[Albionic]

I am not sure where Stoke are heading nor what O'Neil has in mind by signing Brunt but that squad is a god awful mess and just signing a good experienced pro might help them out. While Brunt has reached the end of the road with us I am hardly breathing a sigh of relief at his departure unlike the others

Surely Stoke have enough "experience" already. Shawcross, Martens indy, Diouf, Joe Allen, McLean, Vokes, Chester, Batth, Federici, Afobe ......   quite why they are 3 points of relegation with so much "experience" is baffling TBH

[Adder]

Given the speed of the game these days even at Championship level Stoke probably have too much experience and not enough peak/youth already. It's hard to get away from the image of Brunt putting in crosses and free kicks for McAuley, Evans, Cathcart when playing under O'Neil for NI. If they buy him at the age of 35 I'd have thought it would be with this in mind which hardly seems a progressive step for them.

[GREGMT]

I think O'Neill will dig Stoke out of trouble, Nathan Jones was a shocking manager.  McAuley and Evans were giants when O'Neill managed NI.  Steven Davis was good in midfield.  Their ball retention was appalling and set pieces were huge ala Pulis. 

Chris Brunt may be steady next season, he's just average Championship level now at best.  Kyle Lafferty next for O'Neill?

[TheJacko2000]

Brunty will be fine in midfield with legs around him (something we haven't got with Livermore), will be worth 10 goals from corners alone. Good signing for a poor poor team.

[mulliganstired]

He'll be fine in League 1

[frazzle]

Brunty will be fine in midfield with legs around him (something we haven't got with Livermore), will be worth 10 goals from corners alone. Good signing for a poor poor team.

Livermore has shown plenty of mobility and stamina this season.

[zippyandbungle]

Brunty will be fine in midfield with legs around him (something we haven't got with Livermore), will be worth 10 goals from corners alone. Good signing for a poor poor team.

Keep em coming 😀
You did see dads army vs Newcastle ?

[TheJacko2000]

Keep em coming 😀
You did see dads army vs Newcastle ?

Would have won with any other player but Barry in the side.

[johnnyg]

Would have won with any other player but Barry in the side.

Brunt.......fixed that for you.

[gazberg]

If Stoke want to waste their money and Brunt can get another payday for himself then that's a win-win situation.

[TheJacko2000]

Brunt.......fixed that for you.

You obviously didn't watch it. Only one of the old boys legs has gone and it's not the one getting a new club.

[johnnyg]

You obviously didn't watch it. Only one of the old boys legs has gone and it's not the one getting a new club.

Obviously I did watch it.

[frazzle]

That game had the worst midfield I think I’ve seen in the last 15 years or so. Completely overrun and past it. Neither player should be close to the team.

[boinging_along]

Livermore has shown plenty of mobility and stamina this season.

He was exhausted having to be the only man in midfield when playing alongside Brunt.

[BigFrank20]

Equally mixed views over on the Oatcake too, I can only wish him well

[zippyandbungle]

Does put us in the strange position now of either wanting stoke to stay up, or seeing brunt in league 1

[Standaman]

Surely Stoke have enough "experience" already. Shawcross, Martens indy, Diouf, Joe Allen, McLean, Vokes, Chester, Batth, Federici, Afobe ......   quite why they are 3 points of relegation with so much "experience" is baffling TBH

Yes went and looked at it properly there are a few out of contract e.g. Diouf but there are also players returning from loan like Kevin Wimmer who I had forgotten were there. It is a mess they are getting old and no doubt paid stupid amounts for the Championship. In an ideal world they could do with shipping out the bulk of the squad but that isn't going to happen.

Chris Brunt is not going to help that, I was being kind to a player I much admire. Yes no doubt he will pick up a pay cheque and I he won't phone it in which some of those already there have been doing for sometime now but he is not what they need.

 

[SmethDan]

Brunty will be fine in midfield with legs around him (something we haven't got with Livermore), will be worth 10 goals from corners alone. Good signing for a poor poor team.

Look on the bright side. With him signing for Stoke it's closer for you than the roundtrip to the Hawthorns. If they have an early kick off you could be back up to Anfield in time to watch your other heroes later in the day whilst also saving on petrol. Absolute bonus  .

[BalisPen]

Look on the bright side. With him signing for Stoke it's closer for you than the roundtrip to the Hawthorns. If they have an early kick off you could be back up to Anfield in time to watch your other heroes later in the day whilst also saving on petrol. Absolute bonus  .

Classic.

[TheJacko2000]

Look on the bright side. With him signing for Stoke it's closer for you than the roundtrip to the Hawthorns. If they have an early kick off you could be back up to Anfield in time to watch your other heroes later in the day whilst also saving on petrol. Absolute bonus  .

Now now Danny, you know my chauffeur would never facilitate a dream day out like that... 

[Hull Baggie]

Brunty will be fine in midfield with legs around him (something we haven't got with Livermore), will be worth 10 goals from corners alone. Good signing for a poor poor team.

Never going to get 10 assists. Didn't he only manage 6 in the season we had Gayle and Rodriguez up front and he was taking corners.

[TheJacko2000]

Never going to get 10 assists. Didn't he only manage 6 in the season we had Gayle and Rodriguez up front and he was taking corners.

Renowned headers of a ball.

[Hull Baggie]

Renowned headers of a ball.

not all goals from corners are headers though.

granted NI under O'Neill did rely on set pieces a lot, a bit like a Pulis side. Haven't seen enough of Stoke under him to say whether they play the same way.

I'm still happy to say that Brunt won't get 10 assists for Stoke next season though...or did you mean 10 assists during his whole time at Stoke?

[Albionic]

not all goals from corners are headers though.

granted NI under O'Neill did rely on set pieces a lot, a bit like a Pulis side. Haven't seen enough of Stoke under him to say whether they play the same way.

I'm still happy to say that Brunt won't get 10 assists for Stoke next season though...or did you mean 10 assists during his whole time at Stoke?

I'm not sure that CB will get 10 full games next season !

[Adder]

Brunt has also become more prone to calf strains etc. in the last 2 or 3 years. There has to be doubt about how his body would hold up to regular starts next year, though I doubt he would be a regular starter.