[Albion] Dunk on Monday Night Club (Radio 5 Live)

[Weststander]

Agree with all this, though I don't have the years to make the same comparisons.

People claiming he isn't underrated on here, go and check any player ratings thread and you will see a plethora of 5's and 6's in almost every game.

Very true. They hone in on a couple of misplaced passes and mark severely down accordingly.

As a spectator, it's worth sometimes not following the ball in general play; instead watching a player like DS. He relentlessly uses his footballing brain to plug potential defensive gaps, track opposing runners, tackle, close down opponents looking for 25 yard strikes and then makes simple passes to the creators in our team.

 

[Hotchilidog]

But is Stephens better than 'Player of the Season' Pascal Groß ?

Not an outrageous statement to make.

The differences between the two is that Groß's work is much more visible, ie the crosses, the goals and the Cruyff turns which leave more of an impression on the fans. Stephens specialises in disrupting play, little dinky challenges, keeping moves going by playing a non-showy but accurate pass. Rarely will that style of play garner the instant plaudits of the crowd but it is understandable as to why his team-mates would value it so highly. That we do not perform so well when Dale is missing is testament to his importance to the side.

For the record I voted Groß as PotY but would not have had a problem with Stephens winning it either (along with Dunk and Ryan)

 

[Stat Brother]

Very true. They hone in on a couple of misplaced passes and mark severely down accordingly.

As a spectator, it's worth sometimes not following the ball in general play; instead watching a player like DS. He relentlessly uses his footballing brain to plug potential defensive gaps, track opposing runners, tackle, close down opponents looking for 25 yard strikes and then makes simple passes to the creators in our team.

We did just that a few weeks ago.

Jnr infuriates me playing his under 13's football.
He thinks he's better than he actually is, and football is all about gifs and YouTube montages.

So I said (I think it was v Swansea) 'right we aren't walking the first half, we are only watching DS'.
I wanted to know how many tricks he did, how often he was behind their attacking play and how many missed passes he played'.

Naturally it was all favourable to Mr Stephens, but slightly more surprisingly the message also got through to Jnr who has improved his game by being more Dale and less Lionel.

 

[Weststander]

We did just that a few weeks ago.

Jnr infuriates me playing his under 13's football.
He thinks he's better than he actually is, and football is all about gifs and YouTube montages.

So I said (I think it was v Swansea) 'right we aren't walking the first half, we are only watching DS'.
I wanted to know how many tricks he did, how often he was behind their attacking play and how many missed passes he played'.

Naturally it was all favourable to Mr Stephens, but slightly more surprisingly the message also got through to Jnr who has improved his game by being more Dale and less Lionel.

Is Dale approaching Spurs quality yet? That's the benchmark of excellence.

 

[The Large One]

But is Stephens better than 'Player of the Season' Pascal Groß ?

Without Dale Stephens, Gross wouldn't have had the opportunity to win Player of the Season.

It's not as though Stephens hasn't weighed in with any assists either...

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Without Dale Stephens, Gross wouldn't have had the opportunity to win Player of the Season.

It's not as though Stephens hasn't weighed in with any assists either...

Seemingly not this season, according to this (could be out of date):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/brighton-and-hove-albion/top-scorers

so, Davy Propper has zero goals or assists.

 

[Yoda]

Seemingly not this season, according to this (could be out of date):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/brighton-and-hove-albion/top-scorers

so, Davy Propper has zero goals or assists.

Well, that's a load of ****. I can remember DS having at least 1 assist (Stoke away) and I believe DP has 3.

Edit:
Just looked it up on PL website:

8. Pascal Groß

3. José Izquierdo, Davy Pröpper & Dale Stephens

2. Tomer Hemed

1. Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk, Anthony Knockaert, Jürgen Locadia & Solly March

 

[mac04]

Seemingly not this season, according to this (could be out of date):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/brighton-and-hove-albion/top-scorers

According to that table he has only played 151 minutes of football this season. I can't recall many assists, but didn't he shank a cross towards the goal which Locadia tapped in against Swansea?

 

[Nixonator]

According to that table he has only played 151 minutes of football this season. I can't recall many assists, but didn't he shank a cross towards the goal which Locadia tapped in against Swansea?

That one, the sublimely deft touch for Izquierdo's goal v Stoke, and he headed it accross goal for someone to finish early season, can't recall who and when.

He has 3 assists.

 

[mac04]

That one, the sublimely deft touch for Izquierdo's goal v Stoke, and he headed it accross goal for someone to finish early season, can't recall who and when.

He has 3 assists.

Hemed's goal against Newcastle?

 

[Nixonator]

Hemed's goal against Newcastle?

That's the one

 

[Gwylan]

But is Stephens better than 'Player of the Season' Pascal Groß ?

In my book he is: I was one of the few who voted for him. I thought he was superb this year.

He's not appreciated by NSC. I bet when we tot up the player ratings for the season, he's not in the top 3

 

[The Large One]

Seemingly not this season, according to this (could be out of date):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/brighton-and-hove-albion/top-scorers

so, Davy Propper has zero goals or assists.

Not so much out of date as totally wrong - certainly as far as Stephens and Propper are concerned.

 

[The Large One]

In my book he is: I was one of the few who voted for him. I thought he was superb this year.

He's not appreciated by NSC. I bet when we tot up the player ratings for the season, he's not in the top 3

I don't think he's appreciated in that way by the majority of fans - in terms of 'top 3' status.

In 2015/16, I voted for Stephens as Player of the Season, the fans in total voted for Kayal. The fellow Championship professionals voted for Stephens (in 6th place) and Dunk (14th) - NSC was livid, or slightly miffed anyway. It's amazing the disparity between the views of the fans and the views of fellow and ex- pros.

 

[The Large One]

Well, that's a load of ****. I can remember DS having at least 1 assist (Stoke away) and I believe DP has 3.

Edit:
Just looked it up on PL website:

8. Pascal Groß

3. José Izquierdo, Davy Pröpper & Dale Stephens

2. Tomer Hemed

1. Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk, Anthony Knockaert, Jürgen Locadia & Solly March

Izquierdo should be on four assists. He was on three before the Man U game.

 

[The Large One]

Very true. They hone in on a couple of misplaced passes and mark severely down accordingly.

As a spectator, it's worth sometimes not following the ball in general play; instead watching a player like DS. He relentlessly uses his footballing brain to plug potential defensive gaps, track opposing runners, tackle, close down opponents looking for 25 yard strikes and then makes simple passes to the creators in our team.

To be fair, I don't think that's something that can be easily seen from the lower tiers. But you can see it on the telly.

 

[portslade seagull]

Reasonable, but even that doesn't tell half the story.

His positioning, his strength, his vision, his support play - all superb.

It seems he's only judged on when he occasionally gives the ball away.

Come and sit in WSU and listen to the silly old fool behind me. He hates him with a vengeance. One misplaced pass is all it needs and the it starts

 

[The Large One]

Come and sit in WSU and listen to the silly old fool behind me. He hates him with a vengeance. One misplaced pass is all it needs and the it starts

What a silly person.

Obviously needs a w*nk before taking his seat.

 

[Weststander]

Come and sit in WSU and listen to the silly old fool behind me. He hates him with a vengeance. One misplaced pass is all it needs and the it starts

For several seasons when the Amex opened, I sat near a loudmouth in WSU (block H) who hated Bridcutt and Lopez intensely. It got out of control of his part and the club made him disappear for a few months.