Richard Dunne-what the hell is happening?

[Pauro 76]

He's having a nightmare season. 2 own goals and a sending off. Some Man City fans on his back, some saying he should be stripped of the captaincy, Man City a point off relegation zone. What the hell happened to him? Is it the pressure of playing for the world's richest club?

[elroy]

I think its more to do with the midfield in front of him to be honest. No protection whatsoever and too attack minded. Hughes is apparently in the market for a defensive midfielder, Hamann isnt up to the task anymore.

[CJTheGull]

I think its more to do with the midfield in front of him to be honest. No protection whatsoever and too attack minded. Hughes is apparently in the market for a defensive midfielder, Hamann isnt up to the task anymore.

Good point 'Pauro 76' - he can't defend on his own against a team on the attack. Admittedly he has had a howler the past few weeks but he'd be the first name on my teamsheet if I was a Premiership manager.

[Pauro 76]

Good point 'Pauro 76' - he can't defend on his own against a team on the attack. Admittedly he has had a howler the past few weeks but he'd be the first name on my teamsheet if I was a Premiership manager.

Im not saying he's a bad player. He's a fantastic defender on his day, but on paper his form over the last month or so looks extremely worrying.

[Uncle_Joe]

I think he is clearly been a bit unlucky with the 2 own goals. As for the sending off and the utter shambles that has been Citys defending, i would put a lot of that down to the lack of cover that Citys defence receive. If you look at any of citys team lineup, they generally have 4 or 5 purely attack minded individuals who wouldnt have tracking back at the top of their agenda.
As well as this, its clear that Dunne doesnt hide during games, so when any team with a ounce of skill take City apart, its Dunne on the hightlights video always trying to get the block in or chasing back.

[beautifulrock]

He is certainly playing poorly at the moment, listening to the phone ins last night and a number of Many City fans were blaming him for the majority of defensive errors recently. He was to blame for the first goal yesterday. Micah Richards is also struggling. Hughes is under pressure so hopefully he does not go for a knee jerk reaction and drop him.

[tetsujin1979]

Last season it was Hamann and Johnson protecting the back four, this season it's been Kompany by himself. Yesterday was the first game of the season for Fernandes (who has yet to convince me at all) and was sent off before the end of the first half, leaving the defence pretty much isolated.
There hasn't been a settled back four all season, Richards is also out of form and has been played all across defence, including left full where he was atrocious.
Dunne is certainly playing badly, but he's by no means the main problem in City's defence at the moment.

[GenerationXI]

I didn't think Dunne was at fault much over the last few weeks but I think it all got to him yesterday. Everything that came his way went wrong. He couldn't sort his feet out at all and as the match went on his confidence continued to decrease. After Fernandes was sent off - quite rightly - his task only became harder.

I can't imagine that the sale of Corluka has helped city defensively either. He's got way more to do this year I think.

[shakermaker1982]

Dunne is struggling at the moment but that happens to every defender - look at Rio Ferdinanad. Man City fans should remember the past 3/4 seasons in which he has excelled. Strip him of his captaincy? WTF is up with some supporters?!

[OwlsFan]

Strip him of his captaincy? WTF is up with some supporters?!

They all probably work for Sky or the Sun. Knee jerk football supporters. Don't you just love them. I vaguely recall Dunne was motm against Cyprus. As someone once said: "Form is temporary; class is permanent". Dunne is class. Much ado about nothing.

[Maroon 7]

Some of the own goals are hard to blame on him. These things just happen to defenders sometimes when they are trying to get blocks in. Ball hits them and goes into the net.

The mistake against Spurs was a bad one alright. Maybe the own goals just knocked his confidence a little?

[carloz]

Im on another forum, and the Man City fans there are delighted that Dunne will be suspended for them. They cant beleive how poor he has been

[billybunter]

Im on another forum, and the Man City fans there are delighted that Dunne will be suspended for them. They cant beleive how poor he has been


says it all about city fans really.

[eirebhoy]

I'd say Dunne was probably the toughest opponent Vucinic has faced so far at international level. Dunne was simply to good for him. He's a class act who's going through a bad patch for City. Richards has been worse though.

[shakermaker1982]

I'd say Dunne was probably the toughest opponent Vucinic has faced so far at international level. Dunne was simply to good for him. He's a class act who's going through a bad patch for City. Richards has been worse though.

Dunne has covered Richard's back for the past two seasons but the Sky/MOTD pundits are too stupid to notice that. They are too busy proclaiming him to be the next defensive superstar rather than credit Dunne - the man that has held that backline together.

[Rambling Along]

He's having a nightmare season. 2 own goals and a sending off.

2 sending off's not one.

Man City's problem is not Dunne or their defence. It's that they are relying WAY too much on Robinho.

[paul_oshea]

says it all about city fans really.

ah billy good man, where have you been?!

Shows how fickle football fans are in general.

