Everton v Spurs ratings

[Damian99]

But I do give Dawson credit.

No it isn't Dawson's fault that anyone picks him and I have no problem with the fact that he was picked on Sunday. I think I have even said in this thread that as a fourth choice CB he is a good squad member.

And if we wanted to hover around the mid to bottom third of the table then Dawson might suffice. But if we are going to have higher ambitions, then Dawson is no where near good enough. He doesn't read the game quick enough, he doesn't react to danger quick enough, he isn't quick across the ground and lacks intelligence.

He is brave, gives 100% every game and honest as the day is long. Admirable qualities in a person. Credit very much for that. But so was Doherty etc. Dawson is way better but the truth as far as I'm concerned is that he is short of the qualities that are vital for a top side and I can't help but express my honest reservations where he is concerned.

Would you pick him ahead of King, Woodgate & Bassong ? seriously ?

I would pick him ahead of bassong anyday of the week(please don't try and make out he's better than Dawson, on what evidence?) Although we could argue that point all day long, but it would like to know based upon what you have seen of bassong that makes him a better CB than Dawson.

Now for king and woodgate, take away their injuries, than absolutely no way would Dawson be ahead of either of those two players. But Kings lost a massive amount of pace and he has been caught out this season more than ever before and his situation isn't imo going to get any better.

Having said that i would start with King/woodgate and make no mistake Dawson would be my third choice and i would not flinch if i had to use him every week, if one of those two had to wrap up.

I think Dawson has revovered well from a very poor season(don't forget he was also out for quite a while).

Have we actually kept many clean sheets, even with King playing?

And who, if not king and woodgate do you expect to play CBs? Terry? Ferdinand?

And we didnt hover around mid table under Jol and Dawson was part of that team, so you are wrong. But we have hovered around mid table for many many years with a fit and healthy Ledley King at the back. As you pointed out with the right balance and Dawson at the back we finished 5th and failed to finish fourth going into the last game of the season.

Its a TEAM game and with the right players and coaching i believe we could finish in the top four with Dawson in the side and we have every chance this season of doing so.

 

[Damian99]

1. because Dawson had three fantastically experienced defenders round him in Stalteri, King & Lee. I was pointing out week after week the errors that Dawson was making that were being covered by Stalteri and King or going unpunished. I was saying that this would inevitably change. It did.

Indeed it did change, we sold both Lee and Stalteri and kept someone who was making all these errors. Do you think someone(people) at white hart lane are secretly trying to destroy us? :shrug: