Richie Wellens

[Fox92]

As far as I can see, he was laughing at Brown's mediocre scoring record whilst conveniently ignoring the fact that his own record is absolutely disgraceful. This, despite the fact that others in our midfield (notably Kingy, but also Gallagher and dyer) have chipped in with important goals for us for years now. Those in glass houses and all that... .

I think he may have been having a little joke with an old team mate.

And, he isn't the type of player to score 10/15/20/30 a season from midfield, he does the defensive side of things. Look at Claude Makelele, he hardly scored for Chelsea (in fact, thats what Lampard/Cole etc were there for) but was still an essential part of the side.

Gallagher is an attacker so he should score goals and King sits in a more attacking role than Wellens. You don't have to score goals to be a good player.

Has the gobshite withdrawn his transfer request yet? The fact that Vitor and Abe are a million times better than the fat northern twat and apparantly can't communicate with anyone else in the team shows just what a **** he is.

It has been stated that Wellens didn't hand it a transfer request.

And how can you say Vitor is better than Wellens when they play in different positons and are complete different players, obviously?

I take other people's points about scoring not being everything, but beyond the "grit" everyone seems to attribute to him (which I personally see as being crap at tackling and insolent with referees), what are his attributes?

I see him as the grit of the side. The defensive side, getting stuck in and tackling where the other midfielders don't.

Looking for and then playing passes that are more than 10 yards. Trying a pass that others wouldn't.

A fantastic first touch, close control and passing ability.

[YukiAbe22]

Wellens is just incredibly worried that he is going to get pushed out of the squad because he has not got the quality of the other players,

the way he is using the Language Barrier is just ridiculous

since i know for a fact that Moreno, Vitor and Lamey can already speak good English.

Abe is the only player who cannot do so and his is greatly improving.

I Admire Wellens's fight during the game but he really needs to put in some effort now and again i he wants to keep his place.

[Trav Le Bleu]

His point may have been somewhat clumsily stated, but it is an entirely valid one to make. Fact is that Wellens isn't a politician or academic, he's a footballer.

It's perfectly fair and obvious to say that it's going to take a player from Tokyo or Lisbon longer to settle in than players from Barnsley or Watford, it's just common sense. He isn't saying we shouldn't have foreign players, just that their integration into the squad will take longer because of linguistic and cultural differences. Under Pearson, almost all of our squad were either English or had played in England and were therefore easily able to integrate. If I moved over to Japan tomorrow and got a job there, I guarantee that as a newbie it would take me longer to get settled than a colleague from another Japanese city.

I would just like to say that you are the most consistently valid contributor to the FT Forum Bilo.

[OzFox]

I think he may have been having a little joke with an old team mate.

And, he isn't the type of player to score 10/15/20/30 a season from midfield, he does the defensive side of things. Look at Claude Makelele, he hardly scored for Chelsea (in fact, thats what Lampard/Cole etc were there for) but was still an essential part of the side.

Gallagher is an attacker so he should score goals and King sits in a more attacking role than Wellens. You don't have to score goals to be a good player.

It has been stated that Wellens didn't hand it a transfer request.

And how can you say Vitor is better than Wellens when they play in different positons and are complete different players, obviously?

I see him as the grit of the side. The defensive side, getting stuck in and tackling where the other midfielders don't.

Looking for and then playing passes that are more than 10 yards. Trying a pass that others wouldn't.

A fantastic first touch, close control and passing ability.

Agree with all of that. Wish he'd improve his shooting though.

Alan Young said last week that Wellens would be one of the first names on his teamsheet. Slight difference of opinion with some of the posters on here...

[C-man]

Richie Wellens eats his dog, eats his dog

Richie Wellens eats his dog

And plays football

[Roy Cropper]

I think he may have been having a little joke with an old team mate.

And, he isn't the type of player to score 10/15/20/30 a season from midfield, he does the defensive side of things. Look at Claude Makelele, he hardly scored for Chelsea (in fact, thats what Lampard/Cole etc were there for) but was still an essential part of the side.

