Topic: Liverpool signed Kevin Linford Stewart. People have now noticed.

[leivapool]

Next season Europe will provide game time for him and the cups and games at the weekend vs weaker opposition after a hard European match.

I have always enjoyed watching him. Does the simple stuff very well.

Needs a string of games, potentially a loan to a team like a play off championship team would do him the world of good. But I really want to keep him, cheap, hungry, doesn't want the spotlight on him at all and always does put a shift in.

You think if we get in the Champions League Stewart should be in our midfield?  Wowser.  He's barely good enough against teams like league 2 Plymouth,  he's nowhere near the first team for league minutes,  and next season he'll be 24.   If he's happy in the prime of his footballing career to not even make the league squad I'm not sure what to make of that really.  We need a squad full of players who genuinely push for first team chances,  not a lad in his mid 20's who's never selected on merit.

Look at our midfield currently.  Hendo/Can/Gini/Lallana,  all competing for 3 spots,  could anyone really say who is the best 3?  Stewart is nowhere near the level of these 4.  Can is younger and not without weaknesses,  but he's streets ahead of Stewart in every way,  ability,  experience,  everything.  This is what we need,  a squad with genuine competition for places,  and Stewart doesn't offer this.  All he offers is someone to fill in for games against the minnows of this world.  In that situation we might as well give the minutes to a young player with top quality potential, as we saw last night.

[Dim Glas]

You think if we get in the Champions League Stewart should be in our midfield?  Wowser.  He's barely good enough against teams like league 2 Plymouth,  he's nowhere near the first team for league minutes,  and next season he'll be 24.   If he's happy in the prime of his footballing career to not even make the league squad I'm not sure what to make of that really.  We need a squad full of players who genuinely push for first team chances,  not a lad in his mid 20's who's never selected on merit.

Look at our midfield currently.  Hendo/Can/Gini/Lallana,  all competing for 3 spots,  could anyone really say who is the best 3?  Stewart is nowhere near the level of these 4.  Can is younger and not without weaknesses,  but he's streets ahead of Stewart in every way,  ability,  experience,  everything.  This is what we need,  a squad with genuine competition for places,  and Stewart doesn't offer this.  All he offers is someone to fill in for games against the minnows of this world. In that situation we might as well give the minutes to a young player with top quality potential, as we saw last night.

the two with potential in that role, are both out on loan.  So nothing wrong with giving Stewart the game time, he's doing the job asked of him this season.

[El Lobo]

You think if we get in the Champions League Stewart should be in our midfield?  Wowser.  He's barely good enough against teams like league 2 Plymouth,  he's nowhere near the first team for league minutes,  and next season he'll be 24.   If he's happy in the prime of his footballing career to not even make the league squad I'm not sure what to make of that really.  We need a squad full of players who genuinely push for first team chances,  not a lad in his mid 20's who's never selected on merit.

Look at our midfield currently.  Hendo/Can/Gini/Lallana,  all competing for 3 spots,  could anyone really say who is the best 3?  Stewart is nowhere near the level of these 4.  Can is younger and not without weaknesses,  but he's streets ahead of Stewart in every way,  ability,  experience,  everything.  This is what we need,  a squad with genuine competition for places,  and Stewart doesn't offer this.  All he offers is someone to fill in for games against the minnows of this world.  In that situation we might as well give the minutes to a young player with top quality potential, as we saw last night.

Nah, and thats not what he said either. But he will be in and around the squad, playing the earlier cup games as he has this season, playing the occassional league game or coming off the bench, providing cover. He's obviously happy with it, nice cheap British option there. And he's staying, and it would appear that at least one 'competitor' for that back-up position will be leaving either this or the next window.

[redk84]

If he doesn't mind only being a player that steps in every now n then for cover. Would like to keep him here.....decent player, doesn't make many mistakes, has a good temperament and seems like a solid professional that plays well in the manager's system.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

He's been decent and reliable when called upon, but considering that we'll likely sign another CM in the summer and that Grujic will be a bigger part of the squad going forward, it's difficult to see a path for Stewart to consistently contribute to the first team next season and onwards.

[ggcc14]

I rate him, he is no world beater but he does a solid job. Certainly a far better player than Jay Spearing.

[Phil M]

I rate him, he is no world beater but he does a solid job. Certainly a far better player than Jay Spearing.

Why bring Jay Spearing up? Weird.

[newterp]

Why bring Jay Spearing up? Weird.

someone upthread brought up Spearing.

[Cusamano]

You think if we get in the Champions League Stewart should be in our midfield?  Wowser.  He's barely good enough against teams like league 2 Plymouth,  he's nowhere near the first team for league minutes,  and next season he'll be 24.   If he's happy in the prime of his footballing career to not even make the league squad I'm not sure what to make of that really.  We need a squad full of players who genuinely push for first team chances,  not a lad in his mid 20's who's never selected on merit.

