Championship 24/25

[Forever Blue]

9 hours ago, PotterLog said:

Thought I might pop on to add some insider wisdom about the situation at Stoke but it’s pretty much all been said in the last ten or so posts. You’re all exactly right. Talk about making a sow's ear out of a silk purse 

What’s your opinion on Walters?

[superniko]

8 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Gallagher may be average or even below average at Championship level, even when fit. And his injury record renders any discussion meaningless. But he is definitely better than Gueye.

I beg to differ. Gueye is actually a nuisance to defenders, wins almost all the long balls his way and isn’t far off any Gallagher season for goal involvements despite not starting the majority of matches. 
He actually influences matches and makes it easier for players around him, Gallagher would do that once in every 15 (and I’d admit look amazing in that match eg Leicester away in the cup)

Add in the fact he’s made of glass it’s not even a competition for me. 

Gallagher, built like Thor, plays like Bambi

Edited December 28, 2024 by superniko

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

49 minutes ago, Penwortham Blue said:

I really hope not but I do think that Eustace would be pushing for the Stoke job if they show an interest. It might be a crackpot club but he is an ex club skipper, would have the Coates billions to call upon, a shorter commute and despite all the failures, he would back himself to succeed. And then there is the massive pay rise, to boot ! I think Eustace is a talented manager and would be a disaster to lose him but Stoke, and West Brom, could well be circling 🙈

Almost any club in this division could be seen as more attractive. None of them are run by idiots like the chicken chokers. The next calamity is always just around the corner. The only reason for him to stay here would be that he’s really unlikely to be sacked. If we’d have gone down last season Eustace wouldn’t have even been near to the sack. 

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, superniko said:

I beg to differ. Gueye is actually a nuisance to defenders, wins almost all the long balls his way and isn’t far off any Gallagher season for goal involvements despite not starting the majority of matches. 
He actually influences matches and makes it easier for players around him, Gallagher would do that once in every 15 (and I’d admit look amazing in that match eg Leicester away in the cup)

Add in the fact he’s made of glass it’s not even a competition for me. 

Gallagher, built like Thor, plays like Bambi

The injury situation admittedly skews the comparison, but when fit Gallagher was good for 8 or 9 goals a season.

This "goal involvements" thing I keep saying is being compared directly against just the goals of Gallagher. But the main stat is that Gueye has only one goal. He has a few assists but in the main they were very small parts of the goal, eg a knock down for a 30 yard half volley, a missed open goal and on Boxing day it was Batth that won the header and it must have accidentally flicked off his head.

And Gueye really does play like bambi most of the time.

[chaddyrovers]

doesn't Gueye have 3 goals overall? 

[Forever Blue]

On 01/08/2024 at 07:15, NeilInBristol said:

"The direction that the club wants to go in is what attracted me,” Gallagher told Stoke's official site.

“There is an eagerness to climb the league which aligns with what I want to achieve."

Big Sam disagrees. 

Probably a fair comment from SG at the time. Looks a bit silly now.

[Forever Blue]

17 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

doesn't Gueye have 3 goals overall? 

The Golden Boot is his to lose.

[simongarnerisgod]

2 hours ago, superniko said:

I beg to differ. Gueye is actually a nuisance to defenders, wins almost all the long balls his way and isn’t far off any Gallagher season for goal involvements despite not starting the majority of matches. 
He actually influences matches and makes it easier for players around him, Gallagher would do that once in every 15 (and I’d admit look amazing in that match eg Leicester away in the cup)

Add in the fact he’s made of glass it’s not even a competition for me. 

Gallagher, built like Thor, plays like Bambi

a 14 stone weakling who can`t head a football and is always injured,gueye despite his clumsiness has contributed more than gally did in two seasons

[Tom]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

The injury situation admittedly skews the comparison, but when fit Gallagher was good for 8 or 9 goals a season.

This "goal involvements" thing I keep saying is being compared directly against just the goals of Gallagher. But the main stat is that Gueye has only one goal. He has a few assists but in the main they were very small parts of the goal, eg a knock down for a 30 yard half volley, a missed open goal and on Boxing day it was Batth that won the header and it must have accidentally flicked off his head.

And Gueye really does play like bambi most of the time.

