Summer window

Not sure if it’s just come from SMB but Stoke fan I know is certain they’re signing Ross Stewart. Said contract was agreed this week and they’re just negotiating price with us.

no idea how legit it is but he prompted it not me

 

So contract signed before fee agreed ? Seems a bit unlikely

 

i'm at stage with Stewart, i'm sick of the pi55ing about. We've managed without him and i'm sure our recruitment team can deliver a player who WANTS to play for SAFC. Give him an ultimatum .....sign or go. We need to move on. We are not a one man team

 

Might be were holding back to see how Stewarts recovery is progressing. Think the Stoke thing will just be easy rumours....end of day way they are talking about AN he might not even be there shortly....if he wants a crack at progressing his career....Stoke is hardly the right choice....I think if a side comes in for him it will be toward end of window so they have better idea when he will play....us included do not know how he will return...beleive a lot of sides will be wary offering him a long deal on high wages due to injury problems he had last year...that should include us too....we have to het this right contract wise if hes staying....i hope he does & is the same player on return

 

He said agreed to be fair not signed. And it’s very likely. Happens all the time. In fact most of the time. Deal gets agreed between new club and player before old club get offers quite often. I know it’s not “allowed”.

 

Not bothered at all with the stewart situation now, i would like him to sign a contract as hes been class for us but unsure how he will be coming off his injury.

If hes trying to get more money than we are willing to pay then we move on. We shouldnt break the wage structure for any player as it just means others will start to demand more.

Im really excited to see who we sign this summer as think we will sign some real quality

 

The alternative spin on Stewart is that he’s had one good season in his entire career, and it was in League One.

Other than that it’s continued niggling injuries, or worse, serious injuries.

I think we all know he’s brilliant, and that the above is a sceptical view of him. But it’s also true.

£30k per week? For one good season in League One?

It’s both the reason why we absolutely shouldn’t be matching that kind of salary, and also why I personally wouldn’t blame him for taking it. He’ll be 27 by the time he goes there and might never get a better financial offer.

If Stoke want to pay £7m plus I’d let them do it. I’d be bitter as **** about it but with a rational head on it just makes sense to reinvest in for somebody who doesn’t want to play for Stoke.

 

Everyone is massively down playing the Stewart situation in my opinion.

Stewart, Simms and Amad have scored 44% of our league goals this season - 29 in total, despite 2 of them not playing half a season.

We don't just need to replace that this summer, we need to score so much more to make up a 30 point gap between ourselves and the Champions position in this division.

I have all the faith in the world in our recruitment team finding young talent to develop, but making up that number of goals will take proven talent, or a higher pedigree than we're usually able to sign. Losing Stewart would be a huge blow.

 

Posted this on another thread, but if the lad is worried about not being the same after the injury (or knows already as he may feel it) and someone is offering daft wages and a long term contract then I can't blame him really. He will know its a massive step down, especially when the likes of Celtic and Rangers are supposedly sniffing around.

He also won't get as many chances to score unless they sign Roberts and Clarke too mind.

 

How is Stoke a "massive step down"?

 

Just my opinion, maybe massive was the wrong word.

 

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Majority of that, a player wouldn't give a **** about. If you're looking at the last 9 months, then we're performing better, but they've been at a higher level for the 6 or 7 previous seasons and there's every chance they'll be a promotion candidate next season. They're 13 points behind us currently, the same distance we are behind Luton. I don't think there's a massive gap in quality. Then when you factor in they'll have good money to spend and can offer better wages, they're not really a step down at this point in time, maybe marginally at most, but there's every reason for a neutral to think we'll be competing at a similar position next season.

 

You’re right of course but the club with have a summer transfer window, a decent transfer budget and an enhanced reputation in attracting players - to find those goals.

I say decent transfer budget because if we do lose Stewart we will get money to spend on replacing him. Good money .

 

Stoke isn’t a massive step down from us. It’s a step down for sure. It’s not massive tho.

 

I am not so sure personally. I cant think of much going for them at all, other than this alleged wages gap. They have a pretty rubbish squad, and need a massive overhaul if they are to be top 6 next year. The fans seem utterly fed up of Neil. A bad start and they will hound him out. They look to me at least miles off what we are and planning for.

 

things change quickly in football tho. They will spend big in summer and they’re 3 wins at the start of next season away from it looking a smart move. That’s at least the ambition Alex Neil will be selling him.

make no mistake of course he’d be taking a punt on that but I can’t see the step down being “massive”. It’s not like he’s going to Wigan for example. It’s an established championship side with a good manager and a bucket load of money to finally spend on building a good side around him. And it’s with the manager who helped him produce his only ever good season in the game.

Obviously I think we are a better bet - that’s why I still think it’s a step down. It’s just not massive. And especially when combined with a virtual doubling of his money I can completely see why he’d make the move even if it breaks my heart AND at the same time think there’s nothing more the club could or should do to stop him

 

No offence intended mate, but do we know it is a double your money offer and Stoke are going to be spending big? I get that they are under less restrictions now, but I cant see them throwing tens of millions around.

Whilst he did have a good season, partly under Neil, I wonder whether that is really in his mind. Arguably the level of his play was much higher in the games he played this season. Maybe he and Neil struck it off, fellow Scots and all, who knows.

 

Although I think I am preaching to the converted, undoubtedly we would have scored more goals if Stewart had been fit and playing. But tbh we have continued to score some goals without him. He may have been missed more at home than away?
Atm we are missing some big players in defence and are vulnerable to crosses. Stewart was useful in our own box as well

All that being said, his contract talks have dragged on and on, he either needs to siht or get off the pot.

Then the recruitment can both buy (preferably) or get loans in with a clean slate as it were of players for next season, wherever we are playing.

No one player is irreplaceable.

 

no we don’t know - everything I’m saying is assuming that’s the case. I’d imagine Stewart would want assurances of that. Proof will be in the pudding I guess