O’Dowda

[Henry]

Absolutely awful. He offered Pring no protection and looked lost.

As they attacked down our left for their goal, O’Dowda was wide right.

I would not be disappointed to never see him play again.

[KegCity]

He’s a waste of time. Has had more than enough opportunities to show quality and he more often than not fails to deliver.

Wish he’d gone to Leeds.

[Red Army 75]

Absolutely crap. Shame he signed that contract. No goals no assists always injured. 

[Alan Dicks]

Been stealing a living here for years.

The lower two leagues is where he really should be.

[Numero Uno]

He got hooked at half time for a reason. People who only watch the ball would have missed it. Hung his own left back out to dry.

[Northern Red]

Complete nothing player.

[The Coach]

Robbed a living from us past 4 seasons. Should be playing for the blue side of Bristol. That’s his level. 

[Silvio Dante]

Can I go slightly against the grain. I think defensively he was poor, but offensively he was our only outlet first half. Made a few good runs, and put on a more than acceptable chance for Wells that he blazed wide.

What summed up COD for me was when he made a driving run, got fouled and earns a free kick in a good position but didn’t beat the front man when taking.

I know he’s not popular, but he at least looked like getting us on the front foot.

[old_eastender]

He showed flashes of good play buy typically wasted his best moments -

• Pressed and won the ball to reach the bye-line, but then hammered a ball across that gave Wells little chance of getting on the end of it and being able to control it. 
• Did well to win a Free kick running at them, to give us a good chance of swinging in a cross to be attacked, then takes the FK and fails to beat the first defender.

He has had enough chances for me.

 

[JoeAman08]

No worse than Weimann or Wells today imo. Not my favourite player either. Got hooked at HT and yet we didn’t get much better defending after the change. Lost probably our only threat going forward too. Odd sub for me with Weimann and Wells out there. 

[Ecko]

Crap player and it amazes me that some on here defend him. 

Pissed right off with him and have been for ages. Would be happy if the club paid his contract up and release him.

Edited October 16, 2021 by Ecko

[johnheadbcfc]

Talking about players not wanting to play for the club, Wells to me looks disinterested. Maybe that just how he plays I'm not sure.

[Super]

He was no worse than anyone else.

[RobintheRed Red]

18 minutes ago, Henry said:

Absolutely awful. He offered Pring no protection and looked lost.

As they attacked down our left for their goal, O’Dowda was wide right.

I would not be disappointed to never see him play again.

Hes crap hes a bottler in the tackle thats why he's forever injured I watched him chicken out at Brentford a couple of year ago

[And Its Smith]

Was one of our better players in the first half, getting the ball and moving us up the field. The victim of a formation change at half time.  There were a fair few worse than him today. 

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

Funny how O’Dowda always gets roasted, however he plays.  He was arguably our best player in the first half and I certainly didn’t see the first goal stemming from a poor pass.  It was James losing the ball that was the problem, but then the likes of James, Martin and Weimann rarely get criticised.  Martin was absolutely abysmal today, but we don’t have thread on that.  

[JBFC II]

Was our only real attacking threat in the first half, which isn't saying much admittedly. 

Did more offensively than either weimann or Wells, despite playing only 45 minutes, but his scapegoat status doesn't help him

[Ecko]

2 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Was one of our better players in the first half, getting the ball and moving us up the field. The victim of a formation change at half time.  There were a fair few worse than him today. 

One of our better players? Are you having a laugh?

[Red Army 75]

Pearson took him off half time because he was playing poorly. Pretty obvious really 

[The Gasbuster]

8 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

Funny how O’Dowda always gets roasted, however he plays.  He was arguably our best player in the first half and I certainly didn’t see the first goal stemming from a poor pass.  It was James losing the ball that was the problem, but then the likes of James, Martin and Weimann rarely get criticised.  Martin was absolutely abysmal today, but we don’t have thread on that.  

Agree 100%

[WolfOfWestStreet]

Hes an absolute fraud. No worse than anyone else, granted, but he gets roasted and singled out because he's exceptionally rewarded for doing almost nothing. Bin it.

