[Albion] Daily Mail reporting Albion have rejected £4m from Burnley for Dale Stephens

[The_Viper]

Does he start after Sidwell's performance at Derby.....

Yes, without question. Sidwell is a good player, Stephens is a great one. He starts every game he's fit for.

IF he doesn't start tomorrow, that's the biggest nail in his coffin IMO.

 

[Icy Gull]

Yes, without question. Sidwell is a good player, Stephens is a great one. He starts every game he's fit for.

IF he doesn't start tomorrow, that's the biggest nail in his coffin IMO.

There is no way Sidwell should be dropped for an un match fit Stephens. Players at this club are not picked on reputation these days?

 

[lawros left foot]

I said 'refusing to play?' With a question mark. This is a discussion board, it is a possibility. I'm not accusing, mearly putting it out there that this could be following what happened with Bridcutt, you need to chill out. So are you saying we can't discuss if he is not playing because he wants out, why? In case we are...right... or wrong?

There is a contract offer on the table is there not? Hopefully he will play and not still be suffering from a minor 'knock'.

He's in the squad tomorrow,so, he's not refusing to play.
Had he refused to play, I would have been in the vanguard with my flaming torch and pitchfork, because not signing an offered contract, is just a bargaining tool to improve an offer,refusing to play is totally unprofessional, and just about the worst crime a footballer can commit against his club, and its supporters, hence my dislike of your original pist

 

[The_Viper]

There is no way Sidwell should be dropped for an un match fit Stephens. Players at this club are not picked on reputation these days?

I wouldn't say he was un match fit. He would not be in the squad if he wasn't ready. If he's ready, then we play him. IMO.

 

[Stat Brother]

According to The Mirror Burnley could take Ashley Westwood from Villa:-

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-fund-mile-jedinak-8612635?

At least the helicopter hire will be cheaper.

 

[lancyclaret]

Of all the posts I've read during the "Stephens Saga", the one below -taken from the Brighton Argus -is the most interesting.

Ohlala posted on August 9 at 3.43pm#

NOT VERY OFTEN I WOULD DO THIS BUT IM SORRY FOR FALSE INFORMATION I GAVE OUT LAST NIGHT! (basically he/she had said that Stephens had played his last game for Brighton)

"Stephens will stay this season. this season. As I am led to believe Mrs S really wants to stay in Sussex and does not want to uproot family! DS is close to signing contract butut wants certain clauses in place. Please don't ask me source !!! Don't shoot the messenger."

This seems eminently plausible and I reckon a new contract will be signed by Stephens soon (if not already).

 

[WonderingSoton]

Of all the posts I've read during the "Stephens Saga", the one below -taken from the Brighton Argus -is the most interesting.

Ohlala posted on August 9 at 3.43pm#

NOT VERY OFTEN I WOULD DO THIS BUT IM SORRY FOR FALSE INFORMATION I GAVE OUT LAST NIGHT! (basically he/she had said that Stephens had played his last game for Brighton)

"Stephens will stay this season. this season. As I am led to believe Mrs S really wants to stay in Sussex and does not want to uproot family! DS is close to signing contract butut wants certain clauses in place. Please don't ask me source !!! Don't shoot the messenger."

This seems eminently plausible and I reckon a new contract will be signed by Stephens soon (if not already).

If Burnley as a PL side can't recruit players from the Championship, is that a cause for concern?

I think for consistency sake and keeping last season's momentum going I'd prefer him to stay. But if he went, I would suggest there are several more important players for us, and that Stephens is replaceable (not least by Norwood who presumably signed with the possibility of this move happening).

 

[lancyclaret]

According to The Mirror Burnley could take Ashley Westwood from Villa:-

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-fund-mile-jedinak-8612635?

At least the helicopter hire will be cheaper.

I think this is just a rehash of an old story....Burnley were interested in Westwood but he was not willing to take a £15k-a-week wage cut (and who can blame him?).

