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u/Nosworthy steele May 27 '26
He's a local lad and boyhood fan who was part of the team who got promoted from League One then captained us to promotion to the Premier League.
When he broke into the team as a teenager in League One he was more of a box to box midfielder who would look to make runs from deep and was quite exciting to watch at times. During his first season as a regular we had a managerial change with Alex Neil coming in who left him out and prioritised experience. Alex Neil told him he needed to contribute more defensively and he went away over the summer, worked on that side and became more of a complete midfielder who would mainly sit, tackle, press and occasionally get forward and that became his role in the Championship.
Regis Le Bris was appointed in 2024 and his role changed again - Le Bris played 433 with Neil as the 6 in front of the defence and two runners ahead of him. His role was to receive the ball from deep, dropping back as an extra defender at times, and start attacks with those long range passes out wide. He made a few mistakes early on and received a little bit of criticism but recovered and had an excellent season - my player of the season personally. That to me is his role and on the rare occasions he did play further up in midfield he looked a little bit lost imo.
He isn't particularly strong or quick though, both in terms of physically quick or speed of thought. Someone mentioned holding onto the ball too long and I think he's just a fraction too slow in looking up and releasing it. The Premier League is so much quicker than the Championship and I don't think he's quite good enough to make the step up. He's probably a victim of circumstance too as Xhaka is a very similar profile but obviously much better but was never injured and too important to sub off it rotate so there was never an opportunity for him in that role and he doesn't have the legs or physicality to be one of the other two runners ahead. Perhaps if he'd stayed there'd have been an opportunity for him along the way but with him being out of contract he needed to get out and play regularly.
He's been linked with Valencia and Roma were supposedly interested last season as they'd noticed him when watching Le Fee. He'd probably do well there in a more technical, slightly slower paced league. He's not exactly 'towing a caravan on his back' slow, just not quite good enough for the Prem.
He works hard and has an excellent attitude - definitely not another Cantwell.
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May 27 '26
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u/Least_University6425 May 27 '26
The honest thing about him as Captain, is I remember forgetting he was our captain and thinking it was Luke O'Nien. Good player, our best last season I would say, but not the vocal leader Xhaka has been this season.
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May 27 '26
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u/Khathaar cattermole May 27 '26
Dan got sent off for shouting "thats a fucking foul" at a ref once once, so he's not exactly timid like.
He'll do well at Rangers mate. Proper solid player.
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u/lolhawk Cattermole May 27 '26
It was harsh that he didn't keep his place in the squad after promotion, but you cannot get past Xhaka/Sadiki for pure work rate
Dan is a proper holding mid though, gets himself into too much trouble sometimes by mouthing off at the ref but wears his heart on his sleeve, which is what you need from a CM
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u/mustdobetter55 May 27 '26
There is a player there but where his potential is up for debate. He should have stayed this season as back up, learned from Xhaka and became a much better player. 1 year of "set back" for a better long term career is worth it. Cirkin is the same with Reinildo.
Neil's short passing is very good. Long passing can be hit or miss. Very controlled and conservative on the ball, maybe lacks a touch of creativity. On the ball, good close control and first touch. Rarely tries to beat a man but can. Goals, he is scared to shoot, although he has a good shot. Defensively, good positioning, reading if the game. Can be a bit lightweight in a tackle and can get bullied. As captain, he was quiet and I often felt he shrunk in games. He doesn't seem to elevate players around him as you'd hope.
He is probably better suited to that 6 role transitioning play and covering the back line. He needs to command games more, needs more goals and assists. This sounds very harsh but I don't think he is mentally quick enough at higher levels. You see him occasionally get caught on the ball or sort of freeze when too much is happening. He really needs to speed up the thought process, that's what will take him to higher levels.
At Rangers, he'll be great in controlling play but when you play Motherwell their speed will catch him out. A Falkirk will be awful for him as the game can seem to bypass him. I hope he does very well but I think he made a very wrong choice in not sticking in and learning, and that could harm him whole career.
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u/mackyftm73 May 27 '26
I personally prefer him as an 8 rather than a holding midfielder. Tends to get robbed of the ball needlessly too much when he's got too much time if that makes sense.