[GrahamC]

13 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

Funny how O’Dowda always gets roasted, however he plays.  He was arguably our best player in the first half and I certainly didn’t see the first goal stemming from a poor pass.  It was James losing the ball that was the problem, but then the likes of James, Martin and Weimann rarely get criticised.  Martin was absolutely abysmal today, but we don’t have thread on that.  

Agree, I actually thought he was our only outlet (one brilliant cross) & assumed he came off because he had a knock.

Martin wasn’t great but gets isolated in the games we struggle. Much as I like King I thought he was struggling big time even before he pulled up & should have come off before him.

One of those days when a lot went wrong but to pin it on O’Dowda is ridiculous.

[Davefevs]

38 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

He got hooked at half time for a reason. People who only watch the ball would have missed it. Hung his own left back out to dry.

Yes, not an injury, Nige confirmed a “tactical change”……you’d think he (Nige) could’ve gone 352 with the personnel that ended the half.  The fact that he didn’t just play Pring LCB3 with Callum and George as WBs, tells me he wasn’t happy with O’Dowda.  Because he used Dasilva, meant 10 men when King went off too.

@Silvio Danteagree, he did a couple of decent things….but his lack of tracking back (a basic part of his game - Gary Owers) far outweighed any positive bits.

I think people like me will always pick up on players who don’t appear to put enough effort in, or only put it in going one way (going forward).  I can’t comprehend that, unless they come with so much talent that you can sort of let them off (e.g. Tomlin…..at times, not when he was being a nob).

He wasn’t the only player not earning his corn today though.

Edited October 16, 2021 by Davefevs

[Banjo Red]

Move on

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, billywedlock said:

You seem to have omitted his lack of tracking back. It is a basic requirement in his position . It is certainly why he was taken off . He had a shocker. (some others did too )

Exactly, you can’t judge a player as “arguably our best player first half” if you take a full view of what the expectation of his role is.

And then to say Weimann and Martin rarely get criticised….this forum is full of their critics.

As you say, others poor today, e.g. Matty James, but nobody has come on here to say he was good, so there is no debate about him.

[Numero Uno]

34 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

Funny how O’Dowda always gets roasted, however he plays.  He was arguably our best player in the first half and I certainly didn’t see the first goal stemming from a poor pass.  It was James losing the ball that was the problem, but then the likes of James, Martin and Weimann rarely get criticised.  Martin was absolutely abysmal today, but we don’t have thread on that.  

If you are playing left midfield and your left back is getting bummed you have to help out. It’s basics. If you sit in the stand and ball watch for 90 minutes I guess you miss that part of the game? A few runs with the ball werent enough for the staff that’s for sure. He gave James a terrible pass for the goal.

[And Its Smith]

32 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

Pearson took him off half time because he was playing poorly. Pretty obvious really 

It was to change the shape. You didn’t even watch the game!

[Numero Uno]

8 minutes ago, billywedlock said:

You seem to have omitted his lack of tracking back. It is a basic requirement in his position . It is certainly why he was taken off . He had a shocker. (some others did too )

Amazing how many people who have been watching football for years don’t understand what a wide midfield player has to do.

[Red Army 75]

Just now, And Its Smith said:

It was to change the shape. You didn’t even watch the game!

You really are a idiot . I called it first half same as Nige. But you know best clown 

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

It was to change the shape. You didn’t even watch the game!

Why didn’t he do that with the eleven that ended the half then?  He had the personnel to do so?  Just play Callum and George as WBs?  Having made one sub already, surely he wouldn’t have wasted another when he could’ve made the system change with the eleven on at that point?

The fact Nige pulled him off, tells me he wasn’t happy with him.

Edited October 16, 2021 by Davefevs

[Numero Uno]

2 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

It was to change the shape. You didn’t even watch the game!

Pring remained left back, Dasilva played in front of him. O’Dowda could have done that but we were getting destroyed down that side.

[Silvio Dante]

21 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Yes, not an injury, Nige confirmed a “tactical change”……you’d think he (Nige) could’ve gone 352 with the personnel that ended the half.  The fact that he didn’t just play Pring LCB3 with Callum and George as WBs, tells me he wasn’t happy with O’Dowda.  Because he used Dasilva, meant 10 men when King went off too.

