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I've always argued that, as a player, he was a better fit for us than Delap in the 9 role.
His work rate, energy, team ethos have always been his biggest strengths. His ability to trigger the press under McKenna and get us going was something I always valued.
Yes, his touch could have been better, yes, his conversion rate might have been higher and these are often used to malign a player that I think, genuinely, gave everything during his time here.
Oddly, I think Delap coming here had a negative affect on him, he ended up trying to be too Delap'esq for a while after Delap moved on and that's not Hirst's strengths.
I wish him well - he's very much been part of our success. Good luck to him at Stoke.
2.30 in......
[Post edited 19 Aug 13:00]
Ade Akinbiyi couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo...
A brilliant servant to the Football club and one who will be remembered in a similar way to Chappers, Mass, Broady etc
We would not be in this position without him.
He fit the system like a glove and it was a pleasure to watch him, particularly at the end of the L1 season, start of the CH season. He was unplayable at times.
And now we make 5M+ profit on him and he hopefully gets a big old contract from Stoke!
A win for all parties. Go well George!
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George Hirst - a better striker that often given credit for. on 08:34 - Aug 19 with 901 views
Homer, I 100% agree with you re George Hirst. He was pivotal to our attack 3 years ago, pulling it altogether and combining so well with Chaplin and Burns. When he went out if the team through that hamstring rupture our attack potency completely fell away... Then he was (IMHO) unceremoniously dumped by McKenna in favour of Delap. Fine,while the young gun was in his purple patch, but when he was sussed and had nothing else to his game to offer, and it was crying out for an older more experienced striker, who had more strings to his bow. But he was rarely given his opportunity. Many players would have asked for a move. But he didn't. He's always been a loyal player.
I have a lot of time for him and I reslly hope he gets his mojo back at Stoke. They're getting a very good front man.
On his day a great player and for all the plaudits Delap got I believe Hirst's goal involvement stats were better in the prem. Always delivered at key times but could equally be very frustrating. Lovely guy and all the best to him.
He has done well for us, but is in my opinion a top half championship striker and we are at a point we need better to stay up that is the bottom line. You cannot be sentimental.
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George Hirst - a better striker that often given credit for. on 09:59 - Aug 19 with 580 views
I agree. The things which dogged him were not having the best first touch with the ball, perhaps slightly inferior marksmanship (tho he wasn't bad, really) and, chiefly, the lack of understanding the role he was being asked to play much of the time - namely as an old-fashioned hold-up man, defence-disruptor and facilitator of others, more than a pure goal-hanging striker.
Hirst wasn't bad in that role, certainly played a very important role in all our promotion campaigns. That injury in the Leicester game in 2023-24 took him out at a fairly crucial time.
Really like George Hirst and sad to see him go. A brilliant servant and big part of our success.
From a purely football perspective however I would take Delap over Hirst every single time. Delap can still go on to be a top prem striker. Hirst I think is a good championship striker who does a lot more than just goals. He can do a job off the bench in the prem but ultimately you need better to stay up for me (though not impossible).
George Hirst - a better striker that often given credit for. on 11:39 - Aug 19 by Nutkins_Return
Really like George Hirst and sad to see him go. A brilliant servant and big part of our success.
From a purely football perspective however I would take Delap over Hirst every single time. Delap can still go on to be a top prem striker. Hirst I think is a good championship striker who does a lot more than just goals. He can do a job off the bench in the prem but ultimately you need better to stay up for me (though not impossible).
Delap has a lot of potential but a concern for me is that he doesn’t have a footballing brain. In other words, zero awareness of what’s around him and at 23 you begin to wonder. He needs a good coach like a McKenna! What he has is size, strength and an eye for a goal.
GH was all about awareness and others. He really made our forward line as a whole function at its best. What he lacked was Delap's strength, physicality and eye for a goal. Good player, George and providing injuries don’t do for him, Stoke will be getting a bargain.
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George Hirst - a better striker that often given credit for. on 13:31 - Aug 19 with 241 views
His record is even better than I thought. Doesn't seem a minute ago that we were worried about him not joining us. People were posting about seeing him at a local hotel etc. Been a better servant than will probably been remembered for.
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