Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has reportedly made his fourth signing of the summer, and this one is completely out of the blue.
According to Sky Sports:
"Liverpool have snapped up former Tottenham defender Kevin Stewart".
Some info about the 20-year old:
* Came through the Spurs youth system.
* Captained various Spurs youth teams.
* Made his professional debut last season.
* 4 appearances for Crewe (on loan)
* Made Spurs' senior match-day squad on several occasions.
* Released by Spurs this week.
* Signed a 2-year deal with Liverpool.
The official description of Stewart on the Spurs official website:
"Versatile defender who has earned his place in first team squads without making his Spurs debut"
Well, it appears that Stewart's 'versatility' is not enough to earn him a deal with Spurs. The fact that Spurs declined to offer him a contract is a red flag, but maybe Rodgers sees something in the player Pocchetino doesn't?
To be honest, I don't really understand the deal. Stewart is a left-sided centre-back (who can also play at left-back), but Liverpool already have Sakho in the squad to fulfil that role. Additionally, with Coates and Ilori already at the club, where is the need for yet another young central defender?
It's not as if he has a hope in hell of making any appearances for Liverpool, though if he does, it'll be a slap in the face for Ilori, who got farmed out on loan only a few months into his Anfield career.
On the plus side, as a free agent, there's no transfer fee involved, so it's not really a massive gamble. Plus, who knows, maybe Stewart might turn out to be a hidden gem?
Author: Jaimie K
According to Sky Sports:
"Liverpool have snapped up former Tottenham defender Kevin Stewart".
Some info about the 20-year old:
* Came through the Spurs youth system.
* Captained various Spurs youth teams.
* Made his professional debut last season.
* 4 appearances for Crewe (on loan)
* Made Spurs' senior match-day squad on several occasions.
* Released by Spurs this week.
* Signed a 2-year deal with Liverpool.
The official description of Stewart on the Spurs official website:
"Versatile defender who has earned his place in first team squads without making his Spurs debut"
Well, it appears that Stewart's 'versatility' is not enough to earn him a deal with Spurs. The fact that Spurs declined to offer him a contract is a red flag, but maybe Rodgers sees something in the player Pocchetino doesn't?
To be honest, I don't really understand the deal. Stewart is a left-sided centre-back (who can also play at left-back), but Liverpool already have Sakho in the squad to fulfil that role. Additionally, with Coates and Ilori already at the club, where is the need for yet another young central defender?
It's not as if he has a hope in hell of making any appearances for Liverpool, though if he does, it'll be a slap in the face for Ilori, who got farmed out on loan only a few months into his Anfield career.
On the plus side, as a free agent, there's no transfer fee involved, so it's not really a massive gamble. Plus, who knows, maybe Stewart might turn out to be a hidden gem?
Author: Jaimie K
Grrrrrrr - source your own youth players, Liverpool!
ReplyDeleteprobably a loaner this season,,,,
ReplyDeleteSource your own transfer targets before you snipe at us
ReplyDeleteI actually agree with you. Liverpool's academy is bursting with young talent at the moment; are we to believe there isn't a single worthy defender in the whole set-up?
ReplyDeleteI think more and more that Liverpool are buying players in the hope they can sell them again at a small profit or are using it as a way of money laundering or some other tax dodge. The amount of players that seem to go through the books of Liverpool and maybe many other clubs is staggering. Are Football Clubs being used for money laundering or some other elaborate tax dodge?
ReplyDeleteMy research tells me he is 5'7" tall. We just bought a 5'7" tall CB? Can this be possible? With all our problems in the air on set-pieces we are investing in a 5'7" CB? Tell me he can play DM or LB or something...but certainly we aren't shoring up our shaky back 4 with a 5'7" CB.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The idea behind this move is completely beyond me
ReplyDeleteTo me it would seem that, a bit like the Rafa Paez deal last year, this is to increase competition in the u21 squad. I would assume that players like wisdom and ilori (and maybe even Jones) will be loaned out again (far too good for that level), but the likes of Brewitt and Clearly from the u18s are not quite ready for the step up. Apparently we have signed Vigoureux who was the spurs u21 goalie as well - which is more surprising as Fulton actually looks a decent prospect... I would be much more surprised if we signed midfielders/attacking players at this age/level as the youth teams seem brimming with potential waiting to step up...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't imagine these 2 deals will have any impact on the first team - other than allowing a couple more youngsters to either move to Melwood full time or be loaned out.
Lawrence Vigouroux, who is a Goalkeeper which I found in a TIA article which also stated the following...
