Richard Dunne-what the hell is happening?

[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.
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 ?

[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.