[Albion] Dale Stephens

[timbha]

I totally agree he’s good at the aerial stuff. But he has limitations with the rest of his game. And as I said in my other post, far too many times Dunk and Duffy are out-manoeuvred, left flat-footed or left literally on their arses when the ball is on the deck. We ship way too many goals this way. Something has to change if we are to move forward so out of the two I’d upgrade Duffy. I think I’m being fair and constructive.

good post. I would add that my recollection is more of seeing Dunk on his arse than Duffy, which maybe because we've been watching Dunk for longer. I always worry when teams attack us with pace down the middle.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I totally agree he’s good at the aerial stuff. But he has limitations with the rest of his game. And as I said in my other post, far too many times Dunk and Duffy are out-manoeuvred, left flat-footed or left literally on their arses when the ball is on the deck. We ship way too many goals this way. Something has to change if we are to move forward so out of the two I’d upgrade Duffy. I think I’m being fair and constructive.

I staggered to read this. If we go down then there will be a queue of clubs out the door willing to take him. I think he gets into every Prem side bar Top 6, Everton and Leicester, while Leeds Utd could cement their Prem future with someone like him in their side. And he's our second highest goalscorer!

 

[doogie004]

Just watched the Sky highlights from yesterday. Tony Gale twice singled Stephens out as the key player for us in the second half. Still, I’m sure you’re right

I go most games up and down country but u carry on believing someone that watches him once in a blue moon . Maybe u should start watch him as well rather than highlights . Did it show when he gave the bell away to there player and put us in danger ? Nope didn’t think so .


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[doogie004]

So by that logic Propper is out too?

He’s having a much improved season so for me no but sideways yes get shot


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[doogie004]

Since when have CM ‘sitters’ had to produce goals? They often don’t, being vital to a team in other ways.

Seeing as a few on here that quote x players say Stephens had a good game yesterday I’ve also seen a few that also say Brighton’s midfield do not produce enough goals through out this season. Stats dont lie


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[Herr Tubthumper]

I staggered to read this. If we go down then there will be a queue of clubs out the door willing to take him. I think he gets into every Prem side bar Top 6, Everton and Leicester, while Leeds Utd could cement their Prem future with someone like him in their side. And he's our second highest goalscorer!

Maybe there will be a queue of clubs. But if you read my post again, I was more suggesting the partnership isn’t optimal and needs to change. We need to inject a bit of pace and intelligence into the centre of defence to help deal with the ball coming through the middle on the deck. One of them has to be upgraded.

We have shipped 96 goals, 1.44 per game, in the last season and a bit. If we want to progress next season this clearly has to change in defence . What would you do?

 

[Hampster Gull]

We have shipped 96 goals, 1.44 per game, in the last season and a bit. If we want to progress next season this clearly has to change in defence . What would you do?

I’m not convinced HT. We have shipped 41 goes in the EPL this season, only two clubs in the bottom half have shipped less, unless progress means top half which feels too ambitious to me. Our goals for though are poor, there are five teams above us in the bottom half. I’d go big on a striker, plus maybe a better Gross

 

[timbha]

There’s one reason why we need two giant centre backs, with another one in reserve.

 

[Stato]

Maybe there will be a queue of clubs. But if you read my post again, I was more suggesting the partnership isn’t optimal and needs to change. We need to inject a bit of pace and intelligence into the centre of defence to help deal with the ball coming through the middle on the deck. One of them has to be upgraded.

We have shipped 96 goals, 1.44 per game, in the last season and a bit. If we want to progress next season this clearly has to change in defence . What would you do?

I'd look at how many goals other teams outside of the top six have shipped and understand that our defensive record is what kept us in the league last season. Of the 'other 14' only Burnley and Newcastle did better. Duffy and Dunk's partnership was absolutely key to that. Mat Ryan has said that he has changed the way he plays because of his understanding of their dominance.

Given that Duffy has more man of the match awards and a higher rating than any other player in our squad this season, https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/211/Show/England-Brighton, and that he has scored five goals from centre back and been involved in loads of other set piece goals, I would suggest that you stop looking at his limitations and start appreciating how important he has been in everything good we have done this season. He even selflessly got caught nutting a Palace player, so that we could enjoy beating them with ten men.

To be honest, I really hope you are on a wind up, because if you are seriously saying that Brighton can do better, we are starting to reach peak entitled. Of course Duffy and Dunk are not the complete centre-half pairing, but you are not going to get Nesta and Maldini on our budget. If we could I'm starting to think that some of our fans would be asking why we don't spend some proper money bin one of them off and get Beckenbauer.

 

[Nixonator]

I go most games up and down country but u carry on believing someone that watches him once in a blue moon . Maybe u should start watch him as well rather than highlights . Did it show when he gave the bell away to there player and put us in danger ? Nope didn’t think so .


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I also go to every game and I don't agree. And yes it did show that in the highlights.

