11 Feb 2016 05:35:30
Anyone think Kevin Stewart is close to more first team football? Emre Can has been off the boil recently and Stewart's performances in the cup have been excellent - surely worth giving a chance too?

Also curious as to what's up with Ibe - he can't seem todo anything right, was woeful against West Ham to the point I was shocked that he was not substituted. Is it just the case of a young player trying too hard?

Finally - is Smith going to start games now? I know defensively he is still not perfect but he is no worse than Moreno and his attacking forays into the opposition half are very effective - a massive improvement on Moreno - will Klopp give him more games?

1.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 06:01:31
Agree on all three fronts, however think Can did better in deeper mid role against Sunderland.

2.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 06:02:17
I certainly think it makes sense to give Smith and Stewart a go in the league now. Moreno like Can has really not stepped up as I had expected (both have no played over 70 times for the club) and some healthy competition would perhaps help them too.

3.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 07:29:11
Can played too deep against Sunderland.
He literally was stood on Sakho's toes. Sakho was waving him forward and can would come back and take a 1 yard pass from him.
Then he'd dither on the ball and try and play a Hollywood pass all the time the defence was getting organised.

He came too deep, restricted Sakho's passes, made us too predictable and slowed play down too much.

He needs a rest IMO.

4.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 06:27:28
Stewart should start on Sunday. Can has been a failure both as holding / CM. 1 goal in 50 games is a very poor stat.

5.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 08:39:56
There is minimal difference between Stewart and the likes of Can Hendo Lallana. Apart from 'tens of thousands' a week in Wages.

6.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 09:08:22
In complete agreement. Stewart and smith are the two that have really grasped their chances and their competition haven't been outstanding so they should start.

7.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 09:21:57
What did Stewart do that impressed you so much? I don't say he was bad, I thought he was solid and worked hard but nothing more than that. He didn't creat many chances, didn't score even though in several games he had some good chances, what's the big hype about?

I like Can. I think some of the things he does go unnoticed. For example, when we do press, he is one of the very few that don't only run towards opposition players in order to scare them but actually takes the ball from them. A very good pickpocketer. I think recently he loses the ball much less than others, he always look forward for a good pass. He didn't have a perfect season by any means but I can really see his progress, unlike some of the other players who only go backward (Ibe leading on that, he had another awful game on Tuesday, unbelievably selfish) .

Hendo and Lallana with all their weaknesses are still more creative than Stewart for me.

{Ed001's Note - are you being serious?}

8.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 09:55:42
WOW you have to be blind not to realise what stewart has done in the few games he has played he has been fantastic, its not his job to be creative? so why compare him with Hendo and Lallana its takes some serious skill and talent to boss a West Ham Midfield of Noble, Kouyate, Song all premier league talent Midfielder not did he do it once but TWICE! I like the guy he is quicker than lucas and just as good in the tackle, Hopefully he plays in our Europa games ED001 do you think he could be the solution for our defensive Mid?

{Ed001's Note - he certainly looks the best option, though Chirivella looks like he will push him for the role soon.}

9.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 09:55:44
Stewart was MOM for me against the Hammers. I thought we bossed their midfield.
Can has potential but his passing recently (before Sunderland) has been absolutely brutal, he was even struggling with short passes. I like Can but he has a long way to go to cement a place in the team.

10.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 10:03:35
Fanobip, what is your definition of big hype then. These posters are simply saying Stewart has done enough to deserve a prem chance. Personally I agree.

11.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 10:14:53
Stewart has been the perfect combative defensive midfielder, did you see how many times he dispossessed West Ham or broke up play? He is not in the team to be creative or score goals.

Do agree Can needs a rest Ron and the positioning can be improved, but he has the potential to be a rock at DM IMO, far more so than his ability to play further forward. I think part of our problems have actually been a midfield of Lucas/ Can and Hendo rather than having someone mobile and creative in there too that can break forward like Coutinho, Teixera or even Llalana.

12.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 10:34:46
Stewart reminds me a lot of Coquelin. Snappy and strong in the tackle, looks a better option than Can and Lucas both right now, only because he doesn't slow down the tempo of the game.

13.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 12:57:35
Stewart was top notch against the hammers but he also showed he could carry the ball forward if needed.

One thing that i don't like about Hendo, i am a hendo fan. If he gets the ball in MF, 9 out of 10 times in space he stands there looking for the pass rather than taking the ball up and forcing a man to come to him to help create a bit of space.

14.) 11 Feb 2016
11 Feb 2016 13:56:38
Although I thought Stewart was great against the Hammers, incidentally I thought all our young players did exceptionally well bar Ibe, it was Chirivella for me who stood out the most. I thought he was fantastic. When I saw him and Stewart together in the starting line up against a good West Ham midfield I feared for us but they both stepped up, battled and showed grit and bottle. I'd like to see more of them, Smith, Ilori and Ojo in the match day squads for the rest of the season. They deserve it.