One thing I did notice compiling that (yeah, I went through all 46 games) was that as soon as Stephens had a bad game, the whole team had a bad game and he was duly dropped for the next where our response was variable. Probably highlights the importance of a steady and consistent midfield performer a la Hughes.
One thing I did notice compiling that (yeah, I went through all 46 games) was that as soon as Stephens had a bad game, the whole team had a bad game and he was duly dropped for the next where our response was variable. Probably highlights the importance of a steady and consistent midfield performer a la Hughes.
He's got a touch of class, but we need players who contribute throughout 90 mins rather than the odd piece of brilliance here and there. Ironically he may be better suited to the Premier League where he would probably find more space and more passing options. Being surrounded by better players would also benefit his style of play.
That's what some were saying a year ago about the Championship. With better team mates also comes better opposition. If Premier League players know he can be out muscled or out paced they're not going to give him time on the ball.
I still think that alongside Kermorgant he is our most technically gifted player. Have been a supporter of his this season but the run in we have had without him involved has been amazing. Maybe he is too much of a luxury at the moment, but I think he will improve and turn into an excellent player.
If dale stephens Signed for another club in our league I personally would be quite happy if I saw him on the opposition team sheet.
I would see him as a weak link and not a danger in the slightest.
^^ this
Does anybody really know if Villa (or anyone else) genuinely tabled a bid or "...asked for permission to speak to..." or was his name just tossed around as leverage for AV in their ultimate securing of Ashley Westwood. If there was an offer sufficient to pay him off I can't see that spanish Tony would have hesitated for a second. Stephens at AV in PL would have seen them relegated by now
If dale stephens Signed for another club in our league I personally would be quite happy if I saw him on the opposition team sheet.
I would see him as a weak link and not a danger in the slightest.
^^ this
Does anybody really know if Villa (or anyone else) genuinely tabled a bid or "...asked for permission to speak to..." or was his name just tossed around as leverage for AV in their ultimate securing of Ashley Westwood. If there was an offer sufficient to pay him off I can't see that spanish Tony would have hesitated for a second. Stephens at AV in PL would have seen them relegated by now
Yes, Richard Murray confirmed at Bromley Addicks that bids were made and the two clubs came close, but not close enough, to agreeing a fee.
Looks like I'm well in the minority of those who who think he could be a top player in this league given a bit more consistency.
Can't think of a CAFC player for ages who can match Stephen's vision and range of passes.
Agree with this, big fan is Stephens. Think he needs the right management and a bit of confidence.
I know I'm getting boring but he needs the right player alongside him, without that he will be unable to realise his potential IMO.
Agreed ...... but there is something about Stephens, that seems to be missing.
There should be a good player in there. He has decent technical ability, neat and tidy, and given time can pick a pass and has a thunderous shot.
Yet he will go sideways or backwards with much of his passing, playing team mates into trouble and too often gets caught in possession himself in dangerous areas.
He seems sometimes slow to see a situation or to take advantage of it. Maybe he just doesn't read the game quickly enough, often enough?
My biggest criticism of Dale is his ability to lose possession in dangerous positions - he seems half-asleep sometimes.
We play him too deep in my view. Get a holding midfielder alongside him and move him up the pitch. He's got goals in him, he's a brilliant passer when he wants to be - like Murphy, if he gets 1 in 3 passes right there's a decent chance at the end of it, but play him deep and the 2 out of 3 create chances for the opposition.
My biggest criticism of Dale is his ability to lose possession in dangerous positions - he seems half-asleep sometimes.
We play him too deep in my view. Get a holding midfielder alongside him and move him up the pitch.
Agree but at the moment Jackson is doing that job and doing it very well.
Stephens may well have also thrived with Hughes behind him (I think most players would) but I can't see him getting the nod in front of JJ for a while yet.
