Peter Whittingham Appreciation Thread

[King Gizzard]

http://www.vansdirect.co.uk/files/content-images/07%20Peter%20Whittingham.jpg

Peter Michael Whittingham (born 8 September 1984 in Nuneaton) is an English professional footballer currently playing for Cardiff City in the Football League Championship. Whittingham was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire in 1984 and attended school at King Henry VIII School, Coventry.

[King Gizzard]

We love you Peter

[Ramsay]

Peter!!
http://i4.bebo.com/049a/13/large/2009/09/12/12/2914878839a11581129231l.jpg

[King Gizzard]

http://www.football-league.co.uk/javaImages/a/51/0,,10794~7622922,00.jpg

[King Gizzard]

http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2009/12/whittingham415.jpg

''Ooh Betty the cats done a woopsie''

[King Gizzard]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45024000/jpg/_45024448_-2.jpg

''Play that funky music whiteboy''

[Ramsay]

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00894/Peter_Whittingham_2_894299a.jpg

[Ramsay]

http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c12341/44_1209755861.jpg

[Ramsay]

http://www.urmyhero.co.uk/imgviewer/thumbnail/43814

future england star

[King Gizzard]

Peter chilling on a bridge, as you do

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/12/article-0-0833022B000005DC-932_306x666.jpg

[King Gizzard]

http://www.sodasoccer.com/picture/photo_play/030017130.jpg

http://www.bongda24h.vn/images/cauthu/whittingham.jpg

[Chels]

LOL!!!!!!
thread of the year

[King Gizzard]

I am AC milan on football manager

and I signed him, and even though hes not good enoughm, i start him every game

[Chels]

that's just how special he is

[\PJ/]

who?

[Chels]

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?ref=sgm&id=505706399

:laugh:

[Chels]

who?

:shocked:

that's an offence

[King Gizzard]

who? WHO!!?!!?!

WHO?!?!?!!

PJ how can you not know this man!

[King Gizzard]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/sambrynteg/PeterWhittingham.jpg

[\PJ/]

he looks like rob bryden in that first picture big chin with a small mouth that can't fiit all of the teeth in.

[Chels]

pj has just upset the nation :(

[King Gizzard]

Peters lookalikes

http://image.com.com/tv/images/genie_images/story/2009/i/inbetweeners_stars_g.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45943000/jpg/_45943417_bbc_royle_little203x300.jpg


http://img.skysports.com/09/11/402x210/Soccer-AM-Behind-The-Scenes-DVD-02_2383033.jpg

http://img.skysports.com/09/08/218x298/ChrisNutbeamportrait800_2344975.jpg

http://img.skysports.com/09/12/295x160/DanceoffChris800_2402215.jpg

[Chels]

lol!!!

we love you peter, we do

[King Gizzard]

12 goals in 17 games, 9 in the last 6, milestone hat-tricks, countless assists: yep, life is sweet for the left-midfielder at present. So pointing and laughing at Iridonian Zabraks aside, here are a full roster of toes explaining how and why Peter Whittingham is currently more potent in attack than the Luftwaffe was over London in September 1940. (NB – This list isn’t compiled in any kind of rank order)

(1). His new-found willingness to track back and tuck in have led to his team-mates and manager appreciating him more. Confidence, as they say, breeds confidence, and with extra trust being instilled in him by the tactician and fellow City players, Whittingham’s other assets have been accentuated. When you add this extra facet to his already versatile presence in midfield (AMC/AML/AMR), it’s little wonder that Whittingham’s importance and standing in the group has soared.

(2). A shift in the team’s tactical approach leads to more opportunities for Whittingham to ghost into the box. As we sit with our two banks of four off-ball, there is a more cohesive and systematic style to the way in which we gallop upfield upon winning the sponsor-laden leather-jacketed balloon back. This isn’t to say that it’s not beautiful – quite the opposite, in fact. Nevertheless, the training ground-routine goals we’ve seen this season from the team and our no. 7 in particular emphasise the importance of this invigorated cog-esque tactical discipline. The Nuneaton Nani, now starting moves from deeper, is able to get into the box without stalling or reconsidering his options at just the right time to sweep the ball in. Plus, being the class act he is, he retains the option of splicing an entire team with a single killer pass from deep.

