[Albion] Dunk is getting better and better

[chaileyjem]

Excellent bit of analysis looking at how Dunk's progression has accelerated under Di Zerbi via

Lewis Dunk: Brighton’s Imperious Leader Who Just Keeps Getting Better - FLD Football

Despite being just shy of 32 and having made 431 first-team appearances in his career, Lewis Dunk continues to improve, something that has been a feature of his career.

www.fldfootball.co.uk

Looks at his flexibility, how his possession stats have been transformed in the last 12 months, and what the author (Freddie Dean) sums up as a "... journey from no-nonsense defender to the world’s statistically leading ball-playing defender"

Will he cope with Calvert Lewin this afternoon ?

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

And yet we can't keep a clean sheet.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Excellent bit of analysis looking at how Dunk's progression has accelerated under Di Zerbi via

Lewis Dunk: Brighton’s Imperious Leader Who Just Keeps Getting Better - FLD Football

Despite being just shy of 32 and having made 431 first-team appearances in his career, Lewis Dunk continues to improve, something that has been a feature of his career.

www.fldfootball.co.uk

Looks at his flexibility, how is possession stats have been transformed in the last 12 months, and what the author (Freddie Dean) sums up as a "... journey from no-nonsense defender to the world’s statistically leading ball-playing defender"

Will he cope with Calvert Lewin this afternoon ?


View attachment 169152

'journey from no-nonsense defender to ball-playing defender'

As anyone who has watched him regularly has been aware of for years. It's just that he's being encouraged to play more

 

[chaileyjem]

'journey from no-nonsense defender to ball-playing defender'

As anyone who has watched him regularly has been aware of for years. It's just that he's being encouraged to play more

TBF i think the piece makes that point. Under Hughton for example - it was all blocks and "stopping shots" alongside Shane Duffy rather than playing out from the back and very effective it was.. but obviously RDZ has really developed that part of his game.

 

[aolstudios]

'journey from no-nonsense defender to ball-playing defender'

As anyone who has watched him regularly has been aware of for years. It's just that he's being encouraged to play more

Yep, he mirrors his Managers. Always stepping up

 

[chaileyjem]

And yet we can't keep a clean sheet.

Perhaps he should go in goal too ! He's not bad there either.

 

[Brok]

Loved this bit...
'Dunk ultimately ended the game having completed 161/169 passes, falling just 13 short of the total that arch rivals Crystal Palace as a team managed against Tottenham last weekend.'

 

[WATFORD zero]

Perhaps he should go in goal too ! He's not bad there either.

IIRC he's done it twice now and kept clean sheets both times

 

[Hugo Rune]

Will he cope with Calvert Lewin this afternoon ?

He has fantastic positioning but I think you need top level (almost world class) pace, strength and aerial ability to snuff him out.

Sadly, Dunk can get out muscled by the strongest and biggest attackers and outpaced by the fastest.

Snuffing out DCL this afternoon will be a major feather in his cap.

 

[Mustafa II]

I genuinely think he's one of the best centre halves in the world right now.

I don't think it's an exaggeration, nor is it through blue & white tinted spectacles, to say that he has developed into a World Class player.

 

[Hugo Rune]

I genuinely think he's one of the best centre halves in the world right now.

I don't think it's an exaggeration, nor is it through blue & white tinted spectacles, to say that he has developed into a World Class player.

His only weakness seem to be defending on the break. He excels at everything else you’d want from a ball playing centre back.

 

[Seagull58]

I genuinely think he's one of the best centre halves in the world right now.

I don't think it's an exaggeration, nor is it through blue & white tinted spectacles, to say that he has developed into a World Class player.

This is true. De Zerbi rates him in the top 5 in Europe. If he had more pace that would be unarguable. Journos that talk about his transition from Hughton style to de Zerbi style ignore his time in the Championship when he consistently hit accurate, long, diagonal passes to Knocky, Bruno, March and others.

 

[AlbionBro]

His only weakness seem to be defending on the break. He excels at everything else you’d want from a ball playing centre back.

Can I add the whole defence doesn't like being turned around, as only lamptey is blessed with pace. When Bissouma and Caicedo were there protecting we were much more able to cope.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Gutted for him that stunning goal didn’t count as he would have got some much deserved appreciation from the wider football world for a change.