Rory Delap

[Wolfie]

Nice interview with Delap here.

On the Stoke Dressing Room, Ireland Career, 'The throw' and Lawrence to Celtic....

Has pretty much written off any chance of resurrecting his Ireland career in a very kind of honest and pragmatic way. Says he stills follows the results as he did before he ever played for Ireland and has a lot of friends in the squad (outside of Whelan and Lawrence). Basically, he feels he was a little unfortunate with niggling injuries which always seemed to prevent him staking a proper claim for a squad place 7/8 years ago when he was featuring and that, partially at least, resulting in him not making the 2002 squad.

http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-08061050m51ssportatseventuesday.mp3 (From 40:30 onwards)

I thought he was definitely well worth a place within the Irish squad throughout the last 3/4 years.

He was a better shout in a full back role than McShane.

[Sullivinho]

I thought he was definitely well worth a place within the Irish squad throughout the last 3/4 years.

He was a better shout in a full back role than McShane.

On the basis we've handed out caps to a handful of his inferiors, I would certainly agree.

[SkStu]

ive said it before but i always had a lot of sympathy for Delap and never felt he got a fair go of it at international level from all our post JC managers. He got lambasted for not marking from a corner in one friendly i think it was (maybe against USA?) and never really featured since. Really unfortunate.

Always a decent footballer but his performances since Stoke got promoted alone have been worthy of some form of inclusion.

[wrestler313]

On the basis we've handed out caps to a handful of his inferiors, I would certainly agree.

definitely. for God's sake we capped Joe O'Cearuil, Darren Potter, and even Joe Lapira (the kid from Notre Dame in the USA)

[Crosby87]

Always a decent footballer but his performances since Stoke got promoted alone have been worthy of some form of inclusion.

Stu I am surprised...he seems so laughably one dimensional.
He can throw the ball but that is it. I can't think of a worse example of a "prospect" in recent times. Even with the abnormal ability to throw the ball a country mile, I can't imagine who he would replace in the current Irish lineup...

[SwanVsDalton]

Delap didn't get the best shake of the stick but, at the same time, he didn't take what opportunities he had. I think it was the home play-off against Turkey, he started and was really poor - and a role on the right side was up for grabs. He's matured well, in fairness, and could've made an impact but his time's passed unfortunately.

[SkStu]

Stu I am surprised...he seems so laughably one dimensional.
He can throw the ball but that is it. I can't think of a worse example of a "prospect" in recent times. Even with the abnormal ability to throw the ball a country mile, I can't imagine who he would replace in the current Irish lineup...

ah no, i dont think he's a prospect - i just think he has done enough for Stoke since promotion for a training camp, friendly or "B" call-up. He's always been a real athlete with a good engine and an overall decent, premiership/championship player. I wont lose any sleep over it but ive always felt he was completely overlooked over the years.

[irishfan86]

Stu I am surprised...he seems so laughably one dimensional.
He can throw the ball but that is it. I can't think of a worse example of a "prospect" in recent times. Even with the abnormal ability to throw the ball a country mile, I can't imagine who he would replace in the current Irish lineup...

I've seen him play a defensive centre midfield role for Stoke. I don't think he's miles ahead of Keith Andrews...that said I don't really care whether he's part of the team or not. I wouldn't be opposed to having him on the bench to throw on late in a game if we were behind as part of a package deal with Folan.

[drummerboy]

What cost him his place in McCarthys squad was a goal conceded from a corner against the USA in Lansdowne Road. The ball was played into the box from a corner and Delap's man outmuscled him to score a header. Don't think he was ever named in a squad after that. Though at times I think we could have done with his versatility

[EastTerracer]

Stu I am surprised...he seems so laughably one dimensional.
He can throw the ball but that is it. I can't think of a worse example of a "prospect" in recent times. Even with the abnormal ability to throw the ball a country mile, I can't imagine who he would replace in the current Irish lineup...