[Diarmo]

What is it, 4 years in a row as player of the year for Man City? I'm sure he'll be back on form quite soon. For our sakes, anyway.

[tricky_colour]

I'm confident he will do a great job for Ireland as ever, we have let in 1 goal in 3 games, Man City let in 20 goals in 12 games. I think it's down to a lack of cover from midfield that put's too much pressure on the defense. That was probably the case with the 5:2 Cyprus defeat. We have a more defensive midfield now.

[Colbert Report]

A more defensive midfield? We don't have a midfield at all! Trap plays with a keeper, two full backs, two wingers, two strikers and four bloody centre halves! Terrible football to watch but he's getting the results...

[Morbo]

I'm not too worried, we don't have a competitive international until Feb so he might as well have his poor patch now

[Stuttgart88]

Is it really that terrible to watch? It was tense against Cyprus but I'm not sure it's because he wants us to absorb pressure and counter, or if it's because we're so weak in the middle we've no choice but to play without the ball for lon periods.

We created a hatful of chances against Cyprus and really took the game to Norway in the first half, before the downpour. We were decent enough in the Georgia & Montenegro games.

If Keith Andrews (big if) can come in and exert some degree of presence in midfield in Steven Reid's absence then great. Given Trap's way of playing finding a like-for-like replacement for S. Reid is the key.

[OwlsFan]

A more defensive midfield? We don't have a midfield at all! Trap plays with a keeper, two full backs, two wingers, two strikers and four bloody centre halves! Terrible football to watch but he's getting the results...

Oh no, we're back to having to win with style:eek:.
Mind you, with 2 attacking wingers and 2 men up front I strangely thought that was an attacking formation. When did Glen Whelan qualify as a centre-half by the way?

[macdermesser]

According to the beeb gossip, Harry is going to rescue him from his "nightmare season".

[elroy]

According to the beeb gossip, Harry is going to rescue him from his "nightmare season".

Well he did try and sign him during the summer so there could be some truth in that. City would be mad to sell him though.

[Sligo Hornet]

According to the beeb gossip, Harry is going to rescue him from his "nightmare season".

Frying pan...Fire ?:eek:

[endabob1]

Can't see him going to Spurs; King, Woodgate, Corluka & Dawson there already, Dunne would by no means be first choice unless 1 of the first 3 were to go.

[paul_oshea]

im assuming stutts that wasn't a breakdown and you meant to post it in the keith andrews section?

[tetsujin1979]

Can't see him going to Spurs; King, Woodgate, Corluka & Dawson there already, Dunne would by no means be first choice unless 1 of the first 3 were to go.

King's rarely plays more than 2 consecutive games, Dunne kept Corluka out of the centre of defence at Man City, he'd go straight into the Spurs team.
Can't see him going though.

[endabob1]

King's rarely plays more than 2 consecutive games, Dunne kept Corluka out of the centre of defence at Man City, he'd go straight into the Spurs team.
Can't see him going though.

Under Ramos, King was rested more the was strictly necessary, under Redknapp he has played more often. Dunne would be behind both King & Woodgate and imo Corluka is better suited to partnering Woodgate than Dunne would be (they are similar style players) but basically Spurs are pretty well served for centre backs but short of strikers, a holding midfielder and a left back who can defend, ergo I see the money being spent elsewhere!

[Stuttgart88]

im assuming stutts that wasn't a breakdown and you meant to post it in the keith andrews section?no, I addressed the point about it being terrible to watch and digressed onto Keith Andrews because of the question I asked above.

[gspain]

Under Ramos, King was rested more the was strictly necessary, under Redknapp he has played more often. Dunne would be behind both King & Woodgate and imo Corluka is better suited to partnering Woodgate than Dunne would be (they are similar style players) but basically Spurs are pretty well served for centre backs but short of strikers, a holding midfielder and a left back who can defend, ergo I see the money being spent elsewhere!

I am assume you are judging Dunne on his current (poor) form as he is a miles better players than any of the Tottenham central defenders. Even under Redknapp the Tottenham defence looks suspect.

[Den Perry]

They have Vincent Kompany as their defensive mid who's one of the best holding midfielders in the league. Most of Dunne's errors have been unforced, he's simply in bad form at the moment. Hope he pulls out of it.

are you having a laugh? Kompany is one of the worst players I've ever seen in England

Dunne I reallylike as a player but he does make the odd howler....still I don't think he's helped by those alongside him. Richards is starting to believe his own hype and the right full i'm not sure about either

[Den Perry]

Dunne has covered Richard's back for the past two seasons but the Sky/MOTD pundits are too stupid to notice that. They are too busy proclaiming him to be the next defensive superstar rather than credit Dunne - the man that has held that backline together.


Gotta agree with you on this one

[Den Perry]

Can't see him going to Spurs; King, Woodgate, Corluka & Dawson there already, Dunne would by no means be first choice unless 1 of the first 3 were to go.

