Jon Walters

[SkStu]

I also thought Vardy deserved the red even though the commentators said he was very unlucky. He went in with both feet, studs up. By the letter of the law he deserved red even though he got the ball well before the man. It was interesting though because I was thinking it wouldn't have been a red 10-15 years ago.

[Colbert Report]

Anyone know why Bojan took the penalty and not Walters?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He hasn't been their main penalty taker for over a year after missing a couple.

I think Charlie Adam is their main penalty taker.

[DeLorean]

The verdict wasn't good for Walters (or Whelan).

http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/263631/whelan-walters

It's pathetic the way you seek out negative comments on club's forums and twitter at times when you know supporters are going to be frustrated and leaving off a bit of steam. I'm not much of a Whelan fan but the majority on that short thread you linked are overwhelmingly supportive of him, and plenty of support for Walters also.


"I dread to think what would have happened second half without Whelan. He was our midfield."

"Both were outstanding today, especially when you consider some of the money Hughes has wasted on players who aren't fit to lace their boots."

"Walters and Whelan have been fantastic servants to our club and don't deserve the vitriol they get on here."

"Nothing wrong in Whelan for me."

"It was only a month ago we were bemoaning Whelan's absence. We've spent oodles of money on players trying to replace him but we don't have anyone who can do the holding role as well as he can."

"To put any blame on this pair today is laughable."

"Thought whelan was one of the best players on the pitch tbh"

"Did the job that was asked of him. Sprayed a few nice balls about."

"Walters clear Man of the Match today"

"Thank Christ they're still here because the 'upgrades' are woeful."

"A poor performance and we have a Whelan and Walters thread again. How predicable for the agenda merchants."

"Whelan was head and shoulders better than anonymous Imbula today. Walters ran his nuts off, isolated again, and only had 2 good balls played into him, both of which he hit on target. If both players give their best, which they generally do, then they cant be knocked if they start every game."

"Whelan was good."

"Whelan won 3 tackles in a row second half which some of our so called stars would have backed out of."

"The greater worry should be that these two still put more effort into games than most of the others , Whelan was really good today , agree Walters is past his best but still puts a shift in unlike that idle **** sitting on the bench for his £120k a week."

"Yeah let's blame these 2 players get a life. Thought whelan played well and Johnny never die attitude.If we had won this thread wouldn't have been made."

"I thought Whelan was decent today. He made a couple of stupid errors but overall he had a decent game."

"Thought whelan had an ok game and walters was is usual hard working self.what do people want we bring in Bony everybody happy then he struggles we are so so in need of a 15-20 goalscorer but which team isn't. So to blame walters is ridiculous what about blaming Hughes both great servants yes we all want improvements in the team and better players just remember where we were 10 years ago."

"Whelan was the best of the midfield second half , make what you will of the rest of them. Walters worked his ******** off had two decent efforts from the few bits of decent crosses he received that both brought very good saves , just don't know how you can say they were both so bad."

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Wow. It took you two days to compile every comment relating to Walters and Whelan that wasn't negative just to have another pop at me.

Well done.

[DeLorean]

Took about five minutes.

[DeLorean]

Big Jon the latest player to benefit from Liverpool's goalkeeping crisis as Mignolet flaps his near post header into the net. Whelan also started. Stoke lead 1-0.

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-o7zeb3WVk

Nice near post header to make it 1-0 it is 1-1 now though.

[tetsujin1979]

60th goal for Stoke, just needs two more to equal Stanley Matthews

[BonnieShels]

he didn't mean any of them

[Closed Account]

Sometimes I wonder how such an ineffectual striker can get a game, let alone any minutes in a premiership team. But I have a soft spot because he's scored some crucial goals for Ireland. Honestly, if he wants playing for a premiership team, I don't think I'd give a **** about him.

[Closed Account]

Anyway, enough about Shane Long. Long line Super Jonny Walters.

[tricky_colour]

I think Coleman is our joint top striker on 3 along side Walters, Long is yet to break his duck I believe.

There is a good case for sticking Coleman up front!!!

Walters at left back?? Or Long?

[KK77]

Did he play the full game? Finished 4-1.

[Yard of Pace]

Walters at left back?? Or Long?


That's as insane an idea as, say, Irish teams of the past using hard-working winger Kevin Kilbane at left-back......for years....in every game........hang on...

[samhaydenjr]

That's as insane an idea as, say, Irish teams of the past using hard-working winger Kevin Kilbane at left-back......for years....in every game........hang on...

