Glenn Whelan

[boovidge]

on the bench again.

[Junior]

Scored for Stoke tonight in the Carling Cup (Half Time at the mo 1-0)

[Noelys Guitar]

From the BBc site
2006: GOAL Stoke 1-0 Rotherham
The Premier League side take the lead in simple fashion, with Glenn Whelan curling home a free-kick with his cultured left foot into the top corner from 25 yards.

[Carrigaline]

I don't think anyone really has a problem with Glenn Whelan playing, he does a job in a position we aren't exactly blessed in. The problem is that with S. Reid out, he's getting inadequate partners in central midfield.

[tetsujin1979]

From the BBc site
2006: GOAL Stoke 1-0 Rotherham
The Premier League side take the lead in simple fashion, with Glenn Whelan curling home a free-kick with his cultured left foot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Goal here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KHELHMCS
looks like he took the free with his right

[elroy]

Only against Rotherham but apparently MOM as well

[Irish_Praha]

Salif Diao got injured on 21 mins and Whelan came on as a sub. Hope he performs well. I don't like wishing injuries on players but it wouldn't be a bad thing if Diao had to miss a few games and it gave Glenn his chance to play his way into the team

[elroy]

Glenn played in the ball for the equaliser, seemed to do alright judging by the report on bbc at least.

[Kingdom]

Glenn played in the ball for the equaliser, seemed to do alright judging by the report on bbc at least.

I only saw muted highlights and I thought it was Glenn alright. Hopefully he gets a run now, and that Stoke don't implode! I like the lad I have to say, he plays short little passes and keeps things ticking over for us, and his aggression in the tackle increases with every game. Here's hoping he gets a bit of a run.

[Irish_Praha]

Salif Diao got injured on 21 mins and Whelan came on as a sub. Hope he performs well. I don't like wishing injuries on players but it wouldn't be a bad thing if Diao had to miss a few games and it gave Glenn his chance to play his way into the team

He's still getting his game. Does anyone know if he playing due to decent performances or is Salif Diao still injured? Hope Stoke don't bring in another CMF player in the tranfer window.

[paul_oshea]

well stokes worst month has been the last one and thats when whelan started getting games. Im not saying its a coincidence but they have slowly slipped into the relegation battle in the last month. Hopefully its just a coincidence.

[elroy]

well stokes worst month has been the last one and thats when whelan started getting games. Im not saying its a coincidence but they have slowly slipped into the relegation battle in the last month. Hopefully its just a coincidence.

Losing away to Hartlepool in the cup, Whelan and Delap playing. Lawrence on bench.

[Noelys Guitar]

Did OK today against Liverpool. Badly caught out early in the game by Kuyt but improved greatly after that. Can't remember him giving the ball away once after a shaky first 10 mins. Shaved the Liverpool post with a free kick in the seond half.

[tetsujin1979]

2 decent free kicks in the game, I thought

[paul_oshea]

i heard thats all he had though, and was very unnoticeable throughout. i didnt see the game myself though.

[shakermaker1982]

The most interesting thing about that game was Delap's throw ins.

[irishfan86]

i heard thats all he had though, and was very unnoticeable throughout. i didnt see the game myself though.

In fairness, when you're Stoke playing Liverpool and nobody notices you in the middle of the park, it's usually a good thing.

[Kingdom]

Thought he had a fine game against City the other day, passing was top notch (he was the spark for the goal) while his set pieces were all well delivered. The lad is playing good stuff. Thnakfully!"

[shakermaker1982]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/feb/02/premier-league-stoke-manchester-city

decent write up about Whelan here. Nice to see the Trap keeping him on his toes!

[gspain]

Thought he had a fine game against City the other day, passing was top notch (he was the spark for the goal) while his set pieces were all well delivered. The lad is playing good stuff. Thnakfully!"

Yes agree should definitely start now on Wednesday week. great to see him playing regularly. Hope Keith Andrews is OK as he went off after 43 minutes.

[co. down green]

Thought he had a fine game against City the other day, passing was top notch (he was the spark for the goal) while his set pieces were all well delivered. The lad is playing good stuff. Thnakfully!"

Whelan said: “It wasn’t about the performance here.

“It was all about getting the right result and we have done that after the disappointment of Tottenham.

“We were back to it here, we’ve got three points – that’s all that matters.”

“We knew it was going to be tough. They have some great players, but we just had to stick together.

“We are a hard team to beat, especially at home.

[Noelys Guitar]

Did you hear the Stoke fans chanting his name around the 70 min mark against City. He has improved every game I have seen him in for Stoke. Starting to look right at home in the Premiership.

[NeilMcD]

Yes agree should definitely start now on Wednesday week. great to see him playing regularly. Hope Keith Andrews is OK as he went off after 43 minutes.

Seems like a gashed leg which may keep him out of the cup tie but no more than that.

