Dale Stephens Summer 2016 shenanigans (Merged Thread)

[Brovion]

Anyone in the world still genuinely buying the "extra training" story?! I can believe Hughton when he categorically denies Stephens refusing to play. But I can also completely believe the club and Stephens together deciding it's best for him not to play these couple of games whilst a potential transfer is sorted out.

There is also the fact that IF he is leaving we're going to have to live in a post-Dale world, so it's best to adjust now. It's no good playing him and him being an integral member of the team, and then we suddenly go "Oh no, Stephens has gone, didn't see that coming, now what do we do?"

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I wonder if now the issue is a stalemate on a new contract. Interest in him seems to have cooled, at least in terms of a lack of dodgy Twitter feeds and HITC articles. Maybe we're hashing out the terms of a new deal for him, similar to Dunk last season.

Personally would love for the next press release about him to start with "Stephens signs new five year deal".

Kayal has stated his commitment to the club in the Argus today, but he's still sorting out his contract, so negotiations seem to be very involved with all those who need to renew.

 

[BensGrandad]

He probably did get a reaction to his knee injury, which would account for the extra fitness training.

That is too logical for many on here.

 

[LamieRobertson]

They wear monitoring equipment How many years (decades) have they been doing that?

I'm going to sound ignorant now..but where do they wear it

 

[atomised]

They wear monitoring equipment How many years (decades) have they been doing that?

Think its relatively recent along with the age of sports scientists and other such nonsense

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I'm going to sound ignorant now..but where do they wear it

Over their heart. It looks like bra straps for a flat chested man.

Cue wolf whistles when Hunt/Hall had to change their shirt at Oxford because of duplicate numbers.

 

[Bakero]

Think its relatively recent along with the age of sports scientists and other such nonsense

Yeah, stupid science. What's wrong with halftime oranges and the magic sponge?

 

[BensGrandad]

I'm going to sound ignorant now..but where do they wear it

It showed when Dunk took his shirt off to putr goalkeepers shirt on recently.

 

[atomised]

I'm going to sound ignorant now..but where do they wear it

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34267968

Article i found on the subject

 

[Mellotron]

Kayal has stated his commitment to the club in the Argus today, but he's still sorting out his contract, so negotiations seem to be very involved with all those who need to renew.

Also, the fact Kayal has spoken to the press TWICE now about his contract situation, and Stephens not even once...

 

[atomised]

Yeah, stupid science. What's wrong with halftime oranges and the magic sponge?

I get that it has uses and certainly wasnt suggesting the science was stupid. Football used to be a far simpler game though

 

[Brovion]

Yeah, stupid science. What's wrong with halftime oranges and the magic sponge?

Yeah, and a few pints and a fag in the pub beforehand. Never hurt the likes of Peter Osgood and Charlie Cooke back in the 1970s.

 

[crasher]

I've no knowledge about the Stephens case but here's what I imagine is going on.

1. Stephens wants to play in the Premier League as soon as possible.
2 We knocked back several offers from Burnley who weren't prepared to go higher.
3. Stephens' agent has been working to find another Premier team who is interested. So far, there isn't one (hence no further transfer rumours)
4. While this goes on it's not his interests to play (in case he gets injured) and it's not in our interests because he won't have the focus. CH tested this by playing him against Rotherham and didn't entirely like what he saw.
5. Now two things can happen. Either there's a new bid from a Prem club in the next four days that meets our valuation. Or there's no new bid in which case contract negotiations with DS resume in earnest.

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

If he's here in September then great as long as we don t have the same issues in January.

Whilst i know what you mean, some part of me would love these issues in January as it no doubt would mean that we're playing well and right up in the mixer. You usually only get interest in your players if they're playing well

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

Yeah, stupid science. What's wrong with halftime oranges and the magic sponge?

indeed, don't know why they got rid of the magic sponge, i'm sure there were far fewer injuries back then, none of this metatarsal rubbish.

 

[Mellotron]

I get that it has uses and certainly wasnt suggesting the science was stupid. Football used to be a far simpler game though

Agreed. Players were far less fit, and far less technically gifted.

 

[Triggaaar]

Think its relatively recent along with the age of sports scientists and other such nonsense

The big question is, were we using them when Kemy was here? I'd love to see the results.

 

[Mattywerewolf]

The big question is, were we using them when Kemy was here? I'd love to see the results.

Yeah, not sure what results look like when lying on your backside taking a selfie...With the odd blip when the new bling arrives

 

[Giraffe]

I am sorry but I don't believe that it is his fitness levels that are not right, but his mental levels may not be.

If it was his fitness levels, he would definitely have played v Oxford. You only get match fit by playing games, not training on your own.

However if Hughton rightly decides he is not part of our plans until AFTER the deadline and we know we have him for the season then fair enough. I think the way he is handling it is right, but you would have to be stupid to believe the fitness point I believe.

 

[sllugaes]

Head not in the right place won't be anywhere near the squad until either sold or the window closes imo.

Agree, just hope HE does not affect our excellent team spirit, vision and focus on promotion.

Sent from my G7-L01 using Tapatalk