Stewart or Larin?

[St Chalet]

Ok, you have to choose just one for the run in.

[benjii]

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.

[benjii]

Oh, well done for editing the title and making me look weird.

Have a fucking biscuit.

[RedArmy]

Both will be needed equally but Larin is clearly 1a at the moment. He’s been fantastic. 

[ButtikonSaint]

On current form, Larin - he dominates and bullies and runs and scores. Seems to make the team more balanced.
Still, great to have both fit and scoring

[allsa001]

I don't think either are fit to play full games for the run in.
It is a great weapon to have to be able to swap between the two.

I like staring with Larin, and tiring their defenders.

Then bring on Stewart once the defenders are tired.

 

Both will be very important between now and the end of the season

[Toadhall Saint]

8 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Both will be needed equally but Larin is clearly 1a at the moment. He’s been fantastic. 

He is everywhere.

[CanadaSaint]

The real value, though, is the fact that it isn’t an “either/or”. Each one is a totally different challenge for defences, and switching them at some point means a major defensive readjustment. That even makes it hard for opponents to game plan when they won’t know who’s starting until an hour before kick off.

[James G]

I'd start Larin against Ipswich and Man City. 

Ipswich struggle when pressed, apparently that's how they lost tonight and Larin was everywhere. Now he is fit, he is scary 

I also think Man City have errors in them when you press them high up. I think they get lazy and complacent

[saintant]

Larin is making a case to be one of the first names on the team sheet now he has reached the required fitness levels. He looks to be loving every minute and is a handful for any defence which is vital when we're trying to break down stubborn defences. A few weeks ago I'd have said Ross because he's a better footballer but Larin just gives us that battering ram we need so he shades it for me.

[Sir Ralph]

Larin should start versus city

[Harry_SFC]

Larin 

[SNSUN]

Both, Tonda will continue to rotate. For me Larin plays against Swansea, Man City and Ipswich, Stewart gets Bristol City and Preston. 

I'd also start Larin in the FA Cup final. 

[Saint Pete]

Larin seems to have the edge in terms of current form and has been way better than I expected him to be at this level. I still feel that Stewart probably has a higher potential bar as a player though (if only he could remain fit). 

It's a great problem to have and whoever Tonda goes with to start in the big games to come, I am sure both will be needed and play their part over the 90+ minutes. 

[SNSUN]

1 hour ago, Saint Pete said:

Larin seems to have the edge in terms of current form and has been way better than I expected him to be at this level. I still feel that Stewart probably has a higher potential bar as a player though (if only he could remain fit). 

It's a great problem to have and whoever Tonda goes with to start in the big games to come, I am sure both will be needed and play their part over the 90+ minutes. 

They're only a year apart in age and are as good as they're ever going to be as they reach their late-peak careers.

Larin is quicker, more mobile and he was defending tonight like his life depended on it. Stewart is possibly better at holding the ball up, is probably the more intelligent footballer and, though it is tight, probably the better finisher. There are fine margins but for pace and work rate alone I'd go with Larin for the Semi. LND can come off the bench and score our 6th.

[Whitey Grandad]

It's a nice choice to have.

[Patches O Houlihan]

It’s lovely to have two interchangeable players who don’t really change the team’s dynamic but force the opposition to adjust to compensate for the change. 
 

Describing Larin as a battering ram seems exactly right; particularly now he has full fitness and is showing his true pace. 
 

I can see Tonda in the big games starting with Larin to wear them down, and then bringing Stewart on to face tired minds and bodies.

Will we see the Stewart/Archer combo tried out at some point?

[WALK DMC]

6 hours ago, SNSUN said:

They're only a year apart in age and are as good as they're ever going to be as they reach their late-peak careers.

Larin is quicker, more mobile and he was defending tonight like his life depended on it. Stewart is possibly better at holding the ball up, is probably the more intelligent footballer and, though it is tight, probably the better finisher. There are fine margins but for pace and work rate alone I'd go with Larin for the Semi. LND can come off the bench and score our 6th.

What I really like about Larin is when we get the ball out wide, his first instinct is to make a run into the 6 yard box. His goals against both Oxford and Blackburn demonstrated that, and he makes many similar runs every game which aren't always picked out by our crossers. Now that they are getting used to him, they'll know exactly where he is and the type of ball (low, hard) that he likes. 

[S-Clarke]

I like Larin because of his physicality, I think he adds a dimensional focal point we don't really have without him.

Stewart is another shout for sure, he's more 'cute' in terms of how he plays - better touch, not as quick, more of a vision. Larin is a bit more all action and I think that energy helps everyone.

[HKsaint]

Now we have archer return. Think of partnership of Larin and archer, or Stewart and Archer, or Larin and Stewart. 

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, HKsaint said:

Now we have archer return. Think of partnership of Larin and archer, or Stewart and Archer, or Larin and Stewart. 

He was also very good last night, played the wide role well then also tucked inside to make a second striker at times, deserved his goal, if he carries on like that he's another great option to have. Looked really up for it too which hasn't always been the case in his time here

[CSA96]

I think the answer is that Ross Stewart is the better footballer in technical terms, but Larin's physical traits are very impactful at this level and help our team more because our squad, for the most part, is generally weighted more towards technical ability over physical ability

I'd be starting Larin and bringing Stewart in when we need to chase a goal or rest Cyle, for now. But there'll be moments and opponents where one is needed over the other

Edited 2 hours ago by CSA96