[Albion] The undropable Dale Stephens

[big nuts]

It all about opinions and I do not believe that Alzate has more ability than Stephens as he loses the ball a lot because he tries one too many players to try to beat and his shooting is appalling. He will gain experience by more substitute appearances during this season.

I think Alzate is a real find for us this season and warrants a place in our side more often than not.

You’re right he couldn’t play as a holding midfielder but I see him and Mooy being on current form our best two
Midfielders then you have a choice of Stephens & Propper as your holder. Bissouma is also an option but lacks the consistency so far this season.

Really don’t like the continual unbalanced criticism of Stephens. He was playing extremely well prior to the festive period. Not up to his usual standard but no reason for everyone to pile into a player who has been so key to our upturn over the past 5 years.

Same for Bong too. Yes, he is no longer good enough and not suited to our system but he’s been a reliable performer for many a year.

Very harsh to pick out scapegoats when this squad is our best ever.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Stephens is best suited to sitting as a holding midfielder which is not Alzate 's game so why replace Stephens with Alzate. If you are looking to replace like for like it would possibly be Baluta for Stephens and Alzate for Propper Mooy or Gross not Stephens.

Pröpper would 'replace' Stephens, and Alzate would 'replace' Pröpper.

 

[Weststander]

It all about opinions and I do not believe that Alzate has more ability than Stephens as he loses the ball a lot because he tries one too many players to try to beat and his shooting is appalling. He will gain experience by more substitute appearances during this season.

Alzate is a gifted creative player in the mould of Mooy. A Propper but with pace and without his suicidal errors in passing.

Stephens will never have that skill set, players in his role do not normally possess them. Fernandinho, Fabinho and Henderson being exceptions that prove the rule.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Stephens is best suited to sitting as a holding midfielder which is not Alzate's game so why replace Stephens with Alzate.

You are 100% wrong as usual.

Alzate was holding in our best performance of the year vs your Spurs in a 4-2-2-2. He was phenomenal.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/tota...on-vs-tottenham-tactical-analysis-tactics/amp

Stephens was absent in arguably our 2nd (B’Muff at home) and 3rd (70mins against Palace) best performances this season.

Switch the City game on at the moment. Do we need an out of form DM like Stephens against such a poor Villa side? Let’s give him a rest, let him get his form back and reintroduce him when we start playing the big boys.

 

[BensGrandad]

Pröpper would 'replace' Stephens, and Alzate would 'replace' Pröpper.

I would sooner we kept Stephens in the side and pushed Propper forward as an out and out attacking midfielder as in the Oxlaide Chamberlain role at Liverpool.

 

[big nuts]

You are 100% wrong as usual.

Alzate was holding in our best performance of the year vs your Spurs in a 4-2-2-2. He was phenomenal.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/tota...on-vs-tottenham-tactical-analysis-tactics/amp

Stephens was absent in arguably our 2nd (B’Muff at home) and 3rd (70mins against Palace) best performances this season.

Switch the City game on at the moment. Do we need an out of form DM like Stephens against such a poor Villa side? Let’s give him a rest, let him get his form back and reintroduce him when we start playing the big boys.

Your last paragraph is an interesting one. My first instinct was to agree with you. But then pondering the dilemma the games against the strugglers tend to be a little more physical and I think Stephens adds a bit of bite to our midfield when we need it.

There is no doubt a three of Propper, Mooy & Alzate is a much more exciting and fluid prospect but if the tackles start flying in, do we possess the physicality with those 3?

The other argument is we play around and through them, so I can see validity in both.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I think Alzate is a real find for us this season and warrants a place in our side more often than not.

You’re right he couldn’t play as a holding midfielder but I see him and Mooy being on current form our best two
Midfielders then you have a choice of Stephens & Propper as your holder. Bissouma is also an option but lacks the consistency so far this season.

Really don’t like the continual unbalanced criticism of Stephens. He was playing extremely well prior to the festive period. Not up to his usual standard but no reason for everyone to pile into a player who has been so key to our upturn over the past 5 years.

Same for Bong too. Yes, he is no longer good enough and not suited to our system but he’s been a reliable performer for many a year.

Very harsh to pick out scapegoats when this squad is our best ever.

TBH Bong has been found wanting for years imo.

Stephens appeared to have found himself prior to Christmas however now he looks like the Stephens of old. Devoid of any ideas. When he ticks, the team ticks but how long can we wait?

 

[Weststander]

I think Alzate is a real find for us this season and warrants a place in our side more often than not.

You’re right he couldn’t play as a holding midfielder but I see him and Mooy being on current form our best two
Midfielders then you have a choice of Stephens & Propper as your holder. Bissouma is also an option but lacks the consistency so far this season.

