He was one of those quiet players that rested benignly under some supporters radar. I'd slowly become a convert to the Stephen's camp and I reckon that we are going to miss him a lot.
Its all well and good selling players but only if you replace them with the same sort of quality or better. Is it the fact that the players salarys have now increased now we have got promoted that we are breaking up a succsesful team.
We had a first team squad of battling Hero's last season and IMHO I think Dale was one of he slight disappointments. Never see him "running" a midfield even in league one. I have hopes for him but I won't be devastated if he leaves as long as we get in a decent replacement.
Its all well and good selling players but only if you replace them with the same sort of quality or better. Is it the fact that the players salarys have now increased now we have got promoted that we are breaking up a succsesful team.
In fairness though it was a team that was successfull at a lower level. If selling Stephens means we can bring in a player (or retain the current players) who will help us bridge that sizeable gap then it's good business.
I don't think Powell will stand for flogging him with no replacement.
Shame if he goes but like Solly you can't turn down good cash for unproven players at this level but I like Stephens though as inbetween the workmanlike Charlton ethic I like to see a bit of flair.
If we need some cash then rather it be Stephens than Solly, much better business for the club. We could loan a midfield player in, ex prem to cover the squad shortage
Will be diasppointed to see him go cos I thought he'd filled out a bit more when I saw him against leicester He seems to have a bit more time on the ball than others and if he's only 22 ?? he really has got time on his side to improve and I'd like to have seen him develop and his corners are pretty tastey and without him or green playing we don't have anyone delivering that much quality , I think pin up boy solly even took some last year and his delivery isn't all that imo
Bit early to say whether he would cut it in the champ or not don't you think?
Looked like he was starting to turn the screw on sat until the monsoon showed up.
I'm confused. People seem to think Stephens is Zico.
He's a tidy player and I dare say will become a decent player but if Villa are offering us good money NOW we should take it and move on. If rumours are to be believed he wanted to go back oop north and it seems we could do with the money. I trust SCP to get in an able replacement (I still want Wordsworth and Ritchie from Swindon)
But the money being mentioned is not that good imo.
There's something about Stephens that is a cut above anything we have. He's by no means the finished article i'll admit, but with steady improvement at this level Id be willing to say we'd get at least double the mentioned amounts in say 6 months to a years time.
When he was disapointing / frustrating in league one people were saying he would be better suited to The Championship. Now I'm hearing that he's definitely better suited to the premiership. I think there is definitely a decent footballer in there but teasing him out seems to be a lot harder than we would all have hoped. if we could afford the luxury of persevering with Dale I would be happy for that but if we need to sell to either survive and or reinvest then so be it.
Stephens may be one of those players who actually performs better in a higher division - he'll certainly have more time/space to pick a pass (which he can certainly do), and his crossing & set pieces are certainly up there.
But if you lined up all the players we have that could conceivably attract a Prem bid (say, Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Wiggins, Kermo and, it seems, Stephens) i'd certainly take the sale of Stephens above any of those others.
I'll be very sad to see any player leave that CP obviously rates. He played an important role last season and I'd like to see how he steps up this.
AV are desperate and watching MOD at the weekend their rubbish midfield could only be improved by a player with skill and the opportunity to prove himself at top level.
Comments
Going to be lots of these rumours over the next few days.
Personally think we will miss Dale if he goes
I don't think Powell will stand for flogging him with no replacement.
Just need to get another in.
Looked like he was starting to turn the screw on sat until the monsoon showed up.
He seems to have a bit more time on the ball than others and if he's only 22 ?? he really has got time on his side to improve and I'd like to have seen him develop and his corners are pretty tastey and without him or green playing we don't have anyone delivering that much quality , I think pin up boy solly even took some last year and his delivery isn't all that imo
He's a tidy player and I dare say will become a decent player but if Villa are offering us good money NOW we should take it and move on. If rumours are to be believed he wanted to go back oop north and it seems we could do with the money. I trust SCP to get in an able replacement (I still want Wordsworth and Ritchie from Swindon)
There's something about Stephens that is a cut above anything we have. He's by no means the finished article i'll admit, but with steady improvement at this level Id be willing to say we'd get at least double the mentioned amounts in say 6 months to a years time.
But if you lined up all the players we have that could conceivably attract a Prem bid (say, Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Wiggins, Kermo and, it seems, Stephens) i'd certainly take the sale of Stephens above any of those others.
AV are desperate and watching MOD at the weekend their rubbish midfield could only be improved by a player with skill and the opportunity to prove himself at top level.
Makes you laugh how many things get told to people on here before Crawley gets them