Bring back our Alfie!

We are under no illusions and know some fans are split that he wants away and we should take the money and sell him (okay if it’s a fortune, but not the reported insulting offers that have been received so far) but what’s evident is that without him we don’t have enough to offer upfront.

Sure Roofe will score goals, but he’s not going to “do a Goldson” and play 90 mins, every game, every week, all season because of recurrent injuries. Itten has something to offer. I trust our scouts and Gerrard that they see something in him, but he’s not the finished article and we can’t rely on him, week on week. Defoe again will score goals and contribute when needed, but again we all know his role this season is more coaching-based and he won’t be playing 90 mins every week. Which leaves us with our top goal scorer and target man who, even from pre-season friendlies, is evident we are badly missing.

No player is bigger than the club and it’s inevitable they move on at some point, but now is not the time! Even if we did receive a respectable offer and we know he does want to move on, we just can’t go out and bring in a prolific goalscorer and offer them the time to bed into our league. Even Alfie didn’t show what he could do in his first season with the club.

We need someone we can rely on, knows how the team plays, knows our league and can play week on week. Now is not the time to lose him and then to have an experiment, bringing someone else in because we need to cement that we’re back and become the dominant force in Scottish Football again for 56.

I know it’s “only” pre-season friendlies, but in 180 mins of football, we’ve managed 1 goal. We just play differently without our target man upfront, terrorising defences and his link-up play had remarkably improved last season. When you see Kent, Hagi and Morelos on the team sheet you know there are goals coming.

Without him we struggle and this is not the season where we can afford an experiment and bring in someone new. We need 56 and have Champions League football on offer. Gerrard needs to have a sit down with Morelos and a conversation about his plans and discuss the pros and cons of one more season.

Remind him of the euphoria of winning last season and that we can do it again, in large part because of his contributions. Now, old Alfie was temperamental and the red cards and petulant behaviour cost us in previous seasons, but most of that had been stamped out last season. I mean, Gerrard received more red cards than Morelos did and we know what he is and need to accept the good, the bad and the ugly because what he gives in return is priceless.

More substantial offers will come and he is going to move on, at some point, but c’mon Alfie, give us one more season, do what you do and leave with another winners medal. Alfie come home and stay!

Sidenote: Who else is going to provide the top banter, with the salt sprinkling and crying face tears to Broony? No-one does it like “our Alfie”!