Gallagher is an attacker so he should score goals and King sits in a more attacking role than Wellens. You don't have to score goals to be a good player.

It has been stated that Wellens didn't hand it a transfer request.

And how can you say Vitor is better than Wellens when they play in different positons and are complete different players, obviously?

I see him as the grit of the side. The defensive side, getting stuck in and tackling where the other midfielders don't.

Looking for and then playing passes that are more than 10 yards. Trying a pass that others wouldn't.

A fantastic first touch, close control and passing ability.

I can't compare him to Vitor but you can compare him to Claude Makalele??

[Ric Flair]

He's like the majority of our players, massively incosistent. When he's on form, he's a very good player but he's guilty of going missing on many occasions and should keep his trap shut. Oakley has been twice the player that Wellens has been this season.

[Kitchandro]

Here we go with everyone playing the racism card again

Can someone quote a sentence which is racist from either of those articles.

And for what it's worth, he's right. If they don't learn the language it will be more difficult for them. And I'm as concerned as him about the idea that Santa Cruz would come. Sorry but I don't see how bringing in a bunch of big names on short term will help us.

[Kitchandro]

What this article proves is that our fans are all about favouritism. It's highlighted all the people that hate Wellens, and they are using any reason to get on his back.

If one of the fan favourites like Waghorn or King had said the same thing no one would be having a go.

[AmyLGK]

What this article proves is that our fans are all about favouritism. It's highlighted all the people that hate Wellens, and they are using any reason to get on his back.

If one of the fan favourites like Waghorn or King had said the same thing no one would be having a go.

If you read the second of my first too posts you'll see you're wrong there as I state that I love him! Also nowhere have I played the racism card - I merely said that his comments were uncomfortable to read - I think he was being ignorant more than anything.

Obviously that's just me and there have been some posters in here that have played the racism card - but don't tar us all with the same brush thanks!

[acooling08]

Racist? You guys are idiots. His point is completely valid.

[Fox92]

I can't compare him to Vitor but you can compare him to Claude Makalele??

Vitor is a defender, Wellens is a midfielder.

And if you read it, I stated that Wellens 'is like' Makelele. Thats not comparing.

[Kitchandro]

If you read the second of my first too posts you'll see you're wrong there as I state that I love him! Also nowhere have I played the racism card - I merely said that his comments were uncomfortable to read - I think he was being ignorant more than anything.

Obviously that's just me and there have been some posters in here that have played the racism card - but don't tar us all with the same brush thanks!

I was not necessarily referring to your comments, however I do think you are stirring up unecessary trouble by posting this article, this kind of thing will only get fans to turn on their own players. At the end of the day you're making something out of nothing and it's a bit unfair.

[Kitchandro]

With regards to Wellens being crap - bullshit.

I have seen about 2 poor performances this season - one of them was against QPR.

Overall I think he's still been an important player this season and as I've said many times before he makes our midfield tick.

How can anyone say Abe is better after a couple of decent performances. I think everyone just wants him to be better because he played at the world cup.

And If King scored the amount of goals as Wellens did I guarantee everyone would think Wellens is a better player.

[Babylon]

and did not in anyway come across as prejudice or racist.

Neither did Wellens... apart from to a few people who clearly don't know the meanings of the words.

[Babylon]

If you read the second of my first too posts you'll see you're wrong there as I state that I love him! Also nowhere have I played the racism card - I merely said that his comments were uncomfortable to read - I think he was being ignorant more than anything.

Errrrrrm.....

Bruno made this EXACT same point though on an interview on the OS and did not in anyway come across as arrogant, prejudice or racist.

Is that not suggesting Wellens is coming across as racist?

[ibbosuk]

I've been reading some articles on line this morning which quote Wellens following the match on Saturday, and I have to say I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable with some of the things he's saying. Hopefully it's just the papers slightly mis-quoting him and putting his comments in the wrong context.