Watch again, it was clearly Gueyes knock town on Boxing Day when you see the angle behind the goals, super centre forward play 

[PotterLog]

9 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Should Walters go aswell? 

Who would you like in as his replacement? 

 

2 hours ago, Forever Blue said:

What’s your opinion on Walters?

 

I honestly can’t believe he’s apparently survived this. We appointed him out of desperation towards the end of last season as a sort of temporary cheerleader and somehow he blagged our impressionable idiot chairman into handing him the reins to the club permanently, despite having precisely zero experience in managing, coaching, HR, scouting or recruitment.

He then made a massive call in sacking a reasonably popular manager who was performing ok to install a coach from Norwich nobody had heard of - and when this went predictably catastrophically wrong, he’s somehow *still* being entrusted to find and line-manage our next soon-to-be failed head coach. It’s unbelievable and just another symptom of the incompetent culture of shit John Coates has presided over.

 

 

[Mattyblue]

So what’s gone wrong post relegation? You chuck a load of cash at it but you seem to get worse every year.

[simongarnerisgod]

can`t see eustace leaving for stoke,it`s means a massive rebuilding job that could take 2/3 seasons.im`e far more concerned about west brom making an enquiry tbh

[M_B]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

The injury situation admittedly skews the comparison, but when fit Gallagher was good for 8 or 9 goals a season.

This "goal involvements" thing I keep saying is being compared directly against just the goals of Gallagher. But the main stat is that Gueye has only one goal. He has a few assists but in the main they were very small parts of the goal, eg a knock down for a 30 yard half volley, a missed open goal and on Boxing day it was Batth that won the header and it must have accidentally flicked off his head.

And Gueye really does play like bambi most of the time.

Batth didn't win the header, as someone pointed out after the game, from the camera behind the goal, it's clear Gueye heads it, it's too low for Batth to have reached it. It's a lovely cushioned header for Leonard to equalise.

[roversfan99]

50 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

a 14 stone weakling who can`t head a football and is always injured,gueye despite his clumsiness has contributed more than gally did in two seasons

Clearly not true, Gallagher had an injury ravaged last season but scored a combined 11 goals in those 2 seasons.

Because he stayed a season or two too long all perspective seems to have been lost on Gallagher similar to what happened with Mowbray. We have had a number of strikers in the last few years alone who have been worse and I think Gueye is one.

Gueye has all the hallmarks of being a cult hero and sometimes his presence alone can (often inadvertently) cause problems for our opposition but he is not a very good footballer at all.

[chaddyrovers]

36 minutes ago, PotterLog said:

 

 

I honestly can’t believe he’s apparently survived this. We appointed him out of desperation towards the end of last season as a sort of temporary cheerleader and somehow he blagged our impressionable idiot chairman into handing him the reins to the club permanently, despite having precisely zero experience in managing, coaching, HR, scouting or recruitment.

He then made a massive call in sacking a reasonably popular manager who was performing ok to install a coach from Norwich nobody had heard of - and when this went predictably catastrophically wrong, he’s somehow *still* being entrusted to find and line-manage our next soon-to-be failed head coach. It’s unbelievable and just another symptom of the incompetent culture of shit John Coates has presided over.

 

 

Why did Walters get rid of Steven Schumacher? 

Who would you like in? Mowbray? Lowe? Pulis? Jones? Harris? 

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

The injury situation admittedly skews the comparison, but when fit Gallagher was good for 8 or 9 goals a season.

3 last season.

If someone is constantly injured then they're no use. You might as well sign me at age 61. Whether he might actually have scored many more if available more often is also a fairly moot point - he didn't score in his last 14 games or so for the Club I don't think.

Whist Gueye is far from the greatest player I'd summarise it by saying he doesn't score enough but is a handful for the opposition.

Gallagher didn't score enough and wasn't a nuisance for the opposition.

As a side issue, Gallagher also cost £5m and was on £15/£16k p.w. Gueye cost around £1m and will be on a much lower wage.

Small steps but ones in the right direction.

