Glenn Whelan

[Colbert Report]

Remember Dean Saunders?

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah, 20 years ago. There have been worse tackles since. I think our Glenn will be able to spend Christmas with his family this year.

[geysir]

Glenn's gun was belching out smoke there. I don't know how he got away with it.
Possibly he was so late, by the time he landed on Garcia's outstretched leg, the ref was following the flight of the ball some 10m away,

[tricky_colour]

They would probably let him out for internationals though.

[nigel-harps1954]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4oU-nrM_ac

I've seen worse. ;p

[IsMiseSean]

Is that a two-footed tackle or a two-footed stamp?

[Crosby87]

http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7074/7240765518_68fb5b7fb9_c.jpg

Looks like he is having a meeting about the tackle with League brass.

[peadar1987]

Had a strange game against Reading, looked comfortable on the ball most of the time, but played the odd absolute suicide pass. One of which led to him making a very rash tackle and rightly getting booked.

[Crosby87]

some people wheelie hate him on the stoke board.
http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Potters&action=display&thread=208962&page=3

[DannyInvincible]

some people wheelie hate him on the stoke board.

This thread is no place for free-whelan punnery like that.

[paul_oshea]

Watching bradfords midfield yesterday reminded me of watching Irelands with Glenn Whelan, that jones lad was just like whelan, getting the ball in the middle and instead of looking to create something turns sideways or backwards and passes it to a defender to hoof forward. Seriously limited and providing nothing in the centre.

[OwlsFan]

Watching bradfords midfield yesterday reminded me of watching Irelands with Glenn Whelan, that jones lad was just like whelan, getting the ball in the middle and instead of looking to create something turns sideways or backwards and passes it to a defender to hoof forward. Seriously limited and providing nothing in the centre.

Like Darren Gibson you mean ?

Wasn't it a disgrace hearing those Bradford fans still supporting their side when losing 5-0 to a superior side? I never heard the likes of it.

[SkStu]

Wasn't it a disgrace hearing those Bradford fans still supporting their side when losing 5-0 to a superior side? I never heard the likes of it.

must. not. bite. ;)

[tetsujin1979]

Pulis thinks Whelan is the key to Stoke's survival http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/whelan-key-to-stokes-survival-pulis-29180163.html
I'm reasonably sure they're going to stay up, Reading and QPR look doomed, and Sunderland are in free fall

[DeLorean]

Interesting. I have genuinely pictured myself taking with Tony Pulis and Trap asking them what they see in Whelan, and I guess now I have my answer!

[tricky_colour]

Pulis thinks Whelan is the key to Stoke's survival http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/whelan-key-to-stokes-survival-pulis-29180163.html
I'm reasonably sure they're going to stay up, Reading and QPR look doomed, and Sunderland are in free fall

I made a comment about Stoke recently, yes I think I was talking about Paul Green and someone was saying he was a Championship
player, I came back with well Whelan and McCarthy could be championship players next season, I look up the relegation odds
and Stoke were 22-1 I think I commented that that was a good price. I was gonna have a bet but I saw their next game was
and 'easy fixture' so I didn't bother. They are 8-1 now, hence opportunity missed.
It looks like they will stay up but I think it is Sunderland who are key to their survival not Whelan.
I would add I watched a recent Whelan game and I was actually pretty impressed with his play and work rate, I'd say it was a pleasant surprise!! Maybe that particular game influenced Pulis's comments. I did look as though he was pretty influential in the game, not too sure which game it was but at best it was a draw
v West Brom as they have not won since mid-Jan.

[Mr A]

Whoops.. Glenn will be needing a new windscreen: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/stoke-city/10064569/Stoke-City-launch-investigation-after-pigs-head-is-left-in-Kenwyne-Joness-locker-leaving-striker-fuming.html

[Junior]

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02565/brek-shea_2565949b.jpg

I'd try and pin it on Figo if I was him. Figo likes a wet windy night in Stoke right?

[SkStu]

Why did you post a pic of a Shamrock Rovers fan, junior?

[ArdeeBhoy]

??
:confused:

[Grafter]

Whoops.. Glenn will be needing a new windscreen: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/stoke-city/10064569/Stoke-City-launch-investigation-after-pigs-head-is-left-in-Kenwyne-Joness-locker-leaving-striker-fuming.html
To be fair, I'd probably lose it too.... pretty stupid move.

[tricky_colour]

wonder what that was all about, a joke gone wrong?

[geysir]

Why did you post a pic of a Shamrock Rovers fan, junior?
;)
Nice one Stu, you have the odd few gems in your locker.

[Crosby87]

wonder what that was all about, a joke gone wrong?

Pigs head, Muslims. Not that it takes much mind you.

[SkStu]

;)
Nice one Stu, you have the odd few gems in your locker.

Cheers bud... but for every hit, I have a hundred misses.

[Colbert Report]

It turns out that our Glenn had nothing to do with it and he has received an apology.

