[Link] Gary Mackay-Steven & Johnny Russell

Sign Russell. Not a risk imo, he has proven he is good enough at SPL level.

 

I haver never understood why so many on this forum think it is so important we get russell ahead of Mackay-Steven. Lennon himself has said we are light on the left hand side and is looking for someone. In fact our only real left mid is Samaras and he very often doesn't get played there. It is also unfair to expect Sammy to carry the load of creator himself from that side. With Forrest regularly injured, McCourt never playing and McGeouch not quite ready yet (I'm assuming based on game time) we really need more options. Commons is great but not a man beater like the afore mentioned.

We need a skillful, fast, left winger that can cross. Which he is more than capable of. At the very least you know GMS is far better than any creative mid in the SPL outside of Celtic so, even if it was only for the SPL, it would still be worth buying him for what i would assume to be under £2.5m

Russell is a striker who can play in a floating role. One of the positions we have plenty of options in. Commons, Forrest, Samaras, Lassad, Stokes and now Rogic. Plus competing with Hooper, Watt, Miku and Bangura for a striking position. He wouldn't even get on the bench most weeks.

At present moment we really don't need Russell though if we were to lose Hooper and send Bangura and Miku on their bike then I would be all for it.

On the other hand we definitely do need a GMS type player, who i honestly think is on a par with McGeady in terms of skill but more direct, faster and potentially more end product.

 

I'm confused where the idea that United are so desperate for cash they would accept such a pitiful offer.

Yes, they are struggling but no more than ever before. And the decision to lose Houston was made because they are trying to get their house in order and decided that was a waste of money they cannot afford to lose. The truth is they will pretty much wipe out their debt by selling one or both of these players for 4 million plus. They will certainly not accept 1 million if he is going to be playing against them in the SPL.

I would also be against trying to force their hand because he is one of us. That's the equivalent of no English clubs offering more than 5 mil for Hooper because he does not have long left on his contract and has (allegedly) said he wants to go to the EPL. Something tells me you would not be as happy if that happened.

That's a matter of opinion. Mackay-Steven is fast and direct and capable of extreme pieces of skill that would delight most fans. Russell is inconsistent but good more often than not and increasingly great. I also remember quite a few people on here questioned the wisdom of signing Steven Fletcher and Jamie McCarthy from Hibs and Hamilton, on the basis they would not be good enough for the first 11. Fact is, you never know who will or won't be and I would rather splash out 3-4 million on young players who are at least top players in the SPL, even if they don't turn out to be good enough for anything else. Better that than they go to England and we regret it later on.

 

Russell plays better with GMS in the team, which is true of the whole utd team. As you said he hasn't always performed well, usually when GMS isn't playing.

2 of our best players under Lennon are Stokes and Mulgrew. Both excelled at SPL teams and have done exceptionally well for us. Actually can't think of many failures in recent years that we've signed from an SPL team. Brown obviously came from Hibs too. In fact there are far more failures from abroad that we almost definitely spent a alot more money on.

I very often worry that we miss out on talents right under noses because there is this belief that foreign youngsters are better. This is sometimes the case but the talent Scotland has been churning out in the last couple years is exciting and I am genuinely scared we'll miss out on talents like GMS and regret it even more than the 2 you mentioned. Bannan is another we missed.

If GMS had been a foreign youngster that we had been linked with the clamour for us to sign him on this forum would be insane. Few players are capable of the skills he has produced in the last year.

 

Get them both if they're within our budget, we don't want to miss out on another couple of gems.

 

Ffs I want them both. Think they'd fit in perfectly here. Don't think it will happen mind you.

 

These two need signed before we lose out to a championship/bottom of the prem side. I think Russell would up his game even more playing for us.

 

Both are are great players but I don't like when we sign up coming players and the basically never get a look in, g.m.steven would play every week for us at left Wing as he is superb and the fans would love him proper entertainer, but allthough I russel in my opinion should jump ahead of lass miku bangura he won't go in front of stokes samaras maybe watt and not the possibly departing hooper so were would he fit in, our midfield is screening for a creative midfielder but is he good enough for that role? Can do with getting players in quick to settle befor juve game. Hail hail

 

I think Russell would score for fun with us simple because the amount of service he would receive .

 

I really like both of them tbh, and there's the potential for them to seriously step up a level or two should they get games with us given the quality of their team mates and exposure to proper European football.

I do, however, think Russell has flattered to deceive so far this season. In comparison with his other seasons in the SPL he's improved. He's already equalled his total in the league for the past two seasons in less games, as well as equalling his overall record from last season in 16 less games so far. The thing is, almost half (6 of 14) of his total goals have came in two games. Getting a hattrick is always a good thing, don't get me wrong, and to score two in half a season is brilliant for the boy. I just think it's worth pointing out the irregularity of his goals.

That said, I maintain he could be good here, same with Mackay-Steven (whose dribbling ability is something we don't currently have, even with Forrest). The crux of the matter would simply be how well the settled at a much bigger club. For Russell in particular how he deals with the increase in chances would be the main point to keep an eye on.

The next half-season will be make or break for a move to us in my opinion, if they both hit a good run of form, and Russell ends up near the top scorer position in the league, they could end up here

 

leave both of them until summer and get them both in on 4 year deals at £3 million for both of them or £2 million plus mc court


Posted from Talkceltic.net App for Android

 

Still not convinced I would sign either of them. Russell has yet to prove he can perform consistently and GMS is too injury prone. However if we could get them cheap then it would represent minimum risk as wages would be low and they have undoubted potential. Would definitely take GMS over Russell this month as our squad needs flair and creativity alot more than another striker. McCourt out and GMS in would be good business. Forrest on the right and GMS on the left would pose massive problems in the SPL, the only worry would be having them both fit!

 

get barbosa for peanuts and leave these 2

 

I'd approach Dundee utd with a loan swap for gms and Russell. I'd offer them mcgeough twardzik Fraser,watt. We know the four boys will get more starts at Dundee utd than here. The players will also know its for their benefit and they will return at the end off the season. Plus gives us a chance to see if the two Dundee utd boys can make the step up and be worth the decent transfer fee they would command.

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4541290208336

dunno if its been posted had a quick scan through the thread n didnt see it.. simply wonderful bit of skill....

sign him up on this alone!

 

There are ten year old kids that can do this skill, it's been hyped up and it's fantastic, but the reality is that it's a really simple trick.

Johnny Russell looked rubbish against us last time. Mackay-Steven could be a good signing, but i can't really see it happening. I think United want too much money and we probably have enough cover in that position.

 

Yes great bit of skill however the basics were * ..After the trick the pass was well overhit

 

Leave them both playing at Dundee United then if both are still at United in a years time and playing well maybe try and get them then. No point in signing them just now as they wouldn't get much game time.