Dwight McNeil

[Elizabeth]

This is fascinating. I read this and thought it bore no resemblance to the goal I watched, so I’ve gone and found it online and turns out I was right, this is utter tosh. It describes a counter attacking goal and it was nothing of the sort.

It actually started down our right. Lennon and Roberts doubled up on Mount (I think) so Westwood shuffled across to (sort of) engage the left wing back. At that point, the ball is 15 yards inside our half and we have 8 men behind the ball - including McNeil who far from ambling back has taken up a position ten yards to Brownhill’s left, as you’d expect. They’d both shuffled across to cover the gap left by Westwood which did leave more space out wide when the ball was switched to James, but we are playing Chelsea. Still, no great danger.

Taylor then goes to James as you’d expect, and Tarkowski does end up outside him - but nothing to do with McNeil, it’s all because Pulisic makes a run from the centre to the outside and Tarks has to go with him, stands him up initially but then doesn’t do enough to stop the cross, before Roberts makes a fatal step forwards leaving Mount and getting caught under the cross in one movement. Still, the header isn’t particularly threatening but Pope inexplicably misjudged it and it ends up ghosting in.

So - 3 or 4 players partly to blame, but absolutely none of them called Dwight. But then we’re just blaming for everything at the minute, creating a narrative that he’s not working hard (he is), confusing his disappointment and lack of confidence for a lack of effort (it’s the opposite - he’s trying too hard), ignoring the good things he did (like demanding the ball and never hiding, even when it’s obvious not everything is going his way. That’s real bravery on a football pitch.

Honestly, loads of Burnley fans today who starting raining down moans and groans at him need to evaluate what they’re trying to help the team achieve. McNeil isn’t at the top of his form, especially in front of goal, but he’s not doing badly and hes working hard, trying to get us playing and carrying a threat (more so than a few weeks ago as it happens). Why would you want to impact on the confidence of one of our best players, who Dyche has said is prone to taking stuff to heart, when our chances of survival depend on him performing well? How daft do you have to be?

To think our chances of survival depend on McNeil is plainly daft

[boatshed bill]

Hasn't he had Covid recently?

[claretspice]

To think our chances of survival depend on McNeil is plainly daft

Staying up will require all our best players to perform. He’s one of our best players.

[boatshed bill]

Staying up will require all our best players to perform. He’s one of our best players.

He is indeed, and has been our main "outball" for ages.

[Lancasterclaret]

If someone can tell me who in our squad can do the job McNeil does, I'm all ears

[Elizabeth]

Staying up will require all our best players to perform. He’s one of our best players.

That's different to what you posted. He's one of a full team of players we will need to perform to survive. He has done nothing this season to justify your tag. I think you know that otherwise I can see no point in your many posts championing moving his position

[claretspice]

That's different to what you posted.

No, no it isn’t.

[Elizabeth]

No, no it isn’t.

I'm afraid it is but let's move on

[buzzclarets79]

Staying up will require all our best players to perform. He’s one of our best players.

A winger with 1 assist and 0 goals from 26 appearances, and he’s one of our “best players”

Certainly explains why we are where we are then.

[boatshed bill]

A winger with 1 assist and 0 goals from 26 appearances, and he’s one of our “best players”

Certainly explains why we are where we are then.

Yep, you should see the stats of the rest of them

[BERNIEU]

I'm afraid it is but let's move on

I think we're being a bit picky, but yes you are correct.

Spice said:
"when our chances of survival depend on him performing well" (this insinuates it's down to just McNeil - not any other player performing well)

And then:

"Staying up will require all our best players to perform." (this suggests it's down to more than McNeil - several team players)

[Elizabeth]

I think we're being a bit picky, but yes you are correct.

Spice said:
"when our chances of survival depend on him performing well" (this insinuates it's down to just McNeil - not any other player performing well)

And then:

"Staying up will require all our best players to perform." (this suggests it's down to more than McNeil - several team players)

Yes , he changed his language after I pulled him up when he described others as daft.

[BERNIEU]

Yes , he changed his language after I pulled him up

He's a fan like the rest of us. Not somebody who knows more than the average Joe, but likes to watch us play. No problem really.

[bobinho]

I think since he came into the team as a bright, young attacking talent with massive potential, he has adapted perfectly to our defensive framework.

And now?

[claretspice]

Yes , he changed his language after I pulled him up when he described others as daft.

I've no idea why you are trying to score points - perhaps a timely reminder why I rarely get involved on here these days - but I'm sorry, there was no change of language.

