Stephen Elliott

[Stuttgart88]

but imo he is overrated.

The most overrated of your generation?

Who knows how he'll turn out but I've seen enough of him to think he'll do well, but not necessarily immediately. I think everyone at Sunderland will find it tough next year.

My personal view is that this kid has a natural goalscoring instinct that's quite rare for an Irish player.

[zinedineontour]

The most overrated of your generation?

Who knows how he'll turn out but I've seen enough of him to think he'll do well, but not necessarily immediately. I think everyone at Sunderland will find it tough next year.

My personal view is that this kid has a natural goalscoring instinct that's quite rare for an Irish player.

dont know how the lad is overated cause he has only just come on the scene and is still third choice striker in kerrs eyes.... quality season at sunderland seen him many a time last season and imo was our best forward .. layed on so many goals for other players as well as those he scored himself.. will find it tough this season but who wont in the sunderland team.. he is at a good club with good people around him and imo already is a better finisher than robbie ...

[Stuttgart88]

Not sure if I've misunderstood you Zinedine but the "most overrated Irish player on my generation" remark was Superfrank's originally. I was just wondering if he still stood by that remark.

[zinedineontour]

Not sure if I've misunderstood you Zinedine but the "most overrated Irish player on my generation" remark was Superfrank's originally. I was just wondering if he still stood by that remark.

nah was not having a go at you just too lazy to scroll up page for quote so just put in yours ....

[superfrank]

Poor first touch? My arse. Again you're are actually the person judging him on the one game against the Faroes mate. BTW, its pretty difficult to score more than a goal per start in any English division. Robbie Keane scored 24 goals in 67 division 1 league starts for Wolves. Damien Duff was absolutely brutal in division 1 when Blackburn got relegated.

Damien Duff is NOT a natural goalscorer, it's not his job.

[eirebhoy]

Damien Duff is NOT a natural goalscorer, it's not his job.

I never said he was. All I'm saying is just because a player can get 10 goals and 10 assists in the premiership doesn't mean he'll get much more in the Championship or vice versa.

BTW, someone mentioned Elliott setting up goals. The last figure I had was 8 assists which was a couple of months before the end of the season so he probably ended up with about 10.

[Fergie's Son]

It's not that he is overrated as much as he might be getting overexposed. Elliot is really all we have as an up-and-coming striker so of course he is going to get a lot of press in Irish circles.

He looks like a good, if somewhat slight, player who might just cut it in the Premiership. Time is on his side though. Please don't confuse excitement at a players potential will overrating said player.

[Qwerty]

I don't think he is either overrated or overexposed - I think the expectations of him are realistic. The kid is 20 and in his first full season of first teams games he was the top scorer ( or maybe 1 behind Stewart, too lazy to check ) for the team that won the Championship. Not a bad start to a career.

He record at underage for Ireland is excellent, record scorer at U21 level I think?

He will improve, we have so few Irish strikers that really get to become top flight regulars - Stapleton, Quinn and Keane are the only Irish-born strikers in the past 20 years to play top flight regularly...and score.

He won't be an Henry or RVN but can become an alternative in the near term to Robbie and Clinton.

[dr_peepee]

It's the same at Lansdowne Road. It's infuriating.

Don;t get me started... The worst for me was at the Brazil friendly when two D4 heads behind me were 'tawking' about the new young midfielder Grham Kavanagh.... Kavanagh FFS... More grey hair than inpsector Morse and they're calling him new AND young...

"Stick to the sailing & the egg chasing my friends" I was thinking!!!

[superfrank]

....played well for once. Unfortunately. I still can't stand him. It was a good goal but I have some problem with him that I can't quite figure out for myself.

Anyway, before I'm berated at how good he is I'll leave you with one fact. He's scored more International goials this season then domestic ones.

[tetsujin1979]

Big deal. so had McAteer when he scored against Holland

[Qwerty]

....played well for once. Unfortunately. I still can't stand him. It was a good goal but I have some problem with him that I can't quite figure out for myself.

Anyway, before I'm berated at how good he is I'll leave you with one fact. He's scored more International goials this season then domestic ones.

Well you better get used to it because he is going to be around for a long time to come. If RVN was playing for Sunderland he might be in the same position

[Irish_Praha]

I bet he scores for Sunderland before the end of this month. He was played on the right hand side of MF for the first few games. However, he has played up front for the last two games and put in man-of-the-match performances and looked very lively. So far he has been denied due to some good saves and maybe his finishing could be a bit better but I think scoring his first goal of the season will do the world of good for him. It's only a matter of time before he gets his first goal in the Premership. I reckon he'll be an 8 to 10 goal striker for Sunderland this season, with about the same number of assists.
Hopefully he'll score as many between now and the end of the World Cup for Ireland

[thejollyrodger]

what kind of problems ???? I thought he was a decent player. Not great but not useless either.

[zinedineontour]

Really think after sat nights performance by elliott who apart from given seemed to be the only one who gave a ****e and played for the shirt the lad has to start on wednesday .. He chased everything and created a couple of chances . Might sound bit mad but id drop robbie as he needs a kick up the hole as he is one lazy ******* for ireland these days . If he realises his position is not guaranteed for ireland might bring out the best in him ..

[shakermaker1982]

If Kerr did that I'd eat my keyboard!!!!!!

No player is immune from not playing in the starting 11 IMO, not even Zidane but I do think Robbie believes Kerr would never drop him because he is our number 1 striker. If we went on form alone (forgetting reputation and past history) then Robbie would have to get used to the wooden bench (as he knows only too well at Spurs). Clinton and Elliott both track back and chase, sadly Robbie doesn't do that. I think I'd give him the benefit of the doubt because he is a class player on his day.

[mountie]

I would definitely start Elliott and Morrison upfront with Keane coming off the bench, as he does with Spurs. Don't see Kerr doing that though. Might be an opportunity for Keane to play in front of the midfield supporting the front two of Morrison and Elliott, he comes so deep sometimes to get the ball that he never looks like an out and out striker to me anyway. Any thoughts ?

[thejollyrodger]

clinton over robbie ? that would be a very brave decision IMO. I can see why but dropping our number one goal scorer would be a big pill to swallow.

[Tram_14]

Might be an opportunity for Keane to play in front of the midfield supporting the front two of Morrison and Elliott, he comes so deep sometimes to get the ball that he never looks like an out and out striker to me anyway. Any thoughts ?

I'm not sure how that would work defensively, but I think it would be a very good option if we went one down or with 20 mins to go & looking for a win. Morrison could hold the ball up with robbie & elliot both feeding off it, giving us more possibilities of scoring. All the swiss need is a draw so we have to be very careful of the counter attack, but if we are drawing with 15/20 mins to go this is what I would imagine Kerr will do.

BTW Just heard on 9.00 news Duff is out.

[zinedineontour]

....played well for once. Unfortunately. I still can't stand him. It was a good goal but I have some problem with him that I can't quite figure out for myself.

Anyway, before I'm berated at how good he is I'll leave you with one fact. He's scored more International goials this season then domestic ones.

you need to get the problem sorted as the lad is quality .. If robbie keane put half the effort in that elliott does we would have had no problems on sat night ..