Nick Stevens

[douls]

I will still support the club...but if I disagree with them to such an extent, I will contemplate it.

You will contemplate it. You said you WILL give your membership back. Doesn't sound like support to me mate?

 

[navier-stokes equation]

I wouldn't be happy with Lance as captain but I've already sent off my membership application.....don't let one decision sway you.

Good to see there is a lot of support for Stevens on these boards; at games he seems to cop it quite a lot even though he gets everything out of himself in terms of preparation and commitment to the CFC

 

[celtic_pride]

Gee Whiz mate

Yeah in that article in the Herald Sun, Stevo and his partner, a very nice young woman, didn't want anyone in the media to find out, it's a private and personal thing for him to do, to make the life of a young disadvantaged boy happier and stuff etc, not because he's a footballer but because it's the right thing to do.
All you people bagging Stevens etc should be ashamed of yourself and fall for that media perception of how a player's role in the media etc.
Stevens also works very hard at training as well etc, he is a leader and stuff and frankly it's the negative attitude and high expectations of some Carlton fans that could result in him not playing as well as he can.

Give him a break, he's a human being FFS, not a bloody robot.

 

[douls]

Gee Whiz mate

Yeah in that article in the Herald Sun, Stevo and his partner, a very nice young woman, didn't want anyone in the media to find out, it's a private and personal thing for him to do, to make the life of a young disadvantaged boy happier and stuff etc, not because he's a footballer but because it's the right thing to do.
All you people bagging Stevens etc should be ashamed of yourself and fall for that media perception of how a player's role in the media etc.
Stevens also works very hard at training as well etc, he is a leader and stuff and frankly it's the negative attitude and high expectations of some Carlton fans that could result in him not playing as well as he can.

Give him a break, he's a human being FFS, not a bloody robot.

Exactly, and i hope those who have been saying rubbish read this. Well said Celtic.

 

[no. 4]

I think it was obvious from the first day he stepped through the door at Carlton Stevens' was looking long term as being the next captain at Carlton. From what i have heard he has all the leadership material and watches over alot of the developing players eg. Murphy and O'hAilpin.

 

[Blue_4_Life]

Gee Whiz mate

Yeah in that article in the Herald Sun, Stevo and his partner, a very nice young woman, didn't want anyone in the media to find out, it's a private and personal thing for him to do, to make the life of a young disadvantaged boy happier and stuff etc, not because he's a footballer but because it's the right thing to do.
All you people bagging Stevens etc should be ashamed of yourself and fall for that media perception of how a player's role in the media etc.
Stevens also works very hard at training as well etc, he is a leader and stuff and frankly it's the negative attitude and high expectations of some Carlton fans that could result in him not playing as well as he can.

Give him a break, he's a human being FFS, not a bloody robot.

Spot on mate, is it just me or are people constantly looking for negatives about the club?

The coach, the board, Whitnall, Acland, Stevens....what about being positive about our future which is finally looking good?

IMO if you replaced Stevens with a top mid from another club (i.e. Cousins) he too would have struggled with the limited support he's had in the past. He's still one of our best midfielders, and with the emergence of a few others his impact will only increase.

We'll never progress as a club if our own supporters (and I use the term loosely) hold us back with unjustified and constant negativity. Just look at Richmond.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

Thats' great that Stevens looks after that kid with a disability. It's a very caring, honourable thing to do.

However, i do not need my head checked, thank you for your concern. I am entitled to my opinion without responses of personal abuse. That is what the board is about, people voicing opinions.

I think Stevens has a lot more to prove next year, i do not wish him to be the next Captain of our great club. You do, that's great. i disagree. I dont care what he does in his private life, it is what he does while representing Carlton that influences my decision. He is a good player. He has taken murphy under his wing. However, he can't handle the pressure of being our top midfielder. Instead of stepping up when we needed him, he backed down and gave up. If he wasn't fit, especially a back injury, he should not have been played.

However, those of you saying that he plays best when he is a 3rd best midfielder, what is that doing to sway people's opinion? You want the guy to be Captain, however you're saying he can't handle pressure?? It's very easy to play when you're in the shadows of other players, however a Captain needs to be a standout, someone to show the way, not someone who only plays well when he is the 3rd best midfielder in a team.

I want our Captain to be confident, to know how to deal with pressure, to do his best regardless of who his opponent is. A captain needs to be confident, not someone who can't stand up when the pressure hits home. That is what it is all about.

 

[Blue_4_Life]

Thats' great that Stevens looks after that kid with a disability. It's a very caring, honourable thing to do.

However, i do not need my head checked, thank you for your concern. I am entitled to my opinion without responses of personal abuse. That is what the board is about, people voicing opinions.

I think Stevens has a lot more to prove next year, i do not wish him to be the next Captain of our great club. You do, that's great. i disagree. I dont care what he does in his private life, it is what he does while representing Carlton that influences my decision. He is a good player. He has taken murphy under his wing. However, he can't handle the pressure of being our top midfielder. Instead of stepping up when we needed him, he backed down and gave up. If he wasn't fit, especially a back injury, he should not have been played.

