Ross Stewart

[chiknsmack]

9 hours ago, a1ex2001 said:

He’s clearly broken, I will never understand why we signed him a terrible decision for a club with limited funds.

It's the same reason we signed Ings; if he's healthy he scores for fun. Unlike Ings he hasn't had a prolonged run of fitness and games (yet).

Having scored 10 in 13 in the Championship for Sunderland, if he'd come back in November of our last Championship season (as he did) and stayed fit thereafter (as he didn't) it's not unreasonable to think he'd have scored 20 in 31 for us in the Championship. On the back of that he could well have scored hatfuls in the Premier League; the floor for recent 20-goal Championship strikers is Akpom/Morris/Armstrong/BBD while the ceiling is Toney/Gyokeres/Solanke. As it was he played the equivalent of 4.3 games in the PL and scored once; that's the equivalent of eight or nine in a full season, or more if you think he'd have done better with more fitness and confidence from a good Championship campaign behind him.

Yes, "the best ability is availability". But as a club with limited funds, we can't afford many 10+ goal PL strikers - or even potential double-figure PL strikers - unless there's something wrong with them (eg. they might score 10+ in the PL if they stay fit (Ings, Stewart), or once they develop with experience (Downs, Mara)). Especially when we're in the Championship, as we were when we signed Stewart.

We can't afford stars, we don't want has-beens, we don't want tried and proven not-good-enoughs, so we're left buying maybes. The thing with maybes is maybe they pan out or maybe they don't. Welcome to Southampton FC.

[CampionSaint]

I think it's easy to judge in hindsight.  It was clearly a bit of a gamble and who knows what will happen in the next season or 2, but at £8m plus add ons (which I assume haven't been activiated) it wasn't an unreasonable amount for someone who had similarities to Rickie's reputation in lower leagues.  As pointed out above all you need is a season or 2 like Ings and they've repaid their fee.  I for one think that when he's fit he is our best striker and against Arsenal and even a little this season has shown his ability.  If it's just a mild illness then hopefully we'll see much more of him.  I for one am a bit more optimistic on him.     

Edited August 20 by CampionSaint

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, CampionSaint said:

I think it's easy to judge in hindsight.  It was clearly a bit of a gamble and who knows what will happen in the next season or 2, but at £8m plus add ons (which I assume haven't been activiated) it wasn't an unreasonable amount.  As pointed out above all you need is a season or 2 like Ings and they've repaid their fee.  I for one think that when he's fit he is our best striker and against Arsenal and even a little this season has shown his ability.  If it's just a mild illness then hopefully we'll see much more of him.  I for one am a bit more optimistic on him.     

unreasonable amount? It was pretty pretty sizeable in the Championship

[CampionSaint]

4 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

unreasonable amount? It was pretty pretty sizeable in the Championship

Archer was £15m and only scored 4 goals at most in the Prem and 11 is the most he's scored in the Champ.  I think the likes of Sargent and good Championship strikers are nearer £20m. 

[Weston Super Saint]

1 minute ago, CampionSaint said:

Archer was £15m and only scored 4 goals at most in the Prem and 11 is the most he's scored in the Champ.  I think the likes of Sargent and good Championship strikers are nearer £20m. 

So at £8m there should have been enough warning signs...

[saintant]

So what is it this week....injury, sickness or broken toenail?

[S-Clarke]

Just now, saintant said:

So what is it this week....injury, sickness or broken toenail?

I guess if we don't see him in any videos or photos this week, then it's not an illness - he's obviously had some other set back of sorts.

But let's see first, he may well be fine and back involved.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

I guess if we don't see him in any videos or photos this week, then it's not an illness - he's obviously had some other set back of sorts.

But let's see first, he may well be fine and back involved.

