I'm still mystified as to why Ince was playing at all - isn't the deal with with Liverpool settled, if so why risk him getting injured and lose out on £6/7/8 million quid? Very odd.
Certainly hope so, provided CP gets all the money to spend on three new players @ an average of 350,000 each.
Totally agree we would do well to get one million, but posters on here were suggesting we should snub offers under two million.
I'm one of those posters. I'd be gutted if we received a million for him as he's probably the best footballer at the club. Without looking at the facts I assume he has the most assists, and when given a role further forward than where he played for the last half of last season he can pick passes with the best that the division has to offer. I don't think it's his style, but he's also developing a more combative element to his game which shows he's still learning and improving. Some decent players alongside him and he will start to fulfil his potential with us rather than another club. Not an easy thing trying to find a creative central midfielder.
I agree. He is the best technical player at the club and, in my time of going at least, has the potential to be the best we've seen for a long time. It's easy to forget that he is only 23. I don't really understand the mentality of not appreciating someone like Stephans who occaisionally gives the ball away attempting a through ball or something but idolising someone who runs about a lot.
That's fair enough, AH. I'm not suggesting for one second that he is our best player week in and week out, but we're much better in the middle with him than without. He's improved on last year, and as kish quite rightly points out, is only 23.
Most fans seem to agree that he is at his best going forward, but that's not how he's playing. You seldom see him get into the box, he often lurks just outside , but his shooting doesn't usually trouble the keeper. Although he plays further back he's not usually available to the defense when they are trying to play it out, otherwise we wouldn't be hoofing it anywhere so often. I agree that technically he is very good, but I don't see him having the influence on games to match. Maybe if we had pure and simple defensive midfielder at the club Stephens could play further forward and may well be more effective.
Sorry billy, disagree about him not being readily available to the defenders. I see that The problem usually is that the midfield are too near to our own box. The defence seem reluctant to play a pass anywhere near the area (could be the correct decision) and to relieve the pressure they then hoof it up. The opposition are usually then quicker to the second ball when their defender wins his challenge because our midfield has been too deep. Stephens should get further forward when attacking though. I remember his debut against Bournemouth when he scored his first goal and had another similar opportunity afterwards. I really thought he would be that centre midfielder we had missed who runs from deep and gets on the end of any loose balls in the opposition box. But after his injury CP didn't seem sure whether he wanted Hollands or DS to play that role. CP seems to have a clearer indication this season regarding Stephens, though he has struggled to build a partnership as he's played with Hollands, Jackson and Pritchard (and I may have missed someone else).
Stephens can be incredibly frustrating, but he is improving. We have an abundance of honest triers. Pritchard being the foremost and Waggy for 45 minutes did that job well on Saturday. But we have noone capable of the vision stuff that Stephens can do, regardless of his imperfections. That talent doesn't come cheap so I am very nervous about the view that we can easily replace him. The fact that villa appear to want him shows that there are few alternatives out there. We won't progress with huff and puff alone.
Stephens has been played as a defensive midfielder, Pritchard in front of him. I'm just saying that you need a selection of nuts to make a decent fruitcake. We have no one else who can do what Stephen does and I think we would find that out if he wasn't there.
When Stephens hasn't played it was often said "we missed Stephens in the middle". I think finding a creative central midfielder is just as hard as finding that goalscorer. Pritchards 5 assists is surprising/impressive though. Fair play to him.
Yeah but fruitcake is much more emotive than nut loaf! My granny made a brilliant fruit cake with nuts in it. Can still taste it with my eyes closed bless her.
