Kieran Dowell

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blueloon said:
Well you would hope that any youngster appearing would get a degree of leeway, but these days people make instant opinions and these can be so polarised we'll either have the new Messi-ah or he'll be labelled complete cack. I recall the post in the Youth thread after they'd lost in the Cup to Aston Villa :" well they can't be any good then", a complete team dismissed which ironically featured Callum Connolly and Kieran Dowell.

A lot of people have missed the point that Dowell has been discussed, debated , criticised , praised regularly in the past 9 months in the Youth thread, from his sound appearances in pre season games, his injury, goal on his return for the u18s and quietly building up in the past three months as he regained fitness and showed his potential. Lob the goalkeeper from 35 yds? Yep he did that against Southampton. Curling in goals from outside of the box ? Yep at least four of those in previous games. The fact that he did three such goals in the same match means he's suddenly been "discovered" and overhyped , whereas even without that hat trick he's previously been the one most touted as deserving of a spot in the first team squad.

People have been balanced enough to recognise he's got a lot of competition in his position ahead of him and wouldn't get straight into the first team . The frustration has been , well for me anyway, the number of players sitting on the bench ahead of him who are no longer capable of contributing to our club . Martinez said three youngsters were in the running for the Southampton game, Connolly and Davies made it , it's highly likely that Dowell was the third who didn't make it. That was disappointing but understandable given his playing position , where our injuries were and having two u18s in already.

The recent overhype shouldn't cause people to react in the opposite way . This is a pretty talented youngster who while needing to be nurtured and developed further, deserves a chance to show his potential on a bigger stage. From what you see of his demeanour on the pitch he looks to be a level headed youngster , not a "look at me , look at me" type. His arms raised reaction to his hat trick goal is the most animated celebration I've seen from him, usually he just quietly walks away from his wonder goals before being mobbed - most guys of his age would be running to the touch line, sliding on their knees etc. So I have no qualms about how he would handle his debut when it comes, and really it will be just another chance to measure his character and potential. If , as many of us believe, he has the potential to go a lot further then having the right mental attitude to cope with adversity comes with the territory. Pitch him in if the opportunity arises, being on the wrong end of a hiding shouldn't scar a young player with potential, coming back from a potentially career ending injury like Ross and hopefully Luke Shaw is what requires real character.
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This is another fantastic post Blueloon. Unfortunately there does seem to have been a bit of a backlash on here in recent days which I don't think has been particularly helpful.

There is no doubt some people got very excited about a lad scoring a hatrick for the reserves. What people have tried to do, is lump all praise of Dowell into people immediate delight at a hat trick. the people going a bit OTT isn't ideal but it isn't crime of the century.

There are people who have watched their development on and off for a number of years. I know you have been commenting on him for a long time, and I have too (and we've probably disagreed as much as agreed) if you want to go and vault me on the Youth Teams thread you will probably see posts from 2 years ago. I generally only comment on players once they are under 17's so there won't be much before that. If you read my posts you will probably see a balanced and fair assessment of him (and all players). I remember being quite critical of Dowell and was always surprised he was so hyped.

I resent the accusation that we are unrealistic in calling for him to be in contention for the first team or we are being OTT. I wouldn't call for anyone to be ready for the first team unless I thought they were. I'm going OTT about a hatrick. Having seen him since the Sunderland game it was clear to me he'd be ok in the first team but while we were still in the cup I felt his inexperience would hold him back. Now we don't have much to play for I think his case have strengthened. Going out of the cup matters more to me than the Hatrick. The Hatrick is just a continuation of what he has shown he can do all season, we learnt nothing new from that.

The most important thing in all of this, is it is just my opinion. Of the young players I've commented on (Ledson, Walsh, Kenny, Dowell, Evans, & Davies being the main ones) I have probably been most cautious & critical of Dowell! I frequently get things wrong. I don't work with them on a day to day basis and young players develop and stagnate at different times. It is a very difficult thing to predict.

I think generally most fans appreciate the information I give (and I appreciate the information others give especially when it varies from my judgement). I also appreciate some fans don't think we should be commenting on players in the under 21's. I understand that and in many ways agree with it, but as with all things you weigh up the balance and I think it falls down on continuing to give whatever information and opinions I have. I will only ever give my honest assessment. In Dowell's case I think he is worthy of a place in the first 11. If people think that's unhelpful hysteria then that's up to them. I disagree with them.
 

catcherintherye said:
This is another fantastic post Blueloon. Unfortunately there does seem to have been a bit of a backlash on here in recent days which I don't think has been particularly helpful.

There is no doubt some people got very excited about a lad scoring a hatrick for the reserves. What people have tried to do, is lump all praise of Dowell into people immediate delight at a hat trick. the people going a bit OTT isn't ideal but it isn't crime of the century.

There are people who have watched their development on and off for a number of years. I know you have been commenting on him for a long time, and I have too (and we've probably disagreed as much as agreed) if you want to go and vault me on the Youth Teams thread you will probably see posts from 2 years ago. I generally only comment on players once they are under 17's so there won't be much before that. If you read my posts you will probably see a balanced and fair assessment of him (and all players). I remember being quite critical of Dowell and was always surprised he was so hyped.

I resent the accusation that we are unrealistic in calling for him to be in contention for the first team or we are being OTT. I wouldn't call for anyone to be ready for the first team unless I thought they were. I'm going OTT about a hatrick. Having seen him since the Sunderland game it was clear to me he'd be ok in the first team but while we were still in the cup I felt his inexperience would hold him back. Now we don't have much to play for I think his case have strengthened. Going out of the cup matters more to me than the Hatrick. The Hatrick is just a continuation of what he has shown he can do all season, we learnt nothing new from that.

The most important thing in all of this, is it is just my opinion. Of the young players I've commented on (Ledson, Walsh, Kenny, Dowell, Evans, & Davies being the main ones) I have probably been most cautious & critical of Dowell! I frequently get things wrong. I don't work with them on a day to day basis and young players develop and stagnate at different times. It is a very difficult thing to predict.

I think generally most fans appreciate the information I give (and I appreciate the information others give especially when it varies from my judgement). I also appreciate some fans don't think we should be commenting on players in the under 21's. I understand that and in many ways agree with it, but as with all things you weigh up the balance and I think it falls down on continuing to give whatever information and opinions I have. I will only ever give my honest assessment. In Dowell's case I think he is worthy of a place in the first 11. If people think that's unhelpful hysteria then that's up to them. I disagree with them.
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In the 1st team squad for Saturday.
 



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