Terrier-Bytes' view on Jonathan Stead
Huddersfield Town story posted by Garfield (Admin) on 21/01/2004
Jonathan Stead, born on the 7th April 1983, is without a shadow of a doubt the brightest prospect Huddersfield Town currently have on their books. His sixteen league goals so far this season make him Division Three?s joint top scorer and the most sought after young English striker outside the Premiership. So, with all that in mind, how long do we really have of keeping ?Steadinho? at Town? Well, realistically, probably not long at all.
A bid of ?500k plus 300k incentives from Sunderland was turned down in late October and since then a number of other top clubs, including Glasgow Rangers, have shown an interest in the 20-year-old. The Scottish club were reported in the media to be very interested in snapping up the young hotshot in early November. But still, with all the interest that has been shown, Jon Stead remains a Town player.
If somebody predicted to you this time last year that scouts from Southampton, Newcastle, Fulham, Sunderland, West Ham, Preston, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest and Rangers would be monitoring Stead?s progress you would probably have thought that they were stark raving mad. In fact, even Jon himself would have rolled over on the floor laughing. I mean, last season for Town he only managed six goals in over 40 appearances for the club, which to me is the sign of a poor goalscorer. But this just goes to show how much he has improved his game since the end of last season?s campaign. His dramatic improvement is obviously down to his work-rate and determination and not some miracle.
So, if Stead was to leave the Terriers in the coming weeks or months, I just wonder if we?d have the same situation as when Marcus Stewart left for Ipswich in our Division One promotion bid of 1999/2000. You know, we?re flying high, aiming for automatic promotion or the play-offs, and then your star-striker is sold, which results in you being derailed. I seriously think this would be the case unless Newby starts to show that he can score goals and not get caught offside once every twenty seconds. Unlikely.
The Town fans who post on this site?s forums have a similar kind of view.
Action_Man feels selling Stead would be a wrong move.
?I do think the estimated transfer fee of ?800,000 is an excellent offer, and we do need the money but it would bring our season to an abrupt end if it goes through,? said the regular site visitor.
?I also think there would be uproar again just like the Stewart departure, so they might need to board up the board room this time if it happens,? continued Action_Man.
Digger feels Stead is irreplaceable.
?I don't know how we'd replace Stead's goals if we sold him before the end of January. Nat Brown certainly isn't going to score them, Newby is unlikely to on the form he showed before his injury. But how likely is it that he will go in the next couple of weeks? Clubs outside the Premier don't have to rush in as the transfer window doesn't apply, and it would be a huge gamble to throw Stead into a Premier team right now. Anyone buying in the transfer window is wanting immediate results. I still reckon Stead will see the season out with us.?
For the fans? full view on Stead?s possible exit, click here.
Well, most fans now seem to think Stead?s exit is inevitable. To tell you the truth, I do too. All we can really hope for now is a ?1m+ sale if he does go. After all, it will take a very large amount of money to compensate for his goals tally. To paint a clear picture of the situation would be to imagine Arsenal without Thierry Henry or Manchester United without Ruud van Nistelrooy? Precisely, I need say no more!
Related links
SoccerBase - Jon Stead
The Town fans' view on... Stead and Sodje
A bid of ?500k plus 300k incentives from Sunderland was turned down in late October and since then a number of other top clubs, including Glasgow Rangers, have shown an interest in the 20-year-old. The Scottish club were reported in the media to be very interested in snapping up the young hotshot in early November. But still, with all the interest that has been shown, Jon Stead remains a Town player.
If somebody predicted to you this time last year that scouts from Southampton, Newcastle, Fulham, Sunderland, West Ham, Preston, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest and Rangers would be monitoring Stead?s progress you would probably have thought that they were stark raving mad. In fact, even Jon himself would have rolled over on the floor laughing. I mean, last season for Town he only managed six goals in over 40 appearances for the club, which to me is the sign of a poor goalscorer. But this just goes to show how much he has improved his game since the end of last season?s campaign. His dramatic improvement is obviously down to his work-rate and determination and not some miracle.
So, if Stead was to leave the Terriers in the coming weeks or months, I just wonder if we?d have the same situation as when Marcus Stewart left for Ipswich in our Division One promotion bid of 1999/2000. You know, we?re flying high, aiming for automatic promotion or the play-offs, and then your star-striker is sold, which results in you being derailed. I seriously think this would be the case unless Newby starts to show that he can score goals and not get caught offside once every twenty seconds. Unlikely.
The Town fans who post on this site?s forums have a similar kind of view.
Action_Man feels selling Stead would be a wrong move.
?I do think the estimated transfer fee of ?800,000 is an excellent offer, and we do need the money but it would bring our season to an abrupt end if it goes through,? said the regular site visitor.
?I also think there would be uproar again just like the Stewart departure, so they might need to board up the board room this time if it happens,? continued Action_Man.
Digger feels Stead is irreplaceable.
?I don't know how we'd replace Stead's goals if we sold him before the end of January. Nat Brown certainly isn't going to score them, Newby is unlikely to on the form he showed before his injury. But how likely is it that he will go in the next couple of weeks? Clubs outside the Premier don't have to rush in as the transfer window doesn't apply, and it would be a huge gamble to throw Stead into a Premier team right now. Anyone buying in the transfer window is wanting immediate results. I still reckon Stead will see the season out with us.?
For the fans? full view on Stead?s possible exit, click here.
Well, most fans now seem to think Stead?s exit is inevitable. To tell you the truth, I do too. All we can really hope for now is a ?1m+ sale if he does go. After all, it will take a very large amount of money to compensate for his goals tally. To paint a clear picture of the situation would be to imagine Arsenal without Thierry Henry or Manchester United without Ruud van Nistelrooy? Precisely, I need say no more!
Related links
SoccerBase - Jon Stead
The Town fans' view on... Stead and Sodje
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