Richard Dunne

[Charlie Darwin]

Tyler and Neville in particular adamant that Dunne was daydreaming for the goal but the footage clearly showed he was the only one alert to the quick free, while also trying to organise his defence.

[tricky_colour]

That was a one of the craziest bit of football have ever seen, well worth watching, 3 goals in extra time and 4 in the last 9 minutes,
although I though it was 7 minutes, but the match report says 6 mins of added time, I though it was 4.

The scoring was more like basketball end to end stuff.

[SwanVsDalton]

It's only about one a season, not excessive from a centre back. He'll always be a legend for me.

It's just the consistency of it. Predatory around the six yard area...

I don't hold it against him btw. He throws everything at keeping the ball away from the goal and that's always going to run the risk of a couple going in off.

[Charlie Darwin]

To be fair, while Dunne does struggle with his footwork when the ball is coming across like that and has scored a few unnecessary OGs, it's his honesty that puts him in that position. A less committed defender wouldn't attempt to cut the ball out and just let Balotelli tap it in instead.

[Closed Account]

Tyler and Neville in particular adamant that Dunne was daydreaming for the goal but the footage clearly showed he was the only one alert to the quick free, while also trying to organise his defence.
Regardless of everyone else being asleep, I'm sure Dickie would be first to admit, he was caught out. He had his hands on his head looking the other direction when the free was taken meaning his body was slightly turned the wrong way when it was crossed in. Stupid free kick to give away to begin with.

[tricky_colour]

Balotelli was slow in reacting too, if Dunne have left it he would have put it in the net anyway.
the second own goal was a lot worse.

[Closed Account]

Balotelli was slow in reacting too, if Dunne have left it he would have put it in the net anyway.
the second own goal was a lot worse.
I'd trust Dickie in that situation more than I would Balotelli if I was a liverpool player.

[Charlie Darwin]

Regardless of everyone else being asleep, I'm sure Dickie would be first to admit, he was caught out. He had his hands on his head looking the other direction when the free was taken meaning his body was slightly turned the wrong way when it was crossed in. Stupid free kick to give away to begin with.
He doesn't have his hands on his head though. When the free kick was taken he was talking to his team mates and trying to get the defence organised, and he was the first to spot it had been taken quick. He can't do any more than that.

[Closed Account]

He doesn't have his hands on his head though. When the free kick was taken he was talking to his team mates and trying to get the defence organised, and he was the first to spot it had been taken quick. He can't do any more than that.
Very small margins Charlie but he switched off for a split second and was caught out. He had a brilliant clearance 2 mins before that, but he could/should've of done better for that. Fine game besides that especially the lack of game time he's had and certainly the rest of team did him no favours. All I'm saying is that I doubt he'll make any excuses for himself and neither should we.

[Charlie Darwin]

He should have dealt with the cross better but I think you're dead wrong about him switching off and the replays very clearly show that he was fully alert and doing his job when his teammates weren't.

[Closed Account]

He should have dealt with the cross better but I think you're dead wrong about him switching off and the replays very clearly show that he was fully alert and doing his job when his teammates weren't.
I respect your opinion Charlie but calling me dead wrong is a bit much! ;)

Golden rule is that Richie should be able behind his full back and able to see the number on his back when the ball is out right.
When the free kick is taken he is in a great position but is not looking at the play to the left but straight out. (sky showed it pretty well earlier)
http://i.imgur.com/PZ4ulHA.jpg

By the time he's switched back on and begins to turn towards the play, he's now in a bad position, i.e ahead of his full back and he suffers because of it because any ball in he'll be facing the wrong direction. It's very small margins and usually I wouldn't even bother criticising him because people do switch off and people do score goals and that's football.
http://i.imgur.com/mLUMMR6.jpg

I only mentioned it but I don't think we should be defending him either, he made a mistake, **** happens, QPR/Richie will deal with it.

[Charlie Darwin]

I respect your opinion Charlie but calling me dead wrong is a bit much! ;)

Golden rule is that Richie should be able behind his full back and able to see the number on his back when the ball is out right.
When the free kick is taken he is in a great position but is not looking at the play to the left but straight out. (sky showed it pretty well earlier)
http://i.imgur.com/PZ4ulHA.jpg

By the time he's switched back on and begins to turn towards the play, he's now in a bad position, i.e ahead of his full back and he suffers because of it because any ball in he'll be facing the wrong direction. It's very small margins and usually I wouldn't even bother criticising him because people do switch off and people do score goals and that's football.
http://i.imgur.com/mLUMMR6.jpg

I only mentioned it but I don't think we should be defending him either, he made a mistake, **** happens, QPR/Richie will deal with it.
Ah come on now. Watch it again. The moment the free kick is taken, he's taken a step forward to relay a message to his team mates. That might be an error in itself as he's advanced too far, but it's not a case of switching off and is certainly nothing to do with your original claim about him having his hands on his head. The problem was that his team mates weren't switched on. If the left back had been paying attention, Dunne wouldn't have had to make an intervention. I'm not making excuses for him - in fact I think he's probably not good enough for the Premier League anymore - but I find it odd he's being singled out for this when his only mistake was trying to clear up other people's errors.

