Scouting: Ryan Hardie🔎
Name: Ryan Hardie
Age: 28
Position: Striker
Plymouth Championship appearances: 71
Plymouth Championship goals: 20
Plymouth style of play since Miron Muslić was appointed:
Plymouth are massive underdogs in almost every game they’re involved in. Quality wise you’d have to say they have the least and budget wise they’re certainly bottom three. Looking at the underlying numbers too, they’re 24th by a long long way.
Match performance vs Sunderland: 25th January 2025.
First half: Had nothing to go off from a chance creation standpoint. It was Plymouth sitting in a low block and hoofing it high in the air or sending balls down into the channels for Hardie to chase down, which he did, and showed his speed doing so and causing panic in the backline of Sunderland and getting Plymouth up the pitch by forcing errors. You can tell what he wants to do, run in behind at every opportunity rather than dropping deep and getting involved in build-up. Has struggled physically when contesting aerial duels, however has anticipated flick ons and picked up the loose ball. There was also two moments in the first half which showed his movement and understanding of where he is and what his runs do. He made a run which gave his teammate the chance to play him the ball in behind — when a striker makes the decision for the passer, It’s a sign of a 9 with good movement.
Second half: Came off in the 65th minute but was much more involved in the 20 minutes in the second half than the entirety of the first half. Again struggled in aerial duels and physical duels but showed his movement and anticipation, the latter from picking up the second ball in space from goal kicks. Also his anticipation lead to the own goal of Patterson. What else was noticeable was he wanted to make runs between the centre backs when the ball was central an when the ball was wide, he went either in between the Sunderland centre backs or went to close the angle from a near post run. His link play throughout was pretty non existent and his first touch often loose but It’s pretty obvious what type of player he is from this showing. A last line runner with good variation of runs that is pretty quick and will chase down lost causes.
Match performance vs Watford: 29th March 2025.
First half: Hardie had a fluid position in this first half — operating centrally, on the right and on the left with tweaks from the Plymouth manager. Pressed well by cutting off passing lanes to the full backs and working hard to get back into a compact shape if the first line was broken and recycled back to their final third. In possession his movement was excellent, making a variety of different runs but mostly always trying to end up in the middle of the pitch between the centre backs.
Love. Love. Love this run from Hardie. starts jogging to the right of Sierralta and then a quick, sharp run across whilst Sierralta is settled. Hardie continued to target Sierralta by running on his side and looking to get the ball played down that side. If the ball was better and through rather than down the side, he’d have got a chance to get a shot off.
Like I mentioned vs Sunderland, Hardie anticipated flick ons from long balls on to him. He would get closer to the target but at an angle so he’s in a good enough area to either pick up the loose ball or put pressure on the opposition should it land around other players close to him.
Second half: Plymouth barely threatened in the second half, had a few breaks in transition and caught Watford in their build-up, particularly targeting Tom Dele-Bashiru. Hardie had a shot which he leant back on and caught it poorly which went flying over the bar, but apart from that he again showcased his movement and sharp cuts (out then in, darts central and to the near post. If he had better teammates passing range or vision/awareness, he’d have more shots as they were last line runs with space in behind.
Match performance vs Coventry City: 18th January 2025.
First half: Majority of this half Hardie was getting back into shape on the right of a narrow 4321. His role has been to not get involved in build-up or drop deep to receive, but to get close to the centre forward and make diagonal runs behind and pick up the flick ons or loose balls in that proximity. Whilst not touching the ball many times, the desire and threat of his movement and speed in behind has worried Coventry. What stood out in the first half is his anticipation and alertness at the potential for a ball in behind. When Coventry defenders are looking and gravitating towards the ball, Hardie has already made the move to go in behind.
Hardie also showed once again his willingness to close the angle in crossing situations so he can get to the ball quicker and get his shot off from an unsettled defence.
With his goal, whilst the actual shot was poor and the keeper should have done better, he did have to make up 60+ yards to receive the pass. He’s always thinking about the goal or the run, it’s relentless.
Second half: Plymouth much more front footed this half, being more aggressive in their duals, but still keeping the direct approach. Hardie not involved in build-up once more. It’s clear what he is and you don’t need to see more to come to a conclusion that Hardie is a consistent last line runner and that’s all he did this half and managed to get two shots off. He’s always looking for the blindside run when the ball is central, going across the fullback and centre-back.
Player breakdown.
Movement:
Top end. Closes distances from crossing situations, makes quick sharp movements to the front post after lurking back-post. In every game I’ve watched, when the ball is central in the final third, he looks to hang off a full back and run inwards to the penalty spot for a ball over the top. If the ball is being carried forward, he’s looking to run in behind. In short, a relentless last line runner that has different variations of doing the same thing. His anticipation is also great, especially off long balls and flick on situations, or any situation where a ball can be quickly put back over the top — whether that be from a corner, free kick, a turn over of possession.
Finishing/Shot placement/Technique:
In terms of where Hardie shoots the ball — it’s consistently into corners, however the strike of the ball isn’t always clean. It can be scruffy, it can be ugly, but it also can be a lovely side footed pass into the corner. His favourable finish is exactly that; on his strong right foot, his preferential is a controlled finish whereas with his weaker left foot he’s opting for power more often than not as he can’t get the same control on it. The idea of the shot is more often than not correct but the execution is lacking at times.
In possession ability:
Whether that be carrying, dribbling, hold-up, link-up — It’s not in his wheelhouse. Will keep the ball and stay simple rather than doing anything wild or adventurous with the ball. Simple lay off or pass back or wide to keep it ticking.
Physicality:
He’s not strong but he’s not easily pushed off the ball. Actively tries to keep his distance when close to defenders and instead wants to lower his shoulder and slip past them.
Speed:
Not rapid but he’s quick over short distances. Will create distances due to anticipation and being early with the run. Can be slow to get a shot off sometimes but more often than not will get some sort of connection with his running speed in behind.
To conclude all of this; Hardie is kind of a throwback version striker to early 2012-15 era where the main things managers wanted in their number 9 was good movement, speed and output. I’m looking at the likes of Vydra, Pukki, Ings, Le Fondre, Hooper. But the difference in this case is ability. I think Hardie is capped at mid-table Championship level but could also have an impact for a team looking for something different that are aiming for that 6th spot. I think he’s fine in a transitional based side or a team looking to dominate the ball simply because his movement is good enough to generate chances for himself but you would have to have wide players or midfielders that can sustain the pressure with their play because he wouldn’t be able to do it with his physicality or hold-up/link-up play. In terms of a team, I’d quite like to see how the dynamic of Hardie and Bishop would work with Pompey given Mousinho is great at adapting styles and Hardie has shown he’ll change his position slightly and still be an effective presser off the ball. A must combination with him is a midfielder brave enough to keep playing those balls through or over the top, his runs are that good and he makes them every single time without fail.