Kevin Gage on Dowell and Duffy

[Isaw Joeshaw]

In today's match commentary , and even though we were 1 - 0 up at the time , Kevin Gage expressed his concern as to how poorly we were playing offered the opinion that a significant part of the problem was the lack of any kind of input from Dowell .

He then went on to bemoan the fact that Duffy wasn't playing saying "he's the one who makes us tick" and I can't disagree with those sentiments .

It's been obvious to me in a number of games when he's not played that our passing game seems to go out of the window and that the link between defence and attack becomes almost nonexistent .

I dearly hope that he is fit enough to play in all our remaining matches and that the manager chooses to select him .

 

[SwissBlade]

In today's match commentary , and even though we were 1 - 0 up at the time , Kevin Gage expressed his concern as to how poorly we were playing offered the opinion that a significant part of the problem was the lack of any kind of input from Dowell .

He then went on to bemoan the fact that Duffy wasn't playing saying "he's the one who makes us tick" and I can't disagree with those sentiments .

It's been obvious to me in a number of games when he's not played that our passing game seems to go out of the window and that the link between defence and attack becomes almost nonexistent .

I dearly hope that he is fit enough to play in all our remaining matches and that the manager chooses to select him .

Duffy does make us tick, but Dowell has had good games too

My biggest concern first half was that Norwood seemed to be getting bypassed

 

[Deadbat]

I have to be honest Dowell for me has mostly been a disappointment. He did ok at Villa for an hour and had a good first half at WBA.

In the last three games he has played he has been anonymous...at SWFC, and v Brentford and Bristol. I expected a midfielder who would run with the ball; carry possession, offer shooting options and link play.

Blades Analytic was very excited saying his addition was just what we needed when we signed him. He drooled about him in fact! The shooting was the area he cited but I can bareky remember a decent shot he has had (Villa away?). He also spoke of a player who could do off the cuff things. I have seen little evidence of that and skill wise he has barely beat a man yet.

I have to say 3 months after he came; I see a player that is getting worse not better.

To be hauled off at half time the last two home games sums up what Wilder thinks.
He looks a bit disinterested and my mate summed it up saying he looks a classic loan player that knows he is back at his club in a few months.

We still massively miss Duffy when he does not play.

 

[lakedistblade]

I have to be honest Dowell for me has mostly been a disappointment.

In the last three games he has played he has been anonymous...at SWFC, and v Brentford and Bristol


To be hauled off at half time the last two home games sums up what Wilder thinks.

We still massively miss Duffy when he does not play.

Absolutely. Duffy not starting was massive today and being hooked twice at half time when not losing says it all about Dowells performances. He is off the pace for pressing necessary at this level and is only useful as an impact sub to run at teams in last 20 min. United need to spend thousands sending Duffy to best treatment in the world to get him fit double quick. If midfield performances can get back to best we can still do this since Leeds have a couple of trickier games than us.

 

[ChemEngBlade]

The last few games when we’ve struggled to really hold the ball & attack (Pigs, WBA, Brentford, Leeds & Brizzle) have been crying out for Duffy to come and just find pockets of space, help us retain the ball. Sadly, whilst an improvement on Woodburn, Dowell hasn’t been better than Duffy IMO when he’s played

 

[CarlMcBlade]

In today's match commentary , and even though we were 1 - 0 up at the time , Kevin Gage expressed his concern as to how poorly we were playing offered the opinion that a significant part of the problem was the lack of any kind of input from Dowell .

He then went on to bemoan the fact that Duffy wasn't playing saying "he's the one who makes us tick" and I can't disagree with those sentiments .

It's been obvious to me in a number of games when he's not played that our passing game seems to go out of the window and that the link between defence and attack becomes almost nonexistent .

I dearly hope that he is fit enough to play in all our remaining matches and that the manager chooses to select him .

I feel that once we got our noses in front at 1-0 we just dropped off the pace. We expelled all our energy as urgency in the first 10 mins. McGoldrick was trying to play “walking football” today.

 

[Dnblade]

I don't mind Dowell,but Duffy has been a big miss,we don't control possession aswell and it's shown in recent games...hopefully he's fit to get more minutes in the remaining games.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I expected a midfielder who would run with the ball; carry possession, offer shooting options and link play.

You and me both, in many ways now, he very much looks like a younger player, consciously aware that he's trying to learn in the man's game. He needs to develop a bit of confidence to just take games by the scruff of the neck, he'd be capable.

Finding a Duffy replacement is, and will be hard. He is happy in possession, wants to dictate the game, wants the ball, links up our passing, will delay if he thinks the best pass isn't on. That takes confidence and maturity.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

In Wilder’s post match interview he pretty much gave the game away on Duffy’s role for the remainder of the season: “he’s looked razor sharp this week, and we’d talked about him now starting going through – or certainly playing a huge part – in terms of what we’re trying to achieve in the next 8 games.”

Looks like he’ll be starting whenever fit. Yesterday reiterated why that’s important.

