Stevens long term replacement

[Chabuddy G]

Not being reactionary after yesterday, but think we can all agree since the restart Stevens has been lacklustre at best, shite at worst. Bar the odd moment (Spurs) his attacking and possession play has been shocking, can't even control the ball at times, and his defending hasn't made up for it as that's been woeful as well. Infact I can't believe he's managed to play every single minute of the restart frankly (our ONLY player to do so...)

Now - he's been an absolute revelation for us since coming in. A complete and utter bargain, took to the Championship from LEAGUE TWO (L2 ffs) like a duck to water and then took the piss out of the Premier League as well pre-lockdown. Possible player of the year contender actually. I don't need to go over what was so good about him because if you don't know you're a lost cause.
Incredible performances week in week out along with George at the other side, a great attacking force but unbeatable defensively too. We were all glad of the fact he was coming up to 30 or we'd struggle to keep him.

Then... Covid struck.
Then... the poor performances rolled in.
Then... he struck the big 30. He's not getting any younger. How long can he maraud down the left wing on his own as well as he does now?

I'm not advocating getting shut of him, but he's never had any worthwhile competition. Ben is the best is he's had but he's an out of position centre mid.
We could do with potentially investing in a younger model to build an understanding with the other players, the system, learn off Enda and not only push him but become a rotation option.

As for who, I don't know. Jamal Lewis maybe?
It's a hard position to master that's for sure

 

[LondonBlade89]

Every chance Rhys Norrington-Davies may be a part of our squad next year. One of our brightest prospects, a standout for Rochdale in League One on loan last year. He may not be ready just yet, but I'd prefer us to try him first before we seek to spend money given the bigger need in other positions. He could back-up next year and ultimately be Enda's long-term replacement.

 

[Large Mendonca]

I do really like Enda, but he does seem to suffer from mis-controlling the ball more than anyone else in our team.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I do really like Enda, but he does seem to suffer from mis-controlling the ball more than anyone else in our team.

He mis-controls a 5 yard pass but then on at least 3 occasions yesterday he pulled a crossfield ball out of the air without it even looking like effort. Is it a concentration/tiredness thing?

 

[Large Mendonca]

He mis-controls a 5 yard pass but then on at least 3 occasions yesterday he pulled a crossfield ball out of the air without it even looking like effort. Is it a concentration/tiredness thing?

I think so - and yesterday they were all guilty of it. I think they had the game that i was expecting them to have against Wolves/Chelsea - they looked dead on their feet and that's what happens when you're knackered.

 

[Chabuddy G]

Every chance Rhys Norrington-Davies may be a part of our squad next year. One of our brightest prospects, a standout for Rochdale in League One on loan last year. He may not be ready just yet, but I'd prefer us to try him first before we seek to spend money given the bigger need in other positions. He could back-up next year and ultimately be Enda's long-term replacement.

RND is a player, definitely. But L1 relegation scrap to Prem is a big old step...
If he's got the potential and CWAK think he is the heir to Stevens I wouldn't be averse to sending him to Rotherham or somewhere next season and having someone like Schlupp come in and compete with Enda for a year

 

[Addison]

He looked a fish out of water without JOC alongside him but was back to his best against Chelsea. Last night its hard to judge any player on that performance. He needs a rest but he still has a lot to offer and for me has been one of the best players in his position down at the Lane. Yes we need a long term replacement as we do for a number of our players but its more about having a capable back up in the squad to give him a rest or a break due to loss of form.

Osborn I agree is a midfield player and will challenge Fleck for his place. We have a capable left back in the squad IMO in Robinson and I'd like to see him given a go. I expect Enda to be back to his best next season. All players go through a period like this and the unique nature of restart has not helped.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

He's only just turned 30, just signed a new contract & is more than competent at this level.

He's having a bad spell (at best, mixed) & we definitely need to bring in some competition for his place (we need the same at RWB also), but talk of a "replacement" seems premature.

This fixture buildup is highly unusual & some of the players do seem to be suffering with a bit of mental / physical fatigue. We should cut them some slack, we're asking a lot of them - the teams around us have far better options for rotation whereas for our lads is a constant "we go again." Must be difficult to keep rising to the occasion every few days.

