Dale Stephens . . . either play him, or sell him..

[Machiavelli]

Is it jut em or has this thread got little to do with Dale Stephens now?

No, it's not jut em, it's em and offers two*





* these words should not be taken literally

 

[Betfair Bozo]

I'm not but he needs competition

Exactly right and precisely what CH himself said at the fans' forum when discussing Pritchard. It's barely worth a discussion really is it, everyone knows we need someone else to challenge a front pair of GM and SB or TH and SB and had we been able to find the right man it would have been him with GM or TH as the preferred pair.

 

[chaileyjem]

Well Hughton played him...

And now Stephens is rowing back on his transfer request and says he might be signing a new contract. Well maybe. "we'll talk about it"

That Tweet ?
“The statement I made was never about wanting to leave Brighton. I’ve enjoyed it here, I’m still going to enjoy it this year.
“What’s been said has been said, I’ve tried to put that behind me now and think of the task ahead this season. I’m still looking forward to being up there at the end of the season and emulate the form we had last year.
“I’ve enjoyed it from day one at this club and I still want to be part of this team this year.”
Contract discussions ?
“Not at the moment, it’s still open for discussion. Not a lot has been said but over time I’m sure we’ll talk about it. At the moment I’m concentrating on getting match fit and enjoying playing for the club.
Huddersfield ?
“That was my second game this season. I missed a bit of pre-season through injury. I feel good and the only way I am going to get match fit is by playing. Hopefully I can continue playing in this team.”

via: http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/alb...ted_to_leave_Albion_despite_transfer_request/

Perhaps he'll change his Twitter bio back now. Its still resolutely a mere "...."

 

[drew]

Thought he made the difference between the way we played on Saturday and the performance last night.

 

[Bald Gull]

Well Hughton played him...

And now Stephens is rowing back on his transfer request and says he might be signing a new contract. Well maybe. "we'll talk about it"

That Tweet ?
“The statement I made was never about wanting to leave Brighton. I’ve enjoyed it here, I’m still going to enjoy it this year.
“What’s been said has been said, I’ve tried to put that behind me now and think of the task ahead this season. I’m still looking forward to being up there at the end of the season and emulate the form we had last year.
“I’ve enjoyed it from day one at this club and I still want to be part of this team this year.”
Contract discussions ?
“Not at the moment, it’s still open for discussion. Not a lot has been said but over time I’m sure we’ll talk about it. At the moment I’m concentrating on getting match fit and enjoying playing for the club.
Huddersfield ?
“That was my second game this season. I missed a bit of pre-season through injury. I feel good and the only way I am going to get match fit is by playing. Hopefully I can continue playing in this team.”

via: http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/alb...ted_to_leave_Albion_despite_transfer_request/

Perhaps he'll change his Twitter bio back now. Its still resolutely a mere "...."

All very good to hear. The only slight worry re: whether he really he means it would come from his original tweet (the club have know for 5 weeks that I wanted to leave...'.) My English isn't great but that sentence suggests to me that he may have actually wanted to leave...

 

[Seasider78]

Well Hughton played him...

And now Stephens is rowing back on his transfer request and says he might be signing a new contract. Well maybe. "we'll talk about it"

That Tweet ?
“The statement I made was never about wanting to leave Brighton. I’ve enjoyed it here, I’m still going to enjoy it this year.
“What’s been said has been said, I’ve tried to put that behind me now and think of the task ahead this season. I’m still looking forward to being up there at the end of the season and emulate the form we had last year.
“I’ve enjoyed it from day one at this club and I still want to be part of this team this year.”
Contract discussions ?
“Not at the moment, it’s still open for discussion. Not a lot has been said but over time I’m sure we’ll talk about it. At the moment I’m concentrating on getting match fit and enjoying playing for the club.
Huddersfield ?
“That was my second game this season. I missed a bit of pre-season through injury. I feel good and the only way I am going to get match fit is by playing. Hopefully I can continue playing in this team.”

via: http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/alb...ted_to_leave_Albion_despite_transfer_request/

Perhaps he'll change his Twitter bio back now. Its still resolutely a mere "...."

