Its clear to anyone that has eyes what an important player he is for us. Hes the calming influence who sets the tempo in midfield spreading the ball around. You have to assume hes learned loads from Corry Evans.
He's one of our own, and probably my favourite player at the moment. Sadly missed yesterday. Hopefully back for Tuesday, and my first away game this season.
Yeah we've been ****e since he got sent off and it's no coincidence. He does so much of the defensive busy work which enables other players to have more freedom and fluency, and in addition he gets his head up and makes forward passes whenever possible which gives the defence a break as well as building attacks. Can't come back soon enough. We're struggling without a defensive minded CM.
Reminds me so much of Henderson at times, keeps the game flowing while also being solid in front of defence. Very lucky he is a sunderland lad too so I think we will keep him for another season at least. The lad wants success with his own club.
When he was sent off against the Boro, my mate said that we need to keep it tight and go for the draw. I said any other player I would be confident we could do that, but Dan Neil is a one off in the most important position in any side. I don't think any of our players can do his job and that's why we got battered by Boro and are struggling now. Neil doesn't just shield the back four he carries the ball from box to box, wins the ball in the middle of the park and breaks down play turning possession over. It's no surprise to me that his stats are always impressive, he shows for the ball and never hides.
As Ozzy has already stated there were a few on here slating him not so long ago.. Still a mere bairn and will only get better. Hopefully with us.
Same as those that slated Evans and o'nien, the problem with these players is most people don't realise how good they are till they are missing, the do all the **** work that has to be done to win football matches but that kind of stuff doesn't get noticed by a lot of people during a game. Diallo was class last season with his quality but without the hard work others put in doing the shot jobs he wouldn't have had as much opportunity to shine, but he was the one getting all the praise
Anyone not seeing Dan Neil's quality is watching a different sport to me. Or somehow has a personal view they cling to. I'd imagine he, along with Clarke would be the easiest player to sell of all those we have. And Neil would fetch a bigger fee IMO.
I've noticed some changes in his game this season. There was a point (I think) in the Boro game where he received the ball on the half turn about 10 yards in the opposition half. The Dan Neil of last season would have received the ball with his back to goal and potentially got caught in position, or laid off a sideways pass. This time he swerved his body to allow the ball to run past him meaning he was immediately in control, but facing the right way. He immediately slid Jobe, or Clarke in for a chance that he wouldn't have created last season. It's great to see young lads developing and improving their skills
People see different things when they watch a match. Some see the player with the ball and what then happens, eg, shooting, their pass to the next player or losing the ball. My wife is like that, but she is as passionate about Sunderland as any Mackem. Possibly because of my ASD I see the shape of the team and work off the ball, but I have no idea of changing room dynamics and how the personalities affect the team. So I accept that fans have views and perception that I don't - plus the fact that we all like to have a moan about things and circumstances. Since Mowbray joined then I find that my gripes about our players are much reduced plus they are only related to their being carded as they are all skillful, all seem to have the best of footballing attitude and workrate. I do seem to have had more gripes relating to transfers than anything else (mostly our lack of a striker last season). I'll admit that I was deeply unhappy when we appointed Mowbray but admit that the club got it bang on, he has a way of working with the players that is part dad, part mum, part big brother and part old-style policeman. Since KLD took the reins of SAFC I genuinely find it mystifying that anyone can have a downer on most of our players - they have done what was asked, played out of position and had to play in a a squad that got rocked with key injuries at the worst of times, problems outside of their orbit. Yes, Neil has a been a huge miss and it does take absence to make some ppeople appreciate just what was being provided by the absentee - maybe even correcting a fan's misconceptions about that player. Missing Dan Neil also highlight that we still have problems in squad depth and possibly in our ability to adapt. But hey, we know the SAFC are committed to a style of playing right across the club and becoming more financially sustainable. I can very much overlook these issues as we have been treated to the most entertaining football since the two 7th place premiership finishes. If someone wants to grind axes then let them, but I'll just ignore their carping and get behind the team. Haway the lads can be a criticism, an encouragement or a complaint (sometimes all three things at the same time), but they are our lads and as long as they are truely playing for us then I'll be happy as fcuk!
