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Dan Neil


I think early doors he showed far more promise as a cm than he has as a dm. I don't think we've treated his development that well.

I think his ability to thread a pass final third was very good. Though it didn't always happen for him further forward. Last season very briefly as one of two 8's he was ineffective- mind you that was with Samed behind him and Jobe. Early the season before under Mowbray he was tidy enough in the 8 role on the right knitting play and probing up the pitch but not really threatening with Jobe the other 8 on the left, but it was abandoned after two or three games.

I watched something a bit back that Mowbray was on - might have been Allardyce's podcast. As usual he was very open with his comments. He was asked about Wharton and he was glowing about him. Said something like by his own admission he wasn't quick and couldn't get past anyone (or something to that effect) but waxed lyrically about his ability on the ball and spoke about him as a kid getting around the first team at Blackburn.

Then he was asked about Neil - it almost seemed like he didn't want to really talk about him. Said something about him wanting to just sit in front of the back four and knock the ball about. Maybe I've forgot some of what he said, but It quite suprised me - maybe it wasn't all the clubs doing.
 
I think his ability to thread a pass final third was very good. Though it didn't always happen for him further forward. Last season very briefly as one of two 8's he was ineffective- mind you that was with Samed behind him and Jobe. Early the season before under Mowbray he was tidy enough in the 8 role on the right knitting play and probing up the pitch but not really threatening with Jobe the other 8 on the left, but it was abandoned after two or three games.

I watched something a bit back that Mowbray was on - might have been Allardyce's podcast. As usual he was very open with his comments. He was asked about Wharton and he was glowing about him. Said something like by his own admission he wasn't quick and couldn't get past anyone (or something to that effect) but waxed lyrically about his ability on the ball and spoke about him as a kid getting around the first team at Blackburn.

Then he was asked about Neil - it almost seemed like he didn't want to really talk about him. Said something about him wanting to just sit in front of the back four and knock the ball about. Maybe I've forgot some of what he said, but It quite suprised me - maybe it wasn't all the clubs doing.
Le Bris and now Mowbray.
Whatever next...
 
Every time he played as an 8 the past couple of seasons he looked rank.

He's a 6.

I'm not sure that's totally correct. Last season in one or two games as an 8 with Samed behind neither him nor Jobe functioned at all and in one game Samed was so poor Neil ended up moving back to try and get the ball moving through midfield.

The season before briefly as one of two 8s he looked better than Jobe who had just arrived. He was probing, covering ground and moving the ball around- very tidy but maybe not threatening the goal himself. There was also a period where Ekwah and him played in a two and they would alternate in various games who played deep and who played higher and Neil done quite well further forward.
 
I think his ability to thread a pass final third was very good. Though it didn't always happen for him further forward. Last season very briefly as one of two 8's he was ineffective- mind you that was with Samed behind him and Jobe. Early the season before under Mowbray he was tidy enough in the 8 role on the right knitting play and probing up the pitch but not really threatening with Jobe the other 8 on the left, but it was abandoned after two or three games.

I watched something a bit back that Mowbray was on - might have been Allardyce's podcast. As usual he was very open with his comments. He was asked about Wharton and he was glowing about him. Said something like by his own admission he wasn't quick and couldn't get past anyone (or something to that effect) but waxed lyrically about his ability on the ball and spoke about him as a kid getting around the first team at Blackburn.

Then he was asked about Neil - it almost seemed like he didn't want to really talk about him. Said something about him wanting to just sit in front of the back four and knock the ball about. Maybe I've forgot some of what he said, but It quite suprised me - maybe it wasn't all the clubs doing.

I was under the assumption that it was Mowbray-led, and he primarily was responsible for Neil's pass it to the wingers everytime mantra.
 
I was under the assumption that it was Mowbray-led, and he primarily was responsible for Neil's pass it to the wingers everytime mantra.

He actually calls him a lovely lad and says a bit more than I remember. He does say he wanted him to be a bit more positive, calls him a 'steady eddie' and that he pushed him really hard to push the ball forward and effect the game a bit more, when at times he just wanted to take the ball off the fullback and keep the ball, pass it back to the centre back etc.
 
He actually calls him a lovely lad and says a bit more than I remember. He does say he wanted him to be a bit more positive, calls him a 'steady eddie' and that he pushed him really hard to push the ball forward and effect the game a bit more, when at times he just wanted to take the ball off the fullback and keep the ball, pass it back to the centre back etc.
So saw what most of us saw.
All except his fan club it seems.....
(I wouldn't care, on rare occasions he impressed when he was positive but nearly always resorted to type).
 
Never seen a supposed fan have so much hate for a promotion winning captain mind :lol:

Defs weird like
No hate here, the second time I've stated this to you.
He needs to play football and he'd be a fool not to move this window. Another 6 months watching on will adversely affect him next season. I wish him all the best and acknowledge his part in this journey but am not emotionally attached to or sentimental about any player. You on the other hand seem incapable of accepting differing opinions to such an extent, you've been warned about it.
If anyone is being weird it's you.
 
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