Mike Dodds has named one ‘wonderful’ Sunderland star who can do one big thing to improve next season.
Sunderland‘s young players have really hit the headlines in recent years – winning promotion to the Championship and then reaching the play-offs with an average age off 23.5 years old.
However, it has been a season to forget this time round, with the youngsters buckling under the pressure due to very little experience and leadership within the squad.
Pierre Ekwah is one player who has significantly dropped off since a stellar opening campaign on Wearside, while the likes of Luis Hemir Semedo and Eliezer Mayenda have proven they are not yet ready for Championship football.
One man who has continued to grow, develop and really stand out among his teammates is Dan Neil.
The midfielder was previously one who had often had question marks above him, however he has rapidly improved this time round.
With Jack Clarke winning Player of the Year and often receiving the plaudits for the small positives Sunderland can take from this season, Mike Dodds has now claimed that Neil really doesn’t get the ‘credit he deserves’.
What Dan Neil can do to improve
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, the interim coach said: “I’m a huge Dan Neil fan.
“In my personal opinion I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. I think he’s got a huge future ahead of him and he should be one of the players the club are building the team around and I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“I think the club have got a really, really good footballer, a real humble boy who has come thorough the academy. He’s a wonderful asset. He’s tactically excellent, in both phases, in and out of possession. If I ask him to execute something, he’s almost like my voice on the pitch in terms of the tactical stuff with the things he spots and solves for you. I’ve got nothing but praise for Dan.
“Can he score more goals? Potentially. His counterargument to that is he’s obviously playing deeper, but I do think he’s a player who can have more effect in the top area of the pitch.
“I think this year, if you went back to the early games of the season, he did play more advanced. So I do think it’s a role he can definitely fulfil.
“In terms of what is his best position? He’s still a young man, he could end up being a No.6, he could end up being a No.8, I think he does both roles really well. I just think, even if he is playing as the No.6, we’re going to be a team who wants to have more of the ball moving forward and that No.6 position will be more advanced and be more in the opposition half than it would be in our half. So even as a No.6, I think he can have more of an influence on the top area of the pitch in terms of key passes or more forward passes and those types of things.
“He’s a wonderful asset and I think when he was injured for the Millwall game, I’ll be honest with you, it was a huge blow for me because of how highly I rate him. He’s a massive miss for us.”
Dan Neil is just as important as Jack Clarke
Jack Clarke can claim the goals, but Dan Neil has been unbelievably important to Sunderland this term.
The 22-year-old has the third-most shots on the squad (55), second-most tackles (74), third-most interceptions (39), second-most blocked passes (44), third-most successful dribbles (42) and the third-most key passes (46).
Neil is pretty much just brilliant at everything, and his hard-work and determination makes him even more affective on the pitch.
People are concerned about Clarke leaving, but I would honestly be more heartbroken if Neil followed him out the door.
He certainly doesn’t get the credit he deserves, but in a campaign where many of our players have struggled, he really stood up, took charge and put on some really important performances.
His absence has been glaringly obvious in recent matches, and without him next season I think we would be in massive trouble.