Does Dawson....

[Dr Know]

I give Dawson more stick than most players, however he has more passion than anyone in the current team imo. Having said that, I've seen him have some incredible games and some of his defending has been top class. I sort of feel with the right partner he can still be a good defender and I doubt we'll ever really get another player that bleeds Spurs blood.

I've always said, if we can get his skill to match his heart he would be one of the greatest Spurs defenders of all time.

Problem is his passion/heart is not going to win us the league if his skill/performance don't match it. He does deserve respect as any Spurs player should but we need to be realistic in what we're trying to achieve and ask ourselves if Dawson has the ability to help us there

 

[mpickard2087]

High line or not, his positional ability and reading of the game is shambolic at the best of times. He's slow on the turn and he isn't actually overly dominant when it comes to aerial duels. That is of much more concern to me than him over-doing it with the long diagonal switch of play.

He somewhat makes up for this by giving 110% and some heroic last ditch defending, Carragher is a good comparison in my opinion.

Most criticism he receives is pretty fair, just that a) some people don't like it coz he has been here a long time and he's a good guy/one of their faves and b) others probably make just as many mistakes, but don't get called on it for some reason.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Top teams generally don't make their leader someone who's one of the weaker players in the team. It doesn't make sense. Liverpool have Gerrard, City have Kompany, Chelsea have Terry, we have Dawson. Great. He can't even get close to a sub-par England squad.

The very fact that we have a thread on here bemoaning the lack of respect amongst our own fans for our captain tells you all you need to know about his suitability for the captain's role.

He doesn't deserve some of the more vitriolic abuse he gets on here, but whilst his passion and commitment can't be doubted, he's not intimidating enough to be a leader other teams fear and his own teammates respect, and he's not a good enough player (like King was) to make up for that.

 

[Yid-ol]

Top teams generally don't make their leader someone who's one of the weaker players in the team. It doesn't make sense. Liverpool have Gerrard, City have Kompany, Chelsea have Terry, we have Dawson. Great. He can't even get close to a sub-par England squad.

The very fact that we have a thread on here bemoaning the lack of respect amongst our own fans for our captain tells you all you need to know about his suitability for the captain's role.

He doesn't deserve some of the more vitriolic abuse he gets on here, but whilst his passion and commitment can't be doubted, he's not intimidating enough to be a leader other teams fear, his own teammates respect, and he's not good enough to make up for that.

I agree with this part, up to Chelsea... Terry is probably one of the weakest in the team and least talented in the squad.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

I agree with this part, up to Chelsea... Terry is probably one of the weakest in the team and least talented in the squad.

But he's a true club legend, and an intimidating presence that opposition teams fear and his own teamates respect. The same can't be said for Dawson.

 

[dougie]

I think he's a victim of being a guaranteed starter.

Unlike most, I can appreciate that Naughton is a backup right back, and don't feel the need to criticise him when he puts in a shift at left back. Similarly, if Dawson was on the bench more often, then I'd afford him the same.

It's just that we have to see him every week, when there are better options!

 

[not_tenth-again]

Yes, he does get a raw deal.... in answer to OP

Poor guy is stuffed now though. With Jenas, Huddlestone and Defoe having left the abuse becomes more focused.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

The only 2 times we ever actually managed to be in the top 4, Mr Dawson was a fundamental component of that

One of which being 11-12, when he made 7 league appearances? That's not fundamental in my opinion. No disrespect, as I believe him to be a good man to be in the squad.

 

[JimmyG2]

The unthinking mans Jermaine Jenas.
A former winner of the Scapegoat of the Year award.
Good man to have around the club and a lifesaver this season.
Plays only be default and de fault is not of his making.
Nice to know that I'm not the only member
of the 'We love Michael Dawson Apreciation Society.
Who knew the woodwork was so capacious?

 

[whitesocks]

We'll see how much of a weak link he is over the next few games while he is out injured.
I think we'll be an absolute shambles.

 

[Mr Pink]

Just to clear something up, when I say respect I don't mean he deserves immunity to criticism or we should all be blindly ignoring every mistake he makes etc Just that it shouldn't be abusive or unnecessary.

There's absolutely no harm at all in pointing out his mistakes, it should just be done a bit more respectfully, that's all I was trying to say.

