Pugh ready to walk away ?

[PONTAFCE]

Danny Pugh admits he could ask away from Stoke City.

"It's been horrible being out of the team, to be honest," said Pugh. "It's been a devastating start to the season for myself.

"You've just got to try to stay fit and then, if the chance does come along, you have to take it. I don't think I've been given much of a chance. I've had two cup games, but apart from that I haven't had a look-in.

"We'll have to see what happens, but I am at that stage of my career when I need to be playing and not stuck in the stands every week.

"It's different when I was at United and not getting a game because I was only 20 or 21 when I left, but now I'm 26."

Good little player has alot to offer i think but i think with the side we have at the minute and the size of the squad he will find it very hard to getinto the starting 11

[fortressbritannia]

he's a good player to have in the squad but i don't think he can cut it in this division looked a bit shakely towards the end of last season like against palace but i wouldn't get rid of him

[Smudge_SCFC]

That's fair enough. He doesn't see himself as a squad player and he wants to play. I think there will be several Championship clubs who would be interested in taking him on come January.

I don't think Whelan will be too far behind either.

[Block 25]

Fair play to the lad, he did a decent enough job for us in the championship. Had one immense performance against castle at home in the cup playing centre mid!

Could do a half decent champoinship club a job, but is never going to get a look in at prem level imho, good luck to him if he goes.

[Deleted]

First of many I guess.

If we do manage to stay in this league then we need to be losing a lot more of these fringe players and replacing them with better

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Exactly. Our 1st team squad consists of a huge 35 players!!! 8-10 more than is really needed

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Which brings us too which 8-10 you would get rid of

1) Cresswell
2) Pugh
3) Pericard
4) Matteo(I know hes a coach but this is him as a player)
5) Buxton
6) Demar Phillips
7) De Laet
8) Wilkinson
9) Dickinson
10) Grocott

[knowles]

Dan- I think your little list is about spot on.

I still think Wilko and Dicko can do a job for us though and at the moment, they are our second back ups for the full abck positions so it would be a bit dodgy to get rid of them.

I can't see Grocott or Thorley ever breaking into the first team.

Presuming we sign at least one striker in January, then Cresswell can get his first team starts in the Championship and Vince can play in League One somewhere. Hopefully Sheff Wed will take Buxton permanently.

Pugh is naturally getting frustrated which is good. We don't just want players sitting in the stands collecting their wages off Mr Coates.

Demar and RDL are never going to become permanent fixtures in the side so I really don't see the purpose of keeping hold of them.

Although Matteo is on our books as a player it is merely in case of an almighty crisis so we may as well keep him on the squadlist.

[beardofzeus]

Got to offload in order to bring in more players so fair enough that Pugh is putting the feelers out a month before the transfer window. Sure he'll do the job in the Championship. Never was going to set the Prem alight though

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Knowles I dont know about Thorley. I can see potential and the lad has had Stafford Rangers fans bowing at his feet. I know thats a long way off this level but hes played a few positions for them, including full back, and has been there best player most weeks. Might be worth another season whilst Nat goes out on loan next season. Of course of Nat were to get a loan move sorted this season he may be considered ready to be part of the matchday squad at times next season and then I would agree Tom Thorley would find it even more difficult to get near the side.

[northantsash]

pugh has never let stoke down solid player and as many say probably not premiership level, but we don't know that as we havent seen him this season.
a shame he hasnt had a chance though as i would have preferred his left foot down the left wing in preference to cresswell in that position in several league games this season.

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Funny that as nobody praised his left wing appearances last season

[knowles]

The thing with Thorley is that he currently has:

Diao
Olofinjana
Whelan
Am. Faye
Ab. Faye
Pugh
Lawrence
Buxton
Delap
Soares
Tonge
Wedderburn

ALL ahead of him in the central midfield pecking order

I know he played at right back at Stafford but can you really see him getting his chance there? I think it's probbaly best for both parties to let him seek a true career move at the end of the season.

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Jimmy Phillips dad was at the last academy game and he was talking to a guy next to me. He was saying how well Jimmy's playing and how he wants a league move in January as he thinks it gets easier the higher up you are because the reffing gets better. Also said that its amazing how CCC clubs will look to take our youngsters this season because were a Prem club yet last season they wouldn't as they'd see them as just the same as there youngsters. He said its mad as your still the same player but viewed totally differently and if Stoke stay up then the offers will come flying in for the younger players who may be looking for a loan/permanent deal.