 

[AWetFlannel]

In today's match commentary , and even though we were 1 - 0 up at the time , Kevin Gage expressed his concern as to how poorly we were playing offered the opinion that a significant part of the problem was the lack of any kind of input from Dowell .

He then went on to bemoan the fact that Duffy wasn't playing saying "he's the one who makes us tick" and I can't disagree with those sentiments .

It's been obvious to me in a number of games when he's not played that our passing game seems to go out of the window and that the link between defence and attack becomes almost nonexistent .

I dearly hope that he is fit enough to play in all our remaining matches and that the manager chooses to select him .

Agree with most of this, but I think we've neglected our passing game since January in an attempt to cut out mistakes and be more pragmatic.

Whether that is being direct with Madine up top, surrendering possesion to sit deeper whilst on our clean sheet run or playing Basham in midfield, I'm not sure I like it.

 

[Kenilworth]

I have to be honest Dowell for me has mostly been a disappointment. He did ok at Villa for an hour and had a good first half at WBA.

In the last three games he has played he has been anonymous...at SWFC, and v Brentford and Bristol. I expected a midfielder who would run with the ball; carry possession, offer shooting options and link play.

Blades Analytic was very excited saying his addition was just what we needed when we signed him. He drooled about him in fact! The shooting was the area he cited but I can bareky remember a decent shot he has had (Villa away?). He also spoke of a player who could do off the cuff things. I have seen little evidence of that and skill wise he has barely beat a man yet.

I have to say 3 months after he came; I see a player that is getting worse not better.

To be hauled off at half time the last two home games sums up what Wilder thinks.
He looks a bit disinterested and my mate summed it up saying he looks a classic loan player that knows he is back at his club in a few months.

We still massively miss Duffy when he does not play.

I believe it's more to do with fatigue. Duffy would have played if fit because Dowell has played 90 mins in both England U21 internationals and has been the main centre mid for both.
Feel you are being harsh on Dowell, who is a good player but is not as fit as the lads who have been under Matt Prestridge all season.
Agree he was anonymous yesterday.
If Madine had been available (with Duffy not) I'd have expected a Sharp and Madine front two with Dids in the AM role.

We didn't match BC for physicality. That is not the norm.

Norwood gave the ball away more in this game than all the rest combined (so it felt) but I thought that was down to a lack of movement ahead if him (missing Duffy and Dowell hiding/ not linking). Also, one of the reasons we kept going "long" aimlessly to no one.

 

[gavtheblade]

Duffy does make us tick, but Dowell has had good games too

My biggest concern first half was that Norwood seemed to be getting bypassed

Norwood was terrible. Playing him far too deep in my reckoning.

 

[Speedracer]

I always worry when Duffs doesn't play, & without him our ball retention is poor & we don't play our usual passing game. Duffs takes up much more intelligent positions & is always available, whereas with Dowell I feel we are more open to the counter; I agree he can move us quickly up the pitch but that often works in reverse too & I can't remember seeing him make a single tackle to prevent the counter.
I know Norwood has been an important player for us but for me Duffs is the one that makes us tick, we rebuilt our footballing reputation with him at the heart of our team & I see nothing that makes me think we can do without him.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

I have to be honest Dowell for me has mostly been a disappointment. He did ok at Villa for an hour and had a good first half at WBA.

In the last three games he has played he has been anonymous...at SWFC, and v Brentford and Bristol. I expected a midfielder who would run with the ball; carry possession, offer shooting options and link play.

Blades Analytic was very excited saying his addition was just what we needed when we signed him. He drooled about him in fact! The shooting was the area he cited but I can bareky remember a decent shot he has had (Villa away?). He also spoke of a player who could do off the cuff things. I have seen little evidence of that and skill wise he has barely beat a man yet.

I have to say 3 months after he came; I see a player that is getting worse not better.

To be hauled off at half time the last two home games sums up what Wilder thinks.
He looks a bit disinterested and my mate summed it up saying he looks a classic loan player that knows he is back at his club in a few months.

We still massively miss Duffy when he does not play.

For me Dowell is on his heels too much, is slow to get goalside when the opposition have possession, and when we have possession is often too static, ballwatching instead of trying to find space.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

At 1-0 you could see a collective sigh of relief about the team. We are traditionally poor after the International break but today I thought we were just dumb how we allowed an opposing player to score a hat trick at BDTBL. Andreas Weinman delivered everything we couldn’t in that game. He ran at defenders with the ball, got round the back of our defence, and had a turn of pace that we sadly lack.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

We absolutely miss Duffy. He has that bit of magic and is a nightmare for the opposition to mark. I hope he is fit for next week.

 

[penthouseblade]

Norwood was terrible. Playing him far too deep in my reckoning.

Think we have to credit Bristol City there. They marked Norwood out the game really as they forced him to play deep. They also pushed Baldock and Stevens back the whole game practically, meaning as a team we played too deep!!

Bad day at the office, we just have to suck it up and move on....

 

[Grappler]

Too many times we got the ball and then stood still, trying to figure out who to pass to, because Bristol City were good at marking, closing us down, and limiting our options.

