Deserves his own thread. He was my MOM last night. How many blocks and tackles did he get in last night. His reading of play was excellent also. What a professional, you are always guaranteed maximum effort. I feel a lot on here don't give him the credit that he deserves.
He was fantastic. He also was in great positions every time they crossed low and got great contact on the clearances. Was worried about goal no 11 going in though against his old club! Would you play him or Ferdinand at Chels? I'll get my coat!
Had a great game - as with any player over 32, any bad game is taken as a sign he's "lost it" as opposed to a bad game for someone ten years younger
He did play very well and he will always give 100% in a game. Villa did play to his strengths by throwing in crosses for him to block / head away and we know that he will get exposed by the faster/nimbler players running through the middle against better teams. That said, every player has their strengths and weaknesses and I am certain he will prove to be a very useful player through the course of a season. I'm glad we kept him.
i Jaysus Ciarrai, is that me in disguise. We better not gloat too loud as no doubt his detractors are just waiting for a mistake. Richard Dunne is a man mountain of a defender. He does exactly what it says on the tin. His best days are behind him but he gives what most of our players haven't been giving over the last couple of years, 100% every game. He has and will make mistakes but so too will every defender. Some people forget that nippy forwards are by their very nature faster than defenders. Dunne is not fast but he never was. He brings honesty and 100% effort. We got him on a free transfer and is contract is appearance based. Considering the money we've wasted on numerous mercenaries, he's been the best value for money buy for me.
Let me add that I'd never play Rio again. In a flat back four I'd like to see an Onouha and Caulker partnership with Dunne covering for injuries, suspensions etc.
I think I might have to bump this thread http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/229914-Richard-Dunne-Pub-Landlord-or-Chuck-Norris?highlight=Dunne Richard Dunne is just a very good classic CB, like a fine wine he gets better by age. Sure you get some own goals with him but there is no other CB at the club that makes me more comfortable than Dunne.
Good to see you again at the game ciarrai. You irish lads never miss an opportunity to tell me how good dunne is. I must have really pissed some of you off with my criticisms of him. Last night he was absolutely superb in everything that he did.
Col, you couldn't piss me off if you tried. I think a significant difference for the last few games has been us deploying two DCMs. This should stop teams walking straight through the middle of us and give much needed protection to our back four. Last year was bucking ridiculous with no DCM played for most of the season. Our CBs were completely exposed game after game. This along with playing Dunne for 40+ games left him the easy target IMO.
Dunne did very well defensively and Row Z got a hammering! Surely though he won't have an easier game than that in the PL. Benekte was terrible, Villa used little speed or craft to get behind our back 4 so Dunne was not exposed for speed or technique. Additionally they were protected by 2 DCM's, often 3 with Fer in front of them, which obviously reduced our ability to create goal scoring chances. Solid defensively, but our passing out of defense and in midfield was awful for the major part of the game. All the back 4 made many simple short passing errors, especially 1st half. Only when after unconvincingly playing it around dangerously a bit in and around our box without calamity when we were 2 up, did we get enough confidence to continue it up field, for a long eventually good passing movement that ended with Vargas only needing to beat the Keeper. Still, you can only beat what's in front of you, and we managed that just, and in Villa we have a good candidate to end under us, playing as they did last night.
He was excellent and I don't really make a point of bemoaning own goals - they're a bad side effect of defending. If Rio showed half that commitment and willingness to put his body on the line then I wouldn't have a problem with him. Dunne, Ned and Caulker are the three front runners for the CB role at the moment.
I'd like to see Clint play with Caulker left side of the 2 CB's, with Ned at RB again when he is fit, behind Isla as 1st half Liverpool. I'd prefer any of our CB's to Rio.
I'd rather a plastic traffic cone to Rio. At least a cone doesn't shout, put his other defenders off and you know your gonna have to cover a lack of effort. With Rio there they think he might actually do something. (other than write a book.)
Dunne was immense. But Villa played to his strengths whereas Chelsea will be a different proposition. We're gonna need Ned's pace for that game. I love Clint but the brutal reality is I don't want to see him in the starting line up again.
If our fate is sealed - either way- in the last home game of the season, I'd like to see him start or come on as a sub, just so the fans can say good bye, as he's surely going to retire after that. I know it's sentimental , but so am I!
Dunne was our best player on the night but has to be said that Benteke was way off his best. If it's Drogba next he's even older than Dunne so all is not lost. If it's Costa though it could well be a nightmare.
There is no denying that with the right opposition he is indeed a man mountain. But equally there can be no denying he is easily outpaced these days and sadly therefore his days against the quicker teams in this league are over. He was lucky against Liverpool in the sense that Rogers has pinned all his faith in Balotelli to replace Suarez and Sturridge is not fit at the moment. Spurs exposed his lack of pace and there are other sides who can do the same. Certainly a role for him this season but we need to choose carefully the opposition we can entrust him with.
