Tin Hat On !! Dowell v Duffy

[EmleyMoorBlade]

After watching the last two performances at Villa and home to Middlesbrough I am starting to think that as the season wears on we are likely to see more of Dowell and less of Duffy. Whilst there is no doubt Duff will continue to have a big influence in certain games, the energy that Dowell brings to the midfield IMO had a major impact on how well we played at Villa Park, and last night we looked a much better balanced side when Duff was replaced by Madine, with Dowell working really hard and with no small amount of skill in that left midfield channel. McGoldrick playing behind the front two also gives us a bit more of a physical presence in that position as well as opposed to Duff who seems to get brushed off the ball by some of the more physical opposition teams
With more and more of our opponents between now and the end of the season likely to sit deep and try to frustrate us just as Bolton & Middlesbrough tried and thankfully failed to do, Plan B which clearly works might become more frequently used.
IMO Dowell is also quite capable of fitting comfortably into our Plan A of footballing the opposition off the park he is clearly a very clever footballer, plus Fleck also blossomed second half last night which maybe another benefit arising from Dowell playing allowing Fleck to be the senior man
The starting 11 on Saturday will be interesting to see as Dowell certainly deserves to keep a shirt IMO
Be interested to hear others views, tin hat on ready for the outrage of the Duffy fans.
UTB

 

[Large Mendonca]

Shouldn’t need a tin hat to have an opinion, although I do agree with it. Two great options to have and both will play their part in the final games. Good times

 

[Beans]

Different types of player IMO - Duffy much more controlled, helps us keep possession and get into the box / good crossing positions. From what I've seen / heard of Dowell he's much more of a direct, drive-into-space kind of player - but with that comes the risk of losing the ball either from getting tackled or trying something that doesn't come off.

We've gone with Dowell over Duffy in our last two away games so could see that being the norm for those, where we expect to have that extra space to play into. Dowell really thrived on that against Villa I thought.

Main thing though is that it's no longer such a big deal if Duffy isn't on the pitch because the step-down in ability is nowhere near as huge as it would be to eg Lundstram.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

We shouldn't lose sight of what has got us to third - it's generally playing teams off the park with football.

Duffy to start. He has this habit of finding pockets of space between the lines. Dowell is the future, Duffy is now.

UTB

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Personally think that everything Forest fans said about Dowell has turned out to be true and he looks a very, very overrated player.

 

[Agreasychipbutty]

You'd have thought that Dowell coming in would get Duff firing on all cylinders every game but if anything he's dipped in quality, I'm sure we'll see plenty of them both for the rest of the season. There's certainly worse problems to have than having to pick between them 2

 

[Rob86]

I think Duffy is more suited to the games against less physical teams. Dowell has improved every game so far and was excellent last night filling in at LWB (admittedly against a poor attacking team). I’d go Duffy against Reading and then Dowell against WBA. I’m not sure about against the pigs, could have more suspensions by then, so further reshuffling maybe required.

 

[LondonBlade89]

Personally think that everything Forest fans said about Dowell has turned out to be true and he looks a very, very overrated player.

How highly rated do you think he is?!

 

[Agreasychipbutty]

I think Duffy is more suited to the games against less physical teams. Dowell has improved every game so far and was excellent last night filling in at LWB (admittedly against a poor attacking team). I’d go Duffy against Reading and then Dowell against WBA. I’m not sure about against the pigs, could have more suspensions by then, so further reshuffling maybe required.

Think we should go with duffs against the pigs, if for nothing else but what he managed there last season...

 

[DronnieBlade]

Duffy.

But only in days ending in y.



Which is not to say KD does not have an important role to play and of course is a nod to the future when Duffy, sadly, is not

There’s still quality in them there legs

UTB

 

[Rob86]

Think we should go with duffs against the pigs, if for nothing else but what he managed there last season...

I’m sure he will start because of that ! Plus there will be space against them. I was surprised he didn’t come on against Villa to be honest as there was plenty of space in that game which seemed set up for him.

 

[BigBed]

That strike by Duffy was a joy to behold, ok, it took a deflection, and ok, it didn't go in, but seeing someone shoot from more than 18yrds has become a rare thing for us.

 

[Captain]

I’ve thought for a long time that we are a far better team with Duffy in it, skilled, experienced and a proven “Bounceslayer”.However I think they can both do a job in a starting 11.
What a great time to be a Blade

 

[Sheffsteel]

Different types of player IMO - Duffy much more controlled, helps us keep possession and get into the box / good crossing positions. From what I've seen / heard of Dowell he's much more of a direct, drive-into-space kind of player - but with that comes the risk of losing the ball either from getting tackled or trying something that doesn't come off.

We've gone with Dowell over Duffy in our last two away games so could see that being the norm for those, where we expect to have that extra space to play into. Dowell really thrived on that against Villa I thought.

Main thing though is that it's no longer such a big deal if Duffy isn't on the pitch because the step-down in ability is nowhere near as huge as it would be to eg Lundstram.

Was going to reply to the opening post but Beans has explained exactly my thoughts.
Fulwood also makes a great point about how playing our plan A passing style with Duffy is already tried and tested and taken us far.