However, those of you saying that he plays best when he is a 3rd best midfielder, what is that doing to sway people's opinion? You want the guy to be Captain, however you're saying he can't handle pressure?? It's very easy to play when you're in the shadows of other players, however a Captain needs to be a standout, someone to show the way, not someone who only plays well when he is the 3rd best midfielder in a team.

I want our Captain to be confident, to know how to deal with pressure, to do his best regardless of who his opponent is. A captain needs to be confident, not someone who can't stand up when the pressure hits home. That is what it is all about.

I think you have to look at it from the perspective that he's not the 3rd best midfielder, but there needs to be other quality midfielders to support him.

If you name the top midfielders in the comp, they all have top support players, rarely do midfielders stand out when they have no one else around them to share the burden.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

James Hird, Nathan Buckley, Scott West....

THe point is, you have all said that he can't handle the pressure of being our best midfielder, and played better when he was the 3rd best at Port.

How can he stand up and be captain if he can't stand up and play consistent football?

 

[Blue_4_Life]

James Hird, Nathan Buckley, Scott West....

THe point is, you have all said that he can't handle the pressure of being our best midfielder, and played better when he was the 3rd best at Port.

How can he stand up and be captain if he can't stand up and play consistent football?

Hird, Buckley and West all have decent players along side them..well maybe not Buckley

Stevens just needs support, he can be our best midfielder.

How effective was Kouta when he only had Hulme and Campo alongside him?

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

I still dont think he's the man for the job, regardless of whether he 'can' be our best midfielder. You guys have all said he plays best when he's the 3rd best... let's hope with Murphy and Gibbs, Walker and Simpson around him, even Scotland and Waite, Stevens will realise where he is and feel comfortable enought to start playing quality football.

I just hope we are buildig a strong midfield, where we can rotate and players can get the best out of themselves, because the competition amongst teammates will be tough.

Here's looking ahead to 2007, hopefully 7 wins or more.

Hmm... actually, I'm hoping we play finals footy. Anything can happy (Collingwood finished second last and played finals footy this year).... plust, a girl is allowed to dream sweet dreams of her Navy Blues

 

[Johnny_3]

So you are happy with him and his output since joining us?

Don't get me wrong, he is a good player. But he needs support. Without good midfielders around him he struggles.

judd fullstop

 

[murphster]

there was a great article in one of the papers last year with stevens and his partner looking after a young boy with down syndrome every second weekend. sounds like a pretty good bloke to me!

Being a good bloke off the field does not make you a captain on it, standing up in big games or big moments in games makes you a leader, and i am afraid Stevo does not stand up when needed at crucial times, he goes missing. Lance is the only one with all the attributes that make a good leader, i wouldn't even have Stevens at number 2 in onfield leadership qualities let alone at the head of the pack. Stevens needs to learn how to play with a tag on him like all the other top midfielders do, instead of fading out of the game under a hard tag. Having Stevo as Captain would be like Kane Johnson at Richmond, a Captain when you are not having a Captain.

 

[Johnny_3]

judd fullstop

i didnt mean he is as good. but even the best need support.
and once stevens has it he will be at his best.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

Ladies and Gents, lets all calm down now. All this negative talk about Stevens & Whitnall not being good captains is all crap. Both would do a very fine job. I wouldnt care who gets it (even if it was Kouta for another year or Fev) as long as they lead the club in the right manner both on and off the field.

Arguably Carlton's most successful stint was when we had ONE GREAT CAPTAIN and for a long period of time and that was Sticks. Sure we had other great players and leaders around him but he was the one Bloke the guys looked to when things were getting tough.

Sure Lance's seems to be the more natural on field leader, Last year i went to watch the guys play in the intra club match and its really interesting to hear the guys talking to each other. Why i am saying this is that the most prominent voice on the field was Lance, and he was telling the likes of Bower, Livo, Thornton, Setanta and even JK where to go and be. Off the field i have my doubts. Media wise, not the best public speaker and his antic's over the past number of preseasons haven't been gr8, but he seems to now have finally matured (28 y/o maturing??) and settling in with a good diet and stopped eating junk foods.

On the other hand, yes Stevens on field performances hasn't had the desired output that most Carlton supporters expected, but lets not forget that he has been our only classy midfielder prior to the emergence of Murphy, Walker, Simpson, Bentick etc. Off the field he present the Carlton Football Club in a better way than Lance (although loves the drink with his buddy Heath). His a hard worker both on and off the field will rub off on the guys mentioned above as lead them in good stead.

Either way guys the announcement of the next captain will only be a smoke screen to the next bunch of leaders. A guy who will lead the club for 6 - 10 years (ala Sticks) and will have the entire club behind him. The likes of Walker, Simpson & Murphy (all midfield types) need to have a couple more years in the system.

P.S I'm going to training tomorrow and ill have some news for you in the arvo.

