The morale would be good around Stoke now, with them having a cup final to look forward to, probably accounts for their end of season committed performances.
Walters looked the part when he played for us, in that friendly against Wales.
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The morale would be good around Stoke now, with them having a cup final to look forward to, probably accounts for their end of season committed performances.
Walters looked the part when he played for us, in that friendly against Wales.
I agree with BonnieShels. I like Walters a lot. He's just what we need up front and I for one will be very disappointed if Trap doesn't start him against Macedonia. I can see him now taking the ball from halfway and running at their defence like there's no tomorrow. Shane Long playing beside Walters and Robbie just behind the front two, supplying the ammunition - Trap should start with that trio and build his team from there.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
no way he's going to play an untried formation away from homeQuote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Yeah, but he's running out of options Tets. He's gong to have to go with either Robbie and Walters up front or Long and Walters? With Doyle out of the picture presumably, he's got no choice wouldn't you say?
I would not say he is running out of option more spoilt for choice, probably a case of picking two to start
with and then making a substitution depending on how things are going.
There's a difference between giving someone else a chance up front, and changing the formation, which was more my point
Walters' absence put down to having aggravated a shoulder injury and the lack of original explanation an "innocent miscommunication":
Quote:
The injured Walters is understood to have contacted the FAI yesterday, as it became apparent that his particular case was an innocent miscommunication.
The Stoke forward fractured a bone in his shoulder eight weeks ago, but played through the problem as the club reached the FA Cup final. Walters had another scan after his team’s defeat to Wigan on Sunday, when it was revealed the injury had been aggravated. He reportedly explained that to the FAI yesterday.
It seems that Walters was crocked by Gary Caldwell on Sunday. I am really beginning to hate Caldwell, Wigan and Martinez!
McDonnell quotes Walters as being gutted to be missing out.
In fairness to Walters, he doesnt appear to be the type to mess around. Has been a part of the Irish set up (U21s etc) for a number of years now. Still this whole communication issue with both sides at fault needs to be addressed. Happening too often.
So I take it then that Walters is out of the Macedonia game? Bloody great, because we badly needed him there.
Seems that way. At the moment our striking options are simply Keane, Long, Cox and Keogh. Although there are rumours Best is fit and might join up. So much for all those strikers we had floating around. It also make Stokes' self-exile even more ludicrous.
If Cox plays another blinder against the Scots then he has a chance of making the starting 11.
I would agree with that. He's had a good 2nd half of the season, and he is definitely an adequate replacement for Doyle. Also, it means the hoof ball that has been prevalent, has to stop, and we'll have to have a more composed, possession retained game to utilise what we have.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
While the Cox effect of the other night was arousing, lets see if he can come up with something as pulsating against the Scots, he then could be regarded as top shelf. Doesn't disguise the fact that in the absence of a target man ala Doyle or Walters for balls to jizzed up to, this Cox just isn't wooden enough.
Oh mother of.....;)
I'd say Long and Keane have to sown up if they stay fit, but Cox must be first option off the bench - bet he didn't think he'd already be third choice for a big game.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Cox in the box
Seems that way. At the moment our striking options are simply Keane, Long, Cox and Keogh. Although there are rumours Best is fit and might join up. So much for all those strikers we had floating around. It also make Stokes' self-exile even more ludicrous.
Couldn't agree more about Stokes. Never met him but I'm told he's related to me - distant second cousin. Even so, I say good effing riddance to him? If you want to know tiredness Anthony, try steppin into some of the Irish or Celtic fans shoes for a while.
Could Ward be a serious option up front, or back-up at least? He's played there for Wolves although I can't say I've any idea of how effective he is there.
Gary Doherty Mk.II?
Absolutely. He started out as a striker/left wing for Bohs, scoring goals and playing as an attacker is how he made his reputation and what engineered a move to Wolves in the first place. Also I haven't watched him enough this season to be sure, but his most impressive appearances this season appear to have come up front or behind the striker. Plus he scored the winner when playing up front against Liverpool. He would definitely be a serious option.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Harsh!Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaFox
Further exoneration for Walters apparently
Pulis claims he offered to fly over to have his shoulder checked but that the FAI said it was OK not to.
No clarification on Wilson though.
Whelan came over, went back, and is coming over again on Monday.
Who was it that said Stoke laid on a bus to take the 3 of them to the airport? Stoke themselves?
