[Albion] Daily Mail reporting Albion have rejected £4m from Burnley for Dale Stephens

[Nixonator]

You don't rate Sidwell then or think that maybe the club have already brought in a replacement in Norwood?

At the moment I am more concerned about central defence where we are very light as things stand.

I do rate Sidwell quite a bit, and wasn't one of those getting on his back in his first few games hull,cardiff etc.

I don't think he's as much of a goal threat as DS and I don't think he can keep the same levels of consistency up all season which are my two main concerns, especially with his age.

And no I don't think Norwood is a replacement, he is a different player albeit a very good one. Bringing him into a 442 with Kayal would hurt us I think in the bigger games. He is much more suited to a midfield 3, bolstering the middle of the park to hold onto a lead or playing the same system and sitting deep for tough away games in my opinion.

We would get good use out of our midfield 4 this season irrespective of potential injuries, which is why it confuses me how people think Norwood is a replacement, unless they think we're going to utilise Ince again or Towell.

 

[brightonrock]

People seem to be missing the point that we could double his wages and he'd still get more at Burnley. We could offer huge promotion bonuses but whether you think it's likely we'd get promoted and Burnley relegated, neither of those things aren't guaranteed.

We may NEVER go up. Equally Burnley might stay up. The only thing guaranteed is Dale would get paid more there, for at least one guaranteed season in the Prem. Staying with us on the promise of riches IF we go up isn't the same as a guaranteed 30k+ a week for a year. It's all very well but that promise may never follow through.

I have a feeling he'll go - probably for around the fee being reported. That £7m could pay for a centre half and a midfield replacement, with room to spare for wages. And for those saying he's irreplaceable - of course he's not. I think he's our best midfielder - but then Bridcutt was POTY two seasons running. He was replaced and I doubt many would argue we're not a better team now. If Dale goes, we'll get somebody else in, and we'll be doing it because Burnley want to pay silly money for a guy with 11 months left on his contract. That's not a lack of ambition, that's a head over heart decision.

 

[Javeaseagull]

I think this is about making a statement by TB that we are serious about going up this season. Of course Dale Stephens could be replaced but TB and CH don’t want to have to do that.
To my mind TB is taking a 7 mil gamble that we will get promoted with DS onboard and sends a message to the team, fans and other clubs that we go forward together.
Pretty sure that stakes that high will appeal to our Chairman.
Stephens is contracted for another season and after that, who knows?

 

[Napier's Knee]

I'm definitely not ITK, but none of the Twitter sites seem to be either. All we know for sure is that Stephens is still our player and he definitely wasn't at Burnley or anywhere else yesterday. He was happy to spend time having pictures taken at the match yesterday. I reckon that he was tempted by Burnley, we counter-offered and he is going to stay - maybe a kind of Pritchard in reverse situation?

 

[glasfryn]

Burnley are being very tight
straight 7.5m or jog on

 

[The Wizard]

Definitely wasn't at Burnley yesterday, saw him at the Amex early evening. So anyone that spouts that is talking bollocks.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Burnley are being very tight
straight 7.5m or jog on

Lets hope Barber and Bloom have nice trainers then.

 

[middletoenail]

Definitely wasn't at Burnley yesterday, saw him at the Amex early evening. So anyone that spouts that is talking bollocks.

He was sitting behind the dugout on the official pictures.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Definitely wasn't at Burnley yesterday, saw him at the Amex early evening. So anyone that spouts that is talking bollocks.

Indeed a few people spotted him. Still has a "knock" mind. Bit like Lewis Dunk did at the beginning of last season.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

DS was immense for us last season, and to replace him with someone of equal quality in 2 windows would be pushing it, let alone 20 days.

I disagree with those saying a fee of 6-7m is 'too good to turn down'. That's bollocks, we paid 700k for him so what exactly do we need to recoup?

You may answer that TB wants some money back and sees it as bad business to lose the potential value of a player we have made/has made himself at this club, but we have a far better chance to get the PL riches if he stays so do we really need that 6-7m now?