If you've only started watching football in the last couple of years then it could seem that DeLap is quite one-dimensional as it's all the English media seem to focus on when covering Stoke games. However, if you go back to his Derby, Southampton and brief Sunderland days the throw-in was never as much of a focus and he has continued to hold his own in top-division football over a 10 year period (with the odd season in the Championship.

He was a hard-working and hard-running midfielder and was very close to making the World Cup squad in 2002. He did also feature briefly in Brian Kerr's thoughts as well (his 11 caps were spread over 6 years). I can't think of any Irish players with 295 Premier League appearances who have won as few caps as that. He seems to be a thoroughly decent and down-to-earth person and has a very similar passion for the country as Kevin Kilbane. (There is a seemingly apocryphal story that he and his father travelled to Japan for the world cup as supporters when Rory didn't make the squad for the finals - I would love it if that is true).

[the bear]

delap needs to be recalled for the rest of the campaign, if only for his throws as an option coming off the bench. with the team struggling to make chances they could make a big difference.
arguably he should be startin in centre mid, i defo rate him more than whelan, andrews, green, gibson. hopefully the likes of wilson, mccarthy , meyler will step up sooner rather than later but i want to see delap in the squad at least.
i wouldnt agree thats he's got the short end of the stick before as like someone said above he's had chances and not delivered, but that doesnt mean he doesn't deserve another shot at it, even at 34.

[Stuttgart88]

He was never given a chance at central midfield though. Right midfield and even as a forward in Turkey I think.

[Fixer82]

Stu I am surprised...he seems so laughably one dimensional.
He can throw the ball but that is it. I can't think of a worse example of a "prospect" in recent times. Even with the abnormal ability to throw the ball a country mile, I can't imagine who he would replace in the current Irish lineup...

Paul Green. Kevin Kilbane. Paul McShane. He could sit in easily into a number of positions

Definitely worth a look in full back as that can allow O'Shea move in centre back if either Dunne or St Ledger get injured.

[SwanVsDalton]

Rocket-propelled throw-in or not, I wouldn't have him in at RB ahead of Kelly, Foley or Coleman.

[theworm2345]

I've always thought he deserved a chance in the squad simply as he is playing week in and week out in the Premier League which very few of our other players are. Most of the times I've seen him play for Stoke he's been on the wing, which, unfortunately for him, is one of the few positions we actually seem to be OK at in terms of depth right now. Should be in the squad for Norway but as we all know Trap is far too set in his ways to call him up.

[tricky_colour]

Rocket-propelled throw-in or not, I wouldn't have him in ahead of Kelly, Foley or Coleman.

But the Stoke manager would apparently.

[SwanVsDalton]

But the Stoke manager would apparently.

I was responding to Fixer82's post on moving O'Shea to LB and playing Delap at RB. Don't see much sense in it since we're coming down with Premiership quality out-and-out RB's with time on their side.

Open to correction but I'm fairly sure Delap hasn't played at RB for Stoke all season. And, even if he has, I'm fairly sure Pulis wouldn't if he had our RB resources.

[third policeman]

I was responding to Fixer82's post on moving O'Shea to LB and playing Delap at RB. Don't see much sense in it given we're coming down with Premiership quality out-and-out RB's with time on their side.

Open to correction but I'm fairly sure Delap hasn't played at RB for Stoke all season. And, even if he has, I'm fairly sure Pulis wouldn't if he had our RB resources.

He's played right full and he's played left midfield, so theoretically he could do a job at left back. Cant be any worse than Killer.

[SwanVsDalton]

He's played right full and he's played left midfield, so theoretically he could do a job at left back. Cant be any worse than Killer.

Delap (handful of caps, never been impressive in an Ireland shirt) in at left-back, a position he's never played, over Kilbane (over 100 caps)? I know we're short at LB but seriously...

If Delap is to come in, it has to be in his best position - midfield. We're too well stocked at RB and it's too risky a gamble to play him anywhere else (particularly left full).