Covid I reckon…won’t make a joke about back in 2 weeks…

[disconnect]

1 hour ago, CampionSaint said:

I think it's easy to judge in hindsight.  It was clearly a bit of a gamble and who knows what will happen in the next season or 2, but at £8m plus add ons (which I assume haven't been activiated) it wasn't an unreasonable amount for someone who had similarities to Rickie's reputation in lower leagues.  As pointed out above all you need is a season or 2 like Ings and they've repaid their fee.  I for one think that when he's fit he is our best striker and against Arsenal and even a little this season has shown his ability.  If it's just a mild illness then hopefully we'll see much more of him.  I for one am a bit more optimistic on him.     

A very little this season - playing 10 minutes against a backs against the walls newly promoted team!

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Covid I reckon…won’t make a joke about back in 2 weeks…

Annoyingly whatever he had he may have also infected Downs with! 

[ErwinK1961]

Pretty sure Alfie alluded to it being the two Bob bits on the podcast.

[Patches O Houlihan]

On 20/08/2025 at 14:52, ErwinK1961 said:

Pretty sure Alfie alluded to it being the two Bob bits on the podcast.

Ross and Damien invited for chicken dinner at Flynn's house was it?!

[Gloucester Saint]

On 20/08/2025 at 14:52, ErwinK1961 said:

Pretty sure Alfie alluded to it being the two Bob bits on the podcast.

Caught in the plumsack during the warm up at Northampton and they’ve gone like aubergines?

[skintsaint]

What do we think the look he is going for in the long term?

[S-Clarke]

Yeah he needs to sort his beard out, it's a bit naff.

In terms of him generally, I'm pleased that he's getting through games and putting in decent mins. He had a decent contribution yesterday and got an assist for his work.

Maybe, just maybe, we can keep him fit. Chances are slim you'd have to say, but it's more positive than it's ever looked.

[Toadhall Saint]

17 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

What do we think the look he is going for in the long term?

Lamb chops

[OldNick]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

Yeah he needs to sort his beard out, it's a bit naff.

In terms of him generally, I'm pleased that he's getting through games and putting in decent mins. He had a decent contribution yesterday and got an assist for his work.

Maybe, just maybe, we can keep him fit. Chances are slim you'd have to say, but it's more positive than it's ever looked.

I thought Adam and Jo Tessum were harsh saying he should have scored that sliding chance, IMO it was a poor pass too far away for him by Shea. Ithought him with Archer was as good a combo weve seen this season

[Toussaint]

6 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I thought Adam and Jo Tessum were harsh saying he should have scored that sliding chance, IMO it was a poor pass too far away for him by Shea. Ithought him with Archer was as good a combo weve seen this season

I think if he gets a run, both of fitness and being played, he will be very good for us. 

[sadoldgit]

40 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I thought Adam and Jo Tessum were harsh saying he should have scored that sliding chance, IMO it was a poor pass too far away for him by Shea. Ithought him with Archer was as good a combo weve seen this season

Not sure about that. He also missed a header close in earlier on. His timing looks a bit off to me. Probably a bit rusty but I did expect both chances to end up in the back of the net. They were both chances that instinctive scorers snap up.

[Dan Johnson]

47 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I thought Adam and Jo Tessum were harsh saying he should have scored that sliding chance, IMO it was a poor pass too far away for him by Shea. Ithought him with Archer was as good a combo weve seen this season

Yeah I agree, thought the ball could have been better from Charles. Also agree about the partnership with Archer, they were busy all night and caused problems.

I'm looking forward to seeing him more to be honest. 

[OldNick]

7 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Not sure about that. He also missed a header close in earlier on. His timing looks a bit off to me. Probably a bit rusty but I did expect both chances to end up in the back of the net. They were both chances that instinctive scorers snap up.

The chance I mentioned should have been a tap in not having to slide in at full stretch, a brave attempt, 

[Chez]

1 minute ago, OldNick said:

The chance I mentioned should have been a tap in not having to slide in at full stretch, a brave attempt, 

He had no chance. It was overhit by Charles.