2025/26 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

[JobForTheMoyes]

Anonymous on the ball today but don't think he had much of it in the right areas. Worked tirelessly off the ball without much joy

6/10 performance, but definitely not a stinker by anyone's standards

We look much better with him in the side than with him out of it. The game has moved on so much that it’s hard to properly judge without knowing fully what he has been tasked to do by the manager.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Its a system that accommodates our most technically gifted players.

Given that Beto isnt exactly banging them in currently i just think that it's surely worth a go

How are we fixing it when we get pinned in?

 

[TheBigIguana]

We look much better with him in the side than with him out of it. The game has moved on so much that it’s hard to fully judge without knowing fully what he has been tasked to do by the manager.

Only team to beat Palace for going on a calendar year with him out of it

 

[ElGato]

We look much better with him in the side than with him out of it. The game has moved on so much that it’s hard to fully judge without knowing fully what he has been tasked to do by the manager.

I agree

Massive upgrade on what we've had in midfield for the last 3 years or so

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

Only team to beat Palace for going on a calendar year with him out of it

Aye, and we looked proper for much of it!

We played better against Pep’s City than against Palace, imo.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Aye, and we looked proper for much of it!

We also beat them in February without him and with the guy he’s meant to replace winning MotM

 

[Toffe3m4n]

I agree

Massive upgrade on what we've had in midfield for the last 3 years or so

Without question. Also clearly loves playing with lads of Jack Grealish's ilk as well.

Any potential reality in that he doesnt work out at Everton will be squarely on the management 1000%.

 

[Zatara]

I dont like him playing so advanced. His strength is late runs into the box from deep. He's not good enough to play as a 10. In fact I'd rather we just play a standard 433 without a 10. It's an overrated position.

A 433 seems to suit all of our central midfielders and would also suit Alcaraz (who has played there before for Southanpton).

Its borderline stupidity by Moyes to keep using KDH as a 10 now.

He’s obviously doing the job he’s being asked to do, even if it’s not immediately obvious exactly what that is. It’s as much about what they do off the ball as what they do on it.

Thats a fair comment. Although i'm not seeing much value in his direct off the ball contributions either unless its his 'positioning' to cut off passing lanes...

...which is necessary but can be taught and coached into others.

On the face of it, is that what he was signed for?

Yes. Undoubtedly.

Easily a ~£30m player in this market.

Not as a 10 imo. Theres no on the ball effectiveness aside from playing 'pass the ball to Grealish and receive it back' which slows the game down...

...thats the opposite of what we should be doing.

Good ball control. Always looking to pass. He’s just one position too high on the pitch. Put Rohl in front of KDH and we might have something.

Why do you think Rohl would make a good 10? I have no thoughts on this either way...i just see Alcaraz as a 10 rather than KDH.

Has Rohl done well as a 10 in the past?

He’s not anything like Gana though. He’s a neat, tidy, stand in the right spot off the ball player. Gana is more of a risk taker in and out of possession. Swapping them requires many changes to what is happening to make this work.

We paid the big 6 tax make no mistake.

I think Iroegbunam is the Gana-lite bench player to come on when we need to tighten things up.

Gana out and KDH in would make us more attacking and would mean Garner would have to focus on more defensive work - but he is that player.

I think its worth a try BUT i'd say a 433 with a new DM (or Garner) with 2 CMs (KDH + Rohl/Alcaraz) would be worth a try over this current mess.

We look much better with him in the side than with him out of it. The game has moved on so much that it’s hard to properly judge without knowing fully what he has been tasked to do by the manager.

100% disagree with this.

I think KDH at 10 weakens the side compared with Alcaraz, who at 10 gives the team a threat and provides better service for Beto.

If we restarted this season with Alcaraz at 10 I think we'd see a few goals/assists next to Alcaraz (and/or more for other players) - certainly more than KDH's 1 goal and 1 assist in the league.

1 goal and 1 assist for a 10 at this point of the season is poor.

 

[MaximusEvertonius]

I don’t have anything solid to base Rohl making a good 10 beyond what I’ve seen in his limited performances. It’s a hunch. He seems to have more in his toolbox to score than Beto. He’s tall and has a big body. He’s goal scoring minded. I like his aggression. Beto a lot of times backs himself into his defender and plants himself waiting for the perfect ball. Rohl was very mobile. He even had a decent header that wasn’t too far off target. I think if you always set up the way you always have, then you’ll always get similar results. Sometimes trying someone different in that 10 role might yield something you never expected.

 

[Zatara]

I don’t have anything solid to base Rohl making a good 10 beyond what I’ve seen in his limited performances. It’s a hunch. He seems to have more in his toolbox to score than Beto. He’s tall and has a big body. He’s goal scoring minded. I like his aggression. Beto a lot of times backs himself into his defender and plants himself waiting for the perfect ball. Rohl was very mobile. He even had a decent header that wasn’t too far off target. I think if you always set up the way you always have, then you’ll always get similar results. Sometimes trying someone different in that 10 role might yield something you never expected.

Fair points and suggestion.

From what ive seen i'd say he looks to be a good all round CM, like Garner.

However could be more attack focused with Garner more defensively minded so a decent balance.

Then again I see the same as KDH (who is different again to both).

 

[EGWToffee]

This isnt an "i told you so" post from me but It's interesting how posters are now seeing what I also posted after his first couple of games - and was mocked.

He's simply not a 10 & he should occupy the areas in which Gana plays as a more attacking option.

For me, it's still Gana or KDH.

I am hoping that he's been signed as the Gana replacement for the AFCON and next season. Hopefully, Moyes is just playing him as much as humanly possible - for some unknown reason aside from him making a major error signing an 8 to play 10.

He was signed for £25mil rising to £28mil I think. I said we overpaid for him as Chelsea wanted him out the door.

If we put him up for sale tomorrow (hypothetically), would we get our money back?

KDH is a good player and does warrant a starting 11 spot, as overall he offers good balance. But he does go missing. First game of the season at Leeds and today was very much of the same. Just couldn’t get on the ball/into the game. Alcaraz is a much more dynamic player but takes lots of risks (something Moyes doesn’t like). That’s why KDH will always get the nod from Moyes. He’s the safe bet.

I too agree though that Alcaraz needs to play the 10 but not at the expense of KDH starting. Can KDH cover the ground and make the challenges Gana does? I just don’t know. BTW Gana for me is so unpredictable. Sometimes he’s unplayable were as others he’s a headless chicken.

It’s a tough decision to make for Moyes. On today’s performance though KDH was very poor.

 

[Swartzy]

Flat midfield 3 with him, Garner & Rohl?

This is why we should be happy, we're actually blessed with good options now, that we're not used to.

We don't even have to be tied down to one structure anymore..

I can put down one set of 3 and then look another poster and be just as happy seeing that.

 

[WA Toffee]

This is why we should be happy, we're actually blessed with good options now, that we're not used to.

We don't even have to be tied down to one structure anymore..

I can put down one set of 3 and then look another poster and be just as happy seeing that.

It's certainly a good position to be in when you discuss who to take out rather than who can go in

 

[Saint Domingo]

I’d like to see a midfield three. Garner sitting with KDH the left hand 8 and Alcaraz the right hand 8. Rohl could come in for any of those positions.

Moyes has played the same formation for the last 20 years though since we came fourth playing 4141 so I doubt he’s going to move away from it. It’s 4231 every game.

 

[jackyboy]

Whatever we do, that midfield three doesn't work as it is