He hasn't been at his best for a while now and to be honest he isn't suited to the way Pearson wants him to play either that or he's trying to do to much. He isn't going to run down the wing and do everything Rosenior does so well on the otherside. Stewart's absence is a cause for concern and i'll be glad when he's back as he'll be a massive help for Dawson. I think most of us on here will agree that Dawson's freekicks and corners were poor on saturday with hardly any beating the first man.
Dawson has one key weakness and that is to hold and pull every single player that goes near him, in the past few weeks at least twice a game he has held a shirt of an opposition player that could of easily caused a penalty. There is no need for it but he still does it, one day a referee will give it to. He has experiences but does not really use it. Next year we definately need an extra full backs on the left, he is not good enough tbh, but he will do for now. He has actually looked better for me since Stewart left, but we do miss someone giving him a bit of cover.
I think Dawson has been playing better recently than he was earlier in the season, but he is the weak-link in the back four - sadly it's just a lack of pace and a right foot that let him down. He's still using his experience to read the game well enough though to do a decent enough job to get us through games. There was a point in the second half when the ball fell to Dawson on the edge of their box, unmarked, clear sight on goal, but it landed for his right foot and instead he got closed down and he had to pass it backwards. On the opposite side we have a player who's able to shoot on run with it further into the danger zone - which is what I think Nige may look for in the summer (funds permitting).
Aye his delivery was pretty ****e on Sat to be fair, and clearly the pace has gone. He had been doing a bit better, but seems to be getting caught out more often recently. I have no doubts that a new left back will be a priority signing in the next window with dawson playing out his year as cover. Not to do a disservice to his efforts for city at all.
For the money he's on he should at least hit the target with his free kicks and get a decent corner into the box. We need to sign a left footed Rosenior that would solve all our problems.
I'm a big fan of Andy and I think he has had some good performances this season. He should be used as cover next season. Bring in a LB like Rosenior and we will be sorted.
Easier said than done though! Can you think of any left sided Full Backs who we could get, for a reasonable price or on a free?
I can't no. But i'm sure Nige and the gang can. Would you have ever thought of Rosenior? I wouldn't have.
The shirt pulling is starting to get a bit pantomime and it will cost us at some point. He's been much better in the second half of the season, but his set pieces were woeful on Saturday. We definitely need a new left back, I'm sure it's on the shopping list.
Rhoys Wiggins may be worth a punt. More likely to sign a premier league youngster on loan next season though.
As has already been said, we definitely need a new left back next season. Dawson has peaked and now the physical attributes of his game will start to deteriorate. He's never been a pacey player, however this season he's look as slow as ever and this has resulted in him having to resort to shirt pulling on the opposition wingers. Against the more intelligent, crafty wingers he doesn't normally have a big problem, he reads the game quite well and his primary defence attributes are quite strong. However against the other fast and physical wingers which you tend to find in the Championship he always has problems. Like I said, this could cost us this season sooner or later so I very much do expect that Pearson will try and bring in a younger English left back next season.
His set pieces were terrible on Saturday and have been most of the season, early on in his city career it used to be one of the best parts of his game. Can see Andy seeing out his career here, fantastic servant for the club with what he's acheived and a nice bloke too when i've met him. Will be quite sad when he does go as he's the last survivor of the players involved in all 3 promotions but things move on like with Ashbee, and it will be for the benefit of the club. I'd expect NP and Walsh to have someone lined up, hopefully another young and hungry player.
