Glenn Whelan

**tetsujin1979** · 29/08/2011, 11:07 PM

Interview with Whelan and Keogh with some competition winners organised by lucozade ahead of the upcoming double header: http://www.joe.ie/football/internati...elan-0015367-1

**Murfinator** · 30/08/2011, 11:45 AM

With Wilson Palacios joining Stoke presumably Whelans starting place is in jeopardy.

**paul_oshea** · 30/08/2011, 12:00 PM

is he not more of a wide midfielder?

**Kingdom** · 30/08/2011, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

With Wilson Palacios joining Stoke presumably Whelans starting place is in jeopardy.

Nope, Delap if anyone. I like Pulis - he's setting his sights a bit higher now (he has approached CHelsea for Lukaku)
Palacios is good competition for Pennant.

Whelan, Wilson, Whitehead and Diao are the centre options.
Unless Pulis is going to adopt a 4321 formation with Etherington and Pennant wide and a narrow three in the middle as Palacios would slot into the right of the three, Wilson the left of the three, and Whelan as the sitter.

**the bear** · 30/08/2011, 2:32 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Nope, Delap if anyone. I like Pulis - he's setting his sights a bit higher now (he has approached CHelsea for Lukaku)
Palacios is good competition for Pennant.

Whelan, Wilson, Whitehead and Diao are the centre options.
Unless Pulis is going to adopt a 4321 formation with Etherington and Pennant wide and a narrow three in the middle as Palacios would slot into the right of the three, Wilson the left of the three, and Whelan as the sitter.

how ?? palacios is a defensive centre mid who is a good battler but his passing can really let him down, pennant is an out and out winger whos crossing really lets him down. I would think whelans place is very much under threat, pulis will always look to have delap in for the throw ins.

**elroy** · 30/08/2011, 3:21 PM

In fairness to Whelan there have been a number of times when his days have look numbered at Stoke..........he was out of the starting XI for a significant chunk of last year IIRC. However, each time he has battled back to re-establish himself and appears to be one of the first choice in midfield these days.

**geysir** · 30/08/2011, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

With Wilson Palacios joining Stoke presumably Whelans starting place is in jeopardy.

Stoke like their W's in a players name.

**tricky_colour** · 30/08/2011, 11:57 PM

Glenn on the way to West Ham according to this
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...15million.html

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...tt-Parker.html

**tricky_colour** · 31/08/2011, 12:06 AM

http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/...=172457&page=3

Divided opinion on a Stoke forum, one or two want to get rid of him but the majority want him to stay.

"whelan has to stay IMO"

"Still think we'd be mad to get rid of Whelan"

"Whelan is a weak link. Get rid Tone while you have the chance!"

"Jesus ****ing wept" (response to the above)

So not really divided, the vast majority are keen he stays.

**Kingdom** · 31/08/2011, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by the bear

how ?? palacios is a defensive centre mid who is a good battler but his passing can really let him down, pennant is an out and out winger whos crossing really lets him down. I would think whelans place is very much under threat, pulis will always look to have delap in for the throw ins.

Palacios started more games he played for Spurs on the right.

**Murfinator** · 31/08/2011, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Palacios started more games he played for Spurs on the right.

Source? In the last two years at the very least Palacios was the holding midfielder, particularly in their 4th place season his defensive job was cited as a major factor. He may have been playing other positions before that but I'd say hes very much a holding midfielder now. I'd imagine the plan is to play him with Delap in the centre. Etherington and Pennant out wide firing to two lanky strikers in Jones and Walters/Crouch

**Kingdom** · 31/08/2011, 12:57 PM

No sources I'm afraid. Had always assumed Huddlestone was the main man in the middle for them, then Jenas. Last season it was Sandro with Huddlestone too.
Still, you know best.

**the bear** · 31/08/2011, 7:58 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

No sources I'm afraid. Had always assumed Huddlestone was the main man in the middle for them, then Jenas. Last season it was Sandro with Huddlestone too.
Still, you know best.

hence why palacios is surplus to requirements

he's a good buy for stoke better than whelan

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/08/2011, 8:12 PM

They're not comparable. Palacios is a destructor - similar to Faye and Diao they used to have in there. Whelan plays on the front foot, at least when he's not playing for Ireland.

**Stuttgart88** · 31/08/2011, 9:57 PM

I like to use the terms "ball user" and "ball winner". Simple, probably too simple, but perfectly descriptive. Much more meaningful than shyte like holding midfielder.

**the bear** · 31/08/2011, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

They're not comparable. Palacios is a destructor - similar to Faye and Diao they used to have in there. Whelan plays on the front foot, at least when he's not playing for Ireland.

they are in direct competition for a place in stokes centre mid so pulis will have to compare them

i would not see whelan as an attacking midfielder at all or a ball user for stuts, he's probably a bit more creative than palacios but i wouldn't pick him for his creative talents. i'd say it will be delap and palacios first choice

**drummerboy** · 01/09/2011, 7:37 AM

Whelan has had a great start to the season and has been very instrumental in their good start. With so many games this year in the Europa I think he will get plenty of football.

**ifk101** · 01/09/2011, 7:52 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I like to use the terms "ball user" and "ball winner". Simple, probably too simple, but perfectly descriptive. Much more meaningful than shyte like holding midfielder.

Holding midfielder is the arguably the best description of Whelan's role at international level as he is neither a ball user or a ball winner.