Shaun Wright-Phillips

[RedRobMol]

So, he wasn?t brilliant last night, but you could tell he was lacking in confidence. I?m interested in getting your opinions on him, not only as a player, but as to where and why it went wrong for him.

I think there are probably 3 possible schools of thought about him, and I can probably guess which will be taken by the majority of you lot, but lets see. Here?s the three schools as I see it.

1. He played above his real level at City and was a good player in a sh*t team so stood out above the rest and his real level is not good enough to justify playing regularly at your place.

2. He is a good player who has great potential, but by not giving him adequate playing time, Chelsea have stunted his development and ruined a top prospect (This is what I believe)

3. A combination of points 1 and 2, he was a top class prospect and he has been given enough chances but he hasn?t delivered and does not deserve any more chances than he has been given.

Just interested to see what you think, and there may well be a different opinion than those listed above, but I expect the majority of you to see things as in option 3.

[midlandblue]

I will tell you what I think.

I think this is the wrong forum, should be in players.

[loz]

Mine is option 1

I was never happy with us sigining SWP and never really wanted him (forget the transfer fee - that was plain daft but was a sign of the times).

SWP is a runner with a few fairly average tricks. At City he was fed the ball at every possibile opportunity and he only stood out in the way he did because he was on the ball so much and things like MOTD would generally cut out the mundane stuff and only show the flashy stuff.

if you watched live games on Sky regularly (and yes I know this means suffering through Aston Villa vs Man City - this gives you an idea of how lame I really am) you often saw the weaknesses to SWP's game that have become far more apparent at Chelsea where he doesn't play regularly and where, when he does play, he is not fed the ball constantly.

[Elliott]

Yep. No 3.

[ethicalstrategy]

I like Giles Smith's assessment

Quoted from his Times article this morning:

"In this area, Mark Lawrenson, co-commentating for the BBC, repeated the line about how Wright-Phillips?s problems are down to lack of confidence. But if only it was just confidence that he lacked. Unfortunately, other people?s lists of things that the Chelsea winger seems to be without have been known to include ball control ? particularly in the matter of a first touch ? concentration and also tactical awareness. Ah, well. Maybe those things will come ? and with them, confidence."

Which comes first? the chicken or the egg? I would maintain that the reason he hasn't got enough playing time at Chelsea is that he hasn't been good enough. He needs to impress Jose in training and then deliver when he does get a chance - something he hasn't been able to do.

Last night he started well for 5 mins and then just disappeared.

[Dorset]

I'm with ethicalstrategy and Giles on this one. Hey, RedRobMol, I'm interested in getting your opinion on my glimpse into your future (They're Changing Guard at David Moores Palace) Only one school of thought as I see it, naturally, but any other likely outcome from your viewpoint?

[RedRobMol]

I'm with ethicalstrategy and Giles on this one. Hey, RedRobMol, I'm interested in getting your opinion on my glimpse into your future (They're Changing Guard at David Moores Palace) Only one school of thought as I see it, naturally, but any other likely outcome from your viewpoint?

not totally sure what your asking, but my opinion on the take over changes daily at the moment. I am a little concerned that DIC were talked up by the club for so long and this Gillett guy branded the devil, so a u-turn is a little worrying. The money is obviously a welcome addition if it means the new stadium gets going (finally) and we can go for the players we have not quite managed to get hold of (ie missing out on Alves last summer), but i would not like to see us throw wads about in the manner you have. Not elitist or morale high ground at all but i think chucking cash around (20 million carvalho, 18m Mikel, however bloody much on Ferreira, 21m on SWP etc) is wrong and i would hate to see us do it. I ultimately feel it will be for the good of the club but this may be rose tinted glasses and we (fans) may get screwed, who knows. I am sure Arsenal fans wish there wasnt an entire corporate section around their stadium splitting the tier up and i dont want my season ticket price to double to ensure two pretty rich men who know nothing about our club make a buck or two.