It was no surprise when Dowell didn't come out for the second half, too lightweight in that sort of game.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I too was hoping for a lot more from Dowell in an attacking sense. The comments were that he would drive with the ball, take shots from range and try the spectacular to find openings. That he might be a potential match winner in tight games.

However, thus far, whilst he has been a very handy addition to the squad, this has only been in so far as his industry in getting up and down the park for us and working hard without the ball to help us earn points away from home.

I wouldn’t knock him as a signing too much as he definitely has contributed a lot to our great run of form. But he hasn’t developed leadership skills yet. He isn’t driving us on by independently taking a game by the scruff of the neck and he isn’t contributing much of a goal threat.

Frustratingly, he did all of the above with Nottingham Forest at the beginning of last season so he does have it in his locker. If he wants to be a Premiership player he has to play at the top of his game consistently. What he’s offered us so far doesn’t represent that.

 

[SwissBlade]

Norwood was terrible. Playing him far too deep in my reckoning.

From what i saw it was certainly a poor game by his standards, but then so many had off days too

 

[true99blade]

There's not a player that could replace him like for like. He's such a unique cog in our team it's bizarre how little game time he gets considering how much he makes us tick, even when he's having an off game. It's a travesty he's injured and I think more than anything this will cost us promotion if he's out for a considerable length of time.

 

[Willie Carlin]

In today's match commentary , and even though we were 1 - 0 up at the time , Kevin Gage expressed his concern as to how poorly we were playing offered the opinion that a significant part of the problem was the lack of any kind of input from Dowell .

He then went on to bemoan the fact that Duffy wasn't playing saying "he's the one who makes us tick" and I can't disagree with those sentiments .

It's been obvious to me in a number of games when he's not played that our passing game seems to go out of the window and that the link between defence and attack becomes almost nonexistent .

I dearly hope that he is fit enough to play in all our remaining matches and that the manager chooses to select him .

Good on CW for subbing Dowell at half time. He didn’t seem to know how to play that role.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Dowell has turned out to be the exact player Forest fans said he was for them the second half of the season.

To think there were people on here thinking he was better than Duffy lol.

 

[orlandoblade]

Duffy and Billy are the first 2 names on the sheet every week for me.. if i don't see Duffy my hear sinks. since in the games where we are not totally add it his ball retention can help us breathe and get up the pitch...yesterday Dowell was anonymous and the midfield never had an option or a chance to get established.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I have to be honest Dowell for me has mostly been a disappointment. He did ok at Villa for an hour and had a good first half at WBA.

In the last three games he has played he has been anonymous...at SWFC, and v Brentford and Bristol. I expected a midfielder who would run with the ball; carry possession, offer shooting options and link play.

Blades Analytic was very excited saying his addition was just what we needed when we signed him. He drooled about him in fact! The shooting was the area he cited but I can bareky remember a decent shot he has had (Villa away?). He also spoke of a player who could do off the cuff things. I have seen little evidence of that and skill wise he has barely beat a man yet.

I have to say 3 months after he came; I see a player that is getting worse not better.

To be hauled off at half time the last two home games sums up what Wilder thinks.
He looks a bit disinterested and my mate summed it up saying he looks a classic loan player that knows he is back at his club in a few months.

We still massively miss Duffy when he does not play.

I think he looks good in flashes and has plenty of skill, good feet, bit of pace, eye for a pass. But he drifts out of the game too much for me. He needs to exert his influence on the game more. Against a very hard working midfield like Bristol City’s yesterday. He was a mere observer at times. We improved a lot when McGoldrick moved back into midfield and he went off. Duffy is a different class. When he’s on the ball he’s just about impossible to be forced off it, unlike Dowell. I think Wilder has seen this as well and I expect to see Duffy play most, if not all, the remaining games now.

 

[wizadry]

For me Dowell is on his heels too much, is slow to get goalside when the opposition have possession, and when we have possession is often too static, ballwatching instead of trying to find space.

I do like Dowell but I have noticed this on way too many occasions. He needs to learn from being hooked off at half time yesterday and step up to the plate.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Dowell has turned out to be the exact player Forest fans said he was for them the second half of the season.

To think there were people on here thinking he was better than Duffy lol.

Dowell has turned out to be the exact player Forest fans said he was for them the second half of the season.

To think there were people on here thinking he was better than Duffy lol.

Ah , yes , I remember it well ( as Maurice Chevalier would have said )

One poster in particular was eager to tell us how much better Dowell was than Duffy , even before the former had kicked a ball for us . Some of us were more circumspect and wanted to see the evidence before arriving at a conclusion.

No such evidence has been forthcoming and it is now clear to me and many others on here that , if we are to have any chance of making the autos , it will only be achieved if Duffy plays in most , if not all of the remaining games .

If for whatever reason he is not available for any of them , then McG should play in that role ( which seems to be his natural inclination anyway ) with Billy and Madine or Hogan in front .

Come on Blades , you can do it .