ReplyDeleteBoth players worked with Liverpool under 21 coach Inglethorpe at White Hart Lane and he is likely to have been instrumental in their moves to Merseyside.
Agreed, although the centre of defence was a weak point for the youth teams last year as well as the first team. Signing like this is most likely a stop gap to allow the u18 defenders another year to improve..Seems a little daft, but Inglethorpe must know them pretty well and be confident they will bring something. I'd much rather see us poaching the top u16s though like last year..
ReplyDeleteIt was a joke at the expense of Liverpool fans like you who genuinely believe that Spurs can't actually have had an interest in a player until the press say so, and so if the press say Liverpool are in for a player and then the press say Spurs are in for a player, it truly, really, genuinely means Spurs don't have any scouts but just go for players Liverpool go for. And then they get angry about it :)
ReplyDeleteLiverpool should try get Ricardo Rodríguez and DeAndre Yedlin. If Liverpool had two quality fullbacks and kept Suarez we'd be a real force. Yedlin looked a real talent yesterday for America and would replace Johnson with ease. Rodríguez looks like one of the best left backs at the whole world cup. If Liverpool had two quality fullbacks we'd be a force next season. Johnson and Flanagan just held of back and are average.
ReplyDeleteI was gonna mention Yedlin too, he was really confidant and if I can judge from that one game- I also think that Johnson would be on the bench sooner rather than later...
ReplyDeleteHis pace and skill looked frightening at fullback and only 20 years old. If Liverpool don't get him lots of other top teams will and for cheap because he plays in the American league.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure he will be cheap, MLS is growing, they have money- the sport itself is evolving and getting more popular... But if up to 7-8 mill is enough to get him I would forget Moreno. AND OFCOURSE ALL bERTRANDS, Richards and others...
ReplyDeleteSo odd.
ReplyDeleteCould it just mean that we are letting go of home grown or British players and are keeping quota up? I am just specualting here as it seems a little mad to me.
ReplyDeleteThe guy is a left-back as I understand it, not a centre-back. What makes you think he is a centre-back JK? On the 3 sources I've read (BBC, Sky Sports and a Liverpool fan site) they all say he is a left-back. Not saying you're wrong, just wondering where you are getting this from.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that Alex Inglethorpe, the reserves boss, worked with him at Spurs and likes him. He might just be being brought in so we can loan out the more highly rated Brad Smith and Jack Robinson.
The Echo states that Rodriguez isn't a target because he is expected to cost £30m. I don't think Wolfsburg are in a selling mood at the moment.
ReplyDeleteStrange. Odd. Left-field..
ReplyDeleteI THINK THAT HE IS BETTER THAN LUKAKU
ReplyDeletehOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU COME AND TRIED TO BUY THE PLAYERS THAT WE WERE LINKES WITH
ReplyDeleteGET YOUR OWN SCOUTING TEAM
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Wisdom? Kelly? Smith?
ReplyDeleteMaybe they actually have had this conversation but just didn't want to say to some tinpot reporter that he is here to replace a disappointing. Coutinho last season.
ReplyDeleteFor goodness sake guys! If our academy is booming with top young prospects, do we just stop there and admire it? I don't know how good this guy is/going to be.. But if we don't continue to improve and sign other prospects, we're going to get left behind. This transfer is mysterious I agree with that but who are we to judge, Brendan may have seen something in the lad. Are we paying an over-inflated fee? Rooney-esque wages? Then I don't see a problem here
ReplyDeleteBut Yedlin is a backup to Fabian Johnson so why not sign Johnson instead? Just saying.....
ReplyDeleteThere's some great young defenders in the lower youth teams, but non to hot in the under 21's except maybe Ilori, that's even if you'd class him as an U21.. Pedro Chirivela is coming along nicely, but a few years away..
ReplyDeleteThis Spud lad may just be an opportunity to make a few quid, get for free, sell for a fee.. bargain.
Imagine he'll go in to the academy or loaned out for the season. What people don't realise is that he's a big Liverpool fan and always has been. He probably signalled his intent to not sign a new contract at spurs when he heard Liverpool were interested in him. If not that then it would've been down to the fact that Pochettino hasn't been very long and is interested in overrated foreign players rather than young English talent.
ReplyDeleteAnother point is, he is a good player. He's been in spurs's squads as the article said and captained the academy at different levels.
