Maybe but whatever the case he's now likely done in a Saints shirt. Either we'll have to go shopping for a striker in January or Still will adapt to suit Archer as a striker or more likely both. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he was forced to retire.
Do we know it is definitely a reoccurrence of the same injury? It's not uncommon for players to keep getting different injuries after such a long spell out as their bodies are no longer used the demands of elite sport.
No but if it's months out for something that looked totally innocous that's never a good sign. He's done his ACL before hasn't he?
Massively gutted for him. He must feel ****ing horrific after being on such a high this time last week. Good chance we'll never see him in a Saints shirt again
I have to admit I didn't anticipate a bad injury after seeing him walk off. I really hope it's not as bad as feared but I do have a nasty feeling his career is almost over.
I'm not going to criticise Still, because although it was a risk to start Stewart three times in a week - and not something I agreed with - the likelihood is that he would have got injured again at some point anyway. So even if we did manage his minutes better, I suspect it would have just been delaying the inevitable. As has been said before, the fault lies with SR. Yet again they've failed to deliver us a lead striker in the transfer window. Stewart should never have been seen as anything more than a bonus option for the rare times that he's available. It's now up to Still to find a system that best suits Armstrong and Archer. And tbf, I think fans of most other Championship clubs would look at the fact that we still have both of those goalscorers and think that we don't have much to complain about. Goes without saying that I'm gutted for Stewart.
We have a midfield which is - theoretically- chock full of goals. When they start scoring, the strikers will be able to relax and start banging them in.
For me it has to be a switch to either a 4231 or a 4123. Macca Jelert Edwards Wood Manning/ Welington Charles Jander Armstrong Azaz/Scienza Fellows (can switch sides with Adarma)/ Robinson Archer Macca Jelert Edwards Wood Manning/ Welington Charles Jander Azaz Armstrong Archer Fellows (can switch sides with Adarma)/ Scienza/ Robinson Fraser can come in in the event of injuries either wide or a 10.
Less about system in reality and more about moving away from the 'cross cross cross' tactic (yes, I know not all crosses need to be aerial, but...) He needs to find a way to allow the wide players (Fellows and Scienza for me) firstly license to beat a player, with the risks incumbent to that, and also to cut inside to deliver balls inside the channels or over for Adarma and/or Archer to run on to. But then, that's what his job is. It's going to be a real sign of things.
Do we have any other players on the treatment table ? Maybe we could do a cut and shunt and have a kind of Frankenstein Stewart up front ?
Another slow clap for Saints recruitment team in deciding that signing Downs was enough for the season.
I agree completely and it will be easier to get control of midfield and better possession with the extra man in the middle. Azaz needs the other two to get him in positions to hurt the oppo with through balls like the one that put through Downs a few matches ago.
Great. Poor guy though. Starts to show his ability then wham. Sad. I do agree though with most, SR have ****ed it with the strikers again. Mad really. I’d like us to find a system that works with Archer. The guy can finish.
