He's been outstanding, but he's still young. He looks as though he has a lot of improvement yet to come, and if he does it will be hard to hold on to him.
I hope the expectation of the crowd doesn't undermine him.

SD says we lost JBG and Brady yesterday, again , so it's important we protect Dwight as much as possible.

UTC

He has the happy knack of coming out of 50/50s with the ball, Danny Ings had it.
The second goal was a perfect example. Players like that just seem to get the bounce.
I wouldn’t know if it’s luck or judgement but it’s a blessing.

potential to be the largest amount we have ever received for a player sale.

As mentioned ex Man U youth player. Like Dunne and Heaton - way back. We have also had success with Man iCty cast offs with Mee and Trippier. Chelsea have sought to protect their investment in their young players by sending out 40 yes 40 on loan, then sell them at good prices. This is clearly not always the best thing for young English talant and I believe, as such, has been recognized and a limit put on the number of young English players going out on loan. Good ,as other clubs like us, can pick them up. Saves investment in a youth system which clubs like West Ham are even thinking of disbanding. The other obstacle for young English players is of coursde the influx of BIG name players from abroad. Chelsea have a very talented English International on the bench most games.

Dwight's success might increase our chances of attracting similar talent if youngsters can see a pathway to first team football which hasn't been there for some years at Burnley.

I’m another who is feeling strong man-love for Dwight and this thread has been a good read. I was making the Trevor Steven comparison in conversation with the bloke in front of me yesterday and it’s that fantastic ability to “glide” which just cannot be coached or trained. When I’ve seen the truly great players ...Thierry Henry or Ruud Gullitt for example.... this is one of the first things I’ve really noticed about them. I’m obviously not remotely comparing McNeill to players of that calibre but he does possess that rare quality and ir’s a joy to watch.

For my two penneth, I commented to the poster above who had been there yesterday that there were so many good performances beyond Tom Heaton, and that McNeill was one of those. I specifically said his all round game gets better and better. As a very simple example of this although he still looks shattered when tracking back he did the full 95 minutes yesterday. I also love how close-knit we are; he headed a Brighton corner out for another corner when on the front post in the second half and one or two of our old heads congratulated him / reassured him that he had done well (as it went a little adjacent to our goal). And yes, it's brilliant to have a player who can put his man on his backside just by the slightest feint. Those of us of a certain generation were spoiled by old fashioned wingers such as Dave Thomas, Leighton James, Terry Cochrane, Tony Morley.... and Dwight McNeill is definitely a throwback to that type of player. And yes, I get the Trevor Steven analogy too. Cultured.

Bin Ont Turf » Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:29 am

ecc wrote:

You can see why he was at OT.



Nah!

You can see why he's been with us for five years, and why the stupid belief that Dyche doesn't like 'flair' players, is a load of b0llocks."

What I said was not in any way meant to say he's not improved at TM or that SD doesn't like flair players.

pretty much every time he uses the ball well and more often than not that's by carrying the ball forward. Probably already our most creative player

Positive player.

Not a patch on Trevor Steven! Let's not get carried away.

IanMcL wrote:Positive player.

Not a patch on Trevor Steven! Let's not get carried away.

Think people are just making comparisons to them at the same age / stage of their career.
Will be very tough for Dwight to have half of the success Trevor Steven had but right now it’s very hard to compare them as Steven was playing at a much lower level than McNeil is now....its only been a short period so right not to get carried away but would have been very surprised to see Steven performing at the level McNeil has been - but we’ll never know eh !

jedi_master wrote:I’d be binning Brady and Lennon for definite this summer. One for fitness, the other because he’s not good enough.

I’d also be open to moving JBG on this summer if a good offer came in as his fitness record is becoming a serious concern, we just cannot rely on him.

McNeil is numero uno - he won’t be number 31 next season.

So you'd play all season with one winger? Because you know we won't be able to sign one.

McNeil just needs to work on his endurance and then he'll have it all. Top class.

TVC15 wrote:Think people are just making comparisons to them at the same age / stage of their career.
Will be very tough for Dwight to have half of the success Trevor Steven had but right now it’s very hard to compare them as Steven was playing at a much lower level than McNeil is now....its only been a short period so right not to get carried away but would have been very surprised to see Steven performing at the level McNeil has been - but we’ll never know eh !

