Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
[Albion] Dunk - are we better without him?
- Thread starter Guinness Boy
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #43
This is the sort of debate I was after. You’re right, last night we went into a five out of possession with Minteh filling in at right back and Veltman tucked in with one of the CBs pressing. It worked very well and will do against teams with quick players who want to play football. But pressing isn’t Dunk’s game.
You could also perfectly well make a case for his passing and set piece defending being needed against “lesser” sides.
Overall though I don’t think he’s close to the player he was, and I’d rather make that point after a win he wasn’t involved in than as a reaction to a defeat he was.
Nobby Cybergoat
Well-known member
- Jul 19, 2021
- 9,311
I think we can celebrate Webby's brilliant performances without having a pop at the player, (whichever, they are a brilliant servant to the club) you don't think should be playing.
Webby has done what all players not in the side must do. Take their chance and give the manager a decision to make. Whoever plays there I have complete confidence in and i'm not ruling out that it's JPVH who makes way
Webby has done what all players not in the side must do. Take their chance and give the manager a decision to make. Whoever plays there I have complete confidence in and i'm not ruling out that it's JPVH who makes way
Mike Small
Well-known member
- Dec 26, 2008
- 3,215
Webster’s performance last night and against Arsenal was better than anything Dunk has done for a year or so. Dunk CANNOT come straight back in. It’s what kicked off our awful form last time.
Da Man Clay
T'Blades
- Dec 16, 2004
- 16,303
Yes. Dunk really shouldn’t have got back in when Igor and Van Hecke were doing well. It’s a no brainer that he doesn’t get back in now. His days as a regular starter should be done sadly.
Admittedly from my sofa, but from comments on here and what I saw, to say he was awful for the first half hour seems very harsh.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Didn’t Igor get injured?
- Jul 10, 2003
- 28,507
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 13,062
Yes we are.
But we need both of course.
With Dunk, I think the time is very close, where we have to move past the approach, if, he's 90%+ fit, he plays.
Webster is an incredibly good replacement, and should be getting more game time than the occasional understudy role.
But we need both of course.
With Dunk, I think the time is very close, where we have to move past the approach, if, he's 90%+ fit, he plays.
Webster is an incredibly good replacement, and should be getting more game time than the occasional understudy role.
Adam was only 30 this January. Not twilight yet, but injuries are a problem.
Last edited:
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 13,062
That wasn't the question though.
Dunk is always fine., he's a very good Premier League CB.
As is Webster.
The question was: are we better with Webster?
Webster has all the positive aspects that Dunk has.
I think he's a slightly better leader than Dunk and better in the air.
Dunk has a better range of passing.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
There has been a lot going on with injuries and tactics to lay a run of poor form at the feet of one player.
Dunk was at the Euros 7 months ago - he hasn’t suddenly morphed into a bad player.
What has happened is the frustration at conceding some poor goals along with bad results has fixated on a player. However issues with fullback positions, particularly leftback, trying to play full backs high up the pitch (abandoned last night) and generally a bit low on confidence has led to a poor run of results.
Incredibly harsh if Webster lost his place at this point, I don’t disagree there, but that also means Dunk doesn’t need to be rushed back - which being the captain he is I rather feel he probably says he’s ready when perhaps he does need a bit more time.
In the past no, currently, yes . . . I can't see him getting better or quicker Sadly.
Websrters fitness has always been his achilles heel ( excurse the pun) and it takes a few games for him to get up to speed.
Webster is a more intelligent player IMO.
we need them all . . . And Igor is broken for the rest of the season?
Dunks consistently error prone . . .it's part of the job.
Websrters fitness has always been his achilles heel ( excurse the pun) and it takes a few games for him to get up to speed.
Webster is a more intelligent player IMO.
we need them all . . . And Igor is broken for the rest of the season?
Nobby Cybergoat
Well-known member
- Jul 19, 2021
- 9,311
I agree with this.
Webby was terrific last night, but I think Dunk would have been as well.
Dunk has struggled when we've played full backs wandering into midfield type set ups, and then he has had to go out wide and face up against a winger. He's always going to look bad doing that. Last night we stayed deep, compact and went to a 5 when needed. The game was way more controlled and less harum scarum than the fare we usually see. Under those circumstances defenders have a far smaller chance of being exposed
- Jul 10, 2003
- 28,507
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
I think what he perhaps lacks a bit from younger Dunk days he has more in experience, calmer head etc. As others have said he is still a very good PL CB with a lot to offer.
Kind of feels like tactical blunders, take the Rome performance for example, it would be easy to pick out Dunk, but tactically what happened would have made any CB vulnerable, and did. Same this season, and now coincidentally at the same time as Dunk getting injured we change our approach with our fullbacks and it would be easy to conclude we were better without Dunk - but as you’ve also concluded, last couple of games was a sea change in approach from Forest away.
I’ve always liked Webster, fingers crossed he stays fit, I like him in the side so nothing I’m saying should suggest Dunk to come straight back in. If Webster does get a run and our good form continues, this debate might rumble on.
It would be the third time in the last 9 months or so I have said "(whisper it) we are better without him" were I to say we are better without him.
So, yeah, (whisper it) we are better without him.
Thanks WZ, another sign of me being in my twilight years, rather than Adam.30
Now, if I was 30 I wouldn’t be farting around on NSC just after Valentines night