He clearly has ability, it's whether he can be consistent enough and dominant enough to use that ability?
i asked him at the POTY meal why he werent playing and he said he didnt know cos he wasnt injured. said to him he'll be back in next season and that he was too good for reserves and he just said that he wouldnt promise that he'd be there as you never know what'll happen.
also said he prefers playing in attacking midfield and that where he plays most games isnt his best position
No u take it from having 2 weeks off work after the villa debacle
I take it from having 2 weeks off work due to home sickness
I take it from his peformance on the pitch where a lack of application is harming his game
He is underperforming and not playing to his potential. So why i am not allowed to say abetter attitude would help?
Hollywood ball merchants are great if those balls actually come off more than once a season
I'm not so sure it was his decision to take "two weeks off work" after the Villa move collapsed.
So he had two weeks off due to home sickness - who knows what was going on? From what I understand he does have a new born baby and his family are all up north. Some people deal with those situations better, yes, but I think its unfair to use that as an example of a poor 'attitude'.
Before we signed him, Soton had Dale on loan and never signed him. Yes, he was injured for some of his loan spell, but Adkins clearly wasn't totally convinced he was Championship material, and with their budget money was hardly the issue.
My biggest criticism of Dale is his ability to lose possession in dangerous positions - he seems half-asleep sometimes.
We play him too deep in my view. Get a holding midfielder alongside him and move him up the pitch. He's got goals in him, he's a brilliant passer when he wants to be - like Murphy, if he gets 1 in 3 passes right there's a decent chance at the end of it, but play him deep and the 2 out of 3 create chances for the opposition.
I feel like a lot of the problem there is that Dale has a habit of dropping deeper and deeper of his own accord. When he's not on good form you see him drifting further and further and allowing the opposition space in the middle as a result. I think he needs to work on his positioning and he'd be more effective
Comments
with: W6 D7 L5
without: W2 D2 L3
2013
with: W4 D1 L3
without: W6 D4 L3
One thing I did notice compiling that (yeah, I went through all 46 games) was that as soon as Stephens had a bad game, the whole team had a bad game and he was duly dropped for the next where our response was variable. Probably highlights the importance of a steady and consistent midfield performer a la Hughes.
Saying that Ashley Westwood, who Villa signed instead of Stephens, has done well for them - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/02/aston-villa-contracts
I would see him as a weak link and not a danger in the slightest.
Undecided on Stephens
Does anybody really know if Villa (or anyone else) genuinely tabled a bid or "...asked for permission to speak to..." or was his name just tossed around as leverage for AV in their ultimate securing of Ashley Westwood. If there was an offer sufficient to pay him off I can't see that spanish Tony would have hesitated for a second.
Stephens at AV in PL would have seen them relegated by now
There should be a good player in there.
He has decent technical ability, neat and tidy, and given time can pick a pass and has a thunderous shot.
Yet he will go sideways or backwards with much of his passing, playing team mates into trouble and too often gets caught in possession himself in dangerous areas.
He seems sometimes slow to see a situation or to take advantage of it.
Maybe he just doesn't read the game quickly enough, often enough?
Major hurdle is that he might be able to thread a ball through the eye of a needle but he doesnt see the passes often enough.
Used to rate him. Combination of attitude and poor play has put me right off
Stephens may well have also thrived with Hughes behind him (I think most players would) but I can't see him getting the nod in front of JJ for a while yet.
He clearly has ability, it's whether he can be consistent enough and dominant enough to use that ability?
also said he prefers playing in attacking midfield and that where he plays most games isnt his best position
No u take it from having 2 weeks off work after the villa debacle
I take it from having 2 weeks off work due to home sickness
I take it from his peformance on the pitch where a lack of application is harming his game
He is underperforming and not playing to his potential. So why i am not allowed to say abetter attitude would help?
Hollywood ball merchants are great if those balls actually come off more than once a season
So he had two weeks off due to home sickness - who knows what was going on? From what I understand he does have a new born baby and his family are all up north. Some people deal with those situations better, yes, but I think its unfair to use that as an example of a poor 'attitude'.
As the fella above states "too good for the reserves" a direct quote. I want him to do wellbit he needs to take a lool at himself and his application