Lewis Dobbin

[CSA96]

[Willo of Whiteley]

Good signing if we get this over the line.

Demonstrates good intentions, also encouraging that we haven’t pissed about looking for some unknown in the Dutch fifth division or something weird like that.

[CSA96]

 

[Turkish]

Good signing, a bit surprised as everywhere says he's a winger and that's one place we seem a little over loaded. Suggests we might be about to sell one or two.

[CSA96]

 

[Saint Garrett]

30 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Good signing, a bit surprised as everywhere says he's a winger and that's one place we seem a little over loaded. Suggests we might be about to sell one or two.

Leo needs some help on the left hand side, Edozie is meh, Robinson showed pretty much nothing last season. 

Supposedly he can also play in the middle behind a striker, and also can play on the right. Fellows is decent but hardly set the world alight, and Matsuki I like, but lacks pace. He's probably an upgrade on most of those players...?

[Turkish]

4 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Leo needs some help on the left hand side, Edozie is meh, Robinson showed pretty much nothing last season. 

Supposedly he can also play in the middle behind a striker, and also can play on the right. Fellows is decent but hardly set the world alight, and Matsuki I like, but lacks pace. He's probably an upgrade on most of those players...?

I dont know much about him TBH so take your word for it, If he can play across the wings and centrally plus has goals in his locker then that's a good option to have. My initial thoughts were he'd be a replacement for someone but perhaps not then.

[Patrick Bateman]

I expect, based on Solak's comments about allowing certain players who have been here a number of years to move on, that Archer and Edozie are abolutely leaving. Oh yeah and Ben BD - completely forgot he was back. 

[CSA96]

Just seen a Saints fan asking a Preston fan on X about him - to which he said this...

He is exceptional as a second striker. He needs someone to feed off of, use as a decoy. Needs to be centralised, likes to drop deep and carry the ball. Incredible

I think your 4231/433 system will not work for him, can guarantee he’ll be played on the left. That’s not his strong suit. Needs to be in the middle. Doubt you’ll play him as a 10 with Azaz there. Don’t see him replicating it on the left. Sweeps from left to right as a second striker 

Playing off of Larin would be his perfect counter part I’d say. But MUST be centralised. He easily drifts left or right after starting in the middle. Huge waste if he doesn’t start

Edited yesterday at 09:39 by CSA96

[beatlesaint]

20 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Just seen a Saints fan asking a Preston fan on X about him - to which he said this...

He is exceptional as a second striker. He needs someone to feed off of, use as a decoy. Needs to be centralised, likes to drop deep and carry the ball. Incredible

I think your 4231/433 system will not work for him, can guarantee he’ll be played on the left. That’s not his strong suit. Needs to be in the middle. Doubt you’ll play him as a 10 with Azaz there. Don’t see him replicating it on the left. Sweeps from left to right as a second striker 

Playing off of Larin would be his perfect counter part I’d say. But MUST be centralised. He easily drifts left or right after starting in the middle. Huge waste if he doesn’t start

I’m sure Tonda will be fully aware of his strengths.

I was gonna say I’m sure he’s had him watched but let’s not go there 🤦🏻

One of the things I liked most was after he dropped the 3 central defender disaster (due to no decent right back option)  there wasn’t a pattern of square pegs in round holes. 

Edited yesterday at 10:00 by beatlesaint

[CSA96]

BBC running it now: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0jyx2gl26po

Aston Villa forward Lewis Dobbin is close to a move to Southampton for almost £9m.

The Saints have beaten a number of Championship clubs, including Middlesbrough, to the 23-year-old.

Dobbin has never played for Villa since a £10m move from Everton in 2024 and spent last season on loan at Preston.

He scored 11 times in 41 appearances for North End while he also had loan spells at West Brom and Norwich.

Dobbin joined Villa two years ago as midfielder Tim Iroegbunam moved to the Toffees in a separate deal as the clubs looked to comply with Profit and Sustainability regulations.

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, CSA96 said:

Just seen a Saints fan asking a Preston fan on X about him - to which he said this...

