Just back - talking to someone who flew with squad

[BoothenenderGaz]

Apparently they got there at half 10 and were taken for a tour of the ground and went on the pitch

Excellent time had by all

Andy Griffin was white as a sheet and had to be coaxed on the plane, apparently scared of flying

I was in the cheap seats on the coach!

During the day Tony Scholes confirmed that we have been talking to Marlon Harewood, didn't say permanent or on loan.

We are in talks with Gavin McCann from Bolton, again didn't say permanent or on loan.

Tony also hinted that the fee for Shawcross could reach the £2m mark as he said it was more than for Cort and someone then asked if it was over £2m he said "watch this space"

Brief thoughts on the game as I'm knackered and going to bed.

Never got out of the starting blocks. The players look star struck by the whole environment. Good, bright start and if Shawcross had squared the ball in the 2nd minute we would have scored

We could have realistically been 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes

After that we hardly registered a shot on goal and to be honest they outclassed us with 10 men never mind 11

Parkin was woeful aside from a clever lob that went agonisingly wide.

Zakuani was terrible and never found a man with a pass all game.

Talking to two guys on the coach home we couldn't pick a man of the match between us

Lawrence's goal was great and Dickinson coming on seemed to surge us into life for the last part of the game

Good Stoke following and even when they were 2-0 up we outsang them (it wasn't hard as there support was shite even though "king Kevin" is back)

Only 3 of the players came to clap us at then end (Dicko, Zakuani and Fuller)

I wouldn't read too much into any of the players' performances as it was a day out for fans and players alike and anything we got from there was a bonus

I'm glad we turned in a poor performance in the cup rather than the league and hopefully they will get this out of their system very quickly

[realstokebloke]

Harewood? Seriously? Or had he imbibed a little too much on the flight?

Gerrin there.

[stokecityscott]

Lawrence came over too and simmo.

[Silverdale]

Another thing , if you took a glider with you it would of made it back to stoke from our seats. How high were they, did anyone congregate at the top of the stairs, that was funny , oxygen time.

[twisty]

I thought i was gonna die

[FullerMagic]

Gaz, I heard the same story this morning re Shawcross, Harewood and Gavin McCann from someone on the plane.

It seems strange that Tony Scholes was blabbing quite freely about talks with McCann and Harewood specifically, when he's spent months repeating his mantra "we'll tell you about deals when they're done"

I wonder if this is because we're close to doing deals with them (probably loans?) or just because he wanted to stress that there has been some activity going on behind the scenes and throw in a couple of Prem targets who we've talked to earlier in the month.

McCann would be a strange choice of partner for Diao. Obviously a very solid top-level player who'd probably stand out in this league, but he's as slow and defensive as they come, isn't he? And it looks like he only signed a FIVE year contract at Bolton last summer and is pretty much in the shake-up there.

And Harewood still seems really optimistic.

[Onneravineet]

McCann!!! Isn't he similar as in almost identical to Diao!

For once just once I'd love to be linked with a flair player! Not an aarrd working forward a battling stable midfielder but a flair player.

[ben88]

i think harewood would rock the city for sure

[crashbandicoot]

good post, made my day better telling me that about harewood, have some karma

[u2oxeterstokie]

I'll believe when / if it happens!

[realstokebloke]

u2ox:

I hate posting next to you as you are so good looking (avatar wise of course). So have some korma for a damn good choice .

Harewood - thumbs up - like you, believe it when...
McCann - similar thoughts, certainly not the "fair" player we yearn? I do know someone who knocks about with McCann occassionally, so i'll ask him.

BEG:

Did TS also say who the left winger we need was then?

[lordb]

?

Gavin Mcann,imho,most definitly IS a creative midfielder - a bit slow perhaps & certainly no Hudosn but can pick a pass take free kicks that sort of thing -

[realstokebloke]

I really don't rate his choice of headgear most games i've seen him in lately though.

Bandages are so last season darling.

[Bowd1863]

realstokebloke said:

u2ox:

I hate posting next to you as you are so good looking (avatar wise of course). So have some korma for a damn good choice .

;D ;D

[serpico]

Matt Taylor has moved to Bolton from Portsmouth, might free up MCann for a loan ?

[realstokebloke]

I think we need some clarification as to what sort of midfielder he is.

(Or at least i do.

The fact that i've seen him, head wrapped in bandages (which therefore remains my ongoing mental image of him) means i equate him with Terry Butcher.

Hence the words"creative", "flair" or indeed, "midfielder" shouldn't go anywhere near him.

Best ask Megson to explain it for me?

[serpico]

realstokebloke said:

I think we need some clarification as to what sort of midfielder he is.

(Or at least i do.

The fact that i've seen him, head wrapped in bandages (which therefore remains my ongoing mental image of him) means i equate him with Terry Butcher.

Hence the words"creative", "flair" or indeed, "midfielder" shouldn't go anywhere near him.

Best ask Megson to explain it for me?

He's another work horse, not a flair player, just what we need ?

[realstokebloke]

Serpico: have a word with the lord (see above) then.

One of you is up a gum tree.

[FullerMagic]

I've never seen him as a creator - more of an experienced, hard-working, slow, defensive midfielder.

That's not to say he wouldn't shine for us at this level. Not sure that he'd be what we need alongside Diao though?

www.avfcblog.com/content/view/1628/70/

[serpico]

I don't understand Pulis, he's admitted himself that we lack pace but never seems to sign players with any, he also knows we lack creativity, but again fails to anyone anyone with any, he signs players who work hard but who are essentially plodders who will "put a shift in" , we now have a decent base of hard workers, we need to throw some pace and creativity into the mix.

[realstokebloke]

Mmmm, that's closer to my reading of him also FM.

But bollox to him for a second BEG, get back here and tell us more about Harewood, now he is a striker.

[lordb]

must be me then

[FullerMagic]

www.expressandstar.com/2008/01/17/villa-edge-closer-to-defoe-deal/

If they actually sign Defoe, would Harewood be available if he's remotely interested in coming?

Or is he the only physical striker they've got as cover for Carew - not that he tends to figure much even when Carew's missing?

[stokie23]

I asked tony after the game last night if we were getting Harewood and he told me 'i hope so'. Sounds like they are in talks to me, and i have video evidence to back that up via mobile phone ;D

[serpico]

He might come on loan for the rest of the season maybe, he's not featuring at all for villa, even when they get injuries, i doubt he'd want to sign permanent unless we got promotion though. Martin O Neil said he is going no where, yet we've had talks with him ? doesn't sound like he's going nowhere to me, i also think they're in for Defoe, despite rubbishing it.

[realstokebloke]

Rock the city here we come

[FullerMagic]

Harewood and Fuller.


Mmm. Donuts.

[serpico]

Watford have sold Marlon King to fulham for 5mil and have signed Collins John. Hopefully that means Watford won't be interested in Harewood, if Harewood goes out on loan it would make sense he came to us rather than watford, geographically it would make sense anyway.

Fuller and Harewood up front would scare the shite out of defenders, what a combo that'd be, if pulis pulls this off Id gladly give him a rim job

[realstokebloke]

Don't get the Vaseline out yet Serpico, he needs some wingers and a midfielder to give 'em some ball mate.

[Fred Astaire]

Is it true that Tone let little Ant have a go at piloting the plane for the last 20 mins?