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Post by Gashead73 on Sept 4, 2021 12:19:05 GMT
This chap has been played at the highest level, hope he can bring to Rovers what Mark Walters did for us 20years ago!
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Post by rememberhalifax on Sept 4, 2021 12:21:53 GMT
Welcome Glen, hope things go well for you at Rovers
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Post by Colyton Gas on Sept 4, 2021 12:22:43 GMT
Stokies full of praise and claim letting him go and at the same time Jonathan Walters led to their relegation.They reckon he'll be good for us in Division 4 as the call it.Not in today's squad though.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2021 12:45:11 GMT
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stuart1974
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Post by stuart1974 on Sept 4, 2021 12:47:54 GMT
Just about to post that too. "Barton accepts that Whelan's impact at Rovers is likely to be as much off the field as on it, with the veteran's character and presence in the dressing room absolutely vital in changing the culture of the team. [Snip] Evidence of Whelan's position in the squad was on display at The Quarters as he led a team bonding exercise in the canteen prior to Friday's training session, involving press-ups and the loser having to recite a poem to the rest of the group. Each member of the squad emerged with broad grins across their faces with various back slaps and a general sense of enjoyment within their surroundings. Trivial it may seem on the outside but it's notable for the fact that Barton knows how important team chemistry is and how he needs to create and foster it in these early stages of the campaign, especially with such a turnover in playing staff, but also Whelan's role in that process, despite only having been at the club a few weeks."
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Post by Gastafari on Sept 4, 2021 12:55:25 GMT
I actually think this could be an inspired signing.
Cambridge signed Wes Hoolahan last season when he was 38, he was voted in the team of the season and was a major factor in them getting promoted.
Whelan could have a similar effect, here.
I've given Barton loads of stick, but I'm not just going to do it for the sake of it.
Could be a shrewd acquisition.
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Post by warehamgas on Sept 4, 2021 12:57:05 GMT
Welcome to the gas. If he’s still good enough then he’s young enough. As long as he’s here for the right reasons, to play football, do his best and try and recreate what he was like when he was at his best. Welcome Glen. UTG!
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Post by rovers5charlton5 on Sept 4, 2021 13:20:15 GMT
To fair, he's younger than a lot of posters on here, and if he's fit enough he's an amazing signing for us. Welcome and good luck Glen. 1 Are the older people on here professional footballers then, otherwise what relevance does that have? 1 37 years old has never stopped many top players from playing, so why write them off until you've seen them? 2 Don't be ageist!
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Post by casey12a on Sept 4, 2021 16:49:16 GMT
Ask any fan of a club Glenn has played for what they think of him. Loved by all of his previous clubs, even if he's a bit part player this season his work ethic and experience is worth it.
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Post by wilmslowgas on Sept 4, 2021 18:02:49 GMT
This could be a great signing. He comes with an excellent reputation in the game. Providing he stays fit and is managed sympathetically he is bound to be an asset.
Just as Kilgour learnt loads from Craig, our younger players will surely benefit having somebody of Whelan's experience around.
Plus, Whelan can drive me to the away games in the north west.
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Sept 4, 2021 21:33:32 GMT
Welcome to the club, Glenn.
If you can make the sort of immediate impact aging Leon can, you'll do just fine.
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Post by herbertblake on Sept 7, 2021 18:05:50 GMT
Everything you wanted to know. Compiled by Stephen Byrne.
GLENN DAVID WHELAN Born 13.1.1984 Dublin 5’ 11”; 12 st 4 lbs Midfielder
Career: St Lorcan’s Boys National School; 2000 Cherry Orchard; 1.8.01 Manchester City (free); 30.9.03 Bury (loan); 23.12.03 Bury (loan) [13,0]; 1.7.04 Sheffield Wednesday (free) [139+6,13]; 30.1.08 Stoke City (£500,000) [248+43,5]; 20.7.17 Aston Villa (£1,000,000) [53+15,2]; 14.8.19 Heart of Midlothian (free) [13+2,0]; 24.1.20 Fleetwood Town (free) [25+9,0]; 4.9.21 Bristol Rovers (free). With relegated Rovers languishing near the foot of the Football League in September 2021, manager Joey Barton signed an experienced head in midfielder Glenn Whelan, in a bid to steady the ship. His arrival, after a prolonged spell training with the club, was seen as a boost both on and off the pitch, where his reason, common sense and experience could help knit together a new squad. A Liverpool supporter from Palmerstown, Dublin, who later lived in Clondalkin, Whelan was the son of Eilis Whelan and married Karen Byrne at St Philomenas’ in Palmerstown on 19th May 2012, with a daughter Abbie and a son Jack. He had 91 full international caps with the Republic of Ireland to his name, making him after Vitālijs Astafjevs the second highest capped player to appear in League football with Rovers and, at 37 years 241 days, he became the fourth oldest player to make his League début for The Gas. After two games at Under-16 level, fourteen matches and two goals at Under-21 and one B fixture, Whelan won his first senior cap against Serbia in May 2008, scored against Georgia in Mainz in September 2008 and Italy in Dublin in October 2009, played at the 2011 Nations Cup and at Euro 2016, where Ireland lost to France in the round of sixteen, as well as captaining his country on several occasions. Despite never appearing in the League with Manchester City, Whelan did play