Good reading this thread. I have banged the drum for Neil from the start when Johnson had him in. The lad is genuinely top class and getting better all the time. People are entitled to an opinion and no issues with that. I would challenge anybody now though who doesnt think he is a very good player and vital for how we play. He isnt perfect, as nobody is. When he makes mistakes he is first to try and make up for it though. His attitude is special and will take him a long way. In that respect I think like someone else he is like Henderson. I will go as far as to say it must have been really tempting yo make him captain this season. I know we think the ref got his second yellow wrong, but I am still happy to criticise him for giving the ref the choice, as marginal as it was, it was a moment of bad judgement from him. I have no doubt he will learn though, his game intelligence is class. I am just enjoying everything about his football. He is a joy to watch. He is our best passer, most switched on when we lose it and is a leader at a young age. Even his shooting, which has been suspect, is on the up. His only weakness, in my opinion, is a lack of genuine pace. He is our most important player I think, because he plays in the toughest position in the team and does is so bloody well. Sadly I think this will be his last season with us. Some of the big boys want him and next summer expect them to move hard to beat their rivals. Liverpool would be my bet. I will be gutted but we have another young un in Rigg who might well be better. Different but better and watching home grown players always gives me more joy.
The thread title reads like the name of a good book that will later be made into a film by Danny Boyle. And yes, very important player for us.
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray now issues his verdict on Dan Neil's future Tony Mowbray thinks that Dan Neil could leave Sunderland for ‘a lot of money’ Mowbray yesterday heaped praise on the ‘invaluable’ midfielder after a solid start to the season. Dan Neil broke onto the scene in Sunderland’s promotion-winning campaign, netting three goals and providing seven assists. The 21-year-old went on to be linked with the likes of Burnley and Aston Villa before committing his future to his boyhood club, where he has now flourished in the Championship. Neil has been allowed to play higher up the pitch, and as a result has had a much more positive impact on the Black Cats’ attack. The youngster has already bagged three goals and two assists this season and is one of Sunderland’s best players in a turbulent start. After making his England U20 debut two years ago, Mowbray has now tipped Neil to make the step up in the international ranks. “Dan Neil has played a lot of football now, and I think that he’s highly thought of” Mowbray said. “He must be very, very close to being around the young England age group teams because his consistency level is good and he can add some goals because he has scored a couple already this season. “He has to keep on doing that because you have to catch peoples' eyes.” Tony Mowbray has predicted big things for Dan Neil and reckons that he could be on his way to the Premier League if he continues his form in front of goal. Mowbray said: “If you’re a midfield player who scores double figure goals every season, you are going to the Premier League. It’s invaluable because people want goals from all over, and if you are a central midfield player who can break into the box or who can shoot and you score high numbers of goals, you are going to get sold for a lot of money." “Dan is enjoying playing a little bit further forward this season and hopefully the goals keep ticking along because he brings all the other aspects . . . . he is composed with the ball, he can travel with it, he can hit long passes, he can stick it through the lines for us.” How far can Dan Neil go ? Dan Neil is one of the best young midfielders in the Championship and there is absolutely no reason why he couldn’t make his mark in the England U21 squad. The likes of Hayden Hackey from Middlesbrough and Charlie Patino at Swansea currently ply their trade in the youth team, raising the question as to why Neil wouldn’t get a chance if he continues to impress. As for the Premier League, there is no doubt that he will compete at the top level in years to come. Thankfully for Sunderland, Dan is very committed to the club and could well give us a chance to reach the top flight ourselves before he ends up elsewhere.
Will he be a consistent goal scorer? Shooting is the one thing he regularly fluffs! He gets into some good positions and fails to even hit the target. Still think he is very very good especially for such a young lad and he is instrumental to us.
For me it's not that he's not capable of good finishing it's that he gets overexcited and skies it or doesn't catch it clean. Usually when that's the problem time and experience sorts it out. It's not like he can't hit a ball sweetly and we haven't seen him tuck away some tidy finishes already. Just needs to chill out a bit and not be so desperate to score.