[Brendan 82]

Maybe old Trapp knows a thing or two about a thing or two after all

[DeLorean]

I just don't see it. Faye did more with a concussion than Whelan imo.

[drummerboy]

Thought he done well. Puts in plenty of tackles, in fairness the guy is improving. I remember when Kevin Keegan sold him from City to Sheffield Wednesday he said he expected to see him playing in the premiership in the future.

[OwlsFan]

I remember when Kevin Keegan sold him from City to Sheffield Wednesday he said he expected to see him playing in the premiership in the future.

Not with Sheffield Wednesday I assume :o

[carloz]

I was quite impressed with him against Man City and i love the physicality in his game. Was nice for him being an ex Man City youngster. Was interesting to note how uninterested Stephen Ireland seemed to be against a very physical team. Not a midfield i imagine he enjoyed playing against

[dr_peepee]

I remember when Kevin Keegan sold him from City to Sheffield Wednesday he said he expected to see him playing in the premiership in the future.

I could be wrong but I vaguley remember reading something similar about McCarthty and Elliot when they left City too... Could be Keegans staple parting compliment!!

[aidz1]

Think he deserves to hold onto his place in the middle for next week...

[Jicked]

Though I didn't see the game myself, Whelan got a great write up in the guardian, mentioning how at home he is in the Premiership up against a midfield like City's, and by most accounts played well again.

So that's Whelan now playing regularly and well in the Premier League, Gibson stepping up to make regular enough appearances in the United first team, whilst Ricky Sbragia is the third manager in six months not to deem Andy Reid worthy of a starting berth. So what'dya know, turns out Trap may have been a better judge of player then people watching five minute highlights on MotD.

[DeLorean]

turns out Trap may have been a better judge of player then people watching five minute highlights on MotD.

Well it didn't really matter how many minutes were being watched earlier in the season cos Whelan and Gibson weren't playing any. Gibson still plays hardly anything outside the Carling Cup and lets face it, that's not gonna change in the business end of the season. I think Whelans performance on Sat is being grossly overrated here but people are entitled to their opinions. Wouldn't be the first time I didn't think he contributed as much as other people (ie. Georgia/Montenegro).

[eirebhoy]

Wouldn't be the first time I didn't think he contributed as much as other people (ie. Georgia/Montenegro).
But in fairness would you not start doubting your own opinion if thats the case? If I thought a certain player didn't contribute much in a game and others thought he was the teams most influential player I'd definitely start doubting my own opinion unless I had literally watched that 1 player from start to finish. Because it's not really a matter of opinion. He was either involved a lot or he wasn't. I'd tend to side with those that thought he was involved a lot because i doubt they were imagining it, while it's quite possible to not notice a players contributions.

Before Whelan scored against Georgia myself and my mate commented that he was probably motm. The goal sealed the motm for me.

This is your comment from the game:
"I was at the Georgia game and hardly noticed him to be honest other than the goal which was a crap shot in the first place."

Don't take me up wrong but unless I and a few others fell asleep during that game and dreamt of Whelan being heavily involved I'd be doubting your own analysis! ;)

[DeLorean]

But in fairness would you not start doubting your own opinion if thats the case?

Well I'd be willing to accept that maybe I underestimated his performance against Georgia as there was drink involved as well as being behind the goals, where a match is never seen properly. I haven't seen the match since. I wouldn't budge in relation to the recent performances in which I have seen him as he would probably be the player I would be tracking more than most. These games were Stokes home matches against Man U and Liverpool as well as the City one at the wkd. For me he did little or nothing in these matches, he rarely even touches the ball and dispite comments futher up this thread I don't think he's remotely tenacious in his tackling. His set pieces are adequate in that he floats a ball into good areas without them being particularly difficult to defend against. In addition to these matches his performances against Poland and in particular Cyprus were shocking. So to answer your question in relation to the Georgia match-yes I do doubt my own opinion of his performance and would like to see it again but overall- no, if I don't rate a player's performance(s) I'm not overly concerned if it differs to others.

[Noelys Guitar]

Whelan did make a terrible blunder early in the match against City (passed the ball to Ireland who should have scored). After that he played his part in breaking up City's play. Solid performance. Will a solid performance be enough against the Bulgarian's and Italian's? We will soon find out.

[eirebhoy]

Well I'd be willing to accept that maybe I underestimated his performance against Georgia as there was drink involved as well as being behind the goals, where a match is never seen properly. I haven't seen the match since. I wouldn't budge in relation to the recent performances in which I have seen him as he would probably be the player I would be tracking more than most. These games were Stokes home matches against Man U and Liverpool as well as the City one at the wkd. For me he did little or nothing in these matches, he rarely even touches the ball and dispite comments futher up this thread I don't think he's remotely tenacious in his tackling. His set pieces are adequate in that he floats a ball into good areas without them being particularly difficult to defend against. In addition to these matches his performances against Poland and in particular Cyprus were shocking. So to answer your question in relation to the Georgia match-yes I do doubt my own opinion of his performance and would like to see it again but overall- no, if I don't rate a player's performance(s) I'm not overly concerned if it differs to others.
Just to point out I'd agree that he was relatively poor in the last 2 Ireland games and wasn't involved much in the 2 club games you mentioned. I think most of us would agree with that. I'd just tend to believe those that say he played well against Man City because there's been a few.

