2025/26 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall


I would bet the house if we had shifted Garner to RB with Gana and KDH in the middle with a confident Charly that Moyes never dropped from the start, we would be higher up the table. When the play stops, Grealish and Ndiaye are much less effective. And imo Ndiaye is more of a goalscorer than a creator (though he seems to have worked on that part of his game). Get some fullbacks in then we can revisit this conversation. I would wager that would help things a lot for KDH. Our best shot is counter attacking atm.
KDH certainly offers more going forward than either Garner or Gana in terms of passing and willingness/ability to run with the ball. I would worry about us being bullied in some games though.
 
Do you really need him to be a "primary creator" if we have Ndiaye and Grealish on the flanks? I'd argue that KDH being able to move the ball quickly, retain possession and press is what we need from him. By contrast, Alcaraz's problem is that he gives the ball a way a lot and is probably better off as an impact substitute for that reason.

KDH has also got 3 goals and 2 assists this season so isn't exactly doing terribly from an attacking perspective.

How many of those goals and assists have come when he's been at 10 compared with Alcaraz ?

In a game in which we might see a bit more of the ball, I'd play Alcaraz as a 10 with Dewsbury-Hall deeper. Alcaraz drives with the ball much better and gets us up the pitch.

In games in which we are playing better opposition and might need to pack it in more, I'd have Dewsbury-Hall as the 10 with Alcaraz on the bench. Dewsbury-Hall presses from the front very well and is better at looking after the ball when we have it.

If it’s a question of KDH in the 10 or not playing I’d have him playing over Alcaraz yes

I'd rather sell KDH than waste him at 10 to the detriment of the team.

He and Grealish together completely slow the play down.

I would bet the house if we had shifted Garner to RB with Gana and KDH in the middle with a confident Charly that Moyes never dropped from the start, we would be higher up the table. When the play stops, Grealish and Ndiaye are much less effective. And imo Ndiaye is more of a goalscorer than a creator (though he seems to have worked on that part of his game). Get some fullbacks in then we can revisit this conversation. I would wager that would help things a lot for KDH. Our best shot is counter attacking atm.

100% and the likes of KDH & Alcaraz, along with Ndiaye and Dibling are lethal on the quick transition.
 

….KDH has been terrific wherever he’s played. Indeed, his link with Grealish in top third is key to some of our better forward play.
He has been terrific, but I’d rather he be in the position that he feels is his best. he’s not fixed to a deeper position, he gets it deeper and move it to Grealish earlier. He’s box to box so he’s popping up in the attack anyway to link up. Being box to box is exactly that, and he’s the best in the squad at that. He’s terrific defensively, drives the ball up, keeps the ball better than our other midfielders, then pops up in the final third.

I just think he’s boss, and if we want to kick on to be an attacking team, we need that technical all rounder in the middle. It doesn’t even have to be Alcaraz in the 10, Rohl’s played there in Germany to good effect - I’m sure Moyes would like to try him there when he’s eventually fit (pipe dream)
 
He does everything that he did from the 10 at the 8. In the 10 he is just overkill on the neat and tidy for us which is why I think we will see more balance once we can get Charly and Barry going. We don't need to control everything at the opponent's 10 yard box until we get the players that can break it down.
 


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