He is exceptional as a second striker. He needs someone to feed off of, use as a decoy. Needs to be centralised, likes to drop deep and carry the ball. Incredible

I think your 4231/433 system will not work for him, can guarantee he’ll be played on the left. That’s not his strong suit. Needs to be in the middle. Doubt you’ll play him as a 10 with Azaz there. Don’t see him replicating it on the left. Sweeps from left to right as a second striker 

Playing off of Larin would be his perfect counter part I’d say. But MUST be centralised. He easily drifts left or right after starting in the middle. Huge waste if he doesn’t start

All his best work in his YouTube clips from last season comes from central positions so understand this point of view. Looks like a flexible Azaz/Stewart cover for me so not expecting much else in those areas now. Especially considering Robinson and Oyekunle coming through it allows flexibility and a pathway (assuming nobody unexpected stays like Archer, BBD)

Edited yesterday at 11:12 by Fabrice29

[hypochondriac]

28 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

All his best work in his YouTube clips from last season comes from central positions so understand this point of view. Looks like a flexible Azaz/Stewart cover for me so not expecting much else in those areas now. Especially considering Robinson and Oyekunle coming through it allows flexibility and a pathway (assuming nobody unexpected stays like Archer, BBD)

Assuming that Archer and BBD leave, I'm not sure I'd want to go through an entire season with Larin, Dobben and then youth team players as our strikeforce. Dobben supposedly doesn't play up top on his own so what on earth would we do if Larin was injured for any length of time? We will need one more IMO.

[Chez]

2 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Just seen a Saints fan asking a Preston fan on X about him - to which he said this...

He is exceptional as a second striker. He needs someone to feed off of, use as a decoy. Needs to be centralised, likes to drop deep and carry the ball. Incredible

I think your 4231/433 system will not work for him, can guarantee he’ll be played on the left. That’s not his strong suit. Needs to be in the middle. Doubt you’ll play him as a 10 with Azaz there. Don’t see him replicating it on the left. Sweeps from left to right as a second striker 

Playing off of Larin would be his perfect counter part I’d say. But MUST be centralised. He easily drifts left or right after starting in the middle. Huge waste if he doesn’t start

I hope we have a plan for him. Not sure he pulled any trees up for West Brom playing left wing, so to buy him after a good season as a second striker only to not play him out there for us seems odd. Having him and Azaz to play in the hole would be great depth, but if players don't play regularly they can go off the boil.   

[Fabrice29]

23 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Assuming that Archer and BBD leave, I'm not sure I'd want to go through an entire season with Larin, Dobben and then youth team players as our strikeforce. Dobben supposedly doesn't play up top on his own so what on earth would we do if Larin was injured for any length of time? We will need one more IMO.

We invested 10m or so last year in another striking option so would not be shocked to see him being given a chance. Especially if we can’t offload yet. Maybe one to revisit late in the window depending on how he starts. 

Don’t really see why Dobbin can’t play as a lone striker just because it supposedly didn’t suit him at Preston. And definitely don’t see why Oyekunle can’t be given Archers minutes from last season. 

That pathway is vital to keeping those youngsters engaged. Unless he goes out on loan himself but I think fobbing off promising strikers is probably what lost us Dom Ballard in the long run.

Edited yesterday at 12:08 by Fabrice29

[hypochondriac]

34 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

We invested 10m or so last year in another striking option so would not be shocked to see him being given a chance. Especially if we can’t offload yet. Maybe one to revisit late in the window depending on how he starts. 

Don’t really see why Dobbin can’t play as a lone striker just because it supposedly didn’t suit him at Preston. And definitely don’t see why Oyekunle can’t be given Archers minutes from last season. 

That pathway is vital to keeping those youngsters engaged. Unless he goes out on loan himself but I think fobbing off promising strikers is probably what lost us Dom Ballard in the long run.

We may do that but I would be deeply uneasy at the prospect of our last big hope for promotion next season being reliant on Downs or a youth team player for any significant period of time. I'd be far happier if Dobbins and Azaz shared attacking midfielder duties and he could possibly fill in for Scienza if he is still here. Oyekunle can then have the strikers role vacated by Archer Larin can play alongside Dobbin if necessary and we get a Stewart replacement to share the burden for Larin too. Downs can go out on loan again to hopefully restore some confidence. 

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

And definitely don’t see why Oyekunle can’t be given Archers minutes from last season. 