 

[dadams2k11]

I totally agree he’s good at the aerial stuff. But he has limitations with the rest of his game. And as I said in my other post, far too many times Dunk and Duffy are out-manoeuvred, left flat-footed or left literally on their arses when the ball is on the deck. We ship way too many goals this way. Something has to change if we are to move forward so out of the two I’d upgrade Duffy. I think I’m being fair and constructive.

Very good point and I actually agree about the ball on the deck.

 

[Nixonator]

Wow. This is some statement. Personally I thought he was one of the weaker players. Pröpper or Jahanbakhsh as MOTM. Football really is a game of opinions.

I agree with some of your other opinions, but struggle with this one. You seem like the sort of person who wants all our players to be skillful and have flair (which is in line with your opinion on Duffy for which I agree to a point).

Almost every single person who judges Stephens negatively mentions his ability with the ball, which is indicative of a skewed outlook on the role he is instructed to perform.

Do you think there is anybody in our current squad who can perform the role he does for us? For me, not a chance. I am by no means averse to an upgrade mind, but these types of players are usually limited, and to find one who both enjoys and is effective at that side of the game whilst offering a degree more going forward will be difficult to say the least.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Maybe there will be a queue of clubs. But if you read my post again, I was more suggesting the partnership isn’t optimal and needs to change. We need to inject a bit of pace and intelligence into the centre of defence to help deal with the ball coming through the middle on the deck. One of them has to be upgraded.

We have shipped 96 goals, 1.44 per game, in the last season and a bit. If we want to progress next season this clearly has to change in defence . What would you do?

What I would do is look at the facts. If you take a closer look at your stats you'll see that outside of the top 6 of the 11 teams that have also played both seasons we are 4th - there are 8 teams who have shipped more goals, including teams currently above us: Everton (97), Leicester (101), Watford (105), West Ham (109), Bournemouth (115).

Our problem is NOT defence, or getting the ball out of defence. It is getting shots on target and creating goalscoring opportunities, and much of that is down to a lack of pace and finishing ability. Those who can score are too slow, those that are fast can't shoot.

 

[OzMike]

His consistency throughout the season is good.

 

[Stat Brother]

We have shipped 96 goals, 1.44 per game, in the last season and a bit. If we want to progress next season this clearly has to change in defence . What would you do?

Try and score more than 1.00 goals per game.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Shame we didn't get Delaney in the summer. Stephens does fine for lower end of Prem though yes. Doesn't mean can't be upgraded at some point though.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

What I would do is look at the facts. If you take a closer look at your stats you'll see that outside of the top 6 of the 11 teams that have also played both seasons we are 4th - there are 8 teams who have shipped more goals, including teams currently above us: Everton (97), Leicester (101), Watford (105), West Ham (109), Bournemouth (115).

Our problem is NOT defence, or getting the ball out of defence. It is getting shots on target and creating goalscoring opportunities, and much of that is down to a lack of pace and finishing ability. Those who can score are too slow, those that are fast can't shoot.

I’m not suggesting it’s a huge problem. But if we wish to evolve in this division, which is what Bloom has stated is his intention, we will need to improve on snuffing out balls through the middle on the deck. The Premier League is about fine margins and this is a weakness, a very specific one, we could do well to address. Some people agree with me, some don’t, it’s an opinion. I’ll leave this here.

 

[doogie004]

I also go to every game and I don't agree. And yes it did show that in the highlights.

Well I’ll b amazed if propper and sideways start next season “If “ we survive


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[Skaville]

I go most games up and down country but u carry on believing someone that watches him once in a blue moon . Maybe u should start watch him as well rather than highlights . Did it show when he gave the bell away to there player and put us in danger ? Nope didn’t think so .


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I’ll take a former professional footballers opinion over yours any day of the week and don’t worry, I’m at plenty of games myself,,including Saturday when Stephens was my MOTM

 

[Simster]

MotM yesterday by some distance. How anybody could be blind to the amount of times he pressed, broke up their play and turned over possession is beyond my understanding.

Love the way that he gets criticised for not taking risks, when it is obvious he is instructed not to based on where he plays on the pitch, yet distributed some of the best passes of the match regardless.

He is obviously not beyond replacing, but with only a handful of others he has been ever present in this club's upward trajectory over 4 seasons. Careful what you wish for.

I have a lot of sympathy with this post. I don't understand this "pass it forward" nonsense he's getting slaughtered for. That's never been his strength and positionally you can tell that's not expected of him. That's why he plays in front of the back 4 and against Huddersfield he did his job well, breaking up their play regularly and playing it simple to retain possession (and yes, that often means going backwards).

My only criticism of him on Saturday was his habit of dropping back to pick the ball up off the toes of one of our centre backs, especially in the first half. It is not like Dunk hasn't got the ability to play the ball out of defence effectively. It is basic stuff that he should refrain from doing that, because the consequence was that it meant Bissouma and Pröpper also had to spend the whole first half ten yards deeper than they needed to be to do any real damage.