Ross Stewart - unlucky? Or a bullet dodged?


'Bullet dodged' just seems bitter tbh, he had a great record for us WHEN FIT, including important defending and hold up play as much as the goals, no point being in denial about that. However, the situation in terms of commitment and fitness was becoming more and more of a gamble and as a developing squad I think it was spot on that we chose to cash in while we could and sell that risk to someone else. 'Maybe' having a great striker waiting in the wings, was becoming more damaging than the certain knowledge we were short.
Agree with this completely. If he could stay fit and hasn't lost a beat after his latest injury (both huge if's), I don't see there being a better striker in the UK outside of the top division. He has everything: great finisher, quick, excellent off the ball, good in the air, good touch, presses from the front, etc. That, said, he didn't want to sign a new contract and there are a lot of risks associated with him that we've passed on to another team. Very good deal for us in the end, and I think it's likely that we'll have seen the best of him. I think it's likely he either won't be the same player or he'll not be able to stay fit.
 
Can’t really mention them in the same book nevermind same sentence, though. I hate the cliches but couldn’t think of a better way of phrasing what I was trying to say, which imo is a fair comment considering before playing 13 Championship matches he’d only played in League One and the Scottish leagues, mostly outside of their top flight as well which is what, League 2 standard?

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Just ignore me mate 😂
 
It was like the Josh Maja situation again, he was hanging around everyday knowing full well he wasn’t signing a contract. Everybody knew it and it must be disruptive knowing one of your team mates isn’t committed and us looking for any way out.
 
Unless Saints are just going through a temporary bad patch Stewart is going to have a lot of weight put on his shoulders when he gets back. Having lost their last four games Saints' current form is the worst in the League but they are still only 3 points behind us (hopefully 6 after today). I don't envy his task .

They are at home to Leeds next week. Another couple of defeats and Stewart could find himself playing for a new manger the Saint's fans are already restless..
 
He must be wondering what he's doing there at the minute 😄. They've lost every game since he signed!
 
He was more interested in money and end of day he wasn’t prolific before he joined us so maybe we were the right fit for him and his career will never be same again , but like Phillips

For record eventhough we playing great football and goals are coming I still think a regular goal scoring centre forward would kick us on another level
 
Firstly I loved Ross Stewart for us, he was a complete player, not only his attacking play, but his defensive attributes, coupled with his leadership on the pitch. He was a massive contributory factor for our promotion from the horrendous first division, ploughing a mostly lone furrow throughout the season.
His injury troubles , in some ways were a godsend, making us evolve and grow as a team, with others having to take on more responsibilities, and in Diallo we had an attacking replacement who gave a different dimension to our play, although his brief cameo between injuries reminded us what we were missing.
The protracted contract negotiations made me quite sure he was never going to kick another ball for us, and as far back as the middle of last season I was convinced his agent was actively looking to move him away, therefore I was resigned that his and our futures were going to be different.
He has gone for the security and the pay day which his four year deal will afford him, and at his age , with a largely an unspectacular career, who can blame him.
Good luck to him but now I’m more interested in who of the four strikers we now have will fill the void of his leaving and how our play will bring the best out of his replacements.
 
I'd love to have been able to see him in this team. He's exactly the kind of forward that we need: big, quick and mobile, hard working and gets involved all over the pitch. If we'd kept him I'd reckon we would have had an outside chance of the automatics.

But we move on. For the national team's sake I really hope he comes back fit and continues with Southampton where he left off. He's a better forward than Che Adams, so we need him back for when we win the Euros next summer...
 
Ditto. His ceiling IMO was only ever bottom half Prem level, too slow for a top 10 side

He was becoming a distraction and also sends a strong message that no player is bigger than the club
Agree with the distraction point. These will they / won’t they sign sagas are always disruptive. Feels good to have the focus firmly on the players who want to be here
 
I was delighted when i heard he'd gone and for the fee received.

Unfortunately for him i think he's injury prone, but i hope i'm wrong about that, he's nothing to do with us now and whatever he achieves in his career from now until his retirement will have no bearing on whether we are successful or not during that period.
 
Unlucky? LND, yes.
Dodged a bullet? No. Very good business on our part.
Wish him all the best but I have a feeling he’ll never be the same player.
 

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