Released.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...vens-1.2241602
Thought he acquitted himself reasonably well in the PL. Was never really given a chance.
Stevens scored his first goal for Doncaster at the weekend.
Released.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...vens-1.2241602
Thought he acquitted himself reasonably well in the PL. Was never really given a chance.
I thought he did ok too, was given much of a chance.
Back to Rovers? He looked very impressive that year in Europe.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
No, he can earn five times as much in League Two. It's been clear for a long time he wasn't going to make it at Villa so hopefully he can find a good club lower down the chain now.
Whenever I seen him play for Villa, Stevens struck me as a guy who was just about hanging in there - got exposed a couple of times, not consistently but he just didn't fill me with confidence. He didn't look confortable or particuarly like someone who would become comfortable.
Still would love to see him drop down a league or two and prove himself.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Stevens was never more than 3rd choice when he was at Villa; his first league appearance was as a replacement for another sub. His first 3 starts were against Man Utd, Man City & Arsenal. I don't recall him being directly exposed for any of the 8 goals conceded in those matches; in any event, they were leaking goals like a sieve before and after he was in the team. An injury in his next match came at the worst possible time. By the time he came back, he was starting to acquit himself well, but was discarded immediately after conceding the penalty that led to the winning goal in a match against Southampton; a match he otherwise played well in. Stevens didn't even touch Rodriguez and pretty much everyone agreed penalty shouldn't have been given.
Summed up his luck. For a young lad coming over from Ireland, he carried himself well. He probably wouldn't have turned out good enough for Villa but he wasn't given the chance to prove it properly. Look at the amount of chances Westwood and Lowton were given.
I'd think he'll have a good chance of a deal in League One and maybe even lower end Championship.
Westwood's a decent player and Lowton ended up spending huge chunks of the past two seasons on the bench.
Stevens was never more than third choice, though, you're right and he didn't really get a run at it. In those games you mentioned, he wasn't massively at fault, he was generally tidy enough, he played ok and in context did alright.
You're not wrong - but to me he never showed any glimpse of a player who would make it at PL level. He looked a bit like a stop gap, albeit a stop gap in a team full of them.
I haven't really followed him, but I understand he played quite a bit on loan at Notts County and Doncaster and, while not doing badly, he didn't seem to show the kind of form that suggested he could cut it at the PL in the last couple of seasons.
In fairness, I wouldn't rule out him making something yet - even half-decent LBs are hard to come by. All it would take is the right team on an upward trajectory.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Rather disappointed that this news was posted two hours ago and nobody's said "he has to be better than Stephen Ward" yet.
Two year deal with Paul Cook's Portsmouth.
Linked with a move to the Championship with Sheffield United
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/fo...nder-1-7953185
(Michael Doyle and Noel Hunt mentioned out of contract, might be too soon for Tets summer transfer thread)
Has finally completed his move to Sheffield United.
A Championship level left full option, very good if he's in the side, of course. He will face Villa.
Rising through the divisions
I thought he looked decent in the Premier League.
Was confused by his descent.
I generally thought he acquitted himself well against some prime opposition.
It was a difficult run of games he played in; a difficult time to come in to the team.
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