[SkStu]

Delap deserved to be in the squad back in McCarthys days as manager. Its not going to happen now unfortunately. Too late for it to be worthwhile. Always felt he got overly harsh criticism for his displays for us.

[tetsujin1979]

Delap deserved to be in the squad back in McCarthys days as manager. Its not going to happen now unfortunately. Too late for it to be worthwhile. Always felt he got overly harsh criticism for his displays for us.
I'm prety sure he was a regular under McCarthy. Just a regular unused substitute.

[SkStu]

how regular? He was in the squad a few times alright but i dont think he was ever "regular".

[tetsujin1979]

how regular? He was in the squad a few times alright but i dont think he was ever "regular".
Actually, he wasn't that regular, my mistake.
Under Mick he started on the bench 7 times, and was introduced 5 times. He had 3 starts and only completed 90 minutes once.
Bizarrely his debut was as a second half substitute in a 2-1 loss away to the Czech Republic, and his last game was as a second half substitute a 2-1 home win against the Czech Republic!

[geysir]

I only remember him in that last game, I thought he did alright, got stuck in at midfield and made the tackles. But then he pulled out injured from the next few squads. Probably he should have been called up at the beginning of Trap's reign, considering some of the mildly talented players he did have a close look at.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Better than Kilbane probably even now, but surely too old for a recall now, even with that throw.

His lack of consideration shows the lack of foresight by some, probably even Trap.

[AlaskaFox]

According to the Guardian, none of his 11 throws at the weekend found a Stoke player, and then most of the loose balls fell to a Bolton player.

[TrapAPony]

Better than Kilbane probably even now, but surely too old for a recall now


Delap is around the same age as Kilbane. Strange that Kilbane is not deemed too old but Delap is.

[tetsujin1979]

According to the Guardian, none of his 11 throws at the weekend found a Stoke player, and then most of the loose balls fell to a Bolton player.
there was a stat on football365 a few weeks ago that he took more throws than made passes in a game.


Delap is around the same age as Kilbane. Strange that Kilbane is not deemed too old but Delap is.
Delap's older, he's 34.
Kilbane is 34 on his next birthday, February 1st

[SwanVsDalton]

Delap is around the same age as Kilbane. Strange that Kilbane is not deemed too old but Delap is.

Delap's got 11 bit-part caps, Kilbane's got over a 100. Regardless of how anyone feels about Kilbane, it's obviously a difference. Bringing in Delap now would be like blooding a new player - and if we're going to do that we'd surely be better off looking at someone younger (Coleman, Ward, McCarthy).

[TrapAPony]

Delap's older, he's 34.
Kilbane is 34 on his next birthday, February 1st

That's a huge difference alright.:confused:


Bringing in Delap now would be like blooding a new player - and if we're going to do that we'd surely be better off looking at someone younger (Coleman, Ward, McCarthy).

I suppose you are right.

[tetsujin1979]

That's a huge difference alright.:confused:same point as SwanVSDalton, why bring in an older player who might not make any difference to the team, when there are better long term options that need to be given a chance?

[AlaskaFox]

there was a stat on football365 a few weeks ago that he took more throws than made passes in a game.

Yeah, the same Guardian piece talked about how it was the first game of the season where he had significantly more passes than throws.

[Fixer82]

same point as SwanVSDalton, why bring in an older player who might not make any difference to the team, when there are better long term options that need to be given a chance?

I would be a lot less worried seeing Delap come off the bench rather than McShane. He's still playing at the highest level in England week in week out which is more than can be said about most of our current starting 11.

[tetsujin1979]

I would be a lot less worried seeing Delap come off the bench rather than McShane. He's still playing at the highest level in England week in week out which is more than can be said about most of our current starting 11.
McShane and Delap don't play the same position? I was thinking more along the lines of McCarthy and Meyler.

[Charlie Darwin]

He's played right full and he's played left midfield, so theoretically he could do a job at left back. Cant be any worse than Killer.
I don't know why people keep saying this as if it makes an ounce of sense. Killer's the weak link in our defence but he's a decent player at any level.

