George Dobson our own runaway player of the year 2 years in a row (last year's winner was a Palace player so he doesn't count) - isn't good enough to keep and expect to play 30+ games a year? Mental....
George Dobson MOST tackles in League 1 three years in a row and this year most dribbles (last time I checked), who plays every week, week in week out whilst all around him flounder and stink the place up... isn't good enough for us?
Building a team around George Dobson properly (he's 26 by the way) and complementing him with the likes of Coventry and other permanent signings would be a very good idea.
Maybe because @DubaiCAFC and @Callumcafc watch on a stream most of the time, they don't see in the actual flesh, at the ground, the amount of work Dobson does and how many players he tries to cover for?
I don't know. We have a lot of problems. Dobson really isn't one of them. He really isn't. Not undroppable and may well end up not our best player, but he has been, continuously, for three years now.
Yesterday for the first time in God knows how long, probably covid? I watched the game online as I couldn't attend due to work. I didn't think it was that bad the game, enjoyed the tempo of the second half.
Went on twitter and it was like we had been relegated, it was so negative. I understand why as when you go, you fork more cash, it's more effort etc, but my mood from going and watching online was vastly different when their winner went in.
I’m convinced that a lot of the people on Twitter with very strong opinions don’t watch the games at all.
So he insisted on starting Fraser ahead of Watson time and time again, but now says he's not fast or energetic enough and can leave.
Perhaps he saw him as one of our better players and wanted to give him a run of games to show it? Now MA has seen he’s not up to it?
This is what I was thinking. How do you personally form an opinion/know if they are good enough if you don't give them a run of games?
If the resulting opinion is that he's not fast enough and lacks energy, you could probably get that from training.
And even if Apples did want to see what Fraser is about, surely he should have been prioritising points and performances. Did he need to continue playing him over Watson when we could all see he wasn't up to it?
I think Fraser started about 11 games after coming back from injury v Orient. If we take a step back and stick with reality, that's not an unreasonable length of time to assess a player in the first team. Especially when he was bound to be "rusty" for the first 5 odd games. Unfortunately for Fraser and us, he then got even worse, rather than better.
I feel like the priority should be playing the best team and trying to win rather than using games to assess players. Especially when the team is in a bad spell.
Nice ball from Dobbo yesterday that set the goal on its way wasn't it. To say he is simply a tackler is crazy, it's just he has to do so much of that because of the ineptitude of those around him. We need him to stay and play alongside the better players we bring in. He will get better and better.
Unless I missed it, no-one has actually been linked to Dobson yet, unlike CBT. Obviously it's entirely possible that he has been approached and we just didn't hear about it but taken at face value it suggests he's not in such high demand.
For what it's worth I want him to stay on if possible but if his wage demands can't be met then we move on and he goes to someone who can meet his expectations.
As it stands he is one of our better players, arguably the best. I don't deny that. But in an ideal world we shouldn't need a midfielder whose main job is to tackle everyone, and all the while he's here we're tying the whole teams' approach to him IMO.
Makalele? Deschamps?
Every great team has the guy that does the hard yards
Makalele retired 12 years ago, things have moved on since then. There's definitely room for someone who does the hard yards but very few if any of the best teams have someone who ONLY does that. And that's exactly what I mean by him not having many overtures yet (that we know about) - if he was as good as some would have you think why has he not had any interest in his time here? Who are the promotion teams looking at snapping him up?
He's brilliant at what he does, I agree. But what the real Makalele types also do is dictate play and move things forward as well, which is where Dobson remains unproven.
He really didn't dictate play and neither did Kante!
And we're in division 3 where keeping it simple, playing to your strengths would be lovely for us to just ensure we don't get relegated!
I like Dobbo and I think some of my criticisms of him are more a symptom of the quality around him being poor than reflections on his game. However, I do have reservations about his positional play which could cause problems if any of our new signings can actually help him out defensively. I hope he proves me wrong and I hope he stays
So he insisted on starting Fraser ahead of Watson time and time again, but now says he's not fast or energetic enough and can leave.
