Originally Posted by
Albionic68
Hello LB, Dawson’s standards haven’t dropped at all from where I stand.
The difference from before is he’s playing in a system which exposes his weaknesses as opposed to one accentuating his strengths. The TP system masked his poor technique on the ball and questionable decision making at the higher level by asking very little of him as a full back.
He was essentially employed to block wide players and provide an aerial threat at set pieces, both of which he did effectively on the whole. That was pretty much it, do A and B but never C. Likewise, Pardew didn’t appear to ask him to do much if anything differently beyond the odd forward gallop behind whoever played in front of him.
Over the final games in the Prem’ under Darren Moore he looked better as a centre half in open play than he actually is (in my opinion) because of the deep lying block in front of him. As for his application at set pieces then as stated he’s always been stronger heading the ball than playing it with his feet.
Similarly, he’s always been prone to being caught flat footed and somewhat befuddled in the face of pace and movement. In real terms nothing has changed in his game beyond his short comings becoming more transparent in an attackingly attractive yet defensively unforgiving formation.
While the game’s about opinions, previous calls for him to be included in the England squad left me shaking my head; something which I’ve posted about previously. When on song he can be extremely effective and I respect his in game application, but for the moment at least (like our other centre halves) he appears well out of his comfort zone.
Time will tell as to whether we get away with it (or he adapts) over the course of a season, all be it at a lower level.