Sunderland Transfers: 5 Reasons Poyet MUST Sign Michael Dawson
4. His Disciplinary Record
Though he picked up 7 yellow cards last season, Dawsons disciplinary record was a considerable improvement over the player he would likely replace - Wes Brown. Brown was sent off 3 times last term, and has a habit of making rash tackles (even if he was badly let down by one referee last season, somewhat infamously) and his decreasing speed is something of an issue when chasing back to goal. Dawson on the other hand only ever received yellow cards last season for tackles - occasionally professional fouls - though crucially he never picked up a red for the kind of tackles that saw Brown, OShea, Bardsley and Dossena sent off, leaving the rest of the defence badly exposed. The other key is that Dawson knows how to keep a clear head when hes already been booked - a difficult thing for some centre-halves - and that he didnt pick up any second yellows is testament to that. With 7 reds last season, Sunderland could have done with that sort of attitude.