@Silvio Danteagree, he did a couple of decent things….but his lack of tracking back (a basic part of his game - Gary Owers) far outweighed any positive bits.

I think people like me will always pick up on players who don’t appear to put enough effort in, or only put it in going one way (going forward).  I can’t comprehend that, unless they come with so much talent that you can sort of let them off (e.g. Tomlin…..at times, not when he was being a nob).

He wasn’t the only player not earning his corn today though.

Don’t get me wrong Dave, I’m as keen to pick up on lack of effort as the next man - but I thought a lot of Prings problems today came from Pring. He was poorly positioned and caught out often. O’Dowda could have undoubtedly done better, but Pring had a mare, and COD may have lessened that but not resolved it

[Fuber]

47 minutes ago, Super said:

He was no worse than anyone else.

This.

Id actually argue that his driving runs were the only time we looked at all like creating anything.

Biggest issue today was how good Bournemouth were.

They will be top of the league and for good reason. Parker has them well sorted.

 

 

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, Silvio Dante said:

Don’t get me wrong Dave, I’m as keen to pick up on lack of effort as the next man - but I thought a lot of Prings problems today came from Pring. He was poorly positioned and caught out often. O’Dowda could have undoubtedly done better, but Pring had a mare, and COD may have lessened that but not resolved it

So your left back is having a mare. Do you say “**** it, his problem” or get back and help him out?

[And Its Smith]

9 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Pring remained left back, Dasilva played in front of him. O’Dowda could have done that but we were getting destroyed down that side.

Pring played left centre back not left back 

[Davefevs]

Just now, Silvio Dante said:

Don’t get me wrong Dave, I’m as keen to pick up on lack of effort as the next man - but I thought a lot of Prings problems today came from Pring. He was poorly positioned and caught out often. O’Dowda could have undoubtedly done better, but Pring had a mare, and COD may have lessened that but not resolved it

Pring poor….totally agree….they failed to work as a pair today.

Stacey too much time to get his head up because O’Dowda doesn’t ever engage him.

Pring fearful of going too tight to Lowe, as 1) Stacey has a no pressure pass, so if he gets sucked too tight, 2) Lowe spins him in behind.

If O’Dowda presses Stacey with intent, then Stacey can’t pick a pass.  Pring can go tight.  Worse still when he comes short and plays a one-two with Stacey who’s motored past O’Dowda and is breaking the lines, dragging King or James out.

Etc, etc.

It needs one or both of them to clatter their man, take a yellow and change the dynamic.  No chance of O’Dowda ever doing that though.

Both bloody poor today.  Both deserve equal criticism.  Big learning curve for Cam….playing only his 2nd Champ match at LB…..against Lowe.

 

[And Its Smith]

11 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

You really are a idiot . I called it first half same as Nige. But you know best clown 

Don’t criticise a player if you didn’t even watch the game

[Davefevs]

For info, we swapped formation several times second half, trying to get a balance.

[Red Army 75]

1 minute ago, And Its Smith said:

Don’t criticise a player if you didn’t even watch the game

Strange man/woman. Wish you well 

[And Its Smith]

Just now, Red Army 75 said:

Strange man/woman. Wish you well 

Says the person who started sending swear words at me today for now reason 

[Ashtonboy]

I thought he was world class compared to Bakinson who shouldn't be in the match day squad, let alone get on to the pitch. 

[Numero Uno]

2 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Pring played left centre back not left back 

But Dasilva played in front of him rather than O'Dowda who clearly couldn't be trusted to do the defensive work he needed to do because he simply offered nothing defensively first half. If O'Dowda was showing willingness to help out and making a few decent runs with the ball he would have stayed on.

[Red Army 75]

Just now, And Its Smith said:

Says the person who started sending swear words at me today for now reason 

Don’t cry love. Sensitive little poster 

[And Its Smith]

Just now, Red Army 75 said:

Don’t cry love. Sensitive little poster 

Mate you’re unhinged 

[Numero Uno]

14 minutes ago, Fuber said:

This.

Id actually argue that his driving runs were the only time we looked at all like creating anything.