He may well sign but he is clearly not happy with what deal is currently on the table so ball is back with the club. I trust him to continue putting in effort on the pitch as it is in his interests to do so.

 

[Blue3]

Thought DS had a very good first half possibly run out of steam towards the end but made the difference

 

[Diego Napier]

Thought he made the difference between the way we played on Saturday and the performance last night.

It wasn't just down to him. The whole team apart from Dunk/Duffy played badly at the weekend against a very mobile, capable team who'd done their homework on us. Stephens helped make the difference last night.

 

[drew]

It wasn't just down to him. The whole team apart from Dunk/Duffy played badly at the weekend against a very mobile, capable team who'd done their homework on us. Stephens helped make the difference last night.

I think Kayal played better because Stephens was there. He was always available to take the ball from the centre backs. The only down side from a defensive point of view was Bong's distribution!! Defensively we were pretty much back to our best. Just need a bit more potency at the other end.

 

[Diego Napier]

I think Kayal played better because Stephens was there. He was always available to take the ball from the centre backs. The only down side from a defensive point of view was Bong's distribution!! Defensively we were pretty much back to our best. Just need a bit more potency at the other end.

I agree with you although I think the player that made the biggest difference between the two games was Bruno, he was pants on Saturday and put too much pressure on Duffy whereas last night he was almost peerless!

 

[casbom]

Stephen was puffing big time midway through the second half, he's still not yet match fit. However it was great to have those two back together again. They should now stay together unless injuries/suspension kicks in as they are the best midfielders we have.

 

[BensGrandad]

For the first time this season we looked solid in midfield and having Stephens alongside him benefitted Kayal. Lets hope an improved contract is offered to him in the next couple of months and he acccepts and both sign it.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

For the first time this season we looked solid in midfield and having Stephens alongside him benefitted Kayal. Lets hope an improved contract is offered to him in the next couple of months and he acccepts and both sign it.

From the Argus this morning -

Stephens, the subject of six rejected bids from Burnley, is out of contract next summer and there have been no developments so far in agreeing a new deal. He said: “Not at the moment, it’s still open for discussion. Not a lot has been said but over time I’m sure we’ll talk about it. At the moment I’m concentrating on getting match fit and enjoying playing for the club.

 

[BensGrandad]

From the Argus this morning -

Stephens, the subject of six rejected bids from Burnley, is out of contract next summer and there have been no developments so far in agreeing a new deal. He said: “Not at the moment, it’s still open for discussion. Not a lot has been said but over time I’m sure we’ll talk about it. At the moment I’m concentrating on getting match fit and enjoying playing for the club.

I would think it will happen.

 

[sir albion]

I would think it will happen.

Unlikely as Burnley may continue at a lesser price in January

 

[BensGrandad]

Unlikely as Burnley may continue at a lesser price in January

My impression from that Argus report is that he wants to play for us but wants a big rise similar to what he was offered at Burnley and that the tweet about missing the opportunity of playing in the premier was just nothing really. He knows that he can get there with us.

 

[BBassic]

Give him a nice contract with a reasonable release clause. If clubs still want to come in for him over next summer then they have a number to hit. If they don't, they won't.

 

[Icy Gull]

My impression from that Argus report is that he wants to play for us but wants a big rise similar to what he was offered at Burnley and that the tweet about missing the opportunity of playing in the premier was just nothing really. He HOPES that he can get there with us.

Corrected for you

 

[BensGrandad]

Corrected for you

Not really because he KNOWS that we are capable of getting there

 

[Sheebo]

From the Argus this morning -

Stephens, the subject of six rejected bids from Burnley, is out of contract next summer and there have been no developments so far in agreeing a new deal. He said: “Not at the moment, it’s still open for discussion. Not a lot has been said but over time I’m sure we’ll talk about it. At the moment I’m concentrating on getting match fit and enjoying playing for the club.

Hugely encouraging that