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New signing Left Back Stelios Demetriou


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Yep. He was probably the cause of two of the 4 goals against us that day, one was a screamer that would normally not go in and the other was allowed to happen because our captain was sauntering back, ball watching, while the Aberdeen scorer was sprinting forward into the gap to receive the pass.  And didn't Stelios partly make up for his howlers that day by assisting our goal? OK, he did not help us by getting sent off against Dumbarton either but, without him we might not have started our come back against Falkirk in September (he scored the equaliser). Plus didn't he open the scoring against Morton when we beat them 4-1 last season? And would we have got all 3 points in our last game at home against Hibs last season when we started our glory run (he scored both goals)? Selective memories.  

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On ‎21‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 9:45 AM, Westmarcher said:

Yep. He was probably the cause of two of the 4 goals against us that day, one was a screamer that would normally not go in and the other was allowed to happen because our captain was sauntering back, ball watching, while the Aberdeen scorer was sprinting forward into the gap to receive the pass.  And didn't Stelios partly make up for his howlers that day by assisting our goal? OK, he did not help us by getting sent off against Dumbarton either but, without him we might not have started our come back against Falkirk in September (he scored the equaliser). Plus didn't he open the scoring against Morton when we beat them 4-1 last season? And would we have got all 3 points in our last game at home against Hibs last season when we started our glory run (he scored both goals)? Selective memories.  

Assuming we're going up , there a lot of difficult decisions ahead for JR , not least who from the current squad can hack it in the top league , this is something that Fergie was really good at , not so Tom Hendrie and Gus , who both retained deadwood , not good enough for the step up. No-one is saying that we're not grateful to Stelios for his contribution , but with an increased budget next year , I would say we're looking at 10 out,10 in again. Not going to suggest any names for now , but I would imagine there will be some surprise departures !

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56 minutes ago, billyg said:

Assuming we're going up , there a lot of difficult decisions ahead for JR , not least who from the current squad can hack it in the top league , this is something that Fergie was really good at , not so Tom Hendrie and Gus , who both retained deadwood , not good enough for the step up. No-one is saying that we're not grateful to Stelios for his contribution , but with an increased budget next year , I would say we're looking at 10 out,10 in again. Not going to suggest any names for now , but I would imagine there will be some surprise departures !

Not to mention the inevitable departures that aren't by our choice and let's face it, they are more likely to be the players that are up to it than the ones that aren't.

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Reckon there will be a huge clearout of squad players leaving the hard core of first team mainly - possibly 14 or so leaving.

Stelios was on a good run of form until the Aberdeen game and it would be poor if he is judged on that one game. He was very good last season in games against Hibs maybe showing he can play Premiership football. He is certainly one of the squad players I would keep due to his versatility and maverick behaviour. 

Edited by Sonny
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I said it at the time of the Aberdeen game, everyone has a bad day at the office, for many of us we can 'hide' and get away with that bad day, but for a footballer and on live national TV, there isn't any hiding place.

Overall he has been a good person to have in both the team and the squad. He is good on the attack and isn't a passenger by any means. Outside of the game, he is as committed as any of the players to participate in Club activities, and is almost first to offer up himself for selfies or discussions with the fans. 

So he has my vote as a positive member of a great season at Saints.

 

P.S. - Who will forget the Bounty Bar incident easily!

Edited by The Original 59er
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On 3/21/2018 at 9:45 AM, Westmarcher said:

...Plus didn't he open the scoring against Morton when we beat them 4-1 last season? And would we have got all 3 points in our last game at home against Hibs last season when we started our glory run (he scored both goals)? Selective memories.  

Also, he only played in that Morton game because Eckersley got himself a crazy red card in stoppage time in the previous match.

I remember saying at the time that if Stelios had got himself a red card in those circumstances you'd have had people putting it down to him being a maverick hot head, and thanking their lucky stars that we had a cool customer like Eckersley to replace him. :whistle

All things considered, I don't see the big disparity between the two of them.  I'd have either in my side.  Or, if you want to give me a third party left back for next season, who's better than both of them, I'm all in with that too.

When you ask people to quote specific examples of Stelios' frailties, you don't hear much outwith that Aberdeen game. It happens.

Eckersley caused a goal against Raith Rovers that belongs on a Danny Baker Xmas Bloopers DVD. I'm not sure how many people even remember it. Then, it wasn't on live TV. That game must prove that Eckersley is incapable of playing against League One sides.

Jack Baird's defending was a big factor in us being horsed at Cappielow, but we all managed to get over it, and he's still around putting in solid performances.

etc

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A lot will depend on what our formation and tactics will be next season. Getting promoted and losing Morgan mean that it will be difficult to play 4-2-3-1 and I would imagine we’d be playing a 4-5-1 most of the time if we set out this way.

Only Jack will know, but Stelios has all the attributes to play as a left wing back in a 5-3-2. As mentioned he’s great going forward but at times has been caught with the purely defensive side. The Aberdeen game was case and point with our goal coming from his attacking drive but x2 at the other end coming from mistakes.

Had it not been for those attacking attributes we’d be playing league 1 football this season rather being on the verge of promotion to the premier league...

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On 22 March 2018 at 1:54 PM, Sonny said:

Reckon there will be a huge clearout of squad players leaving the hard core of first team mainly - possibly 14 or so leaving.

Stelios was on a good run of form until the Aberdeen game and it would be poor if he is judged on that one game. He was very good last season in games against Hibs maybe showing he can play Premiership football. He is certainly one of the squad players I would keep due to his versatility and maverick behaviour. 

You'll be surprised

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I think players like Stelios highlight the reality of who SMFC can sign/retain to play in the Premiership. There are a number of players in our squad whose contract is up this season and who would gladly take an offer from a (bigger budget) premiership club if they get one. I think Stelios would be sought after should Ross decide against offering a new deal.

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  • 1 month later...

A more under the radar Stelios moment, for those who are blind to what he contributed, was when he started the move from which we equalised at Easter Road the day we stayed up.

He intercepted a cross, under pressure, 10 yards out while running towards his own goal.

He escorted the ball to the goal line, while still under pressure.

 Then turned and pinged a pass 40 yards right to Lewis Morgan's feet, and the ball was in the net seconds later.

Just saying, if he wasn't as good, he might just have put his laces through the ball when it came to him, and it would have been a corner to Hibs instead of a goal for us. :whistle

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Has anyone on this thread actually said that they believe Jack is making a mistake here and Stelios should be kept for the Premiership? All I read were people thanking him for being a more than decent signing, and highlighting his contribution. Sure, he made errors, who doesn’t? 

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Has anyone on this thread actually said that they believe Jack is making a mistake here and Stelios should be kept for the Premiership? All I read were people thanking him for being a more than decent signing, and highlighting his contribution. Sure, he made errors, who doesn’t? 

I thought he would have been a very good wing back. Sad to see him go but you’ve got to trust Jack I suppose. The Aberdeen cup game was the game changer I suppose, yet even then for his two mistakes leading to goals, he wasn’t the only one to be caught out and it was his persistence that led to our goal.

Perhaps Jack has his eye on the return of two of Ross County’s full backs?
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It's possible that Stelios knew he would be likely to get limited game time next season, so also considered now is the right time to move on.

He could be a regular starter (and, indeed, a star) in the right team at the right level.  I hope he stays in Scotland and gets a gig with a good Championship outfit who are challenging at the right end of the table. I reckon he would slot well into a left wing-back role if any manager favoured that formation.

It goes without saying that I wish him all the very best. Great guy, great character.

Cheers Stelios!

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