[Albion] Sorry, but where is Dunk?

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Blocks 58 - 1st
Interceptions 71 - 1st
Tackles 67 - 1st
Pass Accuracy 79% - 5th

Worth a mention on the bbc site you would have thought.

There will be Premier League midfielders who wish they had that pass accuracy.

 

[el punal]

Southgate is ex Palace, Southgate is from Crawley, enough said

I know Palace are our bitter rivals and Crawley is hardly the most salubrious place on earth, but bloody hell mate you’re taking this to a new level of bitterness. Most players are not fans of the clubs they play for, therefore when they leave do you honestly think they give a monkey’s about fans’ rivalries? Do you honestly think it’s going to affect Southgate’s judgement whether a player worth selecting is from Brighton or anywhere else? The answer is of course no. He will select according to merit, or whether that player fits in to his plans or style of play. Enough said.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Dunk doesn't just come out on top in the tackling, interceptions and block categories he smashes everybody elses stats. Eight more interceptions than the next best, fifteen more blocks and twenty one more tackles. His passing accuracy is average compared to the others but I imagine a lot of the inaccuracy comes from the big diagonals he plays numerous times every game.

I wonder what the actual reason is (rather than 'he's palace') for Southgate not even looking at him? Dunk is a left sided, ball playing centre half who tops all the key defensive stats charts. On the face of it he seems a really good fit for how Southgate wants England to play yet not a sniff of a chance so far. Is he too error prone? Concentration an issue? What is the reason?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Four own goals?

Lack of experience in a back three?

 

[Nixonator]

Dunk doesn't just come out on top in the tackling, interceptions and block categories he smashes everybody elses stats. Eight more interceptions than the next best, fifteen more blocks and twenty one more tackles. His passing accuracy is average compared to the others but I imagine a lot of the inaccuracy comes from the big diagonals he plays numerous times every game.

I wonder what the actual reason is (rather than 'he's palace') for Southgate not even looking at him? Dunk is a left sided, ball playing centre half who tops all the key defensive stats charts. On the face of it he seems a really good fit for how Southgate wants England to play yet not a sniff of a chance so far. Is he too error prone? Concentration an issue? What is the reason?

He's ****ing clueless.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

He's ****ing clueless.

That and his Wegner like mentality when it comes to players - Wenger usually went French, Southgate usually goes for players he knows from U21s.

 

[TSB]

I think he's in Vegas with the rest of the team.

 

[Betfair Bozo]

You've not even skimmed it really, here is what is stated:

So who is in form and who has stood out in the Premier League this season?

BBC Sport has taken the key statistics from each position to see if there are any standout options.


So on Monday, BBC Sport produce an article by one of their pundits with Lewis Dunk in the team of the season, so basically 1 of 2 Premier League central defenders.

Tuesday, Dunk isn't even included in a list of central defenders who have stood out this season...

If you look at the key statistics they've claimed they're using, Dunk tops most of them.

I did skim it (obviously) and took it to mean from those they (the author) believe to be in contention. Rightly or wrongly, Dunky isn't an "England World Cup prospect."

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Would you say no if CH went after him?

Yes. He’s a downgrade on all 3 of our midfield options.

 

[greyseagull]

Jesus, looking at that story really confirms how poor our national squad really is

 

[TottonSeagull]

Dunk will be an England centre back just not for this World Cup! It has come a year early for him............and who wants to go to Russia anyway??

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Would you say no if CH went after him?

Yes. I'd say no.

He has baggage.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Was listening to talkshit last night and they had Cascarino, Merson, Dean Saunders and, bizarrely, Darren Gough naming their ”non top six” 11 and, the rule was if two of the panel nominated the same player they were in.

The two who made it (from Brighton) Dunk and Knockaert. Dunk got three nominations...only Zaha equalled that.

 

[Weststander]

Four own goals?

Lack of experience in a back three?

The own goals was covered by one of the BBC experts, in that it's a consquenve of the sheer number of times he puts his body on the line to block / make last ditch attempts to prevent a goal. They can't all come off. I doubt Southgate honed in on that aspect.

 

[Invicta]

Would you say no if CH went after him?

Yes. I'd say no.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Yes. I'd say no.

He has baggage.

If you are referring to the cocaine ban and Barcelona taxi theft then all I would say is who hasn’t got off their tits on bugle then stolen a taxi? I know no weekend is complete without those two elements.

Boys will be boys.

 

[Megazone]

If you are referring to the cocaine ban and Barcelona taxi theft then all I would say is who hasn’t got off their tits on bugle then stolen a taxi? I know no weekend is complete without those two elements.

Boys will be boys.

Agreed.

I got so off my tits one night, I decided to take a bus home.

I know that doesn't sound too wild, but I'd never driven a Bus before!

 

[Gazwag]

Tbh from a fans point of view it keeps him out of the shop window and he can enjoy a time away from football ready for next season.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Just to play Devil’s advocate for a second, Dunk’s extremely impressive stats are to a large extent a consequence of the fact that we were under pressure for so much of so many games, so he had more opportunities to make tackles, blocks and interceptions. Defenders in teams who enjoyed plenty of possession would have spent most of the time watching their midfield players and forwards taking the game to teams like us.

It also highlights how poor our ball retention and defending in midfield are, but that’s another debate.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Just to play Devil’s advocate for a second, Dunk’s extremely impressive stats are to a large extent a consequence of the fact that we were under pressure for so much of so many games, so he had more opportunities to make tackles, blocks and interceptions. Defenders in teams who enjoyed plenty of possession would have spent most of the time watching their midfield players and forwards taking the game to teams like us.

It also highlights how poor our ball retention and defending in midfield are, but that’s another debate.

Which is why I suspect Dunk would probably like to move to a team with more possession. If not a top six team, then an Everton or Leicester I suspect