[Albion] Stephens to Burnley (deal now confirmed)

[Is it PotG?]

Quite a sideways move to Burnley. Typical Dale.

In the first couple of PL years after promotion, you could hear the groans increase here and there when DS got the ball.

Where we sit, his passing options were evident and some of the harshest critics reluctantly accepted that he had 'nowhere to go'.

No running the lines, ever shifting offside yet he would more often than not find the safe and sometimes quarterback launch.

We have moved on, and so must Dale. But anyone not appreciative of his qualities needs to slap their head several times in quick succession.

 

[MattBackHome]

Mrs MBH remembers being dragged to Watford away and in some pub before the match hearing the "Dal Dal Dall, Dal Dal Daaaaalll, Dal Dal Dal, Stephens" song which sadly never took flight.

 

[Bruntburger]

Only plays backwards - won’t make Burnley 1st team.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[vagabond]

[tweet]1308790626524241923[/tweet]

Bless.

[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I feel way more sad about this than I expected

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

[tweet]1308790626524241923[/tweet]

Bless.

[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

To be fair, his pace always frightened me.

 

[Petunia]

Our best holding midfielder since the First Division days, he played his part in countless Albion wins in the top two divisions, contributing to many happy moments in this fantastic Albion era. Always appreciated by his teammates and most supporters.

All the best Dale.

Couldn’t have put it better.

Farewell good sir

 

[Silverhatch]

The bloke is a really solid, unspectacular PL proven midfielder who does lots of unheralded work. Been a great servant for us but GPott cannot guarantee him minutes. Time to move on. #****gastonramirez

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Thanks Dale. There was a period where if Dale didn’t play - we didn’t win. Most appreciated your play, but you please everyone. Hope all works out at the Clarets. Cheers.

 

[fruitnveg]

This cull has been long coming. No surprises for me so far. Propper will be next.

Couldn't disagree more.

 

[PersianNYer15]

There is lots of depth where he plays so I’m not worried at all, don’t really rate him anyway. Proper and bias puma are better options.

 

[Icy Gull]

There is lots of depth where he plays so I’m not worried at all, don’t really rate him anyway. Proper and bias puma are better options.

Are you using Google translate for Albion midfielders names

You may not rate Stephens but you probably wouldn’t be watching Albion in the Premier League if he hadn’t been here

As what I presume is an Ali J fan, you will know that plenty haven’t rated him, and they were wrong, as are you about Stephens

 

[Dolph Ins]

Thanks Dale and good luck (except against us).

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

There was a similar split when a Dean Hammond left the club. Plenty of offers to be his driver. It’s the hardest position on the pitch. Dyche is no idiot and recognises the qualities Dale brings to a midfield. It’s no surprise another Premier League team wanted him.

 

[dwayne]

Angry that we let one of our regular starting players go to that scumbag of a club for so cheap.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I actually think he fit quite well, excellent passing and tactical awareness. He is more playmaker than workhorse in my opinion.

People are going to see him dictate the play in Burnley and say "hey, why didnt he play like this here?". But he did (at least the year I got to see him), people just didnt want to see it because he wasnt fancy or exotic. He is a bit slow but definitely a decent PL level footballer.

Him leaving is more about other players rapidly developing rather than his alleged lack of creativity. The "only passes sideways or backwards" stuff is complete nonsense.

A while back he would have fitted anything. When he first started for us he added plenty of goals and assists to his main job of breaking up play and moving the ball on.

But Biss and Alzate have both stood out this season as they are much more box to box. Stephens with his lack of pace, now the wrong side of 30 and questionable refuelling habits, while still a very classy player, does not have their energy, and they way we play we'll need plenty of that.

But talking of styles of play, he'll have to be a ball winning player for Burnley, or all he will achieve is five touches a game and a stiff neck.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Angry that we let one of our regular starting players go to that scumbag of a club for so cheap.

I found this picture more upsetting than I thought I would.

That’s two very good seasons he could potentially have for a possible top 10 team for about £1m. Seems very low.

Fulham paid us more for Knocky on loan for a year in the Championship than that!

Like Duffy (and Veltman at Ajax), perhaps due to his outstanding service, the club are taking a hit on this one?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Angry that we let one of our regular starting players go to that scumbag of a club for so cheap.

Of course you are

Did you know that Dyche was prepared to offer three million until he was directed to a post on Racist Northerner Chat where one of their trolls pointed out that Brighton fans on Twitter were saying he was shithouse and his mate in Rottingdean agreed.

 

[darkwolf666]

I found this picture more upsetting than I thought I would.

That’s two very good seasons he could potentially have for a possible top 10 team for about £1m. Seems very low.

Fulham paid us more for Knocky on loan for a year in the Championship than that!

Like Duffy (and Veltman at Ajax), perhaps due to his outstanding service, the club are taking a hit on this one?

I found this picture equally upsetting, as it’s clearly been Photoshopped, I mean, where did they find grass and trees in Burnley?

 

[dwayne]

[emoji38]ol:

Of course you are

Did you know that Dyche was prepared to offer three million until he was directed to a post on Racist Northerner Chat where one of their trolls pointed out that Brighton fans on Twitter were saying he was shithouse and his mate in Rottingdean agreed.

I'm not having a pop at the club. It's a nice club that looks after players but it's just a shame that he's gone to bloody Burnley.

Sent from my SM-G977N using Tapatalk