I'm 6'3, now in my late 30s, but I used to play up top for years, got a bit older and ended up in goal. Always had issues with my ankles, knees. Compared to the shorter lads, I always picked something up more than they did. absolutely no where near the level of Stewart, but you're right about big lads playing sports.
Which is why I thought the club did well with the contract negotiations, so if he had signed he'd be on basic wages now, this is why I think the outcome was best for both parties and I wish him well and hope he makes a complete recovery. Had he stayed fit he would still be here and I'm sure we would be challenging at the top of the table. However circumstances changed everything and we've ended up with the best out of a bad situation
As much as I’m gutted for Stewart as I thought he was class for us, this just shows how far the club have moved on in recent times. We won’t be taken for granted either by players or clubs looking to get our players on the cheap. Under previous regimes we’d have caved into the players demands or given in to a small fee for a player. Really encouraging to see and I think we will get top dollar when the times right for our best saleable assets to move on. It will be on our terms not others.
Last week there was a belief that would make the club reverse their interest in Beale ... ... there was also a belief that 'social media pressure' would prevent the sale of Ross Stewart. Hmmmm ....
As much as I don’t like dragging up old news….i looked at the Villa-Southampton lineup earlier today and didn’t see Ross Stewart’s name. Then I did a quick google search and saw that he was injured in October this year. Has he played since then? Southampton manager said that it wasn’t a long term injury. His Wiki page says he’s only made seven appearances in a season and a half there. I thought he was great for us but I reckon the club knew that he was injury prone and, like other clubs had done to us in the past, had Southamptons pants down when they wanted to buy him. In a lot of respects it’s a shame for the lad, but he was onto a good thing at Sunderland and I can’t see him getting the adulation he had with us anywhere else.
I agree the club seem to have realised he was going to struggle to get back, I also suggest the player was aware which is why he had to take a big deal and increase in money when it came along as its probably going to be his last. Without the injuries he probably stayed imo. Seemed happy here and along as we weren't a million miles away from what he wanted I think he would have signed, sure it was said there was a deal on the table he was just about signing which was pulled when he got injured? The bit in bold I agree with but only cause of his injury, I reckon a fit Stewart would be loved by the fans anywhere (obviously discounting the clubs who he wouldn't be good enough for) as his work ethic was massive, as good as his goal scoring record was it I liked him because of the way he never gave the opposition backing a second to breathe and he kept it up for 90 minutes every week. That sort of work and finishing chances would always be appreciated. But as it js looking like he is unlikely to get back to that he won't get the adulation he had here again, I doubt he will even play at the level he was here consistently again.
Yeah. Still comes back to this and fits nicely with posts going on the other thread. Sports science and medical practices will make or break players form. Massive shame for Stewart but his height and make up really doesn't fit a strong profile return from a ruptured Achilles.
Good luck to Ross, he's got the deal that secures his financial future. Before he signed for us he was on pretty ordinary money, no more than many on here earn, so that deal was what all the work was for. Like Clarke, he was great for us, and we were great for him. Southampton had spare cash to hoy about and took a chance that didn't come off. We win. Ross wins. They lose. The sort of thing we used to do too much of on a lesser scale.
Is he still out injured? I know he's been out for ages on and off after short comebacks. Massive shame for the lad as always came across as a good character and was the perfect striker style for us and how we played. We couldn't have got away with the transfer any better considering his contract situation as we would have either lost him out of contract for nothing, or we could have gambled and offered bigger wages which would have stopped us signing some of the lads we now have in. I will always have a soft spot for him for helping us get back to the championship and I honestly believe we would have gone up the season Luton beat us in the play offs if he had stayed fit. The gulf between the prem and the championship is showing bigger with Southampton who have a load of good strikers but are bottom of the home and away form table, Jack Clarke seeming to struggle ATM and he was our best player. The thing I like about us now is the talent seems spread amongst the squad in different positions so when one is injured it doesn't totally devoid us. We just need some of the other injured lads back to see what they can bring to the table as i was well happy to sign Samed *Albeit only from what I have read about him) happy to bring in Poveda and i don't even know much about the lad Aleksic and the striker lad i can't spell who both cost 3 million if reports are true. The season seems to be coming to a crossroads for us with players out/back, transfer window opening soon. Watson has been a massive plus these last 2 games. I rate him highly but thought it was a bit early to be starting games but I have given him MOTM the last 2 and his confidence will be sky high. I remember his debut (I think it was) and the 1st ball to him on the wing he misjudged and it went out for a throw in, and i thought **** that will have him nervous now, as it would any young lad trying to impress but he has kept going and going and good luck to the lad
His latest ones nout to do with us, they took him through a medical and still chose to sign him, no one to blame but themselves
Ha ha that's ridiculous, they knew of the original injury and the fact we were supposedly offering a limited contract said everything. Without that injury I'm certain he would have signed another improved deal with us. Ross done what's best for him and his family as I'm sure he had doubts himself. Hopefully he does make a full recovery in time as he's a great player and top lad.
My mate from work plays golf with Mogga, and he told me Mogga said to him that Stewart will never be the same player again after he done his Achillies. I didn't want to believe it at the time. Its a shame he done it in a pointless Cup game against Fulham when we were looking good for promotion.
That's why I'm partly glad we didn't get a PL side in the FA cup. Players try that bit harder against top flight sides as they are naturally eager to impress - puts them at more risk of injury. I remember Broadhead did his hamstring in a league cup match v Arsenal.
Everytime I think of Stewart I feel sad for the lad. Thinking he has money is alright, but footballers want to play, 99% anyway. I honestly thought, in those first dozen games or so in the Championship, he was unplayable. He looked everybit a premier league striker to me. Pace, link up, goals, ran the channels. Added bonus of being outstanding defendimg set pieces in his own box. A real shame for the lad. He might have had 3 or 4 good premier league seasons, and an international tournament, to look back on after retirement.
They said we lied during his medical, didn’t go into depth his injury history. That we forced the sale etc But in the statement when they signed him. It was all there… said he’s recovering from an injury
