Belgianclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 6:22 pm

He also says it sums up his time at Burnley

Maybe he didn’t fit in with the group

Not that. Just the injuries that kept him out most of the time.

"I knew before my contract had expired"

So clearly he, or his agent, had been told he was not being retained well before 30th June

What does this guy have to gripe about ?

It was obvious to all and sundry what sort of Dale Stephens we'd be getting. One whose parent club were willing to let him go to a PL relegation rival (at the time) for a nominal fee. Alarm bells were ringing loudly and clearly at the time, but desperation for bodies meant we were willing to take him.

If he thinks this situation summed up his time at Burnley, his signing and time spent with us summed up the decline of our club in the last two years.

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 6:48 pm

"I knew before my contract had expired"

So clearly he, or his agent, had been told he was not being retained well before 30th June

What does this guy have to gripe about ?

I suppose there are two explanations:

Dale Stephens figured out he wasn't going to get a new contract because the club hadn't spoken to him prior to the 30th of June.

Or

The club explicitly told him and he want on national radio and lied about it.

He was way past his best when he signed otherwise Brighton would not have let him go - don't forget the rigid stance they took to our interest some years earlier (when he was fairly decent)
And age had caught up with him hence no impact, speed or strength, and injury prone
You could say that about quite a few of our players over the last two seasons as they got older and older
We have released some but at this moment in time we still have 10 players over 30 years of age

ClaretPete001 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:06 pm

I suppose there are two explanations:

Dale Stephens figured out he wasn't going to get a new contract because the club hadn't spoken to him prior to the 30th of June.

Or

The club explicitly told him and he want on national radio and lied about it.

His exact words were

"I knew anyway before my contract had expired"

Either the club told him or he could foretell his fate - in which case he has a pretty good new job in predicting future matters coming up

I would give him a fiver if he told me next weeks lottery winning numbers

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:13 pm

His exact words were

"I knew anyway before my contract had expired"

Either the club told him or he could foretell his fate - in which case he has a pretty good new job in predicting future matters coming up

I would give him a fiver if he told me next weeks lottery winning numbers

So you think Dale Stephens had to be mystic Meg to figure out he wasn't going to get a new contract offer at 33 years old, injury prone and with 10 games in 2 seasons?

Fair enough

I suppose it could be that contract negotiations take time with agents and solicitors involved. He would know because no one approached him.

On the other hand you could be right - it came as a complete shock to him when the club rang him on the 28th of June. So, much so he felt inclined to go on Talksport and lie about it.

The absolute t*sser...! Can you believe it?

ClaretPete001 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:39 pm

So you think Dale Stephens had to be mystic Meg to figure out he wasn't going to get a new contract offer at 33 years old, injury prone and with 10 games in 2 seasons?

Fair enough

I suppose it could be that contract negotiations take time with agents and solicitors involved. He would know because no one approached him.

On the other hand you could be right - it came as a complete shock to him when the club rang him on the 28th of June. So, much so he felt inclined to go on Talksport and lie about it.

The absolute t*sser...! Can you believe it?

Total speculation and supposition, M'Lud.

Who is Dale Stephens?

JohnMcGreal wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:51 pm

Who is Dale Stephens?

Thats what VK said

So he didn't understand how long a two-year contract lasts.
I'm sure he must have read his, and I imagine the termination date would have been on it.

Joke of a story. Joke of a player. Move on.

FeedTheArf wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:41 pm

Joke of a story. Joke of a player. Move on.

i think it's Stephens who needs to move on.

He might need a lift, though.

he should have thanked the club for not sacking him

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61000969

The only thing “shocking” is that he survived this. Good riddance.

He was terrible and a waste of money for us but if true this is poor form and unprofessional, regardless of how poor he was (and regardless of his drink driving - two wrongs don't make a right).

My other takeaway from this thread is we really do have some of the most vile, classless fans going and it's becoming more and more noticeable. Riley was spot on about the bullying culture creeping in here,but in addition there's a few recurring posters who are oddly unpleasant to anyone on the outs with the regime. Something is really wrong with the club culture at Burnley right now, and it could not have been more different just a few years ago.

If I was him I would have kept my gob shut, regardless of how the club managed his exit.Says a lot about his values

I’m sorry, who is being bullied on this thread? Dale Stephens?

Something wrong with the club culture?

warksclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:09 pm

If I was him I would have kept my gob shut, regardless of how the club managed his exit.Says a lot about his values

This is basically where I’m at. You’ve been on a fat contract, not done anything to justify it, totted up a criminal conviction in the meantime then gone crying to TalkSport that it wasn’t communicated to you in a way you saw fit? Even though you knew anyway. Maybe the club could’ve done things better, I don’t know, but no other released player has mouthed off, and it’s notable that there are some people willing to side with him if it means another pot shot at Pace.

spt_claret wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:09 pm

My other takeaway from this thread is we really do have some of the most vile, classless fans going and it's becoming more and more noticeable.

This is probably one of the most offensive and insulting lines in the entire thread, ironically.

