Micah Hamilton’s failed Stockport loan move and what went wrong for the Boro man

Micah Hamilton’s failed Stockport loan move and what went wrong for the Boro man

 

Micah Hamilton of Stockport County warms up (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

 

Middlesbrough could face a summer dilemma with Micah Hamilton, as the forward returns from a disappointing loan spell at Stockport County.

 

Boro are unlikely to completely give up on the 21-year-old, with patience always called for with Hamilton, given he left Manchester City for the first time to join Boro last summer. With no prior loan experience, he was moving out of his comfort zone and it was always expected he might need time.

 

To say his first year at Boro has fallen short of expectations and hopes would be an understatement though. Failing to nail down regular game-time on Teesside, Boro decided to loan out the young star in January. He moved to Stockport County in the hope of playing regular first-team football in the division below.

 

That didn’t transpire though, and Hamilton failed to start any games at the League One club. He was limited to just five substitute appearances for Dave Challinor’s side and was left out of the squad altogether twice in the past week as County lost to Leyton Orient over two legs in the League One play-off semi-final.

 

So what went wrong for Hamilton – a player who only 18 months ago was firing in a Champions League goal on his Manchester City debut? Signed by Stockport to replace loan star Louie Barry – who was linked with Boro in January but ending up at Hull City – it would appear that the Boro prospect might have been a bit of a victim of circumstance.

 

Trying to explain why Hamilton was unable to make much of an impact at Edgeley Park, Stockport Express’s County reporter Sam Byrne told Teesside Live: “Hamilton signed in January not long after Stockport had lost Louie Barry. There was probably a belief – at least among the fanbase – that Hamilton could be that sort of creative/flair player to replace Barry, at a time where many outsiders felt that County would massively drop off without Barry.

 

“But Dave Challinor quickly found a winning side/shape etc upon Barry’s exit which coincided with a lengthy unbeaten run and County surging up the table, and where arguably County looked better all round as a unit without Barry – so that was probably the first struggle in terms of fitting Hamilton in.

 

“In truth, the feeling I always got was that Hamilton, coming through the ranks at Manchester City, had been coached very well as a youngster in ‘in possession’ football, whereas Challinor and this current Stockport side were/are all about how good, disciplined, structured etc they are out of possession.

 

“There was an away game early on in his loan spell at Leyton Orient, who were absolutely flying, in which County led 0-1 late on, and Hamilton was brought on late to help see out the win, backs to the wall type stuff – and it felt like the bench weren’t best pleased with his contribution in that one.

 

“He struggled to hold onto the ball when County were defending for their lives, and not offering much of a threat on the break late on either. From there, he only made three more fleeting appearances between February 1 and the end of the season, including the play-offs.

 

“Stockport just didn’t seem well suited from day one. Louie Barry seems the most obvious comparison in terms of similar players at Stockport this season, but Barry was such a monster in terms of goals and assists that the defensive side of his game (or lack of) was easier to ignore.”

 

Former Hartlepool United boss Challinor didn’t speak directly about Hamilton and his lack of game-time much. Instead, there were just one or too pointed comments in which he spoke about January signings in general not being near ready, both in terms of fitness and playing Stockport’s way.

 

After managing only 446 minutes of action at Boro prior to his Stockport move, Hamilton would then play a total of just 63 minutes during the second half of the season. To say it’s been a disappointing campaign for the 21-year-old would be an understatement.

 

“There really wasn’t a great deal of time to judge his contribution or talent,” Sam continues. “He made five appearances in the four months or so he was with the club, and they were all cameos off the bench. He looked a really exciting prospect in his debut off the bench, running at tiring defenders and looking to seal the win on the break.

 

“But beyond that, there really wasn’t a lot to go off. He’s clearly got the ability as an attacking outlet, and you can see him going to another side at the level (or the level below) and having some success. He came off the bench early on in his spell and showed glimpses.

 

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“But it always looked an unnatural fit as Challinor favoured attacking players who could get up and down, and be really structured off the ball. My overall gut feeling is that Stockport felt they needed another attacking option in January after Barry’s departure, Hamilton came in but then a – perhaps unexpected – run of form and results without Barry and with a settled side who all knew their jobs.

 

“That meant that Hamilton was then always going to struggle for minutes. Coupling that with his struggle to make an impact off the bench and to fit into how Stockport played – admittedly only in fleeting cameos – meant that it just never felt the right fit.”

 

That leads us to this summer and what Boro now do with Hamilton. In some respects he was a bit of extra luxury last term because he still qualified as an under-21 player who therefore didn’t have to be registered in Boro’s 25-man squad to be available. Next term, he will have to be named and take up a spot if they wish to use him.

 

While his individual attributes appear to suit the way Boro have always played under Michael Carrick, Boro will likely need something different to improve their attack this summer after losing Ben Doak. They have enough technically-talented forwards who receive the ball and move it on but lack those with explosive pace to beat their man. In truth, the ones they have so far have shown more than Hamilton to justify their spot in the squad.

 

And with that in mind, Hamilton has a lot of work to do this summer if he’s to work his way into contention. As another loan exit appears the most likely scenario though, perhaps a more suitable destination for the Man City academy graduate should be pursued, with Stockport turning out to just be a bad fit.

 

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