does anybody else get frustrated by his apparent lack of willingness or intelligence to play on the shoulder of the full backs? he has all the potential to destroy teams, yet in my opinion makes it easier for the opposition to stop him. if you notice when ever a midfielder or dawson gets the ball, in a promising position to break he hardly ever makes a forward run past the defenders for a ball down the line or over the top, he nearly always comes to the player and stands next to them and almost takes the ball of them. i remember the amount of goals elliot got by bursting forward on the shoulder of the full back and accelerating past them into he box, and cant help but think with his extra pace how stewart could do similar damage, i also wonder if its part of his instructions, as surely something would have been said by now if they didnt want him to do it, i just think its a waste of his pace, my mate pointed it out to me a few weeks ago, and i wish he hadnt because now i cant help but notice it all the time and it drives me insane when i see a massive space behind the full back, dawson has the ball, and stewart comes and stands almost holding his hand
I noticed this every time one of our midfielders (usually koren) got the ball and ran at their defence. None of the players ahead of him made any sort of threatening movement so every time we relied on koren having a shot. There is no invention up there whatsoever. With the pace stewart has i completely agree that he should be constantly on the shoulder of the defenders hoping for a through ball or a ball over the top
I thought Stewart today was brilliant his decision making was so much better and the fact he realised not to shoot and give the ball away so much was clear development. But Barmby urges him on every time to play on the last man, i think its something he wasn't taught at United and that he was told to come deep for the ball, but if we played more through balls and he made more of them runs he would easily score 8+ a season. It is frustrating but hopefully he can learn.
Not only that, but why does he keep cutting inside! It hasn't worked for him once at all, every single time he loses the ball. What's wrong with just hitting the byline like he used to do so effectively?
Not true, he beat the man several times. Unfortunately, he'd then turn back to come back inside allowing the defenders to surround him. Players like him NEED to stay out wide, getting chalk on their boots, pulling fullbacks out with them allowing him the space to touch the ball past them and he's away, failing that, he pulls the fullback wide enough to create space for someone like Koren to exploit the gap. I just don't think he's anywhere near fully fit. Mentally or Physically! Anyway, We've got 2 weeks free due to our opponents being involved in cup competitions, hopefully the club can use some of their transfer kitty to take the team away for a weeks break as Browny used to do. How many times did they do that and return as good as a new team!
It used to work fine. His first 4 or 5 games back from injury he did it every time and made goals happen. Now he's always cutting in and losing it. In fairness if what premiertiger says is true (which I believe it is) they were planning on resting Stewart yesterday until it turned out Brady was injured. It was clear to see why yesterday, the lad looked absolutely knackered.
I think they're trying to get the Brighton game in that week between when we should have played it and when we should have played Blackpool. Just basing it on the comment in the email about hoping to have it not too long after the original date (in the Barmby Army shirt piece they're still planning on Barmby presenting the winner at that game). EDIT: Do I get full marks for predicting that, even though it was an hour after they'd announced it?
i know weve had this discussion before, but thats why i really think it would be worth playing him down the right and brady the left, its a big part of the reason he doesnt make the runs over the the top in my opinion as he knows he would have to use his left foot more and he isnt comfortable with it.
^^^^^^^^ this. AGREED. Give the lad a break. He came back flying after such an awful injury. CS has hit a brick wall like most of us knew he would. Many are far to quick to have a go. Patience is the key and NB and his staff know what they are doing. Wigley was a great wing man in his day and will get CS flying again. Just dont rush it.
i dont really see it as a form thing, its just the style he plays in.. in our formation, when we attack it should be a 4-3-3 with the wingers right up with who ever is up front.....last night everytime koren had the ball he had 2 options, shoot or try and play an almost impossible through ball to fryatt marked by 2 defenders, the wingers, who ever they are are always too far back, its understandable in a way from mcelan as he isnt a natural winger, id expect to see stewart the furthest forward everytime we break, and he hardly ever is.
Stewart was very good last night he lost the ball twice by coming inside and i am pretty sure he layed the ball off far more than he has in previous game, far better performance. However he does need to get to the byline more, and the fact he doesn't do what he did in his first 4 or 5 games is because defenders don't allow him to get round the back of him they literally show him inside, if thats what the full back is intent on doing its hard to avoid.
I'd still like to see him playing up front in a 4-4-2, failing that he should be playing on the right. He needs to stop stepping out of every challenge too, I know he's coming back from a bad injury and it's completely understandable, but he still needs to get over it.