The final point is that Inglethorpe, the LFC academy coach, used to work in spurs and most likely knows a lot about this player and will continue to develop him. I doubt there is anyone that knows Stewart better as a footballer than I.A. So I have confidence in this deal. There are no risks artsy chef to it so let's be optimistic rather than pessimistic!
Only reason I see is the lad's a Liverpool supporter hahaha
ReplyDeleteBecause Johnson recently signed for Gladbach haha...
ReplyDeleteLamela was fantastic in Italy and is 5 years younger Fellaini was great at Everton for a number of seasons.
ReplyDeleteOscar makes the Brazil side enough said there Lallana doesnt make Englands crappy first team enough said.
Agree 1000%..I can only hope that Llalana is intentionally holding back as it serves us no good to declare publicly how we will be using our players...
ReplyDeleteMilner never gets the opportunity either and sometimes as with some players they just dont fit into a clubs onfield philosophy.
ReplyDeleteKevin Stewart should be welcomed as long we don't pay any transfer fee for him. Not exactly a huge gamble in this case.
ReplyDeleteNow, I'm just wondering who else can LFC bring in this summer after Lallana? Looks like LS is set to leave us soon, so who will come in to replace him? To entrust that huge sum of money from LS's sale to BR/transfer committee is a real big risk. Their judgement in the transfer market is highly questionable and this was backed up by the huge number of failed transfers conducted by BR/transfer committee till date.
As a fan, all I can ask for is no more English players after that over-paying, as always, move for Lallana. An interesting fact to note, LFC's transfer targets are/were always a popular subject of 'hijack' from other teams, except when they go English. We always do British business that even oil-riched Man City and Chelsea won't dare to dream the slightest about. So do I mean the management of LFC has an astute acumen for British talents? I'm becoming increasingly worried about the money from the to-be LS's sale...
James Rodriguez would improve any side, even Bayern Munchen, Barcelona or Real Madrid. On current form, he is top 10 in the world and has potential to be the best in the world. And as for Jackson Martinez, 46 goals in 60 appearances for Porto, yes, I believe he will improve us as well. Luis Suarez is phenomenal, but he is just one player and frankly, his first season for us, he hardly set the world alight with his finishing, he's had 2 excellent seasons with us. With what we can get for him, we can get players who are not quite as good as him individually, but together could very well be better than him and better for the team. I would prefer we kept Suarez, but at the same time, if we sold him, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Luis Suarez if he keeps out of trouble is certain to improve us, but Luis Suarez has proven he cannot keep out of trouble. His indiscretions mean we play large chunks of the season without him. And also Suarez is looking like he is wanting a move away, so if the price is right, then let him leave. You say LFC are a family. But there is another saying, if you love someone set them free. We would hardly be axing him if he wants to leave. If my son or daughter turned 18 and wanted to leave the house or the state or the country to fulfil their dreams, no matter how much it hurt, I wouldn't stand in the way of them. Love isn't about holding someone prisoner just because of insecurity.
ReplyDeleteOk, so 25M for a player who was the club captain and voted the best player at the club who in your opinion is still rubbish or 27M for a player who is unproven and you say is going to be a star. Lallana is already a star. Let's look at the stats for last season, Lallana played 38 games, scored 9 and had 8 assists. Luke Shaw played 35 games, scored 0 and had 2 assists. Luke Shaw has played 60 Premier League games over the past 2 seasons, he has scored 0 and had 2 assists. Adam Lallana had played 68 games and has 12 goals and 14 assists to his name. This is why 25M is closer to the valuation of Lallana than the 27M is to Shaw.
ReplyDeleteThey are all better? What proof do you have other than Fifa 14? Oh wait, "You did not agree to go out and buy one season wonder Carroll too did ya?", this says it all, you aren't even a LFC supporter.
ReplyDeleteLallana doesn't make the first team because Woy plays it safe and plays the Man Utd underperformers instead of the players that deserve to be playing. Sterling only started the one game, does that mean he is crap too? Frankly, I'm glad you aren't a scout either. When slating players, get your facts straight and your stats correct. Back up your claims or don't make the claims at all. As far as Oscar goes, yes I agree, he is an excellent player and is also in the Brazil side, however, apart from the game against Croatia, he has been extremely poor for Brazil this World Cup. In weighing up the value of a transfer, isn't that exactly what you did with Carroll, he failed and so you said his transfer fee was terrible and he was a failure. If however he set the world on fire, he would have been worth every penny of the 35M we paid for him. A transfer fee is only considered good value if firstly, the player has performed consistently for at least 2 seasons and secondly if the player at his new club performs just as well if not better. Lallana ticks the first factor, has yet to prove or disprove the second factor. However, Lamela, Fellaini, Paulinho, Willian and Fernandinho did not have a good season last season and so basing on their first season, the fees can be considered too much. They may or may not come good.
