Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Crystal Palace player and manager Ian Dowie has spoken strongly about his former clubs European Demotion calling it “bizzare”.
Dowie has also leaned into his experiences as a Manager in the EFL and whether Reading, MK Dons and Swindon can live up to their respective pre-season expectations.
The former striker has also spoken about how he almost joined Celtic and how Mikey Moore will fare at Rangers and how Crystal Palace could invest the Eze money if he makes the switch to Arsenal.
Reading
Reading Need Experience
I thought Reading would struggle with Ruben Selles because he's a bit mercurial in the way he goes about it.
They've lost one of their best players in Amadou Mbengue, going to QPR, which is a blow on a free, but I like Finley Burns from Man City and Mark O'Mahony from Brighton.
I don't quite see them being at the level of Huddersfield, but I think there were positives last year under Noel Hunt. They'll be very well supported, so there's a chance; you just need to get more experience in and go from there.
Reading To Be Promoted @ 8/1
EFL Contenders
Promotion Favourites
At MK Dons, Aaron Collins gets goals, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has unbelievable pace. They’ve got Will Collar too, and Paul Warne knows how to get out of divisions. They’ve bought good players in, they have a great stadium, the only worry is that they finished 19th last year, so they do have a huge job on.
Me and Paul are a little bit similar in the management style, getting players as fit as they can be. I know he's moved on with structures and distances and bits and pieces, but I like Paul, a really decent fella. That's a growing area; they're going to get more and more fans around, and that could be a difficult train to stop when it gets going.
“Outstanding”, Ian Holloway
I think Ian Holloway has done an outstanding job there. Harry Smith caught fire at the end of the season, and they bought players like Billy Bodin, Tom Nichols and James Ball.
He doesn't need to do much. He's lost three games since the 18th of January, and he's got a personality that gets you smiling and lifts the mood, and it's great to see him doing what he's doing.
My view is I think they've got to be challenging given the way they've hit form, and I don't see that form going away. He's going to be unbelievably competitive, and he drives them on from the sideline. I think they'll be in and around the shake-up.
Scottish Premiership
“Special Talent” Makes Clever Move
I think Mikey Moore to Rangers is a very clever move. Particularly if it’s on loan with an option to buy, which will be very interesting. Mikey is a very, very special talent. He's going to a huge football club with huge expectations, expectations beyond belief, they're right up there.
When you're in that environment, it's huge. I think it's a fantastic move for him. I think if Russell Martin can get him up there, the style of play would suit him.
I think he's someone who gets at people. He'll get the Rangers fans on their seats. I've seen some brilliant moments from him, and I think if he can have that consistency of performance, they will be buying him in a heartbeat.
If he gets going, they love people who excite them. I remember back in my day, some of the players there. Definitely for Mikey Moore for me would be the right move. Do I think you'll play enough under Thomas Frank? No, I don't.
Rodgers Has Done An “Unbelievable Job”
There were a couple of inquiries by Celtic, but it was a difficult time then. Celtic came in, but it didn’t go anywhere, and there was no link to Rangers, so it never happened. I've been up there; I'm a fan of going to the games. Brendan Rodgers has done an unbelievable job there.
That derby takes some beating, atmosphere-wise; it was such a shame to see fans banned because you need the away fans to really make those games. We will have to see how it pans out with Russell Martin; it’s a big job and he will need to kick on, but I'm sure he’s aware of that.
Celtic A Bigger Draw Than Birmingham
There probably wouldn't be a great deal of difference in the money between the two clubs. He scored two goals in 17 games for Girona, but when he was at Aberdeen, he was on fire.
There's lots to do, but he knows he can score in the Scottish Premiership. Birmingham do need some back-up in that area, but I think Bojan Miloski would end up at Celtic because he knows what to expect up there.
Birmingham would be difficult to turn down at the moment, but Celtic are a huge club, so I would imagine Celtic would probably just edge it.
Newcastle
Newcastle: An Amazing Club
Alan Shearer took on the job at Newcastle, and there were a few injuries, and it didn’t go our way; it was no one’s fault, that is just football. If they had stayed up, then he would probably still be there now! But that’s just how the cookie crumbles.
They have a brilliant manager in Eddie Howe, and Alan has gone on to do other things. It is an amazing football club that could sell out 75,000 a week in a heartbeat. There are not many clubs that can do that.
Leeds United
Premier League Better With Leeds
I think the talk around Daniel Farke has been a little bit disrespectful, saying that he can’t keep a team in the Premier League. It’s a really tough thing to do, and getting teams into the Premier League is a huge achievement. He’s had hard jobs and has been unlucky with investment in the past.
They've got Jaka Bijol from Udinese, they’ve got Anton Stach from Hoffenheim, they’ve got Lukas Nmecha and Sean Longstaff, they have a real presence there now. They’ve got a physicality about them that's going to be very interesting, and I can’t see them struggling in the Premier League next season.
The Premier League's a better place when Leeds United are in it, without a doubt.
Bamford’s Fitness Issues
It might sound bizarre after last season, but I think a fit Patrick Bamford is a real threat. He has good feet, he can score goals, and he has proved that. He has been a bit unreliable in terms of goal returns, but I could see him being a good back-up for a team like West Ham with Mikel Antonio leaving.
I could see Bamford on the bench there or in any team in the Championship as a starting striker if he is back fit. The issue is fitness. He is a real handful, and he’s got an energy about him. I think starting in the Premier League is a stretch, but I think Championship clubs should rush for a move.
Burnley
Burnley Under Pressure
The concern at Burnley is losing James Trafford, CJ Egan-Riley and Josh Brownhill. You can bring others in, but it takes away some of the hope. You’ve got Marcus Edwards, Bashir Humphreys, Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming who could do brilliantly, but it’s hard.
Loum Tchaouna is a big signing for them, but Vincent Kompany also bought in players and didn’t manage to keep the team up.
Scott Parker is a good manager, and they were so good defensively last season, but I think he needs a bit of help because there are so many teams that look certain of Premier League survival now, teams like Bournemouth. I wish Burnley the best. It's around the corner from me. But staying up is hard.
Burnley To Be Relegated @ 1/3
Crystal Palace
Palace Relegation “Bizarre”
It was bizarre to see the ruling. John Textor had no influence with Steve Parish running the club; maybe they drifted over a deadline, but they won the FA Cup and deserve to be in the Europa League. Having said that, being in Europe is still a great achievement, and they have done some decent business. Olivier Glasner is a very clever man and has done a brilliant job.
There's an awful lot of noise about Eberechi Eze at the moment, as well as Jean-Philippe Mateta, but Adam Wharton, I believe, can push on and add some goals and assists to his game.
The wing-backs have been outstanding, and keeping hold of Marc Guehi would be huge. Steve is overseeing a very well-run club, but I do think that it’s a travesty not to be in the Europa League. Nonetheless, all Palace fans will never forget what happens this season, travelling around Europe. If they keep all their players, they could even push for the top 10 this year.
Arsenal
Eze To Arsenal?
It is natural that Eberechi Eze will be tempted by a move to Arsenal, and maybe Crystal Palace can look at how they bounced back from selling Michael Olise and reinvested that money.
Olise was incredible, but Eze stood up in his absence in getting goals and assists. There may come a time in which the money on the table makes sense, and it looks like Arsenal are going down that route now.
He could be the player to give them that extra 5% to get to the title, and it will be fascinating to see how he would play with Viktor Gyokeres if a deal does happen. Eze would be a real loss for Palace, but there are a lot of positives there; he will develop as a player wherever he is next season.
Bet on Football Odds at BoyleSports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly.
