Richard Dunne

[TimTheVillain]

Don't think Blackburn would be stupid enough to sell samba in January surely?

If they did, then they deserve to get relegated.

They are £10 mill in debt and even paying wages in doubt unless they get some cash in quickly.

[glasses]

Dunne has been superb this season. It is a good job too because Collins has been woeful at times.

This. I can't believe Collins still starts ahead of Cueller. Carlos and Dunne would be some pairing.

mon, kevin macdonald, gerard houllier, mcallister and now mcleish. All these managers seem to think there is something wrong with playing cuellar at centre half.

Can you remember from the 77th minute at home to stoke when he was playing with davies till the end of the season. he was so ropey, undecisive and panicked every time the ball came into the box it was one of the main reasons we didnt finish 4th.
everyone seems to like him as he doesnt say anything bad about the club but is really just seeing out his contract for a bumper pay off at the end of the season with a new contract atwith another club!

I've said this before. For all that he's a 'good clubman' there has to be something odd when a player shows no intention of wanting to play regularly.

What makes you think that Dave? That sort of statement is pretty damning, as you seem to suggest he isn't arsed about playing at all. The only way you would know any different, is if he was shouting his mouth off in the press, which could be viewed as undermining the managers decisions. So, he either keeps his mouth shut, tries to get in the team, and gets accused of having no intention of wanting to play, or he shouts his mouth off to the press, and makes a name for himself as a moaner. Can't really win can he?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Carlos is forever saying he'll play where ever the manager wants him. What more can you expect?

[TheSandman]

His move to Rangers fell through due to his injury rather than anything else IIRC.

[Dante Lavelli]

For me Collins and Dunne are too similar.  I'd prefer that Clark is give a chance to demonstrate that he can become an accomplished ball paying defender.  I think this sort of "Vidic + Ferdinand" partnership will help us as each centre back's role will be more defined:

Dunne to attack the first ball whereas Clark looks to anticipate any flicks.  I think both Dunne and Collins' natural instinct is to attack the first ball which leads to both of them getting dragged out of position.  Similarly in possession Clark is more able (we hope) to act as the deep lying playmaker.

If Clark can become a good premiership player then hopefully the whole team will function better as we'll retain possession more, even if we do loose a bit of "grunt" by dropping Collins.

[SoccerHQ]

I wanted rid of him last season after the health spa incident but in fairness he played very well at the end of last season and for most of  this season. The OP is right that Dunney (and Warnock) do get a load of stick on here when I think both have been good this season.

To me the two weak links in our defence are Hutton and Collins and both need to be benched a.s.a.p.

[SoccerHQ]

Dunne has been superb this season. It is a good job too because Collins has been woeful at times.

This. I can't believe Collins still starts ahead of Cueller. Carlos and Dunne would be some pairing.

mon, kevin macdonald, gerard houllier, mcallister and now mcleish. All these managers seem to think there is something wrong with playing cuellar at centre half.

Can you remember from the 77th minute at home to stoke when he was playing with davies till the end of the season. he was so ropey, undecisive and panicked every time the ball came into the box it was one of the main reasons we didnt finish 4th.
everyone seems to like him as he doesnt say anything bad about the club but is really just seeing out his contract for a bumper pay off at the end of the season with a new contract atwith another club!

Surely it's just the same as Mellberg running down his contract and playing out of position at RB without moaning?

Look back actually two years ago at this point in 2009, Collins was injured, Carlos played centre half with Dunney and we had a very good defensive run including a clean sheet at old Trafford.

[SamTheMouse]

I'm with Chris on this one. Clark hasn't really convinced me as a defender yet, although that's not to say he couldn't improve. Just seems a bit rash and his positioning is dodgy at times. We seem to concede easily when he's in there. I actually think we could do worse than give him a run as an anchor man. We could do with a player to sit in front of the back four and stop teams playing through us so easily. Don't see why he couldn't learn that role.

[dave.woodhall]

Dunne has been superb this season. It is a good job too because Collins has been woeful at times.

This. I can't believe Collins still starts ahead of Cueller. Carlos and Dunne would be some pairing.

mon, kevin macdonald, gerard houllier, mcallister and now mcleish. All these managers seem to think there is something wrong with playing cuellar at centre half.

Can you remember from the 77th minute at home to stoke when he was playing with davies till the end of the season. he was so ropey, undecisive and panicked every time the ball came into the box it was one of the main reasons we didnt finish 4th.
everyone seems to like him as he doesnt say anything bad about the club but is really just seeing out his contract for a bumper pay off at the end of the season with a new contract atwith another club!

I've said this before. For all that he's a 'good clubman' there has to be something odd when a player shows no intention of wanting to play regularly.

What makes you think that Dave? That sort of statement is pretty damning, as you seem to suggest he isn't arsed about playing at all. The only way you would know any different, is if he was shouting his mouth off in the press, which could be viewed as undermining the managers decisions. So, he either keeps his mouth shut, tries to get in the team, and gets accused of having no intention of wanting to play, or he shouts his mouth off to the press, and makes a name for himself as a moaner. Can't really win can he?

That's true, but it does seem strange that a player appears to be content wasting the best years of his career without playing regularly.

[john2710]

All of our recent managers (including MON) have not played Carlos regularly at centre half. When one of the players keeping him out is James Collins, it must tell you something. 

[Iago]

Disgraced the club last season.

[Greg N'Ash]

Dunne has been pretty decent this season. However, I still think he should have been potted for his shocking lack of professionalism last season. There are some things I can forgive but coming into the season looking like the Michelin Man, stinking the place out with a series of shit performances and not to mention supposedly assaulting one of the coaching staff are not amongst them.

And, what we all forget, is that with Richard Dunne the next error or run of bad form is just around the corner.

This. Not to mention he's still claiming he picks team tactic's and is getting past it anyway. Still hope we move him on or persuade the Sunderland messiah to buy him

[eamonn]

Dunne's been playing really well this season I like him but like others on here I would like Clark alongside him.

Like at Man City?

Clark is a good player, I'm yet to be convinced that he's a good defender.

In all fairness I don't think Collins would have fared any better against Balotelli and Aguero.

Nevertheless I think Clark will eventually prosper as a central midfielder. I'd comfortably play him there ahead of Herd. Less cautious with the ball at his feet and more experienced.

[LeeB]

His move to Rangers fell through due to his injury rather than anything else IIRC.

I thought it was more to do with the fact Rangers couldn't get anywhere near the money he's on here.

Which brings us nicely back to Dave's point.

[LeeB]

And regarding Clark, I'd also agree with Chris and Sam the Mouse.

If we need to give him more experience he should play in front of Weasel Warnock, he'd be unlikely to commit more basic errors, is better in the air and has more in the way of skill. (To be fair though I thought Warnock had his best game in about 18 months on Saturday)

Centre half is a funny position these days. Players can look good on the eye but actually be a liability, a certain other former trainee of ours seems to be a fine example of this.