Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Scotland play Holland on March 28 - but who will win?

Premium Article !

Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.

Options

Premium Article !

To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the Edinburgh Evening News site.

Subscribe

Registered Article !

To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.

Would Lewis Stevenson make your first XI at Easter Road?



Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 28 July 2008
The young midfielder has hardly played under Paatelainen but the Hibs manager has challenged him to make his mark in the coming season

George Mackie, Leith: "Lewis Stevenson is a casualty of the John Collins era abruptly ending. Collins saw something in Lewis and was determined to make him his prodigy in the position available with the sudden departure of Kevin Thomson. Lewis is a
good player but his loss of form was dramatic under Mixu and I don't know if he will fit into the team that Mixu is trying to build. I would hope that we can get him playing as well as he played in the CIS final but it's down to the player himself."

Alan Newton, Leith: "I hope the manager is challenging all the players to make their marks, they are professional football players and their aim is to play in the first XI. If they aren't challenging get rid of them as they are bleeding our club, taking a wage and not performing."

Andy Wooten, Leith: "It's not just Lewis Stevenson who hardly gets a look in, we have numerous fringe players who Mixu wants rid off. I think Stevenson and McCann will be punted."

Allison Farrell, Ferniehill: "If I was the manager he would make mine, he is one of a number of players who Mixu doesn't fancy as footballers. Why I don't know."

Jim Hewitt, Newhaven: "If he plays like he did at Murrayfield then no he shouldn't be in the team, then again neither should most of the players who played."

Jon Gracie, Lochend: "It's always hard to take your first season form to the next season, maybe now he's had a rest and taken stock of his situation he will in this coming season be a better football player. He has a talent but it's up to the coaches to make sure he shows this on the football pitch. If he does then Mixu won't have an option, he will have to play him. If he doesn't he will end up like at lot of so-called promising talent, playing for Berwick Rangers or East Stirling."

Amy-Rose Bruce, Craigmillar: "Another young player we had hopes for, now he is not fulfilling his promise. I have watched him in reserve games and along with his colleagues there is an extreme lack of pace about him. I don't know why but unless he improves I can't see Mixu giving him a starting place."

Allan Tennant, Alva: "Yes Lewis would make my first XI, any time he plays he is always looking for the ball, never shirks from a tackle, can pass and for me that is the type of player we want in our team. It also helps that he can double up as a full back. Maybe if more players showed his attitude during games we might have finished higher in the league last year."

Gomez Grant, Sighthill: "I certainly will give Lewis a run in the side, but at left back. He has a good left peg and an engine to get up and down the park."

PJ, Dunfermline: "After his MOTM CIS Cup Final performance you would have thought so. However, he is still relatively young and inexperienced. I don't think it helps his cause that there is little experience in the current Hibs midfield (squad]. I would personally like to see him given an extended run in the team. One thing that he has in his favour is the ability to play left back as well as in midfield."

Roy Nesbitt, Comley Bank: "Good left-sided player but in keeping with all the other Hibs youngsters he is under six foot tall, not any good in today's football. He is still a good player, we witnessed his display in the CIS Cup final but he will have to be more athletic and skilful if he wants a place in Mixu's team."

David Brotherston, Leith: "A good player that is being overlooked for brawn. Mixu's definition of a football player is not what most Hibs fans want to see, Stevenson is a must for the team but unfortunately he doesn't fit the profile that Mixu wants. He will be sold and come back to haunt us."

James Hanlon, Brunstane: "Stevenson would be in my team any day of the week before Kerr. Have to say I'm a bit worried about Paatelainen, his team selection and tactics and some of the young players he has let go already – Keegan Ayre in particular."







The full article contains 763 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 28 July 2008 11:11 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Hibernian FC
 
1

Neutral Observer,

28/07/2008 11:29:14
Like John Hanlon of Brunstane, I was agast when Mixu decided to free Keegan Ayre. This was a player who always shone in the reserves when I saw him and, at 20 years of age or so, was filling out physically and had much more presence in the midfield than some of the vertically challenged players we have there currently. He is a much superior player to the likes of Kerr and Rankin.

