What I think this shows is that the absolutes of "he's crap, get rid" or "he's great, play him every game" just don't apply.
Players have good games and bad games, go through periods of good and bad form, look better alongside certain players or in different formations, have injuries or personal issues or just good or bad luck.
Stephens, Jackson, BWP are all recent examples of this.
In the right setting and with the motivation and belief all can do the business. There was a reason Villa wanted Dale and the Jackson scored so many goals for us.
Kerker and Hulse are going down the same road where they are either great or rubbish regardless of how they have played that game.
Things are rarely black or white, let a few shades of grey into your life : - )
Have you been reading those rude lady's books Henry ?
Been by far our best player this season, he's head and shoulder above anyone else, ability wise, which is why Powell gave him the 2nd half Saturday when he clearly doesn't seem fit still...
Really? have you been watching the same player as I have?
I think its his consistency that makes a lot of people dislike him. Last night proved when he puts his mind to it he can be the player we all hoped he would be in this league. If he had consistency to his game I am pretty sure Villa would have offered more and he would have left in the window.
I just hope he can keep up last nights form, especially in the second half, and stay with us for the rest of this season at least.
Stephens had a very good game last night. One of his best for Charlton. The reason, was that he was doing the things that he usually does not ! He was running, yes running, & tackilng, like he's only ever done on a few occasions. If he continues to run & tackle & push forward, he will be a very good player. If he decides to sit back & not get involved then he won't. Anyway, Dale congratulations for last night's performance. Chances of him keeping up that energy & committment level - 20%. Please prove me wrong Dale.
i think hes started better this season than last season ...from the games i have seen he has made more of an attempt to be involved and he can pick a pass ...he can also make some bad ones but he doesnt lack the courage to try ..technically he is far more gifted than pritchard but i think pitchs enthusiasm might just rub off on him
Where exactly do we go with Dale now ? I had very high hopes for him when he first arrived and if I'm honest I've been a bit disappointed. I think Gower might well come on a permanant in the summer and if Rouamba cuts it I can see Dale struggling to get into the team again. Given the performance of Hughes yesterday I wouldn't be averse to seeing him remain also. We certainly wouldn't get anywhere near the reported money Villa were supposed to be offering but I wonder if it is time to cut our ties with Dale or do we think he still has a part to play.
Someone on here said he was/is being 'punished' for preferring to play a round of golf when he should have been in te treatment room , can't see him playing again this season seeing as we need to grind out results
He needs to be a lot more consistent. In hindsight TJ should've taken whatever Villa were offering as we won't be seeing that kind of money offered for him this summer
He can learn a lot from Hughes and Gower and if he does so he still has a (big) part to play. As I see it, it is really up to him how much he wants to succeed!
Gower is 34, Hughes 35. Neither are going to keep Stephens out of the side next year. Yes, he is inconsistent but no one can accuse h of not giving 100%. Not sure the stick he gets is entirely deserved.
Gower is 34, Hughes 35. Neither are going to keep Stephens out of the side next year. Yes, he is inconsistent but no one can accuse h of not giving 100%. Not sure the stick he gets is entirely deserved.
It is fully deserved as we can all see he has the talent but does not apply it every week. I will never criticise Pritchard or Wagstaff as they always give 100%. With Stephens this is quite often not the case.
I believe there is also a concentration and lack of awareness issue hence him often getting the wrong side of an attacking player or misplacing his passes. It was the same with Racon, except he was also lazy and a prima dona.
Gower is 34, Hughes 35. Neither are going to keep Stephens out of the side next year. Yes, he is inconsistent but no one can accuse h of not giving 100%. Not sure the stick he gets is entirely deserved.
Well they kept him out of the side on Saturday. Not sure about Gower but we know Hughes is a fitness freak so will be in good shape for his age. Also he's just had more or less a year off so his body should be in top condition. Agree that he should be ahead of them on age grounds alone but what about performance. He might need to get ahead of Florent yet as we'll.
Stephens can play some really nice passes, but can also really mess up the simple things. Maddeningly inconsistent. I think he unfairly took the blame for the poor Forest first half, when Dervite was played infront of the back 4. He did have a mare of a half but the formation gave him no room and the strikers made no runs.
Gower yesterday, passed and moved, made himself available for the next pass and appeared to be able to do the simple things well. Maybe Stephens and the rest of the midfield can learn the same things.
Gower is 34, Hughes 35. Neither are going to keep Stephens out of the side next year. Yes, he is inconsistent but no one can accuse h of not giving 100%. Not sure the stick he gets is entirely deserved.
I can accuse him of not giving 100%. He's only ever given 100% on a few occasions & it stands out a mile when he does, as it is such a rare occurence. Not sure what player you're looking at, but it sure ain't stroller Stephens. Sometimes I wonder if he hasn't actually fallen asleep :-)
It's difficult to asses what impact it will have had on Dale with him being refused a move to Villa with all the benefits that would have given him. I know he has a contract with us and it was up to us to sell or not but it is, in my view, very unlikely that he will be able to get that kind kind of move any time soon and he could be suffering from a lack of motivation due to it.
He has a year left on his contract (I think) and he could be one year into a three or four deal on much, much more if we'd sold him last summer.
If I were him I think I would be really p*ssed off at being denied that life changing opportunity - especially if it was looking likely that I'd never get another chance.
