The days of gloom are over for Brighton & Hove Albion as they clinched a promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history, thanks to Chris Hughton and his troops’ relentless and exemplary attitude of consistency and perseverance. Albion might not have had the luxury of lifting the Sky Bet Championship silverware but an automatic promotion spot should offer enough contentment to the East Sussex-based outfit.
The riches and lucre which the English top flight has on offer are second to none and the Seagulls would have the privilege of plying their trade amongst the best sides of English football next season. Apart from trying to lure notable players to the American Express Community Stadium in the summer transfer window, maintaining group cohesiveness and keeping their main men who starred in the 2016-17 campaign would also hold paramount importance and apparently, Hughton has done just the right thing.
Dale Stephens has signed a new four-year deal with Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday and without any shadow of a doubt, it is huge news for the club and fans alike. Stephens has been a vital cog in the 4-4-2 tactical setup of the former Norwich City manager and has made 39 appearances in the season which just concluded for them. With 2 goals and 2 assists to his name, the 27-year-old carved an excellent pass accuracy of 87.5% and has fetched himself as a lynchpin between the attacking and defensive sectors of his employers ever since joining Albion in the January transfer window of 2014 from Charlton Athletic. Many English clubs were closely monitoring him and Hughton did the right thing by tying him down with a new deal.
A central midfielder who could also play as a central defensive midfielder, Stephens is a fine servant of the game. He pulls the strings meticulously, shields the back line resiliently and passes the ball around with almost impeccable precision. The Bolton-born midfielder is a deep-lying playmaker and provides an engine for his side whilst going forward and rattling the cages of his opponents. Besides, he has a creative flair in him and with the experience he has mustered in England, the dizzying heights of Premier League shouldn’t bother him.
Stephens contributes heavily as far catering to the defensive needs of the club are concerned and is a well-polished commodity for taking set-pieces and marshalling the midfielders. He is a leader on the pitch, loves to tackle and his progress has been fascinating, to say the least. It’s riveting to see Brighton acknowledging his toil and by handing a new contract, the club has accomplished a huge task as they gear themselves up before venturing into the animosity of the Premier League.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored.com