Something about a bus was mentioned in an article by Miguel Delaney in the Irish Examiner on Thursday. It spoke about the three having been given permission by the FAI to attend Stoke's end-of-season awards ceremony on the Sunday night and then mentioned a club bus upon which the three had departed at 11:15 that night, but it was unclear as to whether it was a bus to take them to the airport or just one to take them to their homes in Stoke or wherever. I suspect Delaney meant the latter as he'd earlier mentioned that, as far as Stoke were concerned, Marc Wilson was to travel to Dublin on the Tuesday morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Quote:
Wilson’s situation is less clear. Tardelli yesterday said he is "out. He has a problem, injured." But a source within Stoke City said that wasn’t the case. As far as the club hierarchy were concerned, Wilson was set to travel to Dublin on Tuesday morning. All three players had been given special dispensation to attend Stoke’s player-of-the-year awards on Sunday and come to Dublin later. In the event all three left on a club-arranged coach at 11.15pm.
Efforts to contact Wilson’s camp yesterday proved unsuccessful. Stoke also declined to make an official comment.
Scored the only goal in Stoke's win over Hajduk Split in a Europa League third round qualifier tonight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncnGOLNCGY8
Walters missed a penalty for Stoke against Norwich a few minutes ago. He'd been brought down to win it.
Crouch and Jerome joining Stoke last night. Not great news for Walters.
Walters is better than Crouch. Hopefully he'll end up showing him up for what he is... an over rated failed circus freak
having a very effective game against United today and forced a world class save from DeGea with a shot out of nothing. Delap also playing well and good to see Whelan getting stuck in. Nani's goal was sublime.
Best player for Stoke today I reckon, looked a threat all game.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Whelan's tackle on Evra was crunching, no broken bones though... Shame!
I thought Walters was suberb today, and the ESPN commentators were picking him out as well, he didnt waste much and turned some very hopefull deliveries in his general direction into decent posession, carried a goal threat and ran all day.
excellant cameo from walters tonight. i'd start him in the playoff with cox
He held the ball up superbly. He had to adapt very quickly to Doyle's sending off as he had only just come on and probably didn't anticipate playing as a lone striker. Very impressed.
Can't see him and Cox playing together, both drop deep. I'd actually have Walters ahead of Cox despite Cox's MoM performance last night. Long and Walters for me but think that's unlikely. Big fan of Walters and have been for a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by the bear
I thought he was excellent. His control from the hoof balls up to him was sublime at times and he didn't do much wrong. A serious contender for starting place now. poor old Shane long. Went from starting place V Slovakia to 4th choice striker last night. That's gotta hurt
myself and my mate I went to the game with both agreed when Doyle came on that Walters was the ideal player to have up front alone when down to ten men, he'll win the ball in the air, keep possession, and bring midfield into the play.
Which is pretty much what he did.
real worker for the team.. and also hes good 4 a goal.! he is a real asset to the team, all we need know is trap to bring in james mccarthy or wes hoolahan in midfield for that bit of creativity.. arguably fahy could supply that spark also. steven reid at right back and john o shea partner dunne is another option i would look at but trap will never pick reid 4 the squad again after his row last year
I'd have Walters and Long start myself. Walters would be very strong at holding up the ball or laying off passes for Long. He is also a threat on goal himself. Ideally, you want two strikers who could score, as this gives the defence more to think about in the game.
I reckon thats over simplistic. I would fully expect Long to start in the playoff. Trap like one striker sitting on the last defenders shoulder (Doyle/Long) and one to drop deep (Keane/Cox)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Walters is more in the Keane/Cox mode, but could conceivably do both jobs. I don't see him starting in the playoff unless something happens to Long between now and then. It'll be Keane & Long if they are both fit, or Cox and Long if they both make it. But if Keane is fit i reckon Walters will be on the bench before Cox.
Glad to see the outpouring of support for Walters. Glad to see that Trap finally recognizes that he needs the big man up front to validate our game (which more often than not is Route One). As for Walters himself - he was better at holding up the ball than Quinn, better at laying it off than Cascarino, and was as good as Stapleton at running at the opposition defence.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
This happened in a must win game, with out qualification hopes on the line. So he's not overawed by the big occasion.
And all this in just ten minutes of football.
He's a locked on starter for the playoffs, and if Trap doesn't play him then his team deserves to lose.
I was impressed by Walters when he played earlier in the year. He seemed to do himself no favours at the end of last season. Had he turned up for Macedonia away, I think Trap might have given him the nod, as it was, it was Cox that benefited. I'm not one of these after the event people either, while I could accept calls for Long's inclusion, I called it before the game that Cox would do well.
He did fine but remember it was only for 10 minutes against a team who had played an hour down a man.
To be honest, I was equally impressed with him against Wales in February. Worked his socks off for the whole game, and despite not scoring I thought he was in the running for man of the match