I know he's having a loss of form recently but I would rate Dunne higher than any of those players. Woodgate is good though. Dawson is terrible, Corluka is ****e - City did great business getting rid of him

Sometimes I wonder about some peoples knowledge of the game.

[endabob1]

I know he's having a loss of form recently but I would rate Dunne higher than any of those players. Woodgate is good though. Dawson is terrible, Corluka is ****e - City did great business getting rid of him

Sometimes I wonder about some peoples knowledge of the game.

Not wanting to doubt your knowledge of the game (in the way that you glibly doubt mine) but compared to Woodgate and especially King, Dunne is not in the same class, he is big and strong good in the air and tackle, not quick enough to be top class and doesn’t read the game well enough to be top class.
I admit to a hint of bias when it comes to King as he came through at Spurs when I lived in London and was a regular at WHL and to be honest imho if he didn’t have dodgy knees he would be the best centre back in Britain, ask anyone who has ever seen him play live.
Dawson is similar to Dunne actually, strong, brave but too slow and not clever enough to be top class, fine as a 4th choice which is what he is. To say Corluka is sh!te is a bit harsh. Admitedly I seen very little of him at City but this season (which as far as I’m concerned only started when Redknapp took over) he’s played right across the back 4 for Spurs, very adaptable and looks pretty rock solid to me.

[irishfan86]

I'll weigh in here:

When healthy, it's hard to find a better centre-half than King.

I'd rate Dunne and Woodgate at a similar level.

Dawson is an average centre-half by premier league standards, nothing more or less.

Corluka, while a handy player, is best played as a fullback or defensive mid. I don't see him as more than an emergency centre-half.

If Dunne went to Spurs, I'd expect Dunne, Woodgate, and King to rotate there, with Dawson staying as cover, and Corluka competing for a fullback spot.

[eirebhoy]

Not wanting to doubt your knowledge of the game (in the way that you glibly doubt mine) but compared to Woodgate and especially King, Dunne is not in the same class, he is big and strong good in the air and tackle, not quick enough to be top class and doesn’t read the game well enough to be top class.
He's certainly quick enough and definitely quicker than Woodgate imo. Vucinic is no slouch and Dunne beat him a few times to balls down the channels. I also remember him winning what looked like a lost cause against Cyprus. By centre half standards I'd go as far as to say Dunne is quick, not slow. As for his reading of the game... McShane at right back, Kilbane at left back and O'Shea beside him in the centre and he makes that look like a solid defence. Replace Dunne with an average centre half like A.O'Brien in a defence like that and we'd be murdered imo.

[endabob1]

I'll weigh in here:

When healthy, it's hard to find a better centre-half than King.

I'd rate Dunne and Woodgate at a similar level.

Dawson is an average centre-half by premier league standards, nothing more or less.

Corluka, while a handy player, is best played as a fullback or defensive mid. I don't see him as more than an emergency centre-half.

If Dunne went to Spurs, I'd expect Dunne, Woodgate, and King to rotate there, with Dawson staying as cover, and Corluka competing for a fullback spot.

Agreed, which was the reason I think it would be a shock if they went for him, they are relatively well served at centre back. A new goalkeeper is more likely after last night

[eirebhoy]

Agreed, which was the reason I think it would be a shock if they went for him, they are relatively well served at centre back.
They've 2 centre halves that are good enough imo, King and Woodgate. King supposedly will only play max 2/3 of their games because of his injury problems.

[irishfan86]

Agreed, which was the reason I think it would be a shock if they went for him, they are relatively well served at centre back. A new goalkeeper is more likely after last night

King, and to a lesser extent Woodgate, have had injury problems and having another top level centre-half in there will be absolutely necessary if they're serious about breaking through as a top club.

[seanfhear]

King and Woodgate if fit are good players but you would probably be lucky to get 50 games from the two of them in a season and Kings long term future in football is pretty uncertain(hard to believe with medical advances and the money involved that they cannot keep this guy on the field)
I dont think Dawson is going to make the grade at this stage though he looked a good prospect a couple of years ago.

[tricky_colour]

Man City let 2 in today so they were not much good without Dunne against an off form
Hull.

[tetsujin1979]

from the match ratings in the Manchester Evening News: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1081301_city_3_arsenal_0_player_ratings

DUNNE: not the spent force some reckon. Virtually foot perfect from start to finish 8

[tetsujin1979]

Dunne's comments on his recent form: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=6623226

Richard does not shy away from discussing the two own goals he has conceded this season, which the rest of the City squad have helped him to deal with.
He adds, “It’s been very frustrating, it is the worst feeling in the world for a player. Your confidence takes a knock and it’s very deflating, you can worry about it every time the ball comes into the box but you just have to clear your head and get on with it.
“I’ve been very lucky because the lads and the manager here have been very supportive of me, which has been a big help. In the end it’s down to me and I just have to concentrate on my own game.”