I don’t think it’s good to slag off players like this. He signed a contract that was negotiated/offered to him. Who did the due diligence on him? Why didn’t Dyche play him? A lot of factors in place here. Yes he got done for drink driving as did Ashley Barnes. Move on guys, just another poor signing. Sh!t happens.

Jamesy wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:31 pm

I don’t think it’s good to slag off players like this. He signed a contract that was negotiated/offered to him. Who did the due diligence on him? Why didn’t Dyche play him? A lot of factors in place here. Yes he got done for drink driving as did Ashley Barnes. Move on guys, just another poor signing. Sh!t happens.

Stephens started it.

I agree that he was highly unlikely to have been a new contact but if true then this is poor from the club. A bit of class and common decency is not only professional but without it is unlikely to help seal future transfer prospects.

Cirrus_Minor wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:45 pm

I agree that he was highly unlikely to have been a new contact but if true then this is poor from the club. A bit of class and common decency is not only professional but without it is unlikely to help seal future transfer prospects.

I don't get this.
He had a two year contract, it ran out.
What would you have the club do: give him a card and a box of chocolates?

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:51 pm

I don't get this.
He had a two year contract, it ran out.
What would you have the club do: give him a card and a box of chocolates?

I assume he was just expecting the club to communicate that he wasn’t going to be retained. Nothing more than that.

Bit of a nothing story tbh.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:55 pm

I assume he was just expecting the club to communicate that he wasn’t going to be retained. Nothing more than that.

Bit of a nothing story tbh.

Except that Stephens saw fit to try to make a story out of it.

The best point on this thread is the one about his agent. So these parasites are happy to cream off a very good living from negotiating transfers and contracts on behalf of players but his is so inept he can't even get in touch with the club to find out the situation? Completely unbelievable. It's his client who is out of contract so surely the onus is on him to find out the score.

Stephens needs adding to tge pr**k list.

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:51 pm

I don't get this.
He had a two year contract, it ran out.
What would you have the club do: give him a card and a box of chocolates?

So long as it's not a twix...

I get it, poor form from BFC. But does anyone, even Stephens, think for one minute a new contract would be forthcoming? Who represents him? A blind man could see there wouldn’t be an offer. Did he not speak to his agent? 10 games in 2 years, a Garlick or Dyche signing, whichever you believe,a drink driving offence, fans never took to him, there was NEVER gonna be a new deal. And he acts surprised. Really?

The club gave him more than enough common decency when they didn’t fire him for drink driving.

Ta ra, Dale. You useless **** can.

Anyhow, players deal through their agents these days, so if he has a gripe perhaps he's looking in the wrong place.

Sorry but why so many posts about a player who did nothing
Post should have been shut down who gives a f***

Poor form from the club IF true but even if it is true (and there is nothing to say that it is - the epitome of disgruntled ex employee excepted) if I was him I’m be keeping my head down given my behaviour whilst contracted with us. I think he’s finished at any decent level

The broader picture is the money we have wasted on the likes of him, Weghorst and Drinkwater whilst not throwing some younger players in to blood them is bordering on scandalous.

Injured for long periods at Brighton, injured when he arrived and injured for long periods whilst with us. I was gob smacked when we signed him, Brighton knew he was done but somehow we didn’t. Shocking signing.

Swizzlestick wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 9:17 pm

This is probably one of the most offensive and insulting lines in the entire thread, ironically.

There's people in this thread deciding he's a liar- with no proof- and acting like it's okay to treat him with such contempt or disrespect because he didn't play much or well for us- which he didn't, but ultimately he was signed and offered a contract, doing his job poorly or not doesn't really make it right to act like that. Yes I'm sure he expected to be released, yes I do think that he probably should have been released over the drink driving incident but again there's a big difference between a disciplinary sacking and just not bothering to tell him.

I've not singled out anybody in this thread or targeted anybody. I've objected to what I think is really nasty classless behaviour. And somehow that makes me the offensive one?

A person being bad at their job doesn't make it okay to treat them with disrespect.

Yes, but you’re taking the word of a man with previous for being a bit of a prat.

He sang sings about Burnley when drunk at the Brighton parade.

He left Charlton to move closer to his family in the north and signed for Brighton.

He has a current drink drive conviction.

So to be fair, he appears to be of slightly dubious character.

He’s just treated the club with disrespect on the national radio because he has an agent who can’t do his job properly. To broad brush a fan base as ‘vile and classless’ for criticising a player who contributed so little and who got himself a criminal record is not only a spectacular overreaction but, frankly, massively offensive.

spt_claret wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 10:55 pm

There's people in this thread deciding he's a liar- with no proof- and acting like it's okay to treat him with such contempt or disrespect because he didn't play much or well for us- which he didn't, but ultimately he was signed and offered a contract, doing his job poorly or not doesn't really make it right to act like that. Yes I'm sure he expected to be released, yes I do think that he probably should have been released over the drink driving incident but again there's a big difference between a disciplinary sacking and just not bothering to tell him.

