Berry or Dawson? Tonight, no contest.

You cant pass forwards if theres no one there can you?

 

Couldn't disagree more.

I was at the game last night (mate is a Rochdale fan) and Dawson did what Dawson does which is run around a lot, fall over and, very occasionally, control the ball by taking 6 touches and then taking an age to play a measured, six yard sideways pass.

Yes, he had a couple of runs into the Stoke box but, as ever, he never really had the ball under control and he always ended up on his backside.

Poor, poor player and I saw nothing last night to suggest that we're missing him.

 

PS - On an unrelated note, Rhys Bennett was excellent, would definitely have him at Oakwell (particularly if Big Jean/Cranie are on their way out)

 

Hard to compare... Dawson has found his level at L1, certainly wasnt championship quality... Berry is still very young and has featured more than perhaps was expected of him at this stage due to lack of depth in midfield and more experienced players not impressing DW e.g. Treacy, Digby and Jennings

 

If question was Bailey or Dawson, id go for Dawson everytime

 

People see what they want to see when they watch certain players. If Dawson plays out of his skin he can look like an average footballer that puts an above average amount of work in. There is definitely a place or even a need for someone like that in midfield in the lower leagues and we probably do lack that type of player at the moment, but Berry has twice the footballing ability of Dawson.

As does Bailey.

 

Can't believe there's even a debate. Dawson joined us after playing in the conference, League Two & League One, was captain of a L1 side & we paid £150k for him at the age of 27.

Luke Berry is 22, signed from the conference and only went pro in the Summer.

Context is a dirty word.

 

I would honestly, at the moment, have him over Berry. If nothing else, at least Dawson contributed a few goals.

Whether Berry will get better I don't know, he's certainly got age on his side compared to Dawson.

 

Difficult to judge as Berry has looked better but you've got to factor in that he's playing against weaker opposition.

 

Agreed. Berry hasn't proven himself yet in a struggling league one side so would really struggle if we were still in the championship. We haven't got an hard ******* midfielder who can put the frighteners on the opposition. Dawson was a poor mans Viera, Keane, Wise etc in that role but at least we had someone for the role.

 

Short memories on here. Stephen Dawson was useless and a big reason we were relegated. The fact he then turned his back on the club/manager who stood by him and now speaks as though only Rochdale and Keith have saved his career etc, serves only to add to my dislike of him as a player and now person.

When we went to Spotland and Berry played him off the park this season, Dawson was telling his teammates to "snap the basterds" and other such crude suggestions. As I say, absolute nobber.


Not sure why it is that our 'fans' enjoy beating up on a 21 year old lad making his first step into professional football whilst simultaneously bigging up one of the worst players we've had to watch in our lifetime.

In just under 100 games for us, Dawson had a win percentage of 16%.

Gash on a stick.

 

Luke Berry has scored more goals in his career at the age of 22 than Stephen Dawson has in his entire career, regardless of level.

 

And hopefully he will find that form with us at some point. It might be that he's not in an attacking enough role, but he's not even come close to scoring in the league this season. Granted he scored a belter in the JPT. Wouldn't mind seeing him in Hourihane's position next game, think Conor needs a rest as he's been a total passenger recently.

 

Berry has got time on his side to improve, Dawson never will.

 

Two totally different players for me. The problem we have is that Wilson has signed too many similar players and that led to a squad with no variety.

The way I look at it is that if they were defenders then berry is a cool and calm bobby hassell, or cranie type who arent the tallest or most physically dominating and Dawson is an mvoto or Darren Moore type. Big and strong but not the best on the floor. While the hassells and cranies might be the better players you still need a Moore or mvoto in the squad because certain games require that strength and domineering presence. If you get rid of an mvoto you aren't improving the squad by signing bobby hassells twin brother to add to the rest of the bobby's. You'd be improving the squad by signing a shackell. Ie same strengths as mvoto but better