[Grafter]

It turns out that our Glenn had nothing to do with it and he has received an apology.

Good lad Glenn, good lad:o

[Crosby87]

Still, the whole windshield issue beckons...:confused:

[tricky_colour]

He will no doubt be bringing home the bacon for Ireland in the future.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well presumably he won't be putting it in anyone's locker.

[Crosby87]

You've been on fire lately Tricky. Really Ham and cheesing it.

[Fixer82]

I honestly couldn't give a sausage what goes on in the Stoke dressing room.

[Olé Olé]

With Pulis moving on, it'll be interesting to see where our Glenn ends up next season. Is he an adequate Premier League footballer or just an unspectacular metronome for a Championship side with ambitions of passing the ball? I quite like him as a player. I feel he could have a couple of decent seasons, to far less noteworthy effect than Michael Carrick enjoyed this season. I think he'll remain in the Premier League either way. He has enough games under his belt at that level that Cardiff, Hull and Palace/Watford would be the lowest-lying sides to snap him up should the incumbent manager at Stoke deem him disposable.

[Supreme feet]

Just saw that Pulis was sacked. My first thought was 'Glenn's in trouble'. He doesn't have enough stand-out qualities on the ball to attract another EPL team or impress an ambitious new manager, and I don't think he's enough of an athlete either. Dare I say it, he's been lucky to be at the right club at the right time, where his technical limitations aren't exposed, and that the players signed to replace him (Olofinjana and Palacios in particular) didn't work out. It would be nice if, say, Garvan or McCann could have a similar break over the next few years.

[tricky_colour]

You've been on fire lately Tricky. Really Ham and cheesing it.

Well if it was on fire that would be smoky bacon!!

[Colbert Report]

Subbed off for Charlie Adam on 62 minutes away to Liverpool. Strange sub given the fact that he was playing a blinder and quite clearly the best player on the pitch in my opinion. He looks fit, was making great passes and tackles, and more importantly, providing a constant layer of protection for the back four.

Marc Wilson got the start in central midfield alongside Whelan and Nzonzi - he hasn't done much in my opinion but it is nice to see him starting in that position, given that I think he might be on the bench behind newly signed left-back Erik Pieters for most of the season.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Had a right cut back at Dunphy in the indo today, fair dues.

IRISH soccer star Glenn Whelan has invited Eamon Dunphy to meet him face to face after the pundit slated the midfielder live on RTE.

"He [Dunphy] is a media bully. He sits in front of the camera and causes controversy so people can laugh at it but I won't be standing for it. He is welcome to come down to our training ground -- he knows where we train -- and he can talk to me then, get things off his chest if he wants," Whelan said.

Following last Friday's loss to Sweden, Dunphy tore into Whelan on live TV.

"He's a terrible player. He can't run, he can't pass, he can't tackle, he doesn't see anything.

"He drives two Ferraris; I think he's a very lucky lad to have 50 caps for Ireland," Dunphy said on RTE.

Whelan issued his own retort after the national side lost out on qualification to next year's World Cup and Giovanni Trapattoni lost his job as manager after a 2-1 loss to Austria on Tuesday night.

"I only found out what was said about me and I felt it was way over the top.

"He is a bully who wants to get under people's skin. I have held back on saying something until now but I won't hold back any more.

"For him to say that I am a terrible player and was lucky to get 50 caps, well let's put our records and our achievements on the table.

"What has he done in football? Compare his stats and his achievements to what I have done and that speaks volumes. I have played 50 times for my country, played at the European Championship finals, played in the Premier League for a long time, played in Europe for two clubs, played in an FA Cup final.

"For someone who has achieved nothing in football to speak so harshly about footballers from his own nation is hard to understand.

"Since I first came into the squad, for whatever reason, Dunphy has picked on me. Maybe it goes back to the very first start when I first came into the squad and he had it in for me -- You had the whole Stephen Ireland and Andy Reid story and he wanted them in the squad.

"Over this campaign we as a team have been battered in the media but he [Dunphy] has battered me."

Whelan feels he has been made a scapegoat for the failures of this qualifying campaign even though he played in only half of the group games.

"I only played in four games in the qualifiers and we got seven points from those," he said.

"If we concede a goal, it's said that the midfield aren't strong enough, if we win 3-0 the midfield is still not creative enough. He comes at me from every angle. No matter how well I play, I am the No. 1 suspect."

[SwanVsDalton]

Was just about to post that. Fair play to him.

[DeLorean]

To be honest, I wouldn't disagree with the content in Dunphy's remarks but the wording was disgraceful, especially about a guy who had been extremely professional and undoubtedly given his best for us... didn't he shed a tear after his goal against Italy? Give me that over more talented prima donnas like Stephen Ireland and Darron Gibson any day. Of course, Whelan has probably made Dunphy's day by actually taking any notice of him.