(3). The steady presence of Chris Burke out on the right. Last season, Burke’s appearances were sporadic, and there were the likes of Quincy, McCormack and Parry to try/accomodate out in the wide positions. This season however, the Glaswegian has had a clean bill of health and thus, Cardiff’s chalk aficionados have used this consistency to offer more penetration than David Duchovny at a swinger’s party. Burke isn’t an all-out luxury player because he seems to relish defensive responsibilities. Nevertheless, he can dribble and jinx in a manner akin to the kinds of players Scotland was once famed for churning out, and it’s this constant attacking mien that imbibes opposition defenders, thereby offering Whitts the chance to gatecrash the goalkeeper’s territory. Sure, McCormack has the ability to cause this kind of hysteria amongst adversaries too. However, the crucial difference is that Burke is selfless and will opt to go out wide and put a ball into the box for a fellow Bluebird, whereas McCormack tends to try and do it all himself, generally preferring the direct carrying-down-the-centre option.

(4). The Chopra-Bothroyd strike partnership. We’ve had a settled presence up front this season due to the tender ages of Etuhu and Magennis, the uselessness of Feeney, and the injury to McCormack. The Chopra-Bothroyd pairing is perfect for a player like Whittingham: As neither are the run-on-to-the-ball-over-the-top or cross-to-forehead types, they’ll constantly be back in amongst the midfield areas tendering passing druthers. Both are content with receiving the ball on the flanks too, and this lets Whittingham come in and attack from a more centralised location. Correspondingly, Bothroyd’s superb ability to hold the ball up allows Whittingham to jettison the now-binned defensive sitting and move into an attacking area in which to endeavour. As an attacking triumvirate with Chris Burke and Stephen McPhail feeding them, and Joe Ledley a member of the supporting cast, not many Championship defences are able to cope.

fantasiste(5). The form of Stephen McPhail. In Italy, the cult of the Fantasista is deeply embedded into the football culture. A team without one is something of an anomaly, as Jose Mourinho has discovered (though Wesley Sneijder is now slowly starting to grow into the string-pulling role for Inter). Even yo-yo clubs like Reggina (Francesco Cozza), and Livorno (Antonio Candreva) consider the role to be a necessary component in the team, and such players are idolised by the tifosi despite their side’s constant on-pitch struggles. While the majority of fantasistas tend to operate in the trequartista role (Totti, Maradona, Diego to name a few), there are others like Andrea Pirlo who are utilized deeper in a quarterback role. It is l’Architetto who McPhail most resembles, but unfortunately for the Irishman, he’s always struggled to convince City fans of such a luxury player’s worth. It’s an inherently British way of thinking with regards to the sport.
Such wizards are rarely appreciated (David Dunn offers an exception that only serves to prove the rule: nevertheless, his status as *local lad* has played a large part in Blackburn fans’ appreciation of him), and even the Top Four rarely risk such players (see Benitez’s sheer fear of the relative renegade Benayoun). Anyone perceived not to be running about like a headless chicken or making safe two-yard passes is the scourge of the terraces. Imagination is to be stifled, primarily because (admittedly) it takes a number of bad balls before one gets it just right. Luckily for the team and McPhail himself, the increased solidity, movement and collective understanding of the side in the offensive positions this season has led to his renaissance. In fact, it’s been such a turnaround that he’s considered a must-pick by all and sundry at present! Aided by Ledley’s sheer uselessness in comparison, and Chopra’s reading of his clever through-balls, McPhail has also struck up a delightful give-and-go partnership with Whittingham that see the two most visionary players on our side bamboozling anyone daring enough to try and out-think or physically intimidate them. With such intelligence forming the blueprint of all City’s foray forwards (aided too by more of a willingness to try a bit of the melina at the back and build patiently via shorter David Marshall distributions), City are devilishly tricky to snatch the ball from for wave-breakers of all shapes and sizes.

(6). Luck. If we’re going to quantify Whittingham’s success in terms of goals, then the amount of times he’s been given free set-piece opportunities to add to his tally has certainly helped his sparkling 09/10 form. With McCormack screwing up latter-stage 08/09 dot-shots, and then continuing to do so in pre-season, Chopra was supposed to assume the PK-taking berth. However, amidst the no. 8 and Bothroyd having a cat-fight over twelve-yard duties, Whittingham has now been granted sole responsibility for converting the endless set-pieces the team wins, and our league position is all the healthier for it.

