Jon Walters

[geysir]

He's a bulldog, but he's our bulldog.

[DannyInvincible]

Walters on the current management team in comparison to Trap's regime (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/boys-in-green-get-kitted-up-for-the-catwalk-30302043.html):


Martin (O'Neill) and Roy (Keane) are more personable (than the previous regime). They know everyone so well, and the drive of both of them has just lifted everyone. They are two great characters and it's a great set-up.

Good to hear this from Walters, especially as the media had raised fears about his (possibly sour) relationship with Roy as a result of having played under him previously.

[tricky_colour]

Walters on the current management team in comparison to Trap's regime (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/boys-in-green-get-kitted-up-for-the-catwalk-30302043.html):



Good to hear this from Walters, especially as the media had raised fears about his (possibly sour) relationship with Roy as a result of having played under him previously.


I expect he had to score because he knew Roy would give him a right bollocking if he didn't!!! ;)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I'm one of Walters biggest critics but he looked sharp when he came on the other day. Might be a good option as a sub in the future.

Hopefully, Stokes gets a chance to start over the next 3 games but with Doyle and Sammon coming back, he will probably be pushed even further back.

[Stuttgart88]

It also depends on what Thursday's judge thinks. Hopefully he prefers football to Elvis.

[Fixer82]

I'm one of Walters biggest critics but he looked sharp when he came on the other day. Might be a good option as a sub in the future.


He looked really sharp and made an instant impact when he came on. Murphy didn't look great but I guess wasn't on for too long. His header was a decent effort considering the ball was coming at him at some pace

[gastric]

Walters hints at a possible move if he doesn't get a game at Stoke, WBA possibly interested.

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/stoke-city/transfer-talk/news/walters-hints-at-stoke-exit_170921.html

[Charlie Darwin]

Goal Walters on his first start of the season.

[back of the net]

he has just got his second

[Charlie Darwin]

Play him up top, Martin!

[back of the net]

nice cross into the box from Jon to provide the assist for stokes 3rd goal

[DannyInvincible]

His first goal against Portsmouth: https://vine.co/v/MlIJzh5gTqL

Second goal: https://vine.co/v/MlIJL5aqjW5

Assist for Stoke's third: https://vine.co/v/MlInVmIFUjx

[tricky_colour]

He didn't really have to do too much for the goals

[DeLorean]

They used say the same about Gerd Müller :)

[DannyInvincible]

He didn't really have to do too much for the goals

Bit unfair. He got in front of three defenders and beat the oncoming keeper to the ball for the first. It was indeed a perfect ball but I've seen plenty of players miss from there, or from closer, and he was outstretched. His positioning was spot-on for the second as well. Positional awareness is crucial; the chances of scoring are much higher if you've managed to break away from your man and gotten into a good space. His cross for the third was also inch-perfect.

[Fixer82]

Bit unfair. He got in front of three defenders and beat the oncoming keeper to the ball for the first. It was indeed a perfect ball but I've seen plenty of players miss from there, or from closer, and he was outstretched. His positioning was spot-on for the second as well. Positional awareness is crucial; the chances of scoring are much higher if you've managed to break away from your man and gotten into a good space. His cross for the third was also inch-perfect.

Absolutely, John Aldridge was a genius at it

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

If only Stoke played League 2 opposition in every game.

[tricky_colour]

The used say the same about Gerd Müller :)

Granted, I expect Shane will pass his world cup scoring record pretty soon!!

But yes there is a lot to be said for being in the right place at the right time, the first goal
required a bit more than a tap in.

Is he playing in a more centre forward roll? Anyhow long amy it continue.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

https://vine.co/v/OizwHi1eBFx

[Charlie Darwin]

Good finish. Has to start against Scotland on form.

[tricky_colour]

He didn't really have to do too much for the goal, mind you they used to say the same about Gerd Müller.

[DeLorean]

Now you're gettin it Tricky :)

[BonnieShels]

I bet you he doesn't!

[DeLorean]

Underestimate Tricky at your peril.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Well both of them should be ahead of Keane on form but if there's only room for one then i would go with Long all day. IDK many teams of our caliber that can keep a 12m player on the bench.

[Stuttgart88]

Note to self. Resist.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Ah in fairness Stutts, I am Walters biggest critic, but he has been proving me wrong with some of his recent League and Intl. performances.

I would not have him ahead of Long in the team but I would be less ****ed off than I normally would if it were to happen.

I will gladly offer up the same mea culpa when and if Keane has an effective performance against a team that isn't Gibraltar & Faroe Islands but it hasn't happened in a considerable length of time.

It's interesting that both Whelan and Walters have improved after regaining their places in the first 11 at domestic level.

