What's happened to Dwight?

[Leisure]

When he was most effective for us he was taking players on wide, getting to the by-line and whipping crosses in. Never looked like that was going to happen tonight or for quite a while to be honest. Are these instructions from the manager or have teams got him sussed or was his form a fluke?

[Vegas Claret]

just lacking in confidence and consistency - there's a reason most clubs at this level don't throw younger players in every game and we are seeing it.

If we had another option then I'm sure he would be on the bench at the moment

[cricketfieldclarets]

Its pretty obvious. Every single club know he is our only creative outlet who will run with the ball and has any pace. So what do they do? Double up on him.

I said on another post. They could stick all four defenders on McNeil and we would still offer nothing down the right.

Name me one right sided right winger Dyche has signed or played in his time here. I can only think of Kightly. The rest has been centre midfielders out right (Arfield, Brownhill, Hendrick) or left footers (JBG, Wallace, Boyd, Brady).

We are so predictable.

[Bordeauxclaret]

“Was his form a fluke”.


******* hell.

[boatshed bill]

Doubled up on (often) and regularly over-worked.

[cricketfieldclarets]

McNeil would flourish in a Leicester or similar side. Confident. Attacking. Quick. Direct. With players confident all over the park.

[Rowls]

He's seemingly been given a free role and it hasn't helped his discipline or our shape.

If we get another good wide player on the opposite side and regain our shape I suspect it will aid Dwight immensely and he can get back (and be instructed to get back) what he does best - taking on the fullback and whipping in crosses.

[ksrclaret]

Oh dear. Of all the people who ought to receive a bit of flack at the moment, and we have numerous threads criticising our 20 year old who's forced to player every single minute because he's the sole creative talent in the team. FFS.

[Rileybobs]

Too easily nullified out wide now teams have got wise to him. It’s up to Dyche, and McNeill, to work out a way to combat this. In the first 15 minutes of the second half he came inside with some success - unfortunately we had the wind knocked out of our sails very soon after scoring.

[jrgbfc]

He's a 20 year old lad whose been expected to carry our entire attacking threat for the last 18 months.

[jedi_master]

Looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders at the moment. I feel sorry for him.

A fantastic player who needs support on the opposing flank.

[diamondpocket]

Its pretty obvious. Every single club know he is our only creative outlet who will run with the ball and has any pace. So what do they do? Double up on him.

I said on another post. They could stick all four defenders on McNeil and we would still offer nothing down the right.

Name me one right sided right winger Dyche has signed or played in his time here. I can only think of Kightly. The rest has been centre midfielders out right (Arfield, Brownhill, Hendrick) or left footers (JBG, Wallace, Boyd, Brady).

We are so predictable.

quite right and it's been clear to see for a year that we've needed a freshening up since Bardo has come in more regularly this last year. He's solid enough defensively but doesn't give us enough going forward despite getting in some decent positions now & then. Looks like Lowts has fallen by the way side. A shame because he could whip in some real balls but looks to have lost motivation and put on a bit of weight. In highlights it just shows him running back as if he's in mud.

[Leisure]

“Was his form a fluke”.


******* hell.

I was just asking the question! Surely you can't be saying that his form hasn't dropped off fairly dramatically? Or do you actually think that it hasn't?

[boatshed bill]

Too easily nullified out wide now teams have got wise to him. It’s up to Dyche, and McNeill, to work out a way to combat this. In the first 15 minutes of the second half he came inside with some success - unfortunately we had the wind knocked out of our sails very soon after scoring.

Without a similar threat on the right he'll get very heavily marked.
And exactly what is he supposed to aim at?

[Local cricketer]

Things must be bad if Leisure is been slightly negative. Im worried now

[diamondpocket]

Oh dear. Of all the people who ought to receive a bit of flack at the moment, and we have numerous threads criticising our 20 year old who's forced to player every single minute because he's the sole creative talent in the team. FFS.

Don't think he is being criticised. The topic is about what has happened to him and why he isn't being as effective as when he first came into the side. Stop over-reacting and read the words. I know it's late Saturday evening but ffs.

[ksrclaret]

Don't think he is being criticised. The topic is about what has happened to him and why he isn't being as effective as when he first came into the side. Stop over-reacting and read the words. I know it's late Saturday evening but ffs.

Maybe you should try reading the words. I said numerous threads. As in, not just this one. This is just the latest of threads about the lad. Only this one asks if his previous good form was a fluke. I'm sure even you can understand how silly that was?

[diamondpocket]

Too easily nullified out wide now teams have got wise to him. It’s up to Dyche, and McNeill, to work out a way to combat this. In the first 15 minutes of the second half he came inside with some success - unfortunately we had the wind knocked out of our sails very soon after scoring.

exactly, on the side that was left wide open!

P.S. Not a criticism of Dwight, clearly been instructed to drift in. Dyche has been talking about it for weeks.

[Bordeauxclaret]

I was just asking the question! Surely you can't be saying that his form hasn't dropped off fairly dramatically? Or do you actually think that it hasn't?

I think his form has dropped off.

As for thinking his form over the previous 38+ games was a fluke I repeat my original statement.

[Leisure]

Things must be bad if Leisure is been slightly negative. Im worried now

My post wasn't meant to be negative or critical of him. I'm truly baffled and worried that he seems to have lost that urge to get down the line and take on the full-back and whip a cross in. Is he playing to instructions or has he lost a bit of confidence? Whatever it is I hope he soon gets back to putting in those great crosses that we've become accustomed to. UTC

[Murger]

He looks knackered. Add to the fact that a 20 year old should not be carrying this team.

