The I love Michael Dawson thread

[Spurs1960]

Townsend did actually go down the outside a few times, but his crossing wasn't exactly great when he did, but also what's the point when the man you have to aim for is Defoe, who I can't remember ever getting on the end of a cross in his entire career.

I've watched hundreds of games, especially at home, where we played Lennon and Bale as out and out wingers and were stopped just as easily. In 2010-11 (I think) we failed to win half our home games playing with "width".

I genuinely do not think we were cryingout for width. I think we were crying out for "wit". And unfortunately it was in short supply.

He did yes in the first half but stopped doing it in the second. It worked in the first half so why change it? Crosses should be along the floor like the one Defoe should have got on the end of in the first half.

If you watch a replay Townsend can only play that ball so Defoe has to anticipate it but he reacts when the cross is made instead which is too late. Tiny point but it's what separates the top quality strikers from the very good Defoe's of this world.

Shame Lennon wasn't fit, but why didn't Lamela replace Townsend? He creates more from the right than he does from the left in the little that I have seen from him.

 

[Spurs1960]

Absutely not, old bean.

You think it's correct to take yourself out the game and expose a standing defender to a sprinting attacker because that's what happened. Sorry can't agree with your assessment of the situation.

 

[CowInAComa]

Oh Michael Dawson why did you make us lose 3-0 to West Ham.

 

[Damian99]

Wasn't a great performance for anyone and I'm not trying to make excuses for Dawson but with someone sprinting at him he can't stand chest on so the guy can go wither way past him? Any touch then and he'd be sent off.

He positioned his body to try to move the attacker onto his weaker foot and Dawsons stronger foot which would have led him away from goal. It's understandable defending.

If Verts hadn't been drawn to the ball on the edge of the box and taken himself out the game they wouldn't have scored. He was beaten for the first goal as well. Lloris made mistakes, Defoe made mistakes, Townsend decided to shoot instead of play for the team in the second half, we played in no width in the second half, Walker wasn't fit so why was he on the field when Chiriches could have played there.

There was a lot wrong, defeat is down to AVB this time.

I fully agree with you and i agree with how difficult it is to stop someone running at you in full flight when you are stationary and void of any cover. I just think he tried to do the right thing, regardless of what some might suggest and as for the guy mocking what he tried to do, i wonder what he suggests would have been the best course of action(he doesn't cos he has no idea) It's just my opinion Dawson doesn't quite get himself best positioned to deal with what he's trying to do.

 

[alfie103]

I fully agree with you and i agree with how difficult it is to stop someone running at you in full flight when you are stationary and void of any cover. I just think he tried to do the right thing, regardless of what some might suggest and as for the guy mocking what he tried to do, i wonder what he suggests would have been the best course of action(he doesn't cos he has no idea) It's just my opinion Dawson doesn't quite get himself best positioned to deal with what he's trying to do.

He just seemed to give up when he beat him and just stick a leg out. As you say, what he tried to do at the beginning is right but his positioning was wrong but when he got beat, he sticks a limp leg out and then basically stops. Why not chase back? he may not have got there but he could have at least given it a go.

However, it was a mistake and all players make them. It isn't just that particular incident i am concerned about. Dawson is a decent premiership defender and he seems like a great guy. However, he is slow and fairly clumsy and, though he has improved significantly with his passing and ball control, he doesn't inspire you with confidence when he is on it. He gets beaten a lot in the air for someone who's main attribute is heading and he isn't particular strong either. Vertonghen hasn't been setting the world alight either and wasn't great yesterday either but he has attributes which he is good at and his pros outweigh his cons which i am afraid isn't the case (IMO) with Dawson.

 

[Damian99]

He just seemed to give up when he beat him and just stick a leg out. As you say, what he tried to do at the beginning is right but his positioning was wrong but when he got beat, he sticks a limp leg out and then basically stops. Why not chase back? he may not have got there but he could have at least given it a go.

He was never ever going to be able to turn and catch a bloke already in full swing to be fair, hell by the time Dawson has turned and given chase they guy would probably have been in the showers by then

 

[parklane1]

We all like Dawson as a character and for his personality, plus his passion is a quality we wish every player that played for Tottenham possessed. However these things do not and should not shroud judgement on his ability. I want him to be part of Tottenham for what he brings to the squad, but I am unconvinced that he brings a high enough level of quality to the starting 11.

Great summing up, this is Dawson in spades.

 

[khataby_spurs]

I think from the start of the season he's been really poor , can't remember a single decent game from him so far

but he's been getting away with it because we faced shit teams mostly and because we have Lloris who saves our defense ass time after time

I think he's also affecting Walker ,, Daws is so so so slow to cover for himself let alone his RB

Alternatives ? Kaboul of course our best CB but with his injuries Vlad won't be worse than Dawson at least he can run , hell even Sandro or Capoue can be decent options

the problem is : will AVB do it ? .. I don't see him ruthless enough to do the required changes soon enough

 

[Spurs1960]

He was never ever going to be able to turn and catch a bloke already in full swing to be fair, hell by the time Dawson has turned and given chase they guy would probably have been in the showers by then

Exactly.