Well, at least that was a tactic that is in the past as we no longer use talented left-wingers as makeshift full-backs, particularly not talented left-wingers...with an...eye...for...goal...dammit!

[Closed Account]

Knee surgery to rule Jonathan Walters out for an extended spell

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/knee-surgery-to-rule-jonathan-walters-out-for-an-extended-spell-772260.html

Any chance of beating Wales gone out the window....

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I'm assuming you are joking but we played some of our best football against Bosnia, Italy and France without him in the side.

I'd say he'll be back but Murphy and Long up front or a natural wide player starting is hardly a disaster.

[Stuttgart88]

I thought he scored twice against Bosnia?

[tetsujin1979]

and was MOTM against Germany

[jbyrne]

whatever two from long, walters and murphy start against wales we need a good option from the bench also. if we are missing any of those 3 we are a bit stuck for other options

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Hoolahan has won MOTM several times and he's in and out of the team.

It's not a knock on Jon. I just disagree that it's a disaster if he doesn't play.

And I was referring to the first leg of the Bosnia tie.

[Closed Account]

I'd say he'll be back but Murphy and Long up front or a natural wide player starting is hardly a disaster.

Simply missing a natural goalscorer ala Keano or Walters if we start with Murphy and Long. Not looking good for us...

Oddly enough, the game will be exactly 10 years to this day:
https://youtu.be/QOkX58gChqQ?t=26

If only we had someone as hirsute as your man now:
QOkX58gChqQ

[zero]

Simply missing a natural goalscorer ala Keano or Walters if we start with Murphy and Long. Not looking good for us...

Oddly enough, the game will be exactly 10 years to this day:
https://youtu.be/QOkX58gChqQ?t=26

If only we had someone as hirsute as your man now:
QOkX58gChqQ

i'm not sure we can classify walters as a natural goalscorer, though his record for ireland is better (roughly 1 in 4) than at club level (1 in 5).

long's record is fairly similar though, which perhaps illustrates that stats don't tell you everything about a forward. unless you're robbie...

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Walters is no more a natural goalscorer than Long.

People fretted about whereit the goals would come from after Keane's retirement and we have continued to score.

If we can survive without him, we can survive without Walters.

We have plenty of blood and thunder players.

I think Murphy can get the best out of Long, as seen from Belgrade.

[DeLorean]

And I was referring to the first leg of the Bosnia tie.

We played some of our best football in the first leg against Bosnia? Really?

I think either the positive result or the fog that night has really clouded your memory on that one.

[Closed Account]

Walters is no more a natural goalscorer than Long.
Yes I agree, but with SJW's aeriel ability and all round game, us missing Jon evens out with Wales missing Bale. Maybe we do have a chance...

[geysir]

Didn't Bale play in that Croke park game 10 years ago? He wasn't up to much then.
It's Walters every time;)

[SkStu]

People fretted about whereit the goals would come from after Keane's retirement and we have continued to score.

People were more worried about where we would find a goalscorer of his class again.

[seanfhear]

People were more worried about where we would find a goalscorer of his class again.Working Class , Middle Class or Upper Class....I kind of a gra for a working class kid made good......

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Yes I agree, but with SJW's aeriel ability and all round game, us missing Jon evens out with Wales missing Bale. Maybe we do have a chance...

It's completely absurd to say us missing Walters evens out with Wales missing Bale; Bale is arguably the best player in the world FGS!

He's (Walters) been poor so far in this qualifying campaign, was probably one of our worst players against Sweden and we played better football with Murphy in the team against Italy and France. Then Murphy came off the bench and scored one against Serbia and laid one on for Long within minutes of coming off the bench.

We have Long, Murphy and even McClean who can play up top. McClean, Horgan, Pilkington, Hendrick and even Coleman can occupy the wide positions.

As for Walters being better than Long in the air. I'd disagree on that one. Long wins a lot in the air. His leap is incredible. I'm not sure I'd hear Walters better than Long in the air anywhere but an Irish forum TBH.

Don't get me wrong. Walters missing is not ideal but I wouldn't lose sleep over Brady being missing let alone Walters, and Brady is more important because of his set piece ability alone.

I think if Walters missing the Wales game means he finally gets back to full fitness for the games in the summer and autumn then that's more important.

I think he hasn't been playing anywhere near 100% since March/April and in all honesty probably wasn't close to being fit enough to travel for Euro 2016 in the first place.

[Closed Account]

I was on a wind up. I'll be less subtle next time.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Any updates on Big Jon?

[DeLorean]

Any updates on Big Jon?


