Confirmed! - Michael Rose - Ayr (1 Viewer)

Mucca Mad Boys

Well-Known Member
More likely that Willis or Davies is not renewing

Not necessarily, we wanted to sign a defender in the summer. Personally, I think Davies will leave because he’s not getting game time. As for Willis, I’m struggling to see where he gets an opportunity to start week in, week out in the Championship. Frankly, we ought to have about 4 defenders and this guy seems like a threat from set pieces, something we really, really need!
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Not necessarily, we wanted to sign a defender in the summer. Personally, I think Davies will leave because he’s not getting game time. As for Willis, I’m struggling to see where he gets an opportunity to start week in, week out in the Championship. Frankly, we ought to have about 4 defenders and this guy seems like a threat from set pieces, something we really, really need!

He’s solid, nothing special. That league is League 1/2 standard and they’re challenging for top spot so pretty much similar to what we’ve got. If he can get his mate Lawrence to join him though...
 

Gazolba

Well-Known Member
Obviously a replacement for someone who will be leaving in the summer.
Let's hope he's fit when he joins us and not one of those who misses the first four weeks getting up to speed.
 

Nick

Administrator
I do like people who clearly don't bother going to games whinging that we have signed up and the ground agreement hasn't been confirmed.

Do they expect the club to just not bother? The player and agent will have assurances.
 

hamil99

Facebook User
I like this signing. Seems to be Willis's replacement as he plays center back and right back. I would then assume Drysdale is Davies replacement. Nice to see the manager being pro active and preparing for the future.
 

Nick

Administrator
I like this signing. Seems to be Willis's replacement as he plays center back and right back. I would then assume Drysdale is Davies replacement. Nice to see the manager being pro active and preparing for the future.

Drysdale is more to be developed I think.
 

hamil99

Facebook User
Drysdale is more to be developed I think.

I agree for the rest of this season. Then fighting for a first team place at the start of next season. Hasn't Robins already said they were fast tracking him to the first team after a while in the under 23s?
 

Nick

Administrator
I agree for the rest of this season. Then fighting for a first team place at the start of next season. Hasn't Robins already said they were fast tracking him to the first team after a while in the under 23s?

Wasn't that McCallum? Drysdale has only played maybe 2 games.
 

hamil99

Facebook User
You know what, I think you are right, it might of been McCallum. I still believe Drysdale or maybe Thompson will break through to grab Davies place in the squad. Time will tell though.
 

Mucca Mad Boys

Well-Known Member
He’s solid, nothing special. That league is League 1/2 standard and they’re challenging for top spot so pretty much similar to what we’ve got. If he can get his mate Lawrence to join him though...

How do you know this by the way? I’m curious?

As for Shankland, Swansea and Rangers seem to be in for him, so it’s unlikey we’d sign him. That said, we’re quite an attractive club to join at the minute. Didn’t think I’d be saying that 3-4 season ago!
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
How do you know this by the way? I’m curious?

As for Shankland, Swansea and Rangers seem to be in for him, so it’s unlikey we’d sign him. That said, we’re quite an attractive club to join at the minute. Didn’t think I’d be saying that 3-4 season ago!

I follow the Scottish leagues (lived there for 8 years) and Ayr are having their best shot at promotion to the SPL in donkey's years so have kept an eye on their games. The ship has sailed on Shankland now, but it hadn't in the summer when a League 1 side (not us) came in for him. Pretty sure we wouldn't be one of the lowest scoring sides in the league if we'd got him.
 

larry_david

Well-Known Member
To confirm, MR said he plans to have drysdale fighting for a first team place by the end of the season. Mccallum has done really well and impressed everybody how quickly he's adapted.
 

Houchens Head

Fairly well known member from Malvern
Naked pics of Ann Widdecombe.
giphy.gif
 

kg82

Well-Known Member
Cant believe people are getting so excited about a centre half from the sweaty sock league because he has scored twice. Hardly a massive signing to sought out the main problem of having a team who cant score

Give him a chance!! It’s not even for this season! We’ve bought someone 7 months in advance, I think we might, MIGHT, have time to at least try and sort that problem out before then!
 

