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.
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Dale Stephens Summer 2016 shenanigans (Merged Thread)
- Thread starter Mellotron
- Start date
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.
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
Head not in the right place won't be anywhere near the squad until either sold or the window closes imo.
martin tyler
Well-known member
- Jan 25, 2013
- 5,968
Think we will find out at 445 Saturday. It's a strange one, no real talk of a move being closer for him, his wife tweeting she has got the school uniform, and he could of benefitted from extra training last week but this week if he was fit i would have him in the 1st 11. If he's not in the squad then maybe he is off
I would hate him to leave personally. If he's here in September then great as long as we don t have the same issues in January.
throbinson
Well-known member
If he's heart is no longer at Brighton then cash in on him
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
Hopefully we are just keeping Newcastle guessing.
spring hall convert
Well-known member
That's exactly what I think is happening.
- Thread starter
- #10
Eh? Whether he stays or goes doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to this.
You need an offer on the table to do that
Da Man Clay
T'Blades
- Dec 16, 2004
- 16,286
He won't play until after the window. I think he'll still be here though - gone very quiet and it seems we're asking for more than anyone is willing to pay.
Similar situation to Dunk last season?
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
I think that's always been the case. Stephens himself hinted £10M during the Euros.
Agreed. I think with good reason - Norwood and Sidwell are not upgrades on Stephens, which is hardly a surprise. In fact, how much would an upgrade cost? Probably more than we're actually asking for.
Da Man Clay
T'Blades
- Dec 16, 2004
- 16,286
He has played this year though which has made it a touch baffling - and it seemed the interest had gone away befor that game and hasn't come back.
True. Ive just not really got an opinion as to whether the story is true or not but Hughtons talk of his levels not being right after the game he started suggested theyve looked at the stats from the monitoring equipment the players wear and decided he wasnt playing up to last seasons high standards. I dont fully grasp why he couldnt have been a bench option at Reading though and wonder if his levels were lower because he couldnt really be bothered or because he wasnt fully fit
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
He probably did get a reaction to his knee injury, which would account for the extra fitness training.
They wear monitoring equipment
How many years (decades) have they been doing that?
BBassic
I changed this.
- Jul 28, 2011
- 13,057
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".
Personally would love for the next press release about him to start with "Stephens signs new five year deal".