2025/26 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

[Osamabindiesel]

The question is not whether he is good or bad. The question is whether he should be in the no. 10 spot with the way the team is currently set up. Even Ndiaye who has shown next to no creativity up till the last two games completely showed him up on creating actual goalscoring chances. If Ndiaye and Grealish are both creating, then it is a big MAYBE for KDH. He relies on others to create while he dictates possession and creates with his movement as opposed to creating directly for others. If the interplay is not going for him, play grinds to a halt. He either needs to start playing braver passes or get dropped deeper. No reason he can't be more daring with his creation

 

[Neiler]

Carsley cost next to nothing. It’s not the age or the price it’s the age AND the price.

It wasn’t next to nothing back then mate especially for a player of his age.

We had the same argument what three years ago with JT mate when you took a similar stance…..he’s been a great signing.

Regardless making a judgement on him after 8 games at the club is too soon. As I say he hasn’t had the platform he has here in the PL before.

 

[TheBigIguana]

We had the same argument what three years ago with JT mate…..he’s been a great signing.

Regardless making a judgement on him after 8 games at the club is too soon. As I say he hasn’t had the platform he has here in the PL before.

Tarkowski was a free transfer!

Tarkowski also really limits the team. I feel pretty confident we will not return to Europe while Tarkowski is starting every week. KDH frankly would be a similarly limiting player imo if we persist with him in the same way. 25m for the pleasure!

 

[Neiler]

Tarkowski was a free transfer!

Tarkowski also really limits the team. I feel pretty confident we will not return to Europe while Tarkowski is starting every week. KDH frankly would be a similarly limiting player imo if we persist with him in the same way. 25m for the pleasure!

Agree to differ mate on all the above.

I can see you don’t rate him. It’s far, far too early to judge him as a player in fact this team and not swayed by the counter!

Honestly believe the midfield system has to adjust to playing with a player like KDH - tbh im more concerned about that and I’m not convinced Gana and Garner can for all their qualities.

Feel I’ve been living in a parallel universe were I’ve been thinking KDH has started well here.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Agree to differ mate on all the above.

I can see you don’t rate him. It’s far, far too early to judge him as a player in fact this team and not swayed by the counter!

Honestly believe the midfield system has to adjust to playing with a player like KDH - tbh im more concerned about that and I’m not convinced Gana and Garner can for all their qualities.

Yeah building around a guy Chelsea used as a squad player to beat up on tiny clubs in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia and gladly let leave is surely how we will compete with them and those better than them. It’s just such a poorly conceived plan.

Yes for everyone who is going to bring up KdB I know, save your breath. He’s not KdB.

 

[Neiler]

Yeah building around a guy Chelsea used as a squad player to beat up on tiny clubs in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia and gladly let leave is surely how we will compete with them and those better than them. It’s just such a poorly conceived plan.

Yes for everyone who is going to bring up KdB I know, save your breath. He’s not KdB.

Disagree mate there is a whole market of squad players at CL clubs that go elsewhere and bring other clubs incremental success at our level .

To give two examples Luiz and Rogers were at City and key players then to Aston Villa in regard to Europe.

It’s grand, you are underwhelmed by him - it’s ok to hold that opinion. I still say it’s frankly too early for any of our signings - I do t even think he’s been bad…..!

If we’re judging all the players we’ve signed after 8 games, we’ve wasted a he’ll if a lot of money and flunked the transfer window….frankly i don’t think we have, we’re building the team for the medium to long term and it’s transitioning and players adjusting.

 

[Neiler]

I think it's a question about having will and need to control the midfield.

We went to Wolves in the cup and met a struggling second string Wolves team but were happy to sit back let them have 70% possession and build confidence. We start OK at home against a very poor West Ham team, but when we take the lead we sit back and let them dominate the match (72% possession first 10 minutes after we scored IIRC). We went to Leeds first match of the season seemingly happy for them to dominate.