Nick

Administrator
Give him a chance!! It’s not even for this season! We’ve bought someone 7 months in advance, I think we might, MIGHT, have time to at least try and sort that problem out before then!
No, I want us to have players leave and then us panic and then have to get people like Peter ramage at the last minute. I can moan then. ;)
 

Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
How do you know this by the way? I’m curious?

As for Shankland, Swansea and Rangers seem to be in for him, so it’s unlikey we’d sign him. That said, we’re quite an attractive club to join at the minute. Didn’t think I’d be saying that 3-4 season ago!
Yep homeless in 4 months
 

SkyBlueCRJ

Well-Known Member
I follow the Scottish leagues (lived there for 8 years) and Ayr are having their best shot at promotion to the SPL in donkey's years so have kept an eye on their games. The ship has sailed on Shankland now, but it hadn't in the summer when a League 1 side (not us) came in for him. Pretty sure we wouldn't be one of the lowest scoring sides in the league if we'd got him.

Although on paper signing Shankland would appear to be a coup, it might not be all roses in reality. Over the years I've found that the difficulty with League One/Champ clubs signing players (especially strikers) from the Scottish leagues, is that they rarely hit the heights expected of them. I'm not sure what it is, perhaps homesickness or they struggle with the increase in standards, but they do more often than not struggle to adapt to English football. Recent striker examples include Stevie May, Leigh Griffiths, Kris Boyd, Adam Rooney, Jonny Russell etc. All top strikers in the SPL or lower, but all have similarly struggled to adapt to the standards required at Champ/League One level. Shankland's record is fantastic don't get me wrong but an air of caution has to be considered before any club at Championship or League One level start throwing money at Ayr for his services.
 
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skybluegod

Well-Known Member
Although on paper signing Shankland would appear to be a coup, it might not be all roses in reality. Over the years I've found that the difficulty with League One/Champ clubs signing players (especially strikers) from the Scottish leagues, is that they rarely hit the heights expected of them. I'm not sure what it is, perhaps homesickness or they struggle with the increase in standards, but they do more often than not struggle to adapt to English football. Recent striker examples include Stevie May, Leigh Griffiths, Kris Boyd, Adam Rooney, Jonny Russell etc. All top strikers in the SPL or lower, but all have similarly struggled to adapt to the standards required at Champ/League One level. Shankland's record is fantastic don't get me wrong but an air of caution has to be considered before any club at Championship or League One level start throwing money at Ayr for his services.

While i agree, when the championship is so full of money, and a clinical striker is the top of every wish list, throwing £500,000-1 million at somebody who has shown an eye for goal, and could end up being a coup, has very little risk...
 

SkyBlueCRJ

Well-Known Member
While i agree, when the championship is so full of money, and a clinical striker is the top of every wish list, throwing £500,000-1 million at somebody who has shown an eye for goal, and could end up being a coup, has very little risk...

You’re right. The majority of clubs in the Championship probably wouldn’t blink at investing £500K - £1M into a striker that could develop into a star. But it depends who’s in for him. Like realistically how many ‘top Championship clubs’ are going to be genuinely after Shankland? Given how competitive the Championship is at the minute there’s zero chance IMO a club such as Swansea will have him as a primary target on their transfer shortlist given that their No.1. goal is getting back to the Premier League asap. Hence why I think it’s more likely a League One club or a lower placed Champ club will be after him - where any fee above £500K will be a significant investment out of their budget and could be contemplated as a risk.
 

skybluegod

Well-Known Member
You’re right. The majority of clubs in the Championship probably wouldn’t blink at investing £500K - £1M into a striker that could develop into a star. But it depends who’s in for him. Like realistically how many ‘top Championship clubs’ are going to be genuinely after Shankland? Given how competitive the Championship is at the minute there’s zero chance IMO a club such as Swansea will have him as a primary target on their transfer shortlist given that their No.1. goal is getting back to the Premier League asap. Hence why I think it’s more likely a League One club or a lower placed Champ club will be after him - where any fee above £500K will be a significant investment out of their budget and could be contemplated as a risk.