If he has just a year left we need to move him on this summer or risk having him leave on a free, and if he is fed up with us refusing to sell him to Villa he is unlikely to sign a new contract.
I thought at the time we should have sold him to Villa for the king of money we were being offered. Nothing that I've seen in the last seven months has changed my mind.
Gower is 34, Hughes 35. Neither are going to keep Stephens out of the side next year. Yes, he is inconsistent but no one can accuse h of not giving 100%. Not sure the stick he gets is entirely deserved.
Well they kept him out of the side on Saturday.
Not strictly true, Shooters. He was injured and ill and wouldn't have been fit to play.
According to Chris Powell, Stephens has been sidelined with a hip injury for the past couple of weeks and didn't report back for training until last Thursday.
Then picked up the same stomach bug that ruled out Matt Taylor for the Bolton game.
Gower is 34, Hughes 35. Neither are going to keep Stephens out of the side next year. Yes, he is inconsistent but no one can accuse h of not giving 100%. Not sure the stick he gets is entirely deserved.
Well they kept him out of the side on Saturday.
Not strictly true, Shooters. He was injured and ill and wouldn't have been fit to play.
According to Chris Powell, Stephens has been sidelined with a hip injury for the past couple of weeks and didn't report back for training until last Thursday.
Then picked up the same stomach bug that ruled out Matt Taylor for the Bolton game.
Thank you Oggy for correcting me. I didn't know that. Having said that would anyone bring him into that midfield ahead of those that played yesterday if they were all fit and available. I wouldn't.
It's difficult to asses what impact it will have had on Dale with him being refused a move to Villa with all the benefits that would have given him. I know he has a contract with us and it was up to us to sell or not but it is, in my view, very unlikely that he will be able to get that kind kind of move any time soon and he could be suffering from a lack of motivation due to it.
He has a year left on his contract (I think) and he could be one year into a three or four deal on much, much more if we'd sold him last summer.
If I were him I think I would be really p*ssed off at being denied that life changing opportunity - especially if it was looking likely that I'd never get another chance.
If he has just a year left we need to move him on this summer or risk having him leave on a free, and if he is fed up with us refusing to sell him to Villa he is unlikely to sign a new contract.
I thought at the time we should have sold him to Villa for the king of money we were being offered. Nothing that I've seen in the last seven months has changed my mind.
How do we know how much was offered up front? If it was say £1m with various clauses I'd understand why it was rejected.
It's difficult to asses what impact it will have had on Dale with him being refused a move to Villa with all the benefits that would have given him. I know he has a contract with us and it was up to us to sell or not but it is, in my view, very unlikely that he will be able to get that kind kind of move any time soon and he could be suffering from a lack of motivation due to it.
He has a year left on his contract (I think) and he could be one year into a three or four deal on much, much more if we'd sold him last summer.
If I were him I think I would be really p*ssed off at being denied that life changing opportunity - especially if it was looking likely that I'd never get another chance.
If he has just a year left we need to move him on this summer or risk having him leave on a free, and if he is fed up with us refusing to sell him to Villa he is unlikely to sign a new contract.
I thought at the time we should have sold him to Villa for the king of money we were being offered. Nothing that I've seen in the last seven months has changed my mind.
How do we know how much was offered up front? If it was say £1m with various clauses I'd understand why it was rejected.
Agreed. I don't know what the off was but I'm assuming that it was enough, after all it was a big Premier League club.
Airman Brown's later description confirmed that it was enough that I would have accepted it.
The big issue, however, is that when a young player is denied a move like that it often does irreparable damage to the relationship between payer and club.
Comments
I just hope he can keep up last nights form, especially in the second half, and stay with us for the rest of this season at least.
The reason, was that he was doing the things that he usually does not !
He was running, yes running, & tackilng, like he's only ever done on a few occasions.
If he continues to run & tackle & push forward, he will be a very good player.
If he decides to sit back & not get involved then he won't.
Anyway, Dale congratulations for last night's performance.
Chances of him keeping up that energy & committment level - 20%.
Please prove me wrong Dale.
i like him.
I believe there is also a concentration and lack of awareness issue hence him often getting the wrong side of an attacking player or misplacing his passes. It was the same with Racon, except he was also lazy and a prima dona.
Gower yesterday, passed and moved, made himself available for the next pass and appeared to be able to do the simple things well. Maybe Stephens and the rest of the midfield can learn the same things.
Sometimes I wonder if he hasn't actually fallen asleep :-)
He has a year left on his contract (I think) and he could be one year into a three or four deal on much, much more if we'd sold him last summer.
If I were him I think I would be really p*ssed off at being denied that life changing opportunity - especially if it was looking likely that I'd never get another chance.
If he has just a year left we need to move him on this summer or risk having him leave on a free, and if he is fed up with us refusing to sell him to Villa he is unlikely to sign a new contract.
I thought at the time we should have sold him to Villa for the king of money we were being offered. Nothing that I've seen in the last seven months has changed my mind.
According to Chris Powell, Stephens has been sidelined with a hip injury for the past couple of weeks and didn't report back for training until last Thursday.
Then picked up the same stomach bug that ruled out Matt Taylor for the Bolton game.
Airman Brown's later description confirmed that it was enough that I would have accepted it.
The big issue, however, is that when a young player is denied a move like that it often does irreparable damage to the relationship between payer and club.