Perhaps he saw him as one of our better players and wanted to give him a run of games to show it? Now MA has seen he’s not up to it?
This is what I was thinking. How do you personally form an opinion/know if they are good enough if you don't give them a run of games?
If the resulting opinion is that he's not fast enough and lacks energy, you could probably get that from training.
And even if Apples did want to see what Fraser is about, surely he should have been prioritising points and performances. Did he need to continue playing him over Watson when we could all see he wasn't up to it?
I think Fraser started about 11 games after coming back from injury v Orient. If we take a step back and stick with reality, that's not an unreasonable length of time to assess a player in the first team. Especially when he was bound to be "rusty" for the first 5 odd games. Unfortunately for Fraser and us, he then got even worse, rather than better.
Steady on CE. A Sunday night isn’t the time for radical thinking like that.
I can't believe people are seriously suggesting Dobson gets dropped for a few players that have a combined 100 minutes or so for Charlton.
A better manager would make sure he's in the team, he's undoubtedly one of our better players and should be part of our rebuild.
If you're of the view he's leaving so you'd want to see what else we have to offer then fair enough, but if he stays put (I really, really hope so) he is without a doubt one of the first names on the sheet.
I don’t think any player has a right to be picked ahead of better players. He’s been our lynchpin for ages, and earlier in the season he was unbelievable, but if he ends up on the bench because we have better, then that can only benefit the club.
I just think sometimes on here we can jump the gun a tad.
I think back to the Michael Morrison situation, he was quickly moved from the team by Bikey and Ben Haim, Morrison was a mainstay of our team. A lot of people were saying that we had moved on from Morrison etc.
Fast forward, both Bikey and Ben Haim aren't at the club, we get relegated, Morrison goes on to be a mainstay at Reading and Birmingham in the championship as captain for both?
It would be insane to suggest 3 players who we have barely seen feature could dislodge our captain and player of the season imho. He's guilty of being surrounded by pants players, if he had more quality around him I would be willing to bet you wouldn't see his erratic challenges as much.
Him and Coventry (I think) would be two great players for a promotion chasing side in this league. We just need better players around them now
I can't believe people are seriously suggesting Dobson gets dropped for a few players that have a combined 100 minutes or so for Charlton.
A better manager would make sure he's in the team, he's undoubtedly one of our better players and should be part of our rebuild.
If you're of the view he's leaving so you'd want to see what else we have to offer then fair enough, but if he stays put (I really, really hope so) he is without a doubt one of the first names on the sheet.
I don’t think any player has a right to be picked ahead of better players. He’s been our lynchpin for ages, and earlier in the season he was unbelievable, but if he ends up on the bench because we have better, then that can only benefit the club.
I just think sometimes on here we can jump the gun a tad.
I think back to the Michael Morrison situation, he was quickly moved from the team by Bikey and Ben Haim, Morrison was a mainstay of our team. A lot of people were saying that we had moved on from Morrison etc.
Fast forward, both Bikey and Ben Haim aren't at the club, we get relegated, Morrison goes on to be a mainstay at Reading and Birmingham in the championship as captain for both?
It would be insane to suggest 3 players who we have barely seen feature could dislodge our captain and player of the season imho. He's guilty of being surrounded by pants players, if he had more quality around him I would be willing to bet you wouldn't see his erratic challenges as much.
Him and Coventry (I think) would be two great players for a promotion chasing side in this league. We just need better players around them now
With the negative points of play being mentioned with Dobson, where some are valid, I feel they will be vastly improved upon if Dobson is surrounded by better players. Personally, think it’s a mistake to let him leave this month or in the summer.
With the negative points of play being mentioned with Dobson, where some are valid, I feel they will be vastly improved upon if Dobson is surrounded by better players. Personally, think it’s a mistake to let him leave this month or in the summer.
It’s up to him whether he stays, he’s good, but not that good to sign to a massive deal for 4 years.