Really? I think almost everyteam in the championship that would be a drop in the water? Perhaps the exceptions are Rotherham, milwall and Bolton? Other than that, don't think the figure would represent much at all?

Then in terms of league one clubs, i doubt many could afford it except the really big spenders: Sunderland, Peterborough, Pompey and Luton? may be more significant budget wise you are correct. But in reality, i do disagree with you and think that it's a small risk for almost all clubs, given his record...
 

SkyBlueCRJ

Well-Known Member
Really? I think almost everyteam in the championship that would be a drop in the water? Perhaps the exceptions are Rotherham, milwall and Bolton? Other than that, don't think the figure would represent much at all?

Then in terms of league one clubs, i doubt many could afford it except the really big spenders: Sunderland, Peterborough, Pompey and Luton? may be more significant budget wise you are correct. But in reality, i do disagree with you and think that it's a small risk for almost all clubs, given his record...

I wouldn't go as far to say almost every club in the Championship would consider a £500K-£1M fee as a 'drop in the water'. Especially with the amount of Championship clubs that are slashing their budgets this season. Championship clubs will spend such fees on a more than regular basis, something that I'm not contesting I might add, but if you look at the bottom half of the table, the quality of players and the size of fees clubs spend are more or less worlds apart from the top half of the table. As is the norm for probably the majority of the leagues throughout the world. For instance, if you look at the expenditure of some of the lower placed clubs in the division: QPR, Preston, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Hull, Rotherham, Bolton, Ipswich didn't spend more than £3M each on transfer fees during the summer window. £500K - £1M on a player unproven even in the SPL certainly wouldn't be a 'drop in the water'.

Anyway, my argument is surely clubs such as those you have mentioned (e.g. Millwall, Wigan, Rotherham), as well as some of the above are more likely to target Shankland because he fits within their budget for a goalscorer. Whereas realistically IMO, are higher placed Championship clubs aren't interested in the likes of Shankland due to the depth they already possess in those positions, and to put it simply, their own shear snobbery? To put it into perspective Blackburn brought in Ben Brereton earlier this month for £7M and he's more of less a bit part player. Whereas Preston shelled out £300K to bring in Burke from Shamrock (Example of a lower end Championship club taking a chance on a young prospect from a lesser league). Brereton is the kind of player these clubs bring in to remain competitive. I understand your point thought as in theory of course for the likes of Villa, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, buying Shankland would be a drop in the water, and why wouldn't they take a gamble on someone like Shankland given his record this season. But IMO it's just not as simple as that as managers at the top end of the Championship are massively under pressure to achieve promotion and believe it or not still have a budget they're restricted to. Slightly creating a scenario here but who's to say that extra £500K - £1M in their budget could just be enough to get a 'signing of the season' deal over the line so why would they be interested in a Shankland when he'll probably never play for them.

I agree with you on that, outside those you just mentioned they probably couldn't. But that's not to say they could if funds were made available due to a later sale... This scenario reminds me of when Jordan Rhodes had that ridiculous season where he scored around 40 goals for Huddersfield and he was linked with a host of Premier League clubs. Where did he end up...Blackburn. I could be completely wrong and come July 1st he's signed for Middlesbrough or Villa. But IMO do I reiterate, I'm sceptical about how many ‘top Championship clubs’ are actually going to be genuinely after Shankland...
 
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Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Although on paper signing Shankland would appear to be a coup, it might not be all roses in reality. Over the years I've found that the difficulty with League One/Champ clubs signing players (especially strikers) from the Scottish leagues, is that they rarely hit the heights expected of them. I'm not sure what it is, perhaps homesickness or they struggle with the increase in standards, but they do more often than not struggle to adapt to English football. Recent striker examples include Stevie May, Leigh Griffiths, Kris Boyd, Adam Rooney, Jonny Russell etc. All top strikers in the SPL or lower, but all have similarly struggled to adapt to the standards required at Champ/League One level. Shankland's record is fantastic don't get me wrong but an air of caution has to be considered before any club at Championship or League One level start throwing money at Ayr for his services.

