Dale Stephens

[IanMcL]

He is a competent footballer. Just not as good as the current competition.

He is a Claret. One of us.

[cricketfieldclarets]

The most alarming thing is. He’s played very few games anyway. But in those he’s featured our record reads.

Played 7
Won 1 (sheff Utd)
Drawn 0
Lost 6
For 2
Against 14
Points 3

[Newcastleclaret93]

The most alarming thing is. He’s played very few games anyway. But in those he’s featured our record reads.

Played 7
Won 1 (sheff Utd)
Drawn 0
Lost 6
For 2
Against 14
Points 3

Might be wrong but didn’t the majority of his games also have Jimmy Dunne and Kev long at the back.

[Burnley1989]

Harsh by most on here, once fit, he’s a decent footballer

[Jakubs Tash]

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

Sometimes....in the Championship. Which as we know is a very different level to the Prem. In the time he played regularly in the Premier League he almost always played in a midfield 3.

[Jakubs Tash]

Not many actually answered the question posed in the op. Instead choosing to have a pop at said player and the original transfer....

[Bigvince]

Such a shame we can’t afford Kevin De Bruyne as a 4th choice central midfielder

[claretcarrot93]

Such a shame we can’t afford Kevin De Bruyne as a 4th choice central midfielder

Why would you have De Bruyne at 4th choice?

[Colburn_Claret]

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.

We probably bought him a season or two, too late. He isn't a bad player but has had limited opportunities, which coincided with us fielding weakened teams in more than one position. I'm sure he was a valuable back up when Jack was out, but with 3 fit players ahead of him, and hopefully Benson or a.n.other U23 ready to push on, he might well be better off moving on.
He hasn't hit any heights, but he doesn't deserve much if the critucsm he's been given.

[Bigvince]

Why would you have De Bruyne at 4th choice?

Obviously my post is in response to suggestions Dale Stephens isn’t good enough to be our 4th choice central midfielder, but you already knew that!

[jrgbfc]

He's only on a 2 year deal so we may as well just keep him as a squad man for next season. It's unlikely we'd get any sort of fee for him anyway.

[Mattster]

Said at the time that it was a signing we'd regret and when we're on such a tight budget tying up £30k a week (probably more) in a player who would very quickly become 4th or even 5th choice was a stupidly short term way of thinking. We'll owe Brighton a further £750k if we stay up too. I said we'd probably find ourselves in 2 years having a player cost nearly £5m in fees and wages but barely make it into double figures for starts.

Just think, in January if we didn't have money tied up in Stephens' contract, plus the fee paid and add ons due, we would have had a further £4.5m+ available to spend. Might that have been enough to get Collins over the line? Would be nice to have in the coming Summer window certainly. But instead we'll have a 32 year old 4th choice centre midfielder that's spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch.

[Hipper]

Didn't he have a good game against Fulham in the FA Cup - I know, Fulham 'reserves' but even so.

I thought he was surplus to Brighton's requirements because of their new style of play under Potter.

Brownhill had only played ten Premier Leagues games before the start of this season, Cork was injured, Gudmunsson and Brady are in and out with injuries, neither Benson or Glennon are ready, Hendrick and Lennon were gone.

Stephens becomes available. What would you do?

[Hedontplayforyou]

Unless Benson is up to the standard next season then I’d say we need another central midfielder anyway, after seeing us adopt 3 in the middle against United this could signify the way we will operate from now on against the bigger sides...? Albeit it might not, but if it does we need another and I’d expect it to be a younger one, perhaps in the Brownhill age category or younger as Cork, Westwood and Stephens are all in their peak years now.

[Rileybobs]

Seems that some folk can’t get their head around the idea of a squad. Ideally our fourth choice midfielder will be cheap and won’t be required to play very often. That’s been the case.

[Mattster]

Seems that some folk can’t get their head around the idea of a squad. Ideally our fourth choice midfielder will be cheap and won’t be required to play very often. That’s been the case.

We have Benson who seems perfectly capable of being 4th choice (whilst Gomez Mancini looks even better in the U23s). This was just wasted money when the squad had/has much more pressing needs.

[Steve1956]

Stephens becomes available. What would you do?

Sign Henri Lansbury

[Rileybobs]

We have Benson who seems perfectly capable of being 4th choice (whilst Gomez Mancini looks even better in the U23s). This was just wasted money when the squad had/has much more pressing needs.

People on here have droned on about our lack of backup in midfield for years. Now some are complaining that we have too many midfielders. Only on here...

[diamondpocket]

Said at the time that it was a signing we'd regret and when we're on such a tight budget tying up £30k a week (probably more) in a player who would very quickly become 4th or even 5th choice was a stupidly short term way of thinking. We'll owe Brighton a further £750k if we stay up too. I said we'd probably find ourselves in 2 years having a player cost nearly £5m in fees and wages but barely make it into double figures for starts.

Just think, in January if we didn't have money tied up in Stephens' contract, plus the fee paid and add ons due, we would have had a further £4.5m+ available to spend. Might that have been enough to get Collins over the line? Would be nice to have in the coming Summer window certainly. But instead we'll have a 32 year old 4th choice centre midfielder that's spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch.

Let's hope this is the kind of thing Alan Pace changes in our transfer policy. From a business point of view what you have described Matt is certainly not using the little money we have wisely.

