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[Albion] The Albion...... the summer building.



Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
72,015
Stephens to sidle off to a Championship Club in true crab-like fashion...

Harsh and unnecessary, he has been a great servant to this club and is part of the folklore of our promotion

Stay classy :smile:
 




sparkie

Well-known member
Jul 17, 2003
13,268
Hove
I wouldn't be surprised if Duffy, Stephens and Murray all move on to get more playing time next season.

I reckon Ali J is also gone, just waiting the ink on the paper.
 


Johnny RoastBeef

These aren't the players you're looking for.
Jan 11, 2016
3,471
Centre midfield definatley needs a bit more steel.

I'm hoping Watford get relegated so we can make a move for Doucouré.
 


One Teddy Maybank

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 4, 2006
22,991
Worthing
I was going to add that he was also playing kind of out of position......I think (flame me now) we have a Bruno UPGRADE. :eek:

Steady [MENTION=27279]dazzer6666[/MENTION] I’m not even sure that exists [emoji2]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 






Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden
Stephens to sidle off to a Championship Club in true crab-like fashion...

The "Stephens only plays it sideways/backwards" thing is a myth and there's a hundred stats that backs him being a quite progressive DMC. Saving that for my fat end-of-season stat special though.
 


Johnny RoastBeef

These aren't the players you're looking for.
Jan 11, 2016
3,471
The "Stephens only plays it sideways/backwards" thing is a myth and there's a hundred stats that backs him being a quite progressive DMC. Saving that for my fat end-of-season stat special though.

True, but he is ponderous. Often a pass forward is on, but he takes so long to see it the option disappears and he is forced to play a safe pass. Not his fault, and it doesnt make him a bad player, but that's why he plays for us and not a top 6 side.
 


miffy6

Well-known member
Mar 7, 2009
854
I don't agree with this whole sideways pass bollocks but there's two things that have always irked me about Stephens. His constant giving away of free kicks in dangerous positions, and his insistence on lunging in studs up when he doesn't need too.
 




Johnny RoastBeef

These aren't the players you're looking for.
Jan 11, 2016
3,471
I don't agree with this whole sideways pass bollocks but there's two things that have always irked me about Stephens. His constant giving away of free kicks in dangerous positions, and his insistence on lunging in studs up when he doesn't need too.

I think a lot of his fouls around the box are deliberate, it's better to defend a free kick than be sliced open by a clever run or sliderule pass.
 


Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,287
Withdean area
Harsh and unnecessary, he has been a great servant to this club and is part of the folklore of our promotion

Stay classy :smile:

Stephens started in Brighton 3-0 Spurs, Arsenal 1-2 Brighton, the two wins over ManU, two of the three West Ham wins, Watford 0-3 Brighton and Brighton 2-1 Arsenal, plus many other key PL results.

Some ‘supporters’ bizarrely can’t extend that support to a winner who was key to our promotion, staying in the PL for three seasons and some firsts in our results history.

And it’s said that men aren’t bitchy.
 


Machiavelli

Well-known member
Oct 11, 2013
17,773
Fiveways
Just my opinion but I’d rather plough transfer funds into the CF and a wide player than look to buy another CM. For next season, Mooy, Alzate, Bissouma, Propper, Stephens can all play the CM roles, even Gross maybe Molumby can come into that area.

We may well need to be thinking about alternatives to Jahanbakhsh and Izquierdo next season because we still lack pace out wide, and of course a CF.

Exactly this. We need quality not quantity. We've got good depth to the squad now, we just need a sprinkling of fairy dust, so a CF and a winger/wide forward is what we need. Factor in that we can integrate White and Molumby into the 25 too and maybe one of Ostigard and Clarke. Duffy is good enough for PL football, and deserves to leave if he wants to. I'm not sure Stephens will contribute too much next season either and, if he wants to go, as another fine servant he should be allowed to.
 




