (Bojan, afellay, and Adam) who could all play that role if needed. It would free up wages elsewhere Fair do's. Thanks for explaining.
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 18:24:30 GMT
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Post by Paul Spencer on Aug 1, 2015 18:24:30 GMT
He definitely didn't play where Bojan would play, ie. in the 'hole' in a 4-2-3-1. After 15 mins he came in off the left flank and we switched formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 with he and MVG playing as the middle two of the four. The same formation we played last season after Bojan got injured. As time goes by, I wonder if Hughes is going to ditch 4-2-3-1 unless Bojan is available and may possibly stick with 4-1-4-1 even when he is. Possibly and it certainly worked last season and would suit MVG more. But not that what ayem has put! So that leads us back to needing 2 more wingers! Definitely need wingers and in answer to your original question, it's more where does it leave Charlie Adam, rather than Stephen Ireland I would have thought?
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Post by sportsman on Aug 1, 2015 18:30:47 GMT
Possibly and it certainly worked last season and would suit MVG more. But not that what ayem has put! So that leads us back to needing 2 more wingers! Definitely need wingers and in answer to your original question, it's more where does it leave Charlie Adam, rather than Stephen Ireland I would have thought? After today i'd swap searching for two wingers for two centre backs. The midfield and forwards will spend more time concerened with what's going on behind them which will hinder our forward play. Very concerning for me. I dread them facing the likes of benteke, Costa, Rooney etc.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Aug 1, 2015 18:32:24 GMT
I don't know if the plan is to play Ginkel and Ibrahim together in the Whelan and NZonzi positions behind Bojan when all three are up to speed but it could be a devastating combo! Ibrahim seems very versatile and Ginkel played much of his time at inter in defensive midfield - maybe those two could alternate in the defensive and more advanced midfield jobs during a match? Perhaps that is Hughes plan, with Ibrahim only moving to the left wing when Arnie is not fit?
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Post by sportsman on Aug 1, 2015 18:34:24 GMT
I don't know if the plan is to play Ginkel and Ibrahim together in the Whelan and NZonzi positions behind Bojan when all three are up to speed but it could be a devastating combo! Ibrahim seems very versatile and Ginkel played much of his time at inter in defensive midfield - maybe those two could alternate in the defensive and more advanced midfield jobs during a match? Perhaps that is Hughes plan, with Ibrahim only moving to the left wing when Arnie is not fit? Absolutely. They both look very promising to me. Early signs are good.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Aug 1, 2015 18:38:12 GMT
Possibly and it certainly worked last season and would suit MVG more. But not that what ayem has put! So that leads us back to needing 2 more wingers! Definitely need wingers and in answer to your original question, it's more where does it leave Charlie Adam, rather than Stephen Ireland I would have thought? Either of them really. Adam's just signed a new deal (which always seemed a bit rash from the club to me) but at least it protects his value. It just feels like Ireland is being marginalised more and more to me, it started last season and doesn't look like stopping.
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Post by Paul Spencer on Aug 1, 2015 18:43:24 GMT
I don't know if the plan is to play Ginkel and Ibrahim together in the Whelan and NZonzi positions behind Bojan when all three are up to speed but it could be a devastating combo! Ibrahim seems very versatile and Ginkel played much of his time at inter in defensive midfield - maybe those two could alternate in the defensive and more advanced midfield jobs during a match? Perhaps that is Hughes plan, with Ibrahim only moving to the left wing when Arnie is not fit? A midfield five of Arnie Bojan Affelay MVG A new right winger of a similar pedigree Could (when they're all on form) be of the standard of a top Champions league team, however, I guess the worry would be, what happens when they're all having a bit of a mare on a wet Wednesday night at the Brit in February? Whatever it is, it's not going to be Pulisball.
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Post by LphPotter on Aug 1, 2015 18:43:27 GMT
If we sign another winger, really hope we do, i wouldn't be suprised to see Ireland leave.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2015 18:43:27 GMT
Give me Charlie over Ireland, any day of the week!
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 18:47:28 GMT
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Post by Paul Spencer on Aug 1, 2015 18:47:28 GMT
Definitely need wingers and in answer to your original question, it's more where does it leave Charlie Adam, rather than Stephen Ireland I would have thought? Either of them really. Adam's just signed a new deal (which always seemed a bit rash from the club to me) but at least it protects his value. It just feels like Ireland is being marginalised more and more to me, it started last season and doesn't look like stopping. What I meant was that when we play 4-2-3-1, I think that Ireland suits the Bojan role in the 'hole' better than Charlie does but when we play 4-1-4-1, Adam is the better option than Ireland. So if Hughes continues to play 4-1-4-1, then it is Adam who would be under more threat from Afellay than Ireland. Ireland is marginalised by 4-1-4-1 regardless of the Afellay signing.
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Aug 1, 2015 18:48:41 GMT
I don't know if the plan is to play Ginkel and Ibrahim together in the Whelan and NZonzi positions behind Bojan when all three are up to speed but it could be a devastating combo! Ibrahim seems very versatile and Ginkel played much of his time at inter in defensive midfield - maybe those two could alternate in the defensive and more advanced midfield jobs during a match? Perhaps that is Hughes plan, with Ibrahim only moving to the left wing when Arnie is not fit? A midfield five of Arnie Bojan Affelay MVG A new right winger of a similar pedigree Could (when they're all on form) be of the standard of a top Champions league team, however, I guess the worry would be, what happens when they're all having a bit of a mare on a wet Wednesday night at the Brit in February? Whatever it is, it's not going to be Pulisball. Agreed - if you added Shaqiri or Yarmolenko to the 4 you mentioned we'd have 5 players as good as most teams could field. I'm not sure they would start too many away games against the top 6 - but maybe 4 of them starting with a more defensively minded midfielder with the 5th option (VG or Ibrahim) to be thrown on later in the game if needs be.
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Post by bayernoatcake on Aug 1, 2015 18:49:33 GMT
Either of them really. Adam's just signed a new deal (which always seemed a bit rash from the club to me) but at least it protects his value. It just feels like Ireland is being marginalised more and more to me, it started last season and doesn't look like stopping. What I meant was that when we play 4-2-3-1, I think that Ireland suits the Bojan role in the 'hole' better than Charlie does but when we play 4-1-4-1, Adam is the better option than Ireland. So if Hughes continues to play 4-1-4-1, then it is Adam who would be under more threat from Afellay than Ireland. He would but I think in general it's looking far more likely that Ireland is the one susceptible to leaving. And if Afellay is going to be used through the middle it adds another question I have about the business we've done thus far. I find it all rather strange!
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Post by MuddyWoody on Aug 1, 2015 18:53:00 GMT
Give me Charlie over Ireland, any day of the week! Couldn't agree more.
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Afellay
Aug 1, 2015 18:53:53 GMT
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Post by Paul Spencer on Aug 1, 2015 18:53:53 GMT
What I meant was that when we play 4-2-3-1, I think that Ireland suits the Bojan role in the 'hole' better than Charlie does but when we play 4-1-4-1, Adam is the better option than Ireland. So if Hughes continues to play 4-1-4-1, then it is Adam who would be under more threat from Afellay than Ireland. He would but I think in general it's looking far more likely that Ireland is the one susceptible to leaving. And if Afellay is going to be used through the middle it adds another question I have about the business we've done thus far. I find it all rather strange! Yeah if the intention is to use him in the middle, it certainly raises more questions than answers. Maybe Hughes is simply experimenting though.
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