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Post by mikeyb99 on Jun 11, 2008 9:43:18 GMT
Top of my list of players not good enough for the Premiership ...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2008 10:13:16 GMT
miles better left back than right back to be fair
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Post by mermaidsal on Jun 11, 2008 12:41:06 GMT
I still just don't understand why Tone kept playing him at RB, that was so pigheaded it could really have cost us. And it can't do Griff's confidence any good, he came here with his nerve shot from Derby, really tried to give it a go then almost never got to play in his correct position.
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Post by garyhackett on Jun 11, 2008 12:52:02 GMT
I still just don't understand why Tone kept playing him at RB, that was so pigheaded it could really have cost us. And it can't do Griff's confidence any good, he came here with his nerve shot from Derby, really tried to give it a go then almost never got to play in his correct position. He is right footed though Sal, so technically he should be a better right back than left and played most of his best football at newcastle on the right too but i agree he seems to play better for us on the left. |
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Post by PONTAFCE on Jun 11, 2008 12:55:45 GMT
Dont think griffin will be part of the starting 11 this season.He's just no fit enough for the premier league,as we all noticed when he spent his time away from us.Pulis needs to use his loaf and put the two young lads at the back.
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Post by mermaidsal on Jun 11, 2008 12:59:05 GMT
I really hope he'll be brave enough to let Wilko and Dicko make the positions their own.
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Jun 11, 2008 13:03:36 GMT
i dont think he will fit in at left back or right back
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Post by PONTAFCE on Jun 11, 2008 13:11:37 GMT
Gotta agree with sal let them to in at the back and get in hard.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2008 13:15:14 GMT
'them two' aren't the answer at Premier level, sadly. Having balls, and getting stuck in will take you so far. Technically, they are not ready, distribution-wise appaling. Both f/b positions need strengthening IMHO.
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Post by PONTAFCE on Jun 11, 2008 13:19:43 GMT
I duuno good strong young lads alls they need is a good enough player next to them with abit of knowledge and experience to take them under there wing abit.So would you prefer griffin ?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2008 13:56:20 GMT
No, in an ideal world, I think we need to have two new, proven fullbacks. McNaughton at Cardiff, that type of player, if not a prem full back or two.
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Post by mermaidsal on Jun 11, 2008 14:11:45 GMT
I hear what you're saying Corned Beef, but we've got other positions that need more urgent action. I know I keep harking back to 0-0 with Newcastle at the Brit but I honestly believe that with Dicko and Wilko that night we were seeing our future, and we'd do better with two totally committed defensive full backs than players who can put a better cross in but get beaten too often, which is what we consistently saw last season. So save the money, throw them in at the deep end and spend it on wide midfield where it's really needed. Imho, anyhow...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2008 14:20:31 GMT
there are quite a few areas we need to strengthen in and that are maybe more of a priority. Fact is, we will get torn apart in the Prem by any half-decent attacking team unless we get the back four right. I just don't think that Wilko or Dicko are ready - yet - for that level of football. If we go into the season with them as first-choice fullbacks that would be suicide IMO. I'm kind of resigned to the fact that we might well go into the new season with a few of the holes left unfilled. It is very important though to try and minimise the number of goals we concede. Anyone who thinks that Dicko will 'take care' of Lennon, Ronaldo, Babel, et al is just crazy. The best bet would be to try and decapitate them in the first 5 minutes, Lee Sandford style  |
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Post by mikeyb99 on Jun 11, 2008 15:48:37 GMT
I hear what you're saying Corned Beef, but we've got other positions that need more urgent action. I know I keep harking back to 0-0 with Newcastle at the Brit but I honestly believe that with Dicko and Wilko that night we were seeing our future, and we'd do better with two totally committed defensive full backs than players who can put a better cross in but get beaten too often, which is what we consistently saw last season. So save the money, throw them in at the deep end and spend it on wide midfield where it's really needed. Imho, anyhow... Totally agree. I would also add that players don't get any better sitting on the bench or playing in the reserves (or playing Championship football as prep for the Premiership for that matter). I have seen enough from the both of them to convince me that they are more than defensively sound which is an excellent basis for two full-backs. Dicko can be a bit over-enthusiastic at times, but I have yet to see him get caught out. Regular football, and training, should improve the technical aspects of their games. IMO exactly the kind of players we should be building a squad around, not ageing duffers whose loyalty is to the highest bidder (Griffin). And how did this become my thread? I was replying to someone else! Where have their posts gone?! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2008 16:28:36 GMT
Behave guys, as much as it'd be great to have the local lads in the team, if they're our long-term full backs for the Prem we've got no chance. We need two new quality full backs bringing in asap.