That's not necessarily wrong. There are many ways to win football matches. Palace have been great with their two man midfield and little possession.

I think we should be competitive most matches with a three man midfield. Garner as a 6 and two of KDH/Gana/Rohl/Alcarez as 8s. When Moyes have made these changes, such as at half time vs both Leeds and Palace, the difference has been big.

No direct comparison, but look at Liverpool this season. Trying to replace the hardest working midfielder in a fantastic midfield with a more creative Wirtz. When the balance is off, players that used to dominate the league all in a sudden look ordinary.

Good post mate, a lot of sense in it.

Personally I think when we have a midfield two we struggle, if you think back to Lampard, we used to get bossed with Gana and Onana in the engine room, remember Brighton tearing through us in one of his last games. It was only when Doucoure came back in and provided additional legs, cover, presence and physicality as a three did the midfield become competitive.

I feel that way now that KDH has come in and Garner and Gana are a midfield two more, I think they’ve been exposed at times and been bossed and lost control in some games - some if the ones you mention. They also cough up a lot of space in front of the back four - though admittedly Jarrad injured doesn’t help.

I just feel for all their qualities and I like both, Garner and Gana aren’t the long term answer and I think they’ve are will struggle as a two. My hope Rohl comes in and hits the ground running and the blend improves - but at the moment t ithunk were lacking in the two in midfield.

Essentially in my eyes, Rohl is the new Onana and KDH is the new Doucoure - different players obviously, but we have to transition them into the team and the team needs to adjust to their game. July is out or Garner and Gana as a two in my opinion.

 

[bigmountainfudgecake]

He's an #8, not a #10 but Moyes won't play him deeper because he's too defensive minded and would have to shift Garner to right back or drop Gana. Alcatraz is the only genuine 10 we actually have

 

[TheBigIguana]

Disagree mate there is a whole market of squad players at CL clubs that go elsewhere and bring other clubs incremental success at our level .

To give two examples Luiz and Rogers were at City and key players then to Aston Villa in regard to Europe.

It’s grand, you are underwhelmed by him - it’s ok to hold that opinion. I still say it’s frankly too early for any of our signings - I do t even think he’s been bad…..!

If we’re judging all the players we’ve signed after 8 games, we’ve wasted a he’ll if a lot of money and flunked the transfer window….frankly i don’t think we have, we’re building the team for the medium to long term and it’s transitioning and players adjusting.

Morgan Rogers left City when he was 21 years old! It matters!

 

[Neiler]

Morgan Rogers left City when he was 21 years old! It matters!

Not a fan of Grealish then?

 

[TheBigIguana]

Not a fan of Grealish then?

I’m certainly concerned that Grealish is going to be one year and done and leave us having basically gained very little from this season.

But the other really important part here is that he’s consistently been a way better player than KDH!

 

[Neiler]

I’m certainly concerned that Grealish is going to be one year and done and leave us having basically gained very little from this season.

But the other really important part here is that he’s consistently been a way better player than KDH!

But from an economic point of view it’s pound for pound a poorer value deal KDH if we app.y the cost and age argument.

 

[Swartzy]

I’m certainly concerned that Grealish is going to be one year and done and leave us having basically gained very little from this season.

But the other really important part here is that he’s consistently been a way better player than KDH!

Strangely enough, it's cos he is a better player..

2 totally different players tho.

And the fact that you're writing KDH off, it just makes a really good signing that much better..

 

[TheBigIguana]

But from an economic point of view it’s pound for pound a poorer value deal KDH if we app.y the cost and age argument.

I care about the footballing point of view too. Just so we’re clear if I was DOF I would not have done the Grealish loan even having seen what we’ve seen so far this season.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Strangely enough, it's cos he is a better player..

2 totally different players tho.

And the fact that you're writing KDH off, it just makes a really good signing that much better..

Last player are remember writing off this quickly was Doucoure, who was crap, and before that it was Bernard. This actually has a lot of similarities to Bernard. Do you know what country he played in when we let him go?