I said, originally, our staying in depended on McNeil performing well. I didnt suggest it depended only on McNeil performing well or that that was the sole dependency, or even that McNeil playing well was more important than, say Tarkowski playing well. Just that we needed - depended on- McNeil to play well and so it was in all our interests to get behind him.

That stuck me as a fairly uncontroversial point and I've no idea why you are trying to complicate it by placing an insinuation on the original words that simply wasnt there.

[BOYSIE31]

Rubbish.

Yep should have scored and then should have blocked their first goal

Different game then

[Elizabeth]

I've no idea why you are trying to score points - perhaps a timely reminder why I rarely get involved on here these days - but I'm sorry, there was no change of language.

I said, originally, our staying in depended on McNeil performing well. I didnt suggest it depended only on McNeil performing well or that that was the sole dependency, or even that McNeil playing well was more important than, say Tarkowski playing well. Just that we needed - depended on- McNeil to play well and so it was in all our interests to get behind him.

That stuck me as a fairly uncontroversial point and I've no idea why you are trying to complicate it by placing an insinuation on the original words that simply wasnt there.

Oh, give over

[Burnleyareback2]

Should of scored but pleased he is getting in those positions.

Decent game overall, spell only the 2nd half where he kept the ball v 3 Chelsea players and then had to do it again to another 2. Not sure we have anyone else who can do that.

Being dropped for that 1 game seems to have brought him back as a better player.

UTC

[boatshed bill]

I've no idea why you are trying to score points - perhaps a timely reminder why I rarely get involved on here these days - but I'm sorry, there was no change of language.

I said, originally, our staying in depended on McNeil performing well. I didnt suggest it depended only on McNeil performing well or that that was the sole dependency, or even that McNeil playing well was more important than, say Tarkowski playing well. Just that we needed - depended on- McNeil to play well and so it was in all our interests to get behind him.

That stuck me as a fairly uncontroversial point and I've no idea why you are trying to complicate it by placing an insinuation on the original words that simply wasnt there.

I don't think you need to justify that.
McNeil has been outstanding in a very average team for about 3 years.

[bumba]

None of the players look to enjoy themselves they look bored and fed up we take all the creativity out of them. I remember when McNeil broke through and people joked Dyche will coach that directness out of him. Didn't take long did it

[ksrclaret]

We need more posters like Spice on here and far fewer of the other sort playing silly buggers and scoring points.

Anyway, McNeil was really poor today and I'm usually one of his biggest fans. Nothing he did came off and he looks absolutely drained of any confidence at the moment. We clearly don't use him correctly but he's probably going through his lowest point at the moment. I hope he comes out of it with us and as a better player.

[KevBallsTackle]

I think Dwight hasn’t been on top form of late and he has had a tendency to tie himself in knots slightly with his over reliance on his left foot. However he is still a very good and useful player for us and he does put the effort in despite people suggesting otherwise.

I do think that he is over thinking mistakes due to reaction of the crowd. He has become a target for a few in the crowd (none more so than someone who sits directly behind me - Absolutely berates Dwight for the slightest mistake but will say something along the lines of “oooh unlucky” if Wout does the exact same thing 20 secs later).

You can see in Dwight’s body language when he makes a mistake and feels the crowd reaction that he is overthinking it and letting it get to him. Yes, he is a man now and it’s for him to deal with that and put it to one side in order to push on but I really don’t think the crowd are helping him at the minute. Dyche always goes on about tight margins and if we can try and encourage him more rather than be quick to jump on his back in comparison to other players, then that might just help improve his performance that little bit to help get us on the right side of these margins.

One thing I saw in Dwight today was that even when a lot of people were getting on his back he never shied away from the ball and continued to go looking for it to play his way out of the bad batch. That’s how he’ll get out of it and let’s support him to do that! We need every little percentage in our favour to get out of the drop zone so let’s encourage Dwight to get back to player we know he is!

[Claretforever]

I’m a McNeil fan. I think he’s one of our best players, but he’s in a poor run of form lately.

He is very negative with the ball, always safety first backwards passes, and totally against the player we first took to. He used to be so gung-ho, crosses into the box early which surprised defences, taking players on. He’s lost his confidence somewhere. I hope he gets it back because he’s one hell of a player.

[Woodleyclaret]

Awful today
Strolling back after loosing the tackle is totally unacceptable
Dwight let himself down today but he needs to play wide left
He can't tackle so why he insists on drifting into cm is a puzzle
Sean needs to sort this issue out
It's like playing with 10 men when Dwight is on this form

[Burnleyareback2]

Scapegoats nonsense thread

[CrosspoolClarets]

Dwight has had at least 2 goals and 5 assists in the Prem for his 3 seasons to date, which is decent but not great, admittedly his last two haven’t hit the heights of his breakthrough year when he did it in half the games.

