Chris Dunn...a warning from Northampton Town (3 Viewers)

[LeamingtonBootBoy]

I was one of those who called for Chris Dunn to be given a chance to show what he can do and to replace Murphy...and I think I still am, despite a conversation with a work colleague who supports NTFC (taking the piss over the AB appointment)

He was saying how Dunn was seen as a bit of a disaster waiting to happen at NTFC, good shot stopper, but liable to make huge errors and not a great catcher of the ball. He said that they were amazed a championship club came in for him. He said he'd send me some evidence to back this up, and here it is....

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/s...video_nasty_for_cobblers_keeper_dunn_1_894092

I'd still like to see Dunn get a run out, but perhaps performances in training, and the feedback from Oggy to AT have prevented Dunn getting his chance despite mixed performances from Murphy?

 

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[hughescov]

Sounds like we're even more screwed if Murphy gets injured then..

 

[Sub]

i would take dunns win to game ratio any time over murphy's

 

[Delboycov]

He may have improved a lot since then but it does set off a few alarm bells. If he does turn out to be a 'dodgy' keeper it makes Thorn's decision to let go a seemingly good prospect in Quirke and waste the little money he was given on getting 2 goalies in instead of using it to get cover for more concerning areas of the team very silly.

 

[ashbyjan]

If anyone had seen Dunn at the preseason game at Nuneaton they would easily relate to the sentiments of the Northampton fans. As ever the players not playing are always the ones who will turn it around until they come in and reality sinks in. I seem to recall a month or so back Deegan was going to come in and save our season!

 

[PVA]

Murphy is the least of our worries at the moment, he's been good this year. he's made a couple of mistakes but we've been spoilt for the past 3 seasons and he had a lot to live up to.

I'm not quite sure why so many people are clamoring for Dunn based on one overrated save V Derby. I'm sure he'll be a decent keeper but right now I'd prefer Murphy's experience.

 

[Delboycov]

Very true Ashbyjan and having seen him in that game, I thought he lacked any confidence whatsoever. Not the sort of player you'd like to come into a team on a horrendous losing run and playing without any confidence at all!

 

[torchomatic]

Well, one swallow doesn't make a summer. Anyone can link to a mistake that a player has made in the best. Guess what, players make mistakes. I know that's a bit shocking, but it's true.

 

[Delboycov]

Well, one swallow doesn't make a summer. Anyone can link to a mistake that a player has made in the best. Guess what, players make mistakes. I know that's a bit shocking, but it's true.

I think it was actually 3 swallows in that particular game!!

 

[torchomatic]

No difference. Players have bad games. There`s no story here.

I think it was actually 3 swallows in that particular game!!

 

[ccfcway]

3 clean sheets in a row and then makes a howler !!

Lets get him in !!, I'd happily take that

 

[Delboycov]

No difference. Players have bad games. There`s no story here.

Totally agree with you and it's far better to go on the opinion of those that have watched him week in week out....although having read comments and spoken to several Northampton fans about his ability the jury is definitely out on that. Could be a great player for us but if there is any question as to his confidence then now is not the time to blood him.

 

[Perryccfc]

I spoke to some Northampton fans a few months back at Cambridge services on way to ricoh and they said exactly the same. Very good shot stopper but very awkward in every other aspect

 

[stupot07]

Hang on - what about the first sentence on that document? 3 clean sheets in the last 4 games?

 

[gouldberg]

A few things. That article says he was just 21 at the time, all knowledgeable football fans know that goalkeepers don't mature fully until they hit 23/24 and hit their peak at around 26/27. At 21 Dunn was then an incredibly young keeper to be playing. He was never going to be a perfect keeper at that age. What I've seen of him here is promising. As has been mentioned that article says he kept 3 clean sheets before that game. Murphy hasn't kept 3 clean sheets in a row since March 2009.

Fans will always be bitter when players leave and try to highlight their negatives to scare the players new team. I mean my god I remember us slating Leon Best, he's scored 9 goals in 21 games for Newcastle in the top flight over the last 2 years.

Murphy has been remarkably average throughout his entire career whilst Dunn was hyped as a future Premiership keeper and still has massive potential. That potential will go to waste if he's made to sit on the bench week after week.

Dunn was involved in our only 2 victories this season so in my books I say give him a go!

 

[LeamingtonBootBoy]

No difference. Players have bad games. There`s no story here.

Torchy, me ole mucker, this is not meant to be a 'story'...this is a discussion thread...and I was merely trying to stimulate a discussion on the merits of dropping Joe Murphy (as some CCFC fans have suggested in recent weeks) or not. It may not be something that you agree with, but let's bring some evidence to the fore, eh, and not the playground bully-boy tactics of 'I say this should not be talked about, so we won't'...as your quoted comment suggests.

Anyway, on with the debate...this is a democracy after all.

Dunn's need for development, if that is still the case, then begs two questions;

1) Does this mean that Joe Murphy's place is not under threat all season?
2) If this was a signing for the future, then why did AT use this as his 2nd and final signing of the summer, when he could have kept Quirke (who did everything asked of him at the end of last season) and sign a much needed outfield player?

Interesting that those who have garnered opinion/feedback on Chris Dunn (and not simply stating an ill-informed opinion) agree that he has his limitations...and if included, would this be a risk? Seems so....and may explain why Murphy, despite some errors and a lack of command of his box (which all, and surely Torchy, can see) has not been dropped.

