Derby are looking to bring Stoke City striker Lee Gregory to Pride Park. We spoke with Harvey from We Are Stoke, Elliot from The Bear Pit TV and Chris from the Wizards of Drivel to find out about the veteran striker and his time at the Potteries.
Why are Stoke looking to loan out Lee Gregory?
Harvey: To be honest, I’m not sure. It’s a bit of a weird one. The only thing I can think of is his wages, so we could be looking to get him off the books before his contract expires this summer.
Elliot: Honestly, I have no clue why we’re loaning him out as we’ve got a striker crisis going on at the moment. Maybe so someone else can come in but I’m not too sure.
Chris: It’s more than likely that Lee himself is looking for more game time. He’s been restricted to just the six appearances this season, and isn’t likely (sadly) to be getting anymore game time with Steven Fletcher and Sam Vokes ahead of him.
Is he an important player for Stoke? Has he played a lot this season?
Harvey: He’s only made nine appearances this season and has only scored one goal in the Championship (against Preston in September). He got injured away at Sheffield Wednesday at the end of November. He’s probably our third choice striker behind Steven Fletcher and Tyrese Campbell.
Elliot: He tends to play second fiddle to Campbell who’s now injured, but has been out most of this season due to a hamstring injury. And only came back in training this week.
Chris: Not particularly. He was certainly brought in as a rotation option, and despite some nice spells in the team, hasn’t really threatened to become the first choice striking option.
What are his strengths?
Harvey: Playing in a front two with him playing the hold up role. He’s also incredibly hard working and presses opposition defences all game long.
Elliot: One strength is that he’s very good at holding the ball up. He got the nickname Velcro Gregory for his hold up play.
Chris: Gregory is a worker. The best comparison I can make is to another Stoke City favourite, Jon Walters. He “works hard”, is quite strong, and has a lot of energy. He certainly can cause some problems for opponents simply by his running.
What are is weaknesses?
Harvey: Finishing. It’s very on and off. If he’s on form he’s a great player but there were a few instances last season where he missed some easy chances.
Elliot: His weaknesses are that he’s probably not the most lethal striker in the world and isn’t the quickest either.
Chris: Gregory isn’t the most technical player, and his finishing leaves a lot to be desired. Should he get in a clear cut position to slot the ball home, it is pretty much a 50/50 chance as to whether or not it will get finished or not.
What type of striker is he? Does he hold the ball up and link up play or does he run in behind?
Harvey: He’s a hold-up striker as I’ve just touched on, he worked really well with Scott Hogan under Nathan Jones in the early parts of last season. He plays better in a front two and does tend to struggle up top on his own, he can become isolated.
Elliot: He’s a striker that feeds off scraps. His goal always tend to come from inside the box rather than by dribbling past players or 30 yard shots.
Chris: The best I can describe him is as a pressing forward. He is strong, can hold up the ball, but he’s not a target man as such.
He joined Stoke from Millwall a couple of years ago. What been the highlight of his time at the Potteries?
Harvey: He’s scored a few important goals for us but I’d have to go with his goal against Brentford last season which was the goal that sealed our survival. A long shot from Sam Clucas was parried by Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and Greggers was there to poke it home!
Elliot: His best highlight for stoke was his goal against Brentford as that was the goal that made us mathematically safe.
Chris: Funnily enough, his performance against Derby (at the Bet365) last season, our away performance against Huddersfield, both for his tenaciousness. He also very kindly grabbed the winner against Brentford last season, a result that pretty much secured Stoke last season, and destroyed Brentford's promotion hopes!
Derby manager Wayne Rooney likes players who are committed to the cause and give 100% in training sessions and games. Is Gregory this kind of player?
Harvey: That’s Lee Gregory in a nutshell. He could press defences non-stop all day long!
Elliot: Gregory is 100% committed so would be good for Rooney in that respect. Michael O’Neill likes his players to have good attitudes and he would’ve sold Gregory in his first transfer window if that wasn’t the case.
Chris: 100%. Even if his technical ability isn’t the greatest, Gregory will give everything for you.
What will it take for him to be successful at Derby?
Harvey: If he’s played in the right system he can be really good, give him a player with pace to link up with and you’ll soon start seeing results.
Elliot: I think if he wants to be successful at Derby they need to play to his strengths as at Millwall he was firing but at Stoke he doesn’t have a great record in front of goal.
Chris: Not knowing exactly what it is you need, I’d be misplaced in saying which areas he must prove himself in order to make the move a success. But, if you are looking for a hard working player who will press opponents and every now and then come up with a goal or two…he is your man.
Sum up Lee Gregory in a few words.
Harvey: Good Championship player, really nice guy when I’ve met him on a few occasions and an incredibly hard working individual.
Elliot: Lee Gregory at Stoke has been ok at best.
Chris: Industrious, hard working, all round nice guy.
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