Dobson or Defour ?

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 1:50 pm

Having a chat this morning with a guy who's been around a while. He's old enough to have been at the 1947 cup final v Charlton.

And we got on to comparing today's players with those of the past.

Which lead to the comparison between Martin Dobson and Steven Defour.

After weighing up the different plus points for both, he concluded that the Belgium was the better player.

But, he said, with a bit of a knowing twinkle in his eye, " I doubt that if we sold Defour tomorrow, itd pay for a new stand!"

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:35 pm

Id say after weighing up the pros and cons that it's Dobbo for me.. A class act who could perform on any type of pitch and weather.. D4 is quite a player though .

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:35 pm

conyoviejo wrote:Id say after weighing up the pros and cons that it's Dobbo for me.. A class act who could perform on any type of pitch and weather.. D4 is quite a player though .

I agree with you for what it's worth.

Silkyskills1 · Post by **Silkyskills1** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:42 pm

Dobson easily.

Corky · Post by **Corky** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:44 pm

100% Dobson. Prior to his move to Everton in 74 he was majestic in midfield. And he comes/came with the added bonus of not being out injured every other week.

Juan Tanamera · Post by **Juan Tanamera** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:45 pm

Obviously different types of players and I can't imagine Steven playing centre half or centre forward like Martin has done, or score as many goals.
But in my humble opinion Steven has more vision and passing ability than Martin had.
You really couldn't get a cigarette paper between them.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:48 pm

Different eras, different demands on players.
Defour the most naturally skilled for me, but Dobson probably takes it for his all round play and work rate.

Very close call, though.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:48 pm

Juan Tanamera wrote:You really couldn't get a cigarette paper between them.

..and if you did Steven would roll one and smoke it!

Corky · Post by **Corky** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:49 pm

Please god don't try. He will be out for weeks with a paper cut and you know how painful they can be.

Hendrickxz · Post by **Hendrickxz** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:52 pm

Corky wrote:100% Dobson. Prior to his move to Everton in 74 he was majestic in midfield. And he comes/came with the added bonus of not being out injured every other week.

Remember the time he played on after getting a clout on the head, scored a goal and couldn't remember scoring it because he had concussion!

Silkyskills1 · Post by **Silkyskills1** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:52 pm

Juan Tanamera wrote:Obviously different types of players and I can't imagine Steven playing centre half or centre forward like Martin has done, or score as many goals.
But in my humble opinion Steven has more vision and passing ability than Martin had.
You really couldn't get a cigarette paper between them.

Oh, I think you could.

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:53 pm

I go for Dobson for the reasons above - one thing is for sure Defour would have loved a player like Dobbo playing alongside him

NottsClaret · Post by **NottsClaret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:07 pm

Dobson well before my time, so I can't make the comparison. Obviously a top player, very consistent too looking at his appearances. So he'll definitely win on that score.

Before we're too dismissive of Defour while he's out injured (again), he has played in three countries, won some league titles, played loads of European football and racked up over 50 caps for a very good Belgian team.

Hopefully we're not waiting 40 years to make the next comparison.

cblantfanclub · Post by **cblantfanclub** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:08 pm

Dobson

theroyaldyche · Post by **theroyaldyche** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:11 pm

Defour. Not had the pleasure of seeing Dobson

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:19 pm

its always difficult making comparisons with different times, I watched an old Granada match from 70's with a younger fan , he thought the standard was terrible back then, and ridiculed the fitness levels too. I did it myself from old clips of players like Finney and Mathews. There might not be many decent clips to view, but they look rubbish to me.

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:21 pm

It's Stephen Defour as for me he is the best player we have ever had

Burypaddy · Post by **Burypaddy** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:29 pm

Dobbo by a mile

South West Claret. · Post by **South West Claret.** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:35 pm

Dobson on so many levels.

Spike · Post by **Spike** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:40 pm

No comparison has to be Dobson!

Dobson was the most expensive player in the world for a short while.

He is a better defender, a better header of the ball and was fitter and stronger than Defour even without Sports Science. Dobbo’s Goals per game ratio even including his time st centre half is far superior to Defour’s

For me we’ve only seen a few glimpses of Defour’s class and this myth has grown up , usually during his injuries, about how good he actually is.

We have missed Defour but to me he’s a long way to go before he becomes a Legend . Let’s see the class he undoubtedly has performed on a regular basis

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:45 pm

some of you were lucky enough to see Dobson. A fairer comparison for me would be Deary-Defour

not waving · Post by **not waving** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:53 pm

Vegas Claret you jest sire. Deary in a comparison with Dobson...sheesh

Spike · Post by **Spike** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:55 pm

Dobson was also an excellent Captain

South West Claret. · Post by **South West Claret.** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:02 pm

Looks like it's Martin's to lose so far

claretfern · Post by **claretfern** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:07 pm

Dobson, easily.

Jakubs Tash · Post by **Jakubs Tash** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:11 pm

Wile E Coyote wrote:its always difficult making comparisons with different times, I watched an old Granada match from 70's with a younger fan , he thought the standard was terrible back then, and ridiculed the fitness levels too. I did it myself from old clips of players like Finney and Mathews. There might not be many decent clips to view, but they look rubbish to me.

