[Albion] Is Dale Stephens an ordinary player?

[Simontheseagull]

According to this write up he is an ordinary reliable player.

http://www.football365.com/news/forensically-watching-an-ordinary-player-dale-stephens

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Seems to consistently manage to be both very good and very bad in the same game.

 

[LamieRobertson]

According to this write up he is an ordinary reliable player.

http://www.football365.com/news/forensically-watching-an-ordinary-player-dale-stephens

Does a lot of the stuff that goes unnoticed..until he’s not in the side

People seem to forget it’s his first season in the PL

 

[Icy Gull]

Given he is the engine in the middle of the park I think he has done OK. Not set the division alight but gets singled out for criticism after a poor team performance too often for my liking. Propper improving and getting up to speed has helped him and with Kayal back I expect Stephens to kick on and have a good second half to the season.

 

[Bladders]

Is Ordinary Reliable a bad thing then?

He's not world class, never claimed to be. He's not top 6 material or he'd be playing in.....er......one of the top 6 clubs.

 

[Mellotron]

I think he needs to be at the absolute top of his game to survive in the Prem. Has had some decent games, but also had momentary lapses of giving the ball away.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

An ordinary, reliable premier league player, yes

 

[JJ McClure]

In this league he is very ordinary.

 

[Bladders]

I think some forget some of our performances in the Championship, particularly away from home, when he was out injured or suspended.

We were mainly awful and lost.

 

[Betfair Bozo]

He does an awful lot more than a number of much heralded players who play a similar role for bigger Premier League clubs. The "continuity" types the pseuds love.

 

[Icy Gull]

mainly awful and lost.

We have had a few of those with him in the team this season to be fair

 

[Mellotron]

Given he is the engine in the middle of the park I think he has done OK. Not set the division alight but gets singled out for criticism after a poor team performance too often for my liking. Propper improving and getting up to speed has helped him and with Kayal back I expect Stephens to kick on and have a good second half to the season.

I think he has a tough job at this level as his touch needs to be basically perfect, so yes Stephens probably has stepped up from last season but unfortunately for him his mistakes are probably more noticeable than others.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Seems to consistently manage to be both very good and very bad in the same game.

About as good a definition of the player as I've seen all season

Not sure where he picked up the notion that he should do anything - ANYTHING! - rather than attempt a shot on goal. Never used to be like that.

 

[Bladders]

We have had a few of those with him in the team this season to be fair

My worry with a Kayal / Propper midfield is yes, it may be technically better but would lack bite.

 

[Mellotron]

Not sure where he picked up the notion that he should do anything - ANYTHING! - rather than attempt a shot on goal. Never used to be like that.

At the same time, he's never really been a goal-scoring midfielder, nor has Kayal, yet some seem to think he is?

I'm not posting this as a snarky response to your comment that he could shoot more, btw.

 

[Mellotron]

My worry with a Kayal / Propper midfield is yes, it may be technically better but would lack bite.

In my opinion Kayal is a better tackler than Stephens. Could be wrong but I think he and Propper have the most complementary attributes of any combinations of those 3 players.

 

[Bladders]

In my opinion Kayal is a better tackler than Stephens. Could be wrong but I think he and Propper have the most complementary attributes of any combinations of those 3 players.

Yes, but he's worked well with Stephens along side him.

When him and Norwood were together he looked a different player, well the midfield looked more over run shall we say.

 

[Mellotron]

Yes, but he's worked well with Stephens along side him.

When him and Norwood were together he looked a different player, well the midfield looked more over run shall we say.

Fair, however I think because Propper is such a classy player people ignore the shift he puts in, which is ahead of Norwood's, IMO. Wasn't Propper in the top 10 for distance covered earlier this season?

 

[Bladders]

Fair, however I think because Propper is such a classy player people ignore the shift he puts in, which is ahead of Norwood's, IMO. Wasn't Propper in the top 10 for distance covered earlier this season?

I like Propper further forward, not doing donkey work, Kayal even though a good tackler, is he better than Stephens sitting deep protecting the centre halves and doing the dirty work.

Not sure.

I wouldn't be adverse to seeing it though.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Yes. He is an ordinary premier league player in a league of many extraordinary midfield players.