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[Albion] "Oi Stephens get it forward"



Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,663
West west west Sussex
Mugs

4ward.jpg
 




Husty

Mooderator
Oct 18, 2008
11,991
Not really though. Those stats fail to take into account that we play a hell of a lot more passes as a team per match than other clubs. Being at the bottom of our ranking doesn't mean he's doing better than Grealish, Noble or Neves
 


Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden
Yeah anytime someone say "Stephens only play it backwards" I know they watch games with very tinted glasses because its simply not true. Him, Webster and a few others could play the perfect game and some people would still complain about it.
 












Justice

Dangerous Idiot
Jun 21, 2012
18,607
Born In Shoreham
Often slows down attacks or completely ruins them, good defensively though don’t think Watford would of scored Dale would of took him out.
 




Is it PotG?

Thrifty non-licker
Feb 20, 2017
23,298
Sussex by the Sea
Stephens is integral.

The spanners having a go, especially away, at him and Webster ought to run off and play tennis or something.

Still, it's all about opinions I guess, Potter's mostly.
 


Greg Bobkin

Silver Seagull
May 22, 2012
14,837
#FakeNews :moo:
 








Farehamseagull

Solly March Fan Club
Nov 22, 2007
13,956
Sarisbury Green, Southampton
The problem with Stephens is not his passing, he’s ok at that, nothing special but ok. In that position you’d expect him to play a lot of backwards and sideway safe passes. It’s the fact he’s not a very good defensive midfielder and plays in that position.
 


Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
63,907
Withdean area
The problem with Stephens is not his passing, he’s ok at that, nothing special but ok. In that position you’d expect him to play a lot of backwards and sideway safe passes. It’s the fact he’s not a very good defensive midfielder and plays in that position.

I know you can’t stand Stephens in the team or at our club.

But in our magnificent wins at Watford, at Arsenal, over Spurs, and so much more besides over the last 5 years DS was a key performer, outstanding. He’s a quality DM. Until we upgrade on that specialist role, he’s the best by far.

The others lack bite, power, positional sense and concentration to achieve that. They have other creative talents.
 










Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,663
West west west Sussex
It worked :thumbsup:

The suspects are beginning to take the bait.

In fairness I'm not exactly #TeamDale for the reason Justice so eloquently points out.

We now play a style demanding the opposition forward.
They finally get them committed but aren't quick enough to go through them and take the advantage.
The blame for that, does rather fall with Propper, Stephens, Dunk and Webster.

So I'm hardly 'all in'.


But as for the mugs who refuse to see any positive contributions from DS then I pity them as they'll never be happy watching the Albion.
 




Weststander

Well-known member
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Aug 25, 2011
63,907
Withdean area
Just highlights that he's more defensive than Mooy, Propper and Gross and we're right to 'encourage' him forward.

Defensive midfielders aren’t required to advance forward. The clue is in the name of the role.

Fabinho, Fernandinho, Matic, Bridcutt, Oatway, Drinkwater, Makelele ...it’s what they do/did.
 
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Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
63,907
Withdean area
In fairness I'm not exactly #TeamDale for the reason Justice so eloquently points out.

We now play a style demanding the opposition forward.
They finally get them committed but aren't quick enough to go through them and take the advantage.
The blame for that, does rather fall with Propper, Stephens, Dunk and Webster.

So I'm hardly 'all in'.


But as for the mugs who refuse to see any positive contributions from DS then I pity them as they'll never be happy watching the Albion.

I knew you weren’t, Muzza and Stephens often on your radar.

Whilst Locadia was promoted and liked.
 


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