Stoke City: Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters tipped to be stronger for their Euro pain
STOKE duo Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters will be inspired, not scarred, by the Republic of Ireland's painful exit from the European Championships.
That's the belief of Stoke's first-team coach Mark O'Connor after watching the Potters pair suffer the indignity of losing all three group games in Poland and Ukraine.
"It was a fantastic experience for them to be representing both their country and their club out there," said O'Connor.
"I don't think they will be scarred by their experiences. In fact, I'm hoping it will have the opposite effect.
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"The experience of playing against Italy and Spain in a major championships would give me a greater inner confidence. I would be taking the positives, not sitting there moping.
"Their learning curve over the last year or two has been fantastic when you consider they've been to an FA Cup final, represented their club in Europe and now their country in a major tournament.
"It's obviously disappointing to lose the way they did, but I don't think anybody thought they were going to qualify from what was probably the hardest group out there.
"Croatia are going home as well and they were fantastic, especially Luka Modric.
"It's been no disgrace for Ireland, so some of the criticism has been surprising and a little over the top."
Whelan started all three of Ireland's games – a 3-1 defeat by Croatia, a 4-0 thrashing by holders Spain and then Monday's 2-0 loss to Italy. Walters had to make do with three appearances from the bench as Ireland scored one and conceded nine en route to their exit.
"Of course it was tough for Glenn," O'Connor continued, "but you can reel off the names like Iniesta, Xavi, Pirlo and Modric that he was up against.
"I thought Jon did well when he came on. He will be disappointed he didn't start any of the games, but knowing Jon he will have been delighted to have got on to the pitch."
Manager Tony Pulis will now consider whether to give both players additional time off ahead of Stoke's return for pre-season training on July 12.
Whelan started 36 times for Stoke last term and Walters 49 during the club's marathon 56-match season.
"Tony will probably ask the players how they feel," said O'Connor, "and knowing them they will probably want to come back and do just what the rest of the players are doing.
"So the manager may take the decision out of their hands and give them an extra eight to 10 days off.
"They both played a huge part in a 56-game season and have then gone on to a major competition where the concentration is intense.
"They might be fine for the first couple of months of the season, but then they could fall flat on their face if they don't have a break now."
Comments
by stonemel
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:09PM
“If this is a real quote from Stoke management it sends out a very worrying message to all fans that the management are not looking to replace either of these players in the team for next season. They are both very hard working, they both have a fantastic attitude and they both are not good enough.”
by stoked
Thursday, June 21 2012, 2:51PM
“OH NO!!!!
He's back!”
by soccerfoot11
Thursday, June 21 2012, 2:50PM
“Do we need any more proof that both Whelan and Walters are just not good enough to help anyone ?? Being a good lad and giving his best has absolutely nothing to do with being a good football player im afraid. Im sure hundreds of such lads go by the way side all the time because they cant make it. Doesnt make them any less of a person, just makes them not very good football players.”
by exlongtonian
Thursday, June 21 2012, 12:58AM
“Davejjohnson, 99% of the players in England are probably "honest lads who do their best" but that doesn't mean they are Premiership quality!! Whelan & Walters are are Championship at best and watching Ireland was like watching a clone of Stoke.”
by Davejjohnson
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 9:50PM
“Not the greatest of players but both honest lads who always do their best.”
by bcbg16
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 6:44PM
“c r a p”
by bcbg16
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 6:44PM
“lets face it the pair of them were **** as they are every week for stoke”
by AMOODY_72
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:11PM
“It was great for Whelan and Walters to represent their country at a major championships, but at the end of the day, they were both totally out of their depths and they looked very average players, especially Walters and unfortunately there lies the problem with Stoke last season. He was fourth choice striker behind an ageing Robbie Keane, Doyle who could not get a start for Wolves and also Cox, who didn't score a goal in the premiership for West Brom last season. What does that tell us and yet he started 49 out of 56 games for us last season. Yes he was up against top class defenders but is that not the case week in week out in the Premiership. What did he actually do Martin O'Connor when he came on, because he offered no threat as usual. I hope Pulis was watching and he finally realises that we have to seriously strengthen in these areas if we want to push on next season.”
by stoked
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:09PM
“well Hem, you may have played football for years, but I am pretty sure Glenn knows more about it than you.
I have never faulted Glenn's efforts, that is one thing that he does well. Unfortunately, he is not creative, pacey or accurate enough if we need to take our game to the next level at Stoke. And I say that with the greatest of respect because he seems to be a very professional, hard working chap.”
by Stoke_Oracle
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 12:58PM
“Yes...Totally outplayed by proper midfielders who construct and control the play and pass the ball forward and attackers who know how to put the ball in the back of the net. I don't think that's going to inspire them....Let's stop pretending. You can only inspire people to do better when they are capable of doing better. Alas Whelan and Walters are not!”