 

[Black]

I find it funny when people say he’s not good enough for a top 4 clubs but we are not a top four club but we have been finished around it for the last 9 years if you don’t count the two blips and he’s been at the heart of the defence for most of that.

2012/2013 FA Prem 5th
2011/2012 FA Prem 4th
2010/2011 FA Prem 5th
2009/2010 FA Prem 4th
2008/2009 FA Prem 8th
2007/2008 FA Prem 11th
2006/2007 FA Prem 5th
2005/2006 FA Prem 5th

Dawson is that kind of player that people already have a opinion on before the match has even started, what i find very surprising is people complain about his long balls out of defence but most of the time they are our most creative weapon especially when were stuck in our own half no one wants to collect the ball his punts get us up the pitch.
​

When we had the best defence in Europe at the start of the season where were all his haters or even when he came back into the side last season and we went on a run of losing no games, spurs fans have the shortest memoires ever

 

[Rout-Ledge]

We'll see how much of a weak link he is over the next few games while he is out injured.
I think we'll be an absolute shambles.

As if we aren't already...

 

[Dinghy]

The very fact that we have a thread on here bemoaning the lack of respect amongst our own fans for our captain tells you all you need to know about his suitability for the captain's role.

I respectfully disagree. It tells you all you need to know about some of the ***** that 'support' this club.

 

[RButch]

He deserves respect, the fact he rejected a move to QPR to fight for his place shows the character of the man and we need these types of players at the club. The problem is he is over-zealous for his own good and I am not sure he realises how much of a liability he can be when he breaks from his position. He is a player who I would never want to sell but do not think he is a first team top 4 quality centre back anymore but would be an awesome 3rd/4th choice.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

I respectfully disagree. It tells you all you need to know about some of the ***** that 'support' this club.

I don't condone it, but the fact is he's our captain and clearly doesn't command respect naturally.

 

[dagraham]

Just to clear something up, when I say respect I don't mean he deserves immunity to criticism or we should all be blindly ignoring every mistake he makes etc Just that it shouldn't be abusive or unnecessary.

There's absolutely no harm at all in pointing out his mistakes, it should just be done a bit more respectfully, that's all I was trying to say.

What I don't get is that if anyone critises the manager or Levy they are handed a barrelful of negs but our players are fair game.

 

[riggi]

If he makes mistakes then he gets called on it. Simples.

Passion doesn't mean you get a free pass from criticism. I've always had a lot of time for him but maybe his had his day and it's time for him to move on. The whole club depresses me to be honest, so he isn't the only one who will be getting brutal and strong criticism.

 

[thinktank]

When you hear his interviews you think "go on my son, you give a fuck and I love you". Then after 10 mins watching him live it's more like "you are shite son, how can anybody be so slow".

Perfect example of the myth and the actual man that is Michael Dawson.

Gawd bless 'im.

He should be a club ambassador, a la Ledders...can we have two of those??

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

For me, this is easy to answer. When it comes to supposed, good old fashioned 'English fighting spirit', the guy has it in bundles.

When it comes to facing up to a task, rather than walking away like a surrender monkey, the guy has it in bundles, as was proven by him rejecting QPR, despite us accepting a £9mil bid, because he preferred to stay & fight, to prove his manager wrong. Did he achieve what he set out to do? Well considering AVB himself came out & praised Dawson for working his way back into the team, the answer must be 'Yes'.

Has he served us very well over the years he's been at our club? Unquestionably.

So, does he deserve more respect than he gets on here? A resounding 'YES' is all I can think of.

However, does that feeling of respect, mean that his shortcomings shouldn't be pointed out? No!

Should we complain because he can't resist those bloody 60 yard passes? Well, if they do nothing but gift possession to the opposition, then Yes!

Should we complain when he goes to ground too easily, despite the fact that, even at school, you're taught to stay on your feet? Yes!

What was my point? Fucked if I know, but he must be respected for what he's done, but that doesn't mean his limitations shouldn't be brought up. Especially when those limitations are there for all to see. What we should really take into account is, would Dawson be a regular starter if all our other central options were fit? I highly doubt it. We need to remember, it's not Dawson's fault that his competition for places are, generally, always injured. So it shouldn't be held against him.