Kieran Dowell

Pienaar's gloves · December 11, 2014

If he's as good as Osman I will be happy.

Can't be expecting more than three or four per decade to come out of the academy successfully. Everything else is a bonus!

catcherintherye · December 11, 2014

You can see that he is a very mature player for his age, and plays 1 touch passing very well. He has a picture in his head all of the time and decent balance. He plays a little like Ozil though (I made the comparison with Wiltshire the other day, but lacks his nastiness). He cuts something of an aloof figure, but does have a real appreciation of special awareness far beyond his years.

However, to play the position he is best in, he will need to be very good. He lacks pace, strength and is never going to work that hard. So we will see with him. Impressed again tonight though. I would like to see him become a bit more rugged and see if he can play a bit deeper.

Librarian · December 11, 2014

Looks like he has something about him

Pienaar's gloves · December 11, 2014

Made some neat touches, more than some first teamers who have been about for five years.

Robertor · December 11, 2014

Must be really highly thought of by Martinez to bring him up through the ranks then put him on today when he could've put Long on. Showed some really good touches aswell.

emb · December 11, 2014

Dowell, so named because he's built like a twig. Got bossed around a lot as a result, but showed promise. Think he's the kind of player who'll improve dramatically when he's settled into a side and all - few very promising moves broke down because him and Pienaar couldn't quite read each other's minds yet.

Blue for you · December 12, 2014

where do some blues live the moon some say they never heard of this kid fcuking hell :coffee:

Arteta2391 · December 12, 2014

Our new Gosling

emb · December 12, 2014

Blue for you said:
where do some blues live the moon some say they never heard of this kid fcuking hell

To be fair Football Manager does allow you to let the computer handle the U21s. Not all of us have time for that.

Pienaar's gloves · December 12, 2014

Blue for you said:
where do some blues live the moon some say they never heard of this kid fcuking hell

I don't regularly go to watch the youth teams or out. I was aware of most of the lads on the bench, his name barely rang a bell though.

LinekersLegs · December 12, 2014

Blue for you said:
where do some blues live the moon some say they never heard of this kid fcuking hell

A lot of people don't have the time to follow the youth teams, especially given how few lads will actually make it into the squad.

I thankfully do but this is only the second or third time I've been able to see him play - they don't put many of the youth matches on TV so usually have to rely on the England matches and he wasn't in the U17 team along with Ledson and Kenny.