Jon Walters

[peadar1987]

I did see it, although his 'following up' was more a leisurely stroll into the box,
the lack of urgency my explain why nobody picked him up

He does it quite a lot for Stoke. Amazing how many times the defender hares on ahead only to look dopily around as the cut-back comes in to an unmarked Walters.

[OwlsFan]

Bit belated, but a video of the goal and analysis here:


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xv8itu_nevilleanalysisfinished_creation

Worth a watch.

Not to mention the much maligned Whelan's part in the goal.

[tricky_colour]

Was a well worked goal, similar to something in American football, but I think there was an illegal block on Walter's marker,
but one which would be hard to spot in the confusion

[nigel-harps1954]

Anyone who questions Whelans ability, just take a look at the pinpoint precision pass. Fantastic.

[geysir]

Gary Neville "I loved it, I absolutely loved it"

In English football, that use to qualify as a mental breakdown.

[theworm2345]

Goal Walters. Long ball, Jones flicks on, Skrtel slips, and Walter is all alone with Reina. Takes a touch and picks his spot with ease. 1-1.

[theworm2345]

Goal Walters! Long throw, Jones heads to Walters, takes it on his chest and lobs it past Reina with his next touch...great goal.

[brine3]

Yup. Time to drop Robbie Keane.

[tricky_colour]

I think it was Whelan who provided the assist(corner) for the non-Walters (Kenwin Jones) goal.

[DannyInvincible]

Highlights here:


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw8559_s3-1l_animals#from=embediframe

Walters first is at 1:19. Whelan took the corner that assisted Stoke's second at 2:07. Walters' second is at 3:00.

[Bungle]

Great performances tonight from Whelan and Walters. Johnny has to start up from front with Long. On paper, we have enough to cause most teams alot of grief and I think they could be class for us if given a run of games. I love Keano for what he's done, but he should be no more than an impact sub now. Every time I see Whelan for Stoke, he's very good and yet for Ireland, he's generally mediocre. Not sure why that is, but if we could have the Stoke version with Jamie Mac, I'd be very happy :)

[Charlie Darwin]

How many times have Long and Walters played together? If we're going to play two up top, I'd always have Keane involved. I'd only leave him out if we were doing 451.

[Stuttgart88]

Second half vs Bosnia? They looked good together.

[Bungle]

How many times have Long and Walters played together? If we're going to play two up top, I'd always have Keane involved. I'd only leave him out if we were doing 451.

Not sure about how often, but I know that Long has been criminally underused by Trap and Walters is the closest thing to a target man that we have in the squad and has been doing it consistently in the premiership for a while. I would feel that we need to start looking at them as our front two and I could see them becoming a very decent pairing for us. I do think that Keano can still have a huge part to play for us though. He's always likely to come up with a goal in a big match, even if he isn't playing well.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't know. In spite of Walters' two goals yesterday and Long's generally good scoring rate, I don't think they're clinical enough for a side that produces as few chances as Ireland.

[elroy]

Great performances tonight from Whelan and Walters. Johnny has to start up from front with Long. On paper, we have enough to cause most teams alot of grief and I think they could be class for us if given a run of games. I love Keano for what he's done, but he should be no more than an impact sub now. Every time I see Whelan for Stoke, he's very good and yet for Ireland, he's generally mediocre. Not sure why that is, but if we could have the Stoke version with Jamie Mac, I'd be very happy :)

There is merit in examining the way Stoke set up versus ourselves. Just by looking at formation, Stoke play a 4-2-3-1 formation. Walters occupies the centre of the three and when in defensive mode, Stoke tend to have 9 or even ten behind the ball. So the talk of Walters to play up front for Ireland is not really a direct comparison to the role he plays for Stoke given that we operate a standard 4-4-2. Nonetheless he is a very tough player to mark, who gives his all and is well able to finish. Given Trap's priority is defense, it is amazing he does not use Walters in a similar to that he is employed with Stoke. Instead he chooses to use the likes of Cox instead!!

[Charlie Darwin]

There is merit in examining the way Stoke set up versus ourselves. Just by looking at formation, Stoke play a 4-2-3-1 formation. Walters occupies the centre of the three and when in defensive mode, Stoke tend to have 9 or even ten behind the ball. So the talk of Walters to play up front for Ireland is not really a direct comparison to the role he plays for Stoke given that we operate a standard 4-4-2. Nonetheless he is a very tough player to mark, who gives his all and is well able to finish. Given Trap's priority is defense, it is amazing he does not use Walters in a similar to that he is employed with Stoke. Instead he chooses to use the likes of Cox instead!!
Trap uses Walters up top because he's the best at holding the ball up. He seems to have lost confidence in Doyle and doesn't rate Long so Walters is the man.

[elroy]

True and he is probably our best option in that sense. However, his game at Stoke is far from the front man required to hold up the ball - for example Jones was employed in that role against Liverpool, Crouch often is as well. I dont think employing Long in that role plays to his particular strengths. For me, Long and Walters would appear to be the best in form combination right now.