The significant point for me, is that although we were good, we were quite predictable.
Wilder looks to have pulled off a master stroke in the JTW because Madine and Dowell give us something totally different.
In some ways Dowell is an upgrade on Duffy, in other ways a downgrade, it depends on our tactics.
Will be interesting to see what Hogan brings but the strikers are all performing so well he’s struggling to even get a subs appearance.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Personally think that everything Forest fans said about Dowell has turned out to be true and he looks a very, very overrated player.

Can see where you’re coming from because he’s far from the finished article but he clearly has talent and confidence.
Tries the difficult stuff but loses the ball too often. Reminds me of when Brooks played for us but Dowell doesn’t have his pace.

 

[The Hobott]

Hard to judge Dowell as he's not fit yet. I thought he would get taken off when Billy did yesterday and he was dead on his feet even before that - but fair play he kept running.

 

[BushBlade]

Was going to reply to the opening post but Beans has explained exactly my thoughts.
Fulwood also makes a great point about how playing our plan A passing style with Duffy is already tried and tested and taken us far.

The significant point for me, is that although we were good, we were quite predictable.
Wilder looks to have pulled off a master stroke in the JTW because Madine and Dowell give us something totally different.
In some ways Dowell is an upgrade on Duffy, in other ways a downgrade, it depends on our tactics.
Will be interesting to see what Hogan brings but the strikers are all performing so well he’s struggling to even get a subs appearance.

It’s looking like a very good window. All of a sudden we seem to have the strength in depth that I was worried we lacked.

 

[Edinblade]

Dowell should start every game. He’s improving all the time and just needs to get to full fitness. Duffy is the better option to bring on as a sub when opposition are tiring

 

[Adiroy]

Duffy still for me BUT maybe wilder sees Dowell as his long term replacement, So will give him more of a leading role as the season goes on?

Dowells certainly an improvement on the overhyped Woodburn!

 

[snootyfenooty]

Dowell. I've no objection to anyone being replaced as long as it's someone with greater quality. That goes for anyone from 1 - 11. That's why the likes of Freeman, Wright and Clarke have been jettisoned over the past year or so despite their previous heroics and the protests from the more sentimental types amongst our fan base.

 

[Speedracer]

Write Duffs off at your peril, he is far too good a player to just use him from the bench. I don't altogether go with the view that Duffs need space to works, seems to me he is better in tight spaces & can get around players almost standing still. Dowell I am pleased with so far but he is different to Duffs in that he drives forward at pace & needs more of the pitch simply due to that fact. Not sure he is quick but he is a rangey sort of runner who gets us up the pitch quicker. He isn't as clever as Duffs is at making himself available for short interplay passing, but then again not many are, & it looks like he is a clean striker of the ball, so I don't see why they cannot play together in the same team.
Great time to be a Blade though, we have a lot more strings to our bow now & can mix up the play if one system is not quite working, which is fantastic.

 

[blade too long]

just wallow in the glow of the knowledge we have both as options

 

[BushBlade]

Duffy still for me BUT maybe wilder sees Dowell as his long term replacement, So will give him more of a leading role as the season goes on?

Dowells certainly an improvement on the overhyped Woodburn!

He’s only on loan though. I can’t see Everton getting rid of him.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

Horses for courses innit

 

[Topplayersleave]

Duffy is a good player, but he has been struggling to keep the high energy stuff going for 90 minutes for at least 18 months
He still has a place in the 11 for an hour or so, or on the bench for the last half an hour.

 

[Chali 2na]

No offence to the OP, as it's actually rather balanced post, but the Dowell v Duffy line in the title is exactly what's wrong with football fans. In Beans' insightful post he points out that they are very different players with different applications; it's not about who's better, it's about how suited they are to the role being asked of them.

It's also not a particularly good game to reflect on the differences between the two players, as Dowell played in a completely different position and Duffy only played 45 minutes.

Which player we play depends on the opposition, and how we decide to counter them tactically, not which player is better.

 

[Ricky]

When Dowell signed I said he and Duffy would split it about 50/50, with Dowell becoming first choice towards the end of the season.

Now I think Dowell may establish himself as first choice a bit sooner. He already looks first choice for away games. Although I think Duffy would start ahead of him at Hillsborough.

Hopefully it's a good enough loan spell for Everton and him to consider coming back here next season if we're not promoted.

 

[bladesince64]

Dowell got through an incredible amount of work both on and off the ball yesterday.
Ok he misplaced a few passes and gave up possession a couple of times but he clearly has vision, great skill and a sublime touch.
I think he’ll weigh in with a few goals as well as he did notch at Forest last season.
A great addition by Wilder.

 

[sheffielder]

Dowell is young and been with us 6 weeks. No pre season or anything and the last 2 games he looks like he has started to settle.

Overrated, underrated I don't care what Forest or Everton fans think of him. I think we will be talking a lot about him before the end of the season. Give the lad a chance, his confidence is just starting to come though.

 

[Tapton Blade]

Dowell is young and been with us 6 weeks. No pre season or anything and the last 2 games he looks like he has started to settle.

Overrated, underrated I don't care what Forest or Everton fans think of him. I think we will be talking a lot about him before the end of the season. Give the lad a chance, his confidence is just starting to come though.