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Published: Thursday 04 Sep 2008
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Eagles supporters give their views on Stoke new boy Tom Soares

The Eagle landed at the Britannia Stadium this week

by Dave Knapper
dave.knapper@thesentinel.co.uk

AFTER rising through the youth ranks at Crystal Palace, Tom Soares enjoyed five successful years in South London before bidding farewell and joining the Potters this week.
Why Delilah’s Dave Knapper caught up with a group of Palace supporters to find out a little more about the Stoke new boy.

THE last time Tom Soares played at the Britannia Stadium he nearly de-railed the Potters’ push for the Premier League.

His strike against City in March set Crystal Palace on their way to a 2-1 victory and left Stoke’s chances of automatic promotion hanging by a thread.

Now a Potter, after completing a £1.25 million switch to the Britannia Stadium on Monday, Soares is hoping to play a part in helping Stoke maintain their Premier League status.

But can he add the creativity that City need in the side?

Eddy Bartram, a 17-year-old Palace fan from Brighton, believes he can.

He said: “Tom is an extremely talented player with the ball at his feet. He can beat players and create something from nothing.

“When he hasn't got the ball he tends to be out of the game a bit.

“He isn't lazy and will work back and help the defence, but when the opposition have the ball he is usually 20 yards away from it.

“Don't get me wrong, he isn't out of position at all, and is usually marking an attacking player, but he isn't a rugged Roy Keane midfieler.

“The can score goals, and at times can run the game single-handedly.

“Tom will be your Robinho!” Steady on Eddy.

Watch out Glen, Tom's back in the Premier League...

Sean Miller, a 21-year-old advertising salesman from Crystal Palace, gave a similar view - minus the reference to a certain Brazilian.

He said: “He is an evidently talented and athletic player, yet can go missing for large parts of a game/season. He can play wide right - where he is most liable to go missing - or more preferably in the centre, where his driving runs can be more effectively put to use, and where he was especially influential in our run to the play-offs last season.

“Although I rate him quite highly, ask another Palace fan and they'll tell you we were lucky to get £1.50 for him, let alone £1.5 million.

“He literally is Palace's Marmite, there's a section at Selhurst Park who chant his name after every pass, and others who will slag him off for the whole 90 minutes, regardless of performance.

“He was once voted 35th best player outside the Premier League, which shows he is highly regarded within the game, but it's just a case of showing his talent in every match - every other match would be an improvement.”

In recent years Palace have become somewhat of a breeding ground for talented youngsters.
Soares leaves behind Victor Moses, Sean Scannell and Ben Watson, who are all Palace regulars after coming through the club’s academy.

But how does he compare to the other youngsters at the club?

Tim Clarke, a 41-year-old, from South London, said: “For me, not a patch on the other three.

“Watson is a fine player and I cant understand why Stoke didn't come in for him instead.

“It's a bit too early to comment on Moses as he has played so few games, he is also a flair player so will always win the fans over.

“Scannell is very impressive if a bit lightweight - he can get bossed off the ball by a good defender.

“It is great that we have had so many players coming through our academy that can hold their own in the Championship.

“I hope that Tom does well but I suspect that he will be a bench player this season but more prominent if you return to the Championship.”

Fellow Palace youngster Ben Watson remains at Selhurst Park after a deadline day move for him collapsed

Paul Kida, a 21-year-old student from Croydon, said: “Ive always rated him higher than Ben Watson.

“He's more complete, more of an athlete, where as Ben Watson is more of a passer. He doesn't have the pace and skill of Moses and Scannell, but more experience.

“We couldn't sell Watson, we need money and one of them had to go. Slightly surprised to see him go but I'm not surprised it was to a Premier League club.

“He'll be cheered on his return to Selhurst, he's left on a high note, scored in his last match. I'll clap him.”

Jermain Jenas - Tom Soares in the making?

IT worker James Breen, from South Croydon, likens Soares to a current Premier League star.

The 28-year-old said: “He plays very similarly to Jermain Jenas in that he's not particularly skillful, he's pretty quick but not amazingly so, nor is he an above average tackler and he doesn't score that many goals. But, we were inexplicably better with him in the side as are Tottenham with Jenas for two reasons that many Palace fans failed to ever realise - Tom is an excellent retainer of the ball and his positional sense is absolutely superb.

“He is the epitome of the words ‘tidy midfielder’.

“Personally, although he wasn't much lauded here, I appreciated him and wish him all the best. He always showed passion and energy in a Palace shirt as I'm sure he will for Stoke. Good luck to him.”

Tom takes on Manchester United's Mikael Silvestre

Kevin Grealey, a 31-year-old Palace fan from South Croydon, said: “Tom, like his team mate Ben Watson are at that stage in their career when you expect them to move up a level. Back in the day when they were breaking into a team filled by the likes of Aki Riihilati, Lombardo and so on, they came through like a certain Victor Moses is now.

But both, and especially Tom, kind of stopped in their tracks, the talent was obviously there for all to see, but a lot of fans wondered why he never moved up a level and made his t shirt his own.

“Now palace have had several managers down the last few years and all of them never knew where to play him, that goes to prove nobody, fan nor manager knew his worth, to this day.

“But I think a change of scenery is what was needed. This maybe the step Tom needed to make to wake his career up a tad. Tom may prove to become a Stoke hero for years to come, because what you have here isn’t a player who'll request a move if a relegation comes, not a big time charley - and yet someone who'll put in far more effort than a big time Charlie.”

Stoke could be looking to utilise Soares’ pace by placing him on the flank, a move Kevin wouldn’t do.

He added: “I do hope, and believe, he's been a good purchase, just don’t let your manager play him on the wing, many managers make this mistake when observing his pace. You must play him central, that's his strongest position.”

Ben Mintram, a 16-year-old student, from Lewisham, said: “Stoke have got themselves a very good bargain.

“When you look at the money being thrown about in the modern day market I’d say Tom was worth at least double that and I personally was very disappointed by the money we received for him.

“I’m not totally surprised to see him go as Neil put him up for sale a few days before.

“We off-loaded him because we desperately needed the money having spent money on another midfielder Nick Carle earlier in the transfer window assuming Ben Watson would leave. That fell through with Ben only wanting to go to QPR where he could have higher wages and them not being that interested in him. Therefore we had to sell Tom at a cut down price.

“Despite being disappointed I really would like him to do well for you in the Premier League as it makes me feel proud to see our youngsters achieving a lot once leaving the club.

“All I can say now is good luck to you and Tom in the Premier League and I will be keeping an eye open for your results.”