Mancgull

Well-known member
Nov 28, 2011
5,544
Astley, Manchester
For me I’d be looking to spend the majority of the available budget on a target man type centre forward. Other than that I think we are relatively ok as White, Molumby will come in. Remember that we have ‘new players’ already in Lamptey and MacAllister. Possibly a wide man to replace Ali J if he goes, which I think he will. Will be more pressing if Izquierdo doesn’t return to fitness. I would love him to as I think it would add another dimension to Potter’s options as he has real pace. (Or did before his injury).
In terms of outs, I go with a few; Steele and Button out, Walton in. If Montoya wants to go because of his probable limited playing time then retain Schelloto as back up to Lamptey.if Montoya stays, then Schelloto to go. We only need two right backs as Webster can play there in an emergency.
Duffy, I think will go, if we can get a decent offer in for him which I think we could get from someone like WBA if they come up. I doubt he’d get much game time with Dunk, Webster, White and Burn as back up.
With Stephens I think it’s very much down to him. He’s got another year on his contract and may be happy to sit this out, take the wages and sit on the subs bench largely. Alternatively he may look to a two year contract with an ambitious Championship club that can afford his wages (Think that’s unlikely though.
Murray will possibly go out on loan to a Championship club with a clause to bring him back if we suffer injuries.
The other key tasks will be deciding who we want to extend contracts with.
The obvious ones are; Ryan (One year left I think and has expressed ambitions to play elsewhere)
White. I’m sure we’ll try to tie him down to a longer contract. Will be interesting to see how this goes. If we can’t then there will be a big auction for him at the end of next season so long as he shows the promise that we expect.
Any others I’ve missed?
 


sparkie

Well-known member
Jul 17, 2003
13,268
Hove
For me I’d be looking to spend the majority of the available budget on a target man type centre forward. Other than that I think we are relatively ok as White, Molumby will come in. Remember that we have ‘new players’ already in Lamptey and MacAllister. Possibly a wide man to replace Ali J if he goes, which I think he will. Will be more pressing if Izquierdo doesn’t return to fitness. I would love him to as I think it would add another dimension to Potter’s options as he has real pace. (Or did before his injury).
In terms of outs, I go with a few; Steele and Button out, Walton in. If Montoya wants to go because of his probable limited playing time then retain Schelloto as back up to Lamptey.if Montoya stays, then Schelloto to go. We only need two right backs as Webster can play there in an emergency.
Duffy, I think will go, if we can get a decent offer in for him which I think we could get from someone like WBA if they come up. I doubt he’d get much game time with Dunk, Webster, White and Burn as back up.
With Stephens I think it’s very much down to him. He’s got another year on his contract and may be happy to sit this out, take the wages and sit on the subs bench largely. Alternatively he may look to a two year contract with an ambitious Championship club that can afford his wages (Think that’s unlikely though.
Murray will possibly go out on loan to a Championship club with a clause to bring him back if we suffer injuries.
The other key tasks will be deciding who we want to extend contracts with.
The obvious ones are; Ryan (One year left I think and has expressed ambitions to play elsewhere)
White. I’m sure we’ll try to tie him down to a longer contract. Will be interesting to see how this goes. If we can’t them there will be a big auction for him at the end of next season so long as he shows the promise that we expect.
Any others I’ve missed?
Ryan has 2 more years on his contract.


The players with 1 year left are Murray, Stephens, Izquierdo, Button, and Steele.
 


portlock seagull

Well-known member
Jul 28, 2003
17,777
£30m striker. Who cannot place Holland on the map never mind played there. Plus Harry Wilson on loan. Goodbye Glenn. No point keeping a player who’ll never get a game. He deserves a Champ Indian summer.
 






*Gullsworth*

My Hair is like his hair
Jan 20, 2006
9,351
West...West.......WEST SUSSEX
£30m striker. Who cannot place Holland on the map never mind played there. Plus Harry Wilson on loan. Goodbye Glenn. No point keeping a player who’ll never get a game. He deserves a Champ Indian summer.


I think Glen will retire at the club, maybe become a coach like Bruno did.
 


Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,287
Withdean area
For me I’d be looking to spend the majority of the available budget on a target man type centre forward. Other than that I think we are relatively ok as White, Molumby will come in. Remember that we have ‘new players’ already in Lamptey and MacAllister. Possibly a wide man to replace Ali J if he goes, which I think he will. Will be more pressing if Izquierdo doesn’t return to fitness. I would love him to as I think it would add another dimension to Potter’s options as he has real pace. (Or did before his injury).
In terms of outs, I go with a few; Steele and Button out, Walton in. If Montoya wants to go because of his probable limited playing time then retain Schelloto as back up to Lamptey.if Montoya stays, then Schelloto to go. We only need two right backs as Webster can play there in an emergency.
Duffy, I think will go, if we can get a decent offer in for him which I think we could get from someone like WBA if they come up. I doubt he’d get much game time with Dunk, Webster, White and Burn as back up.
With Stephens I think it’s very much down to him. He’s got another year on his contract and may be happy to sit this out, take the wages and sit on the subs bench largely. Alternatively he may look to a two year contract with an ambitious Championship club that can afford his wages (Think that’s unlikely though.
Murray will possibly go out on loan to a Championship club with a clause to bring him back if we suffer injuries.
The other key tasks will be deciding who we want to extend contracts with.
The obvious ones are; Ryan (One year left I think and has expressed ambitions to play elsewhere)
White. I’m sure we’ll try to tie him down to a longer contract. Will be interesting to see how this goes. If we can’t then there will be a big auction for him at the end of next season so long as he shows the promise that we expect.
Any others I’ve missed?

Good post. I only differ in that I think Muzza will stay. In his mid 30’s, he’s set up for life and very happily settled in Brighton, so imho he won’t want to spend time travelling or staying in a hotel. He kind of touched on this in a radio interview. He’ll ease into a coaching role with us.
 






SULLY COULDNT SHOOT

Loyal2Family+Albion!
Sep 28, 2004
11,344
Izmir, Southern Turkey
To get the perfect build for next season

GK sell Ryan and replace him with a keeper that can take crosses. Sell Button and Steel keep Walton
DR/WBR - Lamptey - sell Montoy and Schellotto buy new.
DL / WBL - Keep Bernardo but get a new first choice and dont use Burn there unless necessary.
DC Keep Dunk, Webster, Burn, White sell Duffy and Balogun (if not gone) not sure about Ostigard
DMC - keep Bissouma, Buluta, Molumby... let Stephens go (Kayals gone?) may need another.
MC Alzate and Propper stay. Mooy one more year but his speed is not enough. may need another.
Wingers both sides - McAllister, March, Trossard stay - Jahanbakhsh Izquierdo Knockaert go.... we need one or two here depending on whether we play WBs or not. Can anythign be slavaged from Tau or Arce?
AMC - Grob to go... supposedly Aztae, Trossard, Mooy and Mcallister can play here. Need a playmaker though.
SC - Maupay and Connolly to stay Andone to go.... need one better than Maupay with speed, guile and experience.

Murray to the backroom

Dont think Mlakar, Gyokeres are going to make it.
 


portlock seagull

Well-known member
Jul 28, 2003
17,777
To get the perfect build for next season

GK sell Ryan and replace him with a keeper that can take crosses. Sell Button and Steel keep Walton
DR/WBR - Lamptey - sell Montoy and Schellotto buy new.
DL / WBL - Keep Bernardo but get a new first choice and dont use Burn there unless necessary.
DC Keep Dunk, Webster, Burn, White sell Duffy and Balogun (if not gone) not sure about Ostigard
DMC - keep Bissouma, Buluta, Molumby... let Stephens go (Kayals gone?) may need another.
MC Alzate and Propper stay. Mooy one more year but his speed is not enough. may need another.
Wingers both sides - McAllister, March, Trossard stay - Jahanbakhsh Izquierdo Knockaert go.... we need one or two here depending on whether we play WBs or not. Can anythign be slavaged from Tau or Arce?
AMC - Grob to go... supposedly Aztae, Trossard, Mooy and Mcallister can play here. Need a playmaker though.
SC - Maupay and Connolly to stay Andone to go.... need one better than Maupay with speed, guile and experience.

Murray to the backroom

Dont think Mlakar, Gyokeres are going to make it.

That’s all a bit rearranging deck chairs aboard a well known liner for my liking. I don’t disagree with all of it, but if we want to move up I think we’ve got to improve on March, Propper, Mooy and maybe Trossard too. All decent players but are they doing enough? I think our defence has carried out midfield in many games since we arrived in the PL. in terms of what they contribute to attacking it’s often been very little from goals to beating a man or even taking a set piece half decently. For me the midfield needs a drastic overhaul. Has done for 2 seasons.
 


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