Marshy
Well-known member
He's gone, absolutely no doubt about it for me. Hopefully just waiting on getting a replacement in before he goes.
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We need to talk about Dale
- Thread starter Doc Lynam
- Start date
James Bond's body double
Well-known member
What makes you so sure? and where, Burnley don't need him now.
BensGrandad
New member
Palace to replace Jerdinak? But many say he wants to go back up north although his wife was reported as saying she wants to stay in Brighton so perhaps he will follow GM example and continue living in Brighton area?
Nixonator
Well-known member
Many talk bollocks.
BensGrandad
New member
I dont think he will go something tells me it is a means of getting a better deal with us as Grabban did with Bournemouth.
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
With absolutely no source I am going for - we have told him that he is going nowhere this window and are toughing it out. He quite possibly did refuse to play but if that got out it would make the situation even worse. We may still decide we have no option but to sell him but are hoping he can be convinced to hang around, giving full effort, until January. There will be a rethink in January if we can convince him to stay. I am sure the club are doing absolutely everything to convince him, whilst turning down all offers...so far.
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 12,121
I think it is entirely possible that Stephens is angling for a move, if any sensible offers come in.
As I understand it a player is under contract and is interested in moving, then telling the club this will immediately invalidate any cut of the transfer money fro coming to them.
This seems a bit harsh and obviously could lead to some of the shenanigans we saw with Bridcutt.
If Prem teams come knocking with decent offers, I can see why a player would get unsettled and perceive the club to be standing in their way.
Hopefully this hasn't happened with Stephens, but I can see the players side of it.
As I understand it a player is under contract and is interested in moving, then telling the club this will immediately invalidate any cut of the transfer money fro coming to them.
This seems a bit harsh and obviously could lead to some of the shenanigans we saw with Bridcutt.
If Prem teams come knocking with decent offers, I can see why a player would get unsettled and perceive the club to be standing in their way.
Hopefully this hasn't happened with Stephens, but I can see the players side of it.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
There is nothing amibiguous about Hughton's reply to this.
“One thing I can categorically tell you is he did not refuse to play. Dale has been excellent for us, he’s not that type of individual. He trains hard every day, he’s a very good professional.”
http://m.theargus.co.uk/sport/14696065.Hughton_plays_down_Stephens__absence/
BensGrandad
New member
You cannot say or quote that it as it doesnt suit the agenda or gossip.
- Aug 8, 2005
- 27,221
The only thing I find very odd about Hughton's explanation is the notion that training on his own will somehow make him more match fit than actually playing a game. Seems against everything I've ever understood about football in that the only way to get match fit is to play games. Always has been, always will be, so why not play him saturday. An 80% Stephens is still worth playing in my view and would have got him further fit.
If he now doesn't play tomorrow night, that can only mean he is off.
If he now doesn't play tomorrow night, that can only mean he is off.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
You cannot say what I can and cannot quote, even in jest.
In that article Chris is even suggesting that Dale will be here all this season - he says ''Theres a couple of weeks till the transfer window closes. Then I have a decision to make'' That is suggesting he will have all 4 midfielders to choose from after that. No doubt people will choose to ignore that because it doesn't fit in with juicy transfer speculation and Dale being a rebel, which of course he is not.
On NSC (yes, I know), last week didn't someone quote Mrs Stephens as wanting to stay in Sussex and that contract discussions were ongoing?
That's better news and I'll go with that and extra training.
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Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Not sure about that. It'll be another scratch side, I don't think you can draw any conclusions from tomorrow nights lineup.
If he's not in the squad on Saturday though...
highflyer
Well-known member
- Jan 21, 2016
- 2,553
Yes, I've already said that I (choose to) believe this. The alternative is to believe that 1. Stephens refused to play and 2. CH chose to tell a direct lie rather than fudge the issue, which he certainly could have done.
Neither of those things fit for me.
I have no doubt he did do more training on Saturday! But that doesn't mean other stuff isn't going on. That 'other stuff' could be anything though. New contract negotiations, tussles with other club over price, discussions with other club over personal terms...almost anything. We have no idea what's going on. My money would be on him leaving, but it is definitely not certain and I really really hope he stays. The high regard that he is held in by other players says a lot.
BensGrandad
New member
Sorry if it offended you it was meant as joke saying what most peoples reaction would have been, but FWIW I agree with you. I think come 1st September 16 he will still be our player whether or not that is the same on 1 September 2017 is another question.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
I wasn't offended. I was stating a fact.
DavidRyder
Well-known member
- Jul 23, 2013
- 2,930
IF these reports of DS refusing to play are true, then please go. I don't care how good he is, if he's making himself unavailable and jeopardising results in the process, I'd rather he was gone, in exchange for decent money of course.
I stress, above applies IF the reports are correct.
I stress, above applies IF the reports are correct.
That's where the grey area begins.
Some have trouble with facts when it's not THEIR facts.