[Albion] The undropable Dale Stephens

[Weststander]

I think I agree with that, I see Stephens as a sweeper type defensive midfielder with Propper and Bissouma ahead. Then 3 up front, or as part of a diamond 4 in a more attacking formation. Not a park the bus player!

Exactly.

Propper, Bissouma, Alzate, Mooy are better with the ball, but not a specialised, disciplined CM sitter/no.6.

 

[Arkwright]

Exactly.

Propper, Bissouma, Alzate, Mooy are better with the ball, but not a specialised, disciplined CM sitter/no.6.

Stephens is always the easy pass into midfield from the centre halves, he does find pockets of space. I've often thought he could easily play as a sweeper in a back three.

 

[London Irish]

That’s okay then. With a bit of luck, the four points he’s GIFTED then won’t send us down.

Yeh slagging off Mooy won’t work out for you well

 

[Weststander]

Yeh slagging off Mooy won’t work out for you well

There’s a non-binary world out there, where we don’t need to despise Stephens, balanced by adoring Propper and Mooy as footballing gods. Perhaps they’re all good PL midfielders.

 

[Mellotron]

Can I revise that a bit, but correct me if I’m wrong.

Initially Skalak’s crosses and corners were incredible, pin pointed to oncoming attacking players.

But then it seemed that every set of opponents closed down his crossing and marked better, negating his strength. Lacking pace, he couldn’t make any impact on matches.

Depends how quickly you are referring to his effectiveness dropping. He was our top goal creator for the first season and a half.

After that time, yes I think teams got wise to his lack of pace and weakness on the ball.

 

[Weststander]

Depends how quickly you are referring to his effectiveness dropping. He was our top goal creator for the first season and a half.

After that time, yes I think teams got wise to his lack of pace and weakness on the ball.

At the ‘cut off’ within the second season when the assists dried up.

Not sure if that was a discrete moment, but it seemed liked it dropped off a cliff.

Before that, his delivery was as good as it gets.

 

[Worthing exile]

What the he'll was he doing not watching play and letting the ball roll past him

 

[Wilka]

What the he'll was he doing not watching play and letting the ball roll past him

He was communicating with the bench about why the **** he was playing right back I would imagine.

 

[Mr Banana]

What the he'll was he doing not watching play and letting the ball roll past him

That bit was simultaneously sickening and familiar for anyone who's played more than a handful of games at Sunday League or 5-a-side. Indicative of our lack of cohesion tonight.

 

[Bold Seagull]

He and Propper played well yesterday I thought, instrumental in getting us back in the game. Stephens in particular showed some real desire and leadership in the middle I thought that lifted the rest of the team around him.

 

[Machiavelli]

He and Propper played well yesterday I thought, instrumental in getting us back in the game. Stephens in particular showed some real desire and leadership in the middle I thought that lifted the rest of the team around him.

He can shift the dynamic of a game when he goes hunting for the ball. He did that a few times second half yesterday.

 

[sagaman]

Well played Dale

 

[sagaman]

Massively missed his control yesterday

Thought our midfield was quite shambolic
Sadly Mooy off the ball and Gross even worse
Propper,despite some hairy moments was quite good
Alzate showed drive and then was moved to rightback - very strange

Let's see Stephens, Propper and Alzate in the engine room please

 

[Is it PotG?]

Massively missed his control yesterday

Thought our midfield was quite shambolic
Sadly Mooy off the ball and Gross even worse
Propper,despite some hairy moments was quite good
Alzate showed drive and then was moved to rightback - very strange

Let's see Stephens, Propper and Alzate in the engine room please

Alas there will still be some unaware of what he brings to the midfield.

 

[BensGrandad]

I would bring him back against Sheff Utd if fit instead of either Gross or take your choice, but still keep Alzate on the bench to bring on as required in the 2nd half.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Massively missed his control yesterday

Thought our midfield was quite shambolic
Sadly Mooy off the ball and Gross even worse
Propper,despite some hairy moments was quite good
Alzate showed drive and then was moved to rightback - very strange

Let's see Stephens, Propper and Alzate in the engine room please

Yes we did.....

The anti-Stephens brigade very quiet....


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[Bold Seagull]

Yes we did.....

The anti-Stephens brigade very quiet....

The worry for me is, is whether Potter is reacting to fan pressure to keep them onside and behind the team? I thought Stephens was one player who really drove us on when heads dropped after West Ham’s 3rd. The subs made the decisive difference in creating the goals, but it was Stephens who inspired a real fight back and got control of the middle. I was a bit surprised to see him omitted, and Trossard, Mooy, Gross, March didn’t make me think we’d have much more attacking thread.

Duffy coming straight in too, he made a lot of mistakes and his distribution was really wanting. I made a point on another thread, Potter suddenly seems very reactive in selections at the moment.

 

[blockhseagull]

We did miss him

Does he still need replacing ... yep

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

The worry for me is, is whether Potter is reacting to fan pressure to keep them onside and behind the team? I thought Stephens was one player who really drove us on when heads dropped after West Ham’s 3rd. The subs made the decisive difference in creating the goals, but it was Stephens who inspired a real fight back and got control of the middle. I was a bit surprised to see him omitted, and Trossard, Mooy, Gross, March didn’t make me think we’d have much more attacking thread.

Duffy coming straight in too, he made a lot of mistakes and his distribution was really wanting. I made a point on another thread, Potter suddenly seems very reactive in selections at the moment.

Think Stephens has a hamstring issue, so Potter didn’t have much option to be fair.

Duffy needs to be given a run of games like Webster, as at the moment he’s in and out all the time.


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[Icy Gull]

So are we agreed that Mooy hasn’t got the strength and aggression to play the Stephens role? We missed any bite at all in midfield yesterday. He is also a leader, Dunk just looks pissed off and although his displays may be inspiring I don’t see him as a leader. In fact we are very short of leaders in this squad.