[RevidgeBlue]

43 minutes ago, PotterLog said:

 

 

I honestly can’t believe he’s apparently survived this. We appointed him out of desperation towards the end of last season as a sort of temporary cheerleader and somehow he blagged our impressionable idiot chairman into handing him the reins to the club permanently, despite having precisely zero experience in managing, coaching, HR, scouting or recruitment.

He then made a massive call in sacking a reasonably popular manager who was performing ok to install a coach from Norwich nobody had heard of - and when this went predictably catastrophically wrong, he’s somehow *still* being entrusted to find and line-manage our next soon-to-be failed head coach. It’s unbelievable and just another symptom of the incompetent culture of shit John Coates has presided over.

 

 

That's very weird. You could understand it maybe if he was a former superstar as a player and carried some gravitas within the game due to that, but he's never really done anything of note.

He's a bit of a laughing stock here as well due to the circumstances under which he was sacked from our Club before his career had ever really got off the ground.

[roversfan99]

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

3 last season.

If someone is constantly injured then they're no use. You might as well sign me at age 61. Whether he might actually have scored many more if available more often is also a fairly moot point - he didn't score in his last 14 games or so for the Club I don't think.

Whist Gueye is far from the greatest player I'd summarise it by saying he doesn't score enough but is a handful for the opposition.

Gallagher didn't score enough and wasn't a nuisance for the opposition.

As a side issue, Gallagher also cost £5m and was on £15/£16k p.w. Gueye cost around £1m and will be on a much lower wage.

Small steps but ones in the right direction.

The thing is your opinion on Gallagher is like what happened with Mowbray where your dislike and the fact that they stayed for so long meant that all semblance of reason long went out of the window.

I acknowledged the fitness issues that Gallagher has, so the conversation becomes hypothetical to an extent. Prior to last season when he missed so many games though, he had scored 8 or 9 goals in the prior 3 seasons.

You say that neither score enough which is fair but they arent on par in that regard. When Gallagher is fit, he scores more than Gueye. He has scored as many this season and has barely played a minute. Gallagher did do a lot of selfless running and wasnt useless in general play, and he wasnt anywhere near as bad technically as Gueye even though he himself was hardly gifted.

If both are fit, big if, and we had both to select from, its not a good choice either way but im taking Gallagher every day. 

Gueye has the novelty factor, no one ever tried to credit Gallagher because of mishit tap ins or 5 yard passes as proof of his use.

[simongarnerisgod]

1 minute ago, roversfan99 said:

The thing is your opinion on Gallagher is like what happened with Mowbray where your dislike and the fact that they stayed for so long meant that all semblance of reason long went out of the window.

I acknowledged the fitness issues that Gallagher has, so the conversation becomes hypothetical to an extent. Prior to last season when he missed so many games though, he had scored 8 or 9 goals in the prior 3 seasons.

You say that neither score enough which is fair but they arent on par in that regard. When Gallagher is fit, he scores more than Gueye. He has scored as many this season and has barely played a minute. Gallagher did do a lot of selfless running and wasnt useless in general play, and he wasnt anywhere near as bad technically as Gueye even though he himself was hardly gifted.

If both are fit, big if, and we had both to select from, its not a good choice either way but im taking Gallagher every day. 

Gueye has the novelty factor, no one ever tried to credit Gallagher because of mishit tap ins or 5 yard passes as proof of his use.

i think you are bigging gallagher up a lot here,apart from his loan spell when he generally was  very useful he regressed to the point of being completely hopeless and devoid of any contribution bar running around a lot,the only defence i can give him  is the fact mowbray did`nt help him by playing him on the wing and bizarely at right back once,it no doubt did`nt do his career or confidence much good

[roversfan99]

2 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i think you are bigging gallagher up a lot here,apart from his loan spell when he generally was  very useful he regressed to the point of being completely hopeless and devoid of any contribution bar running around a lot,the only defence i can give him  is the fact mowbray did`nt help him by playing him on the wing and bizarely at right back once,it no doubt did`nt do his career or confidence much good

Quite the opposite, people including yourself just lost all perspective on him.

We had a team that felt on the cusp of a top 6 finish. We wanted a better striker because he isnt at that level, and it perhaps made us think that anyone would be better. We since signed Telalovic, Hirst, Ennis and now Gueye. None have even been as good.