in a UEFA Cup-tie against the Welsh side TNS in August 2003, he and Joey Barton both being used as substitutes that day, Whelan replacing Paul Bosvelt with seventeen minutes left to play. His first League appearance came in Bury’s 2-0 victory over York City in September 2003 and he was in the Shakers’ side which won 2-1 at The Mem two months later. Football Association of Ireland Young Player of the Year in 2004, he was also Wednesday’s captain and Player of the Year by 2007; having helped the Owls to promotion from League One in 2004-05, scoring and being Man of the Match in the play-off final at Wembley against Hartlepool United, he scored twice against Southampton in each of successive seasons, a 3-3 draw in December 2006 (when Wednesday’s goalkeeper Mark Crossley scored a last-minute equaliser) and a 5-0 victory eleven months later. On the other hand, despite his goal, Wednesday were the victims of a League Cup giant-killing in August 2006, when they were defeated 4-1 at home by Wrexham. An expensive signing at Stoke, he helped the side to promotion to the Premier League in 2007-08 and enabled the Potteries side to establish themselves in the highest tier. In fact, Many supporters claimed his later exit from the Potteries hastened the side’s subsequent relegation. During his eight-and-a-half years at Stoke, the side reached the FA Cup Final under Tony Pulis in 2011, losing 1-0 to his former club Manchester City. He captained the side which led Liverpool 5-0 at half-time in the Premier League in May 2015, a game eventually won 6-1, having recovered from a broken leg earlier in the campaign. A freakier injury in 2016 saw him hurt his back, whilst getting out of his car, and miss a succession of matches. Sent off at Newcastle on Boxing Day 2013, as he had been for Wednesday at Coventry and Oldham in the 2004-05 campaign, he commanded a million-pound fee in joining Championship side Villa. Successive Wembley play-off finals followed in 2018, losing 1-0 to Fulham, and 2019, defeating Derby County 2-1 to return to the top flight, Whelan scoring against Middlesbrough and his former club Wednesday. Having been a Hearts team-mate of Michael Smith, he made his first appearance for Fleetwood in the goalless draw at The Mem in January 2020, his second appearance against the Gas coming over sixteen years after his first, before his time with the Shrimpers was cut short by an Achilles injury. A strong-minded individual, he turned Good Samaritan in February 2017, providing CCTV footage to support the legal case of the family of David O’Driscoll, who had been hit by a Mercedes-Benz whilst walking to work in Wilmslow.
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Post by gashead4ever on Sept 7, 2021 22:30:45 GMT
wes hoolahan at 38 was quality for Cambridge last season
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Post by rovers5charlton5 on Oct 11, 2021 17:38:48 GMT
How do people think he's impacting our games?
I think he goes unnoticed in most games, he's obviously lost any athleticism he ever had, but he keeps things simple, looks around and finds the simple pass.
A good signing in my opinion.
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Post by straighouttabristol on Oct 11, 2021 17:43:07 GMT
How do people think he's impacting our games? I think he goes unnoticed in most games, he's obviously lost any athleticism he ever had, but he keeps things simple, looks around and finds the simple pass. A good signing in my opinion. Haven’t watched any games this season so can’t say how’s he performed but having a player of his experience in prem and international football can only be good in the dressing room and for younger players which will show over the season
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Post by Hugh Jarsole on Oct 11, 2021 17:43:55 GMT
How do people think he's impacting our games? I think he goes unnoticed in most games, he's obviously lost any athleticism he ever had, but he keeps things simple, looks around and finds the simple pass. A good signing in my opinion. Thought he had a good game on the weekend, was vocal, put himself in decent positions and at 37 played a 100 minute match. Its weird, he kind of goes unnoticed but isn't a bad player, he has surprised me to be honest
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Post by WeAreTheGas on Oct 11, 2021 17:46:14 GMT
Think he’s been fairly decent so far. He is what he is at his age.
Don’t particularly like him and Coutts as a partnership due to the lack of athleticism and pace between them, but obviously needs must with Grant & Finley out atm.
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Post by bobbyjones on Oct 11, 2021 17:50:53 GMT
This chap has been played at the highest level, hope he can bring to Rovers what Mark Walters did for us 20years ago! He would have been young enough 20 years ago not now.
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Post by gonzales on Oct 11, 2021 18:21:51 GMT
Think he’s been fairly decent so far. He is what he is at his age. Don’t particularly like him and Coutts as a partnership due to the lack of athleticism and pace between them, but obviously needs must with Grant & Finley out atm. Yes that really showed on Saturday, Carlisle looked threatening due to our inability to keep up with their players dribbling from central midfield.
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Post by WeAreTheGas on Oct 11, 2021 18:51:02 GMT
Think he’s been fairly decent so far. He is what he is at his age. Don’t particularly like him and Coutts as a partnership due to the lack of athleticism and pace between them, but obviously needs must with Grant & Finley out atm. Yes that really showed on Saturday, Carlisle looked threatening due to our inability to keep up with their players dribbling from central midfield. Unfortunately for us we won’t be playing sides as sh*te as Carlisle for the rest of the season! Whelan & Coutts looked like two pub players trying to keep up with Swindon’s midfield.
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