Stephen Humphrys

Said it in the summer this only ends one way with Humphrys and that’s not in our starting line up post January. I tink we are trying to shoe horn him into something he’s not. It’s only going to end in tears

 

It feels like there are already issues. Alexander going huge on praise smacks of someone trying to 'manage' a difficult character. Then he comes out with a very direct message to the press about 'what they agreed' that sounded like a direct message to Humphrys.

 

Looking through his recent history, he seems to fade in and out of sides. Wigan in 21/22. he was in 45 of 46 league squads but only 12 starts and 26 times he came off the bench. To say he was fit all season, he only averaged 33 mins per appearance. Played up top and out wide. Went to loan to Hearts for 22/23 and again didn't get much time but he had a while out with an ankle injury. He had 9 starts in 25 games for Hearts, averaged 42 mins per appearance there. Again, played wide and up top.

Then 23/24 he was supposed to be a first teamer at Wigan, started the season in the team but faded out as the season went on. He had 24 starts in the 39 L1 games he played in, just 5 starts from January until the end of the season and he wasn't in the squad for the last 5 fixtures with an ankle injury but there was a belief with Wigan fans that he was never going to play again for them and the deal was coming up. Again, played wide and up front. Move to last season, in 24/25 he was allegedly signing for Wrexham but it fell through, he then joined Barnsley. He had an injury pre-season, then when he got in the team he played up top to little return, looks like from the squads he scored just 1 goal playing as a striker, 8 goals from the wing including 5 goals in his last 5 games for them. Another in and out the side season, with 26 starts in 38 L1 apps.

He seems a very hot and cold player, when he's on fire he starts for a while, when he fades he finds himself on the bench, but he doesn't really stay anywhere long enough to stamp down a starting role either. His 26 starts for Barnsley last L1 campaign were the most league starts he's managed in his career to date and he's 28 next month. So far it's a career of being in and out sides then moving on, not surprised GA has challenged him to win that starting shirt. From what I've seen of him so far, he looks like he has all the tools. Bit of pace, good frame, can hold it up, just lacks that finishing instinct but if you find yourself your whole career starting half a campaign and playing out wide just as much as up front, it's not surprising he doesn't look too confident in front of goal.

 

If you look at the post match , pitch side celebrations , I can’t see anything but a more than happy camp and management team! Hump well and truly involved .

 

Whatever the case I thought Swan was excellent there and will be very unlucky to lose his place

 

Fair post. How many previously successful strikers have come to us and been complete flop? Aaron McLean for starters. Can it be down to the manager and team tactics that affects a player like that? GA certainly knows how to motivate players and get the best out of them. I like the look of Humps. Let's see how his season pans out. Exciting to have a player like him in the squad.

 

I’d be surprised if he does Park….His pace could worry Luton ? Certainly will make an appearance at some stage …last 20-25 perhaps?

 

I do find it odd that Alexander went to such lengths and detail in that interview, perhaps something may have been said recently about the role and GA was merely subtly reminding Humphrys of how it is going to be.

appeared to be a question that he could have batted away easily without raising this much thought and debate

 

For what its worth I think one or two on here are being a little harsh and over critical of SH, we are just 3 games in and I've seen enough promise in what he brings.
There may be a bit of maverick in his style but GA is the man to blend that into the team - and that run down the wing in the last minute on Tuesday was something else! We have room for a player like Humphrys, just need to best harness his talent

 

Exactly…..I’m sure his best role will be found , but it won’t be, left, right or indeed middle. It will be a combo of all three with the other two interchanging with him.

 

Centre forward, as Alexander says.

Not questioning the manager, are you?

 

*Snigger*

 

Am I losing it?

I seem to remember when SH signed, the comments from both himself and GA were on the lines of "I/he is not an out and out striker, I/he play on the left of the striker and that is my/his preferred position".

Now we are getting a completely different story from GA.
Please for my sanity, will someone put me right or am I dreaming??

Now if I am correct, what a partnership that would be with Cook when he returns.

 

Ready, steady, go !

Now you have started it

 

I'm not advocating dropping Bobby. Whoever is performing takes the shirt and that's every position on the pitch.

Hopefully he makes me look daft but come the turn of the year I honestly don't think he'll still be in that lone striker slot.

 

Agreed. As Raynor likes to say “he put the afterburners on”. I didn’t think he was that quick. Plus that lovely little hold up and drag back that didn’t quite work out…but Bobby picked up on the scraps to score on the opening day. Not to mention he gets the lady fans shifting in their seats. He’s a YES from me.

 

As long as he starts putting some these chances away everything is gravy. If he keeps missing we have Swan waiting to stake a claim. No room for sentiment when there are options available.

 

If he's affecting the play and we are scoring goals and winning games, his goal return doesn't bother me at all but I do take your point, it'd be nice to see him on the scoresheet.