That pathway is vital to keeping those youngsters engaged. Unless he goes out on loan himself but I think fobbing off promising strikers is probably what lost us Dom Ballard in the long run.

Archer is a senior pro, who has scored at Championship level and contributed six goals in all competitions. Nothing special but I’d like to see a similar replacement if he leaves, rather than a player who’s yet to do anything above age group football.

We didn’t ’fob off’ Ballard, he was doing nothing here or on any of his loans and couldn’t get in the team over players like Sekou Mara. The pathway is there, Ballard needed a fresh start at a lower level.

[Farmer Saint]

New song, for those with kids:

"Wind the Dobbin Up,

Wind the Dobbin Up,

Shoot, shoot,

Score, Score, Score"

Edited 23 hours ago by Farmer Saint

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

1 minute ago, Farmer Saint said:

New song, for those with kids:

"Wind the Dobbin Up,

Wind the Dobbin Up,

Shoot, shoot,

Score, Score, Score"

Sounds a brilliant player if he can score 3 goals from just 2 shots. Must get this one over the line…

[SylvianSylvian]

Sounds promising! Assuming he’s Scienza/Azaz cover, Archer replacement- we’ll still need another big 9 to replace LND….

[Lee On Solent Saint]

According to the report we beat a host of Championship teans to his signature, including Middlesbrough. That's fuckin hilarious if true.

[Toadhall Saint]

3 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

According to the report we beat a host of Championship teans to his signature, including Middlesbrough. That's fuckin hilarious if true.

Aye we were “watching” him for a long time.

[Miltonaggro]

I hope that Dobbin doesn't prove to be a bit of a cart-horse, or high manetenance.  Preston fans seemed to think he had the makings of a thoroughbred, a Reliant Dobbin.  

[Gloucester Saint]

We need Dobbin into the mods with the amount of puns we use on here.

[HarvSFC]

Preston fans don't have a bad word to say about him, which is always encouraging: https://pne-online.net/forum/threads/lewis-dobbin-signs-on-loan.3442473/page-11

Guess a promotion chasing side is now the natural next step for him and hopefully he's able to make that step up with us.

With Larin, Scienza, Azaz and looking soon to be Dobbin we have a lot of players with a proven record in this league, while you'd hope Fellows can also kick on this season with a full pre-season and having an actual manager who won't kill his confidence this time around.

Gibson's lover Shaw was reporting the Middlesbrough interest as well, which makes it a bit sweeter. Although, they're the one's who dob sides in.

 

Edited 21 hours ago by HarvSFC

[CSA96]

44 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Preston fans don't have a bad word to say about him, which is always encouraging: https://pne-online.net/forum/threads/lewis-dobbin-signs-on-loan.3442473/page-11

Guess a promotion chasing side is now the natural next step for him and hopefully he's able to make that step up with us.

With Larin, Scienza, Azaz and looking soon to be Dobbin we have a lot of players with a proven record in this league, while you'd hope Fellows can also kick on this season with a full pre-season and having an actual manager who won't kill his confidence this time around.

Gibson's lover Shaw was reporting the Middlesbrough interest as well, which makes it a bit sweeter. Although, they're the one's who dob sides in.

 

Interesting graph in there on one of the pages (from late February time)

[USaintA]

Dobbin?

Eeyore to be good.

[Badger]

9 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Just seen a Saints fan asking a Preston fan on X about him - to which he said this...

He is exceptional as a second striker. He needs someone to feed off of, use as a decoy. Needs to be centralised, likes to drop deep and carry the ball. Incredible

I think your 4231/433 system will not work for him, can guarantee he’ll be played on the left. That’s not his strong suit. Needs to be in the middle. Doubt you’ll play him as a 10 with Azaz there. Don’t see him replicating it on the left. Sweeps from left to right as a second striker 

Playing off of Larin would be his perfect counter part I’d say. But MUST be centralised. He easily drifts left or right after starting in the middle. Huge waste if he doesn’t start

Interesting comments, just hope this isn’t a player we see playing and looking good in position A, then look to play him out of that position and not to his strengths.

From what I’ve read he isn’t a wide player, and isn’t a creative MF in the Azaz role. We haven’t played with the attacking MF, or second forward behind the CF. Hope he can adapt. 