I can't believe people are seriously suggesting Dobson gets dropped for a few players that have a combined 100 minutes or so for Charlton.
A better manager would make sure he's in the team, he's undoubtedly one of our better players and should be part of our rebuild.
If you're of the view he's leaving so you'd want to see what else we have to offer then fair enough, but if he stays put (I really, really hope so) he is without a doubt one of the first names on the sheet.
I don’t think any player has a right to be picked ahead of better players. He’s been our lynchpin for ages, and earlier in the season he was unbelievable, but if he ends up on the bench because we have better, then that can only benefit the club.
I just think sometimes on here we can jump the gun a tad.
I think back to the Michael Morrison situation, he was quickly moved from the team by Bikey and Ben Haim, Morrison was a mainstay of our team. A lot of people were saying that we had moved on from Morrison etc.
Fast forward, both Bikey and Ben Haim aren't at the club, we get relegated, Morrison goes on to be a mainstay at Reading and Birmingham in the championship as captain for both?
It would be insane to suggest 3 players who we have barely seen feature could dislodge our captain and player of the season imho. He's guilty of being surrounded by pants players, if he had more quality around him I would be willing to bet you wouldn't see his erratic challenges as much.
Him and Coventry (I think) would be two great players for a promotion chasing side in this league. We just need better players around them now
Nice ball from Dobbo yesterday that set the goal on its way wasn't it. To say he is simply a tackler is crazy, it's just he has to do so much of that because of the ineptitude of those around him. We need him to stay and play alongside the better players we bring in. He will get better and better.
I agree. Earlier in the season he had a purple patch where he was outstanding, in all aspects of the game. And even though his form has dipped a little, (at least partly because the whole team’s performances have been so poor) we’ve now discovered he’s currently our best dead ball specialist. So if Bakinson, Coventry & Fiorelli turn out to be great, there’s no reason they can’t all be rotated, especially as injuries and suspensions will kick in at some stage.
If we were still a proper football club we would offer George Dobson what he wants, find the money and make sure he stays.
I don't believe for one minute his contract requirements are unreasonable despite the very well informed leaks about confidential contract negotiations with the club Captain. That shows you the caliber of these charlatans. Dobson puts his body on the line game after game and they leak details of his new contract to win some brownie-points with fans. Classy!
As others have said, he is captain, fan-favourite, player of the year twice and the only player who gives it his all even when surrounded by dross and all hope has gone. He personifies what this team should be aspiring to in terms of energy,attitude, professionalism and commitment.
No amount of Methven-sponsored propaganda will soften the blow when he leaves. And for his sake, I hope he does. He deserves better than this lot. Much better.
Sorry to repeat the views of many others but it really pisses me off.
RE: Dobson... Said it on Saturday just after he was subbed.
The biggest issue we've had with him, is we've had no one to step in when he's out of form, when he's at risk of suspension, or just tired - It was suggested countless times when he was on four yellow cards, that he wasn't playing at his best, and pulling out of challenges because he was avoiding the one game suspension.
Saturday was just the second time this season, he's not played the entire match in a League game, he got subbed against Exeter on 87mins - He's also only missed the games against Aston Villa U21s - Cray Valley (first game), and Newport.
Doesn't hurt to be able to take him out of the firing line at times (if he stays), provided we've got adequate cover - Means we'll hopefully end up with a better player, not just because he'll be more rested, but he'll know he needs to up his own performances to keep his squad place... Everyone wins.
I can't believe people are seriously suggesting Dobson gets dropped for a few players that have a combined 100 minutes or so for Charlton.
A better manager would make sure he's in the team, he's undoubtedly one of our better players and should be part of our rebuild.
If you're of the view he's leaving so you'd want to see what else we have to offer then fair enough, but if he stays put (I really, really hope so) he is without a doubt one of the first names on the sheet.
I don’t think any player has a right to be picked ahead of better players. He’s been our lynchpin for ages, and earlier in the season he was unbelievable, but if he ends up on the bench because we have better, then that can only benefit the club.
