Cod Almighty | Article

by Various

1 July 2004

Was sent back to Sheffield Utd by Russ after another example of petulance during the game against Northampton.

First things first – that unwieldy surname. It's a mouthful to say repeatedly, and a fingerful to type repeatedly. "Ash"? "Sestan?" "Sestanthemanovich" (as at least one Town fan has had printed on their replica shirt)? Let's just call him Stan. Short. Succinct.

On a season-long loan from Sheffield United, Stan spent the 2003-04 campaign becoming acquainted with Russell Slade on a similar deal at Scarborough. Neil Warnock has stated that the 2004-05 term represents a chance for the player to show what he can do – for Town as well as Sheffield United. And what is he showing?

There's an air of another Stan to him, a man more famous now for 'dogging' and for threatening to take Vanilla Ice 'outside' than for his footballing ability. But our Stan's physique, control and knack of firing shots with not so much no backlift, more a tap of his foot are not dissimilar to those of Mr Collymore. He also has a similar hulking frame to the moody ex-Forest goal machine, although our Hulk also looks a little more like he's been irritated with his shorts hanging unfeasibly short and tight on him. One wonders what would happen if he were ever made angry.

At Wycombe, he was Town's sole outlet in the first half with runs that drove deep into the Chairboys' half, causing bedlam among an otherwise well-drilled team – until his withdrawal through injury just before half time. This was typical of many moments early in the 2004-05 season when he was a mightily effective weapon. Some opposition managers have already noted he inhabits that twilight zone between the frontline and midfield, dropping into 'the hole' (an aptly named zone where many players seem to disappear). 

Sadly, though, Stan seems unable to hold a presence in games with any consistency. While he clearly has footballing gifts, there is an air of selfishness and hogging to his play, head down, charging forward – when he isn't stood or slovenly ambling around in the nether-position he inhabits. When he does look up he can provide some fine passes and through balls, but as the season has worn on those delightfully weighted passes have become more waylaid, much like Stan's form. Maybe he's in a comfort zone. Maybe he needs a kick up the arse. If he gave a shit he'd tear teams apart at this level.