We need to talk about Dale

[hampshirebrightonboy]

Extra training? Thought he played a full game on Tuesday.

'Extra training' obviously bollocks. What he needed was to play yesterday to set him up for Newcastle. Don't think we will see him in a Brighton shirt again. My only hope, very slim hope, is that he was being held back at Brighton to talk about his future with no distractions. One outcome of which could possibly be he decides to stay for the season or sign a new contract. Can't see it though.

 

[atomised]

It doesn't matter what day it is he is gone. You won't see him in a Brighton shirt again. Really is that simple.

The point made and responded to was that he would be gone by this time next week. The transfer window will still be open then. Was simply pointing this out.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

well if he has refused to play then i hope he has been fined a shitload of money and not just a weeks wages. who is interested in buying him now? Burnley have surely lost interest now that they have bought Defour - where does he think he is going to go?

24th August 2015 Dunk was fined two weeks money for refusing to pay.
http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/13621344.Albion_fine_Dunk_for_refusing_to_play_in_cup_tie/

 

[B.W.]

Hmmm... Chis is not a liar... seems strange he's gone on record with the "extra training" thing / talking about Dale being fired up for mid-week and Saturday if, then, he (Chris) is then made to look a bit silly by Dale being sold before the window closes... of course, there are no guarantees, but more confident of Dale's retention than before Chris' latest quotes in the Argus...

 

[chaileyjem]

Hughton's full quote when asked about Stephens yesterday was
"Its very simple, he missed a good chunk of the pre-season. He was involved in three of the games but no 90 minute games in that pre-season (actually it was 2 - Crawley, Lazio). He missed the first game as well [Forest - suspended], and he missed the midweek cup game [Colchester] and we just felt that if i wasn't going to start him today he would value more from a couple of good days training yesterday and today. and of course be back firing for midweek and Saturday"
https://audioboom.com/boos/4955403-hughton-pleased-with-reading-draw-but-albion-not-at-our-best

He didn't mention of course that he played 90 minutes on Tuesday.

 

[B.W.]

It doesn't matter what day it is he is gone. You won't see him in a Brighton shirt again. Really is that simple.

Why so confident? Unless you have inside info, may I humbly suggest you are talking out your ar$e...

 

[chaileyjem]

It doesn't matter what day it is he is gone. You won't see him in a Brighton shirt again. Really is that simple.

Hughton funnily enough said it was "simple" why he left Stephens out yesterday.
But come on Forestieri (and Dunk last season for that matter) literally did refuse to play twice last week and within 48 hours and a few tears he's back in the shirt and Dunk was offered a big new contract a few weeks later that he signed.
Money, contracts and the transfer window and their agents scurrying around impact on players and their performances but like with Dunk last season the club are obviously trying to keep him.
On the other hand they won't want to be pushed around.
Hughton clearly won't put up with any of that.
But he could still sign an improved new contract, the club might be still be prepared to up their offer but yep if he simply doesn't want to, then sadly they'll have to sell him. (cos he has 1 year left)
But it really isn't simple and the last few weeks of shenanigans culminating in yesterday don't mean "He's gone".

 

[Turkey]

I think we DID miss him, but I was pretty impressed by Norwood when he came on. He looks decent. If there's a bit of £7m+ for DS, I'd be tempted to take it. I'd be very sorry to see Dale go, but £7m is a lot of dosh.

Norwood did well but he's not as good an all rounder as Stephens. Neither is Sidwell. The money is irrelevant if it costs us promotion. I would happily keep him and let him go on a free next summer.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

A possible school of thought is that we could gamble and sell now? £7m would be good value IF he starts to pick up injuries again,last season could be a one off.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

I know RT is injured at the moment,but surely he is DSs replacement if he goes........

Which means we would then need a RT replacement, which essentially boils down to the same thing - bringing in another midfielder.

 

[Machiavelli]

I think we DID miss him, but I was pretty impressed by Norwood when he came on. He looks decent. If there's a bit of £7m+ for DS, I'd be tempted to take it. I'd be very sorry to see Dale go, but £7m is a lot of dosh.

It is, if it's re-invested in the team, preferably towards a rapid, goalscoring support striker, and perhaps even an up-and-coming midfielder.

 

[Smythe]

is his contract for one more season with us? If it is and he wont sign a new one then cash in now 7m plus if there is offers on the table from Burnley. We wont get that much in January or clubs will wait to get him on a free next summer and we wont get a penny.
Obviously I hope he decides to stay and sign a longer contract but its not looking that way at the moment.

 

[Machiavelli]

Norwood did well but he's not as good an all rounder as Stephens. Neither is Sidwell. The money is irrelevant if it costs us promotion. I would happily keep him and let him go on a free next summer.

I would happily sell him if:
-- he doesn't want to be here
-- we get a decent fee for him (ie £7m+)
-- we reinvest that in the squad

I agree with you about Stephens vs Norwood (on the little I've seen of Norwood), but there isn't a massive amount in it, whereas there could be a far more substantial difference between Baldock and a new signing.

 

[LamieRobertson]

It is, if it's re-invested in the team, preferably towards a rapid, goalscoring support striker, and perhaps even an up-and-coming midfielder.

Not much time to do that lot which is a tad of a concern

 

[Machiavelli]

Not much time to do that lot which is a tad of a concern

This transfer window is different, given the amount of money sloshing around and the no short-term loan rule. I think you'll see more activity in the last week than last year.

 

[fleet]

Not much time to do that lot which is a tad of a concern

I would be shocked if there is t a well developed plan as to who we buy if/ when he goes. I can't see us selling without buying.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I would be shocked if there is t a well developed plan as to who we buy if/ when he goes. I can't see us selling without buying.

Oh I agree they would have planned for virtually any player leaving....but getting those replacements in...hmm another matter

 

[fleet]

is his contract for one more season with us? If it is and he wont sign a new one then cash in now 7m plus if there is offers on the table from Burnley. We wont get that much in January or clubs will wait to get him on a free next summer and we wont get a penny.
Obviously I hope he decides to stay and sign a longer contract but its not looking that way at the moment.

The finance of it depends on whether DS helps bring promotion. If he does then two things happen, first is he probably would be happy to stay and second is that even if he left for free the money gained from promotion is way more than the fee we get for him now. If however he stays and sulks, brings team spirit down, doesn't play well and we don't get promoted then he is less desirable to other teams and we lose out on £7 m.

 

[LamieRobertson]

This transfer window is different, given the amount of money sloshing around and the no short-term loan rule. I think you'll see more activity in the last week than last year.

If the club are true to there word and he plays Saturday then it will imho be put to bed for a few months....but unless he signs a contract it could be one of those 'Barnes' situations

 

[Coldeanseagull]

I think we're reading too much into his absence from the squad. Until there's a picture of him holding some other teams shirt up and Mr Hughton saying he's gone, I will not speculate