Dominic Knowles in chance to impress City boss (From York Press)
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Dominic Knowles in chance to impress York City boss Gary Mills
12:31pm Thursday 26th July 2012 in News
By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter
Dominic Knowles
TRIALIST Dominic Knowles has been praised by York City boss Gary Mills following his goal-scoring display against Gateshead.
The 20-year-old is battling for a contract at Bootham Crescent after being released by Championship outfit Burnley at the end of last season and, after a lively cameo against Oldham last Saturday, he got on the scoresheet after starting at the International Stadium on Tuesday night.
It crowned another promising performance, with Mills saying he saw exactly what he wanted from Knowles – as the City boss continues to hunt for a player who can retain the ball and push Jason Walker for a place.
“I wanted to see something from Dominic and I thought he was excellent,” he said.
“For his goal, we squeezed the ball well and he was in a position to get the ball in the first place.
“He went round the ’keeper and it is still not easy to finish like he did. I thought he was excellent for us.”
Mills was also pleased with Knowles’ strike partner, Jamie Reed , and was delighted with the way Jonathan Smith fitted straight back into the action during his hour on the pitch following his return from Swindon Town.
“Reedy has done well,” he added. “There is competition there. Reedy did well when he came on during Saturday and he did well against Gateshead and I am really pleased.
“Jonathan is a good player and full of energy. That’s the first bit of football he has had. I think Swindon had just run him for four weeks.
“He’s happy to be at York and just get a feel of the ball. I like my players to work hard with the ball and Smudger has fitted straight back into that.”
It’s so far, so good for Mills in pre-season and the Minstermen chief was delighted to have dominated The Heed – a club his side have struggled against when they met in Blue Square Bet Premier action in the past.
He explained: “It’s about learning how to win games, how to kill games, keeping the ball, learning how we want to play, what shape we want – with and without the ball – and pre-season for me so far has been good.
“Even though we lost on Saturday, you get lessons from it and you take it on board. We came here and got a clean sheet which I think was the first time I have done that at Gateshead. I think it’s the first time I’ve come to Gateshead and we have dictated a game and dominated like we have.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game so, as a manager, even in pre-season, to come and win 2-0 I was delighted. They have been good. They are a good set of lads. Forget about the football, we have a good set. They have a good spirit, are good professionals, and so far, so good. We are getting ready.”
Comments(21)
PhilTopping
says...
1:18pm Thu 26 Jul 12
RooBeck
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1:50pm Thu 26 Jul 12
OLD - HEAD
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2:09pm Thu 26 Jul 12
duffy
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3:39pm Thu 26 Jul 12
heartbreaker
says...
3:44pm Thu 26 Jul 12
duffy wrote:Get that heffer who played in defence for Fleetwood against us last season and stick him up there
Honestly I would like to see us sign a more physical striker in the Connell mode for those days when Walker is not working, however he does seem to be doing well and by all accounts other clubs are interested.
Yorkie69
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3:46pm Thu 26 Jul 12
JamesHinch
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4:04pm Thu 26 Jul 12
The_Baron89
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4:09pm Thu 26 Jul 12
3:46pm Thu 26 Jul 12
I would prefer a hungry 20 year old player rather than a 29 year old who may be just playing out time. Danny Knowles seems to have made a good impression.
Can't have made that good of an impression on you 'cos he's called Dominic.
tomwillo1
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4:19pm Thu 26 Jul 12
Yorkie69
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5:50pm Thu 26 Jul 12
Sir Alex
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8:59am Fri 27 Jul 12
Is Dominic that man??
Sorry but no.
tips
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9:16am Fri 27 Jul 12
Sir Alex
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9:50am Fri 27 Jul 12
yorkshirecalling
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9:55am Fri 27 Jul 12
Yorkie69 wrote:Yorkie, we don't say drat anymore either.
Drat ! I used to teach a Danny Knowles ! Must check more carefully for next posting !!
duffy
says...
10:31am Fri 27 Jul 12
Sir Alex wrote:That's the way I feel.
Plan B would be a centre forward who is a bit of a brute. 6'4" with presence.
Is Dominic that man??
Sorry but no.
Brodes
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11:15am Fri 27 Jul 12
Deja vu?
duffy
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11:41am Fri 27 Jul 12
Brodes wrote:Obviously you would hope lessons have been learned from that blunder. Given we have tried to bring in Shaw, Connell, Matt I would suggest they have.
Rewind to 2011. We need a striker, so get a big guy from a Championship team which is completely unproven and hasnt scored at senior level. And give him a 2 year contract. Deja vu?
RooBeck
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12:40pm Fri 27 Jul 12
duffy
says...
8:52pm Fri 27 Jul 12
RooBeck wrote:Thing is though he is not a proven goalscorer at this level. As soon as Crawley were promoted to the league he went to Fleetwood, and as soon as they went up they got rid. That tells me that they were not convinced he was football league level. His technique is pretty poor along with his temperament. People go on about J Smith but he grew up, Brodie never has.
Personaly, I think we missed a trick by not signing Richard Brodie on the same terms as Morecambe have. ie. 6 month deal. Aside from him acting like a spoilt kid and overcome by petulance when he came back to BC on the 5th. April, 2011 with Crawley Town, I thought he had matured and developed as a player, based on his performance (as a sub) for Fleetwood on 7th April this year and also seeing him at Old Trafford against Man U in the FAC5 on 19th Feb last year and when again, as a sub, he played very well and was unlucky not to score! As a proven goal-scorer at this level, felt that GM would have got the very best out of him and that Richard himself would have grabbed the opportunity with both hands and immediately settled into a club and team that he seems to think a lot of and never really wished to leave in the first place.
RooBeck
says...
9:40pm Fri 27 Jul 12
duffy wrote:Let's monitor his form and goal-scoring at Morecambe and judge after 6 months - personally I believe he now has the right experience and outlook to do well, although hoping he has an off-night on the 21st August!! COYR.
RooBeck wrote:Thing is though he is not a proven goalscorer at this level. As soon as Crawley were promoted to the league he went to Fleetwood, and as soon as they went up they got rid. That tells me that they were not convinced he was football league level. His technique is pretty poor along with his temperament. People go on about J Smith but he grew up, Brodie never has.
Personaly, I think we missed a trick by not signing Richard Brodie on the same terms as Morecambe have. ie. 6 month deal. Aside from him acting like a spoilt kid and overcome by petulance when he came back to BC on the 5th. April, 2011 with Crawley Town, I thought he had matured and developed as a player, based on his performance (as a sub) for Fleetwood on 7th April this year and also seeing him at Old Trafford against Man U in the FAC5 on 19th Feb last year and when again, as a sub, he played very well and was unlucky not to score! As a proven goal-scorer at this level, felt that GM would have got the very best out of him and that Richard himself would have grabbed the opportunity with both hands and immediately settled into a club and team that he seems to think a lot of and never really wished to leave in the first place.
TerryYork says...
12:49pm Thu 26 Jul 12
Amazingly, we've got a strong squad, without spending close to anything (I know the wage bill will have gone up and we invested in the team last season).
Pushing for promotion to Div 1, with a balance sheet in the black? If so, well done to the McGills!