2018/19 Kieran Dowell

[Shipped]

..glad most folk liked what they saw. I don’t think he’s ever going to be an all action midfielder, always in the game but he has that bit of quality that can make the difference in football matches. He’s capable of putting the most exquisitely weighted passes behind the opposition back four that could really benefit a speedy central striker, winger or overlapping full back.

He played a class, 30 yard ball in behind between the centre back and full back 2nd half last night. Would have put the winger clear but he didn't read it.

 

[Eggs]

He played a class, 30 yard ball in behind between the centre back and full back 2nd half last night. Would have put the winger clear but he didn't read it.

..it’s the little subtle ones that stand out for me because they show real vision. No doubt he’s a talented footballer, the uncertainty is whether he can forge his way into the team.

 

[Brisan123]

..it’s the little subtle ones that stand out for me because they show real vision. No doubt he’s a talented footballer, the uncertainty is whether he can forge his way into the team.

This is where PL clubs constantly changing managers affects younger players.
Managers need results instantly and haven't got the time to allow younger players to develop and learn from their mistakes.
Fergie could do it because his position was guaranteed.
Hopefully Silva is a success here and lasts 3/4 years and can help our younger players develop

 

[Shipped]

..it’s the little subtle ones that stand out for me because they show real vision. No doubt he’s a talented footballer, the uncertainty is whether he can forge his way into the team.

Time will tell.
I'm not in the "Never a Prem player" nor the "Nailed on superstar" camps.
It'll be fun finding out though, it's the youngsters with potential that bring the most hope - at least until we can attract your Verattis and Nainggollans.

 

[Shipped]

This is where PL clubs constantly changing managers affects younger players.
Managers need results instantly and haven't got the time to allow younger players to develop and learn from their mistakes.
Fergie could do it because his position was guaranteed.
Hopefully Silva is a success here and lasts 3/4 years and can help our younger players develop

Guess that's where in theory the DOF has to step in and make it non-conditional to the manager before they take the gig that part of it's responsibilities are to develop certain players in certain ways.

 

[Eggs]

Time will tell.
I'm not in the "Never a Prem player" nor the "Nailed on superstar" camps.
It'll be fun finding out though, it's the youngsters with potential that bring the most hope - at least until we can attract your Verattis and Nainggollans.

..I think that’s right, only time will tell.

 

[davek]

Thanks Dave and I agree with a lot of that.

I would say that teaching someone creativity, vision and technique to strike a ball as he does with his left foot is a lot harder than teaching someone how to recover defensive shape or how to press to a solid level. There will be players who excel in this (McCarthy and Sigurdsson are both very good at it). He runs with his head up as well which is a big plus. I think Silva can see these attributes and the fact he's signed a Contract suggest he feels quite content with his lot currently (which is very little game time). I suspect it means he values the training he's getting.

On what he needs to improve it's a bit of the Ozil V De Bruyne paradigm. He always reminded of Ozil from a teenager and I'm on record as saying as much. De Bruyne a similar player has been a revelation because he's dropped deeper and been able to dictate the flow of a game far more as you generally would when you get the ball deeper. I am not sure if he will go forward and have a focus on being more of a 10, and be judged on assists and goals more, or whether it is better for him to drop deeper and be a player who can dictate the flow of games before linking up. He would need to increase hit fitness levels to do this. I throw De Bruyne in, as a poster here said he resembled the playing profile of De Bruyne very closely. I'd like to see Silva give him a clear goal to focus on and move him in that direction.

I hope it comes off for him. The vision he has, weight of pass and striking power few possess. He is getting to an age and physicality where he can be trained to do enough on the defensive side of the game. He offers the option of making many chances though. A player like Lukaku would have loved to play with him. It's strange though, Osman always went a bit unappreciated and I think Dowell does to as culturally we are not programmed to rate such style of players.

I think he's much more an Ozil type even if just in terms of temperament. I dont really see the De Bruyne comparison. KDB is much more combative and his game depends on a lot of energy as well as the skills he brings and I just cant see that in him.

My sense is that Dowell can play off the cuff very well indeed, and that other players need to be alive to that. I believe that whatever standard of football you place him in he'll adapt. I'd have no hesitation in putting him in a PL starting place. I do get what others are saying about him needing to expand his game though. I think so too. It'll be fascinating to see what Silva does with him. If we could get top 8 this season, develop a reliable method of defending and stick with it and find out along the way what we have with a player like Dowell, I would view that as a purposeful season.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

He's only 20.

Early days, needs a run in the team before we can be so conclusive...

 

[Nymzee]

Mate he was played out of position in a team with 12 other attacking options in a side that was cobbled together and you expect him to be Iniesta?

How was he out of position?

 

[Nymzee]

Bit harsh I think.

I've been critical of him in the past and to be honest i'm not sure he's really cut out for the rough and tumble nature of PL football, but last night he was playing in an unfamiliar role in a patched up side that had never really played together before (and never will again). From what I could see, he wasn't really tasked with dominating the game, he was asked to play a sort of Osman type role as a continuity player, just moving the ball round and linking up with the players ahead of him. I was more impressed with him doing that than I have been seeing him further up the pitch, where he strikes me as a poor man's Le Tissier, strutting round doing flicks and nutmegs but spending 90% of the game watching it go on around him. Last night he looked more disciplined and as if he cared more about being effective for the team than about looking good himself. A positive step in my eyes.

With his talent he should be grabbing every game by the scruff of the neck regardless of position and what he was tasked with doing.

 

[Brisan123]

He's only 20.

Early days, needs a run in the team before we can be so conclusive...

for a mod you are very naieve
GOT posters dont give young lads time.
It's not the done thing

 

[Brisan123]

With his talent he should be grabbing every game by the scruff of the neck regardless of position and what he was tasked with doing.

Pogba is 25 ,physically more imposing .cost 90 m and he can't grab a game by the scruff of the neck

 

[Nymzee]

Pogba is 25 ,physically more imposing .cost 90 m and he can't grab a game by the scruff of the neck

Which is why he's a flop so far at United is he not?

 

[Brisan123]

Which is why he's a flop so far at United is he not?

barcelona and Juventus don't think so

 

[jazzy]

..no pace, one footed, can’t tackle - sounds lots like Kevin Sheedy and he just about managed.

It's a great shout and my mate and I at the match discussed his best position and Sheedys name came up as a skilful player , without pace , who played wide and as a playmaker.

His reply was "yeah but Sheedy was a winner"

So far , on admittedly very little evidence , Dowell shows limited appetite and desire.