[DannyInvincible]

To be fair, while Dunne does struggle with his footwork when the ball is coming across like that and has scored a few unnecessary OGs, it's his honesty that puts him in that position. A less committed defender wouldn't attempt to cut the ball out and just let Balotelli tap it in instead.

Indeed, he should be bloody proud of that record! :p

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Dunne did not permit Caulker to stay up for a set piece late in the game as he was aware of the explosiveness of Liverpool on the counter attack. Caulker, visibly disappointed, would go on to put the ball into his own net moments after that QPR set piece came to nothing, as Liverpool counter-attacked with pace.

Dunne shouldn't have to babysit his teammates and make sure they remain concentrated.

It's said that Dunne and Caulker are uncomfortable with the requirement that QPR's backs play a high line.

QPR have a vast array of CB options but could still see them going in for another one in January. Where's Chris Samba these days?

[Closed Account]

Ah come on now. Watch it again. The moment the free kick is taken, he's taken a step forward to relay a message to his team mates. That might be an error in itself as he's advanced too far, but it's not a case of switching off and is certainly nothing to do with your original claim about him having his hands on his head. The problem was that his team mates weren't switched on. If the left back had been paying attention, Dunne wouldn't have had to make an intervention. I'm not making excuses for him - in fact I think he's probably not good enough for the Premier League anymore - but I find it odd he's being singled out for this when his only mistake was trying to clear up other people's errors.
I've watched it a few times. The step forward was the error. In my opinion he's stepped forward because he's switched off and not alive to the quick free kick. I was wrong about the hands on his head at the time of the free kick, it was a couple of seconds before that. You have to admit he was in a good position when the free kick was taken and 1 second later he was in a terrible position. Regardless of everyone elses mistakes he still could've of dealt with it better. You say that he was the first to spot the kick taken quickly and reacted and can't do more than that. I'd disagree with that fundamentally. He could've A) expected the quick free kick which is coached into kids from a young age and B) have the correct body position regardless of the free kick being taken quickly or not and finally C) be actually looking at the ball as the free kick is taken. As i said at the beginning, very small margins but at the highest level, that's what you have do.

I'm being overly critical here, only because I think you are being too lenient on him. It was a good ball in, he couldn't deal with it for whatever reasons. I've seen better players do similiar. Did he do everything perfectly? No. Simple

Anyway your original point(which I did disagree with) was that Neville and Tyler were singling him out rather than pointing out all the other things that caused the goal immediately before that, and that's fair enough.

[Charlie Darwin]

Where's Chris Samba these days?
Just back after copping a ban in Russia for reacting to racial abuse.


I've watched it a few times. The step forward was the error. In my opinion he's stepped forward because he's switched off and not alive to the quick free kick. I was wrong about the hands on his head at the time of the free kick, it was a couple of seconds before that. You have to admit he was in a good position when the free kick was taken and 1 second later he was in a terrible position. Regardless of everyone elses mistakes he still could've of dealt with it better.
I suppose we're just reading it differently then. For me, he stepped forward because he realised Liverpool had a free kick in a dangerous area and his team mates were standing around looking at their shoes instead of getting in position, so he took the responsibility to get them into gear.


You say that he was the first to spot the kick taken quickly and reacted and can't do more than that. I'd disagree with that fundamentally. He could've A) expected the quick free kick which is coached into kids from a young age and B) have the correct body position regardless of the free kick being taken quickly or not and finally C) be actually looking at the ball as the free kick is taken. As i said at the beginning, very small margins but at the highest level, that's what you have do.
Well I'd ask you what would have happened had he just looked after himself and readied himself for the free kick? I can't see anything different happening. The full back would still have been beaten and he'd still have had a cross to deal with, only his team mates might still be unaware anything has happened. Ultimately when a free kick is coming in, SOMEBODY has to look away from the ball and ensure that people have taken up proper positions. As the defensive organiser (by design or default) he had to look around and get people to take up their positions.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Dunne playing a big part in QPR's go-ahead goal tonight, playing a beautiful long ball that was knocked down by Zamora, who beat Vlaar in the air, and finished by Charlie Austin after Ciaran Clark stood off and failed to anticipate the finish.