(7). The club’s permanent unearthing of a training ground and our groundsmen’s constant pristine pitch-tending means that Whittingham’s technical ability is never left to rot. Self-explanatory in a sense, although I can elaborate further. Speaking in the summer of 2008, Dave Jones noted thus: “Two seasons ago we did not train on grass for three months because the pitches were waterlogged, and for several weeks the astroturf pitches were too dangerous to play on.” Therefore, it was impossible to expect members of the squad to enhance technique during their spells with Cardiff City. Now however, it isn’t just Peter who’s reaping the benefits of not only being able to play his home games on a lush turf, but also working on doing so in practise sessions at freshly-acquired first-class training facilities.

(8). The benefits of consecutive pre-seasons spent in Portugal are showing. Intensive workouts, compounded with ball work on gorgeous bits of lawn have led to Whittingham’s technical ability remaining of the highest standard, and his fitness levels being more than adequate for a player at this level of the game. Correspondingly, lack of involvement with any international side since EURO 2007 (U21) means that he’s been able to manoeuvre and focus on one season to the next working solely with players in a single squad.

whittingham_peter_avfc_profile_2006(9). His quiet personality and paucity of received media scrutiny makes for a non-egotistical worthy wage-earner. Unlike Paul Parry and his marriage troubles, international retirements and general batches of disinterest in life and sport, Whittingham isn’t one for magniloquent rants in the press, sloppy clandestine flings, or going off on two-day benders and missing training. This continued and maintained professional approach off-field has surely helped spur the (still, kinda) youngster onto greater heights.

(10). In a similar vein, the further away his time spent with the England U21s and Villa gets, the more grounded he has become. Perhaps at long last the realisation that he’s at this level until he hauls himself out of it has sunk in. He can no longer afford to think like the proverbial prima-donna or become accustomed to that Premier League lifestyle and all it entails.

[Chels]

where did you find that lol

[King Gizzard]

My best friend google

[Chels]

looks like it's from a newspaper LOL

we love you peter, we do
we love you peter, we do
we love you peter, we do
ohhhh peter we love you!

whitts! *clap clap clap*

[King Gizzard]

very good

[King Gizzard]

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/covtelegraph/oct2009/6/4/image-2-for-cardiff-city-2-coventry-city-0-in-pictures-gallery-947515506.jpg

mark hudson taking out Claymores

[Chels]

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/covtelegraph/oct2009/6/4/image-2-for-cardiff-city-2-coventry-city-0-in-pictures-gallery-947515506.jpg

mark hudson taking out Claymores

that's my boy! :')

[King Gizzard]

he is nearly as amazing as me

[Chels]

oh crap just read whitts is out with a torn groin! **** :(

[bbfan1991]

:thumbs:.. I've like Whittingham since he was at Villa, he's a decent player and glad he is happy at Cardiff where he's getting a lot of first team football and improving rather than going to a PL team:).

[Ramsay]

Aston Villa

Whittingham was part of the FA Youth Cup winning side of 2002 and signed a four-year professional contract in October 2002.

He made his first team debut on 21 April, 2003 against Newcastle United, a second-half substitution for Gareth Barry, and made an immediate impact, seeing a powerful shot pushed over the bar by Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, which earned plaudits from his team-mates. He went on to make 32 appearances in his first full season at the club, season 2003/4, scoring his first goal against Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup on 23 September, 2003.[2] He was rewarded with a one-year extension of his contract.

He failed to hold down a regular first team place in the Villa side over the next three years despite gaining a reputation as a skillful winger with a fierce shot. He was loaned out to both Derby County[3] and Burnley[4] to get some first team games, and scored his first league goal for Villa against Portsmouth in November 2004.[5]
[edit] Cardiff City

In January 2007 after making just 4 appearances for Villa since the start of the season he was transferred to Cardiff City for a reported fee of £350,000 as he had become surplus to requirements at Villa Park and was out of contract in the summer[6]. He quickly established himself in the side and was a first team member until the end of the year with midfield competition Joe Ledley moved to left-back due to a small squad. However the summer 2007 arrival of Tony Capaldi meant that Ledley was no longer needed to cover in defence and went back to his normal position of left midfield meaning Whittingham started the season on the bench.

But by mid-November Cardiff found themselves just above the relegation zone which prompted a minor reshuffle from boss Dave Jones involving Chris Gunter and Whittingham returning to the starting line-up. His return to the side saw him moved to an unfamiliar role on the right side of midfield but he soon settled into the role and started the majority of the remaining matches of the season, as well as being the clubs top scorer with 3 goals during their FA Cup run which saw Whittingham score in matches against Chasetown, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Middlesbrough eventually losing 1-0 to Portsmouth in the final.

