i think the fact Elmohamadys on 5 assists already may spell the end for him as a first team regular at City.
Your point is? We still won. The fact that McLean was pivotal in increasing the tempo of the game following his introduction will be lost on most fans. Fans that is that only seem to be able to judge a player on goals to games.
Your comment about timing and the message to others echos that of Ricardo and I can certainly understand the argument, although I don't support it wholeheartedly. On a different board I was critical of Stewart's playing style and thought it masked deeper problems in taking on his man and finishing; too many tricks, too little substance was the general gist of my point. That became, over time, a view that grew, both on the terraces and boards, but also in the technical area; the result is where he is today- to be fair to him I question whether he is on loan at the right club, as he needs to be playing at some level. To sell would have been manageable, but perhaps, not politically correct at that time. As for Fryatt (I certainly called for his sale then), he was in a very poor vein of form at that time and showed little sign of changing it; his finishing was appalling and he fluffed endless opportunities to score - both prior to the window and after it. I would agree that the regime of SB and SA may well have polished him (Agnew is known for that coaching skill) and it is a desperate shame he will not now have that opportunity for some time. To be fair, mate, that's a very selective memory you have there
The work-rate and pulse that McLean can instil into a team is clear and your point is not lost on as many as you seem to think; but he is a striker and we look to our strikers for goals - last seaon our strikers were not prolific - anything but! When a striker is providing alot of assists and they are being converted, then opinion may be more lenient, but when we have a goal drought and lots of huff and puff, then opinion starts to polarise - that's life.
Yes. Stewart also needs to have a bone crunching tackle made on him to prove that his knee is strong enough. He has lost his bottle thats all. His confidence will return once he knows that his knee will stand up to tackles. Since he came back he always shirks the tackle. Gym work is also good for his upper body strength. If Burnley send him back then maybe a team like Scun.thorpe or Doncaster would be the next try to get him going. As things stand you wonder why Man Utd ever signed him in the first place nevermind us. imo. Very true at the moment, sadly.
Seeing how he done his knee turning, and not being tackled, maybe he's afraid of running at full pelt and changing directions like he used to?
I just feel that he has no confidence in the knee. He shirks any contact that comes his way. It is in his head but until that fear is removed sadly Stewart is useless. Maybe Paul McKenna can do something of the hypnotic nature ?
The lad just needs to be a tad more aggressive and he'd be a top player. We know what he's capable of and if he can reignite that form, then he'd be welcomed back into the fold. As I've mentioned before, his loan runs out at a time when we might lose Aluko to the ACoN, so he'd be the natural successor in a 4-4-2, and it would save us having to buy anybody.
Dont think its certain that Aluko will be going to the ACoN though. Thankfully if he does have to go we dont have the hardest set of fixtures in that period. TWT. But yes Stewart does need to get his act together and quickly.
Bruce wont turn to Cameron Stewart to fill Aluko's boots unless he has had some game time between now and then
