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Post by wembley4372 on Feb 19, 2021 9:44:07 GMT
The number 17 shirt is going to take some living up to, just like number 7.
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Post by mrpickles on Feb 19, 2021 9:44:57 GMT
Absolute, undeniable legend!
He's dealt with so many public character assassination attempts over the years, but through everything he carried himself with complete dignity and class.
A colossus of a centre half and an even better human being.
All the best to you and your family in the States skipper!
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Post by chad on Feb 19, 2021 9:47:28 GMT
He’s on a par with Denis Smith
And you can’t give higher praise to a Stoke player than that
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Post by realstokebloke on Feb 19, 2021 9:48:03 GMT
All the very best big fella.
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Post by cheadlepotter on Feb 19, 2021 9:48:29 GMT
My favourite ever Stoke player, a superb captain, centre half and wearing my birthdate and lucky number 17. In my eyes at least he’s up there with Sir Stan, Banks etc in Stoke legendary status.
Thank you for everything, Ryan!
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Post by gogogadget on Feb 19, 2021 9:51:26 GMT
We we are actually allowed full stadiums again,
I really am looking forward to his testimonial
Good luck Ryan. Thank you for everything. I hope you enjoyed being a legend at our club as much as we appreciate you
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Post by Olgrligm on Feb 19, 2021 9:54:28 GMT
I'm going to write some things and I don't think that any of them are exagerrated or hyperbole.
No signing has had a bigger long term impact on the club since Sir Stan signed for the second time.
He led the two finest Stoke sides of the past 50 years - 2010/11 and 2014/15 - as captain and best player.
He epitomised everything about Stoke in our golden decade.
He remains the only Stoke player to lead a team out in an FA Cup Final.
He is the only Stoke player to captain the team to victory in Europe.
He was consistently one of the very best defenders in England for most of his time with us.
He's our only England international in a 40 year period.
I have no doubt that, when all is taken into account, he is the single best and most important player to play for the club in the last 40 years.
Today is the day that the final flicker of our club's golden decade dies out. I'm glad he's getting one last hurrah in sunnier climes rather than having his career fade away, but it will be a very sad day for the club when he goes. It really, truly is the end of an era.
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Post by Bagwash on Feb 19, 2021 9:56:46 GMT
Everything has been said about how good Ryan has been for our club,on and off the pitch.I'll just add that I have so many ace memories over the years with him in our team. He is also a perfect role model for any up and coming young footballer. See ya Captain,good luck to you and your family in your new venture. Legend.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Feb 19, 2021 9:58:59 GMT
I feel gutted. Like a family member disappearing.
I also feel very proud of him.
Strange emotions but shows how good he's been that a mere footballer can generate such emotions in a grown man.
The last links to "good times" has gone. Everyone left at the club in a playing capacity is now associated, for now at least, only with abject failure.
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Post by steve66 on Feb 19, 2021 10:00:03 GMT
Good luck Ryan and ditto to all the fantastic comments on here.
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Post by jarhead on Feb 19, 2021 10:00:56 GMT
Simply a stoke city hero and warrior.
Brilliant professional and always committed to OUR club.
Good luck Ryan and hopefully in the future see you at the bet365 to watch our games. (Your getting the Beers in though) 😂
Legend
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Post by reddipotter on Feb 19, 2021 10:02:46 GMT
He showed how to be strong and competitive but also a genuinely good bloke. He is associated with so many great memories. I’m not always a big fan of testimonials, but I’ll be there for his. And I hope he’ll be back at Stoke in some capacity in the future.
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Post by xchpotter on Feb 19, 2021 10:06:48 GMT
That’s the end of the last link to those better days and he was everything that was solid and enduring about it.
I will always have a slight regret for him around how his international career was torpedoed by a useless England manager and an orchestrated media campaign by those Arsenal twats. I know he could and should have had more and had he played for a more attractive club he would have done.
In a way he sacrificed a lot of things to stay with us and for that I shall be forever grateful.
A proper man and footballer and I wish all the best for him and his family. Thank you Ryan.
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Post by wakefieldstokie on Feb 19, 2021 10:08:18 GMT
STOKE LEGEND.
All the best. Hope to see you back one day.
Gutted he’s leaving. The place won’t be the same
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Post by eddyclamp on Feb 19, 2021 10:09:02 GMT
Club legend end of.
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Post by Fred Ferret on Feb 19, 2021 10:09:23 GMT
One of the "Sons" of Stoke City, who will never be forgotten. Absolute commitment, massive contribution, and well liked and respected.
Sad that he has left but great for him to have a fresh challenge. At least he won't have to run out on a Wet and Windy Tuesday at the Britannia again! Shawcross and Huth were our rock.
Good luck to Ryan and family.
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Post by Wizbit on Feb 19, 2021 10:09:50 GMT
What a player, what an ambassador, what a gentleman, thanks Ryan for representing the club as you did, in my eyes you will always be a Stokie, Enjoy the sun and Miami,
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Post by wakefieldstokie on Feb 19, 2021 10:10:21 GMT
Has anyone told Arsen Wenger, might stop his nightmares😂
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Post by theonlooker on Feb 19, 2021 10:12:00 GMT
I always remember his home debut. I grew up in the eighties and nineties with story upon story from mum and dad, who both followed Stoke everywhere in the late 60's and 70's. Stories about Banks, Hudson, Smith, Greenhoff, Conroy, Dobing and more. In truth, I got sick of hearing them as at the time we were getting relegated to the third division and were absolutely woeful in all honesty, before Lou walked in through the door and changed our fortunes.
My Dad turned to me within the first ten minutes of that Charlton game. "You know all those stories I used to tell you about the 70's. Well there's a player right there who is as close as you'll ever get to Denis Smith. He moves like him, tackles like him and passes the ball like him". He was talking about Ryan.
Little did we know at that time where we and Ryan would end up at this club.
My dad passed away a few years ago now and Ryan is the last player left at the club who he saw play for us. A chapter closed for many and one sad one for me personally.
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Post by themistocles on Feb 19, 2021 10:13:24 GMT
I'm not crying you are
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Post by essexstokey on Feb 19, 2021 10:13:45 GMT
A model loyal professional I wish him every bit of luck for the future wherever it may be
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Post by flea79 on Feb 19, 2021 10:19:25 GMT
a wonderful servant for the club and for once Scholes has it right when he says it was a golden era for the club, and what an adventure he has ahead of him
watching that video reminds you what he really was in his prime and its a crying shame he has left quietly in the midst of a pandemic that has shut us out for nearly 12 months now
heres hoping for a pre season friendly against Inter Miami that doubles as his testimonial
cant think of a better way for us all to be together again
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Post by 16quidachuck on Feb 19, 2021 10:20:52 GMT
Legend
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Post by doctortheopolis on Feb 19, 2021 10:22:43 GMT
He is indeed a legend. The best £1 million we ever spent. I think at his peak, he could (and maybe should) have played for a bigger club. An amazing reader of the game. Shameful that Hodgson blamed him for 15 mins against Ibrahimovic (who was the best striker in the world at the time) but continued to give caps to much lesser players. Formed amazing partnerships with Huth and Abdoulaye. Hopefully there can be a testimonial match for him one day. Against Arsenal.
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Post by musik on Feb 19, 2021 10:24:09 GMT
Good luck, Ryan! 👍
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Feb 19, 2021 10:26:06 GMT
I remember the first time I saw him as a 19 yo ManU loanee I think vs WBA. Memory could be playing tricks on me?
Even then I thought he stood out as a very composed teenage centre back. I fully expected him to go back to ManU and have a good career, and when you look at the careers of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, there was really no reason why he shouldn't have done so!
If I had to criticise, I'd say he never really reached the level he could have done, bar a couple of seasons where he became just about good enough to play for England, although he probably wouldn't have stayed with us for so long if he had. Also he didn't bag enough goals after a productive first few seasons, but that may have been TP's caution about him getting forward too often!
I never thought he was the same player after doing his back in at Leicester in their title winning season.
Good luck, Ryan, thanks for all your efforts.
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Post by Northy on Feb 19, 2021 10:29:21 GMT
Good luck Ryan, hope you and the family can enjoy a great swansong in Miami, thanks for the great memories.
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Post by stokiejoe on Feb 19, 2021 10:35:36 GMT
Pleased that he has decided to go with his head held high and the good wishes of the fans. He has been a stalwart and I would hate for him to keep on and gradually deteriorate as he ages and injuries become more frequent as inevitable after such a long and hard tackling career.
Good luck to him
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Post by robwahlmann on Feb 19, 2021 10:36:08 GMT
Good luck, Ryan!
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Post by stantheman on Feb 19, 2021 10:36:20 GMT
Can anyone explain why a 50 year old man is welling up watching that?
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