I just think sometimes on here we can jump the gun a tad.
I think back to the Michael Morrison situation, he was quickly moved from the team by Bikey and Ben Haim, Morrison was a mainstay of our team. A lot of people were saying that we had moved on from Morrison etc.
Fast forward, both Bikey and Ben Haim aren't at the club, we get relegated, Morrison goes on to be a mainstay at Reading and Birmingham in the championship as captain for both?
It would be insane to suggest 3 players who we have barely seen feature could dislodge our captain and player of the season imho. He's guilty of being surrounded by pants players, if he had more quality around him I would be willing to bet you wouldn't see his erratic challenges as much.
Him and Coventry (I think) would be two great players for a promotion chasing side in this league. We just need better players around them now
I think a fairer comparison would be Jose Semedo. Fan favourite, played the same position, crunched some tackles and won player of the year.
He left on a free, some thought it was a disaster at the time because we didn’t pay him what he wanted. We moved on to bigger and better things, and he got a move to Sheffield where things also worked out nicely for him.
It’s all about where you’d peg him in the “8-8-8” make up of a promotion winning side. I know a lot here would put him in the elite 8 but I wouldn’t because I don’t see him fitting the two key requirements of that group:
- I don’t think George Dobson walks into Bolton, Peterborough, Portsmouth or Oxford’s midfield - I don’t think George Dobson is capable of being a dependable (or better) Championship calibre midfielder
Happy for others to disagree but that’s where I’d place him. And therefore you can’t go breaking the wage structure you’re trying to impose because you think he’s been really good and he deserves it - that’s how you end up with situations like Aneke’s deal hanging around our necks.
I can't believe people are seriously suggesting Dobson gets dropped for a few players that have a combined 100 minutes or so for Charlton.
A better manager would make sure he's in the team, he's undoubtedly one of our better players and should be part of our rebuild.
If you're of the view he's leaving so you'd want to see what else we have to offer then fair enough, but if he stays put (I really, really hope so) he is without a doubt one of the first names on the sheet.
I don’t think any player has a right to be picked ahead of better players. He’s been our lynchpin for ages, and earlier in the season he was unbelievable, but if he ends up on the bench because we have better, then that can only benefit the club.
I just think sometimes on here we can jump the gun a tad.
I think back to the Michael Morrison situation, he was quickly moved from the team by Bikey and Ben Haim, Morrison was a mainstay of our team. A lot of people were saying that we had moved on from Morrison etc.
Fast forward, both Bikey and Ben Haim aren't at the club, we get relegated, Morrison goes on to be a mainstay at Reading and Birmingham in the championship as captain for both?
It would be insane to suggest 3 players who we have barely seen feature could dislodge our captain and player of the season imho. He's guilty of being surrounded by pants players, if he had more quality around him I would be willing to bet you wouldn't see his erratic challenges as much.
Him and Coventry (I think) would be two great players for a promotion chasing side in this league. We just need better players around them now
I think a fairer comparison would be Jose Semedo. Fan favourite, played the same position, crunched some tackles and won player of the year.
He left on a free, some thought it was a disaster at the time because we didn’t pay him what he wanted. We moved on to bigger and better things, and he got a move to Sheffield where things also worked out nicely for him.
It’s all about where you’d peg him in the “8-8-8” make up of a promotion winning side. I know a lot here would put him in the elite 8 but I wouldn’t because I don’t see him fitting the two key requirements of that group:
- I don’t think George Dobson walks into Bolton, Peterborough, Portsmouth or Oxford’s midfield - I don’t think George Dobson is capable of being a dependable (or better) Championship calibre midfielder
Happy for others to disagree but that’s where I’d place him. And therefore you can’t go breaking the wage structure you’re trying to impose because you think he’s been really good and he deserves it - that’s how you end up with situations like Aneke’s deal hanging around our necks.
