Dale Stephens

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Jakubs Tash
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Dale Stephens

Post by Jakubs Tash » Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:43 pm

Very simply; do you think he might move on this summer?

For what it's worth, I think he has been harshly criticised by some fans and is a much more competent footballer than he gets credit for. Also, if played in his correct position, which is a sitter in a central midfield three, I think we would see a different side to him than what we have witnessed so far.

However, Stephens has hardly figured under Dyche unless through necessity and hasn't even come off the bench very much as fresh legs or to change shape/see a game out.

It's quite clear that Dyche signed Stephens as a cheap option to bring in an extra body when we were short at the start of the season but as the season has progressed he hasn't really been used at all and, at his age, perhaps Stephens needs to move on to play some football for his own good.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by ClaretAndBlue94 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:48 pm

I normally defend players when they are critisised - But I have not seen anything that makes me think Stephens is 'a much more competent footballer then he gets credit for'.

Poor player and an even worse signing. 5 years too late.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by randomclaret2 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:52 pm

There was a reason that he was only £750 k.The chances of signing a Premier League regular for that money are slim.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:55 pm

ClaretAndBlue94 wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:48 pm
I normally defend players when they are critisised - But I have not seen anything that makes me think Stephens is 'a much more competent footballer then he gets credit for'.

Poor player and an even worse signing. 5 years too late.
Given he's hardly kicked a ball since October I'm not sure how you have evaluated him

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Boss Hogg » Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:59 pm

The OP covers it with ‘Cheap Option’ and ‘Extra Body’. He was bought when Garlick wouldn’t release any money in case it affected what he could trouser. Past it and not good enough. Hopefully we will move him on.
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by cricketfieldclarets » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:03 pm

Hard to say whether he is good enough. Was never one who excited and the fact he is a player Dyche has fancied for sometime but then never used him at all when he does land him probably says it all.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Silkyskills1 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:03 pm

Have to agree with CT. It would be interesting to know how many minutes he has played for us this season. His arrival co-incided with an extremely poor start for us and he became scapegoat number? To answer the question though, Yes, I think he may well move on though it seems that a club in the North West of the country might have to be his destination.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:06 pm

Silkyskills1 wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:03 pm
Have to agree with CT. It would be interesting to know how many minutes he has played for us this season. His arrival co-incided with an extremely poor start for us and he became scapegoat number? To answer the question though, Yes, I think he may well move on though it seems that a club in the North West of the country might have to be his destination.
He's played 258 Premier League minutes for us and hasn't started a game since October.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Bosscat » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:10 pm

I think I trust Sean Dyches judgment on D Stephens over some on here ... and Sean likes him.

I remember a number going on about Matt Lowton and Ash Westwood in a similar vein on here...

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by The Enclosure » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:12 pm

Unless he is given a proper chance we will never know.For Dale Stevens read Matej Vydra.!

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by tiger76 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:36 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:06 pm
He's played 258 Premier League minutes for us and hasn't started a game since October.
Yes and he's only completed 90 minutes against Southampton at the start of the season when we were down to the bare bones, he has played and completed all our FA Cup ties this season mind you, and injuries haven't helped his cause, but now that Cork is fully fit again, along with Brownhill, JBG and Westwood, plus Josh Benson as an option it's hard to see where he fits into our long-term plans, and he does still have a year on his contract, so if we could shift him on even for a modest fee it might well benefit both parties, as I can't see him getting much regular game time next season either, in fact if anything he's likely to get less minutes.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by MACCA » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:41 pm

Hopefully, its time to start improving the 11, this guy doesnt even improve the back up option.

Says something when a team below us deemed him surplus to requirements.
He was literally just a body and probably the cheapest we could have got.
Mike didnt want to be spending any of his cash in the bank, he had other plans for that

But if one of the 2 CM got an injury we would all be stating why didnt we get a cheap CM option with some PL experience like Stephen's ( if he had gone somewhere else )
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Bigvince » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:44 pm

He’s our forth choice central midfielder, so was only ever likely to figure if we had 2 injured in that area, plus he was hardly ever going to excite anybody, he’s not that type of player.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Silkyskills1 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:48 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:06 pm
He's played 258 Premier League minutes for us and hasn't started a game since October.
So that's less than three games. Didn't realise he hasn't started a game since the second month of the season. It just seems strange to think of any Burnley player currently appearing to be surplus to requirement,given the numbers.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Vegas Claret » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:03 pm

If Dyche had been given anything resembling a budget then there is no way we would have signed him imho.
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by beddie » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:04 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:06 pm
He's played 258 Premier League minutes for us and hasn't started a game since October.
Injuries apart you have to question why. I don't believe it's just down to players being infront of him, he couldn't even get into a Brighton team. Personally a panic buy for me and in the time I've seen him play he looks miles away from it.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by superdimitri » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:10 pm

He's just not adapted well to our system. As you say he is more of an 'Anchor Man' and his play best suited to a central midfield of 3.

