Liam Lawrence

[theworm2345]

They did a little special on him in The Championship this weekened, I'll post it if anyone wants. He has a kid now and a wife/girlfriend (you'll have to tell me, Drummy69 if it is the same girl from the video), looks like hes settled down perhaps.

[OwlsFan]

Yes, saw it. Stoke lost last night to Preston. If they have a bad run and fade from the scene, Lawrence will do likewise I am afraid. Such is the way of these threads.

If players are good enough, they WILL play in the Premiership. Garvan, Lawrence, Whelan, Lee etc etc. If they are top players, a Premiership club with sign them (e.g. Andy Reid). If not, the Championship is their level. That said, that might be good enough for us at that level because we're not hugely blessed with talent at the moment.

[eirebhoy]

Yes, saw it. Stoke lost last night to Preston. If they have a bad run and fade from the scene, Lawrence will do likewise I am afraid. Such is the way of these threads.

If players are good enough, they WILL play in the Premiership. Garvan, Lawrence, Whelan, Lee etc etc. If they are top players, a Premiership club with sign them (e.g. Andy Reid). If not, the Championship is their level. That said, that might be good enough for us at that level because we're not hugely blessed with talent at the moment.

But then there's the likes of Hunt who probably never would have played in the premiership if his team hadn't got promoted.

[Drumcondra 69er]

They did a little special on him in The Championship this weekened, I'll post it if anyone wants. He has a kid now and a wife/girlfriend (you'll have to tell me, Drummy69 if it is the same girl from the video), looks like hes settled down perhaps.

Saw it, looked like a different lass!

[Drumcondra 69er]

Yes, saw it. Stoke lost last night to Preston. If they have a bad run and fade from the scene, Lawrence will do likewise I am afraid. Such is the way of these threads.

If players are good enough, they WILL play in the Premiership. Garvan, Lawrence, Whelan, Lee etc etc. If they are top players, a Premiership club with sign them (e.g. Andy Reid). If not, the Championship is their level. That said, that might be good enough for us at that level because we're not hugely blessed with talent at the moment.

Sorry mate but that's rubbish. A lot of getting the break into the premiership is down to luck. There's plenty of examples of players who would never have got to th Premier league without a promotion that weren't out of place there, Neil Redfearn back in the day, Jimmy Bullard and our own Stephen Hunt to name 3 off the top of my head. Look at Wigan and Readings squads and you'll see plenty more. A lot of clubs won't take a punt on Championship players and will go foriegn instead, doesn't mean the players aren't good enough, they perhaps don't represent the same value.

[gwhite]

Stoke v QPR is on live on Sky this Sunday, will be a chance to have a decent look at Lawrence.

[tetsujin1979]

Stoke v QPR is on live on Sky this Sunday, will be a chance to have a decent look at Lawrence.

don't forget Glen Whelan, Rory Delap, Martin Rowlands, and Damien Delaney!

[gwhite]

don't forget Glen Whelan, Rory Delap, Martin Rowlands, and Damien Delaney!

Of course mate. Yes, plenty to run the rule over there....

[kingdom hoop]

Yep, looking forward to this. 1.15 on Sunday. Should be a good, competitive game once the players have wiped the sleep out of their eyes. Reports say Delaney at LB has been solid defensively and decent enough on the ball since his switch from Hull in January. Meanwhile captain Rowlands has been outstanding at CM for the past few months; energetic, very good on the ball, and never-say-die attitude.

Funnily enough, Delaney and Lawrence will be facing off, and so will Whelan and Rowlands!

[OwlsFan]

Sorry mate but that's rubbish. A lot of getting the break into the premiership is down to luck. There's plenty of examples of players who would never have got to th Premier league without a promotion that weren't out of place there, Neil Redfearn back in the day, Jimmy Bullard and our own Stephen Hunt to name 3 off the top of my head. Look at Wigan and Readings squads and you'll see plenty more. A lot of clubs won't take a punt on Championship players and will go foriegn instead, doesn't mean the players aren't good enough, they perhaps don't represent the same value.

If a player performs consistently in the Championship and the team isn't promoted, he will be noticed by Premiership clubs. I also suspect they are cheaper options than some of the very average foreign imports I've seen bought for high fees so I don't agree with your last statement. There is a big jump between the Championship and the Premiership (see Derby under the care of our nearly manager, Jewell) and some players can do well in the Championship (e.g Lawrence) but not make it in the Premiership. The only one I have genuine hope for is Garvan but if he doesn't get a chance soon, he'll drift in to anonimity.