The start of the 2008-09 season saw Whittingham continue playing on the right side of midfield, scoring his first goal of the season on 26 August in a 2–1 victory over Milton Keynes Dons in the Carling Cup. By November, Whittingham was one of only two players who had featured in every game of the season so far for Cardiff, along with centre-back Roger Johnson, when he ruptured ankle ligaments during a 2–1 win over Crystal Palace on 15 November which was expected to keep him out for up to three months.[7] However he returned to the side ahead of schedule, coming on as a late substitute during a 1–1 draw with Reading on 26 December,[8] going on to make his 100th appearance in all competitions for Cardiff when he played in a 2–0 defeat to Norwich City in March.

In the first game of the 2009–10 season, Whittingham converted a penalty during a 4–0 win over Scunthorpe United in the first ever competitive match at the Cardiff City Stadium and scored in consecutive rounds of the League Cup in wins over Dagenham & Redbridge and Bristol Rovers. Having been appointed the first choice penalty taker for the club, he took his league goal tally to three with goals in consecutive matches in a 3–1 defeat to against Sheffield Wednesday followed by a 6–1 win over Derby County, during which he made his 200th professional career appearance. He continued his scoring form with a brace against Watford and singles against Crystal Palace and Coventry City followed by a hat-trick against Sheffield United, the first of his professional career. On 14 November 2009 Whittingham earned the October Player of the Month.[9] On 29 November, Whittingham scored his 13th goal of the season in all competitions against Ipswich Town with a fine volley, although Cardiff lost the game 2-1.

[King Gizzard]

What a great read

[Ramsay]

Ye made a big mistake selling him Nathan

[King Gizzard]

Peters spirit is what made the Bluebirds win yesterday

[Chels]

Peters spirit is what made the Bluebirds win yesterday
he wasn't playing lmao

[King Gizzard]

he wasn't playing lmao


that is why i said spirit !

[Chels]

that is why i said spirit !

ohhh
he's out until the end of the month D:

[King Gizzard]

Yep bad times

He might get to do some birdwatching now

[Chels]

can imagine him sitting there with binoculars and a book trying to spot a few parrotts

[King Gizzard]

yep on that bridge, then he suddenly loses balance and falls in

[Chels]

haha such brilliance
that bridge is by the vale training ground

[King Gizzard]

Have you been on it?

Your mission is to do the same pose one day. I shall give you 5 gold stars if you ever manage to do it

[King Gizzard]

http://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/33arnty.jpg

[Chels]

Have you been on it?

Your mission is to do the same pose one day. I shall give you 5 gold stars if you ever manage to do it

next time i'm there i'll do it just for a laugh :p

[Chels]

might make that my wallpaper

[King Gizzard]

Great stuff Chelsea dagger

[King Gizzard]

http://s4.faceinhole.com/10/3/7/dfcfd7da371425143a3.jpg

[Chels]

might listen to that song now.
whitts needs an official song.

[Chels]

LOL @ whitts the sheep :L :L :L

[King Gizzard]

http://s4.faceinhole.com/10/3/7/bdd9d7da371429f2ad.jpg

imagine if you woke up one morning, went to the shop and saw that

[Chels]

imagine if you woke up one morning, went to the shop and saw that

i'd probably cry
and worship it everyday

[King Gizzard]

http://s4.faceinhole.com/10/3/7/e71e57da37142c14107.jpg

[King Gizzard]

Do you ever tell Blaine about tibb? LOL

[Chels]

Do you ever tell Blaine about tibb? LOL

nah he's clueless :L

[Chels]

http://s4.faceinhole.com/10/3/7/e53957da37142f32e5.jpg

whitts on his seasonal holiday to trecco bay

[Beastie]

He looks cool!

[bbfan1991]

I think he looks a bit like George Lamb:shocked::joker:.

[Chels]

I think he looks a bit like George Lamb:shocked::joker:.

:shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked:

poor whitts! that's the worst thing you could have said :nono:

[King Gizzard]

61 posts all about peter what an achievement

[Chels]

that amount will triple within the next 48 hours

[King Gizzard]

I wouldnt put money on that happening lol

[Chels]

or me im just talking **** lol

[King Gizzard]

Who is this imposter that appears when I put in Peter Whittingham in google images!

http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/resources/artforms/music/artist%20of%20month/Paul%20Towndrow/PAUL_TOWNDROW_LOOKIN_UP.jpg

[Ramsay]

what a hero

[Chels]

Official site hasn't yet been updated with his new club photo

Can't wait to see it, we know it will be legendary