2023/24 Lewis Dobbin

[Dougie]

Have thought for a bit that Mcneil will move to midfield. I can actually see him more on the left of a 3 instead of central
Something like
Danjuma- dcl/beto- Harrison
Mcneil- Onana- Garner

Could work that. We have badly missed McNeil, I don’t think any of us would have thought that at the beginning of last season.

 

[Goat]

Have thought for a bit that Mcneil will move to midfield. I can actually see him more on the left of a 3 instead of central
Something like
Danjuma- dcl/beto- Harrison
Mcneil- Onana- Garner

Teams would walk through that midfield.

 

[Curtis]

For those saying he had a bad loan last year, did you actually watch his games and do you know how his manager rated him in that time. Do you think he would've made 50-odd appearances if he was playing badly?

I think people too often focus on stats for loans rather the experience accrued and skills being developed. Harry Kane (which I'm not comparing Dobbins to talent wise) had lackluster loans if you went solely by stats but they were vital in his growth as a player

 

[woomy]

Teams would walk through that midfield.

But I thought Onana was the 2nd coming and Garner needs to be central instead of out on the wing?
It could easily be a 4 with Harrison dropping back a bit
If our supposedly 2 best midfielders get walked through, then what's the point of having them?

 

[Goat]

But I thought Onana was the 2nd coming and Garner needs to be central instead of out on the wing?
It could easily be a 4 with Harrison dropping back a bit
If our supposedly 2 best midfielders get walked through, then what's the point of having them?

Every structure needs steel.

Or it falls down.

 

[Weebarra]

Could work that. We have badly missed McNeil, I don’t think any of us would have thought that at the beginning of last season.

Good idea, I agree McNeil arguably was the only player who would consistently have a shot from out side ir edge of the box, shoot from any where last season.

Hopefully he gets back soon, fully fit and can boost the midfiel creativity.
UTFTs!

 

[Eggsyblueskin]

But I thought Onana was the 2nd coming and Garner needs to be central instead of out on the wing?
It could easily be a 4 with Harrison dropping back a bit
If our supposedly 2 best midfielders get walked through, then what's the point of having them?

We don’t use the midfield anyway
You could put who you want in there.

 

[Weebarra]

Every structure needs steel.

Or it falls down.

Agreed and finding the right balance for offense and attack.

 

[Billy Dean]

Really hope I'm wrong It's the age he is at. The further up the pitch you play the earlier you will show footballer wise. Physical stuff can be worked on decision making can be worked on. He needed to be breaking into our first team at 17 18 or absolutely tearing it up on loan. He has done neither and at 20 nearing 21 just reckon he won't become the player we wanted him to be now. He was alright for the first 5 mins then his maker controlled him.

Not that I agree with what you've said, but Dobbin made 3 appearances as an 18 year-old under Benitez. I can remember particularly in the game away to Chelsea he played well. The club then went into a death spiral where it's understandable you might want to protect an 18 year-old from that

 

[bcblue1878]

I remember us being 1 up at home to Coventry in the league Cup in injury time, and he tried to nutmeg Tommy Hutchinson instead of booting it into row z, resulting in Hutchinson bombing down the wing and providing the cross for the equaliser. Kendall stuck with him though, thankfully.

It was also Tommy Hutchinson who was then playing for Man City, that he got sent off for a head butt on in an FA cup game at Goodison!

 

[Paul Rideout]

Teams would walk through that midfield.

Teams walk through our current midfield

… we might actually create something attack wise with those 3

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

For those saying he had a bad loan last year, did you actually watch his games and do you know how his manager rated him in that time. Do you think he would've made 50-odd appearances if he was playing badly?

Fine talk for keepers and defenders... Just of the opinion forward player should be showing more as they near 21. He had good first 5 mins Saturday the best anyone has said after that well he attacked his man, could not find his way round Goodison.

 

[Furey1878]

Liked how direct he was, how hard we worked and the fact he just had a go at players.

I feel we haven't utilised young players who will just have a go since the likes of Vaughan, Anichebe, Gosling etc were all coming through.

 

[Billy Dean]

Fine talk for keepers and defenders... Just of the opinion forward player should be showing more as they near 21. He had good first 5 mins Saturday the best anyone has said after that well he attacked his man, could not find his way round Goodison.

what are you expecting him to show?

 

[Zatara]

Teams walk through our current midfield

… we might actually create something attack wise with those 3

Fulham and Wolves certainly didnt.

Villa went through Gana like a knife through butter.