Sturrock keen to keep son Blair at Blues

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock is keen to keep his son Blair at the club.

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[DTS]

Good technical footballer but not a good enough striker for my mind. Personally would like to have seen us go for a forward that we can expect to get more than six goals this season.

 

[Cricko]

Well putting that in print is going to put pressure on TB to agree a deal with him.I would rather see his wages spent elsewhere to bolster the squad. I also do not think it is purely for his football capabilities that PS wants him here.

 

[Pubey]

If he agrees a wage cut then I'd keep him as a squad player. I still think he could be useful on the wing too

 

[Beefy]

Who is in charge of allocating the wage budget? PS or TB?

I've never seen Blair have a good game but if his Dad wants to alocate a portion of the budget to keeping him him here then that seems fair enough to me. I'm uncomfortable with the idea that it's TB who is making judgment calls as to the worth of the playing staff.

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

If he's willing to take a cut then keep him as a squad player. I agree with Pubey I'd like to see him used in a midfield role.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Luggy wants Blair AND another striker? So bascially Asante and Crawford will be playing in the reserves all season. Can only think there must be at least 2 or 3 heading out.

 

[Smiffy]

Luggy wants Blair AND another striker? So bascially Asante and Crawford will be playing in the reserves all season. Can only think there must be at least 2 or 3 heading out.

Or loaned out..

 

[Fairport]

Says a lot about Sturrock Snr's judgement if he thinks his son is the type of player to win us promotion!

 

[Cricko]

This is the bit that baffles me the most in the article..

“I would like Blair to stay because you need centre forwards who all offer something different,” confirmed the Blues boss.

In no way do I consider Blair to be anywhere near to being a centre forward.

 

[Bromley Blue]

Says a lot about Sturrock Snr's judgement if he thinks his son is the type of player to win us promotion!

To be fair, Blair has been with his Dad at Plymouth and Swindon before where they achieved promotion. He was mainly used from the bench at those clubs whereas he saw a lot of action for us last year. However with Harris and possibly another striker coming in then he'll be down the pecking order anyway. I think he'd be a decent player to have in the squad just don't want him to be first choice striker.

 

[Angell Delight]

Personally I'm quite happy to accept the fact that PS wants to keep his son at the club. No he's not a striker and his goal record is poor but to be fair to Blair he does offer certain qualities with regards to the role he plays. In certain games next season (and I'm thinking in particular games where we are maybe a goal ahead but the opposition are on top) it will be useful to have somebody like Blair in the squad. From the bench he's very much the sort of player who can assist Corr in holding the ball up which would be invaluable if we are under the cosh to relieve the pressure on the back line and midfield. On the other hand he's decent at bringing attacking midfielders like Sawyer and Hall into play. No he's not going to score 12+ a season but he's presumably fairly cheap and a useful squad player - provided Corr/Harris/Hall are weighing in with the goals Sturrock's lack of them won't be a problem. And with Harris and probably one other striker signing anyway I can see Blair being mainly used from the bench.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Well putting that in print is going to put pressure on TB to agree a deal with him.I would rather see his wages spent elsewhere to bolster the squad. I also do not think it is purely for his football capabilities that PS wants him here.

Got to agree with this.
I just don't see Blair and Crawford as strikers. You can see Harris and Corr, our proper strikers, getting injuries. I would like a true goalscorer or goalscorers to replace them when they are out. I personally feel that Blair and Crawford should be shipped out, paving the way for a much stronger, deadlier strikeforce, whoever is playing up front.
The other thing is that Paul Sturrock will somehow find a place for his son in the team, even when he doesn't deserve it. We don't need weak links if promotion is the aim.

 

[Pubey]

true goalscorers don't sit on the bench, especially in league2. i don't look at other teams and think "oh **** they've got serious weapons on their bench"... you'll see youth players, maybe loanees and then journeymen strikers who aren't exactly prolific. Blair isn't a natural striker, but he does hold the ball up well, is good at bringing people into play and therefore i'd be happy with him as backup to our decent strikers. Sturrock had a good partnership with Corr and I'm sure he'd play well with Harris too.

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

Says a lot about Sturrock Snr's judgement if he thinks his son is the type of player to win us promotion!

Sturrock Snrs judgement served us pretty well last season. I'm happy to rely on his experience in judging the type of players he wants for next season. In my opinion Sturrock Jnr brings enough to the team (albeit I only saw 9 games last season) to warrant his inclusion. I do agree though that if we win promotion this coming season, I think he (Jnr) may struggle in League One

 

[Tampa Blue]

Horrible situation for Luggy ,though it is of his own creation - I admire his judgement generally but can't help thinking that his view is jaundiced here by family loyalty

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

The other thing is that Paul Sturrock will somehow find a place for his son in the team, even when he doesn't deserve it. We don't need weak links if promotion is the aim.

You mean like when he sat on the bench for 5 out of 6 games near the end of the season, dropped in favour of Crawford/Asante?

If Blair stays, he won't be a first team fixture this season not with Harris here and another possibly coming in, but he would be a useful part of the squad. Last season he was the best option to play with Corr, this season he won't.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

You mean like when he sat on the bench for 5 out of 6 games near the end of the season, dropped in favour of Crawford/Asante?

If Blair stays, he won't be a first team fixture this season not with Harris here and another possibly coming in, but he would be a useful part of the squad. Last season he was the best option to play with Corr, this season he won't.

That was because we were out of the promotion race, and Blair was struggling with a niggling injury. P.S. was assesing our other strikers in mind to the next season. What about the majority of the season, when he was picked to start almost every game.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

That was because we were out of the promotion race, and Blair was struggling with a niggling injury. P.S. was assesing our other strikers in mind to the next season. What about the majority of the season, when he was picked to start almost every game.

And he'll have therefore observed that his son was more productive than Crawford or Asante.

 

[Mick]

And he'll have therefore observed that his son was more productive than Crawford or Asante.

Damned with faint praise.

However to be completely fair to Asante, his one goal in about two and a quarter hours football is substantially more "productive" than Sturrock jnr. I'd take Asante over the other two any day; he may have a future in League football.