No Grealish in the squad tonight.

[Charlie Darwin]

Haha, I knew you'd find a way to blame Clark. As Champions League-winning defenders Carragher and Neville pointed out at half time, it was Westwood who was to blame, first for failing to anticipate the long ball and secondly for not making an effort to fill the space in front of the defence. Clark was correct to drop back and cover Vlaar.

[SwanVsDalton]

Benteke is completely out-of-sorts but, nonetheless, Dunne has monstered him. The fact the Villa have been absolutely brutal has played a role but, still, good performance from the Dunney Monster.

I thought Clark might have stepped up a bit quicker from the knock down, but he can't step out of the line before then and the knock down is absolutely perfect from Zamora. On a platter. No protection from the midfield and Austin slots it home.

[Charlie Darwin]

If Clark had have stepped out I think Vlaar's lunge would have broken him in two.

[SwanVsDalton]

He didn't really have any choice. Hold the line, don't go with the man. Maybe get a little bit closer to Austin, but it's nitpicking. The Villa failings go well beyond Clark. They were atrocious.

[Charlie Darwin]

Neville after the match said Clark wasn't as close to Austin and his defensive partner as he should have been, but otherwise he doesn't have any criticism. Nothing else he could do really. Vlaar was more culpable for both goals.

[Charlie Darwin]

Redknapp full of praise for Dunne. "Ewan was great, he was probably pushing Richard for man of the... I dunno who you gave man of the match too, you probably went with Richard Dunne." Didn't even consider it might have been Austin!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2014/oct/28/richard-dunne-the-gallery

Dunne featured in the latest edition of The Gallery.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

https://twitter.com/QPRFC/status/528977369004900352

http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/football-wls-redknapp-hails-outstanding-qpr-defender7421

Dunne's rejuvenation continues. A lot of people are saying Caulker looks better when he plays beside Richard rather than Rio.

[DeLorean]

I'd love to have him back.

[paul_oshea]

Watched him against CHelsea, was a lot higher up the pitch than usual which I thought suited him as he had someone in to cover him, make some great tackles and stops as well.

Definitely still has a lot to offer at that level. QPR have looked a lot better without RIO.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Great recovery by Dunne to prevent an almost certain goal by Aguero after Barton recklessly headed back to his GK.

Commentators still managed to find the time to make an own goal joke though.

QPR lead City 2-1 after an Austin goal and a (Demichelis) own goal. Can't help but feel that Chelsea are going to win the league at a canter.

Edit: 2-2 now.

[the doc]

We could do with Richie against Scotland to be honest.

I think he'd still of made himself available for Ireland if Mad Mick had got the job.

[DannyInvincible]

We could do with Richie against Scotland to be honest.

I think he'd still of made himself available for Ireland if Mad Mick had got the job.

Are you implying he'd have an issue with coming in under O'Neill in particular? Didn't they work fine together before?

(For what it's worth, I'd love to see him back for a few more games at least.)

[Charlie Darwin]

QPR's first goal today all came from Dunne making a great steal from Aguero around the half-way line and galloping up the pitch. Would have loved to see him do that a bit more for Ireland the past few years.

[DannyInvincible]

QPR's first goal today all came from Dunne making a great steal from Aguero around the half-way line and galloping up the pitch. Would have loved to see him do that a bit more for Ireland the past few years.

He was caught out with an overhead ball for City's second and then managed to trip himself up over Green. Thought he could have been better positioned or quicker off the mark.

[Fixer82]

Was only thinking today...who do we have if O'Shea or Wilson get injured? Delaney isn't in the squad, Dunne is retired.
McShane? Keogh?
Yikes!

[Charlie Darwin]

Duffy maybe. We have three regularly starting EPL centre halves and one who seems to have won his place in recent weeks, plus a couple who are doing well near the top of the Championship. We could be in worse shape.

[DannyInvincible]

Was only thinking today...who do we have if O'Shea or Wilson get injured? Delaney isn't in the squad, Dunne is retired.
McShane? Keogh?
Yikes!

There's Clark and Pearce too. The squad hasn't been cut from the provisional yet, has it? Delaney is still in there, no?

[tricky_colour]

He was caught out with an overhead ball for City's second and then managed to trip himself up over Green. Thought he could have been better positioned or quicker off the mark.

