Richard Dunne

Was surprised to read that AV were the third highest spenders this summer behind Man C and Liverpool.

Strange piece from Paul Wilson in todays Observer about Dunne. For the last few weeks now he has been sniping at Dunne....

"Manchester City fans do not know whether to laugh or cry about losing Richard Dunne. Laugh, probably, since Aston Villa paid £6m for him and his opening-day display at Blackburn made it clear why Mark Hughes spent the whole summer stalking first John Terry and then Joleon Lescott. Cry because, like Maine Road and Oasis, Dunne was firmly in the City tradition of having risen above some obvious limitations to become really quite splendid.

The defender with a whole Google section devoted to his own goals and whose wife apparently conducted the compensation negotiations with City does not seem to know whether to laugh or cry about his latest move, either. He clearly fancied staying at City a while longer, both for the testimonial and to be a part of something exciting after so long as captain of a team of underachievers, and, due to the lack of time left after the protracted Lescott transfer, he probably feels he was hastily pushed out against his will.

Footballers are not paid their millions to have it both ways, however, and Hughes, who was transferred a time or two himself in his playing days, was quick to step in when Dunne began accusing the club's hierarchy of flogging him to raise money. Clubs can still do that, even mega-rich ones like City, and a condition that goes with the handsome salaries players now enjoy is that the paymaster can change at a moment's notice.

Dunne seemed to expect loyalty from the club that tried to prise Kaká from Milan and Terry from Chelsea, before settling for breaking David Moyes's will over Lescott. More surprising still, he did not realise that when Hughes told him his first-team chances would now be limited and he could talk to other clubs if he wished, it was a hint to get fixed up elsewhere and not an invitation to make himself comfortable."

Great to see Man City conceed 4 goals yesterday. Shows up how they have made 20million pound error by getting rid of dunne for lescott.

Originally Posted by aidz1

Great to see Man City conceed 4 goals yesterday. Shows up how they have made 20million pound error by getting rid of dunne for lescott.

Organisational wise they were a shambles. Dunne provided that and leadership, which is absolutely crucial to any defence regardless of how good the players may be individually. OK, they have been up against Man Utd and Arsenal but the difference since Dunne has left is phenomenal.

Originally Posted by aidz1

Great to see Man City conceed 4 goals yesterday. Shows up how they have made 20million pound error by getting rid of dunne for lescott.

Dont forget who the goalie is!!!

Originally Posted by Crosby87

Dont forget who the goalie is!!!

But if you saw the game you'd know that the goalie in question was the only reason the game didn't finish 8-3.

Agree with the Dunne comment above - City have conceded 6 goals in 2 games while their first two games (which Dunne played) were clean sheets. Dunne now has 2 clean sheets at Villa as well.

Interesting stat: Both Dunne and Lescott have started 4 games this season.

In those games Dunne's defence have conceded 0 goals.
In those games Lescott's defence have conceded 12 goals.

I suppose the one weakness that Shay Given has is that his coming for crosses. This has not been an issue for Ireland as Richard Dunne is there. City were very very foolish. I think Dunne is better than Lescott.

Originally Posted by Murfinator

Interesting stat: Both Dunne and Lescott have started 4 games this season.

In those games Dunne's defence have conceded 0 goals.
In those games Lescott's defence have conceded 12 goals.

Dunne
Blackburn (a)
Wolves (h)
Birmingham (a)
Portsmouth (h)

Lescott
Arsenal (h)
Portsmouth (a)
Arsenal (h)
Man Utd (a)

As impressive as the scoreline of 0-12 suggests, the level of competition is far from similar. The both kept clean sheets against the most comparable opponent.

It distorts it a bit, but I genuinely don't think a Dunne led defence would concede 6 to Arsenal or 4 to United.

Originally Posted by DeLorean

As impressive as the scoreline of 0-12 suggests, the level of competition is far from similar. The both kept clean sheets against the most comparable opponent.

Lies, damned lies and statistics! I know which one of the two I'd prefer to have in my team though (and I think Shay might be feeling the same way).

Originally Posted by Murfinator

It distorts it a bit, but I genuinely don't think a Dunne led defence would concede 6 to Arsenal or 4 to United.

no way would the opposition have won 4 headers (Berbatov x 2 and Fletcher x 2) in the 6 yard area with Dunne in defence either

Not to mention allowing Owen to stand unmarked in space for ages before his goal. Probably Richards' fault, though you can point the blame at the CBs and also Given for not communicating.

City were a joke defensively. I actually quite like Lescott as a player but have seen Toure's inconsistencies & poor decision making over the years as an Arsenal fan. The two together don't seem right to me.

Originally Posted by Murfinator

It distorts it a bit, but I genuinely don't think a Dunne led defence would concede 6 to Arsenal or 4 to United.

Yeah I agree, but to be fair to Lescott he was part of a watertight Everton defence. He may not be worth what they paid, or even better than Dunne, but he's far from rubbish.

That Owen goal has to go down to Richards, I couldn't believe it when I saw him half way towards the half-way line when without the ball in the 95th minute! Remember when England fans/press believed he was the best young defender on Europe

city now have two centre halves that don't/cant head the ball...

Micah Richards is an abysmal player, every time I see him play I literally facepalm at some point in the match when he does something ridiculous which pretty much always happens.

I don't understand why a far superior player Zabeleta is on the bench behind him.

Originally Posted by Jicked

That Owen goal has to go down to Richards, I couldn't believe it when I saw him half way towards the half-way line when without the ball in the 95th minute! Remember when England fans/press believed he was the best young defender on Europe

I reckon that was around the time Michael Johnson was supposedly the best young midfielder in Europe too.

Though I think everyone knows not to take the British media seriously on British players these days.

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Not to mention allowing Owen to stand unmarked in space for ages before his goal. Probably Richards' fault, though you can point the blame at the CBs and also Given for not communicating.

City were a joke defensively. I actually quite like Lescott as a player but have seen Toure's inconsistencies & poor decision making over the years as an Arsenal fan. The two together don't seem right to me.

The trouble is neither of them are marshallers, they are both good second center backs. The likes of Campbell and Gallas were more of an organising defender than Kolo Toure, I'd argue the same of Lescott.

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

The trouble is neither of them are marshallers, they are both good second center backs. The likes of Campbell and Gallas were more of an organising defender than Kolo Toure, I'd argue the same of Lescott.

Who would you credit the organisational skills of the Everton back 4 to last season if not Lescott....Jagielka, Yobo?