Look at our midfield currently.  Hendo/Can/Gini/Lallana,  all competing for 3 spots,  could anyone really say who is the best 3?  Stewart is nowhere near the level of these 4.  Can is younger and not without weaknesses,  but he's streets ahead of Stewart in every way,  ability,  experience,  everything.  This is what we need,  a squad with genuine competition for places,  and Stewart doesn't offer this.  All he offers is someone to fill in for games against the minnows of this world.  In that situation we might as well give the minutes to a young player with top quality potential, as we saw last night.

Wow I had no idea he was 24

Thought he was 19/20

[007.lankyguy]

He'll never do anything more than that for us, never be good enough to be anything other than that player, but if nothing else he lets Henderson/Can/Whoever have a night off.

His name's Wijnaldum.

[So… Howard Philips]

And if he does go we should get something decent for him.

[JackWard33]

the two with potential in that role, are both out on loan.  So nothing wrong with giving Stewart the game time, he's doing the job asked of him this season.

he's been mostly poor this season

[ggcc14]

And if he does go we should get something decent for him.

Agreed, something like this

[Suareznumber7]

the two with potential in that role, are both out on loan.  So nothing wrong with giving Stewart the game time, he's doing the job asked of him this season.

Who do we have out on loan that is a DM?

[Crosby Nick]

Who do we have out on loan that is a DM?

David Martin

[Alf]

We saw with Brad Smith & also with Ibe. You give a youngster a few games and someone will bite your hand off for them.

[Dim Glas]

Who do we have out on loan that is a DM?

Allan, and Pedro Chirivella are two that would play in a slightly more withdrawn midfield role put it that way.

[elbow]

Agreed, something like this

Yaya Toure just hit the like button.

[Isaacsways]

Don't think he's anywhere near the standard of squad player we need. You can see why Spurs let him go.

[TepidT2O]

Don't think he's anywhere near the standard of squad player we need. You can see why Spurs let him go.

We've turned down £12m for him in the last month...

[Pelé as a Comedian]

We've turned down £12m for him in the last month...

the negativity around him is astounding, much like the clusterfuck that is the Henderson thread. i think he's very limited but solid player, probably incapable of offering anything in the final third and thus not expected to achieve great things at all due to lack of versatility. he might be looking at a career in the championship. but damn, is he that much worse than Spearing, Huddlestone, Cleverley, Gibson or any other top six midfield reject ?

i think he's a talanted but limited DM. he really hasnt played enough nor consistently to judge him, but i think theres something there.

at worst we'll make a bit of money for him and he'll have a decent championship career. best case scenario he improves, plays a role in winning us some silverware this and/or next season with him as a squad option.

[Binomial]

We've turned down £12m for him in the last month...

I doubt that's true, don't believe everything you read.

Which reputable source actually came out with that?

[Binomial]

Don't think he's anywhere near the standard of squad player we need. You can see why Spurs let him go.

It's called being an average footballer.

[Dim Glas]

I doubt that's true, don't believe everything you read.

Which reputable source actually came out with that?

yeah, struggling to believe that number for a second. It'd be like the Ibe situation, someone offers that sort of money for a player whos never going to be more than a squad guy getting the occasional cup game start, I think Liverpool would be willing to talk.  I know some teams wanted him on loan and they turned that down, which is understandable.

I like Stewart, but I don't expect him to play any bigger role than he is now in this team.

[BobPaisley3]

Thing is, he's a Liverpool fan. Personally as a fellow red, I'd rather play ten games a season for us than week in, week out in the championship. I imagine a lot of fellow rawkites are the same. He's a great asset to the squad, plays the early FA cup and Carling Cup rounds and doesn't throw his toys out over lack of minutes. What's not to like?

[elbow]

It's called being an average footballer.

Have a word with yourself!

[Binomial]

Have a word with yourself!

Ok,

Me - "what do you make of Kevin Stewart."
I - "Just another average player."

[Aceldama]

We've turned down £12m for him in the last month...

No we haven't. We turned down £6m in the summer because £10-12m is our valuation.

Per: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/kevin-stewart-not-sale-liverpool-12398189

[Souness1]

Thing is, he's a Liverpool fan. Personally as a fellow red, I'd rather play ten games a season for us than week in, week out in the championship. I imagine a lot of fellow rawkites are the same. He's a great asset to the squad, plays the early FA cup and Carling Cup rounds and doesn't throw his toys out over lack of minutes. What's not to like?

It depends tho. Im guessing he would like to play some regular football at some point in his career. It would obviously be incredible to even be a part of the Liverpool squad but I'm sure at some point when he's retired he would regret not leaving for somewhere to be in the first XI consistently, if he stayed.