I agree with this to a certain degree. I only started watching football properly in the late 80's but from bits that i have seen the standard of older football, ie 60's/70's/80's, looks quite poor when compared to today's game.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:16 pm

Dobo and not even close.
He had the lot. Started with us as a CF, went on to his best as a CM with everything and ended up as a CH. A true Captain Fantastic.
D4 is OK.

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:21 pm

Looks like I am on my own

I am really going on pure talent and how Defour can affect a game
The negative of course is his injury record

Hroogar · Post by **Hroogar** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:33 pm

Having watched Dobson for many seasons playing in heavy football boots with a heavy ball on heavy pitches, watching the skill, stamina and class, on boggy pitches, ice and snow, he played, as he was, the most expensive, and best player in his era.
Dobson by a long way.

Claret Toni · Post by **Claret Toni** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:36 pm

Dobo was a star in a good Burnley side in a good 1st division, and won a smattering of caps when England were a goodish side.

Defour is a very good player in a very good Burnley side, in a Premier League that attracts top class players from around the world, and has won lots of caps in a Belgian side that are and have been decent.

Of course it's difficult to compare players across generations, but I'm of the view that football has progressed, due in part to better pitches and increased fitness levels, which leads me to conclude Defour is the better player.

However I do believe that Dobo contributed more to the Burnley team of that era than Defour has contributed to the Burnley team of this era.

Just my view, of course, and I've enjoyed watching them both.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:45 pm

Also, if Defour had been fortunate enough to avoid the awful injuries he's had, he'd be at the very top of the Clarets Hall of Fame. Right up there with Jimmy Mac.

In that (admittedly academic) scenario, I think Dobbo would be trailing in his wake.

Having said that, City would probably have got him now.

NottsClaret · Post by **NottsClaret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 4:50 pm

Yeah, a lot of us won't have seen Dobson. So you can only look at stats really, which is never ideal. Defour's won more silverware, won more caps for a better national team, played more European football.

As ever, there's a rush to say it's this player 'by a mile', 'it's not even close'. When, although as impossible as any other comparison, the truth when looking at the level both of these played at, there probably isn't a huge amount between them. The area where Dobson would genuinely be streets ahead is he made a ridiculous number of appearances so was obviously the more robust athlete.

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:11 pm

Bit of an unfair comparison, like comparing Bobby Moore and Martin Peters.

Dobson was a wonderful footballer and capable of adapting to several positions, but I have Defour as second only to Jimmy Mac in my all-time list of great Burnley players.

Bobzuruncle · Post by **Bobzuruncle** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:32 pm

Steven or Defour might be a better comparison and a very tight call but i’d still go against defour purely because of injuries

paulus the woodgnome · Post by **paulus the woodgnome** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:36 pm

Spike wrote:Dobson was the most expensive player in the world for a short while.

Really? Don't forget I'm nearly 21,000 days old.

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:48 pm

Dobson was the most complete Burnley player I've seen so no real contest as far as I'm concerned.
Billy Ingham v Defour, now that's a comparison worth making....

Aclaret · Post by **Aclaret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:54 pm

It's Dobson for me too.

boyyanno · Post by **boyyanno** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:58 pm

I was born in the early 90's so didn't see Dobson. As others have said above though I've watched a ton of highlights, documentaries, even the odd old game and to me the standard looks worse the further you go back.

Take Pele for example, when I watch some of the stuff from that time period it seems defending didn't exist, the further back the worse it gets.

I suppose the argument is that in those days balls were worse, pitches worse, defenders could assault you and Keepers had no gloves.

For me modern day players are far superior, but they have it a lot lot better than the older ones did.

joey13 · Post by **joey13** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 6:01 pm

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 6:40 pm

Unfortunately for me there is no comparison, as good as Defour is Dobbo was way above him on every level.

Belgianclaret · Post by **Belgianclaret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 6:50 pm

Both class acts - at the moment Dobbo shades it through his longevity though, unless Defour becomes our new Alexander

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 7:03 pm

Always difficult, with the different times.
Both ooze class.
Think you try to imagine each of them playing in the others era.

I was a huge Dobo fan, so risking that bias, I'm going for him.
Martin Dobson was good enough to cut it in any era.

everychuffinwhere · Post by **everychuffinwhere** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 7:23 pm

Dobo by a country mile for me.

South West Claret. · Post by **South West Claret.** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 7:29 pm

Sir Martin Dobson has it then (by my estimation).

Burnleybabe · Post by **Burnleybabe** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:19 pm

DOBO on so many levels.

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 11:42 pm

Burnleybabe wrote:DOBO on so many levels.

Is that Martin Dobson in a lift!?

Marty Dobson · Post by **Marty Dobson** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:44 pm

Hroogar wrote:Having watched Dobson for many seasons playing in heavy football boots with a heavy ball on heavy pitches, watching the skill, stamina and class, on boggy pitches, ice and snow, he played, as he was, the most expensive, and best player in his era.
Dobson by a long way.

I totally agree..well I would wouldn't I.

joey13 · Post by **joey13** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:01 pm

The early 70s team he played in will always be my favourite

Bop · Post by **Bop** » Wed Sep 26, 2018 11:08 pm

Depite all the difficulties in such comparison....Dobson.
I’ve never really paid any attention to bars, media centres and food stalls etc - but do we have something named after this absolute legend in or around the ground? Other than His stand?

tybfc · Post by **tybfc** » Thu Sep 27, 2018 12:26 am

Defour a great player but will never touch the quality of Dobbo.