Criticism of Dawson is unjustified

[the_idiotb_stardson]

Not the greatest keeper we have ever had but a long way from being the worst.

Some of the criticism from him is mindless and just pathetic.

Before you shout out 'tha cud o' come off thi line fo' that Dawson!' please engage your brain and ask yourself, could he really?

In most cases he would either, never have got there in time or he was being blocked off.

Just think before gobbing off


Clean sheet yesterday. Let's start from.there shall we?

[Ronners]

I've said for a while that I think Dawson has come on in leaps and bounds from the start of the season, and he is, IMO, a good shotstopper, and has almost single handedly in some games, kept us in them or kept the score down. My main concern of him is I don't think he throws or rolls the ball out enough when he has it and a player runs out wide where he could throw it to him, but then just big boots it up front where we don't really have anyone good in the air. I have wondered if he is instructed to do this? but whilst Dawson is no viking, he is certainly a competent keeper at this level. UTM

[Old_time_miller]

You refer to coming for arial balls, he doesn’t because he knows he is no good at it. So you can’t really shout him out for it, I agree.
But that’s a different reason.

I suggest you study his positions when conceding. Beaten too easily too often. That is the crucial issue. And fully justified.

[howdydoo]

You refer to coming for arial balls, he doesn’t because he knows he is no good at it. So you can’t really shout him out for it, I agree.
But that’s a different reason.

I suggest you study his positions when conceding. Beaten too easily too often. That is the crucial issue. And fully justified.

Only in your opinion. Not a great fan of Dawson but the problem we have is the 'goals for' column and an inability to keep the ball away from our keeper. Dawson is adequate for this division.

Let's look at the numbers for Dawson for this season. Albeit not every team has played an equal amount of games.

Shots on target against - 123 Rank - 1
Saves - 85 Rank 1
Save Percentage - 69.1% Rank 6


Bolton have had 65 shots against. Their keeper has a 61.5% save percentage and that's having played 2 games more.

'Beaten too easily too often. That is the crucial issue. And fully justified.'

Based on the stats that statement is simply not true.


source:

https://fbref.com/en/comps/15/League-One-Stats#all_stats_squads_keeper

[Beaufighter]

Looking on the match thread of the Exeter board certainly gives a different perspective on Dawson. The general opinion being that they miss him and would much rather have him than their current bloke. To quote one message “proper keeper is Cam”.

[GlennMiller]

Dawson's performance so far this season has been blighted by an inadequate defence which has left him exposed and vulnerable. That said, he has two fundamental weaknesses to his game.

Firstly, he fails to command his area. This is a mental issue and causes him to seek the safety of the 6 yard box leaving the aerial battles to his defenders. Not sure you can change this trait through training as his natural instinct will always tell him to play it safe.

Secondly, his distribution. His unwillingness to play short balls, so that our talented midfielders can be engaged, is mystifying. Particularly as his long hoofs generally prove ineffective as we constantly come up against enormous opposition CBs. Whether this is totally down to Dawson or an instruction from the coaching staff is open to conjecture.

If he could eradicate these two weaknesses from his game, he would be a top class keeper and probably wouldn't be playing for RUFC!

[Brin]

Well yesterday was a breath of fresh air coming from Dawson.

He showed his worth in the first half taking a very good catch from an Exeter corner which I applauded him for. Moreover, his distribution yesterday was to roll the ball out more to Rafferty, Dawson's favoured side, time and again and we built from there.

Much better football, more controlled and all because Dawson wasm't just hoofing it up the pitch. I think that was one of his better games I've seeen him play this season.

He doesn't get off scott free though. He does have a massive tendency to remain on his line when he could easily come out and catch/punch a ball away. Perfect example of that was against Northampton the other night inside the first 10 minutes. Ball comes in from the left and he just stood there frozen to the spot when he should have collected the ball with ease. This caused panic amongst the back line and the crowd let him know about it.

It's League 1, he is good enough for this League but still after all his years as a goalie, he still needs fine tuning. When he did catch the ball he turned to the crowd behind him and gave a wry grin which the supporters clapped him for as in mutual respect, that raised a laugh or two.

[avondalemiller]

Well yesterday was a breath of fresh air coming from Dawson.

He showed his worth in the first half taking a very good catch from an Exeter corner which I applauded him for. Moreover, his distribution yesterday was to roll the ball out more to Rafferty, Dawson's favoured side, time and again and we built from there.

Much better football, more controlled and all because Dawson wasm't just hoofing it up the pitch. I think that was one of his better games I've seeen him play this season.

He doesn't get off scott free though. He does have a massive tendency to remain on his line when he could easily come out and catch/punch a ball away. Perfect example of that was against Northampton the other night inside the first 10 minutes. Ball comes in from the left and he just stood there frozen to the spot when he should have collected the ball with ease. This caused panic amongst the back line and the crowd let him know about it.

It's League 1, he is good enough for this League but still after all his years as a goalie, he still needs fine tuning. When he did catch the ball he turned to the crowd behind him and gave a wry grin which the supporters clapped him for as in mutual respect, that raised a laugh or two.

I agree Brin, yesterday he had a fine game. He's always been a decent shot stopper but it's his lack of commanding his area. He's a big lad 6ft 4ish?
What worries me is who tell him to keep launching to our small front players, and then watch it come straight back. C/H in this league are huge. If its a game plan then that worries me, surely our staff can see what we see and it doesn't work. If it's own idea then he wants f.........g. If yesterday was his new position then he might be just worth keeping, but on a lower deal? After all he lives local.

[SdnMiller]

He's not as good as Viktor, he's not as good as Vickers, he's not as good as Iverson, he's not as good as Rodak. He's not as good as camp, he's not as good as Martinez.

The rumour mill and reports say he's one of the highest paid players at the club and is in the bottom half of keepers we've had at the NYS. Below average keeper at best

[Scum-Triumphant]

Made a cracking save and held on to it at 0-0 at his near post.
Clever free kick pulled back from Exeter and the shot was rifled in. Can?t have seen much of it.

I don?t mind him at all.

[Townerslovechild]

As a member of the goalkeepers union I will always defend a goalie when possible.
And so Cam is a good league one keeper, which means he has faults,in his case, his main weakness is lack of command of his area.
As a young goalie you're taught to come and collect the ball when it's in the air,up to around the penalty spot.
Firstly to catch it failing that,punch as far as possible.
This way of playing will result sometimes in you not getting it,or maybe dropping the ball,but this something you have to live with.