[Albion] Stephens to Burnley (deal now confirmed)

[One Teddy Maybank]

The goal away at Boro in play off semi....the angled pass to Knocky at Selhurst before the wonder goal.

Down west Street off his tits after promotion. We'll miss our vice captain when he's gone.

Exactly. The ability just to sit and hold our shape, whilst less disciplined players chased the ball.


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[Bold Seagull]

It’s another one like Duffy. Stephens is barely worth 2mill to a Potter team but maybe 8-10mill elsewhere.
Given that he never really had any pace, I could see Stephens doing a Jimmy Case , when he left for Stains.
I am uncomfortable selling him to a direct rival.

He’s also 31, given us 6 1/2 years service, possibly behind Bissouma, Alzate, Propper, Molumby in the pecking order. I don’t want to see him go to a rival, but I also don’t want a 31 yr old in the twilight of their career only getting league cup appearances.

All depends on where Potter sees him. Only keep him if we genuinely think we’re going to use him. Don’t play not selling to a rival games with a player we might not even use.

 

[Icy Gull]

The goal away at Boro in play off semi....the angled pass to Knocky at Selhurst before the wonder goal.

Down west Street off his tits after promotion. We'll miss our vice captain when he's gone.

We will, he never hid either, however badly things were going. I am still a Dale fan and will be more than happy if he stays.

 

[dingodan]

I haven't read the whole thread, but why would we let Molumby go?

I assume that would be a loan if it happened?

 

[portslade seagull]

750k seems rather low for a midfielder who was 1st choice upto the end of last season. If he does go I wish him well. I know how gutted most of us felt when he wrongly got sent off at Piddlesborough.

 

[southstandandy]

Swap for Chris Wood - I'd take that!

 

[Mancgull]

£750k sounds a bit low but he's entering the last year of his contract and I expect he's on c£40k pw so it's also a saving of £2m in wages. His wages for a squad player are high when we've got a few newer players in who we've had to tie down to longer term contracts.
I think Dale cost us around £350k so he's been incredibly good value over the six years he's been with us and we've actually turned a profit on his transfer when, if we kept him, he would have gone for nothing at the end of this season.
Dale's greatest moments for me were his cross field pass to Knockaert at Selhurst and his 'worm' dance at the promotion celebrations.

 

[Springal]

Is 750k more or less than we sold Barnes to them for ?

 

[Monkey Man]

We will, he never hid either, however badly things were going. I am still a Dale fan and will be more than happy if he stays.

I think that sums him up pretty well. Some players seem to get stick purely because they're the ones doing most of the work when things are going wrong, while the ones that go missing escape a lot of the flak.

Barnes was a bit like that too. Crowd on his back for skying a half chance on goal, but he'd keep on trying regardless, while other players refused to commit.

Stephens is a workhorse and a player who has always got stuck in. Not a risk taker or a magician on the ball, but someone who knows his job and never goes missing in games.

 

[vagabond]

Long felt there’d be substantial exits next few windows and fan clubs needed to brace themselves. It’s been quicker than I expected actually.

Best wishes Dale, good servant but the right time.

 

[severnside gull]

Still only “confirmed” by trash pseudo-media sites parroting this thread.
Wouldn’t be a surprise if it happens but.......

 

[Miami Seagull]

I will be sad to see him go. He has been an outstanding servant to the club and was absolutely critical in our rise to the Premier League and staying there the first couple of years. Just feel though that the time is probably right. Its beginning to feel like the club has outgrown him now, much as we had with Knocky when he left. One of the most influential players of the great rise of the club, he will always be held in the highest regard.

 

[Justice]

Side ways move

 

[Monkey Man]

Side ways move

I made a similar joke when Matt Crabb left Eastbourne Borough.

 

[Motogull]

Burnley are as tight as a gnatt's chuff aren't they?

 

[forumwayseagull]

If he goes that will be 7 first team members out and AK money too. Id like to think that this would free up some funds to go towards a striker..

 

[A1X]

Long felt there’d be substantial exits next few windows and fan clubs needed to brace themselves. It’s been quicker than I expected actually.

Agreed. In the space of one summer it's gone from being Chris Hughton's team which Potter has had to try and fit into his style to being one he's building to play how he wants.

 

[Eeyore]

Still only “confirmed” by trash pseudo-media sites parroting this thread.
Wouldn’t be a surprise if it happens but.......

Naylor has reported that Burnley are in for him. Not sure how the Biss red card affects its immediacy.

 

[Pierre the Painter]

Often maligned but goes with my very best wishes, a great servant for the club and from what I understand an excellent club man.

Go well Dale.

 

[nickjhs]

Agreed. In the space of one summer it's gone from being Chris Hughton's team which Potter has had to try and fit into his style to being one he's building to play how he wants.

Yes and we have gone from hanging on by a thread, relying on other teams results, to now looking like we can get a firm foothold in this division. A massive positive in all this being many of the new players have come up through our system.