Was it significant that Kerr was not in the 18 who stripped for the Barcelona match? Also missing were Benji (injury again!!), Donaldson, McCormack, McCann and Gatheussi!!
2

Don from Melbourne,

Narre Warren South 28/07/2008 11:39:29
Really we need experianced players quickly, we need players who know what they are doing, no wonder boozy left..... Hibs cannot mount any sort of challenge for much with the current squad
3

Neutral Observer,

28/07/2008 11:46:04
Kevin McCann is mentioned above as a player that it is thought Mixu does not fancy. Mixu arrived when McCann was suffering from a recurrent knee problem and did not see the best of him. He must be kept and developed. He is at least as good as van Zanten if not better in that he is a strong tackler and that to me is essential for the modern wing back.
4

Neutral Observer,

28/07/2008 11:58:10
#4 Talk

Is Talk of the Toun a pub team? Or are you West of Scotland SPL?
5

ses,

Pencaitland 28/07/2008 14:02:56
I thought Stevenson was overrated from the start. For example, he own Man of the Match in the League Cup Final, when at least Jones and Murphy were clearly better players on the day (and that's not counting two young players who scored doubles for us). He doesn't score or set up enough goals, he is slow and at times he looks out of his depth.

Having said all that, Kerr is awful, Rankin has lived up to his name, and with Beuzy gone along with all the quality midfielders we lost last year, I don't think we have much choice but to play him at the moment.

Ideally, though, we'll sign a couple of decent midfielders soon, and that being the case I'd put Stevenson out on loan for a year to build up his experience. He needs to learn how to make more of an impact and do the important things that actually win a team games.

If he can learn and improve, he can still be a decent Hibs player in the future. But he certainly isn't in the same class as our last batch of youngsters.
6

NYC Hibee,

edinburgh 28/07/2008 14:21:31
How about a midfield of Murray, Thicot, Zemmama and Yantorno?
Shields up front with Fletcher?

O'brien, benji and Nish as subs

Sounds ok to me!
7

stanton4,

28/07/2008 14:54:12
TotT you comments seemed pretty clear to me.

Stevenson was excellent in his role alongside an, lets be honest, extremely classy midfield. I was very worried at the start of last season that JC had him earmarked as a ''main man''. It was all very well when he was a bit part player, when the opposition had others to worry about, but we made him a main playmaker. Of course he was not ready for it and his formed shaded. He was actually kept in there too long and Mixu did the right thing getting him out of there..

Having said that he should be producing performances that have him knocking at the door ... although if anyone knows his best position please tell me../.....I fear we may have ruined him

As for NYCs team anyone who would give Deano a game before Benji is off their head
8

Silence of the Yams,

28/07/2008 15:19:08
He wasn't in the game against Barca, looked well well out his depth. I think he should have been loaned out this season.
9

Neutral Observer,

28/07/2008 20:20:36
#6 Talk of the Toun

Was merely trying to establish what team you supported when you wrote 'WE will take him'.
10

HIBERNIAN5,

A SUNNY MORAY GARDEN 31/07/2008 12:37:30
YUP FOR SURE BIG MIXU NEEDS TO BOLSTER THE SQUAD EMMOTIONALLY AS WELL AS BRINGING IN FRESH FACES, AS FAR AS LEWIS IS CONCERNED HE WILL FLOURISH GIVEN THE CHANCE! GET RID OF THE DEADWOOD BIG MAN NO MENTONING ANY NAMES BUT I RECALL A NEW SIGNING BEING SOLD AS TEN TIMES FASTER THEN WEE IRISH MAN MY BUTT AT LEATS THE WEE GUY WOULD HAVE SCORED HEES HUGE TALLY FOR THE SEASON KEEPING US FANS ENTERTAINED! THERES BEEN TALK ALSEWHERE OF SOME MAJIC REMEDY JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
LETS GET THERE BRING IN THE REMEDIES THE TEAM NEEDS.
FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THE FANS!!

AFTERALL ID HATE TO SEE BIG MIXU ON THE SAME ROAD AS THAT OTHER FAMOUS PLAYER/ MANAGER FRANK SAUZEE!!

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.