It’s less his record and more the types of goals that he scores. It is now irrelevant but had he been signed in the summer I’m sure he’d have buried at least some of the sitters. Point taken, Scottish strikers do tend to struggle (Naismith and Fletcher excepted), but as a direct replacement for McNulty he was as good as a carbon copy.
 

higgs

Well-Known Member
Did rose look a good prospect in the game last night?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

slyblue57

Well-Known Member
Rose played well enough last nite. Seemed steady, likes to pass out from the back and won majority of headers.
Looked composed. Got booked to in a very feisty game. It is Scottish leadue football tho.
 

Nick

Administrator
Rose played well enough last nite. Seemed steady, likes to pass out from the back and won majority of headers.
Looked composed. Got booked to in a very feisty game. It is Scottish leadue football tho.
Glad to hear he got stuck in

When I looked through highlights to find his goals there were a few scuffles in games. Might start watching their League!!
 

skybluegod

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't go as far to say almost every club in the Championship would consider a £500K-£1M fee as a 'drop in the water'. Especially with the amount of Championship clubs that are slashing their budgets this season. Championship clubs will spend such fees on a more than regular basis, something that I'm not contesting I might add, but if you look at the bottom half of the table, the quality of players and the size of fees clubs spend are more or less worlds apart from the top half of the table. As is the norm for probably the majority of the leagues throughout the world. For instance, if you look at the expenditure of some of the lower placed clubs in the division: QPR, Preston, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Hull, Rotherham, Bolton, Ipswich didn't spend more than £3M each on transfer fees during the summer window. £500K - £1M on a player unproven even in the SPL certainly wouldn't be a 'drop in the water'.

Anyway, my argument is surely clubs such as those you have mentioned (e.g. Millwall, Wigan, Rotherham), as well as some of the above are more likely to target Shankland because he fits within their budget for a goalscorer. Whereas realistically IMO, are higher placed Championship clubs aren't interested in the likes of Shankland due to the depth they already possess in those positions, and to put it simply, their own shear snobbery? To put it into perspective Blackburn brought in Ben Brereton earlier this month for £7M and he's more of less a bit part player. Whereas Preston shelled out £300K to bring in Burke from Shamrock (Example of a lower end Championship club taking a chance on a young prospect from a lesser league). Brereton is the kind of player these clubs bring in to remain competitive. I understand your point thought as in theory of course for the likes of Villa, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, buying Shankland would be a drop in the water, and why wouldn't they take a gamble on someone like Shankland given his record this season. But IMO it's just not as simple as that as managers at the top end of the Championship are massively under pressure to achieve promotion and believe it or not still have a budget they're restricted to. Slightly creating a scenario here but who's to say that extra £500K - £1M in their budget could just be enough to get a 'signing of the season' deal over the line so why would they be interested in a Shankland when he'll probably never play for them.

I agree with you on that, outside those you just mentioned they probably couldn't. But that's not to say they could if funds were made available due to a later sale... This scenario reminds me of when Jordan Rhodes had that ridiculous season where he scored around 40 goals for Huddersfield and he was linked with a host of Premier League clubs. Where did he end up...Blackburn. I could be completely wrong and come July 1st he's signed for Middlesbrough or Villa. But IMO do I reiterate, I'm sceptical about how many ‘top Championship clubs’ are actually going to be genuinely after Shankland...

Too long a post to read and reply to
 

Sky Blue Harry H

Well-Known Member
Good luck to the lad - he's centre half at home to Livingstone tonight and they are 3-0 down after 18 minutes. He's only a kid, but I hope we are not over-relying on potential as the backbone for next season (and no, I'm not having a pop at him before he kicks a ball for us!)
 

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