 

[Chabuddy G]

He looked a fish out of water without JOC alongside him but was back to his best against Chelsea. Last night its hard to judge any player on that performance. He needs a rest but he still has a lot to offer and for me has been one of the best players in his position down at the Lane. Yes we need a long term replacement as we do for a number of our players but its more about having a capable back up in the squad to give him a rest or a break due to loss of form.

Osborn I agree is a midfield player and will challenge Fleck for his place. We have a capable left back in the squad IMO in Robinson and I'd like to see him given a go. I expect Enda to be back to his best next season. All players go through a period like this and the unique nature of restart has not helped.

None of that changes the fact Enda is 30 and not getting any younger, we need to look at his long term successor

 

[DronnieBlade]

I have seriously heard it all now.

Unbelievable.

UTB

 

[Chabuddy G]

He's only just turned 30, just signed a new contract & is more than competent at this level.

He's having a bad spell (at best, mixed) & we definitely need to bring in some competition for his place (we need the same at RWB also), but talk of a "replacement" seems premature.

Hence the words 'long term' before it?

 

[sitwell]

Enda has just had a drop in form ,happens to all players ,he was superb against Spurs and Chelsea but along with Norwood seems to be the scapegoat and every mistake is jumped on. What happened to getting behind players ? I would even dream of replacing him ,he has been and will be a vital component in the best Utd team in 50 years ,also our best left back in that time.

 

[Chabuddy G]

Enda has just had a drop in form ,happens to all players ,he was superb against Spurs and Chelsea but along with Norwood seems to be the scapegoat and every mistake is jumped on. What happened to getting behind players ? I would even dream of replacing him ,he has been and will be a vital component in the best Utd team in 50 years ,also our best left back in that time.

I agree with all of that, but I don't think it harms to bring in a long term replacement when said player hits 30.
And I emphasise 'long term' which seems to be getting overlooked.

I'm not advocating getting shut of him or even bringing someone in to take his position immediately.

 

[Carlton Blade]

I will never understand why he's had to play every single minute since the restart. Every other player has at least been subbed/missed a game once. He's looked more in need of a sit down, be it for form or tiredness then any other player.

He's been brilliant for 2 seasons and he's in bad nick. But that's when you use the squad - should have been Stevens off, Osborn to LWB last night.

 

[JackSUFC]

When he’s on his game, he’s quality. I’d hope he’s got another two or three years in him yet. He does need proper competition though as I think Osborn is more suited to the LCM role.

If there was one gripe with Stevens though, it’s that he’s very one-footed.

 

[S40BLADE]

I agree regarding the age of our players. We need to hire younger players to compete and eventually replace our current crop. Anytime a thread like this comes up some people overreact and see it as a call to drop or get rid and get defensive of the great lads that have put us in this position when really all its about is evolving the squad.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

He's been brilliant for 2 seasons and he's in bad nick. But that's when you use the squad - should have been Stevens off, Osborn to LWB last night.

Wilder said as much last night when going through the different changes he said he could have made at halftime (Berge to Norwood’s position & Freeman to RWB being the other two). I think with Fleck fit, and Osborn more than displaying he’s capable, Stevens might not play all of the minutes in the last two games.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Wilder said as much last night when going through the different changes he said he could have made at halftime (Berge to Norwood’s position & Freeman to RWB being the other two). I think with Fleck fit, and Osborn more than displaying he’s capable, Stevens might not play all of the minutes in the last two games.

This is Stevens worst run of form in a fair old while. To keep him out there the whole time has been odd

 

[Carlton Blade]

I agree regarding the age of our players. We need to hire younger players to compete and eventually replace our current crop. Anytime a thread like this comes up some people overreact and see it as a call to drop or get rid and get defensive of the great lads that have put us in this position of when really all its about is evolving the squad.

