Totally agree, when I saw Stewart playing for us I couldn’t believe how much better he was than our players. I watch Gallagher and his impact is similar. The ball seems to follow him around the pitch, but that is of course more to do with a natural affinity for finding the correct positions and having an unbelievable engine.

I think Bryan Robson/Frank Lampard are the best comparisons, but he has a way to go yet to make that level. The finished article he is not but a damn fine 2nd season so far at the top level.

I know I might get shot down here ,but how hard would it be be to unearth a similar talent ? He is not like wilf or eze having exceptional skill .He thrives on energy and positional sense .He is like a schoolkids in the playground with his enthusiasm and energy levels .Maybe Scott Banks ?

RLC and Connor are two great examples of why I have always hated loans. I think I understand the short term economic justification (but what fees do we pay Chelsea for the privilege?) But it really sticks in the throat that we are developing a player for Chelsea to get all the benefits and put us back in the position we were in before the loan happened. We never replaced the RLC role when he went back and were all the poorer for it. Replacing Connor who is now a key player in our new system will be near impossible next year and compounded by Macca being another year older and a replacement/support for him will also be needed.

Reading some gloomy ones here about how we can't hope to replace him.

Agreed we won't be able to replace him like for like. He is - alongside Rice pretty much the best in the country right now at doing what he does. But he is not head and shoulders above everything we have. Different player with different attributes but Eze is for me his equal. We'll simply need to adapt and find a new approach which works to his strengths.

One of the best things PV has done so far is work with the strengths and attributes of the players he has. Ward is looking better because PV has found an asymmetric defensive system that brings out the best in him. Likewise Macca is looking renewed because PV has found a spot for him within the system that works.

Feeling upbeat. Yes we will miss him but he is an important cog within the team and not the team. There is plenty of quality elsewhere.

Was very young when we had PS but I remember him absolutely bossing games. I always wondered if it was purely because I remember it through a child's eye so am happy to earn he really was that good. He would carry the team through games.