ReplyDeleteThey're all Liverpool supporters when they sign for us
ReplyDeleteRegardless Hodgson never deemed him as good enough and he is the manager not you.
ReplyDeleteHes 26 you what dont you get he isnt getting much better Shaw would have whipped his ass at that age comprende.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever take criticism? I'm just offering you an alternative point of view. Turn that critical eye on your own writing for a second and accept that it's not always someone else's fault when you get misinterpreted. You're the writer, it's your blog, if a large portion of the people you write for interpret what you say in a way you didn't intend it's just stubborn to keep blaming them. Maybe, sometimes, it's you.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has a valid point. He should discuss more with EXPENSIVE signings, but at the same time I have faith in however much he has discussed with Lallana. No player is bigger than liverpool and Lallana knows even tho he has been bought for a huge fee that wherever he is asked to play, he will play. He doesn't seem the type to complain. After all he played 7 different positions for Southampton so I'm sure where ever Rogers plays him he will b effective.
ReplyDeletePS: IL B SO PISSED IF WE DONT GET SANCHEZ OR SHAQIRI
Especially if arsenal get sanchez. Would love ballotelli at anfield. I think our atmosphere would humble him
Bet we never see this player in our starting line up ever . Pointless signing
ReplyDeleteI think it's more of a respect thing to the existing squad players, if he starts talking about how he going to play in one position or another, it'll potentially put a couple of noses out of joint before he started. So I think he was just being sensible and not getting drawn on the question.
ReplyDeleteSeems like an odd deal considering the options we already have. But I guess some competition for the left side is always a good thing. Plus like you say, with no transfer fee it could be a real steal.
ReplyDeleteGreg your and my judgements on Lallana are never going to to meet until he proves you wrong next season. I think he is class and has shown that class for two seasons in the Premiership aswell as being the standout player in the lower leagues he played in before (believe it or not good players can come from League 1 and the CHampiionship).
ReplyDeleteThe fact you're trying to make out that Lamela and Fellaini are better value is a joke and Oscar by all standards had a poor season. The only reason Scolari picks him is because he is well known for not changing his teams regardless of players' club form (come on even you must admit Coutinho deserves to be playing ahead of Oscar).. [Supporters] like you have slated Sturridge, Henderson and Allen in the past and been proven wrong. At the end of next season I'll post a reply to this comment and then we'll see who's judgement is correct about Lallana.
Haha your reduced to defending managerial decisions. You really have lost this argument
ReplyDeleteI am certain that almost every interview I have ever seen from an ex-pro that has addressed the issue of a transfer, they haven't mentioned having a detailed conversation with the manager... Maybe it's just not whats done?
ReplyDeleteDont think you could manage a good f#rt on a diet of baked beans so i will take Hodgsons and my opinion over yours anytime
ReplyDeleteYou won nothing sunshine.
Deference of Hodgson... I can only conclude you're Man U troll
ReplyDeleteFrom a mentality standpoint, we knew what we were getting in Suarez... after all, he'd already bit someone.
ReplyDeleteBut why wouldn't the manager have an interview with a player who we're investing a lot of money to sign. Just seems like simple due diligence.
Would you go out and buy a car without giving it a test drive? Or hire an employee based purely on his resume alone without speaking with him?
From the Emre Can welcome interview. Think Rodgers' pre-signing involvement is a bit clearler here:
ReplyDelete"Yes, it was an easy decision for me to sign with Liverpool as I had a
very good chat with the manager, which clearly showed that the club and
he wanted to sign me. This was important for me. I can say it was an
easy decision for me."
Please let this stop you before you post terribly negative, ridiculous guesswork from between the interview lines again.
I'd
ReplyDeletejust like to pick up on your "examples" of this "recurring
disconnect":
Sahin: Sure, your explanation is one possibility, however, the little of him I
watched, didn’t particularly justify extra playing time. Sahin was described as
versatile (pre LFC). He wasn’t and he didn’t step up. Coutinio did and was
rewarded with more time on the pitch. Sterling was dropped for his dip in form
and had to earn his place back. Henderson was (reportedly) out on his ear
before proving his worth. Those three demonstrate how BR rewards form.
Aspas: You ask "did he discuss the move in detail"; and then state
"Given his lack of English, the answer is almost certainly no". Given
Aspas is born and bred Spanish, and BR is a fluent Spanish speaker, maybe they
had a detailed discussion in Spanish!