I am apprehensive at the moment, but my fingers are firmly crossed.

[loz]

Redrob

Are Liverpool fans in any way concerned about the fact that Gillet has actually gone bankrupt in the past or is this something that has been either glossed over or people are accepting it as a thing of history and therefore no longer relevant to the current time (which initself is not the Liverpool way is it )

[RedRobMol]

Redrob

Are Liverpool fans in any way concerned about the fact that Gillet has actually gone bankrupt in the past or is this something that has been either glossed over or people are accepting it as a thing of history and therefore no longer relevant to the current time (which initself is not the Liverpool way is it )

whatever could you mean loz?

I obviously cannot speak for 'Liverpool Fans', but i can speak for myself and give a reflection of the opinion on the forum that i use. I think there is definately a worry, not only on his bankruptcy, but also on his previous business strategy, although i do beleive the the introduction of Tom Hicks into the deal has allayed some fears.

There was a lot of digging up on this guy when the DIC bid was rejected and it did not make comfortable reading. The bankruptcy in itself is not a major issue as it was due to economic factors. Many successful businessmen have been bankrupted before (Richard Branson for one) but his model for business appeared to be this; Find a failing business, turn it around into a successful business quickly, sell it for profit. SHORT TERM, is what screamed out.

I have to put my faith in the club on this one as i am far from an economic scholar, but i am certinaly uneasy about Gillett. I just hope that Hicks will make it a more stable deal as i have only read good things about him. I am delighted that there is no money borrowed against the club, unlike both United and Arsenal (stadium) but there, i fear, will always be some level of concern.

[loz]

The only dirt on hicks that I have heard is simply that he is a major funder for George Bush.

However you are right to be happy about the fact you are not funded by debt.

Nobody really knows the ins and outs of the accepted deal in relation to the rejected DIC deal so it is pretty hard to make rational comment on it.

I am sure Benitez will be getting money to spend, how much we will obviously have to wait and see, what will be interesting is to see how well he spends it - he has made a fair few questionable signings with the money that has been available to him so far (as has Jose admittedly)

To be honest I actually welcome the investment into Liverpool (well investment into football full stop) - purely because the inbvestment into us and Man Utd is not going to be reversed and so in order to keep the league competitive we need more clubs who have a chance of keeping up.

If Liverpool and Arsenal don't get investment then this league is a two horse race forevermore.

[RedRobMol]

The only dirt on hicks that I have heard is simply that he is a major funder for George Bush.

However you are right to be happy about the fact you are not funded by debt.

Nobody really knows the ins and outs of the accepted deal in relation to the rejected DIC deal so it is pretty hard to make rational comment on it.

I am sure Benitez will be getting money to spend, how much we will obviously have to wait and see, what will be interesting is to see how well he spends it - he has made a fair few questionable signings with the money that has been available to him so far (as has Jose admittedly)

To be honest I actually welcome the investment into Liverpool (well investment into football full stop) - purely because the inbvestment into us and Man Utd is not going to be reversed and so in order to keep the league competitive we need more clubs who have a chance of keeping up.

If Liverpool and Arsenal don't get investment then this league is a two horse race forevermore.

potentially a 1 horse race, as although United are spending money, it seems to be 1 big signing at a time. Carrick for 17m, Hargreaves for 20m etc.

I personally dont give a f**k about him supporting Bush. You or I may think he is an idiot, but who in politics can be backed with big money without motives and agendas? I dont personally consider that to be dirt. With regard to Rafas spending, i think the big thing will be the clubs negotiating skills being tested. If people think we have buckets full of cash they will want to fleece us, and judging on our negotiations for Alves and Simoa (to name 2) ove the last couple of years, that is where i can see us falling down. I am confident in Rafa. When he has spent big money he has spent it well in my opinion, Garcia, Alonso, Reina, Kuyt etc. Its when hes had to buy what he can afford like Pennant he has struggled. In terms of big money only Morientes would be considered a waste in my opinion, but i agree with you, now we have the cash (supposedly) he will have to deliver a high success rate in terms of transfers.

