Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Ger Regan on September 06, 2011, 06:36:31 PM
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VERY early into the season, but after watching an absolute masterclass from Dunne for Ireland earlier, I think there's a good chance that he's going to be a big (if you excuse the pun) player for us this season.
I was one of those wanting rid of him after his antics last season, coupled with his shocking form, but he looks back to his best to me, and if he keeps this level of performance up, then I'll happily eat my words on that score.
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You beat me to it. I was just about to start a thread after watching the same game. Dunne's performance tonight was probably the best I've seen by any Ireland player since Roy Keane against Holland in 2001 or even McGrath v Italy in 94. Absolutely immense. Hopfully his facial injury will be okay!
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McGrath v Italy sprang to mind alright. Probably not quite that good, but not very far off. His stop on the line in the first half was immense.
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He had a good game and he's started well, but ill reserve judgement when we've had a few big tests
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And the really good news is that neither he nor Given are going anywhere near Euro 2012, so they should be nicely fit for next season!!! ;-)
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Hmmmm... the difference with big Dicky is that he always, even at his best, has a balls up in him just around the corner.
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"Richard Dunne congratulations The Best performance I have seen from any Irish centre half and that includes myself..."
From God himself on twitter.
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Players like Dunne, Collins and Warnock, who've been good players for years, were never going to be as bad as they were last season under a vaguely competent manager.
It was all down to Le Clown.
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"Richard Dunne congratulations The Best performance I have seen from any Irish centre half and that includes myself..."
From God himself on twitter.
Wow. Well deserved praise from the master . He was superb today.
Keep it up Richard.
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There is no doubt -and there has probably never been any doubt- that he has it in his locker to be as outstanding as he was today.
But you can never fully feel settled with a centre half who pulls out a 9/10 performance one game (today was more like 10/10) and is 4/10 next game. Other players in different positions can maybe get away with that level of inconsistency. But not a centre half.
Before he came to Villa, I had predominately seen Richard Dunne doing well in an Ireland shirt. I knew about his tendency for OG's in Premiership matches, but reasoned it must have been a thankless task playing for Kevin Keegan sides et.c. A Citeh supporting mate of mine said that Dunne's problem was always motivation -when he's up for it- he's pretty much as good as anything in the country. We've seen that ourselves.
And when he doesn't fancy it - or is in cruise control as he was at the start of last season- he's a mess.
Looking of the bright side though, both he and Collins have been quick to praise Big Eck. Whatever limitations he might have as a manager, as an ex CB, he probably has more appreciation and awareness about the role than McAllister. That could be a big part of the recent upturn in form. Lets hope it lasts.
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He was immense today, here's hoping he keeps it up for club and country.
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VERY early into the season, but after watching an absolute masterclass from Dunne for Ireland earlier, I think there's a good chance that he's going to be a big (if you excuse the pun) player for us this season.
I was one of those wanting rid of him after his antics last season, coupled with his shocking form, but he looks back to his best to me, and if he keeps this level of performance up, then I'll happily eat my words on that score.
Good news.
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Dunne always has a performance of that brilliance in him. Sadly, he also has a barely pub league standard performance in him. The difference tends to be in which happens more frequently. Last season we had the bad far more regularly than the good and the season before it was the other way round. This season it seems to be that a return to his form of 2009/10 is on the cards.
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It was apparent from the pre-season pics that Dunne had really looked after himself in the summer. We all had that fear that after last season, the couldn't give a fuck atttiude would continue and he'd come back looking like Mick Quinn. To his credit he has looked very sharp as has Collins. It appears that they really want to put last year behind them, and it also helps to have a former international CB as manager. Yes, Dunne has a mistake in him, and while we shouldn't get carried away and compare him to Laursen for example, it wasn't as if Martin didn't ever slip up.
Long and short of it, he's looked very good, and given that we threw away so many points from defensive howlers last year, just cutting those out will earn us many more points during this campaign.
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Talking about the performance being up there with McGrath 94 or Keane 01 seems at first an over reaction but maybe not. Look at what Dunne had playing in front of him and how bad they were.
Dunne definitely needs to be right in his head to get the best out of him. MON clearly man hiaged him well, Houllier went out of his way not to, McLeish looks to be getting off to a good start.
If himself and Shay play like that for the rest of the season we could have a very good season with Benty sure to hit 20.