[the bear]

same point as SwanVSDalton, why bring in an older player who might not make any difference to the team, when there are better long term options that need to be given a chance?

because the older player is considerably better than the younger players who are playing in his position in the team currently.

i get your point about bringin in the youngsters for the future and agree with you. wilson mcarthy meyler gibson should be in the squad.

my point is that delap is better than green ,whelan

[Colbert Report]

Delap should be in the squad, no question. If we need a goal late one he's well worth throwing on at right midfield and seeing what happens, just for his long throw ability. Can't believe we haven't been taking advantage of his freakish talents.

[Charlie Darwin]

Because Stoke have 7 or 8 huge lads who can compete for every header. We have maybe 3 or 4 on any given matchday. Not to say he wouldn't be useful but he's a fairly limited player in other ways, especially when you look at our other wide midfield options.

[DannyInvincible]

Because Stoke have 7 or 8 huge lads who can compete for every header. We have maybe 3 or 4 on any given matchday. Not to say he wouldn't be useful but he's a fairly limited player in other ways, especially when you look at our other wide midfield options.

In spite of our supposed lack of height/weight, an awful lot of our goals come from set pieces. I don't think they confirmed it with reference to any statistics or anything, but I think someone said on here the other day that while about 50% of our goals recently have come from Robbie Keane, the other half have been scored as a result of set pieces, so it's not as if his throw-ins would be ineffective, assuming those figures are true. Whether that's an argument for Delap's inclusion overall, I'm not quite sure yet, ha. Maybe as a last-gasp Gary Doherty type? It is quite an ability, even if ridiculously unconventional.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think Delap's throw-ins are really the same as free-kicks and corners though. Stoke usually score either after a flick-on or from the second ball. I don't think we really have big/strong enough players to put that much pressure on goalkeepers and defenders.

[Yard of Pace]

I don't think Delap's throw-ins are really the same as free-kicks and corners though. Stoke usually score either after a flick-on or from the second ball. I don't think we really have big/strong enough players to put that much pressure on goalkeepers and defenders.

Huth scored direct with a header last week in the FA Cup against West Ham. I was just thinking while watching it how Dunne or Sledge would be fantastic for getting on the end of those throws. A shame Delap never got a chance under Trap. I think we'd all love to see one of those throw-ins cause havoc against one of the big international teams.

[Stuttgart88]

Huth scored direct with a header last week in the FA Cup against West Ham. That goal was a thing of sheer beauty. It just couldn't have been more simple. Long, flat, powerful throw. Header. Goal.

[Crosby87]

Rory gets a 1 year extension at Stoke. Called a charitable man off the field, and well deserved in the words of his manager.
In a related story, Delap creeps up Tets's depth chart by 1 space to 10th at his position. Congrats, Deli.

[Murfinator]

Seems to be the first name on the teamsheet for Pulis, contract now until 2013. Feel trap should give him a look given how far ahead of Wilson and Whelan he is for his club.

Personally I see him as a great bench option to use if we're chasing games.

[CraftyToePoke]

Rory Delap, 35 and still mad for it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/9530892.stm

[irishfan86]

Well, whatever about his technical ability, I've always been impressed with his athleticism and obviously his attitude. Will do literally anything to help his team win, great team player.

[Stuttgart88]

A proper athlete and good guy, no doubt. I thought he'd be able to do a decent if not spectacular job in CM for us, but the degree to which he was outclassed in the FA Cup final has finally nailed that idea in my mind.

[Wolfie]

Always felt he was well worth inclusion at Full back for Ireland from as far back as 06/07.

He's further testament to the theory that Irish footballers - like women, buildings and politicians - get respectable with age.

If he'd have been re-introduced to the squad 4 or 5 years ago he'd be an official "Legend" by now.

[Charlie Darwin]

Call him up Trap.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2012/1108/1224326325448.html

[SkStu]

talk about selecting the wrong headline in that "story"...

50 words about Delap and he gets the headline! Call him up!