Biggest issue today was how good Bournemouth were.

They will be top of the league and for good reason. Parker has them well sorted.

 

 

I agree and the result itself doesn't bother me. However the fact we didn't even compete today, for the first time this season I might add, was very disappointing. I can accept lack of quality but that was surrender out there today.

[RedM]

21 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Why didn’t he do that with the eleven that ended the half then?  He had the personnel to do so?  Just play Callum and George as WBs?  Having made one sub already, surely he wouldn’t have wasted another when he could’ve made the system change with the eleven on at that point?

The fact Nige pulled him off, tells me he wasn’t happy with him.

At the time I assumed he didn’t recover from the knock he had before HT. As you said we wasted a sub.

O’Dowda is passionate about the club, I’ve sat near him when he has been in with the fans at away matches. But he can’t seem to channel that drive on the pitch, he either hasn’t got the talent or the desire. He at 26 is a senior pro, but still seems like one of the youngsters who needs better players around him to help him. He should be one of the ones our less experienced players learn from.

[One Team]

1 hour ago, Henry said:

Absolutely awful. He offered Pring no protection and looked lost.

As they attacked down our left for their goal, O’Dowda was wide right.

I would not be disappointed to never see him play again.

Completely agree and many of the similar posts on this thread. 

Just enough now FFS. Apart from the overall frustration of over 5 years of under achievement he’s keeping one of the young players out of the team. 

I hope he’s sold in January or at the very least shown the door when his contract ends in September next year. 

[shelts]

A threat when going forward but still no end product , if he was any good he wouldn’t be playing for us !!

[Wrongagain]

COD Only player that gave us anything going forward in the first half - every other player could not keep the ball at all, a situation that got far worse with the introduction of Wells - id rather see Palmer on as he at least is an honest tryer!
Wells ranges from the invisible man to being just plain useless - the amount of times he’s given offside is an absolute joke, if he were interested in playing for the shirt he would be properly available for passes and be a far different player - January can’t come soon enough - another teams crisis could free up a wage for a player that wants to be at BS3

[GrahamC]

1 hour ago, Ashtonboy said:

I thought he was world class compared to Bakinson who shouldn't be in the match day squad, let alone get on to the pitch. 

Really can’t work him out.

He just ambles around & one excellent defence splitting pass aside, it was like having 9 men when King went off.

Be amazed if he starts v Forest, even if Williams (a certainty), HNM & King are all absent.

Said it on another thread I’d much rather have Vyner in the squad than him, he just doesn’t work hard enough.

[Shuffle]

7 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Really can’t work him out.

He just ambles around & one excellent defence splitting pass aside, it was like having 9 men when King went off.

Be amazed if he starts v Forest, even if Williams (a certainty), HNM & King are all absent.

Said it on another thread I’d much rather have Vyner in the squad than him, he just doesn’t work hard enough.

Agree & the occasional good pass aside, he just cannot get around the pitch, doesn’t tackle and was a ridiculous sub by Pearson as he brought on the least mobile player in the squad when we are being over run.

[MC RISK77]

2 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

Mate you’re unhinged 

Pretty sure you or your previous guise got your knickers in a twist and started crying about how much more KITR knows about our transfer activity than anyone else. So not sure labelling others As unhinged is for you.

Think you  also claimed Semenyo would be our next £15-£20m sale.

O’dowda is dreadful, Irish work colleague cannot believe he is an international, but more symptom of their current lack of talent as a nation.

[Ivorguy]

Sadly O’Dowda will never be good enough.  Hasn’t improved since he arrived. He definitely needs to be moved on.  Pring has time to improve.  
Talking of younger players we need, IMO, to give Bell a run of four games or so.  He really can’t have less to offer than Martin, whose best days are now far behind him, or Wells for that matter, another never good enough - sometimes looking as tho he might be but constantly then disappointing. 

We truly have bought cheap and paid the price for that.  Atkinson and Tanner are exceptions but we had Nige here when they came in - another reason to trust in Nige.

[Dredd]

I wouldn’t be bothered if he never played for City again. I know that sounds harsh but for the two times he actually puts in a performance per season he’s keeping JD CP or a youngster out of the team. 