[Drumcondra 69er]

If a player performs consistently in the Championship and the team isn't promoted, he will be noticed by Premiership clubs. I also suspect they are cheaper options than some of the very average foreign imports I've seen bought for high fees so I don't agree with your last statement. There is a big jump between the Championship and the Premiership (see Derby under the care of our nearly manager, Jewell) and some players can do well in the Championship (e.g Lawrence) but not make it in the Premiership. The only one I have genuine hope for is Garvan but if he doesn't get a chance soon, he'll drift in to anonimity.

You have got to be joking? Look at the fees Southampton got for Theo Walcott and Kenwyne Jones for example? You honestly think foreign players of similar experience would cost anything close to that? Britsh players have been more expensive then their foreign counterparts for years hence why so many clubs shop abroad for value these days.

What do you make of the likes of Bullard and Hunt who needed promotion to play in the EPL and were ignored for years prior to this?

[Stuttgart88]

The only one I have genuine hope for is Garvan but if he doesn't get a chance soon, he'll drift in to anonimity.

Yeah, if he hasn't got a CL winners medal by the time he's 8 then off to the knacker's yard.

[geysir]

The knackers yard? - that would be Leeds then.

[theworm2345]

You have got to be joking? Look at the fees Southampton got for Theo Walcott and Kenwyne Jones for example? You honestly think foreign players of similar experience would cost anything close to that? Britsh players have been more expensive then their foreign counterparts for years hence why so many clubs shop abroad for value these days.

What do you make of the likes of Bullard and Hunt who needed promotion to play in the EPL and were ignored for years prior to this?

I guess the nearly 4,500 miles between Trinidad and England don't make Kenwyne foreign enough

[OwlsFan]

You have got to be joking? Look at the fees Southampton got for Theo Walcott and Kenwyne Jones for example? You honestly think foreign players of similar experience would cost anything close to that? Britsh players have been more expensive then their foreign counterparts for years hence why so many clubs shop abroad for value these days.

What do you make of the likes of Bullard and Hunt who needed promotion to play in the EPL and were ignored for years prior to this?

Andy Reid wasn't expensive I think. He has always stood out at the lower grade. SOme of course are over priced. Both Bullard and Hunt are players on the category of being good Championship but average Premiership players. In all honesty Hunt neither sets the world alight in the Premiership.

Yeah, if he hasn't got a CL winners medal by the time he's 8 then off to the knacker's yard.

Slight exaggeration but are you denying that unless he gets to the Premeriership he won't fulfill his potential?

[NeilMcD]

But you said soon, Owls Fan you said if he does not get a chance soon.

[geysir]

The older you get the longer the concept of soon.

[Stuttgart88]

I turned on QPR vs Stoke at the start of second half. Rowlands has been superb, his passing really crisp and accurate, totally outshining Whelan who plays a similar role for Stoke. Not once has Rowlands opted for a speculative pass "into the channels". He'll probe and probe and if nothing is available he'll send a crisp pass across field to a full back. Very continental! It's about the 10th time I've seen him, a few times live and a few times on TV, and by far his best showing yet, though I hear he's been very good since De Canio took over at QPR.

Lawrence hasn't done anything and Delaney looks solid enough without having been tested defensively (Stoke only have 10 men). No sign of Delap.

[FarBeag]

Watched the OPR V Stoke match this afternoon and I have to say I was very impressed by both Delaney and Rowland’s. Haven’t see too much of them before but If these two guys particularly Rowland’s play like this on a regular basis I really cannot understand why they have not been called into the Ireland squad. I know Rowland’s played briefly under McCarthy but he is a player and completely outshone both Lawrence and Whelan.

I also like the look of Delaney, a left back comfortable with two good feet , big and strong with good engine on him. Hopefully both get a call up. On this performance they deserve it but as I said don’t know how consistent they are.

[OwlsFan]

Watched the game as well (good game too) and agree with the above. Lawrence was anonymous and eventually was substituted and looked none too pleased about it. Whelan did what Whelan does. Plays some nice stuff but then will be caught in possession or give one away carelessly. I like him as a player but just don't think he has the ability to go the one step further needed to play either Premiership football or more importantly international football for us. That said, we're not exactly swamped with talent in the midfield.

Oh, and by the way apro pos nothing, the Stoke defender was sent off because in the middle of their usual referee bashing, the Sky commentators ignored the fact that he lauched in to his tackle with both feet off the ground at one stage. Doesn't matter if he won the ball or the QPR player wasn't in danger. Highly dangerous and illegal.