Fin Stevens - Brentford B - Signs to June 2022 (+1yr option)

[Beat Poet]

They could've done with using a spirit level or something to get his national flag aligned correctly.

 

[BFC1997]

Didn’t totally impose himself on the game today but worth a mentioning for his full debut and a full 90 minutes. Didn’t know he could play in midfield so another bonus.

 

[wanderer paul]

To think he's just 17 years old.

 

[taxi driver]

To think he's just 17 years old.

He is very very good

 

[unBEEliveable]

17 years old? Superbly mature performance!

 

[GP200]

.............has he been interviewed yet????????????...............

 

[wanderer paul]

.............has he been interviewed yet????????????...............

Had to call his mum to ask, "what do I do with my chewing gum?"

 

[Mr Cynical]

Did much better tonight than he did playing in that position for the B team! Well done Finn!

 

[liverbee]

Excellent launch pad.

 

[condorman]

Really young and played out of position. Much more to come from this one

 

[wanderer paul]

Really young and played out of position. Much more to come from this one

He didn’t. He’s played DM. As well as RB

 

[condorman]

He didn’t. He’s played DM. As well as RB

very recently played DM yes. Mainly been a RB. Quick to correct as ever without adding anything

 

[readingbee]

Really young and played out of position. Much more to come from this one

Really young, 17 amazing. He’s going to be frighteningly good. Arsenal have done a great job of releasing future talent.

 

[abeeforever]

Really young, 17 amazing. He’s going to be frighteningly good. Arsenal have done a great job of releasing future talent.

They seem to be good at it, Thank you Arsenal that's another gem for us, I think he's going to be a winner

 

[GlasgowBee]

An ironic name for someone with so much ahead of him, he played well yesterday and I hadn't twigged he was 17, plenty more potential in this player

 

[Mr Tree]

Was on a bit of a hiding to nothing in an unfamiliar position - thought he did excellently, grew into it, got stuck in well, decent on the ball and actually could've been used more, guys turned passing to him a few times, maybe understandable but still... i think he ended up showing them, no need to "protect" me, i belong here.

 

[hatfieldbee]

Nice post match interview from him. Sounded confident but not pushy.

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

Youngest player from the B team to debut for the first team.

 

[GP200]

Nice post match interview from him. Sounded confident but not pushy.

..............was he chewing gum...???...........

 

[wanderer paul]

..............was he chewing gum...???...........

He isn’t allowed gum in case he swallows it!! (Directions from his mum)

What he did get though, afterwards, was a lollipop.

 

[alexcavell]

Nice post match interview from him. Sounded confident but not pushy.

And said it himself that he was playing out of position!

 

[condorman]

And said it himself that he was playing out of position!

Let’s hope he doesn’t get people rushing round his house to correct him in the same way they did on here.....

 

[TadB]

Does anyone else consider that Fin Stevens would benefit from a loan for the remainder of the season? With the return of Roeslev Rasmussen, assuming that Right Full Back is Fin Stevens primary position, then there will be three players vying for that spot. That being the case, Fin may struggle to even make the bench, and at his age for his personal development he needs to be playing. After playing an entire season with men at Worthing, and spending half of this season with our first team it does not appear to be productive for him to return permanently to 'B' Team football. There appears to be little doubt that he possesses all the attributes to make an extremely good player, however, these attributes do require to be developed, indeed it is in our long term interests to progress his development. It would look as if he has a window in the second half of this season to go out on loan. As things currently appear, Dalsgaard will move on in June as his contract expires, and Rasmussen will assume the first team place with Fin Stevens deputising. From that point there will be no apparent opportunity for a loan, and depending on Rasmussen's fitness Fin could be in a similar position to that of Thompson, who has been for the past 18 months deputising on the opposite flank with little opportunity to play.

 

[jlove]

I'd say that staying here and getting B Team minutes and the coaching that goes with it while being available for the first team was the best thing right now. Yes he's a right back but the 'Boro cup game showed him to be quite versatile and we need that for the rest of the season... should it happen.

 

[AB]

Does anyone else consider that Fin Stevens would benefit from a loan for the remainder of the season? With the return of Roeslev Rasmussen, assuming that Right Full Back is Fin Stevens primary position, then there will be three players vying for that spot. That being the case, Fin may struggle to even make the bench, and at his age for his personal development he needs to be playing. After playing an entire season with men at Worthing, and spending half of this season with our first team it does not appear to be productive for him to return permanently to 'B' Team football. There appears to be little doubt that he possesses all the attributes to make an extremely good player, however, these attributes do require to be developed, indeed it is in our long term interests to progress his development. It would look as if he has a window in the second half of this season to go out on loan. As things currently appear, Dalsgaard will move on in June as his contract expires, and Rasmussen will assume the first team place with Fin Stevens deputising. From that point there will be no apparent opportunity for a loan, and depending on Rasmussen's fitness Fin could be in a similar position to that of Thompson, who has been for the past 18 months deputising on the opposite flank with little opportunity to play.