Burnley won't go above £30k-a-week for fear of damaging team spirit/harmony and this strict wage structure has scuppered several deals already (Westwood, DeFour, maybe Charlie Adam). God knows how we managed to persuade Barton to join last season on £30k a week or less.

 

[Justice]

If Burnley as a PL side can't recruit players from the Championship, is that a cause for concern?

I think for consistency sake and keeping last season's momentum going I'd prefer him to stay. But if he went, I would suggest there are several more important players for us, and that Stephens is replaceable (not least by Norwood who presumably signed with the possibility of this move happening).

Norwood himself said he signed for the competition of places

 

[lancyclaret]

I think this will end up something like when we "almost" signed Craig Bryson from Derby two seasons ago - Burnley activated a release clause and offered Bryson a deal... but after thinking about it CB decided to ignore the pull of top-flight football, went back to Derby told them what Burnley had offered in ages, so they matched these wages but with a FIVE-YEAR deal.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Of all the posts I've read during the "Stephens Saga", the one below -taken from the Brighton Argus -is the most interesting.

Ohlala posted on August 9 at 3.43pm#

NOT VERY OFTEN I WOULD DO THIS BUT IM SORRY FOR FALSE INFORMATION I GAVE OUT LAST NIGHT! (basically he/she had said that Stephens had played his last game for Brighton)

"Stephens will stay this season. this season. As I am led to believe Mrs S really wants to stay in Sussex and does not want to uproot family! DS is close to signing contract butut wants certain clauses in place. Please don't ask me source !!! Don't shoot the messenger."

This seems eminently plausible and I reckon a new contract will be signed by Stephens soon (if not already).

Sounds like he wants a release clause. I don't like giving them to players as it leaves the club helpless, but at least it is better than him walking away 'on a free'.

 

[lancyclaret]

I think this will end up something like when we "almost" signed Craig Bryson from Derby two seasons ago - Burnley activated a release clause and offered Bryson a deal... but after thinking about it CB decided to ignore the pull of top-flight football, went back to Derby and told them what Burnley had offered in wages, so they matched these wages but with a FIVE-YEAR deal.

Good way of getting an improved contract offer. Stephens gets a wage increase at Brighton but with a release clause which suits him (not the club).

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Sounds like he wants a release clause. I don't like giving them to players as it leaves the club helpless, but at least it is better than him walking away 'on a free'.

I think that's fair enough. As last season showed, there are no guaranteed promotions from the Championship.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Stephens is consistently underrated on this thread. I haven't seen Norwood play but if he was as good/better than Dale then surely he would've been linked with prem clubs for £8m rather than signing for us under the radar.

If we lose Dale he won't be replaced properly this season. It won't be a disaster, but we need to keep him if our aspirations are top two rather than top 6.

 

[B.W.]

Stephens is consistently underrated on this thread. I haven't seen Norwood play but if he was as good/better than Dale then surely he would've been linked with prem clubs for £8m rather than signing for us under the radar.

If we lose Dale he won't be replaced properly this season. It won't be a disaster, but we need to keep him if our aspirations are top two rather than top 6.

Well said. My only fear is what is all this doing to our striker acquisition budget?

 

[Triggaaar]

Well said. My only fear is what is all this doing to our striker acquisition budget?

We already offered a shit ton of money for Pratchard, so we've obviously got a decent budget for a striker.

 

[B.W.]

We already offered a shit ton of money for Pratchard, so we've obviously got a decent budget for a striker.

I think you are missing my point. Keeping Dale, Anthony et al may impact our transfer budget substantially.

Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Well said. My only fear is what is all this doing to our striker acquisition budget?

Probably not a lot. Quite a bit of haggling over contracts is clauses etc rather than money.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Well, this would be a nice turn up for the books. Hurrah for Mrs Stephens

 

[B.W.]

Probably not a lot. Quite a bit of haggling over contracts is clauses etc rather than money.

Hmmm... we may well have to up Dale's salary to get him to stay... likewise, AK et al...