People should put the boot on the other foot, if that were Paulinho, Defoe, Townsend etc running at a West Ham defender would everyone say it was that defenders fault when we scored? No. You would expect the attacker to score 9 times out of 10 in that situation when the defender doesn't have the option to take them out and get sent off.

Some people have a bias against certain players and want to often invent an errors to make them feel better. Certain others like Vertonghen seem to be immune though even when they make mistakes.

The defeat if he has to be put at anyones door is at AVB's.

 

[Bobbins]

Alternatives ? Kaboul of course our best CB but with his injuries Vlad won't be worse than Dawson at least he can run , hell even Sandro or Capoue can be decent options

I think Kaboul has looked cargo-ship slow this season, clearly either not fit or (God forbid) not going to be the same player after his injury, and Vlad looked the slowest player on the pitch in Russia (though again that could be a fitness issue).

We ain't blessed with speed at the back, that's for sure.

 

[khataby_spurs]

I think Kaboul has looked cargo-ship slow this season, clearly either not fit or (God forbid) not going to be the same player after his injury, and Vlad looked the slowest player on the pitch in Russia (though again that could be a fitness issue).

We ain't blessed with speed at the back, that's for sure.

I don't think that Vlad looked that slow at all

Kaboul surely a fitness thing , shame about the injury as he looked good and getting back to his best against Anzhi

 

[DanNolan]

i hate that im doing this.... I Love Michael Dawson the man, but the reality is weve conceded 5 goals this season..... while not all solely his fault :
Arse.... Giroud gets in front of him
Chelsea.... Terry is HIS man
Spam.... 2nd and third goals... players glide past him way too easily....

Bit of a viscous pattern here

 

[SEANSPURS1975]

I love Dawsons 100% commitment and passion which masks his limited ability.
I cannot remember the last time I'd have Dawson in my first team with everyone fit.
He's a squad player at best. You still need the likes of Dawson in the squad who will put a shift in when called upon.
We're all waiting for Kaboul to get fit to reclaim his place, but seems to pick up niggling injuries time and again...

 

[sheringmann]

I love Michael Dawson.

 

[Spurs1960]

I don't think that Vlad looked that slow at all

Kaboul surely a fitness thing , shame about the injury as he looked good and getting back to his best against Anzhi

Kaboul isn't fit after his injury, he keeps getting fresh muscle problems so he won't be available for League games until he has had a run of cup and Europa League games.

Chiriches is nowhere near ready for a centre-half starting berth. Firstly he would simply get bundles out the way, at the moment he is a light weight. Secondly his 2 performances have had so many errors in them it's hard to keep count. He takes risks and is confident on the ball, but he has got himself into trouble several times which against better opposition would be costly.

He to needs a run of cup and europa league games plus some gym work before he can be considered at centre-half. He could have played as an alternative to the unfit Walker against West Ham at right-back, at the moment that's the only spot he can be considered for.

We therefore only have 2 centre-halves at the moment Dawson and Vertonghen which also means that Vertonghen can't play left-back, not that he should being our best centre-half.

 

[Spurs1960]

i hate that im doing this.... I Love Michael Dawson the man, but the reality is weve conceded 5 goals this season..... while not all solely his fault :
Arse.... Giroud gets in front of him
Chelsea.... Terry is HIS man
Spam.... 2nd and third goals... players glide past him way too easily....

Bit of a viscous pattern here

Yeah you avoid the mistakes of others so you can pin them on him.

If the ball is coming across from Vertonghen's side it's his job to cut the ball out before it gets across to Dawson just as it's Dawson job to cut balls out from the right, which he does rather well and Verts should not have taken himself out the game getting sucked to the ball instead of leaving it for Dembele thereby allowing Morrison to run at a defence (Dawson) giving them no chance of stopping him without getting sent off. Verts couldn't get back because of his error. The third goal was down to him not Dawson.

 

[Spurs1960]

I think AVB will try to resist dropping Dawson with the ruthlessness that's needed to start with, but I think he knows he can't afford too many more slip ups so he'll act decisively when the pressure builds.

There isn't anyone to pick in his place at the moment.

 

[CowInAComa]

Michael Dawson 0 - 3 West Ham

 

[CJMurray]

Michael Dawson 0 - 3 West Ham

Yep. It was all his fault. Definitely.

 

[ClintEastwould]

Michael Dawson 0 - 3 West Ham

cowinacoma 1 - 0 rational sense