[bogus]

I thought that Pugh and Whelan bought the best out of Kitson the other night. They linked up well with him and plenty of balls to feet, which he needs, IMHO.
Obviously, it was against lower division opposition and I'm not necessarily saying that they would do it at Prem level although, as northantash states, he's never let us down and not really had a chance to see.

More to the point, I suppose. Who in the midfield for Saturday will be playing the balls into Kitson's feet?

[mcf]

I like Danny Pugh

He was excellent for us and did a very good job in every position and time that he played.

He was superb in the middle of midfield against Newcastle.

That said, you can't afford sentiment in football and I wouldn't disagree with the thought that he wouldn't be capable of the step up as he does struggle for that extra bit of pace required.

Losing the likes of Dicko, Wilko, Pugh, Cort(?), Whelan(?), Cresswell etc would be harsh but probably be the best thing for all parties.

The sad part of moving up,

[knowles]

Yeah Bucko, it's a very strange mentality. Like you say, Buxton is exactly the same player as six months ago and wouldn't have been touched with a bargepole by a Championhip side back then. However, all of a sudden he is considered a 'Premier League player'.

I need to get myself down to Marston Road to see Jimmy soon- he is certainly an exciting prospect. I hope Nat gets his move soon- Wrexham would have been ideal.

[vestanpance]

buxton,

I thought that was a good list, mine woudl be similar:

Pugh
Demar Philips
Buxton
Wilkinson
Matteo
Cresswell
Pericard

I'd keep Dicko because we haven't got a spare.

For me, it's imperative we keep room within the squad/pay structure for young talent emerging. There are several posters who'se opinion i respect who have eulogised about the performances of Wedderburn in particular.

In short, i wouldn't knock or blame any player who wants to go and play. It's the ones who sit there and take the money you want to worry about. Fair play to him and if he did go, he'd go with my best wishes.

[fradleyhomes]

I am not saying Pugh should be in the first team, however i cannnot understand how he is so far from the first team, he is a better left mid than cressy, and he can play centre mid and left back.

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Knowles, Jimmy' dad commented in particular on tehir 2-1 Setanta Shield defeat where Jimmy scored, put 12-14 fantastic crosses in and won half a dozen free kicks around there area. Obviously Stafford need a striker who can head the ball.

Vestan, would you like to name which posters you respect as respect is not something that is shown much on here

[knowles]

Was that the match against Southport? I have a mate (who is actually Simmo's best buddy) who supports Southport and he said Jimmy stood out like a sore thumb in that match.

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Yeah I believe so. Stand out in a good or bad way

[thepremierbanksy]

Not really that sad to see Pugh go, he was always a bit limited in my eyes. Has played his part in our promotion, so he hasn't exactly wasted his time with us. I wish him the best of luck.

[knowles]

Definately in a good way Dan. Apparantly he ran the show for Stafford (not sure whether he was perhaps looking out for him especially having spoken to Simmo or not?)

[sheikhmomo]

You can't fault his attitude but you can fault his ability I'm afraid. An appalling left back, an exceedingly average left winger and one outstanding game in centre mid. Bearing in mind the time we took chasing him andc the money spent, not TP's finest moment in the transfer market.

[knowles]

I remember his first two games on the left wing he was absolutely dire (at home to Coventry and at Scunthorpe). However, in the third minute of stoppage time at Glandford Park, he somehow managed to produce what I believe to be the best cross of the season for Liam Lawrence to steal two additional points.

A crucial moment in our campaign in my opinion and although we ended up four points clear of Hull, if we hadn't gained that morale boosting victory who knows what would have happened.

[vestanpance]

Agreed momo, he's spent £500K better in the past. Like on Fuller for example.

Buxton, there are a large number of high quality posters on here, albeit for different reasons, but as far as football goes, the likes of your good self & knowlesy are right up there. If anyone knows more about Stoke City than Knowlesy, i'd like to meet them.

This board does have it's bad days (like after we lose) but other than that, it's not that bad.

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Well if his fathers account of the game is correct he probably would have stood out anyway.

Interesting aswell is that I've seen Clive Clarke watching our academy 3 times this season. The other week he got dropped off by a taxi with about twenty minutes left, watched for ten minutes then walked off. As I pulled up by the A34 after the game he was just wlaking into the Riverside Takeaway chipshop.

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Does he still live around that way?

[knowles]

I know bugger all VP- I just make it up

Steino and Regis upfront Satdee.

Clarkey is now an agent up at Beswicks (I'm sure you knew) so he is probably checking out one of his 'own'.