Dawson or a fully fit Woodgate?

[Gassin's finest]

I think that if Woodgate had remained injury free all season then Dawson would have only started in King's absence, on the strength of being more experienced, having better positionnig and being better in the air.

It's harsh, but Woodgate's injury has benefited Dawson's career this season.

From that report on Woody though I really fell sorry for him and hope he can come through it.

 

[coldasice199]

Its very close.

Maybe Woodgate. Just

 

[Berglad]

Dawson's performances last year were as good as Woodgate's I thought, was a little disappointed when Woodgate returned from injury in the spring and pushed Daws to the bench.

 

[Michey]

Put the trust in Daws....it will make him grow even more.

Release Woodgate at use that money elsewhere.

 

[Kendall]

A fully fit Woodgate by a country mile.

It's just we may not see that again :-(

 

[Flatters]

What exactly is the point of this thread? I'm sure everyone's in agreement that Woodgate is by far the better player when he's fully fit. I think it would be Woodgate alongside Ledley in the England team at the World Cup if he'd been fully fit this season, but the main point is that he hasn't and unfortunately it seems like he may never be. We're just lucky enough though that Dawson is getting better and better and is on the way to being a top class centre back and leader.

 

[Bulletspur]

What exactly is the point of this thread? I'm sure everyone's in agreement that Woodgate is by far the better player when he's fully fit. I think it would be Woodgate alongside Ledley in the England team at the World Cup if he'd been fully fit this season, but the main point is that he hasn't and unfortunately it seems like he may never be. We're just lucky enough though that Dawson is getting better and better and is on the way to being a top class centre back and leader.

I agree with this.

It was a hypothetical (spelling) question where some on here seem to have missed. It wasnt asking whether or not Woodgate would be fit again, but was comparing a fit Woodgate at his best, to Dawson at his best.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

For the record I agree that Woodgate is, or at least was, the better player. The point of the thread was to see if some now thought Dawson has surpassed him, and it seems as if some do, which is understandable considering Woodgate hasn't played in so long.

 

[NickHSpurs]

I have it from a good source Woody is very unlikely to play again and that they still don't know what his injury is!

 

[FITZ]

Daws Needs woody's jesus hair style to at least make a competition.

Woody fully fit much better.

 

[danielneeds]

Its a tough call, but Dawson is going to be the future of this club for the next 5-10 years.

We are going to need both him, Woody, and King next year to have success in the CL.

 

[Bulletspur]

Considering Michael Dawson's recent form, player of the season awards and England call up, I was wondering whether everyone would now conclude that even if Woodgate were able to regain his fitness entirely, he would not be able to get a starting place?

This is working on the assumption that he would be playing as well as he has done in the past.

Who is better?

For the record I agree that Woodgate is, or at least was, the better player. The point of the thread was to see if some now thought Dawson has surpassed him, and it seems as if some do, which is understandable considering Woodgate hasn't played in so long.

By your own admission Woodgate was the better player when fit, and when both are at their best. It wasnt a case of do think he will regain his fitness, as some have somehow interpreted it.

By the way, I honestly think that King brings confidence to and therefore the best out of Dawson where Woodgate does not need.

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

Sadly I don't think we'll ever have this dilemma again.

I don't think Woodie will ever be the same again, so out of the two - Dawson.

But if he was FULLY fit - then yeah, Woodgate would shade it for me.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Woodgate, but that is not taking anything away from Daws.

It's so good we have 4 brilliant centre backs, at the start of the season if anyone had told you Woody would make only a couple of appearances, and Daws and Bassong were our regular pairing I think we'd have forgotten about 4th there and then. And that's before considering we'd have no Lennon for half a season, Modric for a good few months and the worst injury crisis we probably have ever had.

 

[walworthyid]

Woody is class because his positioning and timing is just fantastic. But daws is a winner, he gives everything in every game and has shown real quality and consistency in big games this season.

There very different types of cb and I think you need both types in a good partnership. You need the quality of a King, or Ferdinand or Carvalho to go with the aggression of a vidic or Terry or Dawson.

So maybe it should be seen in terms of partnerships and I would say our best partnership is King and Daws but I would be more than happy going into a game with any combination of Woody, King, Daws and Bassong!

 

[sussexyid]

Thats a non argument from the start. As much as I love Dawes, Woodgate is one of the worlds best when fully fit. Look at what he did with leeds n Newcastle to earn a move to Real.

Dawson shows commitment and real quality but Woodgate has more to him. As has been said a fully fit pairing of Woodgate and King with Gomes behind them would be an incredible set up. Shame really....

 

[ShelfSide18]

Lets not forget Bassong in all this, he's been magnificent this season - I think every bit as good as Daws although I'm sure few will agree. No one expected him to play nearly as much as he did, but he stepped up and has been solid and reliable at the back. Supposedly a young and raw CB, but he's played like a seasoned professional.

 

[StartingPrice]

Before the season started I wold have said Woody hands down.

I have been impressed and a little suprised by how Daws stepped up to the plate.

So, I had to actually think about it...but a fully fit Woodgate real is a natural defender to compliment a fully fit Ledders, whereas Daws is not quite on that level.

 

[Supersonic]

I find it genuinely brilliant that right now we are in the situation where we can argue which of our centre backs is the best and they are all of such a good standard that it is actually difficult to decide.

I would go with Woody because of his superior reading of the game, and the fact that Daws is still prone to the rush of blood to the head mad sliding tackle. But in reality all of our 4 centre backs are top quality

 

[Durrrr]

A fully fit Woodgate could play in any team in the world. Dawson is excellent, but obviously isn't as good