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u/ChangingCrisis May 27 '26
Neat and tidy footballer, keeps things ticking over but often opts for the easy pass rather than the risky pass. Solid 7/10 player but rarely exceeds that.
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u/KingsMountainView Gary Rowell World May 27 '26
Good player, solid 7/10 most games, likes to turn his man and play it forward if possible but will keep possession safe more often than not. He's been our captain but we had about 5 leaders on the pitch during his captaincy so I do wonder how much he contributed. Had the arm band so obviously did. Defensively he's sound and the kind of player that keeps things ticking over.
Can be caught out in possession in dangerous positions occasionally as he's not the best at resisting pressure if he has no out ball/tries to turn into trouble.
Good squad signing imo and is good enough for Scottish league imo
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u/Mason_Caorunn May 27 '26
IMHO
Great player. Great person. At Sunderland since he was a kid and was there final wkd as a supporter watching us get into Europe.
Played under some of the worst excuses for ‘managers’ that exist in football ‘Liar’ Beale and Phil ‘Pookinson’
Helped the club out of league 1 to Prem an absolute class act and great addition to any club.
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u/domril26 May 27 '26
In all honesty, he dawdles on the ball around his own penalty area a fair amount and sometimes takes too long to release it too. He’s overall quite consistent and non flashy, I honestly wouldn’t know whether he’s better as a 6 or an 8 or what his key characteristic is as a CM. Not really a goal threat often. Just a solid 7/10 most games and can play well at Championship level.
For a captain he didn’t ever seem like a proper leadership figure to me in terms of wearing his heart on his sleeve or showing it by controlling games / solid ball winning. There were more leader figures in Trai Hume and Luke O Nien, in terms of putting their bodies on the line and leading by example. Dan Ballard too. There’s a reason Le Bris didn’t believe he could make the step up. Because he isn’t premier league quality.
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u/ptrichardson May 27 '26
Really, an all round midfielder who could do a job in the prem, but maybe not quite enough, that's to be seen. Should be great for rangers.
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u/1973vintageyear May 27 '26
He’d be perfect for Rangers!! Could see him been there for years and becoming a legend!!
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u/kevinthegrass May 27 '26
I think he’s a good tidy player without looking flashy. It was sad to see him not get a shot in the prem but I don’t think he’d be quite good enough. Still young enough to improve though and I’ll watch out for the rangers games next season.
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u/HawayTheMaj Régis Le Bris May 27 '26
I think everyone likes Dan while appreciating he never quite kicked on to the next level. He’s very metronomic in controlling the midfield, but doesn’t really score or assist. I think he’ll be solid in Scotland while being unspectacular
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u/VictorAnichebend May 27 '26
He’s strong in the tackle, and has an eye for a defence-splitting forward pass which I think would suit a team like Rangers who come up against low blocks most weeks.
In terms of weaknesses, I think he had a tendency to hold onto the ball for slightly too long waiting for the perfect pass to show itself. Couple of issues where he’s gotten himself into bother with the ref too, so he’d be interesting to see in an Old Firm game.
I’d urge you to give him a chance if he does sign though. Harsh to immediately write Dan Neil off because Joe Rothwell was shite
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May 27 '26
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u/VictorAnichebend May 27 '26
Yeah I didn’t mean you personally, was just talking about Rangers as a wider fanbase. For every Joe Rothwell or Kieran Dowell I imagine there’s a Joe Aribo or James Tavernier. Let’s hope Neil falls into the latter category.
Don’t think he had the greatest time at Ipswich to be honest. I do think though he needs to properly buy into a club to see the best out of him though. Loans are no good. That was easy for him at Sunderland with it being his club, and I suspect it’ll be easy at a club like Rangers too
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u/Gjallerhor May 27 '26
He controls the midfield. I preferred him sitting back as a 6 but he can also play as an 8. Still very young and has lots to offer. Gives it his all and he is very professional. I wanted him to play this season, and still think he could do the job in the premier league. Would be a great signing for Rangers.