[Tim]

Back to the original question, bottom line, Joey had less time to prove he was good enough, and did. SWP came to the club knowing exactly who else he was competing with for a place in the team, and consistently hasn't delivered. You know full well that you are not going to get 6/7/8 games in a row to show your stuff at the top clubs.

He has all the skill in the world, but his decision making is poor, and that is what separates the great from the good. Fair play to him, unlike his old man he hasn't complained, and has given it his best shot, but I think we have to accept that for everyone's sake, his future lies elsewhere.

[Killbill]

The money is obviously a welcome addition

So are you now going to buy a few titles yourselves then?:D

[Butch]

Once again, I'm with Loz on the SWP issue - #1 for me.

Although SWP was quite the player at Man City, he was a big fish in a small pond, and almost EVERYTHING went through him so he was seeing a lot of the ball.

With Chelsea, players have to make do with whatever possession they get, and under pressure to impress with fewer opportunities. But apart from the psychological strain that may take its toll, I always felt that SWP doesn't have the physique to do well for Chelsea. There was a time when this might not have been the case, e.g. when Robben and Duff were primarilly "strikers" being fed over the top by Frank and Guddy. In that case, SWP's speed would have been useful. However, you don't see that aspect of our game much anymore - I think teams defend deeper against us to combat the threat of, say, a Robben.

The amount of times SWP is knocked off the ball, loses possession in "dangerous" positions, runs into blind alleys, and then to top it off foul the opposition thus giving them an easy route to clearing the threat during games is just totally frustrating for me.

I suppose another reason I didn't want SWP at the time was because we were rumored to be after Joaquin at about the same time, and I felt that the Spaniard was the more accomplished player - technically, physically and tactically.

But anyway...I still hope he comes good (he's looked a little more involved in the past 3-4 games he's played for us). Yet, at the end of the season if this has not happened, I wouldn't be shedding any tears to see him move on.

Cheers,

Butch

[mad_mac]

Rob, fo me it was always point one. He stood out a man city, and was branded promising etc. I also think that we paid well over the odds for him so I feel that the high price tag maybe a bit daunting for him.

Anyway, I never wanted us to sign him in the first place, but now he is here I wish him all the best, although I know it will never happen.

He is very similar everytime he attacks, and he is easily read. He has a good low CofG and he always uses it to cut to the left, where he should be able to change directions without much effort.

The only thing he has really done for us that was memorable, was put in a great cross for Crespo to head home!

Scott

[loz]

I am confident in Rafa. When he has spent big money he has spent it well in my opinion, Garcia, Alonso, Reina, Kuyt etc. Its when hes had to buy what he can afford like Pennant he has struggled. In terms of big money only Morientes would be considered a waste in my opinion, but i agree with you, now we have the cash (supposedly) he will have to deliver a high success rate in terms of transfers.

You had better hope this isn't true

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hli ... ball_home&

If he has to deliver a high success rate then this would see him starting off particularly badly! Voronin isn't even as good as the three first choice strikers you currently rotate.

[ralph_cifaretto]

I am confident in Rafa. When he has spent big money he has spent it well in my opinion, Garcia, Alonso, Reina, Kuyt etc. Its when hes had to buy what he can afford like Pennant he has struggled. In terms of big money only Morientes would be considered a waste in my opinion, but i agree with you, now we have the cash (supposedly) he will have to deliver a high success rate in terms of transfers.

You had better hope this isn't true

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hli ... ball_home&

If he has to deliver a high success rate then this would see him starting off particularly badly! Voronin isn't even as good as the three first choice strikers you currently rotate.

Agreed.

He was linked with ourselves (Celtic!) the other week.

He's probably better than Kenny Miller, but not by much

I wouldn't go near the fella !