Really don’t like the continual unbalanced criticism of Stephens. He was playing extremely well prior to the festive period. Not up to his usual standard but no reason for everyone to pile into a player who has been so key to our upturn over the past 5 years.

Same for Bong too. Yes, he is no longer good enough and not suited to our system but he’s been a reliable performer for many a year.

Very harsh to pick out scapegoats when this squad is our best ever.

Great post.

Heaps on hypocrisy on NSC too. Posters who claim to be positive chaps, telling us that the team performance and scoreline at Goodison was fine, absolutely nothing to worry about, but elsewhere post against Stephens in the 24 hours post match.

All the time, airbrushing out Stephens outstanding performances against Watford, Spurs, Arsenal, and so on.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Your last paragraph is an interesting one. My first instinct was to agree with you. But then pondering the dilemma the games against the strugglers tend to be a little more physical and I think Stephens adds a bit of bite to our midfield when we need it.

That’s a very valid point. But we’ll still need Stephens to show his 1st half of the season form - up to Potter to make sure that happens if he plays on Saturday.

 

[TottonSeagull]

Stephens is going through a bit of dip of form and probably needs some time out however some of the rubbish posted on here about him is embarrassing! He has and is fundamentally a decent player that will never be a world beater but has held his own in the PL and has been and is a very important player for us!

 

[tigertim68]

All our best performances at home have been without Stephens playing , we play a much quicker tempo without him , our best performance of the season against Spurs a shinning example

 

[dazzer6666]

It all about opinions and I do not believe that Alzate has more ability than Stephens as he loses the ball a lot because he tries one too many players to try to beat and his shooting is appalling. He will gain experience by more substitute appearances during this season.

So, our best three recent performances......away at Palace, home v Bournemouth and Chelsea

Our worst two recent performances......Fa Cup v Massive and yesterday.

What were the respective midfield lineups ?

 

[big nuts]

All our best performances at home have been without Stephens playing , we play a much quicker tempo without him , our best performance of the season against Spurs a shinning example

Stephens played against Spurs at home.

 

[dazzer6666]

Stephens played against Spurs at home.

It’s his recent form that’s the problem......?

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Simple really he does not posses Stephens reading of the game and situation and has neither his ability or skill. What Alzate has is youthful endeavour but his shooting which people complain about Stephens is even worse. Alzate may replace Stephens one day but not yet a while. Our midfield 3 should be Propper, Mooy Stephens or Gross with Bissouma and Alzate as back up. Perhaps we should let Propper play further forward with Stephens as the DM and Mooy or Gross carrying the ball.

Sorry, are you suggesting that Stephens is more skilful than Alzate?


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[vagabond]

Stephens is going through a bit of dip of form and probably needs some time out however some of the rubbish posted on here about him is embarrassing! He has and is fundamentally a decent player that will never be a world beater but has held his own in the PL and has been and is a very important player for us!

You honestly think Dale is “holding his own” in the PL?

We must be watching a different game.

 

[Weststander]

So, our best three recent performances......away at Palace, home v Bournemouth and Chelsea

Our worst two recent performances......Fa Cup v Massive and yesterday.

What were the respective midfield lineups ?

Chelsea - that was almost universally described as awful midfield performance, Jahanbakhsh’s magical moment rescuing a point.

Bissouma was rated by everyone as having an absolute shocker.

 

[Weststander]

All our best performances at home have been without Stephens playing , we play a much quicker tempo without him , our best performance of the season against Spurs a shinning example

Rubbish.

The Spurs 3-0 win was our greatest PL performance. For 90 minutes outclassing and outfighting a team of top internationals.

 

[dazzer6666]

Chelsea - that was almost universally described as awful midfield performance, Jahanbakhsh’s magical moment rescuing a point.

Bissouma was rated by everyone as having an absolute shocker.

Yep.....but Stephens’ form is poor at the moment.

Personally would like Mooy, Alzate and Pröpper playing if we’re in a 433. Pröpper was brilliant at Palace.

 

[Weststander]

Yep.....but Stephens’ form is poor at the moment.

Personally would like Mooy, Alzate and Pröpper playing if we’re in a 433. Pröpper was brilliant at Palace.

I know that can work, not always by any means, but I like a specialist protecting the CB’s. Not necessary Stephens, but a player with discipline, bite, power, some pace, concentration for 90 minutes.

I don’t see Propper (often also poor for us despite his divine status on NSC, with suicidal passing that’s cost us dearly), Alzate just now, Bissouma (an erratic loose cannon, learning his trade) or Mooy having that. Plus Mooy and Alzate are so good with the ball, they’d be wasted back there.

Glad I don’t face the dilemmas Potter’s got coming up. Fail to beat Villa and Bmuff, and it’s hard to see where our 4 wins will come from.