[DeLorean]

Just to point out I'd agree that he was relatively poor in the last 2 Ireland games and wasn't involved much in the 2 club games you mentioned. I think most of us would agree with that. I'd just tend to believe those that say he played well against Man City because there's been a few.

Fair enough, they're all wrong though and I'm right but whatever....;)

[backstothewall]

I thought the package dunphy had put together was very unfair on him tonight. I'm sure i could have found as many incidents of half a dozen people losing the ball. It wasn't his best ever game, but he wasn't terrible. Just Ok imho

"I don't like to pick on an individual" - Pull the other one Eamo

[elroy]

I thought the package dunphy had put together was very unfair on him tonight. I'm sure i could have found as many incidents of half a dozen people losing the ball. It wasn't his best ever game, but he wasn't terrible. Just Ok imho

"I don't like to pick on an individual" - Pull the other one Eamo

Was at the game so only saw a portion of the analysis that was on rte.ie. But doesnt listen to Dunphy, he is too sensationalist and changes his mind all the time. Souness talked sense, very average with a really good chance of qualifying and a very good result tonight particularly in the circumstances.

[OwlsFan]

Glen gives the ball away a lot as he was wont to do at Sheffield Wednesday and as he will continue to do for Ireland. Some times he is excellent but by and large he can be quite average but other than Andy Reid who doesn't play the same role, I am not sure what other options we have.

[irishfan86]

Whelan is average, maybe less than average, technically, but I think we'll see the best of him against better opposition, where his defensive skills will be the key.

Maybe Andy Reid would have been more effective tonight, but I feel that Whelan's athleticism and style of play will be of greater import in our matches against the big teams in this group.

[paul_oshea]

whelan was better today than any other game so far. BUt he was still poor lads, his touch and control is very poor. Only half decent at tackling. Andrews was a lot better, his passing is very good. him and s reid could be a great midfield.

[third policeman]

Glen gives the ball away a lot as he was wont to do at Sheffield Wednesday and as he will continue to do for Ireland. Some times he is excellent but by and large he can be quite average but other than Andy Reid who doesn't play the same role, I am not sure what other options we have.

I think this is one area where we do have options, but alas we have not taken the opportunity to see what they can do. Garvan could certainly play in the Trapp system and his touch and distribution are way ahread of Whelan. McCann has consistently looked promising and looking slightly further ahead there's McCarthy and O'Toole. I also think that Ireland could play in this role, contrary to popular myth he does tackle, he is willing to track back and his passing from deep to the likes of Keane, Doyle and McGeady could be lethal. O'Shea could also do a fair decent job inthis system if we had cover options at CB like ST Ledger for example.

[eirebhoy]

I also think that Ireland could play in this role, contrary to popular myth he does tackle, he is willing to track back and his passing from deep to the likes of Keane, Doyle and McGeady could be lethal.
He definitely couldn't yet imo. He still has a very attacking mentality. I know he tracks back a lot more but so do a lot of wingers.

[jbyrne]

Garvan could certainly play in the Trapp system and his touch and distribution are way ahread of Whelan

have you seen garvan play a full competitive international cause i havent? when he has played in such a game we can make a comparison. would love garvan to become a very good player for us but the jury is still out. was overshadowed by gleeson in the u21 match the other night

[rambler14]

He looks a better player with Andrews alongside him as opposed to Gibson!

[eirebhoy]

have you seen garvan play a full competitive international cause i havent? when he has played in such a game we can make a comparison. would love garvan to become a very good player for us but the jury is still out. was overshadowed by gleeson in the u21 match the other night
In fairness Gleeson played in the position of most influence. Garvan had to support Sheridan. I like Gleeson though. Definitely my motm against Germany.

[drummerboy]

have you seen garvan play a full competitive international cause i havent? when he has played in such a game we can make a comparison. would love garvan to become a very good player for us but the jury is still out. was overshadowed by gleeson in the u21 match the other night

In fairness to Garvan his is usually a central midfielder but on Tuesday night he played much more forward supporting Sheridan. When he did drop back to his normal position things started happening.

[EastTerracer]

A brilliant late equaliser by Whelan against Villa this afternoon.

If Trapp would let the central midfielders get forward a little more both Andrews and Whelan have shown today that they can be potential goal options.

[tetsujin1979]

When you've got Duff and McGeady already pushing forward, adding just one more to that would really open up central midfield. Andrews and Whelan have already scored for Trapattoni (plus Andrews' disallowed goal against Georgia) so it looks he's given them free reign to shoot from distance, and to push up from set pieces - just not from open play.