2018/19 Kieran Dowell

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For me there is no way Dowell could stand in for Gomes. Gomes is a far more combative player than Dowell who is by contrast almost anonymous when we do not have possession. You can’t really afford a lightweight player in that position.
When he was at Forest they were struggling at the wrong end of the table and the fans after initially being impressed by his undoubtedly sublime skills also commented on his pronounced tendency to also go missing in games. It was no real surprise that Karanke sacrificed him from that central position to stiffen them defensively nor that he tried to retain him as an offensive player albeit in the less exposed winger role.
In a sense he is something of a neutral player ,what you gain in attacking football you lose defensively and that is not good enough to claim a regular place in a Premier League squad.
I sincerely hope he proves me wrong in the years to come but ,currently, I don’t think he has any future in the top league.
The Gomes that started for us I agree 100%. But I think it's fair to say that we haven't seen that player since the derby. Since he came into the team he has started every single premier league game, including over the xmas period. We gave him a break in the Lincoln game, but Silva felt he had to bring him on at half time as obviously Davies wasn't bringing what we needed. He is in dire need of a rest for a game or two, it's obvious to everyone, as eventually his form will possibly have a longer term effect on his confidence. But we have nobody in the squad who can bring what he does.

I'm not saying that Dowell is ready to compete with Gomes for a position in the team on a permanent basis. But if he was still with the squad he could be a bench option and used to give him a break late in games and to step in for him now and again, possibly in games that we would expect to dominate. Dowell doesn't have his physicality, but there is no doubt he has the footballing ability, vision and passing range that nobody else in our squad has (other than Gomes). he also has a goal threat and takes a very good set piece. let's be brutally honest here, had Dowell stepped in for Gomes over the last couple of months, other than the Burnley game the team couldn't have played much worse anyway.

It's all a moot point anyway as we've sent him out on loan.
 
You are aware of what a squad player is, aren't you?
Yes, somebody who can sit on the bench then come on and have an influence on the game.

Tom Davies on the bench is about as good as having one of the u18s there. He's a waste of 20k a wage or whatever stupid wage he's on based on about 10 good games over 2 years ago.

Get him gone.
 
Yes, somebody who can sit on the bench then come on and have an influence on the game.

Tom Davies on the bench is about as good as having one of the u18s there. He's a waste of 20k a wage or whatever stupid wage he's on based on about 10 good games over 2 years ago.

Get him gone.

*60k a week
 

The Gomes that started for us I agree 100%. But I think it's fair to say that we haven't seen that player since the derby. Since he came into the team he has started every single premier league game, including over the xmas period. We gave him a break in the Lincoln game, but Silva felt he had to bring him on at half time as obviously Davies wasn't bringing what we needed. He is in dire need of a rest for a game or two, it's obvious to everyone, as eventually his form will possibly have a longer term effect on his confidence. But we have nobody in the squad who can bring what he does.

I'm not saying that Dowell is ready to compete with Gomes for a position in the team on a permanent basis. But if he was still with the squad he could be a bench option and used to give him a break late in games and to step in for him now and again, possibly in games that we would expect to dominate. Dowell doesn't have his physicality, but there is no doubt he has the footballing ability, vision and passing range that nobody else in our squad has (other than Gomes). he also has a goal threat and takes a very good set piece. let's be brutally honest here, had Dowell stepped in for Gomes over the last couple of months, other than the Burnley game the team couldn't have played much worse anyway.

It's all a moot point anyway as we've sent him out on loan.


I said this earlier, but i think Dowell and Davies need to remodel themselves a bit, and (this is Brands' job surely) decide on a long-term position and one back up position.

I understand that in the youth teams up to U21, the players switch position quite a lot, and Davies was a right back as well?
Modern midfielders can't be either holding or attacking or box to box or creative - you have to do 2 out of those and definitely need to be physical. Theyre both young enough to change their body shape, gain speed or muscle strength, or weight, and work out the best position.

My suggestion is that Dowell reinvents himself as a more mobile attacker who can play across the front three, back up to Siggy over the next 2 years, and Davies as a proper defensive midfielder who can pass better. If Davies can improve he could be a legitimate captain, and take over Gana Gueye
 

I said this earlier, but i think Dowell and Davies need to remodel themselves a bit, and (this is Brands' job surely) decide on a long-term position and one back up position.

I understand that in the youth teams up to U21, the players switch position quite a lot, and Davies was a right back as well?
Modern midfielders can't be either holding or attacking or box to box or creative - you have to do 2 out of those and definitely need to be physical. Theyre both young enough to change their body shape, gain speed or muscle strength, or weight, and work out the best position.

My suggestion is that Dowell reinvents himself as a more mobile attacker who can play across the front three, back up to Siggy over the next 2 years, and Davies as a proper defensive midfielder who can pass better. If Davies can improve he could be a legitimate captain, and take over Gana Gueye
I agree with Davies. I think his problem is that he is an old fashioned centre midfielder from the days when we played 442. He is a bit of an all rounder and decent at most things, without excelling at any. It's my worry for him in an age where specialists are preferred.

Dowell, on the other hand, does have the specialist qualities. His main problem is that he drifts out of games. A lot of people call him lazy, but he really isn't. He just has a languid style that makes him look lazy. He normally puts a defensive shift in from a covering point of view, but he is not a tackler so again people say he doesn't do his defensive duties. His skillset suggest he is suited to an attacking midfielder. But he doesn't get involved enough when he plays in those positions. I compare him with the likes of Foden who plays a similar position, and he buzzes about and is able to regularly get on the ball in positions to cause damage in a way that Dowell can't. You can have all the skill in the world, but if you don't get the opportunity to use it, it means nothing.

I've seen him play a deeper central midfield role for England U21s a couple of times, and he also played there in the league cup against Rotherham but I didn't see that game. In one game against Scotland, he actually played as deep lying playmaker (in a game England dominated possession) and he ran the game. I've never seen him so involved for the full 90 but it also showed a side to his game I'd never seen before. Could he do that for us? I don't know, but I would like to see us at least give him a go there. He has a special talent and if we can find a way to harness that AND get him involved in games it's worth a go IMO.
 
I said this earlier, but i think Dowell and Davies need to remodel themselves a bit, and (this is Brands' job surely) decide on a long-term position and one back up position.

I understand that in the youth teams up to U21, the players switch position quite a lot, and Davies was a right back as well?
Modern midfielders can't be either holding or attacking or box to box or creative - you have to do 2 out of those and definitely need to be physical. Theyre both young enough to change their body shape, gain speed or muscle strength, or weight, and work out the best position.

My suggestion is that Dowell reinvents himself as a more mobile attacker who can play across the front three, back up to Siggy over the next 2 years, and Davies as a proper defensive midfielder who can pass better. If Davies can improve he could be a legitimate captain, and take over Gana Gueye
Dowell needs to remodel himself as a player with a work ethic.Surely he must see that's the glaring gap in his game.
 
Username and avatar says a lot...

You think Davies/Dowell are going to be good Premier League players which is fair enough. With regards to Davies I just see Jay Spearing/Lee Cattermole. I don´t think it´s implausible to say that´s where he could end up.
 
Dowell needs to remodel himself as a player with a work ethic.Surely he must see that's the glaring gap in his game.

His urgency to get to the ball is his downfall. I’ve seen most of his televised games when on loan and he can pass but being half a yard late at the top level will kill you every time. It’s true he hasn’t had much of chance to reveal that at the top level but I bet it’s obvious in training. I could see it clearly in the level below.
 

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