2017/18 Kieran Dowell

[Eggs]

It's a matter of getting the balance/proportions right. I'm sure Guardiola didn't want Iniesta and Silva pinning back their ears and racing back toward their own goal as much as they wanted them on the ball and in the opposition half facing that way and doing damage.

I dont think anyone wants a player in this day and age to simply stop after being dispossessed in the opposition half, but we do have to draw the line at expecting as much of a defensive game as they offer going forward...which is what a lot of his critics seem to suggest we should expect.

..I think Guardiola game is based on winning the ball back within 3 seconds of the opposition gaining possession. It’s an ambitious target but it means everybody has a job to do pressing. Martinez told Barkley he didn’t have to get involved when the opposition had the ball, so some coaches support your view.

 

[Eggs]

Sheedy wouldn’t run for the last bus.

Still my favourite player

..loved him. Let’s not forget he had a Rolls Royce behind him in Pat van den Hauwe.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

He’s clearly got talent, get him in amongst the squad next year.

 

[chippy1722]

I think his laid back demeanour means visually he will always look lazier than others, even if it’s not always the case. I would imagine the miles he runs per game probably compares with a lot of others, but they look busier than him.
Hopefully he puts in a good pre-season and we all get plenty of minutes to judge him properly.

 

[Tak]

It's a reasonable point, but the lad isn't a bone-idle fatty ambling around either. Workhorses are ten a penny, it's easier to get Dowell to improve his pressing than it is to give some grafter Dowell's gifts.

If Allardyce had stayed on, that would have been the end for Dowell. There is no player at the club who is more the antithesis of BFS.

And there's no higher praise to be fair.

Agree

 

[LinekersLegs]

I just want him to perform in a game, just once.

Give me a shout if that ever happens.

In the meantime keep comparing him to Iniesta.

*considers trawling through Besic thread to see what comparisons were made....

 

[Goat]

*considers trawling through Besic thread to see what comparisons were made....

Zidane, ALWAYS Zidane.

 

[buskwhi2]

I think his laid back demeanour means visually he will always look lazier than others, even if it’s not always the case. I would imagine the miles he runs per game probably compares with a lot of others, but they look busier than him.
Hopefully he puts in a good pre-season and we all get plenty of minutes to judge him properly.

This is why I compared him to Ozil earlier. He always gets labelled with not working hard enough but I’m sure Wenger said the stats show he runs plenty.

 

[Eggs]

...Dowell isn’t lazy by any means, I think he’s guilty of watching the ball and watching the game at times which allows opposition to get beyond him. He’ll learn that by playing games that matter. He’ll learn that playing with seasoned professionals. He’ll learn that with intensive training.

He’s a talent. He has real ability to play the most sublimely weighted passes behind the back four. Passes that others can’t see. He can put players in.

Saying that, talent isn’t everything. We don’t know, but he has a chance.

 

[davek]

..I think Guardiola game is based on winning the ball back within 3 seconds of the opposition gaining possession. It’s an ambitious target but it means everybody has a job to do pressing. Martinez told Barkley he didn’t have to get involved when the opposition had the ball, so some coaches support your view.

Yes, but if players in attacking positions cant hunt down the ball and it slips beyond their pursuit then they dont leg it back to their own final third - they expect CMs and last fours to do their jobs.

 

[Goat]

Yes, but if players in attacking positions cant hunt down the ball and it slips beyond their pursuit then they dont leg it back to their own final third - they expect CMs and last fours to do their jobs.

Marco expects EVERYBODY to press.

 

[davek]

Marco expects EVERYBODY to press.

They can press but in zones.

 

[TheBlueGibbon]

..I think Guardiola game is based on winning the ball back within 3 seconds of the opposition gaining possession. It’s an ambitious target but it means everybody has a job to do pressing. Martinez told Barkley he didn’t have to get involved when the opposition had the ball, so some coaches support your view.

I'd argue that this is less about work-rate and more about positioning and reading the game (and inevitably experience). In principle, that should be something that Dowell should be able to pick up through training and experience.

 

[McBain]

Never Going To Make It At This Level

 

[Barnfred 55]

I'd argue that this is less about work-rate and more about positioning and reading the game (and inevitably experience). In principle, that should be something that Dowell should be able to pick up through training and experience.

For a pressing game to work everyone needs to be on the same wavelength. It isn't about necessarily being fast and throwing in loads of tackles like you see Gana doing, it's about closing down and denying both the player with the ball AND his team mates space to operate. Teams end up playing the ball around the back and then either make a mistake or hoof it.

There is absolutely no reason why our existing forward players, Dowell included, cannot play a pressing game, although a lot of work is needed on the training ground to perfect the system. The only problem we have is that the defence need to hold a high line too, and ours is too slow. Holgate and Seamus are fine but we need to bring in more quick defenders.

Dowell is not lazy at all. He has a languid style that gives that impression but he does put a shift in. Sometimes he switches off and that needs working on, as does the drifting out of games. But all players do that when your team doesn't have the ball much and spend the game chasing it.

As with all our young player's, we tend to focus on what they're not good at rather than what they are good at and I despair at some of the comments on here at times.

Despite what many of you think, we do have a nucleus of very good young players at Everton at the moment. Apart from Holgate, I don't think any are ready right now to be regular starters in a premier team wanting to seriously challenge the top 6. But that doesn't mean that they're gash, or crap or not good enough. It means that they're young and need further development. That's why the new coach is so important to us. Many in here are saying we should bring in a top manager and I don't necessarily agree. Most of this type of manager are used to managing top players in their prime, will have their own way of doing things and will want autonomy in most areas including player transfers. What we need is a coach who can not only implement the style of football Brands wants to introduce, but is also prepared to work with these younger players to improve and develop their game. I'd be delighted with any manager that has come through the German system as they have it off to a tee, despite it being a joke league.