I've not singled out anybody in this thread or targeted anybody. I've objected to what I think is really nasty classless behaviour. And somehow that makes me the offensive one?

A person being bad at their job doesn't make it okay to treat them with disrespect.

No but maybe he should've treated the law with respect?

AwayClaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 11:04 pm

No but maybe he should've treated the law with respect?

I addressed that I said we should have let him go then. I really don't get how people can't grasp that you can disagree with a person's conduct over that but also disagree with dismissing them unprofessionally.

Couple of stories from arise_sir_charge there that I'm unfamiliar with so thanks for those, does question his character some more, but I'm not leaping to say this is a lie- I also said in my first post this was if his story is true. If it is true he's not "disrespecting the club", and regardless - you can criticise Stephens - he was a terrible signing for us and for the third time I felt we should have released him after his conviction - but some of the attitudes here are not just criticism, and I do not see how its offensive to say that and object. Once again, he was a terrible signing we should have let go after the drink driving incident who I am not defending on either count, but it doesn't make it okay to treat him with such contempt if true.

Are you his mum or something? Jesus

Come on spt-claret, don’t be shy, just tell us who are “the most vile, classless fans going” who you are talking about. Name a few poster names so we can identify with your statement.

Ric_C has definitely joined the sh1t list.

Ric_C wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 11:18 pm

Are you his mum or something? Jesus

And here's what Riley's talked about.

There's a nasty, bullying culture on this forum right now. This is not about Dale Stephens- as dreadful as he was for Burnley. This is about how there's an ever growing number of posters who are extremely abusive, on a targeted, individual level to certain posters (There's 3 who I see get a lot of stick at all times). It's about how there's a growing trend to turn extremely vindictive and jilted towards players or staff who either leave, or don't appear to fit with current plans.

People have been incredibly abusive to Weghorst who by all accounts has it in his contract that he doesn't have to play in the Championship, and as a 29 year old international in a World Cup year quite understandably will want to play at the highest level he can to make the World Cup. Doesn't mean I want him to leave or agree with us sanctioning it but there's been some real nastiness.

Tarkowski has had people calling him greedy, money chaser, traitorous etc. He played on while dealing with family emergencies and came back from his late season injury when he could easily have just sat it out, and yet still gets abuse for leaving. Club captain Ben Mee, tried to play through his leg injury, there's people who have been contemptuous and dismissive about him and before it was reported that we didn't offer him a contract, had the attitude that if he doesn't sign he's not good enough and has no loyalty- for Ben Mee of all people. Gudmundsson is a current Burnley player and gets endless abuse about his injury record- something that is no fault of his own, Dyche gave him time away to help deal with his latest injury and yet some fans constantly take a pop at him for it. Brownhill gets regular stick regarding his ability- usually not personal character attacks at least but still is often slagged off. There's some posters here trying to rewrite history and pretend Sean Dyche was always a dour, hoofball merchant who only signed over the hill 30 year olds and contributed nothing to tactics or player development. It's about far more than Stephens, it's about how this messageboard has become extremely toxic- I've seen a few boo boys at Burnley- Branch, Moore, O'Connor they all had their turn- but I genuinely haven't known the fanbase be this unpleasant before, and it's a very sudden change.

spt_claret wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 11:14 pm

I addressed that I said we should have let him go then. I really don't get how people can't grasp that you can disagree with a person's conduct over that but also disagree with dismissing them unprofessionally.

Couple of stories from arise_sir_charge there that I'm unfamiliar with so thanks for those, does question his character some more, but I'm not leaping to say this is a lie- I also said in my first post this was if his story is true. If it is true he's not "disrespecting the club", and regardless - you can criticise Stephens - he was a terrible signing for us and for the third time I felt we should have released him after his conviction - but some of the attitudes here are not just criticism, and I do not see how its offensive to say that and object. Once again, he was a terrible signing we should have let go after the drink driving incident who I am not defending on either count, but it doesn't make it okay to treat him with such contempt if true.

I don't think we could release him for the drink driving offence, maybe we could have paid him off? actually, I wish we had done that.

Vino blanco wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 11:23 pm

Come on spt-claret, don’t be shy, just tell us who are “the most vile, classless fans going” who you are talking about. Name a few poster names so we can identify with your statement.

I'm not interested in singling out people or doing personal abuse. You can make up your own mind, this forum has been very toxic for months now, I've made these posts because it's bothering me but naming individuals will only add to the toxicity.

Well it’s bed time for me now, but I’m not sure if I will be able to sleep or not, not knowing if I’m vile and classless or not.

spt_claret wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 03, 2022 11:29 pm

I'm not interested in singling out people or doing personal abuse. You can make up your own mind, this forum has been very toxic for months now, I've made these posts because it's bothering me but naming individuals will only add to the toxicity.

I haven't been on here for 5 years and it's exactly the same as it was back then. ClaretsMad was the same. Most football forums are like this. Just ignore/foe the posters who you think are "classless".