[Advil]

I did not watch the match but what did he do wrong that he is getting such abuse here?

So every squad members of ours should be world class? That damn Ferguson never worn anything with SQUAD players like O Shea, Wes Brown and even Nicky Butt.

[Dim Glas]

I did not watch the match but what did he do wrong that he is getting such abuse here?

So every squad members of ours should be world class? That damn Ferguson never worn anything with SQUAD players like O Shea, Wes Brown and even Nicky Butt.

I think its a case of some over selling his worth to the team, because he's getting talked down too much by another section!  Whereas the truth may well be right in the middle - he's a decent but not great squad player who's happy with his role, and doing a job in the limited playing time he gets.

Last nights game - he was ok, but gave the ball away cheaply a number of times.

[elbow]

Ok,

Me - "what do you make of Kevin Stewart."
I - "Just another average player."

Are you a Liverpool supporter?

[Advil]

I think its a case of some over selling his worth to the team, because he's getting talked down too much by another section!  Whereas the truth may well be right in the middle - he's a decent but not great squad player who's happy with his role, and doing a job in the limited playing time he gets.

Last nights game - he was ok, but gave the ball away cheaply a number of times.

I get what you mean but if Klopp feel he is good enough for the squad then we should give him some support. The amount of people here criticizing him, it was as though he cost us the game with 2 own goals.

[Redcap]

People are just anxious because we've got a very tough end of the month coming up after going through a tough December/January.

In times like this you want your team, even if it's the second team, to comfortably tonk League Two teams, to make everyone feel a little bit better about the uncertainties of the season.

When you don't, the likes of Kevin Stewart cop some blame, even if he's really only ever going to be a warm body for games like this one.

[Fiasco]

It depends tho. Im guessing he would like to play some regular football at some point in his career. It would obviously be incredible to even be a part of the Liverpool squad but I'm sure at some point when he's retired he would regret not leaving for somewhere to be in the first XI consistently, if he stayed.

He will play regular football at some point in his career. It could be in the Premier League or perhaps at a good Championship club, but he's a decent player. Klopp obviously sees some qualities in him and he seems like a good lad, grounded, hard working and professional. His wages won't be breaking the bank (I can't imagine he's on more than 10-20 grand a week maximum) and he offers some physicality in some games and that aspect of our game is lacking sometimes.

If he is indeed a Liverpool fan he'll have a legitimate chance to win some trophies over the next year or two. If he makes enough cameo appearances for us and we win the league then he can live to 100 and say 'I won the Premier League with Liverpool.' Who could argue with that? And let me tell you, it's not just about what he does or doesn't do on the pitch. He probably trains really hard and if one or two of our midfielders get injured or drop off form then I don't think Klopp would hesitate to give him more minutes. In that way he's pushing our the lads who do play a bit further on (and that probably goes for one or two other fringe players or players who aren't playing as they'd like).

People just need to moan about something. Anything.

[harleydanger]

If he doesn't mind only being a player that steps in every now n then for cover. Would like to keep him here.....decent player, doesn't make many mistakes, has a good temperament and seems like a solid professional that plays well in the manager's system.

I'd prefer an 19-20yo doing that and not a 24yo

[ggcc14]

I'd prefer an 19-20yo doing that and not a 24yo

Why? the exact same job is getting done, why would their age matter?

[Medellin]

Seem to remember the same sorta shite being directed at Lucas 7-8 years ago,that took the confidence of his manager & a good run in the team for many reds to lighten up.
Go easy on the lad & show a bit of respect for our player.

[Jookie]

yeah, struggling to believe that number for a second. It'd be like the Ibe situation, someone offers that sort of money for a player whos never going to be more than a squad guy getting the occasional cup game start, I think Liverpool would be willing to talk.

In the summer? Probably

Now? Couldn't see us being interested in selling him for 12M

He's got a valuable role to play. Him being in the squad has allowed us to rest 1st team players in the FA Cup recently and in the EFL Cup earlier in the season. He'll be valuable when we play Wolves for the same reason.

We can all debate his long term value and potential to the squad. At the moment though he's a valuable member of the squad since he's allowing Klopp to rest 1st choice players in the cup games and prioritise the league games.

Next season we might want better quality than Stewart if we need to rotate for the additional European games. That's next season though. At the moment we need someone to rotate in for the early stages of the domestic cup competitions. Stewart has been fine for this role.

[Jookie]

I'd prefer an 19-20yo doing that and not a 24yo

What if the 24 year old is better?

And that allows you to win more games and give more exposure to the other 17-20 year olds who are getting game time in the domestic cups?

Holistically that's surely a better approach then just saying you'd rather give a less talented 19-20 year old a game in the same position.