[Albion] Dale Stephens. Discuss...

Bold Seagull said:

I feel for him. He's being forced into playing a game that isn't natural to him. The crowd is on his back for giving it simple, but that is his role in the team. He isn't there to drive us forward, making incisive passes, he's there to give it to the players that can, only they aren't either. Much of the crowd can take some responsibility for how he played last night. Moaning and groaning, even booing has never helped a player EVER.

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O' Grady's love child said:

I’m one of Stephens fans, but obviously no denying last night he had a bad game. Yes he’s a limited player but it’s like some people are so fixated on the notion that he ‘passes backwards’ they fail to see why, and also that’s his job in the team. He seriously can’t win whatever he does and feel its going to go the same way as Ashley Barnes went and driven out the club

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Simster said:

Oh and it was high time Davy Propper was given a pasting on here. He has been missing for weeks now. He is far more culpable than Dale Stephens for what is going on.

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Bold Seagull said:

It turned on his indecision. He had it in a good spot edge of their box, had time for a shot, flick a pass out wide, sling it into the box. He dithered, did nothing, turned, lost the ball. We conceded 5 seconds later. We were on top at that point.

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Weststander said:

Football analysts such as Neville wouldn’t attribute the goal to DS, attacks break down. Instead they would look at the collective errors that then led to the goal 15 seconds later.

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banjo said:

He the sort of player that should come on last 10 to 15minutes of a game if we’re 1-0. God if only we were in a game 1-0 up. We can dream.

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Luke93 said:

All the CMs have looked poor recently.

Yes, Stephens is ponderous and produced mistakes. He’s slow at making a decision when passing forward, but this isn’t down to just him. The team is set up with just an isolated Murray up front and out of form wingers either side. There is no movement. What is he supposed to do? He passes sideways to retain possession and everyone moans. He attempts to pass to the static spuds up field but the opposition can easily defend that.

Bissouma has the ability to produce something special. But have we seen this enough? No. Does he lose possession as much as Stephens in terms of loose passing and wild shots? Yes. He fails to track back too and leaves gaps in midfield, exposing the CBs. He is not a regular starter for me, yet.

Propper is our best midfielder, but horribly out of form. He’s not a fighter. Scared to tackle, reluctant to take it to the opposition and is awful at heading the ball. His form has made Stephens job harder. He had his worse game in an Albion shirt yesterday.

Kayal is a fighter. He never stops trying and will do his absolute best. Issue is, he’s not that good I’m afraid. It is time to start him though as everyone ahead of him have failed on too many occasions. He won’t shy away from challenging for the ball like Propper and will run into space unlike Stephens. He works well with Stephens as he drops back when he pushes into space. I won’t trust the other CMs to do that.

Groß can play CM. He can switch play and find teammates consistently with passes. Issue is, his best position is higher up the pitch without being shackled with protecting the defence. He isn’t quick and isn’t great in the air.

Pick your CM poison. They’re all out of form or not good enough for consistent Premier League performances. I’m adamant that if ANY of our CMs play the deeper CM position Dale Stephens plays, they’d actually do an inferior job.

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GJN1 said:

Yes, we've all had a pop at him for his crab-like tendencies but I genuinely fail to see why Chris Hughton's values him so much that he seems undroppable.

Last night took the cookie and in a cavalcade of crap, he stood out as the stinkiest of all.

I simply can't watch him play any more.

It's not good for my mental health.

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Super Steve Earle said:

No we haven't all had a pop at him. The narrative is that he always passes sideways or backwards regardless of the stats that say otherwise. The noisy minority amongst some of our fans are so ready to groan audibly if he doesn't pass forwards that they don't even notice the lack of movement in front of him to allow him to play forwards every time. My seat buddy next door last night was a prime candidate even as Ali J was holding his hand up to apologise on more than one occasion. These are probably the same 'fans' who drove out Ashley Barnes who will again be playing in the Premier League next season, but I suspect Dale understands that his role is not generally fully understood. He would be one of the first names on my team sheet.

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Super Steve Earle said:

No we haven't all had a pop at him. The narrative is that he always passes sideways or backwards regardless of the stats that say otherwise. The noisy minority amongst some of our fans are so ready to groan audibly if he doesn't pass forwards that they don't even notice the lack of movement in front of him to allow him to play forwards every time. My seat buddy next door last night was a prime candidate even as Ali J was holding his hand up to apologise on more than one occasion. These are probably the same 'fans' who drove out Ashley Barnes who will again be playing in the Premier League next season, but I suspect Dale understands that his role is not generally fully understood. He would be one of the first names on my team sheet.

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