Just how it is, he’s down the pecking order. If we get an injury or suspension to one of the 4 strikers ahead of him he’ll get on the bench & potentially gets a chance as a sub. Don’t think there’s any major issue. He’s only been here 2 months & the lads ahead of him are doing well. If we were in bad form & the strikers were struggling I’d be more concerned
I'm thinking the signings of Watters, Russell and Shaw were to shake things up rather than change the team. Keeps players on their toes. Especially with Thomas back to full fitness.
This season we've signed Isted, McCarthy, Cundy, Cadden, Connell, Phillips, Russell, Cotter, Norwood, Watters, Tedic, Martin, Larkeche, Thomas and Shaw. Out of those 15, 6 are now regular starters, another two would regularly come off the bench, with another three that would likely be on the bench. The other 4 are McCarthy (injured), Cotter (likely signed for next season, and already assisted a last minute equaliser), Martin and Shaw. I'd say Martin is the disappointing signing, with the jury still out on Shaw. But the rest have managed to get themselves in the matchday squad and make some sort of impact at different times. I'd say it's a pretty good hit rate.
I'm a bit puzzled by the negativity shown towards Shaw. Let the lad settle in behind the scenes, find his feet, then show what he's capable of. At the moment, we have four strikers hitting the back of the net recently. In fact, we're scoring from all positions, which can only be a positive. There's no need to rush into judgement. A little patience isn't a bad thing.
You really seem to have an agenda with this guy. Morris stats were crap too - even for us they weren't great. So you're judging a lad based on 12 games, who you've never seen played, not mentioning that he's been playing out wide in those 12 games or mentioning his previous better goal scoring record.
Read something Alex Ferguson wrote on transfers he said a successful percentage rate (on non premium players) would be about 25% an additional 25% would be cost neutral and 50% would fail. I think based on that we do ok. Not sure why we bought Shaw as looking at the stats it doesn’t look like a stats based decision but generally our recruitment is ok to good so too early to tell.
I have no agenda. All I can go on are his previous stats that didn't really wow me as ice never seen him play before. Yes I think previous he had scored more but that was in Scotland 2nd tier. I hope he comes good but he is most likely a rough diamond that we're currently polishing.
Not sure there is negativity, none that I've seen anyway. People generally seem to be questioning where he is/current status, which is a valid question. And Redrum questions his stats, which is all we have to go on really. I agree, give him time. But I understand people questioning why he isn't playing and if he fits into long-term plans.
Perhaps it's me, but it just reads as some people writing the lad off & querying why we've signed him.
There are 4 strikers above him in the pecking order who are all playing really well. Where’s he gonna fit?? 2 of those strikers are loans who we’ll probably never see again after this season (sadly, as I rate them both). At that point he is then probably the 3rd striker and on the bench. This time to learn the ways and his role could be good long term, although nothing replicates actually playing of course. We don’t often pay a fee for a player so we have clearly seen something worth investing in. Give the lad a chance, it’s a marathon not a sprint.
The same questions were being asked about Norwood at the start of the season , he was only playing bit parts & the club were getting plenty of similar comments about the wisdom of bringing him in but as the season has unfolded Norwood has turned out to be an excellent signing & there is nothing to suggest a degree of patience might be the best route to take with Shaw , we still have nearly a quarter of our league games left plus the possibility of the play offs so he might still gets some involvement but with a close season on the horizon & loan players going back I am sure Shaw will get his chances to stake a claim , I know this from experience that it is far too early to write him off , does anyone remember how long it was before Pinnock got involved or more recently Kane ? two examples straight off the top of my head of players who did not hit the ground running but turned out to be great signings.
My favourite player of the last few years, Alex Mowatt. Not fancied at all and shipped out on loan. What a player for us he turned out to be in the end.
I don't even think it was a case of not being fancied, just managing his development. Same with Kane, Cam McGeehan and Jack Aichinson.
To be fair Norwood had scored goals all his career at league 1 and 2 level but a proven goalscorer. We paid a big fee for Pinnock he never really got a chance as he was 4th choice cb behind Mcdonald lindsay and Adam Jackson when hecky was here. When he was called upon due to injuries it was obvious he was capable. Shaw has signed a 3year deal so they obviously saw something in him weather he comes good time will tell.
He'd been player of the year already at Leeds in the Championship. Mowatt wasn't untapped potential. It was mismanagement from Hecky.
Agree. I remember the 1st day of the season away at Bristol City hecky plays him on the left wing which he was hardly blessed with pace. We lose 3-1 next thing he's shipped out on loan and hecky gives a interview about bringing some experience in and we signed gary Gardner... hold on paul you just loaned a player out with over 110 championship games to his name.
It's far too early to make any call on Oli Shaw, but I do trust Patterson, Devaney and Duff to coach him to the best he can be. Presuming that he was properly scouted, we must see his potential and, at his age, he has plenty of that on his side, to succeed at this level. Unless we fall short of four strikers, I wouldn't be surprised to see him go out on loan next season to pick up more experience of EFL, but I am more than hopeful that he will come good. It is just too soon for anyone to know. His cameo at Cheltenham looked promising.