I actually think Keane's form would similarly benefit if he was rotated but it's not going to happen.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well both of them should be ahead of Keane on form but if there's only room for one then i would go with Long all day. IDK many teams of our caliber that can keep a 12m player on the bench.
Apart from Scotland?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Apart from Scotland?

Sunderland signed Steven Fletcher for £14m pounds, Charlie.

That's more than Ross McCormack's transfer fee.

[Stuttgart88]

I think my viewpoint is that Keane is still a handful at club level, albeit MLS and can't be seen as not being on form. So I think we have three forwards on form, four really counting Murphy. I think transfer valuation is a bit of an inaxact science and not what I would base my selection for Friday on. So I'd say there were two bits of flawed logic in your post, or two bits of highly selective reasoning.

I can't recall any game where Walters and Long started together other than Bosnia at home. Long scored and they played well together. It could be that they should start and Keane is seen as the variation we can spring from the bench.

[Charlie Darwin]

Scotland signed Steven Fletcher for £14m pounds, Charlie.
I don't even know where to start with this.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Yes, it's a typo Charlie. Working a 9 hour shift and then having to babysit will do that to a person.

A £14m player is keeping an £11m player on the bench for Scotland.

I don't think Keane or Walters Galaxy & Stoke transfer fees exceeded £10m.

There's the rub.

But I made a typo and that invalidates my opinion. :rolleyes:

[Charlie Darwin]

Fletcher was £12 million, roughly the same as Long and McCormack. As Stutts said, transfer fees are a poor measure of worth to an international team, and the fact Southampton spent £12 million on Long is only indicative of how they rate him to perform a particular role in the team, one that McGeady performs more than well for us.

[DannyInvincible]

Transfer fees are an inferior measure of ability per se. Salary expenditure is a much better predictor of success (and, thus, a more reliable indicator of ability).

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

If Keane (and Keogh) prove me wrong on Friday I will eat humble pie but if they don't, I am going to be vociferous about it.

[tetsujin1979]

I think my viewpoint is that Keane is still a handful at club level, albeit MLS and can't be seen as not being on form. So I think we have three forwards on form, four really counting Murphy. I think transfer valuation is a bit of an inaxact science and not what I would base my selection for Friday on. So I'd say there were two bits of flawed logic in your post, or two bits of highly selective reasoning.

I can't recall any game where Walters and Long started together other than Bosnia at home. Long scored and they played well together. It could be that they should start and Keane is seen as the variation we can spring from the bench.

does Austria at home count? Long was up front with Sammon, Walters on the wing.

[Stuttgart88]

No, statto, that doesn't count. Give yourself a twenty minute suspension for that question.

[tricky_colour]

Underestimate Tricky at your peril.

Very true, there are some who laughed and said Roy Keane would never make it in football.
Look at him now, assistant manager at Villa, they are not laughing anymore.

[Stuttgart88]

I love the old Bob Monkhouse line: people laughed when I said I was going to be a comedian. They're not laughing now!

[DannyInvincible]

Or Groucho Marx's one:

"From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it."

[paul_oshea]

Product placement and product pricing, supply and demand, are we really arguing that here now?

Even if you take that into consideration you could also argue against depreciation and why some products depreciate more/faster/greatly.

There are always some over-inflated prices, but as a whole it is more than an indicitive indicator.

[Stuttgart88]

Huh??

[Stuttgart88]

If Keane (and Keogh) prove me wrong on Friday I will eat humble pie but if they don't, I am going to be vociferous about it.
What's the threshold of proof?

What if they both play ok? Are we then to assume that another selection would have been better? There's no counterfactual unfortunately. If both have stinkers you'll have a point, but then again, as DeLorean pointed out you don't have a monopoly on your concerns.

[paul_oshea]

He has a monopoly on being right though, and he is, most often.

Stutts I am not going to bother explaining that one, posts are often picked on for flawed logic, but more often than not on here the exception is taken as the rule and applied to the post as the norm. Like any product, most often you pay for what you get.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm guessing you're talking about Long's transfer value? Still not sure because it is such a strange post.

As for TOWK having a monopoly on being right, I seriously suggest you go back and read the many concurring and well presented arguments made by many others, others who don't engage in sophistry or evasion or selective amnesia. I take exception to that comment.

[tricky_colour]

I love the old Bob Monkhouse line: people laughed when I said I was going to be a comedian. They're not laughing now!

Ah yes thanks for the reminder, I had forgotten where I stole it from.

Incidentally Bob's joke book did go missing once, however who ever stole it returned it, obviously unimpressed.

A police spokesman said the theft was none the less no laughing matter.

[SwanVsDalton]

Scores Stoke's third against a very sorry Arsenal.

[tetsujin1979]

it's his 100th career club goal, according to Stoke City's twitter

[tricky_colour]

arsenal got 2 back and not over yet

[peadar1987]

Yes it is. Come on Stoke!!!