Dale may stay....

[Let's Have A Winner!]

I'm sure it's already been mentioned elsewhere but I only skim threads...absolutely loved his crunching sliding tackle in the second half the other night when Birmingham were threatening to break away. He may stroll around a bit at times but certainly didn't look too shabby there!

 

[Bold Seagull]

The countryside near both Burnley and Middlesbrough is lovely. You don't think our players actually live in Brighton, do you? I can only think of two.

It's all down to money.

The North East struggles to attract top European players especially - hence they're all up and down despite fantastic support. Brighton next to Gatwick, hour from London, properties in the Surrey Hills and around Sussex, it's a big attraction over walks in the freezing rain no matter how beautiful the countryside.

 

[Murray 17]

The countryside near both Burnley and Middlesbrough is lovely. You don't think our players actually live in Brighton, do you? I can only think of two.

It's all down to money.

They're not 60+, downsizing, and retiring up north to the countryside!

I think the pull of a lively city like Brighton (on the outskirts, of course), would appeal more to a young man, than 2 dumps like Burnley and Middlesbrough.

 

[Murray 17]

The North East struggles to attract top European players especially - hence they're all up and down despite fantastic support. Brighton next to Gatwick, hour from London, properties in the Surrey Hills and around Sussex, it's a big attraction over walks in the freezing rain no matter how beautiful the countryside.

Couldn't agree more, that man!

 

[Easy 10]

If he moves, he will be getting a maHOOsive signing on fee. Probably depends whether we're prepared to lob him and his agent a big ol' bonus on top of his improved deal.

 

[BensGrandad]

The countryside near both Burnley and Middlesbrough is lovely. You don't think our players actually live in Brighton, do you? I can only think of two.

It's all down to money.

I thought that there were more than two living in Brighton/Hove I thought about 6 or 7 but I dont know for sure and just going by comments on here of people seeing this player and that player in various places in the town.

 

[Weststander]

They're not 60+, downsizing, and retiring up north to the countryside!

I think the pull of a lively city like Brighton (on the outskirts, of course), would appeal more to a young man, than 2 dumps like Burnley and Middlesbrough.

Along with the sunless skies and perennial rain of Lancs.

 

[Weststander]

Also, to be fair, what PL club, obviously a step up from ourelves, would be willing to give him regular football, and a bigger salary than we could offer in the PL?

Swansea, Burnley, West Ham, Palace, Hull, Bournemouth, (one of Weds/Reading/Hudd/Leeds). They've all lost a lot of games this season, some have conceded a lot of goals. Any of those midfields could do with strengthening for PL 2017/18, why not with DS?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Swansea, Burnley, West Ham, Palace, Hull, Bournemouth, (one of Weds/Reading/Hudd/Leeds). They've all lost a lot of games this season, some have conceded a lot of goals. Any of those midfields could do with strengthening for PL 2017/18, why not with DS?

Yes but, as I said, are they a step up from ourselves (enough to tempt him)? And would they give him a regular game? I can't see Swansea, Burnley, Hull, Bournmouth, Massive or Huddersfield tempting him (with more money and status than we can offer) and I can't, frankly, see him getting into the West Ham side.

So, yes, you're right. He's off to Leeds or Palace. ****ing marvellous

 

[Weststander]

Yes but, as I said, are they a step up from ourselves (enough to tempt him)? And would they give him a regular game? I can't see Swansea, Burnley, Hull, Bournmouth, Massive or Huddersfield tempting him (with more money and status than we can offer) and I can't, frankly, see him getting into the West Ham side.

So, yes, you're right. He's off to Leeds or Palace. ****ing marvellous

Burnley more than tempted DS.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Burnley more than tempted DS.

That was then. But what about when we are in the PL?

 

[Baaaald]

I listened to the interview and was more convinced he was going than ever. Even if we go up.

 

[samtheseagull]

After I heard the interview it sounded like to me he was off.

 

[Weststander]

I listened to the interview and was more convinced he was going than ever. Even if we go up.

Interesting. I wonder what his reasons would be?

I've just been told on here he's not good enough for the likes of West Ham.

So TB matched his signing on fee, why would he want to move to the lower echelons of Burnley & co.

 

[NooBHA]

Any idea of the sort of play CH is likely to be targeting when we're up?

No and neither does he probably. I am contemplating promotion before he will ever allow himself to.

That's not how it works anyhow.

Managers say ''I need a left sided midfielder with defensive qualities..................Recruitment team goes and finds them. Then manger has a look

Manager says ''I need a rhght rided centre half'' ..................recruitment team goes and finds him.......................Then Manager has a look

Manager says '' I need a left back''........................... [MENTION=451]BensGrandad[/MENTION] has a look and finds him.........................Then Manager says ''He retired 2 years ago, so not interested''

 

[Miami Seagull]

Would be huge boost if we can keep him.

 

[Machiavelli]

I think that GB is the best that we have but feel that he could become a back up as I am a litte concerned as to whether he will be good enough for the premier.

I'm not convinced there's too much between the three of them, which is a good situation to be in (the club must have been following you in the middle of last season) but, again, I agree: both full-back positions might need to be strengthened if we're in the PL.

 

[Giraffe]

I personally feel that we need better in the Premier. Whenever we come up against a former premier league midfielder he is bossed by them. Not sure he is physically strong enough to compete in the Premier League.

 

[OzMike]

No shit, I am certain that when we go up Dale will stay. CERTAIN.

Corrected for you.

 

[Braggfan]

This. He took a risk, as did we. I still feel we may say thanks but we can do better now.

He's a cracking player at this level but entirely untested at PL level. I think he may become the equivalent of Dicker at Championship level - plenty of skill but just a couple of yards short of the required pace.

Time will tell but unlike last Summer it won't bother me as much because I know he'll only leave if we have someone better come in.

The whole "how good is Stephens?" question reminds me a bit of Murray to be honest. There were a lot of people who said Murray was lazy and wasn't worth the money when he was with us first time round. Obviously with hindsight after he'd left and when he started banging them in for Palace, everyone realised we missed him. Stephens does a lot of under rated work that sometimes goes unnoticed but you bloody miss when he's not there, similar to Murray during his first stint. The difference is when Murray left and we realised how much we missed him and we've all become a lot more appreciative of him. I think Stephens would be the same if he left, we'd realise the hole he'd leave and recognise the job he was doing for someone else.

That said I'm not sure Stephens would go. I can see reasons why he'd stay and reasons why he'd go, I guess there's only one person who knows what the situation will be.