"Dawson was the club captain and was replaced by Kaboul, who I dont think is in his class as a leader able to dictate games. He has great awareness and also has an ability on the ball. He can pass, he can play. I think one or two Tottenham fans might be asking the question, why on Earth has been replaced by Fazio?. For me, Michael Dawson is a better centre-half than Fazio and Kaboul. I think you could get another two or three years out of Dawson. - BBC pundit Kevin Kilbane, November 2014.
Its hard to disagree with former Everton midfielder Kevin Kilbanes damning indictment of the Spurs defenders and his glowing appraisal of the captain that Mauricio Pochettino shuffled out the door during the summer. Michael Dawson may not possess the pace required to play the style of the former Southampton managers high-pressing game, but the simple truth is that he is a far more accomplished centre-back than either Federico Fazio or Younes Kaboul. Over the course of ten seasons at White Hart Lane, Dawson appeared 324 times for the club before signing for Hull City in a £3.5 million deal during the summer. He has shown the type of composure and level-headedness so far this term that has been badly missed at the heart of the Spurs back-line, leading many to question the reason to sell him.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