 

[stupot07]

LBB - I am convinced that Sisu pulled the plug on signings, and that AT had no idea that he was only going to brig in 2 players in the summer. I'm sure that if he had known he wouldn't have brought in both keepers.

 

[Delboycov]

That's probably true but we were never going to have a mega transfer fund available...it was only ever going to be peanuts. He had Quirke who hadn't let him down and looked to everyone like a promising keeper, so why get another goalie in anyway when everyone knew the priorities lay elsewhere?

 

[Delboycov]

It's quite ironic as well that so many fans thought the player we wouldn't miss most was Westwood, as goalies were easy to replace or he was over rated anyway. Seems like we've missed him quite a bit!!

 

[stupot07]

Not me Delboy - westwood was worth at least 10-15 points a season. People seem to forget the average keepers we had before him - dimi, Steele, ward, even fullop - Westwood was a class or two above them. It's also ironic how people say that he was rubbish at crosses - IMO that and shot stopping were his 2 biggest strengths. If he came for a cross he would 99% catch it. If anything his distribution was his weakness.

Mind you most fans think we don't miss Gunnar or turner....

 

[LeamingtonBootBoy]

It's quite ironic as well that so many fans thought the player we wouldn't miss most was Westwood, as goalies were easy to replace or he was over rated anyway. Seems like we've missed him quite a bit!!

Agreed, he was 'saving' us 20 points a season...minimum.

As for AT's signings, I agree that he may have been misled, but surely he was aware of the transfer/wages budget at the start of the season...which was obviously minimal???

If not, as stated, keep Quirke, sign Murphy and then an outfield player (or season-long loan).

 

[bulkingtonskyblues]

of course he is gonna be poor or average at best, he was scouted by the cluless thorn remember. i think his brief time as city manager will be summed up by the name cody mcdonald

 

[stupot07]

Agreed, he was 'saving' us 20 points a season...minimum.

As for AT's signings, I agree that he may have been misled, but surely he was aware of the transfer/wages budget at the start of the season...which was obviously minimal???

If not, as stated, keep Quirke, sign Murphy and then an outfield player (or season-long loan).

I'm not sure he did know - in the papers it said the same budget as last season and that the money offered to king, Westwood and Gunnar would be available. Both murphy and Dunn were on free's, although we'd have to give Northampton a small level of compensation. Murphy has been at a yo yo club so you would assume he'd be on an average wage and Dunn would be on peanuts.

I would imagine oggy would have had a big say in whether to keep quirke or not. Also it sounds as though it was a straight decision between quirke and burge.

 

[We'll_live_and_die]

From what I remember Oggy did say that Quirke was not what they were looking for.

So what's the point in carrying useless players?

 

[Gaz]

For me it doesn't matter what the Northampton fans say Dunn was like in the past.
It's all about what he is going to be like after the training from Oggy.
Dunn is one for the future and I would stick with Murphy as our number 1.

As for Quirke, I think that we need to trust not only Thorns judgement but Oggys view as they are the ones who worked with him every day.

 

[LeamingtonBootBoy]

I was a fan of Quirke...but I admit he wasn't the tallest.

As for Dunn, yes, he is one for the future, but that's the issue...in our position (which was clear would be desperate from pre-season), we needed to sign more established players, surely.

 

[Gaz]

Well tbf I think Thorn got it right as Murphy is an established championship number 1 and we were always going to need a back up GK who didn't cost much ala Dunn.

 

[Delboycov]

Couldn't agree more Stupot...for me he was the best keeper we've had since Oggy and I think some people underestimated how good he is. They say you only appreciate something when it's gone and whatever the merits and limitations of Dunn and Murphy we've missed Westwood at least as much as the others. So much for him warming the bench at Sunderland...

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

That's probably true but we were never going to have a mega transfer fund available...it was only ever going to be peanuts. He had Quirke who hadn't let him down and looked to everyone like a promising keeper, so why get another goalie in anyway when everyone knew the priorities lay elsewhere?

Firstly, if Quirke was so great, where is he now? Has he been snapped up by another club? Or has he got a job in the real world?

Secondly, I'm pretty sure Thorn was intending to make other signings. He was promised the same budget as Boothroyd had last season, but that didn't materialise. As Clouting said (and Ken denied), "Budgets change". This left AT in a situation where he'd brought in 2 keepers-sensible, starting at the back, and the alternative was no keepers- and suddenly had nothing else to spend!

 

[JHarding1987]

Dunn has got the only 100% record, add that to a club that has lost every other game, add that to the fact Joe Murphy has cost us at least 15 points, to me all points to Dunn being given a fair crack. Murphy has been poor IMHO.

 

[torchomatic]

Ooh look...

Torchy, me ole mucker, .

 

[Steve.B50]

Quirke is at Tamworth on £100 a week.
Get him back and double his wages.

 

[Astute]

Dunn has got the only 100% record, add that to a club that has lost every other game, add that to the fact Joe Murphy has cost us at least 15 points, to me all points to Dunn being given a fair crack. Murphy has been poor IMHO.

I am a GK. I have never let a goal in for our club. I have never dropped a catch and we have won every game when I have played for us. Does this make me better than Murphy?

 

[Sky Blue Kid]

Unless he's given a "Fair Crack" we'll never know.

 

[stupot07]

To be fair is a Sunderland fan read the Joe Murphy thread they would get the impression that Westwood is crap.