Dale Stephens

[GT49er]

Every league game Stephens hasn't started this season, we've lost.

Errmmm.......would you care to revise that, taking into account the facts?

 

[Nixonator]

I don't think any team goes through a season with the same first eleven, so any player missing that is half decent will be missed to a certain extent.

Burnley last season.

But what you and others are saying (stats back you up) is that promotion is unlikely unless Stephens plays in the majority of the remaining games, because quite frankly we are unable to gain points without him in the side. That's pretty damning on the rest of the squad.

We'll gain points but less than we would, that's the thing with key players. It's not damning, unless they are delicate flowers.

I remember an interview with Sidwell (Shef Wed away I think) where he describes coming into the second half of last season with the first team and immediate cover performing at their peak levels which is why we were destroying everybody. If you were to take a key player out the side then, the rest made up for it. Ironically he was talking in preparation for a game where himself and Norwood stepped up and we got the performance and result we needed. Since then it's been a different story.

Right now we don't have those kinds of performance levels or form, especially from our squad players.

 

[sparkie]

My guess is that they want him fully fit to play Reading, which will mean playing a part ( not a full 90 minutes ) vs Barnsley.

So we won't see him against Burton or Ipswich ?

 

[Giraffe]

As someone who currently has a calf injury I can confirm it is the hardest thing to predict when you will return to action.

It may seem like it is recovered but then it can go again just like. Clearly the medical team/Hughton are weary of losing Stephens for even longer so they are being cautious. Another week of rest may mean we don't lose him for a further month.

 

[drop dead fred]

Errmmm.......would you care to revise that, taking into account the facts?

Ok every defeat we've had this season ,Stephens hasn't started !!

 

[Jimmehh]

Ok every defeat we've had this season ,Stephens hasn't started !!

and yet, it's still only 4 losses all season, AMAZING!

 

[hans kraay fan club]

As someone who currently has a calf injury I can confirm it is the hardest thing to predict when you will return to action.

It may seem like it is recovered but then it can go again just like. Clearly the medical team/Hughton are weary of losing Stephens for even longer so they are being cautious. Another week of rest may mean we don't lose him for a further month.

I've had a pain in my right calf, off and on, for 2 years. It's massively annoying. Just continually flares up. Just have to rest it.

If not playing until Reading & Newcastle meant Stephens was fully fit for those and beyond, I'd take that.

 

[lawros left foot]

Really need him fit and firing for the Geordies, him up against Shelley is a mouth watering prospect

 

[Nixonator]

Stats don't actually tell the whole story. For anybody who went to Wigan would know how much he changed that game and i'm not even talking about the goal he scored to seal it, which is a game he didn't start.

Based on 30 or more minutes: (look away now for the faint of heart)

Games with Stephens in the side: P18 W15 D3 L0 - 83% win rate / 100% points on board / 2.67 PPG

Games without Stephens: P11 W3 D4 L4 - 27% win rate / 64% points on board / 1.18 PPG

Games with Kayal+Stephens: P4 W4 D0 L0 - 100% win rate / 100% points on board / 3 PPG

 

[Triggaaar]

My guess is that they want him fully fit to play Reading, which will mean playing a part ( not a full 90 minutes ) vs Barnsley.

So we won't see him against Burton or Ipswich ?

My guess is they'll want him back asap. If he's ready, he's ready, if he's not, he's not.

 

[Giraffe]

I've had a pain in my right calf, off and on, for 2 years. It's massively annoying. Just continually flares up. Just have to rest it.

If not playing until Reading & Newcastle meant Stephens was fully fit for those and beyond, I'd take that.

Like mine then. It's the resting bit that's annoying, because how do you know when you've fully rested it!

 

[Giraffe]

Stats don't actually tell the whole story. For anybody who went to Wigan would know how much he changed that game and i'm not even talking about the goal he scored to seal it, which is a game he didn't start.

Based on 30 or more minutes: (look away now for the faint of heart)

Games with Stephens in the side: P18 W15 D3 L0 - 83% win rate / 100% points on board

Games without Stephens: P11 W3 D4 L4 - 27% win rate / 64% points on board

Games with Kayal+Stephens: P4 W4 D0 L0 - 100% win rate / 100% points on board

Good stats, highlights how crucial he is. We can arguably get away without him against lesser sides but we need him 100% fit for the top teams.That said as you said we looked average v Wigan until he came on.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Like mine then. It's the resting bit that's annoying, because how do you know when you've fully rested it!

In my experience, if you think it's ready, it probably needs another couple of weeks.

I can have no complaint - mine never heals properly because I never actually DO rest it. I'm 46 - at this stage you just accept that you are always carrying something and just play through it. If I waited to be injury free, I'd literally never play - and at this stage I want to play every game I can.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Little drops of poison posted here and there, until it almost becomes a 'fact'.

Indeed.

Maybe we should do some more entirely pointless "pretty pathetic if he's not playing because [insert made-up pathetic reason]" rumours:

-pretty pathetic if he's not playing because he didn't want to get his new boots dirty

-pretty pathetic if he's not playing because his wife wanted to go to Bluewater instead

-pretty pathetic if he's not playing because he was still hungover from going on the lash the previous night

-pretty pathetic if he's not playing because it's a Sunday and he forgot to SkyPlus the Antiques Roadshow

-pretty pathetic if he's not playing because Donald Trump.

 

[Dick Head]

Oh give it a rest yourself! We don't know that, or whether anybody's been whispering in his ear. Was just a tongue-in-cheek comment, but sometimes you do wonder a bit.........

'That' just looks like a black rectangle on my screen. I have mentioned this before, but no-one has ever come back with either an explanation or a solution.

Do videos work in private browsing or incognito mode?

Try clearing your cookies and cache.

Try updating your browser.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001388.htm

 

[chaileyjem]

It does all seems a bit drawn out and strange for what was a minor calf injury

what on earth is "strange" about being injured. Is it "strange" that Bong and Baldock are injured. Was it "strange" when Bruno missed a game the other week. Conspiracy theory nonsense.

 

[Dick Head]

[tweet]827605236172910592[/tweet]

 

[Nixonator]

[tweet]827605236172910592[/tweet]

This has already been debunked as a BLUFF by the conspiracy theorists.

 

[Saladpack Seagull]

My guess is they'll want him back asap. If he's ready, he's ready, if he's not, he's not.

Says it all Triggaaar ! End of thread, shirley!

 

[Perry Milkins]

I don't get the approbrium or conjecture. CH says it's a calf thing that's been dragging on, and I see no reason not to believe that.

what is 'approbrium' please?