Could actually have a key role to play next season if we adopt the same approach we did at tough away games like the recent Manchester United game.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:12 pm

beddie wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:04 pm
Injuries apart you have to question why. I don't believe it's just down to players being infront of him, he couldn't even get into a Brighton team. Personally a panic buy for me and in the time I've seen him play he looks miles away from it.
He went straight into the team when he first came but then was out injured for some time. I'm not defending his position at all but I'm not sure how people can be over critical of a player who has less than three Premier League game minutes this season. He wasn't fully fit when he made the starts which led to the long period out injured. He was a player Dyche wanted very much in the summer of 2016 so hardly a panic buy.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Taffy on the wing » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:16 pm

Jakubs Tash wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:43 pm
Very simply; do you think he might move on this summer?

For what it's worth, I think he has been harshly criticised by some fans and is a much more competent footballer than he gets credit for. Also, if played in his correct position, which is a sitter in a central midfield three, I think we would see a different side to him than what we have witnessed so far.

However, Stephens has hardly figured under Dyche unless through necessity and hasn't even come off the bench very much as fresh legs or to change shape/see a game out.

It's quite clear that Dyche signed Stephens as a cheap option to bring in an extra body when we were short at the start of the season but as the season has progressed he hasn't really been used at all and, at his age, perhaps Stephens needs to move on to play some football for his own good.
When his legs are fresh, he's slower than the guy he's replacing. Move him on.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by box_of_frogs » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:22 pm

Taffy on the wing wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:16 pm
When his legs are fresh, he's slower than the guy he's replacing. Move him on.
Agreed. 5 years too late.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by jojomk1 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:28 pm

Jakubs Tash wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:43 pm
Very simply; do you think he might move on this summer?
No

Would you, if you had the chance of adding another £1m to your pension fund courtesy of Burnley FC

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by durhamclaret » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:28 pm

Jakubs Tash wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:43 pm
Very simply; do you think he might move on this summer?

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by durhamclaret » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:31 pm

Yes I hope so.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Rowls » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:31 pm

He has looked either not fit (don't know if there's an niggling long term injury we don't know about) or past it. When a player comes with such a highly regarded attitude and a reputation for professionalism I cannot think of another feasible reason.

It'll be up to Sean to decide (or know) which of the two it is but he really hasn't looked the business for us.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Vegas Claret » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:36 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:12 pm
He went straight into the team when he first came but then was out injured for some time. I'm not defending his position at all but I'm not sure how people can be over critical of a player who has less than three Premier League game minutes this season. He wasn't fully fit when he made the starts which led to the long period out injured. He was a player Dyche wanted very much in the summer of 2016 so hardly a panic buy.
massive difference in the player from 2016. I'm not convinced had Dyche been given 7 million to spend we would have signed him. We needed bodies and he was within the non budget.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:50 pm

Rowls wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:31 pm
He has looked either not fit (don't know if there's an niggling long term injury we don't know about) or past it. When a player comes with such a highly regarded attitude and a reputation for professionalism I cannot think of another feasible reason.

It'll be up to Sean to decide (or know) which of the two it is but he really hasn't looked the business for us.
He wasn't fit when he played those early games, that was obvious, Dyche said as much and eventually he had to be left out of the squad, ironically at Brighton. He's just had three sub appearances in the league since totally around 40 minutes. So far it hasn't worked but at the time I thought he'd be a good signing for us, particularly knowing that Jack Cork would be out for a while.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Rowls » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:53 pm

Yeah I had presumed he was obviously injured from his performances but sometimes that's what triggers a player's playing days as being over.

We've all seen it happen before.

Who knows, eh? I think we might get one good season out of him but who knows?

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Elbarad » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:56 pm

He's a seasoned pro who was brought on for squad depth. A player who if needed could be called upon to provide a competent and professional performance. I think he's done what he was brought on to do. Especially considering our budget limitations. I for one never expected or hoped he'd be anything more then a bench player who could come in if there was an injury to a Central Mid and give us 15 or 20 minutes at the end of a match with the hope that the player injured would be fit for the next week or that we'd have time to prepare a younger player like Benson to play a full game.
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by KRBFC » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:58 pm

Bosscat wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:10 pm
I think I trust Sean Dyches judgment on D Stephens over some on here ... and Sean likes him.

Does he?

I'd argue ''some on here'' are the ones trusting Dyche's judgement as Stephens isn't good enough.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Bosscat » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:59 pm

KRBFC wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:58 pm
Does he?
Chased his signature many times ... what do you think 🤔

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by KRBFC » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:02 pm

Jakubs Tash wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 2:43 pm
Very simply; do you think he might move on this summer?

For what it's worth, I think he has been harshly criticised by some fans and is a much more competent footballer than he gets credit for. Also, if played in his correct position, which is a sitter in a central midfield three, I think we would see a different side to him than what we have witnessed so far.