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I think he's a poor professional, but on his day he's undoubtedly quality.
I'd still like to see him replaced when someone will take him off us.
edit: this is a great image
(http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/static/images/2011/0906/1224303614454_1.jpg?ts=1315342113)
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ps. and how fucking ace is Shay Given?
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that was pretty awesome
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Fair play to him!
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Richard Dunne - doing what he should do. Hurrah.
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From start to finish he was immense. Given's point blank save from that header at the end was pretty awesome too.
It seems to me that Richard really wants to end his career on a high. Qualifying for the Euros could be his last chance to play in a majour international tournament. He played like a man posessed today.
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If himself and Shay play like that for the rest of the season we could have a very good season with Benty sure to hit 20.
The challenge, it seems is keeping them both fit.
Given seems to have already accumulated two nagging injuries that might keep him out of a few games - on top of a long-standing shoulder injury. Dunne has a long term knee condition -dating back to his time at Citeh- that needs to be nursed.
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If himself and Shay play like that for the rest of the season we could have a very good season with Benty sure to hit 20.
The challenge, it seems is keeping them both fit.
Given seems to have already accumulated two nagging injuries that might keep him out of a few games - on top of a long-standing shoulder injury. Dunne has a long term knee condition -dating back to his time at Citeh- that needs to be nursed.
Meh.. I think they'll both be fine.
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I know there has always been jokes about his size and weight, but bizzarely I was in the hot tub in the belfry two weeks ago with him (and his very fit mrs!) There was not an ounce of fat on him! As lean a body as I have seen in some time!
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I tend to think last season's lack of fitness was due to nursing a month's worth of Guinness after being cheated out of the World Cup. Dunny is one of the best defenders in the premiership when he is on form. Hope he stays fit and happy and I have a feeling we will see a lot more clean sheets this year than last year.
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That was some performance. There's not many players who would carry on after a blow to the head like he took.
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I know there has always been jokes about his size and weight, but bizzarely I was in the hot tub in the belfry two weeks ago with him (and his very fit mrs!) There was not an ounce of fat on him! As lean a body as I have seen in some time!
Come on aldridgeboy admit it, you're really Austin Powers aren't you?
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Paul McGrath tweeted:
Richard Dunne congratulations The Best performance I have seen from any Irish centre half and that includes myself...
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Dunne on form, with his head straight is as good as there is around.
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Richard Dunne - doing what he should do. Hurrah.
Doing what he should do to a fantastic level. If you don't mind I'll take the word of the best centre-half to ever wear the claret and blue above yours. That was a magnificent performance, one that just may give Dunne the sort of belief in himself that he can carry through to his Villa games.
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He has been playing well this season long may it continue.
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Dunne can be as good as anybody in the league. So far we've seen both sides of his game, let's hope he has a great season.
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God himself was on RTE 2fm earlier singing Dunne's praises. Whenever the piece is uploaded to their site I will post a link.
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AM was always going to be a manager who Dunne would like, as opposed to GH, who was the complete opposite!
Having a manager that likes you gives you confidence and belief, which is what Dunne is playing with at the moment, helps a lot. Dunne can be a very good player (he just has the odd slip-up, a la David James).
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I notice in the build up to his goal line clearance that Dunne was nut-megged in the area!
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Encouraging news that both our boys played well for ireland as long as they do it Saturday at Everton I'll be happy
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I notice in the build up to his goal line clearance that Dunne was nut-megged in the area!
I noticed with Bent's brilliantly taken goal at the Emirates, his chest down took the ball slightly out of reach, meaning he had to stretch for it.
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TBH I still think he's a c*** for the way he took the piss last season
Still one good game for the Republic and all is forgotton
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TBH I still think he's a c*** for the way he took the piss last season
Still one good game for the Republic and all is forgotton
Well, in one sense all these footballers are taking the piss simply for the wages they earn.
All I'd say is that GHou and GMac clearly got the man-management and team ethos wrong last season.
There are far more 'deserving' individuals in the squad to whom your vitriol should be aimed.
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I know there has always been jokes about his size and weight, but bizzarely I was in the hot tub in the belfry two weeks ago with him (and his very fit mrs!) There was not an ounce of fat on him! As lean a body as I have seen in some time!
Yyyyyyyyyeaaaaaaaaaah Babyyyyyyyyyyyy
Come on aldridgeboy admit it, you're really Austin Powers aren't you?