Re: Dawson
Every footballer knows the tale. The team-mate who is dropped, then takes a half-hearted approach to training, and eventually becomes a damaging and divisive presence within the squad.
The player left repeatedly on the bench usually believes he has had a raw deal from his manager and if anyone at Tottenham is entitled to think in that manner, it is Michael Dawson.
Dawson is one of the most experienced players in the squad and has been a commanding, reliable presence in the majority of his 252 appearances for Spurs. This season, despite being named captain shortly before the campaign began, Dawson has played only four minutes of Premier League football for Andre Villas-Boas.
His two starts have come in the Capital One Cup and the Europa League and he hopes to make another in the latter competition, at NK Maribor in tonight’s European contest.
Dawson rejected a move to Queens Park Rangers in the summer and, as fourth-choice centre-back he could be forgiven for concentrating solely on finding an escape route in January.
While the 28-year-old would not confirm his long-term intentions, he insists he will never develop into the sullen figure who quickly becomes the bane of a manager’s life.
“Sulking is not something I’ve ever done, it’s not something I’m going to do and it’s not something I want to be around,” he told Standard Sport.
“Everyone in the squad wants to play and I don’t think it’s right if people come in sulking.
“We all want to play but that’s why you have to stay positive. When you’re called upon, you need your team-mates to want to back you and fight for you. Do I still feel I can force my way in? Of course.
“I always back my own ability, because you have to. In a career you go through hard times and this is one of them, when I’m not playing.
“Under Harry Redknapp I was involved regularly and playing lots of games, so of course this is frustrating.I was used to being captain when Ledley King was unavailable and there was no better feeling than leading the team out. We went to play at some amazing places during those times and those memories will remain.
“I love playing football and I want to do it on a weekly basis. There is nothing better than training from Monday to Friday, winning the game on the Saturday and having that feeling on a Saturday night makes for a great week ahead. When you don’t play, it’s a different feeling.”
A little more than a year ago, Dawson’s career looked ready for take-off. He had been a vital member of the Spurs side that reached the Champions League for the first time in their history and he was similarly important the following season.
Tottenham progressed to the last eight of Europe’s main club competition, beating Inter Milan and AC Milan on the way, with Dawson playing in both legs of the aggregate win over the seven-times’ European champions.
There were also four caps for England that season, yet two serious injuries restricted him to only 13 appearances in the 2011-12 campaign, Redknapp’s final one at White Hart Lane.
Sadly for Dawson, a change of manager has yet to bring a change of luck but his attitude is admirable. The defender believes his injuries last season have enabled him to retain a better perspective on his current situation.
“Last year the injuries kept me out for a long time and believe me, that’s hard,” he added. “At least when I get out on the training pitch, I’m doing something I love.
“I have to stay positive and ensure I have good people around me. Your family are the ones who have to put up with you on a daily basis and they’re the ones who keep me going.
“You go home to your wife, make phone calls to mates.
“It was my choice to stay and fight for my position, simple as that. When the offer came [to join QPR], I decided I’d stay and work hard and when I’m called upon, I have to be ready.
“There are lots of games coming up. I’ve played already in the League Cup and the Europa League and hopefully, I’ll be playing more.
“Would I still want to stay here long term? I want to play football; there is no hiding that. I’m a Tottenham player and I will keep working hard as I did on the day I signed.”
Dawson has already praised Villas-Boas’s open-door policy at Spurs but he stopped short of saying he was satisfied of the explanations he had been offered for his exclusion.
“He’s the manager,” he said. “His decisions are final. We’ve got top players here and whoever does play is top class. When my chance comes, I’ll be ready.”
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Awesome interview with Dawson!!