However, Stephens has hardly figured under Dyche unless through necessity and hasn't even come off the bench very much as fresh legs or to change shape/see a game out.

It's quite clear that Dyche signed Stephens as a cheap option to bring in an extra body when we were short at the start of the season but as the season has progressed he hasn't really been used at all and, at his age, perhaps Stephens needs to move on to play some football for his own good.
I've seen nothing to suggest Stephens is a more competent footballer than he gets credit for, he's been woeful for us and looked so past it. fresh legs? he'd be more tired and leggy than the player he's replacing mid game.

As for his correct position, did Chris Houghton not play 442 at Brighton?

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by KRBFC » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:04 pm

Bosscat wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:59 pm
Chased his signature many times ... what do you think 🤔
So Sean liked him once upon a time, then once he got him, decides against playing him. It's pretty clear Sean thinks Stephens isn't good enough anymore and I agree with Dyche, I take Dyche's opinion over ''some on here''.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by tim_noone » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:15 pm

I believe Real Madrid were Desperate to sign Him but the terms offered didnt match Burnley's.
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by MrTopTier » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:15 pm

Dale Stephens even at his best would not be in the team ahead of Westwood and Cork. Treading water at Brighton for the last couple of years. Nothing but a squad filler and as others have said five years past his sell by date.
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Vegas Claret » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:17 pm

at the time we signed him the consensus on the Brighton board was his legs had gone at PL level but many wanted to keep him as he would be more than good enough at Championship level should they go down. I've not seen enough of him to make a truly fair judgement but the bits I have seen he's been average at best.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by pushpinpussy » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:29 pm

i did wonder when the negativity would start on here again.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by joey13 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:42 pm

pushpinpussy wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:29 pm
i did wonder when the negativity would start on here again.
Or that someone has a different opinion to you :roll:
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by MrTopTier » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:42 pm

pushpinpussy wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:29 pm
i did wonder when the negativity would start on here again.
Football message board, a discussion about a player who some people rate and some don’t. Am I missing something?

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Quickenthetempo » Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:00 pm

I'd forgotten he was here to be honest.

I do wonder how he passed his medical though with the injury problems happening more or less straight away.

Dyche wanted him and it's his call at the end of the day.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Belgianclaret » Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:19 pm

How about Lansbury then ;)
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by bfcjg » Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:19 pm

Time to move him on, we need more agility in midfield.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by pushpinpussy » Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:25 pm

MrTopTier wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:42 pm
Football message board, a discussion about a player who some people rate and some don’t. Am I missing something?
its the usual posters like yourself sounding as lugubrious than usual
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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by ksrclaret » Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:36 pm

pushpinpussy wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:25 pm
its the usual posters like yourself sounding as lugubrious than usual
Make it make sense.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by BOYSIE31 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:16 pm

Total waste of time and money - panic buy on the cheap but still more wasted money

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by MrTopTier » Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:22 pm

pushpinpussy wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:25 pm
its the usual posters like yourself sounding as lugubrious than usual
I am going to give you a like for using a big word in your sentence, makes a change from the usual crap you post.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by warksclaret » Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:27 pm

A bit like Vydra when he joined us, I believe he has had a rough deal in terms of game time. When Benson comes on from the bench ahead of him it sounds a tad unfair. He must be wondering what he has done-presumably he has relocated his family too.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Steve1956 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:29 pm

Stephens must be regretting signing for us more than Ben Gibson did....cant see Stephens ever threatening to get a start for us again,i 'd offload him and free up a wage.....panic signing five years to late.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by FeedTheArf » Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:45 pm

An astute signing given he provides experienced cover for peanuts (in Premier League terms). Admittedly he’s been unlucky with injuries.

If we manage to strengthen the XI this summer we shouldn’t have a problem in someone taking him off our hands, even on a loan.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by Boss Hogg » Fri Apr 30, 2021 8:31 pm

Taffy on the wing wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:16 pm
When his legs are fresh, he's slower than the guy he's replacing. Move him on.
:D
Sometimes you don’t need to see more of a player to know it’s not going to work out and they won’t cut it .....Stephens....Flanagan ... Eckersley....Gallagher ....D Jones Mk1.... the list is endless and sometimes they were formerly half decent players. Sometimes ( but not in this case) you know there’s a good player in there and they are just temporarily unfit.

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Re: Dale Stephens

Post by cricketfieldclarets » Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:22 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:12 pm
He went straight into the team when he first came but then was out injured for some time. I'm not defending his position at all but I'm not sure how people can be over critical of a player who has less than three Premier League game minutes this season. He wasn't fully fit when he made the starts which led to the long period out injured. He was a player Dyche wanted very much in the summer of 2016 so hardly a panic buy.
Five years is a long long time in football.

Not only should we be looking at better than the stephens from then. We should certainly be looking at better than him now.

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