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Hurst: Dozzell's a Good Footballer Who Wants the Ball, No Question
Monday, 16th Jul 2018 06:00

Blues boss Paul Hurst was pleased to see midfielder Andre Dozzell back in action after almost a year out injured at Braintree on Saturday and felt the 19-year-old showed a desire to get on the ball which wasn’t matched by all of his team-mates.

The England U19 international tore a cruciate knee ligament in the 1-0 opening day win against Birmingham last August and missed the rest of the season.

The former Copleston High School pupil played 45 minutes of last week’s 1-0 behind-closed-doors friendly victory over Kilmarnock in Spain and was introduced as a 65th minute sub during Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the Vanarama National League side at Cressing Road.

“I think straight away with Andre, he gave the ball away a few times but other times he passed it well,” Hurst reflected on the academy product’s performance.

“You can just tell he’s a good footballer and he wants the ball, which is something I sometimes question.

“As footballers, if you ask everybody they’ll be like, ‘Yeah, I want the ball, I want the ball’. Well, Doz actually goes and gets the ball.

“Some of the others, did they today as much as they could have done? I’d question that. I’m pleased to get him out there.”

After almost a year out, Hurst says Dozzell won’t be going into the new season quite as ready as he would have been last summer.

“He’s going to have a battle with himself as much as anything that hopefully myself and the rest of the staff will help him with, in terms of him expecting to be the Andre Dozzell who started the first game of last season,” Hurst explained.

“It’s going to take time but it’s still great [he’s back] and he’s working extremely hard. I’ve been really impressed with his attitude.

“There have been times we’ve maybe said to just ease back a little and he’s wanted to carry on, despite being at the back of the running.

“Not in all ways, but when it maybe gets to an extra set of runs, we’ve all probably been in that position at some point in our lives or in some situation when you’re not good at something or you are at the back of the pack. It’s easy to get the white flag out, but he hasn’t done that and that’s really pleasing and positive for me moving forwards.”

Meanwhile, Hurst appears close to making his third Blues signing with Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony revealing that winger Gwion Edwards, for whom Town have agreed a fee of £700,000, having said his goodbyes at the weekend.

The 25-year-old former Wales U21 international’s representatives are understood to have been talking personal terms with the Blues over the weekend and the move could be confirmed as soon as today.

Another Town target, Blackpool central defender Curtis Tilt, was linked with Scottish Premiership Rangers over the weekend. The Blues are understood to have made a £550,000 offer for the ex-Wrexham man.

Speaking about the Blues’ interest in the 26-year-old, who QPR, Reading and Portsmouth are also believed to be eyeing, on Saturday, manager Hurst said: “I want a centre-back. I don’t know whether Curtis will be the one or not.

“And also I think what we have to appreciate is whether clubs want to sell, the prices they’re going to cost.

"That all has to come into the equation because we can all be a manager standing there saying we want this player or that player. But those players [Edwards and Tilt] are good players, they’re probably the type of calibre I’m looking for.”

Elsewhere, Town U23s coach Gerard Nash has passed the UEFA Pro Licence course with the Football Association of Ireland.


Photo: TWTD



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rfretwell added 06:42 - Jul 16
Congratulations Gerrard.
5

BrettenhamBlue added 06:49 - Jul 16
Agree with the praise of Dozzell. Dozzell and Waghorn were the only players who stood out against Braintree. Good to see the manager acknowledging reasonable performances. Too many of the players looked scared to have the ball in my opinion, which led to Braintree growing in confidence as the match progressed.
5

backwiththeboysagain added 07:18 - Jul 16
Reading PH's comments on Saturdays defeat, it seems some need to seriously up their game or he's already decided some players are heading for the exit. Wonder if those he's criticising were MM's guaranteed starters?
1

Karlosfandangal added 07:31 - Jul 16
Hope for the season this year.

Bart looks like he will sign a new contract, Waghorn going nowhere unless silly money , Dozzell Hwes Bishop back early part of the season there or four new signings. Downs and Nydam improving year on year.

Yet can only see mid table this year as Hurst starts to get rid of the dead wood who after a few weeks off and new manager don't seem to have really changed from last year

If town keep the square together lose the dead wood few new signings next year Prem football could be in our sights.
3

Len_Brennan added 09:33 - Jul 16
I like to hear the manager's comments on Dozzell, recognising his wish to take responsibility by getting on the ball & doing something, even if he lost possession a few times. Fitness, sharpness, consistency & confidence will all come over the coming games and it sounds like Hurst will provide an encouraging environment for Andre to realise the potential he was showing a year ago.
We could have a very strong midfield this season, with a creative element that injuries & a cautious manager have denied us for quite a while.
0

RegencyBlue added 10:25 - Jul 16
Get the impression Hurst wasn't overly impressed by some of our players.

Not surprising but makes the lack of activity in the transfer market, at this point, even more concerning. Not much time left now in the scheme of things so whatever we are going to do we need to do it now!
0

BrettenhamBlue added 10:59 - Jul 16
RegencyBlue

I don't think anyone would be impressed by that performance. On another day we could have lost it 4 or 5-0. Dan Thompson had a fair few chances to bury this game but didn't take his chances, so we only lost 2-0.

One of the worst aspects was the head tennis around our area. Braintree would lump it forward, we'd compete and lose it practically every time. My mate next to me started cracking up because it happened so often.

Hurst has rightly praised players who have performed and (most probably) had a word with those that didn't. This wasn't a fluke win for Braintree. They looked the Championship outfit and us the team 3 leagues below (Braintree got promoted via play offs last season).
0

dirtydingusmagee added 11:14 - Jul 16
good to see Hurst wont be tolerating slackers, the players will have to earn their places, hopefully the days of silly nicknames and ''good blokes '' have gone, and we will have a team that give all for the shirt. Boys to men. COYB.
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Adnamsfarter added 12:15 - Jul 16
Well done Gerrard - good on you!
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rgp1 added 13:38 - Jul 16
Now I know why we are having difficulties signing players. Looking at the picture of Hurst above, who's idea was it to send him to the Sahara desert to look for players!
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shakytown added 20:19 - Jul 16
I have said it before that the problem is not Skuse it is that he has no one who wants the ball so he has to pass it backward. Hopefully Dozzell and a few others will change this and give everyone more options otherwise it will be more hoofball.
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brian_a_mul added 21:00 - Jul 16
Seeing Mbappe light up the WC must be an inspiration for every youngster looking to make it, Hurst is getting a good first impression of Dozzer, this should give the lad a big boost, i hope he can really nail the first team. If he does it could transform us in to a good team
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