Kevin Stewart signs 18 month deal

Maybe. I don't see him as being *that* creative player though. I could be wrong. We're certainly miles better with him and his ability to pick a pass and play long and short is way ahead of anyone else but I don't know if I can see him racking up 10 or 12 assists.

Maybe this is part of a jigsaw...

I'd be intrigued if we get CJ back and some one who can be CJ on the left as well as a further signing, then the idea of a very solid competent midfield makes more sense. You don't need an out and out play maker if you've got ball winners who are good enough creatively to get the ball to either flank in that case.
We definitely need a proper left winger.
If Stewart is to play alongside Dougall then a left winger is now the biggest priority.
We literally don't have a single player in the squad who's preferred position is left wing, just a load of players who have been tried there, all with virtually no success.
 
If he has the impact Dougall has had, he'll be a good un. With him, Madine, Dougall, Ballard and Garbutt and Maxwell that's 6 players who could without doubt play at championship level in the side. I'm not saying they'd all be top players at that level, but they definitely could hold down (or have held down) a shirt at say Rotherham or Luton. CJ also looks capable of more, Marvin maybe in time, possibly the Viking too and Ward has played higher and has looked better as the season has progressed.

We've got very good jigsaw pieces potentially. I'm just not sure if we've got the box with the picture on or not. I honestly don't know...

I do know that constantly recycling players isn't ideal and we don't need 11 championship players to get into the championship. We need a core of players who click together and though I can't quite see why we need another defensive midfielder atm, I certainly hope he's the one to make it click.
 
We definitely need a proper left winger.
If Stewart is to play alongside Dougall then a left winger is now the biggest priority.
We literally don't have a single player in the squad who's preferred position is left wing, just a load of players who have been tried there, all with virtually no success.
That's also down to the formation and Critchley's requirement that the left sided wide player be right footed, because of the Liverpool obsession. But with cross-purpose instructions to not cut inside and always go down the touchline as part of a passing move. So whoever plays there usually either runs out of space and becomes confused, or has to attempt a cross with their weaker left foot.

Garbutt today has an assist from wing back with a first-time left footed cross because the shape of the emergency formation allowed for that move to flow more naturally.
 
Might make sense if we play 3 5 2 or 4 3 3 but not so much in a 4 4 2.
In my opinion it is wide attacking players that are lacking from the squad, but always happy for us to sign good players in any position.
 
If he has the impact Dougall has had, he'll be a good un. With him, Madine, Dougall, Ballard and Garbutt and Maxwell that's 6 players who could without doubt play at championship level in the side. I'm not saying they'd all be top players at that level, but they definitely could hold down (or have held down) a shirt at say Rotherham or Luton. CJ also looks capable of more, Marvin maybe in time, possibly the Viking too and Ward has played higher and has looked better as the season has progressed.

We've got very good jigsaw pieces potentially. I'm just not sure if we've got the box with the picture on or not. I honestly don't know...

I do know that constantly recycling players isn't ideal and we don't need 11 championship players to get into the championship. We need a core of players who click together and though I can't quite see why we need another defensive midfielder atm, I certainly hope he's the one to make it click.
Perfectly put Sir.
 
That's also down to the formation and Critchley's requirement that the left sided wide player be right footed, because of the Liverpool obsession. But with cross-purpose instructions to not cut inside and always go down the touchline as part of a passing move. So whoever plays there usually either runs out of space and becomes confused, or has to attempt a cross with their weaker left foot.

Garbutt today has an assist from wing back with a first-time left footed cross because the shape of the emergency formation allowed for that move to flow more naturally.
I think we've seen a switch away from that though recently, with 442 being the more commonly used formation, thankfully.
We have players who are supposed to be able to play on the left, yet not one of them has looked competant on that side of the front 3.
If he is gonna persist with 433, then we still need a more creative central midfielder.
If we are moving forward with 442, we absolutely have to sign a left winger.
 
It raises so many more questions than it provides answers.
Is he a bit of a big time Charlie who ran his contract down at Hull (that article posted by BHOK states he was one of the higher earners there) thinking he would get a load of big money offers...... Yet when the phone stopped ringing and squads were filled up he was left unemployed.

I'm certainly not writing him off, it does sound like he was one of their better players in the Championship, but I will be amazed if this works out as opposed to him being moved on in the summer after a few cameo sub appearances.
It sounds like another Williams type signing.
Sounds like he’s a good player, but we won’t know for a while.

But couldn’t agree more far more questions raised here. What does that mean for Ward and Williams who’s contracts are up in the summer? Robson who can’t break past the current 5 midfielders and Virtue who’s just been signed up to a new contract?