[Badger]

7 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

Don’t really see why Dobbin can’t play as a lone striker just because it supposedly didn’t suit him at Preston. And definitely don’t see why Oyekunle can’t be given Archers minutes from last season. 

That pathway is vital to keeping those youngsters engaged. Unless he goes out on loan himself but I think fobbing off promising strikers is probably what lost us Dom Ballard in the long run.

Possibly because he hasn’t got a track record of playing there (see PNE fans comments).

And also because he’s a short arse. 

[Turkish]

No announcement yet, have we screwed another one up?

[gio1saints]

Left sided attacker. How is he going to start if Leo is here/fit?

This early signing massively red flags he’s the replacement not an addition and we are getting him in early before others see the wheelbarrows of money we collecting for Leo (and Charles - and or others ) and up the price….

[WinglessWonder]

5 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

According to the report we beat a host of Championship teans to his signature, including Middlesbrough. That's fuckin hilarious if true.

Steve Gibson has already instructed the club's solicitors to take direct legal action and is petitioning the EFL to award them promotion to the Premier League as compensation for being put at a massive disadvantage... 

[CSA96]

35 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Left sided attacker. How is he going to start if Leo is here/fit?

This early signing massively red flags he’s the replacement not an addition and we are getting him in early before others see the wheelbarrows of money we collecting for Leo (and Charles - and or others ) and up the price….

Apart from the owner saying at the start of the summer that he’d already signed off signing another important player who can play behind the main striker and provide goals and assists to lift the burden on Azaz next season? 
 

He’s really not equivalent to Scienza at all so I’m not concerned about this being a replacement

Edited 16 hours ago by CSA96

[Maggie May]

I thought the only dobbin this season would’ve been by Middlesbrough. 

[SNSUN]

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/middlesbrough-target-lewis-dobbin-can-34190910?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

I personally think he'll be a great signing for Boro. 

Oh wait... 😜

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

No announcement yet, have we screwed another one up?

Looks that way.  If nothing by 10am tomorrow the FAB should stage an intervention.

[HKsaint]

FA has hold up the transfer pending investigation of another spying allegation. 

[Challenger]

Fee and all personal terms have been accepted, just waiting on the clearance from Steve " squealer" Gibson.

[Badger]

Going off on a tangent here, and one for those of a certain age, but on seeing his name it reminded me of the name/type of wax said to be used on leather footballs- dubbin. 
 

Anyone else recall it ? 

[austsaint]

12 minutes ago, Badger said:

Going off on a tangent here, and one for those of a certain age, but on seeing his name it reminded me of the name/type of wax said to be used on leather footballs- dubbin. 
 

Anyone else recall it ? 

You can still get it.  Great for polishing your Doc Martens.   Comes in a yellow tin these days - available from Amazon if you don't mind fattening Bezos' wallet.

[Ted Bates Statue]

27 minutes ago, Badger said:

Going off on a tangent here, and one for those of a certain age, but on seeing his name it reminded me of the name/type of wax said to be used on leather footballs- dubbin. 
 

Anyone else recall it ? 

oh, I thought it was hair gel

[spyinthesky]

31 minutes ago, Badger said:

Going off on a tangent here, and one for those of a certain age, but on seeing his name it reminded me of the name/type of wax said to be used on leather footballs- dubbin. 
 

Anyone else recall it ? 

The smells of dubbin and embrocation plus the discomfort of stud nails coming through the soles of your old fashioned leather football boots.
The 'good old days'😗

[Saint86]

18 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

According to the report we beat a host of Championship teans to his signature, including Middlesbrough. That's fuckin hilarious if true.

Couldn't help myself, just checked out the boro forum - they have people thinking the delay in announcing Dobbin is because they've "hijacked it", to which they would "kevin keagan love it"... its going to be great fun beating that lot this season.

Some of them get it though, "Southampton have come in, paid the asking price, and he is obviously going to chose them over us... He's chosen a bigger club."

Edited 4 hours ago by Saint86

[SouthWalesSaints]

20 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

We invested 10m or so last year in another striking option so would not be shocked to see him being given a chance. Especially if we can’t offload yet. Maybe one to revisit late in the window depending on how he starts. 

