Ross Stewart

[S-Clarke]

It's the same argument as in the summer really, we cannot put all our eggs into the Ross Stewart basket. If we keep him around it should be on a deal which works for us, lower wage, shorter length, weighted towards appearances etc.

But we need to go out and buy a first choice striker, Stewart - if he stays - will be part of the squad, we need to go out and buy a Larin or similar who is going to be the main striker. We can't have a situation again where we are so poorly stacked up top with just Stewart as the only 'true' number 9 we have.

I'm somewhat discounting Downs as he's continued his 'non footballer' form at Hamburg too, so I think we can discount him ever being any use.

[Jack]

4 hours ago, Football Special said:

We're about to play a minimum of 8 games in a month, crazy schedule to end the season and we'll need Stewart to stay fit for as much of that as possible, he'll be keen to prove himself to earn another contract with us or elsewhere. Do we have an automatic option to extend? 

I feel like if he even plays half of the minutes from those 8+ games, we’re doing well out of him. Such a shame that he can’t be relied on and he can’t ever get a proper run of games to play himself into form. 
 

The other worry is we’re very reliant on Larin staying fit, he’ll need to chip in with a lot of minutes too. 

[pimpin4rizeal]

2 hours ago, Jack said:

I feel like if he even plays half of the minutes from those 8+ games, we’re doing well out of him. Such a shame that he can’t be relied on and he can’t ever get a proper run of games to play himself into form. 
 

The other worry is we’re very reliant on Larin staying fit, he’ll need to chip in with a lot of minutes too. 

For me jury is still out on larin as well, we know he’s a good physical presence but whether he can be a high scoring clinical striker is still a big question 

[Turkish]

6 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

It's the same argument as in the summer really, we cannot put all our eggs into the Ross Stewart basket. If we keep him around it should be on a deal which works for us, lower wage, shorter length, weighted towards appearances etc.

But we need to go out and buy a first choice striker, Stewart - if he stays - will be part of the squad, we need to go out and buy a Larin or similar who is going to be the main striker. We can't have a situation again where we are so poorly stacked up top with just Stewart as the only 'true' number 9 we have.

I'm somewhat discounting Downs as he's continued his 'non footballer' form at Hamburg too, so I think we can discount him ever being any use.

But we did go out and buy a first choice striker, unfortunately he was absolute pony.

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

But we did go out and buy a first choice striker, unfortunately he was absolute pony.

I genuinely think he’s the worst outfield player I’ve ever seen for us in 40+ years.

That includes Ali Dia, Lee Todd, David Lee and Scott Marshall (OG).

Makes Keith Cassells look like Didier Drogba. 

Edit - worst I’ve ever seen in professional football. And I’ve seen some shit players for the likes of Cheltenham Town, Torquay United etc.

Edited 18 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Ex Lion Tamer]

3 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

For me jury is still out on larin as well, we know he’s a good physical presence but whether he can be a high scoring clinical striker is still a big question 

He doesn't really need to be high scoring if his presence in the team enables the others

[pimpin4rizeal]

9 hours ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

He doesn't really need to be high scoring if his presence in the team enables the others

Ideally I think we would all rather have a Rickie Lambert then just a lump up front enabling others is kind of second job for a striker 

[Miltonaggro]

14 hours ago, Ex Lion Tamer said:

He doesn't really need to be high scoring if his presence in the team enables the others

That's my take. Main game is unsettling oppo defences and hold up play, and he's good at that, rather like Che Adams.

[Barton Saint]

15 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

I genuinely think he’s the worst outfield player I’ve ever seen for us in 40+ years.

That includes Ali Dia, Lee Todd, David Lee and Scott Marshall (OG).

Makes Keith Cassells look like Didier Drogba. 

Edit - worst I’ve ever seen in professional football. And I’ve seen some shit players for the likes of Cheltenham Town, Torquay United etc.

 

[Barton Saint]

Just now, Barton Saint said:

 

I actually think that’s unfair he had a a real impact at Fulham and has now scored 3 goals gaining 3 points and how is the opening goal v Oxford not worthy of a mention?

[S-Clarke]

17 hours ago, Turkish said:

But we did go out and buy a first choice striker, unfortunately he was absolute pony.

True, but I still think he was seen by the club as a 'development' player rather than a day 1 hit the ground running type, which was the wrong sort for me - this meant we were still relying on Stewart being the proven experienced type.

Larin fills that hole for now, he's certainly not a world beater, but he's the sort we should have aimed for in the summer rather than more up coming prospects.

[OldNick]

18 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

For me jury is still out on larin as well, we know he’s a good physical presence but whether he can be a high scoring clinical striker is still a big question 

No jury needed, he s a stop gap until the end of the season, to give back up for Ross. So far he has contributedwell and if he keepsthat going then he has beena major success

[Lymington Saint]

Brian Clough on centre forwards - by Mark Crossley.  'Get hold of the ball.  Keep it - because it is yours.  Then pass it to someone who can play.  Get in the box.  Score me a diving header.  Preferably get cut while you're doing it as it looks better in the paper'.

Think Ross Stewart fits that mould.  Downs certainly didn't as I have seen better control of a ball from park players.