He is what he is, when fit. A below average Championship striker. Not the most technically gifted, not always the most imposing, but quite quick, strong, a tireless worker and as proven in the 3 years prior to his injury riddled one last season, good for 8 or 9 goals a season.

I dont rate him, like I said when fit hes a lower end Championship striker. But hes not hopeless and devoid of all contribution and as we have seen, we could do worse.

He filled in at right back for about 5 minutes amidst some tactical changes. Lets not make out like it was a constant change.

[PotterLog]

14 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

That's very weird. You could understand it maybe if he was a former superstar as a player and carried some gravitas within the game due to that, but he's never really done anything of note.

He's a bit of a laughing stock here as well due to the circumstances under which he was sacked from our Club before his career had ever really got off the ground.

He is (was) very well-liked at Stoke for what he did for us in the Prem. Made the most of limited talent, worked hard and scored some great, memorable goals in big games. Aside from that his qualifications appear to amount to gobbing off on Twitter about the state of affairs at the club.

I know about his history with you lot and while it’s probably a bit unfair to linger on a mistake someone made as a teenager, I must admit it’s always slightly in the back of my mind when I think about his character.

 

[PotterLog]

29 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Why did Walters get rid of Steven Schumacher? 

Who would you like in? Mowbray? Lowe? Pulis? Jones? Harris? 

Walters didn’t really like Schuey from the off. SS objected to some of Walters’ signings and when things started to go south Walters flexed.

I’m at the stage where I really don’t care who comes in next. I don’t believe anything will change. We ruin people’s careers so I’d actually hate it to be someone likeable and on an upward trajectory (eg Eustace). Just someone experienced who can keep us up will have to do for now.

[RevidgeBlue]

7 minutes ago, PotterLog said:

He is (was) very well-liked at Stoke for what he did for us in the Prem. Made the most of limited talent, worked hard and scored some great, memorable goals in big games. Aside from that his qualifications appear to amount to gobbing off on Twitter about the state of affairs at the club.

I know about his history with you lot and while it’s probably a bit unfair to linger on a mistake someone made as a teenager, I must admit it’s always slightly in the back of my mind when I think about his character.

 

Thanks for the reply. I must admit after I posted I checked Walters' career stats and didn't realise he'd played so many games for you.

What I meant was, he's not a former playing superstar in the Rooney/Lampard type bracket which makes it sort of understandable why they keep getting gigs irrespective of managerial ability.

Ironically we're probably in the same sort of boat as we've drafted in a former player ourselves (Rudy Gestede) as DOF who as far as I'm aware doesn't seem to have any formal qualifications apart from shadowing our very unpopular CEO Steve Waggott around for a period. The decision was met with derision by most of our fan base but I actually thought our recruitment in the summer on an extremely frayed shoestring was infinitely better than under the previous recruitment regime. However that might have been down to the previous old school  Chief Scout/Head of Recruitment John Park who has since left due to an apparent disagreement over the reliance on data led Recruitment going forward.

I guess we'll find out (probably to our cost) in January.

[RevidgeBlue]

What's your initial view on Gallagher Potterlog?

My friend roversfan99 will always defend him to the hilt and he had a moderately successful initial loan period here in a season which saw us relegated but since returning on a permanent basis for a vastly inflated £5m fee I genuinely think he's been one of the worst strikers I've ever seen pull on the blue and white halves in  53 years of watching the Club.

I'm old fashioned and judge a striker primarily on goals scored. For me a top striker should be willing to kill his gran to get on the score sheet. Gallagher in his 2nd spell looked like he never considered scoring goals as part of his job description and could never be bothered getting into positions from which he was likely to score. Neither for such a huge physical unit did he impose himself on the opposition and for someone 6ft 5in jumped 5 ft 7. Second touch was a tackle.

Apart from that he was OK as George Best famously said about Beckham.

(You're probably going to tell me you love him now!) 

Lol.

 

[Forever Blue]

1 hour ago, M_B said:

Batth didn't win the header, as someone pointed out after the game, from the camera behind the goal, it's clear Gueye heads it, it's too low for Batth to have reached it. It's a lovely cushioned header for Leonard to equalise.

‘Lovely cushioned header’. 
 

You’re definitely his agent😉