Don’t really see why Dobbin can’t play as a lone striker just because it supposedly didn’t suit him at Preston. And definitely don’t see why Oyekunle can’t be given Archers minutes from last season. 

That pathway is vital to keeping those youngsters engaged. Unless he goes out on loan himself but I think fobbing off promising strikers is probably what lost us Dom Ballard in the long run.

Do you want us to be successful? 

[skintsaint]

Seems a good signing based on last season, Preston pretty much stopped playing football second half of the season so those stats from him are impressive. If he carried it on for us we have a bargain. Feel Edozie is about to go though along with Archer.

[Badger]

3 hours ago, austsaint said:

You can still get it.  Great for polishing your Doc Martens.   Comes in a yellow tin these days - available from Amazon if you don't mind fattening Bezos' wallet.

Thanks. No real need for it now, and with the advent of plastic and other materials used for footballs didn’t use it after an early leather football I had was replaced. 
 

But I’m sure news if it’s availability will be welcome news for any leather fetishests on here.  

3 hours ago, spyinthesky said:

The smells of dubbin and embrocation plus the discomfort of stud nails coming through the soles of your old fashioned leather football boots.
The 'good old days'😗

I never associated embrocation (ralgex, deep heat, or whatever) with playing football, but was commonplace when playing rugby.

And yes, had a pair of boots once similar to what you’ve described. Tell it to kids now, and they won’t believe you. 

[Toadhall Saint]

12 minutes ago, Badger said:

Thanks. No real need for it now, and with the advent of plastic and other materials used for footballs didn’t use it after an early leather football I had was replaced. 
 

But I’m sure news if it’s availability will be welcome news for any leather fetishests on here.  

I never associated embrocation (ralgex, deep heat, or whatever) with playing football, but was commonplace when playing rugby.

And yes, had a pair of boots once similar to what you’ve described. Tell it to kids now, and they won’t believe you. 

My old man used to send me to get him liniment when I was younger. The smell of it now reminds me of him.

[gio1saints]

15 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Apart from the owner saying at the start of the summer that he’d already signed off signing another important player who can play behind the main striker and provide goals and assists to lift the burden on Azaz next season? 
 

He’s really not equivalent to Scienza at all so I’m not concerned about this being a replacement

I remember the owner saying that and yes it’s very possibly. So you’d have him pinned down as a replacement / understudy to Finnazaz?
 

Interesting and very encouraging the notion we’d spend £8M-£10M this season on essentially a Substitute if thats right. 
 

Much more likely, IMO, at that price is he’s a starter replacement for Leo or Tom and layer potentially useful as back up to Finn. We shall see!😃

[sadoldgit]

4 hours ago, spyinthesky said:

The smells of dubbin and embrocation plus the discomfort of stud nails coming through the soles of your old fashioned leather football boots.
The 'good old days'😗

Brings back memories. The changing rooms used to reek of embrocation in my day. Fortunately the studs had changed to screw in by then though. Another plus was the introduction in the country of the “continental” style boot. At school the boots were like workmen’s hobnail boots with big toe caps and high over the ankle with laces about 6ft long. The “continental” boot was cut below the ankle, had a long tongue which folded down over the tied lace and had a softer toe. My Dad referred to them as slippers but they, along with the footballs that replaced the old leather lace ups, made playing the game a much better experience.

Edited 46 minutes ago by sadoldgit

[Badger]

16 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Brings back memories. The changing rooms used to reek of embrocation in my day. Fortunately the studs had changed to screw in by then though. Another plus was the introduction in the country of the “continental” style boot. At school the boots were like workmen’s hobnail boots with big toe caps and high over the ankle with laces about 6ft long. The “continental” boot was cut below the ankle, had a long tongue which folded down over the tied lace and had a softer toe. My Dad referred to them as slippers but they, along with the footballs that replaced the old leather lace ups, made playing the game a much better experience.

Sound a bit like my rugby boots at school. 

Perhaps I was fortunate that by the late 60’s the continental - as you call it - football boot was prominent.

Amused by your Dad’s description. I can only imagine what he or mine might say if you’d come home with some poncey pink ones that are now the rage.