From stokecityfc.com (http://mobile.stokecityfc.com/news/article/2016-17/hughes-receives-selection-boost-3592248.aspx)


Walts is maybe a little bit behind the two guys I have just mentioned but he is making good progress too and came outside with the group for a little bit this morning, which was a positive for us.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Mark Hughes said he's 2-3 weeks off which means he probably won't be fit enough to start but will anyway.

[Stuttgart88]

In tomorrow's squad for Stoke according to @eireguide on twitter but the link to the source doesn't work.

[tetsujin1979]

Mark Hughes said it in a press conference: https://twitter.com/stokecity/status/837585181657686016

MH: Jon Walters is fine and available and Glen Johnson is fine too. Like I say the only doubt for us is Xherdan. #SCFC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCFC?src=hash)

[DeLorean]

Are everybody (who have any chance of being in the squad for the Wales game) injury free outside of Alan Judge?

[Stuttgart88]

Don't. Say. Anything.

[DeLorean]

Was waiting for that!

Clean bill of health so, can't see how anything could go wrong now. :o

[tetsujin1979]

Back in the starting XI for Stoke tonight against man city. Game is live on sky

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

The image of Keane tentatively approaching his email inbox with a furrowed brow is a real treat, but one player whose fitness is rarely a concern - even during an injury-plagued season - is Jon Walters.

Keane told the 700-strong Silver Springs audience that the Stoke City forward is borderline maniacal when it comes to his personal fitness, and that missing a few months' action would do little to hamper his performance for Ireland if he's called upon on Saturday week.

He isolates Jon Waters as one player he knows will show up, as proved when the Stoke player played through injury at Euro 2016.

“Jon is a big player for us, a big personality. I was down at Stoke the previous weekend and he was sub, but he did more in the warm-up than some players did when the game was on. He’s a great attitude and a fitness freak.

“Jon hasn’t played much football but I wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep about Jon tuning up and not having played for a few months. You know for that week with Ireland, he’s different class. You want people like Jon in the trenches with you.”

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/roy-keane-gareth-bale-set-for-hard-night-445000.html

Yeah. Because a blind man couldn't see that he was clearly not fit enough to start against Sweden in the Euros. Before going on to miss subsequent games against Belgium and Italy.

Worked out brilliantly, for sure.

And he's looked so sharp in this campaign.

And we clearly don't have the options to play in his stead.

[DeLorean]

Anything new to contribute?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I just felt compelled to point out how absurd (and worrying) Keane's comments are.

[Eminence Grise]

Hm. Keane's record as a professional versus a broken record.

Close call this. I'll get back to you in a day or so.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Roy Keane played a different tune when Shay Given put himself forward to play injured in Euro 2012.

I simply felt compelled to point out the hypocrisy of what he said.

[DeLorean]

What did Keane say about Given that time? I remember him saying something about him playing in all the friendlies to rack up caps alright another time.

He's just saying now that Walters is a very important player and that he's a great pro basically with high fitness levels. It's obvious they took a gamble on him in that Sweden game and it didn't pay off, but teams often take gambles on the fitness of players they deem important, sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. The real problem as far as your concerned is that you don't want him in the team anyway, fair enough, but no need to keep beating around the bush with this fitness stuff. You didn't want him in the team in the last campaign either and he turned out to be a vital player for us, hopefully it'll work out like that as well this time if they do continue to play him.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He was poor against Sweden and Italy in the Euros and his form has carried into this campaign yet there isn't a snowball's chance of him being dropped; I also think his general form in the last campaign has been overstated but that's just my opinion.

I'm not against having him in the squad or even the first team per se, but the fact is he has been shoehorned into the team - whether up front or out wide - several times at the expense of more sensible options and I am sick of it.

A blind man can see he does not have the engine to play out wide at least.

Long, Murphy and McGeady have all been in good form at club level yet I wouldn't be surprised to see 2 or even 3 of them left out for the Wales game.

Hoolahan and McClean should be writing themselves into the team yet only one of them would probably be expected to start.

It's getting harder and harder to justify playing him but it will long continue.

[DeLorean]

He was poor against Sweden and Italy in the Euros

Against Italy?

What did Keane say about Given?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

DeLorean, stop being coy.

Not everything someone has ever said is preserved in amber for eternity.

Sometimes it takes time to find a record of something someone said four years ago.

I'm only after finding something re: James McClean to back up something I said several weeks ago, after scrolling through hundreds of pages of his thread, but of course I cannot do anything about that now.

And yes he was poor starting against Sweden and coming off the bench against France.

*typo