He’s getting playing time with us in both first team and B team. At 17 it is unlikely that a L1 or L2 team would trust him to start much more than us as we obviously rate him very highly but lower league defending is much more about being tough in a man’s game.

Our usual route with the most highly rated young players seems to be to promote to play in the first team a bit and then, when they have shown that they are one we can see playing regularly at that level to send them out on loan. A loan next season might be right depending on his physical development and which division we’re in. Right now we’d just be losing him and without any guarantee he’d get developed or given game time. I think there’s also an extent to which we like to make young players feel cherished and part of the club rather than ship them out on loan within months of joining.

 

[TadB]

I'd say that staying here and getting B Team minutes and the coaching that goes with it while being available for the first team was the best thing right now. Yes he's a right back but the 'Boro cup game showed him to be quite versatile and we need that for the rest of the season... should it happen.

Thanks for your view. He is, I would assume technically well equipped after several years at Arsenal, plus the last several months training, and playing with Brentford's first team. I am unsure what more he will earn within the 'B' Team set up. I do not believe that will happen, but that he will remain with the first team for the remainder of the season, as such he is unlikely to play many minutes, injury aside. To keep him will be short sighted, and will undoubtably stunt his development as per Thompson. If the club were to take a long term view then they will get back for next season a very much better player. The lad is confident, skilled, and can handle mens football, he just needs to play, and play every game in a competitive environment.

 

[jlove]

Thanks for your view. He is, I would assume technically well equipped after several years at Arsenal, plus the last several months training, and playing with Brentford's first team. I am unsure what more he will earn within the 'B' Team set up. I do not believe that will happen, but that he will remain with the first team for the remainder of the season, as such he is unlikely to play many minutes, injury aside. To keep him will be short sighted, and will undoubtably stunt his development as per Thompson. If the club were to take a long term view then they will get back for next season a very much better player. The lad is confident, skilled, and can handle mens football, he just needs to play, and play every game in a competitive environment.

Equally valid. I just think that, at 17, we can exercise a bit more patience. Thompson, I'd guess, is a make-or-break loan, rather than development.

 

[TadB]

He’s getting playing time with us in both first team and B team. At 17 it is unlikely that a L1 or L2 team would trust him to start much more than us as we obviously rate him very highly but lower league defending is much more about being tough in a man’s game.

Our usual route with the most highly rated young players seems to be to promote to play in the first team a bit and then, when they have shown that they are one we can see playing regularly at that level to send them out on loan. A loan next season might be right depending on his physical development and which division we’re in. Right now we’d just be losing him and without any guarantee he’d get developed or given game time. I think there’s also an extent to which we like to make young players feel cherished and part of the club rather than ship them out on loan within months of joining.

I note your comments, however, a loan next season is unlikely to happen, that is unless Dalsgaard extends his contract, or we sign another Full Back. Fin will be obliged to stay at the club, and will not play regularly unless Rasmussen picks up a long term injury. In my opinion Thompson's personal development has been stunted by constantly sitting on the bench for the past 18 months. Eventually sending Thompson out on a well deserved loan has now caused the club an apparent problem with finding cover at Left Back for the rest of the season. Exactly the same scenario can be anticipated for Fin Stevens should he remain at the club in a state of limbo.

 

[The Pipe]

I would be inclined to trust those at the club making the decisions to have considered all the scenarios, their track record is not the worst in the land !!!

 

[AB]

I note your comments, however, a loan next season is unlikely to happen, that is unless Dalsgaard extends his contract, or we sign another Full Back. Fin will be obliged to stay at the club, and will not play regularly unless Rasmussen picks up a long term injury. In my opinion Thompson's personal development has been stunted by constantly sitting on the bench for the past 18 months. Eventually sending Thompson out on a well deserved loan has now caused the club an apparent problem with finding cover at Left Back for the rest of the season. Exactly the same scenario can be anticipated for Fin Stevens should he remain at the club in a state of limbo.

I tend to give the club credit for having a better idea of player development and squad need than me. I don’t know whether the club would agree that Thompson’s development was held back by not going on loan last season. They were quite happy to give him 9 league and cup appearances this season without Rico being injured (even if TF got criticised for playing him v Blackburn). They’ll also have a better idea on whether Dalsgaard will stay, whether Roerslev will replace him and indeed whether they may be looking to bring straight into the first team another more senior RB. None of these things will be surprises and unless the club is rather negligent it has been comfortable with its options at RB while Roerslev was injured (Fosu did the job perfectly decently, Canos has in the past played well there, Fin is clearly rated for the future).

 

[TadB]

I tend to give the club credit for having a better idea of player development and squad need than me. I don’t know whether the club would agree that Thompson’s development was held back by not going on loan last season. They were quite happy to give him 9 league and cup appearances this season without Rico being injured (even if TF got criticised for playing him v Blackburn). They’ll also have a better idea on whether Dalsgaard will stay, whether Roerslev will replace him and indeed whether they may be looking to bring straight into the first team another more senior RB. None of these things will be surprises and unless the club is rather negligent it has been comfortable with its options at RB while Roerslev was injured (Fosu did the job perfectly decently, Canos has in the past played well there, Fin is clearly rated for the future).

