Dale Stephens Summer 2016 shenanigans (Merged Thread)

[Not Andy Naylor]

I think the editor of the Argus has made it clear to Andy he's no intention of selling.

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

Barber must be loving this,whilst the board and Himself are busy running the club into the ground the rimmers are arguing about split infinitives.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I have no issue with Stephens at all. His desire to look at a move to the premier league is understandable.
I'm sure he equally understands that Burnley didn't offer enough money to provide us with suitable recompense for losing his services for his final season.

What's done is done and we move on.

I hope that Hughton follows the same approach that he followed with Dunk. Greer and Uwe did a great job and Dunk had to wait for his chance to prove himself again.
Stephens has lost/given up his place. Personally I would like to see Norwood given an extended run now.

Stephens needs to wait his turn now.

 

[bhanutz]

I have no issue with Stephens at all. His desire to look at a move to the premier league is understandable.
I'm sure he equally understands that Burnley didn't offer enough money to provide us with suitable recompense for losing his services for his final season.

What's done is done and we move on.

I hope that Hughton follows the same approach that he followed with Dunk. Greer and Uwe did a great job and Dunk had to wait for his chance to prove himself again.
Stephens has lost/given up his place. Personally I would like to see Norwood given an extended run now.

Stephens needs to wait his turn now.

Not a chance. Get Stephens in straight away!

 

[LamieRobertson]

Barber must be loving this,whilst the board and Himself are busy running the club into the ground the rimmers are arguing about split infinitives.

You do come up with some classics

 

[BensGrandad]

Not a chance. Get Stephens in straight away!

That is the correct answer as we need him as much as he needs us now and neither Sidwell or Norwood offer the same as he does or gel with Kayal as well as he does. I know Sidwells strong points but as yet have not seen the benefit Norwood offers over the other 3 central midfielders but then give him time as he is still new.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

I'm assuming you don't wish us to take that post seriously!!!

The club were apparently aware he wanted to move to a premiership club. It is irrelevant whether he handed in a transfer request or not. We all know the likely reason he didn't hand it in earlier and that is because he would probably have lost sizeable bonuses etc. I don't blame him for that. His 'stance' might not have been clear to you or I but I very much suspect the club were fully aware.

I really don't understand why so many people are making a big issue of the transfer request.

And I hope you don't expect us to take your reply seriously as all it does is illustrate what kind of person you are.

Saying that, if you don't understand why people are making a big deal of it, maybe this whole situation is a little over your head. Either way, I'm glad you don't run our club.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Not a chance. Get Stephens in straight away!

Agreed, LD is quality but Greer and Uwe were at the time (and as a partnership) pretty close in quality. With the current midfield , the Stephens/Kayal combination is so important to the team it needs to be played straightaway.

 

[Icy Gull]

Agreed, LD is quality but Greer and Uwe were at the time (and as a partnership) pretty close in quality. With the current midfield , the Stephens/Kayal combination is so important to the team it needs to be played straightaway.

Has Norwood had enough game time to suggest that he cannot link with Kayal? What sort of message does it send out to the other players if Stephens is straight back in? Or are people suggesting we would have won at Newcastle with Stephens in midfield? That is a big leap given how outclassed we were at times.

No way should Stephens come straight back in, imo.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Not a chance. Get Stephens in straight away!

Dunk came back a much better player after having to sit it out and wait for his opportunity.
CH is a supreme manager of people and I suspect he will know how to get the best out of Stephens.

Personally I think Stephens needs to want it a bit more. Coming straight back in gives the wrong impression IMO.
I'd rather Stephens came back with something to prove.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Dunk came back a much better player after having to sit it out and wait for his opportunity.
CH is a supreme manager of people and I suspect he will know how to get the best out of Stephens.

Personally I think Stephens needs to want it a bit more. Coming straight back in gives the wrong impression IMO.
I'd rather Stephens came back with something to prove.

 

[drew]

Agreed, LD is quality but Greer and Uwe were at the time (and as a partnership) pretty close in quality. With the current midfield , the Stephens/Kayal combination is so important to the team it needs to be played straightaway.

Agree.

Norwood hasn't shown he is as good as Stephens. Also, the Dunk situation was different because the team were winning. At the end of August we had won four out of five league games, drawing the other. After five games this year, we have already dropped seven points.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Has Norwood had enough game time to suggest that he cannot link with Kayal? What sort of message does it send out to the other players if Stephens is straight back in? Or are people suggesting we would have won at Newcastle with Stephens in midfield? That is a big leap given how outclassed we were at times.

No way should Stephens come straight back in, imo.

It would be difficult to claim that we would have won up there but we may have been more competitive. What was lacking in my opinion was the kind of intelligent passing that Stephens brings to the team. Instead the ball never stuck in midfield. Sidwell is an excellent back up option but he had one of his anonymous games. I haven't seen enough of Norwood to pass judgement so perhaps he is the short term answer (only CH knows) but I am pretty confident in asserting that we wouldn't have got anywhere near 3rd place last year without Kayal/Stephens running midfield. A DS with a point to prove is something I want to see.

 

[BensGrandad]

Has Norwood had enough game time to suggest that he cannot link with Kayal? What sort of message does it send out to the other players if Stephens is straight back in? Or are people suggesting we would have won at Newcastle with Stephens in midfield? That is a big leap given how outclassed we were at times.

No way should Stephens come straight back in, imo.

I firmly believe that Stephens should have at least been brought on after 20 mins against Newcastle when it was obvious that Shelvey Haiden and Gouffran were running the show and had they been stopped we may have got something out of the game.

 

[portslade seagull]

Just think under Dick we would have lost half the team

 

[LamieRobertson]

Agree.

Norwood hasn't shown he is as good as Stephens. Also, the Dunk situation was different because the team were winning. At the end of August we had won four out of five league games, drawing the other. After five games this year, we have already dropped seven points.

Its early days with Norwood isen't it...I think he's only started one league game...ironically with DS

 

[Machiavelli]

Chuck me your knickers first, boyo.

I wouldn't encourage El Pres to do that if I were you

 

[Hungry Joe]

It's done now, Stephens has had his little flounce and the club have played hardball whilst maintaining a dignified silence and protecting their player. If DS is fit we should start him in every game possible, as every game he doesn't start we start with a weekend team, simple as.

 

[RustyKent]

It's done now, Stephens has had his little flounce and the club have played hardball whilst maintaining a dignified silence and protecting their player. If DS is fit we should start him in every game possible, as every game he doesn't start we start with a weekend team, simple as.

So he doesn't play midweek?

 

[Taybha]