Getting Stick From Critics Won’T Change The Way I Play Says Greg Stewart

[JoeCovenant]

Dundee forward Greg Stewart has blasted back at the critics, insisting he won’t change his game for anyone.

Despite a blistering start to the campaign, much like the Dark Blues as a whole, Stewart’s form has dipped of late.

And, while he accepts some sections of the fans have a right to criticise him for his recent performances, Stewart says he’s got broad enough shoulders to keep trying to be Dundee’s match-winner.

“I will always try something in games — it’s the way I play,†said Stewart, who is again expected to start out wide when Paul Hartley’s men travel to Tynecastle to take on second-placed Hearts.

“Sometimes it won’t come off but that’s not going to stop me trying things in the future.

“I’d much rather take a chance and beat a few men, or play the final ball than not try anything.

“Maybe I should take the easy pass a bit more often — but playing this way got me so much success last season, I don’t see why I should change.

“I will always take a chance. If fans or critics want to have a go at me for doing it, then that’s up to them.

“That’s what I have always done. And that’s what I will continue to do.â€

The 25-year-old striker, who has five goals in 15 games so far this campaign despite by his own admission being inconsistent, continued: “I’m a big enough boy to take criticism.

“When things aren’t going well, you deserve it sometimes.

“That’s football — it comes with the territory.

“Inconsistent sums our season up. It sums up mine, too.

“We haven’t been playing well, conceding sloppy goals and not scoring as many as we would like.

When it’s all put together that’s a pretty bad combination — so it’s no surprise we find ourselves in the bottom half of the table.

“It’s a simple thing that we need to do, though. We need to start turning some of the draws and defeats on the road and at home recently into wins.

“If we get a run of two, three or four games where we win, we will be right up there again.

“We’re not really that far behind the teams in front of us. We’re not really that far behind the teams at the top either.â€

The Dark Blues have a tough little run of games starting at Tynecastle as well as a pretty cruel Christmas period which includes a trip to Ross County and games against Celtic and derby day foes Dundee United.

As a result, Stewart says the squad will ponder the last month or so of football with a hint of regret.

“We have some hard games coming up and maybe we do look back over the last month or so and wish we’d taken more points,†said the former Cowdenbeath frontman.

“Games at home against the likes of Kilmarnock and Partick are ones we should be winning.

“We failed to do that and, hopefully, we won’t pay the price over the next few weeks.

“Those are really the games you have to win to be in the top six and pushing for Europe.

“And as we have said on many occasions before, that’s where we want to be at the end of the season.â€

Stewart is seeing the clash with Robbie Neilson’s men as an acid test for the squad.

He says you will be able to tell a lot about where Dundee will finish at the end of the season by their performance, and obviously the result, in the capital.

“We need to prove a point this weekend,†he said.

“We need to prove to everybody that we are worthy of being up there with the big boys.â€

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[Ludo*1]

I think it's indicative of how sh**e our fans can be that even our best player after having a poor couple of weeks is having to defend himself to the fans after feeling like he's been heavily criticised.

[Gedee]

Is this kind o' Headline and Article, jist no another effort by the Dundee Telegraph tae try tae sell mair newspapers?

I'm sure  maist o' the quotes can be sourced tae Greg Stewarts. But to my thinking, it looks far too contrived to convince.

The last few weks (again imo) Greg has no quite reached the heights that most of us, think him capable of. But Getting Stick?

.....No more than just concern and a wee bit gentle criticism.       I think the Tule, is at it !!

[Ludo*1]

Maybe it's just me in the Cox Gedee. But shouts of 'Get him aff he's a waste of a jersey' being among the politer things shouted at you over the course of a game has to have an effect on the players whether they are the most professional player in the world or not.

We as fans tend to look for the negatives, 'Oh, Harkins isn't sitting in the dug-out. He must have fell out with Hartley'. That sort of nonsense is not helping the team. Sometimes I think we make it harder for the team than it should be.

Might be one of the reasons our away form has been much better than our home form over the past 3 seasons.

[Gedee]

Maybe it's just me in the Cox Gedee. But shouts of 'Get him aff he's a waste of a jersey' being among the politer things shouted at you over the course of a game has to have an effect on the players whether they are the most professional player in the world or not.

We as fans tend to look for the negatives, 'Oh, Harkins isn't sitting in the dug-out. He must have fell out with Hartley'. That sort of nonsense is not helping the team. Sometimes I think we make it harder for the team than it should be.

Might be one of the reasons our away form has been much better than our home form over the past 3 seasons.

As you may know I get to very, very, few games Ludo, so my comments above, could well be totally right off the mark.

And therefore, it is right to say, "he is getting stick" if this is what he is experiencing from some fans at home games.

Personally, even now, I can become over-excited and maybe a bit too loud at games, but grinding criticism, booing etc.

is no for me. Ever !!  Lve fitba is awe aboot emotions as weel & what we probaly awe want is a team that gives 100%

The main focus target wis, the Courier & Tule.   Eh'm jist suspiscious o' anything eh read in there. (Jist ike maist papers)

[chomp my root]

I've got to go with Ludo on this Gedee, I sit in 'moan central' in the Main stand but even over the rustling of all the sweetie wrappers I hear a lot of negative stuff. Sometimes I get it but others I'm genuinely baffled why everyone feels the need to boo or bawl pish at the players. I don't know if its just us or its more common in Scottish football (or world football for that matter) but I think some go there almost hoping for us to have a bad game so they can vent their spleen.

[Attilio]

In recent weeks we haven't even had to lose a game for the abuse to start.  People saying Stewart is off form?  Maybe but he still our main creative spark and never hides.  The first mistake he made against Partick, some of the stuff being shouted at him was an embarrassment.  If I was him I would be tempted to say 'f**k you lot'.  If this carries on I wouldn't be surprised if he told us where to stick any extended contract.