Well I cannot disagree with many of your points. Clearly the club will know far better than any of us, the club have demonstrated over many years now that they have a very good system of planning, and player development, and they deserve all credit for that. I being just a humble supporter looking in from the outside am merely postulating about what may, or may not happen, and what I believe is likely to be for the best in the circumstances as I am able to see them. Yes, the club has been apparently comfortable with their options at right back, although I am sure that they would have preferred to play Rasmussen at Right Back instead of Fosu. As I currently see things, on the return of Roerslev Rasmussen from injury there is an opportunity to send Fin Stevens on loan for the remainder of the season, an opportunity that may not exist next season when he could be needed to deputise for Rasmussen (with the provisos mentioned by you). I think that there has been a change of club policy in respect of loans over the past few years, and the benefits of which can be seen on the return of Sorensen, and Forss. Should Fin be given the opportunity of a loan until the seasons end he will be a much better deputy at RB next season than he will be without one, that is of course assuming that Dalsgaard has not extended or the club signed a replacement RB.

 

[TadB]

I would be inclined to trust those at the club making the decisions to have considered all the scenarios, their track record is not the worst in the land !!!

Well it goes without saying that most regular posters on this site trust the club to make these decisions, and everyone old enough to remember the old days recognises the excellent track record.. Unfortunately I do not have personal insight into to those decisions let alone any involvement so can only discuss with others what may, or may not happen, or what I believe should happen. I have little doubt that whatever happens the club under the present ownership will go from strength to strength. I really do expect Premiership Football next season providing the season is not scrapped due to COVD 19. I still, however, hold the view that the next six months provide a window of opportunity for Fin Stevens to go out on loan, that is if a suitable one can be found.

 

[Stanley]

I think Finn is a real star in the making and has had a very rapid rise since leaving Arsenal. He might well be challenging Rasmussen for the right back position next season and I wouldn't be surprised if his game time in the first team rises sufficiently to make any loan development effectively superseded. I think he is that good.

 

[UnsungZero]

The fact that he made 20 appearances in the Isthmian League as a 16 year old means he probably has more experience of the physicality of the men's game than most B team recruits. This may be a factor in any decision regarding the need for him to get loan experience ?

 

[TadB]

I think Finn is a real star in the making and has had a very rapid rise since leaving Arsenal. He might well be challenging Rasmussen for the right back position next season and I wouldn't be surprised if his game time in the first team rises sufficiently to make any loan development effectively superseded. I think he is that good.

I do agree that Finn is a real star in the making, and a very big one at that, hence it is important that the club get his development right. I think it is quite correct to say that he will be challenging Rasmussen for the position next season, indeed I am sure that he will. That said, realistically I cannot see, that injuries permitted, he will get much game time this season, at least from hereon. Therefore I see a loan opportunity which surely will be more productive than training with the first team punctuated with the occasional B Team game. He is much better than that, and I sincerely believe that on his return he will take next season by storm. You may well be right of course, and Finn may be able to force his way into the team this season. I am sure that the club will have discussed his future.

 

[TadB]

The fact that he made 20 appearances in the Isthmian League as a 16 year old means he probably has more experience of the physicality of the men's game than most B team recruits. This may be a factor in any decision regarding the need for him to get loan experience ?

That experience with Worthing may mean that he is more useful to a Lower League Club than a Loanee who has to get used to playing with and against men.

 

[alexcavell]

There's a balance to be had in his development between training him up under our guidance, and getting match experience out on loan.

Both are important, but I'd argue that at his very young age, he has plenty of time on his side, so I'd go with the former for now - especially as he's still in his first year with us. Possibly a loan for next season.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

A very impressive young man.
Speaks really well in interviews.
No gum
Sensible hair
What’s not to like?

 

[GP200]

A very impressive young man.
Speaks really well in interviews.
No gum
Sensible hair
What’s not to like?

............oh dear............that's not a good start to his Bees career..............

 

[TadB]

There's a balance to be had in his development between training him up under our guidance, and getting match experience out on loan.

Both are important, but I'd argue that at his very young age, he has plenty of time on his side, so I'd go with the former for now - especially as he's still in his first year with us. Possibly a loan for next season.

Unless we sign another Right Full Back Finn Stevens will no doubt be the understudy to Roeslev Rasmussen unless he displaces him. In either event I doubt he will be available for a loan next season. The opportunity is now. Time will tell I expect.

 

[Mr Cynical]

Unless we sign another Right Full Back Finn Stevens will no doubt be the understudy to Roeslev Rasmussen unless he displaces him. In either event I doubt he will be available for a loan next season. The opportunity is now. Time will tell I expect.

He's still a way to go to be a member of the first team squad. A lot to learn but still v young. Roerslev looks ready to make a step up and I suspect we'll see more of him starting for the rest of this season. Wouldn't be surprised though if we extended Dalsgaard's contract for another year. He looks fit enough.. Guess it depends on which division we're in...