Whelan was defended by the Stoke-on-Trent media (http://pogmogoal.com/the-blog-reel/stoke-paper-defends-whelan-against-dunphys-assault/14504/) also:


Stoke Paper Defends Whelan Against Dunphy’s ‘Assault’

A regional newspaper in Stoke-on Trent has come to the defence of Glenn Whelan after Eamon Dunphy launched a stinging broadside at the Ireland midfielder. The Sentinel took exception to remarks made by one of RTE’s wise men in the aftermath of last week’s home loss to Sweden.
Dunphy labelled Whelan a ‘terrible’ player’ saying: “He can’t run, he can’t pass, he can’t tackle, he doesn’t see anything…he drives two Ferraris and I’m entitled to say what I think.”
The Sentinel’s Martin Spinks called Dunphy’s outburst an ‘unwarranted verbal assault’ adding that the outspoken former Irish international is known for regularly coming out with outrageous comments. Spinks defended Whelan observing that both Giovanni Trapattoni and former Stoke manager Tony Pulis (who handed Whelan around 120 Premier League starts) saw fit to regularly include the Dubliner in their sides.

“Now Whelan is no Roy Keane, we are all agreed, but he is surely the best available to the Emerald Isle in the role of holding together a midfield invariably competing against superior opposition.” he wrote.


Spinks acknowledged that Whelan might possess more heart than ability, but added that the same could be said of “just about every Irish player since the halcyon days of Charlton and McCarthy.”
Adding that as an Englishman he too wanted to see Ireland do well, and anyone who did likewise would acknowledge the effort of Whelan to the cause.
However, in the eyes of Eamon Dunphy, the midfielder was ”a very lucky lad to have 50 caps for Ireland.”

[as_i_say]

Agreed wording by Dunphy was ott. He is becoming increasingly irritating to watch on the panel and is entirely unable to rebuff Brady's defence of Trap. Regarding Whelan though, his fall in standards has been synonymous with the collapse of the team in general in the past few years. He has been absolutely dire and should have been axed from the team long ago.

I think Whelan will possibly be in there with a bunch of Trap's favorites that might never play for us again now that he's gone-Cox, Keogh, O'Dea, McShane, Green, Sammon even Walters

[DeLorean]

I think Whelan will possibly be in there with a bunch of Trap's favorites that might never play for us again now that he's gone-Cox, Keogh, O'Dea, McShane, Green, Sammon even Walters

Very harsh on Walters and to be honest I think we could do a lot worse than Green when there's a couple of regulars missing. O'Dea is still only 26 and back playing in Europe so I wouldn't dispose of him just yet. He has done reasonably well at times for us despite not playing regularly at his clubs and we're short enough on centre backs. There can't be a huge amount left in Dunne and O'Shea isn't getting any younger (or better!). I have no case to make for the other four really.

[tetsujin1979]

Agreed wording by Dunphy was ott. He is becoming increasingly irritating to watch on the panel and is entirely unable to rebuff Brady's defence of Trap. Regarding Whelan though, his fall in standards has been synonymous with the collapse of the team in general in the past few years. He has been absolutely dire and should have been axed from the team long ago.

I think Whelan will possibly be in there with a bunch of Trap's favorites that might never play for us again now that he's gone-Cox, Keogh, O'Dea, McShane, Green, Sammon even Walters

Maybe the end of Walters being used as a winger, but I doubt he'll be dropped completely

[KK77]

Bringing the car Whelan drives into it while he earns money for old rope at RTE makes it laughable. Never mind what he earns from McDonalds.

[DeLorean]

I'm surprised they didn't come back after the ads to apologise... that Glenn actually drives a Citroen C3 and only has the one.

[geysir]

I'm surprised they didn't come back after the ads to apologise... that Glenn actually drives a Citroen C3 and only has the one.
But I guess it comes with a recently installed new windscreen.

[back of the net]

Maybe the end of Walters being used as a winger, but I doubt he'll be dropped completely

agreed - think walters offers us alot if played in his correct position

Also think Cox will be given a shot at his correct position - think Cox is a good player with an eye for goal and cud do well if given a chance


With respect to Keogh, O Dea, Sammon and McShane - they cud be told to take a holiday

[SwanVsDalton]

Glenn achieved 100% pass completion at the weekend (http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/25/premier-league-10-talking-points-weekend-action) - 63 passes made, not a one given away.

[DeLorean]

He could sign for Liverpool for £15m with stats like that.

[tricky_colour]

Glenn achieved 100% pass completion at the weekend (http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/25/premier-league-10-talking-points-weekend-action) - 63 passes made, not a one given away.

He has a 91% pass completion rate.
I have been trying to work out the probability of him doing that and at first I came up with a figure of once about every 5 games, which seems
far too low, however I think the way to do it is to calculate the probability of 63 good passes which is 0.91^63=0.00262 or once in 380.5 games.

Turns out he is the 12th best passer in the Prem, Coleman is our next best then McCarthy.

[back of the net]

He could sign for Liverpool for £15m with stats like that.


unfortunately he may have to settle for one to crystal palace - pulis rummoured to be lining up a 2.5mil bid for him in january