[Albion] Has Dunk peaked?

[usernamed]

He’s playing with strapping, and he’s only just returned from being out with injury. I can’t help but feel that “Reports of his death have been greatly exaggerated.”

He’s got more time now to recuperate and improve his fitness, and centre backs pick up cards, it’s part of the job.

I understand the OPs frustration, but I’ll believe his levels have dropped when I see a half-season of him consistently making similar errors, and not before.

 

[Perkino]

We have 3 CB's who have recently turned 30 and we don't want to be in a scenario in 3/4 years time where we are needing to develop their replacements all at the same time. Dunk is unlikely to be replaced as a regular for a couple of seasons but we cannot expect him to be captain marvel for ever

 

[Pevenseagull]

Not got much to add to this thread at this stage but anticipate plenty of opportunities to contribute when it gets bounced over and over and over.

 

[nickbrighton]

Get a grip- its still the best its ever been

I am amazed by a lot of the over reaction of some of the fan base to last nights result.

Was it disappointing- yes of course it was but FFS get a grip. We are 24 games into the season and have lost FIVE times in the league-and just Twice away. We have 33 points.

Every single one of us would have been grabbing this position with both hands if offered at the start of the season.
We have the best squad and playing the best football and in a better position than at any point in the ENTIRE history of the club.

We got beaten at Old Trafford, which Man Utd treated like they had won the bloody league, not just about beaten a ten man team who put in an admittedly under par second half performance

We simply aren't going to get through the season without losing games, without mistakes, or dodgy VAR decisions

The pundits are seriously including us in the teams looking for European football next season

Before the match there was much derision about tweets from Man Utd fans being encouraged to watch the match instead of a ECL match they arent involved in to show how hard core fans they were, and yet this morning they sound more committed to supporting their club than some of the whining entitled Brighton fans posting and tweeting

Sections of our fan base are morphing into the thing we supposedly hate- namely armchair, plastic, entitled whingers

We should be over the moon about the season so far, accepting that there will be games we aren't at out best. feeling rightly disapointed we didn't get more from the match last night but wholeheartedly supporting the team rather than finger pointing at individuals

Potter and this team are demonstrably head and shoulders above anything we have seen before-start enjoying it

 

[Marshy]

No, hes 30. As a centre back he is in his prime for a few more years yet.

 

[dazzer6666]

Just trying to remember Dunky's reds while in the PL.

There was last night's. A mistake yes, but a ridiculous refereeing decision
Wolves away last year. Took one for the team, proved to be a bad decision, but sort of understand why he made a snap decision it was worth the risk
Palace at home, lunged in on the line, looking to prevent a goal in a melee and caught someone. That happens

Can't remember any others, but do know that a lot of the indiscipline was early in his career

Also can't remember what penalties he's given away during the time we've been in the PL, but i'm sure there must have been some, given that we concede a lot of them

I suppose what i'm saying is that I don't really see a continuing pattern of unforgiveable balls ups. More that, just as a PL striker might find himself on the wrong end of fine margins, tight calls and misfortune, so might a defender. I don't think there are too many PL defenders who have played that many games who haven't come a cropper in these circumstances

The red against Palace was away, and he was trying to score a goal, not prevent one……

 

[Stat Brother]

The 'to you to me,to you to me' was definitely back last night and we can well do without Biss getting involved in it aswell

Must be frustrating for Tross & Maupay having to continually check their runs & movement

The much heralded first goal at Watford is testament to that.

My notifications had pinged as that started.
I looked at the clock and thought 'feck me it's 43mins, they're gonna play out the half like this'.
Then eventually the goal.
Followed by another ping - for Half-time.



Last night we were all behind Dunks possessions.
Maupay was desperate for a 'hollywood' pass which probably wouldn't have been right, but the second and third looks out to Groß/Veltman weren't played either as the pass went to Webster.


Now the boy had Ron in his pocket and stopping him stopped them, so there's definitely an element of churlishness to those comments.

But his abilities with the ball at his feet doesn't seem to dovetail with the attributes of the players around him.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

It wasn't that long ago that we were posting GIFs of Dunk imperiously chesting the ball back to Big Bob through a crowd of players and complaining because that numpty Southgate couldn't see that he was the best England-qualified central defender - and then worrying how we were going to get any points at all until he came back from his injury.

He's been out for a few weeks, he's rusty, and it wasn't a red card by any normal reckoning. In the meantime, we might get to see Duffy against that big German lump that Burnley have signed, which would be worth Saturday's admission price on its own. Chill, groovers..

 

[Hamilton]

About 2 years ago


On this seasons performances we just sold a better CB.

Not sure it was 2 years ago for me, but I'd agree that he is starting to pass his peak. I can see the club looking to the next generation of CBs from next season. That's not a surprise if we consider that we want to improve and he's getting older.

 

[Fat Boy Fat]

Well it does have an impact clearly, but the point i'm making is it's circumstance. A centre back might find themselves mistiming a block or getting a very harsh referring decision in the PL. We get a lot more than we lose from Dunks style of defending and from Potter's insistence that we don't just hoof it upfield, so personally I'm happy to accept it as a hazard of his occupation

I don't have an encyclopeadic knowledge of Dunk"s red cards, and I'm sure someone who does will be along to tell me I'm wrong, but my perception of them is that a high percentage relate to poor decision making, often resulting him then having to make a rash challenge!

As age / injuries / match fitness catch up, these episodes may increase.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Just coming back from one of the worst injuries of his career. Yet it was only 2 months out. He's rusty that's all imho.

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

 

[Jim in the West]

On the plus side, in the Spurs match - that long ball from Spurs (Lloris punt?)....Dunk and Kane together....Dunk calmly controls on his chest and lays it back to Sanchez. Big round of applause from the Albion fans. Dunk takes risks, as do all our back line....but on the whole the outcomes are more positive for the team than negative.

 

[albionalex]

I'm not. Harsh maybe, but the reason he hasn't made it into the England squad, nor improved in the last few seasons or has peaked, if you like, IMHO, is that he makes rash/ill considered game changing decisions.

Unless I was watching a different game, Webster (supposedly in line for an England call-up) and Bissouma (supposedly off to a CL team in the next year) both made similar mistakes yesterday.

 

[Albion my Albion]

Only the person on the other side of the curtain and Lewis would know the truth.

 

[LamieRobertson]

https://youtu.be/8K0a3CbOMEI

 

[Weststander]

Only the person on the other side of the curtain and Lewis would know the truth.

Stalin?

 

[Washie]

Well, i'm happy to say i was wrong. Great against both Arsenal and Tottenham. He was probably just rusty and i got too emotional. Great to see him back at his best again.

 

[portslade seagull]

He was immense today along with Veltman and Cucu

 

[Deleted member 2719]

He has not peaked at 30..
34 or 35 maybe.
He may still be carrying an injury.
Never underestimate Dunky.

As I said before.



Wasn't it great to see two great servants to our club from Sussex turning the spurs over with ease, although Solly had a lesser role today he still looked at it.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Dunk, Biss, form is temporary etc etc etc