Just seems strange when we’re crying out for an attacking threat.
 
Not a position I’d say we need to strengthen BUT he has the potential to be better than we already have, including Dougall.
Lots of Championship experience, so a good signing in my opinion.

We still have time to add attacking options as well and we may even have some lined up. Let’s be honest this one came completely out the blue so could be more on the way!
 
I would expect Williams to move on. Signed as a stop-gap after they voted for the squad/salary cap and buggered up what they were working on last summer with that Benny Bangywhatever guy from Everton.

I think we've seen a switch away from that though recently, with 442 being the more commonly used formation, thankfully.
We have players who are supposed to be able to play on the left, yet not one of them has looked competant on that side of the front 3.
If he is gonna persist with 433, then we still need a more creative central midfielder.
If we are moving forward with 442, we absolutely have to sign a left winger.
No we haven't. Up until Dan Kemp being recalled they were still playing with two inverted wide players in a 4-2-3-1 (4-4-2 transition in possession) formation, with Kemp replacing Hamilton down the right. It's only since running out of left-footed options with Mitchell out (as next in line now they've seen he's not a left back) that they sent Kaikai down the right last week at Hull, and today as a sub. And right-footed Lubala down the left, as usual.
 
Oh, fuck ..... we didn’t sign Phil Foden 😱
Funny you should say that.
Shearer has just said that he'd played with two of England's best midfielders in Gazza and Scholes.
He said, as a forward it was great that you knew that you had a midfielder that knew how to play you in.

Now we might not get Foden but wouldn't it be great to get a lower championship higher league 1 equivalent 🤷‍♂️
 
I don't have a problem with this in the sense that it seems he could be an improvement on others. But when squad numbers are limited we need to move out whoever he's replacing, so probably Williams. If that were to happen it'd make perfect sense.
However, we only have a few days left of the window and we desperately need a player with quality on the left. Someone a bit tricky, with guile who can do something unexpected and get us looking more threatening. I thought Kaikai might be that player but he clearly doesn't like playing there. We are too predictable - even Hamilton is predictable, it's just that his pace means there's nothing the full back can do about it.
We've another defensive player, and we're not struggling to keep clean sheets. I really really hope this isn't the end of our activity in this transfer window.
 
No we haven't. Up until Dan Kemp being recalled they were still playing with two inverted wide players in a 4-2-3-1 (4-4-2 transition in possession) formation, with Kemp replacing Hamilton down the right. It's only since running out of left-footed options with Mitchell out (as next in line now they've seen he's not a left back) that they sent Kaikai down the right last week at Hull, and today as a sub. And right-footed Lubala down the left, as usual.
Can you find me a graphic for that?
 
Hope he's good. We might have a plethora of defensive midfielders but other than Dougs they are all bang average. This boy looks a step up. Be nice to have 2 Championship level midfielders.
 
I don't have a problem with this in the sense that it seems he could be an improvement on others. But when squad numbers are limited we need to move out whoever he's replacing, so probably Williams. If that were to happen it'd make perfect sense.
However, we only have a few days left of the window and we desperately need a player with quality on the left. Someone a bit tricky, with guile who can do something unexpected and get us looking more threatening. I thought Kaikai might be that player but he clearly doesn't like playing there. We are too predictable - even Hamilton is predictable, it's just that his pace means there's nothing the full back can do about it.
We've another defensive player, and we're not struggling to keep clean sheets. I really really hope this isn't the end of our activity in this transfer window.
Yes.

The reason i always stick up for Sullay even when he's shit is there's always the chance he might not do what the opposition expects. I think with the exception of Dougall, I can't think of anyone else who has played a pass that I didn't see before they played it aside from Sullay this year. And even our beloved Sullay hasn't done it too often.

To be honest, January does tend to go to the wire with deals so as much as we might want to get the players in, there's an element of having to wait whilst players and clubs play their games.

I suppose an odd positive today is that Thorniley did himself no harm in advertising himself as a competent defender for someone even if we might possibly need him in the next few games! That would ironic, if we couldn't ship him out cos he was playing...
 
Hope he's good. We might have a plethora of defensive midfielders but other than Dougs they are all bang average. This boy looks a step up. Be nice to have 2 Championship level midfielders.
Agree but the problem now is moving the average ones on.

Williams - easy - out of contract.
Ward - easy - out of contract - but seems harsh as he’s played well.
Robson - very difficult- long term contract decent wages
Virtue - Again very hard long term contract

plus Garrity still has a year on his contract come summer so he ll have to be shifted. More cost all be it a low one.