I think that’s a little simplistic as that’s more about style than ability. Dobson is as good, if not better than starting midfielders in the Pompey and Bolton teams in my opinion. Just probably doesn’t fit their styles so they wouldn’t sign him. I think Dobson can be a league 1 promotion winner and do a job in the championship in a team playing the right style for him, a team less focussed on possession and a bit more direct.
He’s also developing still, he’s better this season with the ball than he was last and the season before. I have criticised his positioning at times, but we haven’t actually seen him in a good team where he doesn’t need to try and be everywhere at all times, that could easily be something he develops or even already has but just doesn’t trust those around him
Pretty stunned at some of the views on Dobson. Been comfortably our best player over the last 3 years - we will be worse off if he leaves that’s for sure.
If we were still a proper football club we would offer George Dobson what he wants, find the money and make sure he stays.
I don't believe for one minute his contract requirements are unreasonable despite the very well informed leaks about confidential contract negotiations with the club Captain. That shows you the caliber of these charlatans. Dobson puts his body on the line game after game and they leak details of his new contract to win some brownie-points with fans. Classy!
As others have said, he is captain, fan-favourite, player of the year twice and the only player who gives it his all even when surrounded by dross and all hope has gone. He personifies what this team should be aspiring to in terms of energy,attitude, professionalism and commitment.
No amount of Methven-sponsored propaganda will soften the blow when he leaves. And for his sake, I hope he does. He deserves better than this lot. Much better.
Sorry to repeat the views of many others but it really pisses me off.
Absolutely.
It's all very well being(supposedly)offered a 70% increase but if it still puts him below other players then I fully understand IF he was still unhappy.
Absurd these negative comments about Dobson. How fickle this fan base is these days.
First name on the team sheet as far as I'm concerned.
Hope he stays for years to come.
I agree. But he is out of form and it's good that he now has competition.
my only gripe is that he sits so deep. When we play it out from the back, he is generally level or two yards in front of the defenders. Coventry looked more advanced.
Is dropping back so deep his natural game or is he being told to do it?
If there’s a chance of Dobson staying then that can only be good. Camara isn’t our player and we don’t know about Bakinson yet. Fraser looks like he’s off so next season a midfield mix of Dobson, Coventry and Taylor is where we are. Dobson leaves and we have to replace him with someone of same ability. That’ll cost as least as much as keeping him.
I can't believe people are seriously suggesting Dobson gets dropped for a few players that have a combined 100 minutes or so for Charlton.
A better manager would make sure he's in the team, he's undoubtedly one of our better players and should be part of our rebuild.
If you're of the view he's leaving so you'd want to see what else we have to offer then fair enough, but if he stays put (I really, really hope so) he is without a doubt one of the first names on the sheet.
I don’t think any player has a right to be picked ahead of better players. He’s been our lynchpin for ages, and earlier in the season he was unbelievable, but if he ends up on the bench because we have better, then that can only benefit the club.
I just think sometimes on here we can jump the gun a tad.
I think back to the Michael Morrison situation, he was quickly moved from the team by Bikey and Ben Haim, Morrison was a mainstay of our team. A lot of people were saying that we had moved on from Morrison etc.
Fast forward, both Bikey and Ben Haim aren't at the club, we get relegated, Morrison goes on to be a mainstay at Reading and Birmingham in the championship as captain for both?
It would be insane to suggest 3 players who we have barely seen feature could dislodge our captain and player of the season imho. He's guilty of being surrounded by pants players, if he had more quality around him I would be willing to bet you wouldn't see his erratic challenges as much.
Him and Coventry (I think) would be two great players for a promotion chasing side in this league. We just need better players around them now
you can’t go breaking the wage structure you’re trying to impose because you think he’s been really good and he deserves it - that’s how you end up with situations like Aneke’s deal hanging around our necks.
I'm struggling to see how that's not a false equivalence Callum... The two players' situations couldn't be any more different
Absurd these negative comments about Dobson. How fickle this fan base is these days.
First name on the team sheet as far as I'm concerned.
Hope he stays for years to come.
