Good morning.
This is one to divide opinion. We appear to be selling Michael Dawson. Sir Les as he was, is affectionately known is understood to be weighing up his preferred choice of destination between QPR and Stoke.
It’s been suggested to me that the business of Liverpool being linked with Michael last week was simply a lose lipped agent discovering that the player was ‘available’.
There are a number of factors at play here. He has frequently had to combat injury and with the arrival of Villas-Boas he’s been found to be not quite sophisticated enough. Is this fair? Well, having a big heart and a desire to do your best are separate issues. Notable features of the boss’s new system is the control and focus on ball retention.
All hands to the pump type hoooooooofs up field aren’t desirable. They are old school and at best turn possession into a 50/50 ball. You’ll notice that Brad has mostly been rolling the ball to the back four’s feet.
Another issue has been development. Daws was always doing his best and improved over time, but did he ever really look ready to replace Ledley King? I’d argue not. He frequently looked the business when teamed up with Ledders but Kaboul looks a better long term bet. The addition of Jan Vertonghen the last nail in his first team coffin.
If we were on the same financial footing as Manchester City, we could afford to keep him in the squad. Alas we are not.
How much of this is just ITK BS?
I can’t believe we would get rid of three centre backs (Daws, Bassong and Hudds) in one transfer window.
Have you not seen our injury record in defence over the past few seasons. I still have nightmares of Corluka and Hudds in defence…
Hudds isn’t a CB… may have played there before, but he’s not a CB
Has got a point though, because Ledley already gone.
He will always have a special place in my heart as the the man who turned the match against the Blue R*****s and gave us our first win against them for years. A man that gave his all for us, I just wish he’d had that extra bit of class which took him beyond “workmanlike” to another level.
Dawson should play in Southend-on-sea. That way we could all watch him occasionally.Infact he could play for EVERY station from you know whereto you know where.
Look he might even make a better train driver than a footballer.Could get erratic sometimes,especially if the tide is out when he gets there.
You really have trouble getting all 4 LNER stations in Monopoly don’t you?
This is all rubbish! It all started with a few people questioning why he wasn’t in the squad for the Newcastle game, and huddlestone. The reason for both is long term injuries, a week ago AVB was set to make him club captain! Huddlestone out on loan is a believeable story, especially with the amount of midfielders we have, but he won’t leave, and definitely not to a mid-table side like QPR.
The amount of midfielders we have? Atm it’s just Sandro, Jenas and Livermore if Thud were to go.
What about Bentley have I missed something, has he gone already if not he needs to be one of the first to move on or has he been given a second chance. Daws you’ve been a hero many times for us and you deserve the very best and if you get that from another signing and first team footy then good luck!!!
Can argue either way with Daws – personally I would very much like to see him stay but I can understand why he would be let go. But Thudd, without Modric we need him even more and boy did Lennon and Bale miss his passes last season. Sorry AVB I was willing to put my doubts to one side but let Thudd go, even on loan and you’ve lost me.
Yes, except Thudd’s barely kicked a ball for 2 years. Two long term injuries and not a natural athlete so it takes him games to get his sharpness back.
AVB has spoken of his desire to get a playmaker in – so if he manages this, it then makes sense to let Tommy get some games in somewhere else until Jan then come back and challenge. You could argue he could play League and Europa Cup, but I think he needs consistent PL action.
If we let him go and don’t sign someone then I’m with you, but would think (or hope!) AVB is smarter than that.