27 May 2026 10:51:38
Today's debate!
Have we missed the best of Shankland or will we see the best of him?
27 May 2026 11:32:06
The $64,000 question. Plenty have said that if he signed for Rangers we would have won the league.
He scored against Rangers & Celtic this season, and Hearts still never won the league. Chermiti scored against both Celtic and Hearts, and we never won the league.
Dessers scored and missed against everyone, and we all said we needed better. A 1 in 2 striker. 20+ a season twice, and still not enough. Will Shankland be the difference next season?
Fingers crossed. ?⚪?
27 May 2026 11:33:06
Far better player at 30 than he was at 25, Gazza.
27 May 2026 11:33:59
I think over the last few years Shankland has improved his overall game as well as being a deadly finisher. ? So I would say we're getting the complete striker who still has some of his peak years in front of him. ???
27 May 2026 11:39:57
We will get great benefit from Lawrence being up front. He is at his peak, a late developer, and crucially is also a leader on the pitch.
I, for one, can't wait to see him in the famous light blue.
27 May 2026 11:41:30
Chernitti scored 14-16 goals second half of season alone.
He carried that form into next season. I'd expect high twenties from him.
Shankland 20+.
Midfield, we need 18+.
A solid defence leaking minimal goals.
We win the league - simples really. ?
27 May 2026 11:49:46
Well if you put it like that, Stig. ?
27 May 2026 11:55:32
He'll bag 20 no problem. I think he's been a better all round player in the last 18 months than at any stage of his career. Added much more to his game than just goals. Delighted with this signing.
Really need a few additions to the midfield.
They're all too similar and none of them stand out at anything bar maybe workrate.
Looking forward to seeing who is brought in.
27 May 2026 11:56:10
I think he is in his prime, will get a good 2/3 years out him.
27 May 2026 12:08:33
It's chance creation that's the biggest issue imo, Shankland thrives off service. We provide little!
27 May 2026 12:16:32
I think he'll get 15 goals easily if he's a starter and he'll also compliment people around him.
I agree with others saying we could be doing with a goal scoring midfielder. Someone that could get us 10+ a season in the league.
27 May 2026 12:22:35
Gaz, I absolutely agree we need an attacking midfielder who can add goals to our team. ? There's no reason why a good attacking midfielder shouldn't hit double figures in the goal scoring stakes within a season. ???
27 May 2026 12:26:16
Shankland isn't an out and out striker now. He's improved his all-round game. A more complete player and is honed on the rough and tumble of Scottish football. A good signing that he waited for last year. Thankfully we've addressed that anomaly.
27 May 2026 12:54:47
MPH, I agree, we have had that 20+ striker and never won league so Shankland on his own will never win it for us. Interesting to see who else we get to make us a better team and squad. That is the real difference maker.
R1, we were top scorers in the league last year so we obviously created enough chances to do that.
But we do need to create for him as he only takes less than 1 of the 5 chances created for him; Chermiti scored slightly better per chance.
27 May 2026 13:46:07
I think Shankland will do well. He will score a load of goals if played. I imagine he will be the new penalty taker as well.
27 May 2026 13:58:50
R1, hit it on the head, mate, the old 'he would score loads with the chances we create' comment has worn thin over the last 4 or 5 years. Even Dessers had to create most of his own! Let's hope recruitment sorts this pronto.
27 May 2026 14:36:47
Miovski scored 13 goals and played nearly half the amount of minutes Chermiti did, not as bad as some believe.
27 May 2026 14:54:03
Shankland has cost us zero. Great signing.
27 May 2026 19:53:13
Good post, Coops. Doesn't matter if Shanks is 30 or 60, one thing's for sure, he will run through brick walls for us. Guy put his Hearts career in jeopardy last summer, clinging to the hope we'd come calling, but never materialised.