Then there’s game time, if we’re going to keep Virtue, Robson, Dougall and Stewart how do the first two get in the team? Antwi will never get game time.

Unless there’s 3 or so out it just seems a strange signing.
 
3 goals in 3 years , 2yrs we have been chasing a goalscoring midfielder and for a massive squad we still haven't ticked that box , too many squad players out of form and our scattergun approach to signings isn't the way forward. Hope I'm wrong but just my opinion
 
I know Ronan and Dewsbury hall were on loan but they was like a breath of fresh air , I'm unsure if this team is better than the one from last season.
 
Sounds like a quality player, so I'm all for that. It does beg the question of what will happen to Williams & Robson, there is no point in them being at the club at all now.

We really really really do need a creative central midfielder though more than anything!!
 
Take your pick of any of the most recent
No probs. Trying to do a screengrab off the BT play back to give the best example with the right camera, but I think the best recent one in terms of visibility was the move for second goal against West Brom. This was just before it.

Right-footed Lubala on the left of the advanced midfield three, left-footed Kemp on the right. Yates in the middle behind Madine. Dougall and Ward sat deep in behind the three. A sort of moving 4-2-3-1 set up.

Not really seen them keep a rigid shape too much in a 4-4-2 since the Doncaster second half as Darren Moore moved players around in his 4-2-3-1, made a sub and killed them second half. They've been quite wary of getting outnumbered since.

I think maybe Stewart for Ward longer term, with Ward having been the stop-gap as the passer alongside Dougall?

1611431481879.png
 
Agree but the problem now is moving the average ones on.

Williams - easy - out of contract.
Ward - easy - out of contract - but seems harsh as he’s played well.
Robson - very difficult- long term contract decent wages
Virtue - Again very hard long term contract

Then there’s game time, if we’re going to keep Virtue, Robson, Dougall and Stewart how do the first two get in the team? Antwi will never get game time.

Unless there’s 3 or so out it just seems a strange signing.

Good points.

They must be looking for a more creative type in the middle but it leaves a complete mystery as to what formation he has in mind. Factor in CJ will be a shoe in on the right and one of Kaikai or Robson / Ward on the left in a 4-4-2 then he must be thinking either 4-3-3 or 3-5-2? God knows.

I would be surprised if Stewart has come here to be classed as "cover" for Dougall.
 
Yes.

The reason i always stick up for Sullay even when he's shit is there's always the chance he might not do what the opposition expects. I think with the exception of Dougall, I can't think of anyone else who has played a pass that I didn't see before they played it aside from Sullay this year. And even our beloved Sullay hasn't done it too often.

To be honest, January does tend to go to the wire with deals so as much as we might want to get the players in, there's an element of having to wait whilst players and clubs play their games.

I suppose an odd positive today is that Thorniley did himself no harm in advertising himself as a competent defender for someone even if we might possibly need him in the next few games! That would ironic, if we couldn't ship him out cos he was playing...

Agree, in a largely predictable team, we need one or two who aren't.

With Maxwell, Ballard, Gretarsson, Ekpiteta, Dougall and now Stewart, we have a very solid base. We aren't going to concede many. But we now need to ship out Williams probably and have a rethink of our attacking threats (or lack of). Hopefully the fax machine will be fully operational on deadline day!
 
It's a lot better than last year but we haven't got a creative midfielder fit to clean KDH's boots.
Very true, but it's clear to see with how well he's doing at Luton, getting man of the match nearly every week that he is a very good player and we were lucky to get him on loan in League one.

We have been spoilt with some of our loan signings over the years, haven't we?
 
After watching the video which BHOK put up I can see that Kevin Stewart is a good player, he can pass with both feet and can tackle too, how he will fit in to the team I don’t know but it’s not my job to worry about that .
There’s plenty of experts who will tell you on here fatboy 🤓
 
Good points.

They must be looking for a more creative type in the middle but it leaves a complete mystery as to what formation he has in mind. Factor in CJ will be a shoe in on the right and one of Kaikai or Robson / Ward on the left in a 4-4-2 then he must be thinking either 4-3-3 or 3-5-2? God knows.

I would be surprised if Stewart has come here to be classed as "cover" for Dougall.
Yeh I agree he’s probably too good to just come and wait for Dougall to get injured.

Where does it his also leave Anderson for next season?

Just bizarre.

Think this means all the players in midfield out of contract in summer, Kai Kai, Williams and Ward are on the way out. They’ll obviously know this as well so can see their heads dropping.
 
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