[And Its Smith]

16 minutes ago, MC RISK77 said:

Pretty sure you or your previous guise got your knickers in a twist and started crying about how much more KITR knows about our transfer activity than anyone else. So not sure labelling others As unhinged is for you.

Think you  also claimed Semenyo would be our next £15-£20m sale.

O’dowda is dreadful, Irish work colleague cannot believe he is an international, but more symptom of their current lack of talent as a nation.

Don’t think so mate. I know KITR so wouldn’t have been me.  Sending abuse to people apropos of nothing is very odd behaviour in my book. We will see with Semenyo I guess although it’s completely irrelevant to this. Needs to stay fit and have a run in the team. O’Dowda gets picked by every manager he works with which I think says a lot.

Bottom line is it’s a football forum, football is not worth losing your shit over and sending abuse especially if you are in your 40s is crazy. 

[ohhhshauntaylor]

3 hours ago, JonDolman said:

When James was caught in possession O'Dowda was furthest right of our front 4, so basically become a right winger by that point.

When James is tackled Weimann and Martin were closest to Stacey who made the run down the line to then cross for the goal. 

I expect O'Dowda was told to drift at times, like he did first half against Peterborough. Otherwise it would be strange seeing him do it if Pearson tells him not to.

The difference in the Peterborough game was that Joe Williams can be trusted to cover O'Dowda better than others did for O'Dowda on that first goal today. 

I didnt think O'Dowda was great today, but in a very poor team performance he was our only real threat first half. Probably give him a 6 out of 10, which is better than some others.

The Wells chance he made himself by winning it off of Cahill, and was stretching running at full speed to keep it in. Volleyed cross low into a good area for a poacher like Wells, so did everything right imo. Just a bit unfortunate. 

Your constant defence of COD is incredible. 
 

[Bernard Lerring]

Why has COD been paid by us for 5ish years. How many other players get that much time to prove they're bang average?

Nice way to earn a living I guess!

[And Its Smith]

3 minutes ago, Bernard Lerring said:

Why has COD been paid by us for 5ish years. How many other players get that much time to prove they're bang average?

Nice way to earn a living I guess!

Why does he get picked by every manager he’s ever worked with? Maybe he’s better than some believe. He’s not sat in the reserves for 5 years. Yes he’s had injuries but when fit he has been picked 

Edited October 16, 2021 by And Its Smith

[MC RISK77]

4 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Don’t think so mate. I know KITR so wouldn’t have been me.  Sending abuse to people apropos of nothing is very odd behaviour in my book. We will see with Semenyo I guess although it’s completely irrelevant to this. Needs to stay fit and have a run in the team. O’Dowda gets picked by every manager he works with which I think says a lot.

Bottom line is it’s a football forum, football is not worth losing your shit over and sending abuse especially if you are in your 40s is crazy. 

Yeah lots of abuse, you called someone unhinged, not a nice look.

What has age got to do with anything? Your not 21 either but always seem to pontificate your views to others.
 

o’dowda has not progressed here and does need to be moved on and Semenyo will never be a £15-£20m footballer

[And Its Smith]

9 minutes ago, MC RISK77 said:

Yeah lots of abuse, you called someone unhinged, not a nice look.

What has age got to do with anything? Your not 21 either but always seem to pontificate your views to others.
 

o’dowda has not progressed here and does need to be moved on and Semenyo will never be a £15-£20m footballer

Agree to disagree then

No idea what Semenyo has to do with any of this but hey ho 

[Davefevs]

3 hours ago, RedM said:

At the time I assumed he didn’t recover from the knock he had before HT. As you said we wasted a sub.

O’Dowda is passionate about the club, I’ve sat near him when he has been in with the fans at away matches. But he can’t seem to channel that drive on the pitch, he either hasn’t got the talent or the desire. He at 26 is a senior pro, but still seems like one of the youngsters who needs better players around him to help him. He should be one of the ones our less experienced players learn from.

Well put RedM.

He’s a very likeable lad off the pitch (bit like Taylor Moore), and has forged a career than many of us can only dream of.  But he can’t turn it on where it matters.