All boils down to the player. DS doesn't strike me as someone who is going to disrupt, so surely hanging on until January would be best for all concerned.

Exactly what I have been saying

 

[middletoenail]

Exactly what I have been saying

Of course, but you haven't spent about £200m on stadium/training facilities whilst pissing away £10m+ each season.

 

[Nixonator]

Of course, but you haven't spent about £200m on stadium/training facilities whilst pissing away £10m+ each season.

This kind of argument doesn't make any sense. It's as if you're trying to knock fellow fans for not being grateful for all TB has done for us?

The club have a target, we can only reflect and respond to that target as fans. If the target was consolidation in the Championship then i'd be commenting very differently. The target is promotion and TB appears more determined than ever before, even going on record as saying top 2, to win promotiont his year. With that said, it is obvious to me TB is willing to keep writing off the figure you quoted, so why should that come into the argument of DS staying or going?

Like has been said many times before, the only way TB will recoup his investment is by reaching top flight and to cave in from a 6-7m bid for, in my opinion, our best midfielder does not seem in keeping with that goal, unless he wants to go and is causing problems.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Indeed a few people spotted him. Still has a "knock" mind. Bit like Lewis Dunk did at the beginning of last season.

Lewis Dunk refused to play at Southend, whereas Stephens chose to spend his evening at the Amex, watching our reserves. Apart from Skalak, how many other first team regulars turned out to watch?
I think it was more a statement of being seen to be a part of the club.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

This kind of argument doesn't make any sense. It's as if you're trying to knock fellow fans for not being grateful for all TB has done for us?

The club have a target, we can only reflect and respond to that target as fans. If the target was consolidation in the Championship then i'd be commenting very differently. The target is promotion and TB appears more determined than ever before, even going on record as saying top 2, to win promotiont his year. With that said, it is obvious to me TB is willing to keep writing off the figure you quoted, so why should that come into the argument of DS staying or going?

Like has been said many times before, the only way TB will recoup his investment is by reaching top flight and to cave in from a 6-7m bid for, in my opinion, our best midfielder does not seem in keeping with that goal, unless he wants to go and is causing problems.

Although it's never that simple is it. If a player's head turns and you run the risk of a disgruntled employee on your books it can be bad for all parties. CH will only want to keep him if he wants to stay, if the club know he wants to leave they'll publicly state they want him to bolster the fee won't they?

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Lewis Dunk refused to play at Southend, whereas Stephens chose to spend his evening at the Amex, watching our reserves. Apart from Skalak, how many other first team regulars turned out to watch?
I think it was more a statement of being seen to be a part of the club.

Wasn't Hemed there too, thought I saw him with Skalak?

 

[KingstonSeagull]

Wasn't Hemed there too, thought I saw him with Skalak?

Yeah as was Kayal, they posted it on their instagram.

 

[SlamDunk]

Wasn't Hemed there too, thought I saw him with Skalak?

Kayal and Stockers were definitely there too. I'm pretty to sure the whole first team squad have to be there anyway.

 

[Giraffe]

Lewis Dunk refused to play at Southend, whereas Stephens chose to spend his evening at the Amex, watching our reserves. Apart from Skalak, how many other first team regulars turned out to watch?
I think it was more a statement of being seen to be a part of the club.

Sadly players don't think like fans. It's as likely that he was there to say goodbye to a few mates!

More likely he had a spare evening and chose to spend it watching his mates play football.

Equally he turned up thinking he was going to play, was told no you're not, we don't want to risk £7m against Colchester, but he stayed to watch anyway. Literally you could read anything into his attendance, other than the fact he clearly was not at Burnley!

 

[Giraffe]

Kayal and Stockers were definitely there too. I'm pretty to sure the whole first team squad have to be there anyway.

And this!

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Kayal and Stockers were definitely there too. I'm pretty to sure the whole first team squad have to be there anyway.

Bruno signed autographs for all the bin lids at half time, Dunk tried but left it too late!