Trevor Steven was 18 when he played for us (Championship equivalent). He ran the games. Closest to Ralph Coates we have had.

I remember saying at the time - an England player for sure.

He was straight into the Everton midfield and eventually won the cup and league!

our style of play has drastically improved since McNeil started

Whats his contract situation? Have we offered him a new contract yet with improved terms?

PutTheWheelieBinsOut wrote:Whats his contract situation? Have we offered him a new contract yet with improved terms?

I think he signed one recently.

(£15 a week and any Burnley lass he fancies)

IanMcL wrote:Trevor Steven was 18 when he played for us (Championship equivalent). He ran the games. Closest to Ralph Coates we have had.

I remember saying at the time - an England player for sure.

He was straight into the Everton midfield and eventually won the cup and league!

When he was 18 he played for us in the 3rd division in his first season and we went up - to only go back down again. As said both divisions were a long way behind the standard McNeil is playing at now.
Not saying McNeil is a better player than Steven was or that he will be - saying it’s hard to tell because the levels they were playing at are vastly different.

Btw - our school team at St Teds got given the Burnley first team strip - away yellow one I think. I dived straight in to get Trevor Stevens - can’t remember the number now but I knew it then. It was mine for the rest of the season !

No 8 most of the time from memory.

Stevie2112 wrote:No 8 most of the time from memory.

Cheers - well I was right wing so not too far off !

I thought Dwight looked class in the preseason friendlies and its great to see him stamping his mark on games
The outside of the foot pass to set up Chris Woods second goal was pure clasd

The ironic thing about the Mcneill thing is,if we didn't have injuries like we had/do,this lad would have never got his chance under Dyche. However he has and taken it and surprised us all.Lets hope there are some other young gems waiting in the wings.UTC.

Boll ewood wrote:I'm with Rileybobs on this. I'm 31 best wingers I've seen are wade elliot and super glen little ego to thus day remain two of my favourite clarets. But McNeil doing know at only 19 at a higher level. Think we got a new clarets legend on our hands here. UTC LLTV

Did you not see Ted Mcminn- class winger IMO

A couple of bad games... And he'll be filed alongside Brady defour Hart and Lennon to name a few.

He is getting better and better. Possibly becoming one of our most important players already and if he carries this form on and through next season we could be looking at ridiculous amounts of money being offered to us.

tim_noone wrote:A couple of bad games... And he'll be filed alongside Brady defour Hart and Lennon to name a few.

I very much doubt that, Tim.
He is a very good footballer, the only way is up!

boatshed bill wrote:I very much doubt that, Tim.
He is a very good footballer, the only way is up!

Defour has been touted as one of the best ever on here... Indeed a very good footballer he's now chip paper...two or three bad games and the daggers will be drawn.... What's your view on pep?

holdyourfire wrote:The ironic thing about the Mcneill thing is,if we didn't have injuries like we had/do,this lad would have never got his chance under Dyche. However he has and taken it and surprised us all.Lets hope there are some other young gems waiting in the wings.UTC.

True. But same could be said of many players. Rashford being a prime example.

Talents one thing. But nothing without timing and a little luck.

Here he is with his Dad

claptrappers_union wrote:Here he is with his Dad

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Just happened to Google Dwight a week or so ago to check something and his Dad's name was hyperlinked. Was only by clicking on that, I discovered he was with us for a short time as a player.

thelifeofbrian wrote:
Did you not see Ted Mcminn- class winger IMO

How can I forget the tin man. My bad. Like I said in the post after I was a bit jolly when posted. ITC

Woodleyclaret wrote:The outside of the foot pass to set up Chris Woods second goal was pure clasd

I don’t think people are giving him the praise he deserves for the 2nd goal. By running direct at goal the Brighton defenders had to move over allowing Wood so much space. The pass was perfect and it's all natural for him.

A lot of players would of run towards Wood to make the pass easier and the chance wouldn't of been on.

He played well in the Olympiakos game and then disappeared. We look so much better when he plays.