Who's Stewart btw??

I think as a fan base, well a good percentage of the fan base, are going to have to start to get used to the fact that the man is going to be 40 this year, the middle age thickening isnt going to get much better anytime soon and hes just come back from probably one of the worst or at least longest term injuries of his career.

The fact hes still playing at the level he is, is a miracle but his levels are dropping and arent going to suddenly improve. His form is currently not too good and that might equalise but his legs aren't suddenly going to get younger and do what he wants whatever his brain wants them to do. It comes to every player eventually. There are outliers like Ronaldo but hes a physical specimen, Lewington, errrr....... isnt.

The "age catching up with him thing" has been spoken for ten years minimum. Promoted to the Championship, won't be able to handle the pace etc and he was arguably our best player.
Relegated to L2 after being dropped by Neilson, legs are gone, spent too long out, clearly doesn't have it any more.
Promoted out of L2 - might need to become a squad player, couldn't handle it last time.

2 years and a player of the season award later he is a playoff semi-finalist in L1 having had a superb season at left centre half.

Granted he's older and he's had injuries but since the start of Jan I'd argue he's looked no different to how he performed and looked 10 years ago. He's had a rough few games and that happens to everyone. He'll be fine. I don't disagree we need to manage his game time and keep him fit. But he's generally doing okay.

Lewington doesn't care for sentiment. Doesn't care for records and doesn't really care for pointless longevity. If he realises tomorrow against Accy that his legs are gone and his mind has been on that for a few months, he'll retire at full time. He won't prolong it to the end of the season. He said in a Sky Sports interview in December that he feels great and I believe him.

The Gary Neville thing sprung to mind too, but he also said he made his mind up that day and knew it was his last game. Lewie would do the same.

I don't think anyone's deluding themselves that he is nearly 40 and that poses questions, but he wouldn't be the first player to go past that mark and had their game time managed better still able to perform at some kind of peak.
Totti, Giggs, Pizarro, Maldini, Sheringham.. I get the "they're some of the best ever" thing but that's absolutely irrelevant, Lewington is one of the most consistent performers at the level he's played for 20 years so that's the balanced argument there. He'll be fine for as long as he wants to play.

As for right now, I agree he needs to sit a few games out from the start.

Well he can because he's been considered a lump for a lot of his later years, and come back in pre season looking slim and refined..

I think as a fan base, well a good percentage of the fan base, are going to have to start to get used to the fact that the man is going to be 40 this year, the middle age thickening isnt going to get much better anytime soon and hes just come back from probably one of the worst or at least longest term injuries of his career.

The fact hes still playing at the level he is, is a miracle but his levels are dropping and arent going to suddenly improve. His form is currently not too good and that might equalise but his legs aren't suddenly going to get younger and do what he wants whatever his brain wants them to do. It comes to every player eventually. There are outliers like Ronaldo but hes a physical specimen, Lewington, errrr....... isnt.

Its not fat (in my case it is but probably not so much a pro footballer). Its a kind of thickening where you are somehow bigger than you was but without being 'soft'.

Im not explaining it very well but most blokes around 40 will understand.