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Post by bobafett on Jun 11, 2008 16:33:42 GMT
Sun Jihai hopefully will be one !
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2008 16:39:14 GMT
Sun Jihai hopefully will be one ! Jesus, maybe I was being a bit hasty after all...  |
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Post by Vodkab1ock on Jun 11, 2008 17:13:36 GMT
i felt that ever since he came back from Derby he hasn't looked as fit as he did the year before. I am hoping that a "Pulis" pre-season will get him firing again. Lets face it a griffin from 12-14 months ago would be a great asset for us but the one from 3-4 months ago wont be good enough. At 29 he still has 3-4 at the top of his game imo. Good squad player either way.
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Jun 11, 2008 17:53:41 GMT
Griff was a liability after he came back from Derby, hopefully he will get his shit together in pre-season. Dickinson is very poor in possesion, he has absolutely no composure on the ball and will give away precious ball that we cannot afford to give away in the prem. Keep wilko and dicko around as back ups by all means, they'll do a job short term, but 2 new starting full backs are an absolute must in my opinion.
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Post by mermaidsal on Jun 11, 2008 17:58:20 GMT
Corned Beef, I agree about decapitation, we're badly in need of a Smithy/Gerry/Sergei destroyer who can genuinely scare people. Brutal I know but for the first couple (fingers crossed) of Prem seasons I reckon vital for us.
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Post by mikeyb99 on Jun 11, 2008 17:59:45 GMT
As usual Stoke fans have very little faith in youngsters that come through our ranks ...
Should we be thankful that Dicko wasn't boo'ed at the end of the season? I still remember the absolute vitriol that some 'fans' spewed out towards Karl Henry, it was absolutely appalling. And this was shouted out to him while he was on the pitch by his own fans.
Have faith.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2008 18:02:52 GMT
Mikey - we have to be realistic. I like Dicko and Wilko, but to me, they haven't showed consistently that they're of the quality we need to put up a fight next year. Being from Stoke isn't enough on its own.
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Post by mikeyb99 on Jun 11, 2008 18:05:39 GMT
Realistically we have bigger fish to fry than two consistent performers at full-back. Centre-back, centre-mid, left-mid and up front all stand out as bigger problem areas IMO.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2008 18:08:21 GMT
Disagree Mikey - full backs, for me, are THE priority along with another striker or two. Wilko was decent at Championship level but is injury prone, and Dicko for me was not consistent - passionate yes, fearless in the tackle yes, but distribution needs a lot of work, and if you make mistakes in the Premiership, you get punished.
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Post by Big Al on Jun 12, 2008 6:27:36 GMT
if you play dicko and wilko at full back all you need is an experienced centre half along side shawcross,and play a solid back 4 and dont expect them to cross the half way line. The most important position that needs filling is in goal Nash was better at the end of the season (vocally) but technically no better than simmo and this fulop pulis is after has very little prem experience. Then you have got to look at left midfield etc etc etc
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Jun 12, 2008 9:12:29 GMT
It doesn't matter how good your centre halves are, if your full backs are often out of position it makes it almost impossible for the centre halves to defend. Broomes and Buxton at full back during the boskamp season were a prime example of this.
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Post by troj on Jun 12, 2008 9:26:47 GMT
All, an additional point for consideration. Think Dicko and Wilko 12 months ago - not many of us would have been happy with them in the championship. At the end of the season the majority of people were baying for their inclusion.
The point is that they have improved and will continue to improve. Add to the improvement, thefaith from the manager, the support of the fans and the adrenaline of the Prem and you've got yourself two super fullbacks.
I would of course advocate we sign a super strong centre half, and a dominant keeper to guide the youngsters along the way.
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