Here are the links to the articles - see what you guys think:

http://www.thesun.co...-Preston-0.html

http://www.telegraph...ign-talent.html

I get what he's saying - that communication is key to a team and that therefore it'll take a bit longer for the foreign players who are learning English to settle in....but it's the way he's saying it! I'm also surprised that after Abe's brilliant performance at the weekend he's still saying stuff like that!! I just hope Wellens isn't another Wayne Brown in disguise!!

Or am I reading WAAAAAAAAY to much into it!?!?!

Wellens is a one decent game in 3 player, Oakley is one decent game in 5 player, I don't see how promotion can be achieved will either of these two players in the side come the Jan transfer window.

[Guest Bilo]

Pretty sure wellens has scored twice this season.

Yup. Macclesfield and Leeds, both Carling Cup games. As well as his penalty against Boro on the last day of last season. Hardly prolific but hardly comparable to Brown's scoring record either.

I would just like to say that you are the most consistently valid contributor to the FT Forum Bilo.

Pint for you next time I see you chap.

[Dr The Singh]

Can we all stop using the 'racist' card for the vaguest of things!! Being a coloured, I get rather annoyed, because fookers think we coloured use and abuse it, yet it's the whiteys that tend to bring the fooking subject up!!!!

PS - Wellens maybe a tool, but his point is simple, it's easier for the squad to adjust to local talent then foriegn talent that can't speak english or punjabli!!!

[AmyLGK]

Errrrrrm.....

Is that not suggesting Wellens is coming across as racist?

No, no, no - that was in reference to what the other posters were saying about Wellens sounding racist - I was trying - evidently not articulate enough - to make the point that both Wellens AND Berner were making basically exactly the same point - but no one though Bruno was racist cause of the way he said it. Wellens has come across as ignorant and not really a team player in my opinion in what he says in those articles. Again - I did not mention racism!

And as for the poster who said I'm trying to turn people against players - what total utter bullshit! READ MY SECOND POST WHERE I SAY I LOVE WELLENS! I don't determine peoples opinions of players!

[Dr The Singh]

No, no, no - that was in reference to what the other posters were saying about Wellens sounding racist - I was trying - evidently not articulate enough - to make the point that both Wellens AND Berner were making basically exactly the same point - but no one though Bruno was racist cause of the way he said it. Wellens has come across as ignorant and not really a team play in my opinion in what he says in those articles.

And as for the poster who said I'm trying to turn people against players - what total utter bullshit! READ MY SECOND POST WHERE I SAY I LOVE WELLENS! I don't determine peoples opinions of players!

You say that to all the boys!!!!

[AmyLGK]

You say that to all the boys!!!!

Only those who show some passion!

[z-layrex]

Can we all stop using the 'racist' card for the vaguest of things!! Being a coloured, I get rather annoyed, because fookers think we coloured use and abuse it, yet it's the whiteys that tend to bring the fooking subject up!!!!

PS - Wellens maybe a tool, but his point is simple, it's easier for the squad to adjust to local talent then foriegn talent that can't speak english or punjabli!!!

There are quite a few overly-PC do gooder types on this board. The kind of person who brings up race when no one was even thinking about it, e.g. 'equality and diversity' people.

[Dr The Singh]

Only those who show some passion!

[Kitchandro]

No, no, no - that was in reference to what the other posters were saying about Wellens sounding racist - I was trying - evidently not articulate enough - to make the point that both Wellens AND Berner were making basically exactly the same point - but no one though Bruno was racist cause of the way he said it. Wellens has come across as ignorant and not really a team player in my opinion in what he says in those articles. Again - I did not mention racism!

And as for the poster who said I'm trying to turn people against players - what total utter bullshit! READ MY SECOND POST WHERE I SAY I LOVE WELLENS! I don't determine peoples opinions of players!

It's irrelevant what you think of Wellens - your first post, the thread subject, will bring all the Wellens haters out of the woodwork, many of which will accuse him of racism. The point is you implied that there was a hint of racism when you said 'I just hope Wellens isn't another Wayne Brown in disguise!!'.

I think you know what your article implies so don't make out the idea of racism never entered your head