I agree. But he is out of form and it's good that he now has competition.
my only gripe is that he sits so deep. When we play it out from the back, he is generally level or two yards in front of the defenders. Coventry looked more advanced.
Is dropping back so deep his natural game or is he being told to do it?
Is he that out of form? Didn’t have the best game on Saturday but I thought Oxford at home was one of his best games this season and that was only 2 games ago. Oxford fans were all very complimentary about him
Cannot believe that 20 minutes from Connor Coventry as good as he was means we can ditch our player best most consistent player over the last three years. Those who feel we would be better off without Dobbo must be watching a different game to me. Still really hope he stays and would be excited to see him alongside our new additions
Comments
We need him to stay and play alongside the better players we bring in. He will get better and better.
And we're in division 3 where keeping it simple, playing to your strengths would be lovely for us to just ensure we don't get relegated!
I think back to the Michael Morrison situation, he was quickly moved from the team by Bikey and Ben Haim, Morrison was a mainstay of our team. A lot of people were saying that we had moved on from Morrison etc.
Fast forward, both Bikey and Ben Haim aren't at the club, we get relegated, Morrison goes on to be a mainstay at Reading and Birmingham in the championship as captain for both?
It would be insane to suggest 3 players who we have barely seen feature could dislodge our captain and player of the season imho. He's guilty of being surrounded by pants players, if he had more quality around him I would be willing to bet you wouldn't see his erratic challenges as much.
Him and Coventry (I think) would be two great players for a promotion chasing side in this league. We just need better players around them now
Right back/winger who scores goals.
Sounds like he's available on a free now
I don't believe for one minute his contract requirements are unreasonable despite the very well informed leaks about confidential contract negotiations with the club Captain. That shows you the caliber of these charlatans. Dobson puts his body on the line game after game and they leak details of his new contract to win some brownie-points with fans. Classy!
As others have said, he is captain, fan-favourite, player of the year twice and the only player who gives it his all even when surrounded by dross and all hope has gone. He personifies what this team should be aspiring to in terms of energy,attitude, professionalism and commitment.
No amount of Methven-sponsored propaganda will soften the blow when he leaves. And for his sake, I hope he does. He deserves better than this lot. Much better.
Sorry to repeat the views of many others but it really pisses me off.
The biggest issue we've had with him, is we've had no one to step in when he's out of form, when he's at risk of suspension, or just tired - It was suggested countless times when he was on four yellow cards, that he wasn't playing at his best, and pulling out of challenges because he was avoiding the one game suspension.
Saturday was just the second time this season, he's not played the entire match in a League game, he got subbed against Exeter on 87mins - He's also only missed the games against Aston Villa U21s - Cray Valley (first game), and Newport.
Doesn't hurt to be able to take him out of the firing line at times (if he stays), provided we've got adequate cover - Means we'll hopefully end up with a better player, not just because he'll be more rested, but he'll know he needs to up his own performances to keep his squad place... Everyone wins.
He left on a free, some thought it was a disaster at the time because we didn’t pay him what he wanted. We moved on to bigger and better things, and he got a move to Sheffield where things also worked out nicely for him.
It’s all about where you’d peg him in the “8-8-8” make up of a promotion winning side. I know a lot here would put him in the elite 8 but I wouldn’t because I don’t see him fitting the two key requirements of that group:
- I don’t think George Dobson walks into Bolton, Peterborough, Portsmouth or Oxford’s midfield
- I don’t think George Dobson is capable of being a dependable (or better) Championship calibre midfielder
Happy for others to disagree but that’s where I’d place him. And therefore you can’t go breaking the wage structure you’re trying to impose because you think he’s been really good and he deserves it - that’s how you end up with situations like Aneke’s deal hanging around our necks.
It's all very well being(supposedly)offered a 70% increase but if it still puts him below other players then I fully understand IF he was still unhappy.
You keep your best players.
my only gripe is that he sits so deep. When we play it out from the back, he is generally level or two yards in front of the defenders. Coventry looked more advanced.