[Albion] The undropable Dale Stephens

[Machiavelli]

It's a bit frustrating to know that the optimal Stephens replacement currently is running around in no man's land watching Steve Coopers ugly hoofball-Swansea. The club is absolutely broke and needs to sell a player right now if they want to keep their cat 1 academy. 4 or 5 million pounds and we would have Matt Grimes in the midfield. Dirty, beautiful opportunity.

I think there's another (D)CM that's doing rather well in the Championship this season and, the fortunate thing is, we won't have to sign him for next season.

 

[oldboyroy]

Generally we lack consistency and quite a few players do when we are on our game we are very very good can take on anyone even liverpool but we also have off days where we look ordinary or even poor. You can include Stephens biss greyhound propper gross bong trossard Duffy and albeit with Trossard still learning fairly new and others being young and still learning.

 

[Hugo Rune]

I think there's another (D)CM that's doing rather well in the Championship this season and, the fortunate thing is, we won't have to sign him for next season.

Him or Baluta.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

I think there's another (D)CM that's doing rather well in the Championship this season and, the fortunate thing is, we won't have to sign him for next season.

Currently performing for Millwall perchance?

 

[dazzer6666]

I agree with you here as is often the case, but I do have my doubts about Bissouma's attitude, whereas you can't question Stephens'. Bissouma seems a bit like NSC, with extremes of emotions. He trudged off the pitch slowly when his number came up yesterday, and hadn't done anything to warrant staying on the pitch. He can light things up, but he goes missing too much in games, which you could also level at Trossard, although he plays further up the pitch, and you need more consistency from your deeper players. I'm also not entirely convinced that he ever covers that much ground (I'd be interested in seeing the stats on this, especially compared with our other midfielders).

Yeah all true.........he's still young though so will hopefully mature. Sure Potter is the man to help him too. When he's on top of his game (like at Palace) he's excellent.

 

[Machiavelli]

Currently performing for Millwall perchance?

My mind isn't quite as obscure as I sometimes think it is

 

[METALMICKY]

Yeah all true.........he's still young though so will hopefully mature. Sure Potter is the man to help him too. When he's on top of his game (like at Palace) he's excellent.

I think you are right about the maturity. However, even if he does mature I feel there's still a question of his consistency and ability to perform against the better teams.

 

[seagullwedgee]

I’ll put this out there as a question, because I know i’ll get into trouble if I put it out there as a statement.

Has Dale Stephens had somewhat of a falling out with Mr Potter?

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I’ll put this out there as a question, because I know i’ll get into trouble if I put it out there as a statement.

Has Dale Stephens had somewhat of a falling out with Mr Potter?

What makes you think that?

 

[METALMICKY]

I’ll put this out there as a question, because I know i’ll get into trouble if I put it out there as a statement.

Has Dale Stephens had somewhat of a falling out with Mr Potter?

Very possible. I think the boss has commented on that occasional silly tin tin quiff that Dale sports. But Dale bit back and said you're too old for that poor man's Paul Weller! All rather silly when Don Goodman is regularly on Sky

 

[Milano]

I’ll put this out there as a question, because I know i’ll get into trouble if I put it out there as a statement.

Has Dale Stephens had somewhat of a falling out with Mr Potter?

Potter has eyes. A ten year old can see the slowdown/negative affect Stephens has on our style. He has two main limitations which lead to problems in this new system:
1. When we’re playing out from the back he plays facing our goal 80% of the time, unlike someone like Propper or Mooy who are always ‘on the turn’ when receiving the ball, this leads to too many passes from him going straight back.
2. His first touch is too often poor, the ball gets away from him or he has to take another touch.
Both the above slow us down. It is no coincidence we have looked miles more fluid as a unit recently when Stephens has not started.

I watched teenagers on the box yesterday for Liverpool who all have a better first touch and movement with the ball than Stephens. Not having a go, he’s not a bad player but he’s nowhere near first name on the team sheet. It’s just the way I see it.

 

[big nuts]

Potter has eyes. A ten year old can see the slowdown/negative affect Stephens has on our style. He has two main limitations which lead to problems in this new system:
1. When we’re playing out from the back he plays facing our goal 80% of the time, unlike someone like Propper or Mooy who are always ‘on the turn’ when receiving the ball, this leads to too many passes from him going straight back.
2. His first touch is too often poor, the ball gets away from him or he has to take another touch.
Both the above slow us down. It is no coincidence we have looked miles more fluid as a unit recently when Stephens has not started.

I watched teenagers on the box yesterday for Liverpool who all have a better first touch and movement with the ball than Stephens. Not having a go, he’s not a bad player but he’s nowhere near first name on the team sheet. It’s just the way I see it.

I’d politely suggest that Potter sees it very different to your view.

Mooy and to an extent Propper for starters receive the ball in very different areas to Stephens.

 

[Mellotron]

The combination of Mooy, Bissouma and Pröpper has looked our best midfield to me this season.

I'm not fully disagreeing with you, but that was against a very out of form Bournemouth team.

The exact same midfield three were shit against Chelsea (admittedly a much better side) in the first half.

 

[Milano]

I’d politely suggest that Potter sees it very different to your view.

Mooy and to an extent Propper for starters receive the ball in very different areas to Stephens.

Not when Stephens doesn’t play they don’t.

 

[big nuts]

Not when Stephens doesn’t play they don’t.

There’d have been an epic NSC meltdown and scapegoating if Stephens would’ve played that blind pass that Propper played which led to the Wolves equaliser.

A lot of our play revolves around using Stephens as our opening pass from defence. He then plays back with the more advanced midfielders playing between the lines, receiving the third pass.

That phase of play involving Stephens opens up the game for the likes of Mooy, Alzate & Gross.

 

[Napper]

we are soft as a babies bum at times as it is.

At least Stephens adds some bite to the team

 

[dazzer6666]

I'm not fully disagreeing with you, but that was against a very out of form Bournemouth team.

The exact same midfield three were shit against Chelsea (admittedly a much better side) in the first half.

Dominated Palace as well.....

Sent from my H8314 using Tapatalk

 

[Weststander]

I’d politely suggest that Potter sees it very different to your view.

Mooy and to an extent Propper for starters receive the ball in very different areas to Stephens.

This.

Potter repeatedly played DS in great PL team performances this season. Wildly guessing that Potter sees a list of damning inadequacies in Dale’s game, is hysterical.

 

[Mellotron]

Dominated Palace as well.....

Sent from my H8314 using Tapatalk

Hadn't realised that. Good point. I certainly like the blend of attributes that you get from those 3.

If all are on form, it probably would be my midfield 3. However Bissouma is probably still more inconsistent than Stephens imo, which is completely understandable given his age.

 

[Mellotron]

I’d politely suggest that Potter sees it very different to your view.

Mooy and to an extent Propper for starters receive the ball in very different areas to Stephens.

Agreed - you can't compare Stephens receiving the ball as the last line between the opposition and the back 4, and Mooy receiving the ball much closer to the opposition box.

Totally different jobs.