Ilori: A 20 year old (at the time) who was taking a massive step up. Surely he didn’t
expect to be starting much, ahead of Agger, Toure and Skrtle (assuming he
wasn't aware of Sakho's signing). Is it not conceivable that his performance
(in training) didn’t justify match time? Furthermore, why should BR make
promises to a 20 yr old?
Sakho: No doubt he probably expected to play regularly and I imagine BR spent
£18m thinking the same. Sakho came in as leader (captained at youth level for
club and country and became youngest captain in Ligue 1) but didn’t display
much of that trait for LFC. Carra (is ex-team mate - an unquestionable leader
on the pitch) heavily criticised him for his lack of leadership last season.
Maybe BR expected more from Sakho which resulted in him playing less.
Whilst I don’t disagree with your argument that the manager should communicate
with players ahead of buying them, I don’t think that BR should be telling them
that they should be playing in X position for Y amount of games. Furthermore, I
don’t think your "examples" of a "disconnect" hold water.
Surely players should join LFC knowing that they will have to earn mins on the
pitch - you yourself have argued the virtues of competition in previous
articles...
p.s.
and no doubt the one sentence that will attract the most response... Suarez has
got to go; we should bite bight Barcelona's hand off (figurative, of course) at
£80m...
Also i never slated Sturridgeor Henderson Allen yes and thats because i am always right do not take it to heart.
ReplyDeleteDont put words in my mouth i never said and what i did say is Fellaini and Lamela were quality still i did not say they succeeded at least read what i say properly before crappin on please!
A) I Never said you thought Lamela or Fellaini were quality - what I said is you think their transfer fees were better 'value' for money than Lallana's (which you did. Or are you backing down from that one?).
ReplyDeleteB) I never said you personally slated Sturridge, Hendo, Allen - I said '[supporters] like you'.
C) You can't always be right. Your statement that Hodgson's team selections have some merit as to deciding who is a decent player is evidence of that.
D) Only t**ts think they are always right.
I am very happy the always right comment got ya it was like reeling in a fish its been fun Owen only time will tell on this and going on your last comment you still dont get what i wrote.
ReplyDeleteThe Hodgson comments too were a masterstroke glad they got ya going too all up a big LOL but i must say Lallanas still not worth it.
Emre Can - "It was an easy decision for me to sign with Liverpool as I had a very good chat with the manager, which clearly showed that the club and he wanted to sign me"
ReplyDeleteAnd what exactly is your point? Can doesn't say he talked tactics/position with the manager. Plus, this doesn't change the fact that Lallana specifically states that he did not have a detailed discussion with Rodgers re his role in the team.
ReplyDeleteMy point is that Can did have discussion with the manager. He doesn't reveal what they discussed but I think it's naive to conclude that this means that there was no detailed discussion. Also, I don't see the need for a conversation about tactics and position. BR wants these guys in based on what he's seen. He doesn't need to discuss tactics position etc, he's the manager and they will play in the position he tells them to and with the tactics he states. I enjoy reading your articles but often find that you are looking for fault where there isn't any.
ReplyDeleteI'm not 'looking for fault where there isn't any' - I made the same argument about Sahin in 2012, and like you, some fans wouldn't have it. I was later proven right, and that happens on a regular basis. I am simply more willing to see the reality of each situation that many other fans, who prefer to stick their heads in the sand, and will only acknowledge a problem once it's actually happened.
ReplyDeleteMost arguments I make are based on sound reasoning, with a basis in history/fact. I don't just say things for the hell of it.
I think you're getting off the topic here by telling me how enlightened and right you are all the time Jamie.
ReplyDeleteI also think that if you're lumping me into the category of fans who stick their heads in the sand, which I agree there are many, you are wrong. Has this ever happened before?
Please re-read what I said without being so defensive and you'll see that my opinion simply differs to yours. I'll reiterate. I don't think that discussions on tactics and playing position are important when signing a player. The manager tells the players what he wants from them and plays them in whichever position he wants to play them in. Tactics and position will also change from game to game and within a game so talking about them before they're even signed isn't required... in my opinion.
haha... WOW!! That's good journalism for you. Deleting your embarrassing comments and the part of mine which highlighted those too. Will I be served a gagging order also or simply banned from commenting and giving an opinion?
ReplyDeleteYou're a disgrace to journalism!!
ReplyDeleteGo on, remove or amend that as well. Pathetic!!!
ReplyDelete