We are lauding tracking his man against Peterborough as “goal saving”.

We are lauding a break from his box with the ball at his feet into space, then fouled.  That should be a regular occurrence during the match.

He gets debate on here because some posters are at the extremes, either over-praising or over-criticising “average”.

I guess I will wait to see how many minutes Nige continues to give him, but I was hugely disappointed with his effort today, especially in his partnership with Pring.

[Garland-sweden]

Think he was ok first half. Pace and had a good pass to Wells,we could have scored there. First half vs Posh think he did better then usual. Not a fan of COD but now think he has more ideas then before. Makes his defender and put the ball in to the box. His stats are awful so far in our Club. If he could score or get an assist his confidence will be better. Dont says so mutch but Think he is better now then before. Still not the player i thought he could be. He got pace and is tricky, really hope he can make it but I have my doubts.

[S25loyal]

144 league appearances

7 goals 

10 assists 

How anyone could think the above is good is crazy,

Even more the fact he was basically refusing to sign a contract, thinking someone better would come and didn’t proved a point.  No one wanted him on a free, yet we are still going for him?

I personally think he’s dreadful at this level and those stats prove it. 

He’s an international player all by luck, being English but having Irish grandparents. He would never in a million years get in the England team, so he’s lucky he’s been given the chance for a country he’s not actually from. 

 

Edited October 17, 2021 by S25loyal

[Bernard Lerring]

10 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

Why does he get picked by every manager he’s ever worked with? Maybe he’s better than some believe. 

Your guess is as good as mine. I can't remember the last time he positively & substantially impacted a game 

[And Its Smith]

1 minute ago, Bernard Lerring said:

Your guess is as good as mine. I can't remember the last time he positively & substantially impacted a game 

It’s because these managers rate him and so they pick him. The fans that don’t rate him might not know as much as the managers maybe 

[Davefevs]

Just now, And Its Smith said:

It’s because these managers rate him and so they pick him. The fans that don’t rate him might not know as much as the managers maybe 

Think it will be interesting to see if the current manager continues to pick him when others are available. 

[Bris Red]

The kid is useless. As i have said before countless times he is not fit to wear the shirt. Just **** off please Callum.

[And Its Smith]

10 minutes ago, bris red said:

The kid is useless. As i have said before countless times he is not fit to wear the shirt. Just **** off please Callum.

Blimey. 

[hinsleburg]

Not really sure what to make of COD yesterday, as alluded to you could argue he was our only bright spot offensively  but his off the  ball work was horrendous.

Ultimately, whilst it eventually backfired with King, I would have said the sub and change of shape actually worked. Dasilva and Tanner playing more advanced then became pretty much our only attacking outlet and any half chances came from them.

Think COD suffers on here with same issue Pack had on here where people are so strong in their views. Those that rate him really rate him and vice versa, for me he lands somewhere in the middle. A bang average midfielder and if we want to progress cannot be first choice but could do a role as a 'squad player'.

Part of me would like to see him play in the middle like he does for Ireland and if King/Williams aee out and HNM not fit we could see that...

Edited October 17, 2021 by hinsleburg

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, hinsleburg said:

Not really sure what to make of COD yesterday, as alluded to you could argue he was our only bright spot offensively  but his off the  ball work was horrendous.

Ultimately, whilst it eventually backfired with King, I would have said the sub and change of shape actually worked. Dasilva and Tanner playing more advanced then became pretty much our only attacking outlet and any half chances came from them.

Think COD suffers on here with same issue Pack had on here where people are so strong in their views. Those that rate him really rate him and vice versa, for me he lands somewhere in the middle. A bang average midfielder and if we want to progress cannot be first choice but could do a role as a 'squad player'.

Part of me would like to see him play in the middle like he does for Ireland and if King/Williams aee out and HNM not fit we could see that...

Good post.  As you say, Tanner and Dasilva gave us something second half.

O’Dowda hasn’t played in centre midfield for Ireland for some time. And then it tended to be a 352 (CM in a 3). By my reckoning it was 2018 v Denmark under Martin O’Neill.

Tuesdays team selection will be very interesting.