[Albion] Dale Stephens

[Stat Brother]

"Pass it forward Stephens"

You know thought 9 Huddersfield players to one of 3 tightly marker, fairly, or in one case very, static players who don't have room for 1 touch let alone two.

"Oh FFS he's gone back again"

Retaining possession, changing the angles opening up the wings more.

 

[Weststander]

He got some stick from the crowd yesterday, and he did make some mistakes, but I actually thought him and Propper had really good second halves. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had the most tackles and interceptions on the park. We can’t afford to get on players backs though, and I was pleased he got some big claps when he sprayed some excellent long passes out to our wings. Under appreciated for me.

Glad I don’t sit in those areas, he may have not been at his best of late along with a load of other players, but DS has been an unsung hero since the moment he started playing for us.

This season I’ve only heard anger over Locadia, quite a bit of it.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

I have noticed that his game changes at certain times and I think it’s because he is under instructions. It was particularly noticeable yesterday when he started to play more forward balls instead of the sideways backwards. I think it’s possibly the trigger that CH sets up for us to start being more attacking and forward thinking

 

[doogie004]

one of his better games , no silly passing and no really silly free kicks given away topped off by a super goal

Obviously missed the pass to a Huddersfield player in second half then our weakest link what is it ?1 league goal in a season and a half yeh right one of his better games lol . Needs replacing next season


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[Bold Seagull]

Obviously missed the pass to a Huddersfield player in second half then our weakest link what is it ?1 league goal in a season and a half yeh right one of his better games lol . Needs replacing next season


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You’ve replied to a post from the 2nd of Jan.

 

[Cozzy]

Obviously missed the pass to a Huddersfield player in second half then our weakest link what is it ?1 league goal in a season and a half yeh right one of his better games lol . Needs replacing next season


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hmmm my post was from ages ago so a different game ... today he was OK second half but as you point out nearly cost us a goal with a very stupid wayward pass .. not been at his best this season & I agree we need either an upgrade on him next season or to play Propper in the holding role

 

[Weststander]

Obviously missed the pass to a Huddersfield player in second half then our weakest link what is it ?1 league goal in a season and a half yeh right one of his better games lol . Needs replacing next season


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Since when have CM ‘sitters’ had to produce goals? They often don’t, being vital to a team in other ways.

 

[trueblue]

Comfortably man of the match. Breaks up attacks, the pivot in front of our defence with Huddersfield camped in their own half. When it's 2 banks of 4 to break down, what's the point of hitting aimless passes and conceding possession? You need to move the opposition from side to side and look for gaps. In the end, we found one and scored.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Comfortably man of the match.

I thought Propper sneaked past him

 

[LamieRobertson]

Obviously missed the pass to a Huddersfield player in second half then our weakest link what is it ?1 league goal in a season and a half yeh right one of his better games lol . Needs replacing next season


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So by that logic Propper is out too?

 

[Benny Seagull]

I do sometimes think he's doing for the stats. Most passes yesterday than anyone else on the pitch with 71 (Montana 42, Duffy 56, Dunk 54, Bernardo 53, Bissouma 41, Pröpper 48, Knockaert 23, Jahanbaksh 26, Murray 12) and second highest success rate at 89% (83%, 82%, 96%, 64%, 80%, 75%, 87%, 69% and 50% respectively).

Now that's all well and good but I'd happily take fewer passes along the back and a lower success rate for that riskier ball forward a bit more often, even if it doesn't always come off.

Guess Chris doesn't necessarily agree...

 

[clarkey]

Commentators on stream I was watching absolutely raving about him yesterday, particularly in second half

 

[B-right-on]

Thought he lost the ball quite a few times yesterday, either to Hudders player or out. Also forward passes v back passes. Several times he went backwards when AJ or Knocky were free and he could have started an attack.

Very frustrating as a fan. Especially as they looked vulnerable when we ran at them.

 

[WATFORD zero]

So by that logic Propper is out too?

It's all very well picking on Stephens and Propper for their lack of goals, but at least they've had shots. That Matty Ryan hasn't even tried to score

 

[Bold Seagull]

I do sometimes think he's doing for the stats. Most passes yesterday than anyone else on the pitch with 71 (Montana 42, Duffy 56, Dunk 54, Bernardo 53, Bissouma 41, Pröpper 48, Knockaert 23, Jahanbaksh 26, Murray 12) and second highest success rate at 89% (83%, 82%, 96%, 64%, 80%, 75%, 87%, 69% and 50% respectively).

Now that's all well and good but I'd happily take fewer passes along the back and a lower success rate for that riskier ball forward a bit more often, even if it doesn't always come off.

Guess Chris doesn't necessarily agree...

You can’t have everyone in the team taking risks. Propper, Bissouma, Jahanbaksh, Knockeart all take creative risks for the team. Stephens is the dependable rock, huge amount of tackles and interceptions, gets around the pitch with a high energy, and more often than not keeps possession. I don’t disagree that of course he could still take a riskier option, but then I also saw yesterday it was him making some of most effective forward passes.

 

[Machiavelli]

He got some stick from the crowd yesterday, and he did make some mistakes, but I actually thought him and Propper had really good second halves. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had the most tackles and interceptions on the park. We can’t afford to get on players backs though, and I was pleased he got some big claps when he sprayed some excellent long passes out to our wings. Under appreciated for me.

He played some excellent long passes in the first half too. Was my MotM yesterday (and I'm of the view that we should be looking for a rival/upgrade for the DCM role in the summer). I'll note two other things about his first half performance. On the few occasions we did it, it was him that was leading the press, and it was somewhat difficult for him to pass forwards when so many of our players were behind him or marked when in front (and not moving/creating space).

 

[LamieRobertson]

He played some excellent long passes in the first half too. Was my MotM yesterday (and I'm of the view that we should be looking for a rival/upgrade for the DCM role in the summer). I'll note two other things about his first half performance. On the few occasions we did it, it was him that was leading the press, and it was somewhat difficult for him to pass forwards when so many of our players were behind him or marked when in front (and not moving/creating space).

So many people moaning about not passing forward....where too and who? When their weren't any options........just on the flip side and nothing to do with our midfield is when we have a throw in near there box....invariably we work the ball back and become the masters in turning attack into defence ..now that does puzzle me

 

[Is it PotG?]

Stephens is vital to us.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

Commentators on stream I was watching absolutely raving about him yesterday, particularly in second half

I think that was probably the stream I watched. I think it was ex Fulham/West Ham Tony Gale who kept referring to us as Albion and even mentioned the singing of Sussex by the Sea. Does he live local or something?

 

[GoingUp]

Whats frustrating is he more than capable of playing the ball forward, maybe he plays to instruction or prefers to keep it simple and patient and let others attack? But I agree he is underrated, I thought when he was out a while ago it showed how much we miss him.