Don't know if he tripped looked like Green took him out!!
However he misjudged the flight initially, he might have been able to recover it but for Green going in,
I think Green could have dunne(sic) better if he had combined better with Dunne rather than effectively take him out.
I would not call it a Dunne trip, if the keeper is gonna take dunne out he must get the ball, he didn't, I think he could have
stayed on his feet more and worked with Dunne better to close the guys angle down.

[paul_oshea]

QPR's first goal today all came from Dunne making a great steal from Aguero around the half-way line and galloping up the pitch. Would have loved to see him do that a bit more for Ireland the past few years.

I mentioned it last week but I think he seems to be playing a lot further up the pitch now or at least the few times I've seen him. Perhaps harry doesn't think he can cover in behind as well as he used to, maybe not, but whatever it is he never had the freedom to do this before - I think it suits him really well.

[Stuttgart88]

I think Dunne was definitely culpable for the late equaliser but at the same time it looked like his full back dropped deep instead of holding a line that would have forced Aguero to stay facing Dunne.

Dunne has always been a good player with ball at feet in my opinion, it's just that he looks like a big bulldozer of a CB and that's what people assume he's like. I think I agree with Paul's point though, he's not the deeper lying of the two CBs in certain situations.

[tetsujin1979]

I think Dunne was definitely culpable for the late equaliser but at the same time it looked like his full back dropped deep instead of holding a line that would have forced Aguero to stay facing Dunne.

Dunne has always been a good player with ball at feet in my opinion, it's just that he looks like a big bulldozer of a CB and that's what people assume he's like. I think I agree with Paul's point though, he's not the deeper lying of the two CBs in certain situations.is that the manager's fault for not organising the team correctly, or Dunne's fault for not recognising the situation?

[Stuttgart88]

I don't think it's a blame thing on either part.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Last-ditch tackle by Dunne stops Bony from scoring while clean through on goal.

[Stuttgart88]

Anyone see his sliding intervention last night, facing his own goal and sliding back to get a slight touch to a low cross, guiding the ball out for a corner and taking it off the Burnley striker's (Boyd) toes to prevent a certain goal? Any bigger a touch and it was OG number 12 or whatever number it would have been. Quality.

[KK77]

A real pity he couldn't have stayed on for this campiagn but with his injury problems and age totally understandable. He would have been a huge help for players like Clarke, Wilson and Pearce.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/harry-redknapp-praises-richard-dunne-1826858-Dec2014/

Praise for Dunne who has been joined at QPR by Irish youth International Jake Mulraney and could soon be reunited with Robbie Keane according to news reports.

[DannyInvincible]

Those news reports about Robbie being linked to QPR were debunked: http://balls.ie/football/247890-why-that-robbie-keane-to-qpr-rumour-is-bull****/

[Olé Olé]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/harry-redknapp-praises-richard-dunne-1826858-Dec2014/

Praise for Dunne who has been joined at QPR by Irish youth International Jake Mulraney and could soon be reunited with Robbie Keane according to news reports.

Harry Redknapp's ability to first give himself a massive slap on the back before praising a player/former player of his is absolutely hilarious.

[tricky_colour]

Harry Redknapp's ability to first give himself a massive slap on the back before praising a player/former player of his is absolutely hilarious.


I think he is entitled to slap himself on he back. Dunne is currently the 25th best player in the Premiership statistically.

[DeLorean]

Harry Redknapp's ability to first give himself a massive slap on the back before praising a player/former player of his is absolutely hilarious.

Funny alright. He's also the double negative king.


He’s not as quick now but the boy ain’t no slouch.

[Olé Olé]

I think he is entitled to slap himself on he back. Dunne is currently the 25th best player in the Premiership statistically.

Ah, come on. He goes on about how nobody else in the Championship would give Dunne a chance because he had played no games for Villa. I'd be shocked if nobody else showed interest in Dunne, aside from Harry Houdini. Prior to praising Dunne, he had to make this point to hand himself some credit.

Dunne was more than capable for Championship level and didn't represent a gamble. Harry has gone onto invest in more centre-halves on their return to the PL but Dunne has been a mainstay; Dunne's doing, not Harry Redknapp's.

What about when the tripe he spouted about Bale, whilst clubs come forward since stating that Harry was mad to offload him to them (Hamburg and Nottingham Forrest were two, off the top of my head).

[DeLorean]

He realised Bale's talent by pure luck but I'd give him a bit of credit for Dunne, who was in limbo a little bit. I would give him zero credit for patting his own back though, although I do find it amusing.