This year’s 1 assist is not even close to being good enough. Lennon has beaten that just in February.

The problem I have with him is he wants to wait until the perfect moment to pass or shoot. This isn’t just recently. Numerous times today he could have hit a shot or early cross but took extra touches. Contrast to James, OK, an annoying little cheat for pretending to be injured but a very good player. The situation when he took his goal meant it was only a half chance, on getting the space he still had to hit throigh bodies. But he seized his chance. Dwight doesn’t.

EDIT - decided this sounds too negative, not intended, he probably warrants a startong place, but I don’t see an improvement curve. That’s the key for him. Reluctantly, he looks a player that needs a move.

[ClaretLoup]

One thing that I think I have noticed about McNeil is that he always seems to shoot over the bar. Maybe it’s ever since he knocked that one in at Everton top bins. He needs to get over the ball then shoot hard and low that way deflections and rebounds come in to play.

Has anyone else noticed this or is it my imagination?

[majormajor]

The stick he's getting on the Turf is ******* me right off. He's a player who looks totally devoid of confidence and he's getting constant pelters.

For ***** sake get behind players and show them support when they're struggling.

[alwaysaclaret]

The Manager mentioned in his post match interview that he only turned backwards once when he came on. Seems to me they are working on him being more forward thinking, running at the opposition and taking them on more.

What they need to work on is he's right foot and going forward will then just come naturally, but in terms of going backwards, what's dyche's thinking regarding the rest of the team, cos that's what they think of first most of the time this season, strikes me that's dyche's tactics, if in doubt go back

[joey13]

The stick he's getting on the Turf is ******* me right off. He's a player who looks totally devoid of confidence and he's getting constant pelters.

For ***** sake get behind players and show them support when they're struggling.

How about he puts some effort in and try and win the fans back ,too much to ask for ?

[RVclaret]

How about he puts some effort in and try and win the fans back ,too much to ask for ?

He does put in effort and it’s ridiculous to suggest he isn’t.

[KRBFC]

Playing McNeill out of position, on the right, definitely affected him this season. It didn't work and his performances on the right set the snowball rolling, making him a focus for the constant criticism he is now receiving. Criticism that is not wholly deserved. However, it bears repeating that our small tactical teaks in the first 18 games ( minus the one against Brentford ) made all of our players look crap. Dwight was simply one of may players who were under performing.

Disagree completely, his 2 best games this season was Leicester away and Soton away, where he played wide right both games.

[KRBFC]

The problem with Dwight is he's constantly so deep, every time he picks up the ball he has to beat 2 men just to play a simple 5-10 yard pass inside. How are you supposed to really affect the game, pressed so deep?

Like at Arsenal, every time he got the ball he was basically playing left back, he had to run the entire length of the pitch beating men on the way, just to put a cross in the box.

[KRBFC]

We're too deep or too slow through midfield, the wide players are never 1v1.

[AlargeClaret]

He does put in effort and it’s ridiculous to suggest he isn’t.

Of course he puts effort in, but he’s incredibly slow to track back /recover immediately after he loses possession . It’s a bit unfair imo ,but that’s what gets the crowd giving him stick as it looks like he’s being lazy . It’s more just his natural “ slouchy” movement which accentuates this . Not forgetting we were playing the European champs .

[beddie]

He is a good player and I’m convinced with a top coach he’d be a much better player. I picked up today what Gary Neville had to say about Grealish, he got the ball, went forward turned and passed, unlike the old, beat the man a few times and the turning back. They need to teach Dwight if the pass is on looking forward release it. Perhaps he needs a “Pep” talk.

[CoolClaret]

The problem with Dwight is he is overly reactive vs proactive and constantly has his head down or up at the sky.

He’s infuriating

The absolute epitome of this is when he presumed the ball was running out of play until Jay charged it down and created a half chance for McNeil.

I’ve said it for a while but I really don’t believe he has the mentality/temperament to be a top half PL player.

[RVclaret]

The problem with Dwight is he is overly reactive vs proactive and constantly has his head down or up at the sky.

He’s infuriating

The absolute epitome of this is when he presumed the ball was running out of play until Jay charged it down and created a half chance for McNeil.

I’ve said it for a while but I really don’t believe he has the mentality/temperament to be a top half PL player.

I think a Fulham / Bournemouth could come in for him. Everton and Villa have also been reported as keen in recent windows. So probably lower - mid table Prem will be his level I would think.

[joey13]

He does put in effort and it’s ridiculous to suggest he isn’t.

So why are fans giving him grief then ?