I don't think anyone has said Stevens isn't good enough to be starting the first game next season. But he's been average or below (for him) in every game since restart

 

[LoughboroBlade]

This is Stevens worst run of form in a fair old while. To keep him out there the whole time has been odd

Perhaps, though it is in fairness just one game since he made an excellent assist, and 3 games since he made another really important assist. It’s not like he’s been a passenger these games – more out of sorts in some of them.

 

[Sam64]

I mean, I understand why he's played every minute. The only player who could've replaced him is having to play LCM. Think now Fleck's back we'll see Osborn at LWB.

 

[benn5712]

Maybe if we all calm down and reflect, last nights game we were out thought by the other manager.
He let us pass it about forwards, sideward, back, sideward, back, in the middle of the pitch. Our CBs become stretched, soon as Leicester got the ball Vardy And Barnes
are sent away. They had some main actors out, and don't forget they were champions not so long ago.
Blades players getting some stick here, rightly or wrongly.
If the cross from the right first few minutes, Balders?, had gone into Didzy we may have had a totally different game.

Know nowt about footie, me. Just how I saw it.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I do really like Enda, but he does seem to suffer from mis-controlling the ball more than anyone else in our team.

He mis-controls a 5 yard pass but then on at least 3 occasions yesterday he pulled a crossfield ball out of the air without it even looking like effort. Is it a concentration/tiredness thing?

Maybes he's trying too much to force the issue, it prompts sloppiness.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Maybes he's trying too much to force the issue, it prompts sloppiness.

That may be the case - it's almost like he's playing the next move just before the ball has reached him.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Hence the words 'long term' before it?

I agree with all of that, but I don't think it harms to bring in a long term replacement when said player hits 30.
And I emphasise 'long term' which seems to be getting overlooked.

I'm not advocating getting shut of him or even bringing someone in to take his position immediately.

To acknowledge the "long-term" element of your point, I think 30 is too early to be thinking about it. 32, fair enough. But at 30 you'd be expecting a player to sit on the bench for 2-3 seasons learning our system. I'm not sure who's going to sign up for that.

 

[Badger Blade]

Here lies the problem, there are alternatives that we can stick in there like Osborn, Robinson, switching sides for Baldock/Freeman but there isn't really an out and out replacement for him if there is a significant loss of form or long term injury.

Having seen hardly anything of him, I'd be curious to see if RND is able to hack it at this level or at least be eased in from the bench next season if CWAK see any potential in him

 

[Chabuddy G]

To acknowledge the "long-term" element of your point, I think 30 is too early to be thinking about it. 32, fair enough. But at 30 you'd be expecting a player to sit on the bench for 2-3 seasons learning our system. I'm not sure who's going to sign up for that.

Appreciate that, but there's a player perfect for us in my opinion in Jamal Lewis. If we don't sign him now we'll have missed out, much like why we signed Berge when we did.
Do we do it now or wait someone else to pop up?

Past 30 when Enda is playing such an intense role every week it's a minefield. Him and George put in more running than anyone else in our team by a long way.

I like the idea of RND taking over from him so slotting someone like Schlupp in for a year would work for me IF RND is up to it. That's for CWAK to decide.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Perhaps, though it is in fairness just one game since he made an excellent assist, and 3 games since he made another really important assist. It’s not like he’s been a passenger these games – more out of sorts in some of them.

He's been OK with a sprinkling of good at home. Still a fair way off his best. Genuinely bad away

I'm only advocating for him to not play every minute. I think it's been strange

 

[XM657]

When he’s on his game, he’s quality. I’d hope he’s got another two or three years in him yet. He does need proper competition though as I think Osborn is more suited to the LCM role.

If there was one gripe with Stevens though, it’s that he’s very one-footed.

There's the rub. So easy when playing against one footed players, keep the ball on their bad side, basic. Last night the 19 year old Leicester player should have scored. In the box, ball running right to left, shot with his right foot. If he could have shot with his left would at least have hit the target consequentially may have scored. in reality he missed the goal by at least two meters. One footed, how do they even become professional?

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Surprised you have time to participate on GBC.
Shouldn't you be making innocuous racially motivated comments about Garth Crooks?

BOOM!