[Leisure]

I think his form has dropped off.

As for thinking his form over the previous 38+ games was a fluke I repeat my original statement.

Who said it was a fluke ffs!

[boatshed bill]

He looks knackered. Add to the fact that a 20 year old should not be carrying this team.

Exactly.

[ksrclaret]

He looks knackered. Add to the fact that a 20 year old should not be carrying this team.

Spot on. God only knows why some people are struggling with this concept.

[Rileybobs]

He looks knackered. Add to the fact that a 20 year old should not be carrying this team.

I don't buy this. He is undoubtedly our most exciting attacking talent, but I wouldn't say that he's in any way carrying the team.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Who said it was a fluke ffs!

Some idiot posed the question.

[boatshed bill]

I don't buy this. He is undoubtedly our most exciting attacking talent, but I wouldn't say that he's in any way carrying the team.

I reckon if he had a few games off he'd come back and rip a few full backs new ones.

[ksrclaret]

I don't buy this. He is undoubtedly our most exciting attacking talent, but I wouldn't say that he's in any way carrying the team.

Well if there is a game when Dwight doesn't create something, who else does? Westwood with a very deep cross or one of his corners perhaps? After that you're really struggling.

He's not carrying the team at the moment because he's off form, and, well, you can see what the result of that is.

[Steddyman]

He's probably ****** off the chairman is doing nothing to strengthen and support the team he plays in.

[Rileybobs]

I reckon if he had a few games off he'd come back and rip a few full backs new ones.

Maybe, but I'd be surprised if our sports science team were advising he played if he was fatigued to the point that some are claiming. He could have been taken off today or against City for example. I'm not sure tiredness is the issue personally.

[Leisure]

Some idiot posed the question.

And obviously some idiot doesn't understand the purpose of someone asking a question!

[NewClaret]

exactly, on the side that was left wide open!

P.S. Not a criticism of Dwight, clearly been instructed to drift in. Dyche has been talking about it for weeks.

Yep, we look completely devoid of shape. I don’t like him drifting in at all. Just runs in to blind alleys. What we need is a some level of attacking threat from the right side to match the left.

[Rileybobs]

Well if there is a game when Dwight doesn't create something, who else does? Westwood with a very deep cross or one of his corners perhaps? After that you're really struggling.

He's not carrying the team at the moment because he's off form, and, well, you can see what the result of that is.

We went on a great run after 'Project Restart' and I wouldn't say that McNeill particularly carried us through that spell. Like I say, he's a huge talent and our most exciting player, but I don't buy this 'he's tired' or 'he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders'. I think that opposing teams are wising up to his threat and stifling it. He needs to adapt to counter this, and Dyche needs to find a way to get the best out of him again.

[ksrclaret]

We went on a great run after 'Project Restart' and I wouldn't say that McNeill particularly carried us through that spell. Like I say, he's a huge talent and our most exciting player, but I don't buy this 'he's tired' or 'he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders'. I think that opposing teams are wising up to his threat and stifling it. He needs to adapt to counter this, and Dyche needs to find a way to get the best out of him again.

I agree, teams have certainly nullified him much more successfully in recent times, and he and Dyche both need to work hard on an answer to that. But it's also true that there aren't many 20 year olds playing every minute of football for their PL club. It has to take it toll.

But I will say our best bit of football after lockdown was the first half at Palace when Dwight played in a no 10 role and he ran the game. We dominated the ball and were generally excellent. Not saying that's the answer, but it's certainly something I would revisit.

[SGr]

20 year old player who we can’t afford to have off days. Been the same way since he came onto the scene. It’s as much our problem as his

[diamondpocket]

He's certainly trying for the team and doesn't look like he's not putting the effort in. It just isn't coming off more times than not and he isn't assisting to goals. As a young lad bursting on the scene successfully his confidence is obviously gonna take a knock during times like this. It's up to Dyche to find a way to help him out and get that spark and magic back in him. Drifting in and playing more central seems to be the plan to counter the doubling up but it is leaving us open defensively. A difficult one to solve.

[HuncoatClaret]

Form is temporary but class is permanent.
Dwight is 20yrs old, everything is still a learning curve. Let's back thix lad, he's the best thing to come through at Burnley since Trevor Steven and Brian Laws.

[Bordeauxclaret]

And obviously some idiot doesn't understand the purpose of someone asking a question!

Ah right so we are asking any random question in regards to the player.

Did McNeil only play well when Wine Gums were on offer in the local Spar? Or was it only when Britain hadn’t officially given notice to leave the EU?

[dansch]

I don't think people can say other teams have now sussed us out as they've had 18 months or so to realise his threat and they couldn't stop him when doubling up last season.

Seems like it's a team confidence thing at mo and Dwight is trying to do much by drifting all over the park. Still young and still a quality player who will be back to his best soon enough as will others. We are a team that goes through good and bad runs and just happened to have started on a bad run. We'll stay up but will be more of a relegation fight that usual

[Leisure]

Ah right so we are asking any random question in regards to the player.

Did McNeil only play well when Wine Gums were on offer in the local Spar? Or was it only when Britain hadn’t officially given notice to leave the EU?

Calm down, dear! I simply put forward a few scenarios (there could be many others) to see what the views were of other people. Really sorry for that, as I seem to have massively upset you!

[Bordeauxclaret]

Apology for a ridiculous post accepted.

[Leisure]

Apology for a ridiculous post accepted.

No need to apologise!