Cheers guys. Go Blues

 

[westbrom]

Stevens has been disappointing since coming across...but that is to be expected really. Stevens is NOT a number 1 midfielder, and he struggles when he is expected to be exactly that. As our midfield has been very weak, he has had to shoulder more burden than he is used to, and struggled with this role.

Hopefully, with the maturation of Simpson, Walker and Bentick, the addition of Gibbs and a few others, Stevens will become the 3rd or 4th best midfielder in the side. Only then will we see the best of Nick Stevens, when he has less pressure on his shoulders. Hopefully it is sooner rather than later. Look at the Port Adelaide side he was playing in-he was not the number 1 midfielder, more like number 3 or 4. That is when he was at his best.

It is not that Stevens needs to be the number 3 or 4 midfielder, but he needs to have others around the same level as him. It is wearing 1-2 hard bodies every week that closes him out of games. When teams realise that by doing this they are freeing up Murphy and Gibbs(?) who will both hurt you with their foot skills, then they will have to afford Stevens more freedom.

Nick Stevens has the potential to be a very very damaging midfielder in the right team

 

[westbrom]

I will still support the club...but if I disagree with them to such an extent, I will contemplate it.

If anyone was to hand back a membership, over the captaincy.... I think that would be the most piss weak reason I would have ever heard

 

[XXX KINGS]

It is not that Stevens needs to be the number 3 or 4 midfielder, but he needs to have others around the same level as him. It is wearing 1-2 hard bodies every week that closes him out of games. When teams realise that by doing this they are freeing up Murphy and Gibbs(?) who will both hurt you with their foot skills, then they will have to afford Stevens more freedom.

Nick Stevens has the potential to be a very very damaging midfielder in the right team

Good post. I think quite a few people on here have very short memories. In 2004 and 2005 Stevens was one of our most consistent players and this was reflected by his high B&F finishes. Some of the crap he cops on here is simply unwarranted, yes he had an ordinary season last year, but in the scheme of things this means very little. With a good and full preseason I'd expect him to bounce back next season. It's evident when looking at our younger players that Stevo has a good repetoire with them. On the field they clearly look up to him and from what I can gather, off the field too. I personally would not be concerned whether Stevens or Whitnall get the captaincy as they are both more than equipped to carry it for a few years.

 

[Blue_4_Life]

Good post. I think quite a few people on here have very short memories. In 2004 and 2005 Stevens was one of our most consistent players and this was reflected by his high B&F finishes. Some of the crap he cops on here is simply unwarranted, yes he had an ordinary season last year, but in the scheme of things this means very little. With a good and full preseason I'd expect him to bounce back next season. It's evident when looking at our younger players that Stevo has a good repetoire with them. On the field they clearly look up to him and from what I can gather, off the field too. I personally would not be concerned whether Stevens or Whitnall get the captaincy as they are both more than equipped to carry it for a few years.

I think you mean rapport

I'd be concerned if he was using his repertoire on the young blokes at the club instead of is mrs!!!

 

[XXX KINGS]

I think you mean rapport

I'd be concerned if he was using his repertoire on the young blokes at the club instead of is mrs!!!

Who needs english anyway?

 

[Ramirezvbundy]

Nick is a top bloke, and a lot of players look up to him. If you don't know much about him personally, let alone as a player, then you shouldnt bag him.

Hes an arrogant seagull

 

[XXX KINGS]

Hes an arrogant seagull

You're a seagull

 

[audas]

COME ON!!!!

Be bloody honest there are people on this board that have been bagging him all season, no matter what. Its as if some dont like the way he carries himself, or a feeling (pumped your expert analysis here please) its quite pathetic. He had a best in COMP performance racking up 43 possies in a game and GOT BAGGED. UNBELIEVABLE !!

People around here get fixated. Last year it was Houlihan,Strawberry Pancakes and Whitnal, this year its Stevens and Pagan. When will people be able to look past one week to the next and realise that footy, despite what the coaches say, is not a week by week game when you are in our position. When will people be able to evaluate things for themselves rather just jumping on bandwagons.

AndyWalkersGirl you should be honest enough to admit that you have a grudge against this guy that goes beyond objective analysis. The comments you drop , sometimes, bear almost no relation to stevens and are complete wilsonisms. Get off it , I read The Age enough without having to put up with your bile.

There should be plenty of players that you dislike ahead of this guy, plenty. Lets face it FEVOLA is the worst at this type of head dropping lackadaisical performance in the AFL, but you don't bag him because hes a show pony and he catches your eye like the bower bird you are.

Ive seen lappin put in some APPALLING displays of apathy and 3rd rate performances, he was dropped for it and you only need to replay the Sydney game to see how much the guy dosent give a fack. And he was useless, clanger king.

But you don't write articles like this on them do you , no. Get over it. Stevens is an excellent player, and if you actually watch him impartially, you may find yourself surprised. He is actually a tough gritty player, who plays for the team and gets disappointed at failure.

He is a good bloke, well liked, skillful, determined, committed and very much required, many see him as captain potential which should in itself be enough for you to realize he is better than perhaps you give him credit for.