[Charlie Darwin]

The problem I think is that Long and Walters fill precisely the same role at their clubs, so if they played together I think only one player is going to get to play to his strengths. Granted, being a target man isn't Walters' best role either, but it allows Keane to find space.

[Charlie Darwin]

Interview feature with Walters on Football Focus now.

[Charlie Darwin]

Goal Walters! Cracking bullet header from close range - goalkeeper had no chance. His own goalkeeper.

[Charlie Darwin]

Another headed finish from Walters - a glancing header this time. 2-0 Chelsea.

[peadar1987]

Feck sake Johnny!!! >:(

[Charlie Darwin]

Penalty for Chelsea. Will Lampard step aside and let Walters to take it?

[Sullivinho]

Interview feature with Walters on Football Focus now.

Apparently this was less of an interview and more of a manchurian candidate activation event. Well played, Chelsea.

[Charlie Darwin]

And he's hit the bar from a penalty to round off a good day's work.

[SkStu]

It didn't hit the bar that I saw, I thought he just skied it (I was only half watching)...

[CraftyToePoke]

Said on the radio that it had glanced the bar which made it look much worse than it was. There will be comfort for him in that. Surely.

[nigel-harps1954]

Glanced the bar yep.

http://www.balls.ie/football/three-reasons-why-it-hasnt-been-jon-walters-day/

[gastric]

Pulis offers Walters his support. This is like taking pity on a puppy that has sh#t on the carpet. You want to kill him, but you know it won't help!

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2013/0112/1224328780325.html

[paul_oshea]

has walters a gambling problem?!

[tricky_colour]

Hear something on the radio about a guy in holland? who scored a hatrick of own goals - Stan van den buijs.

[gastric]

Maybe Walters and Jason Tovey could talk to each other about the vagaries of being a professional footballer!

[pineapple stu]

Hear something on the radio about a guy in holland? who scored a hatrick of own goals - Stan van den buijs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_van_den_Buys

[DannyInvincible]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_van_den_Buys

That guy's currently assistant coach at Germinal Beerschot; the name of that club conjures up all sorts of weird images for some reason.

[gastric]

Here's Johnny! Scored twice tonight, 4 in 2 games now, on a roll!

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-report/281465/stoke-4-crystal-palace-1-aet

[tricky_colour]

He ran over his own dog on the way home too :p

[DeLorean]

Delighted for him, he really needed that after the unfortunate events at the weekend. Pulis had decided to rest him for last night before the Chelsea game but then decided he was better off getting straight back on the bike, good management. Hopefully his 'British Bulldog Spirit' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20942588) can help get us to Brazil!

[Grafter]

Hopefully his 'British Bulldog Spirit' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20942588) can help get us to Brazil!
In the intro there, he's described as "English-born Rep of Ireland International" which he is but still... :rolleyes:

[geysir]

Now the references are also to the 'English born' aspect and the credit for his positive reaction goes towards his 'British Bulldog spirit'.
The other day he was just referred to as the Republic of Ireland international after his nightmare game (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20919045) against Chelsea. :rolleyes:

One day we will see credit given for his great Irish heart overcoming his inherited English failings :)

[SkStu]

In the intro there, he's described as "English-born Rep of Ireland International" which he is but still... :rolleyes:

Ahem... James McCarthy thread... Ahem... ;)

[DannyInvincible]

Walters shows his British bulldog spirit again.

http://ballsdot.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/walters.jpg

[tricky_colour]

Are they having a game of blind man's buff?
Maybe they figured covering his eyes would improve his shooting!!!;)

[AlaskaFox]

Are they having a game of blind man's buff?
Maybe they figured covering his eyes would improve his shooting!!!;)

Didn't want any more OGs.

[SkStu]

https://mobile.twitter.com/robert_huth/status/297783550571319296


Walters needing a bandage for 6 stitches is classed as a dive in the stoke dressing room

[peadar1987]

Walters ran around like a crazy person yesterday, won a good few headers, and put defenders under pressure. Played surprisingly well as a makeshift right back at times after he was switched the wing in front of Ryan Shotton, who tends to go walkabout. Surely a better option there than McShane!!

[Charlie Darwin]

Let's not let this guy take our penalties. Or defend corners.

[SolitudeRed]

Scored a penalty today against Newcastle against Robbie Elliot, Newcastle ended up winning though with a last minute goal and it seems that neither Whelan or Wilson covered themselves in any glory with both making errors that contributed towards the Newcastle's two goals.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Poor enough today, brought off after 75 or so minutes. Two chances, one very decent, both ballooned over. Jones dealt with him easily enough.

[SolitudeRed]

Managed to score two penalties today but ironically the first one didn't count as there was a QPR player still standing in the box! Hes Stokes top scorer at the moment but to be fair they haven't scored too many goals this season hence why they are close to the dangerzone I suppose! also Marc Wilson started the move which led to Stoke's first goal today.