[Hedontplayforyou]

We have Benson who seems perfectly capable of being 4th choice (whilst Gomez Mancini looks even better in the U23s). This was just wasted money when the squad had/has much more pressing needs.

Have you seen Gomez Mancini play? I’m interested in this lads development

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

We are short in midfield, hes not impacted the team at all and looks far too slow for what we need him for. Signed around five years too late.

Hoping we can get at least one new starter in midfield the coming transfer window.

[Mattster]

People on here have droned on about our lack of backup in midfield for years. Now some are complaining that we have too many midfielders. Only on here...

Aye, but was anyone droning on about centre midfield in Summer? Or was the focus on wingers and a right back?

Weird, eh? It's almost like the needs of a squad change over time...

[Mattster]

Have you seen Gomez Mancini play? I’m interested in this lads development

Yeah I watch all the U23 games they stream and he always stands out. Very tidy on the ball, picks out good passes and doesn't lack bite. Not the quickest but technically good.

[Rileybobs]

Aye, but was anyone droning on about centre midfield in Summer? Or was the focus on wingers and a right back?

Weird, eh? It's almost like the needs of a squad change over time...

I’m not sure what wingers and a right back have to do with us signing Dale Stephen’s. We have 2 right backs so that position was no more of a priority than midfield. And presumably the signing of Stephens didn’t prevent us from signing a right back or winger.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Yeah I watch all the U23 games they stream and he always stands out. Very tidy on the ball, picks out good passes and doesn't lack bite. Not the quickest but technically good.

That’s good to hear! Was a different one when he arrived and we found out it was originally a loan deal. Hopefully the lad pushes on, as for his pace, would you say he’s as quick as Jack Cork? He’s no Usain Bolt but he’s a fine player on his day?

[Mattster]

I’m not sure what wingers and a right back have to do with us signing Dale Stephen’s. We have 2 right backs so that position was no more of a priority than midfield. And presumably the signing of Stephens didn’t prevent us from signing a right back or winger.

One of our right backs is 35. Whilst our oldest midfielder is... (checks notes) Dale Stephens at 31. At the time it was Cork, also 31. In terms of succession planning a RB was/is much higher up the scale than a 5th central midfielder. A winger even more so.

And if you can't see why tying up £4.5m+ in Stephens may have prevented us from making other signings (and continue to do so) then I don't think we'll get anywhere here.

[Rileybobs]

One of our right backs is 35. Whilst our oldest midfielder is... (checks notes) Dale Stephens at 31. At the time it was Cork, also 31. In terms of succession planning a RB was/is much higher up the scale than a 5th central midfielder. A winger even more so.

And if you can't see why tying up £4.5m+ in Stephens may have prevented us from making other signings (and continue to do so) then I don't think we'll get anywhere here.

I didn’t say that I couldn’t see why signing Stephen’s may have prevented us from signing someone else. I said that it’s doubtful that it did.

Had Westwood picked up an injury during Cork’s absence then Stephens would have been called upon. Whilst we need to plan ahead and look for a right back it was certainly not a priority at the start of this season. Carrying 3 right backs would have been overkill.

We don’t have a list of positions where we require signings in order of priority, and only move down the list when we sign someone in the most priority position. We signed Stephens because the right player became available at the right price. He had been one of Dyche’s targets for some time.

[Mattster]

I didn’t say that I couldn’t see why signing Stephen’s may have prevented us from signing someone else. I said that it’s doubtful that it did.

Had Westwood picked up an injury during Cork’s absence then Stephens would have been called upon. Whilst we need to plan ahead and look for a right back it was certainly not a priority at the start of this season. Carrying 3 right backs would have been overkill.

We don’t have a list of positions where we require signings in order of priority, and only move down the list when we sign someone in the most priority position. We signed Stephens because the right player became available at the right price. He had been one of Dyche’s targets for some time.

Dyche selected Benson ahead of Stephens on more than one occasion which suggests he trusted him enough. Think he'd have done fine as 4th choice and we could have used the money elsewhere.

At the end of the day £4.5m+ to "just in case" cover the 3 months Cork was injured is a ridiculous waste of money and I can't see it otherwise.

[cricketfieldclarets]

People on here have droned on about our lack of backup in midfield for years. Now some are complaining that we have too many midfielders. Only on here...

But we should be looking to improve on the eleven and thus improve the bench that way. Granted it takes more to do so.

[willsclarets]

At the time, I thought it was a sensible signing. We weren't going to spend a lot of money, and we needed numbers. He fitted the bill. It's no criticism of him really to say that we should be hoping for improvements to the first 11 next year, and a freshening up of an ageing squad. I know we haven't seen much of him, but I think we know enough from his career to know what he is and what he can give us. For his own career, I hope he moves on and gets some football, probably in the championship. For us, I hope we have some younger exciting talent with potential trying to shift westy, Cork and Brownhill out of their starting shirts.

[Rileybobs]

But we should be looking to improve on the eleven and thus improve the bench that way. Granted it takes more to do so.

I’m sure we are looking to do so. But it is very difficult for us to improve our starting eleven because players who are better than our starting eleven cost an awful lot of money. I’ve said similar on another thread, but the reality is that we’re highly unlikely to see players pull on a Burnley shirt who are significantly better than those who currently do.

[Dark Cloud]

Harsh by most on here, once fit, he’s a decent footballer

WAS a decent footballer.