Saw that he made the bench against Sheff Wed. In my opinion he's the best passer in league one but when do you think he'll regain his place?Bradley Pritchard is playing so well. In my opinion he should be chucked straight back into the team when he is at full fitness. This sounds a bit harsh on Pritchard but although Pritchard works harder Stephens is a better player and has a lot more quaility. What do you think?
I think he'll be eased back in to the fold- maybe a food month before he's even considered to start. But before the season is out, he'll be back in that team.
Now that Chris has found out that you can use substitutes before the 83rd minute I can see Dale coming on for the last 25/30 mins of a few games, after Pritchard has run himself ragged, to find holes in tiring midfields and defences with his passing.
I assume he will be treated like the other players who have had to wait for an opportunity. Few sub appearances no doubt but will need to impress and wait for someone to put in a few half hearted performances/injury.
Can't see that myself, will be nowhere near match fitness. Was first touted for a return in February.
Pritchard gets around more, but nobody is better at retaining the ball, or better at passing than our Dale. He won't be fit though. I reckon he'll be in the side by mid feb.
There's no rush, the results after his injury as just as good as those before his injury, and defensively he's less solid, forcing Hollands to play a deeper role
As K&F says, theres no rush.Bring him on when we need a bit of a spark - otherwise Pritchard gets my vote in the short term.
Pritchard/Hughes/Russell bring the best out of Danny Hollands. Earlier in the season when Stephens was playing Hollands was a lot more defence minded, but his injury enabled Hollands to get forward a lot more and score a few goals. Keep him on the bench for the time being, ease him back in and take things as they come. And also Pritchard was brilliant again on Saturday as he was at Fulham the week before.
Pritchard doesn't seem to get tired. Great to have a genuine option of Stephens' quality on the bench though.
Whilst I rate Stephens, Pritchard has done well of late. And with a massive game this weekend I think it'd be silly throwing him into the mix like that. Whilst the lads train together its not the same as actually playing games together and learning each others play style etc. And if bwp links up with just one of Pritchards balls and slots it home on Saturday because they've learnt to read each other in recent games then lets not try to fix something that isn't broken! Maybe when we pick up the three points Saturday and can relax EVER SO SLIGHTLY then we can start him. Good things come to those who wait, like proving your worth at the 2nd tier of English football ;-)
Results can't wait when it comes to a promotion push and Stephens is the better and more experienced player of the two in the longer term is the right option.
Was sensible not playing Dale Stephens against Sheffield Wednesday because the way they were kicking lumps out of us, playing him would have just aggrivated his injury again most like. In terms of when do we bring him back in the the starting line up... When Pritchard has a dip in form and when we're not winning games. Two years ago Nicky Bailey got injured after ther Millwall 4-0 defeat and we went on a great run of games, Bailey was brought straight back into the side against Southampton when he had regained fitness, had a stinker and we lost 1-0 - How important could those three points have been.
Paradox for me this one. With Stephens and Hayes in the side early doors I thought we played better passing football than we are playing now. But I always thought there was too big a gap between the front two and the midfield with Hollands playing deep. We are a bit uglier now but I suspect more effective with Kermit up front. I like Stephens but yet to be convinced that he will work in the side at the moment with Kermit and Hollands.
Pritchard has waited patiently for his chance and Stephens must do the same. Pritchard has fantastic enthusiasm and hunger, and doesn't deserve to be dropped. Not unless there is to be some degree of rotation, in which case Hughes would also come into the reckoning, since we had our best results with him playing.
I don't think Nicky Bailey can be held accountable for losing that game, he had won so many games with late goals so many more 3 points than had been lost.
