After the Arsenal match Pulis comments on Edu: "We have taken the lad Edu, well, we are hoping to do a deal,'' http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/166925.html?CMP=OTC-RSS#idqvzXEPT68BECbc.99 Sounds like its not an entirely done deal yet.
Deal is done pending medical and work permit. The "well, we are hoping to do a deal" refers to Huddlestone.
New thread as soon as it's completely official. And I vote for some variant of the "Mo bids Edu to Rangers, Stoked to be a Potter" stuff that people have tossed around.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/...s/tony-pulis-jurgen-klinsmann-praised-1282762 Looks like Klinsmann strikes again. This guy is doing wonders for our national team. he can get anyone a job
Since the binman joined I've never heard a Rangers fans express a liking for him. More along the lines of he is utter gash and cannot play football. Although I think he has become more liked over the years for loyalty ands sacrificing himself for the team more than his ability. When we signed him from Wigan it was not a popular signing at all. Edu pretty much had the same journey. He became more popular and considering his limited ability he's done a good job. I do not grudge him his move at all and I hope he kicks on now.
He was not popular, but he was, from what I read more popular than Edu for being a "bluenose" and "at least he hates celtic" etc. which is what I was talking about. I think Edu did not catch on for a number of reasons with the more "hardcore" fans - which is who usually posts those boards anyway - and one of them was McCulloch was "at least" a Ger through and through. And truth be told, over the last few years as money got tight, I've seen few signings that Gers fans have been to excited about. But, like I said, while it is not the primary reason, it is part of the package of Mo not catching on with the fans (lack of goals is another - despite the Valencia goal and the Celtic winner) I can find you plenty of quotes praising McCulloch for being a "real" Ranger.
Very rarely have I heard the binman cheered at Ibrox. Mo had a bit of a cult following. My gut is he's just a very average footballer that's made the most of his talent. Nothing wrong with hard work. Maybe he will prove me wrong at Stoke. Sebo had a cult following at Ibrox as well and he was worse than rubbish!
Just going by the boards, McCulloch seemed more appreciated - If only in the "Christ even he'd be better" way. Edu is no Inesta, his passing and shooting lack accuracy and vision too often. But he hit just enough 22 yarders with the left at Gers to know he can do it - and he had a decent number of shots - if he can up the accuracy just a bit for both passes and shots he can be more than "very average." Never brilliant, but he could help them at Stoke for sure.
No doubt - but being 4k miles away makes it a bit tricky some days. And my point was not about that - it was about many US fans feeling that Edu was playing crappy at Gers. I think that came as much from reading the message boards as watching him play. Again, he had more appearances than any other Ger, fouled more - and suffered more fouls - had a decent number of shot. His goal production was low for his shots, but from watching him and the rest of the side play I didn't feel he was any worse than Boca on moments or McCulloch or a good number of other Gers - in a position where he had a lot of touches and was expected to cover a lot of grass. He shots were poor and he is better when allowed to lay back more, but I felt the last two years his actual play was better than it was reported here, and the comments about Lee were just one small part of the perception of Mo being worse than I think he was. And, as I posted before, when you are the 1st choice or one of the two 1st choice starting CM's at Gers you tend to get an EPL sniff - which seems to be happening. Stoke is perfect for Edu in that Pulis is very defense minded and wants everything pumped to Crouch. I don't think it will be great of Edu's game, actually, but if it goes through it will be good for his pocketbook.
It funny. A lot of them seem to. And you do see them back there a lot as well. The one thing I do not miss is the rain.