George Stanger (Ayr United | Scotland)

Stanger update. He's started 5 of 8 games in the Scottish Championship (2nd tier) for Ayr. They are currently 8th (3rd from bottom).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/07/scotland/first-division/airdrie-united-fc/ayr-united-fc/4104316/

After 18 games (half way), Ayr are 5th out of 10 teams in the Scottish Championship (2nd tier). Stanger was a pretty regular starter (10 games) until coming off early injured against Inverness on 12th Nov. He hasn't played since. 

Returns from injury for a 2-2 draw verus Dunfermline Athletic (4th). Ayr 7th, and 22 pts off Raith Rovers in first.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/30/scotland/first-division/ayr-united-fc/dunfermline-athletic-fc/4104385/

Speaking of Raith Rovers........
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/133516150/watch-scottish-football-keeper-comes-on-as-a-striker-to-score-30m-wonder-goal

SPL on a break, but Scottish Championship continues on.
Ayr (7th) host Inverness Caledonian Thistle (8th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/06/scotland/first-division/ayr-united-fc/inverness-caledonian-thistle-fc/4104407/

Full game for Stanger in a 1-3 loss. Relegation more of a prospect for Ayr than promotion.

Ayr (8th) travel to Arbroath (10th/last).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/13/scotland/first-division/arbroath-fc/ayr-united-fc/4104415/

Full game in a 0-0 draw.

Scottish Cup. 2nd tier Ayr host Kelty Hearts from League One (3rd tier).
https://au.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/20/scotland/scottish-cup/ayr-united-fc/kelty-hearts/4272961/

Stanger full game in a 3-0 win.

Stanger full game as Ayr (8th) beat Arbroath (10th/last) 2-0.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/23/scotland/first-division/ayr-united-fc/arbroath-fc/4104348/

Still down the list I think Piney. Especially now Bindon has emerged from basically nowhere, and Surman is playing well. If Stanger was left footed he would be challenging Smith & Pijnaker - but don't think he is.

I wonder how close George Stanger is to an All Whites call-up? Big, strong central defender who plays every week for Ayr United and is a set-piece threat too. Just 23 y/o, so plenty of time. https://t.co/Q5yIYjpekc

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) January 23, 2024

Ayr (7th) travel to Queens Parks (9th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/27/scotland/first-division/queens-park-fc/ayr-united-fc/4104430/

Full game in a 2-1 win.

Stanger likely suspended after sent off against Greive's Dundee United last week. 
Shame as Ayr with a big day out trip to Ibrox in the Scottish Cup.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/10/scotland/scottish-cup/rangers-fc/ayr-united-fc/4307955/

League suspensions can’t carry into Scottish Cup? Full game Stanger in a 2-0 loss at Rangers

Niche Cache on Stanger.

Match highlights against Rangers at Ibrox
https://youtu.be/8TvNkdxDURw

Stanger may have gotten sent off last week, against Alex Greive’s Dundee United, but this was a cup game so his suspension didn’t count. Only applies to the competition he got sent off in. Which is convenient because Ayr United had a Scottish Cup game against Scottish big dogs Rangers to play and this way Stanger got to play the full thing in central defence.

Ayr (7th) travel to Airdrieonians (5th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/17/scotland/first-division/airdrie-united-fc/ayr-united-fc/4104444/

No suspended Stanger as Ayr win 3-2.
Ayr 5th, 4 pts off the playoffs.

Ayr (5th) host Raith Rovers (2nd).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/24/scotland/first-division/ayr-united-fc/raith-rovers-fc/4104459/

No Stanger. Still suspended?
Ayr with a 1-2 loss to Raith Rovers.

Ayr (5th) host Partick Thistle (3rd).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/27/scotland/first-division/ayr-united-fc/partick-thistle-fc/4104471/

Ayr win 4-3. No Stanger.

Ayr (5th) travel to Dunfermline Athletic (8th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/02/scotland/first-division/dunfermline-athletic-fc/ayr-united-fc/4104492/

Edit - on the pine.

Stanger an unused sub in a 2-0 loss.

Ayr (8th) travel to Inverness Caledonian Thistle (9th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/16/scotland/first-division/inverness-caledonian-thistle-fc/ayr-united-fc/4104522/

Stanger full game, and first goal in a 2-1 win. Ayr 4 pts of playoff spots.

From Niche Cache.

George Stanger, lethal from a metre out#FlyingKiwis 🎯 pic.twitter.com/cM2P8MYB1n

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 19, 2024

Ayr (7th) host Queens Park (8th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/23/scotland/first-division/ayr-united-fc/queens-park-fc/4104535/

Full game Stanger in a 1-2 loss.
Ayr are 5 points off the promotion playoffs & 3 points off relegation playoffs!

Ex Nix favourite Cillian Sheridan with Queens Park 2nd goal.
35 yr old Sheridan doing well at QP, with 3 goals in 6 games, after a mid season move from Inverness CT (zero goals).

Sheridan's first goals since leaving Wisła Płock in Poland in the 2019/20 season!
https://us.soccerway.com/players/cillian-sheridan/89487/

Ayr (8th) host Airdrieonians (4th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/29/scotland/first-division/ayr-united-fc/airdrie-united-fc/4104550/

Stanger 75 mins (2-1) in a 2-1 win.

Ayr (7th) travel to Raith Rovers (2nd)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/06/scotland/first-division/raith-rovers-fc/ayr-united-fc/4104574/

Edit - Stanger starts

Stanger full game in a 2-1 loss.

Ayr (7th, 39 pts) host Arbroath (last, already relegated).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/13/scotland/first-division/ayr-united-fc/arbroath-fc/4104581/

4 games left, and Ayr unlikely to catch Airdrieonians (4th, 48 pts) for the last promotion playoff spot. But they are only 4 pts above the relegation playoff spot - Callum Sheridan's Inverness CT (35 pts)

Edit - Stanger starts

Ayr thrash Arbroath 5-0.

Kiwi Scottish 2nd tier derby next, if Greive is fit.

George is still young enough for the olympics isn't he?

maynardf

George is still young enough for the olympics isn't he?

No. Born August 2000. Birth date 1st Jan 2001 is the cutoff.
Pretty sure he was a travelling reserve in Tokyo.

https://us.soccerway.com/players/george-stanger/520784/

Scottish 2nd tier Kiwi derby, though sounds like Greive maybe still injured.

Dundee United (1st) host Stanger's Ayr (6th).
Aye basically no change of making promotion playoffs, and probably safe from relegation playoff spot as well

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/20/scotland/first-division/dundee-united-fc/ayr-united-fc/4104596/

Edit - Stanger starts for Ayr, no Greive for Dundee U.

Dundee United win 1-0. Ayr went down to 10 men at mins (59). Full game Stanger.

Two league games left. So barring an insane set of results that basically confirms Dundee U (GD +47, 71 pts) as promoted. Rivals 2nd placed Raith Rovers (GD +11 , 65 pts) will have to try do it via the playoffs.

Be interesting to see if Dundee United request to St Mirren (5th in SPL), that Greive's move become permanent as they head up to the SPL. Greive hasn't done much for them in his loan spell, but he is well experienced now in the SPL, so that's valuable. Plus he always comes across as a hardworking great team man/squaddie

Otherwise Auckland FC maybe talking to him.
Edit - actually see that Greive's St Mirren contract expires soon, so I guess Dundee U can sign him on a free if they wish

Stanger's Ayr (GD -8, 42 pts) can still fall into the Relegation playoff spot occupied by Queen's Park (GD -13 , 37 pts), but seems unlikely.