Season › 2017-18 › News Dowell hat-trick lifts Forest over Hull Lyndon Lloyd Saturday, 28 October, 2017 52comments | Jump to most recent Kieran Dowell grabbed his first professional treble as Nottingham Forest won 3-2 at the KC Stadium. The on-loan Everton winger gave the Midlanders a 1-0 half-time lead with an excellent solo effort where he drew the defence towards him before cracking a shot into the corner from 20 yards. His second made it 2-0 before the Tigers halved the deficit but he restored the two-goal advantage when he completed his hat-trick with seven minutes to go. Hull scored again in the 88th minute but Forest held on to win. Dowell has now scored five goals since going out on loan to the City Ground. Reader Comments (52) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Robert Leigh 1 Posted 28/10/2017 at 20:06:25 I wonder if he was with us whether Unsy would have him in the squad, given he gave him his debut 18 months ago Paul Hewitt 2 Posted 28/10/2017 at 20:13:16 Another Koeman cock-up, letting him go out on loan. John Raftery 3 Posted 28/10/2017 at 20:13:20 I think he would have been in the squad and would have played in at least half of our games this season. Unsworth gave Dowell his debut at under 21 level when he was only 16. He really rates him and he would have been much more effective in recent games than any of our collection of very expensive so called number tens. That said, he is getting a great opportunity to develop his game at Forest where the fans can't believe their luck in having him in their team for the season. Duncan McDine 4 Posted 28/10/2017 at 20:20:21 Something very special about this lad... I just hope he can get a chance in our team next season Sam Hoare 5 Posted 28/10/2017 at 20:25:42 I think he might have struggled in an out of form Everton team this season. Not sure he has the fire and self belief of Tom Davies.This loan at Forest, if it continues as it has started, will do wonders for his confidence and could well be the making of him.I'm excited about our team next season and over the next few years. If only we could just pinch that Phil Foden lad from City Dave Bickley 6 Posted 28/10/2017 at 20:38:34 Superb performance Kieran lad,can't wait to have you back in the ranks next season.A cultured left foot so Sheedyesque! Would criticise Koeman for allowing this loan but do genuinely believe he will be a better player for it. Lyndon Lloyd 7 Posted 28/10/2017 at 21:05:58 I disagree, Paul (2). I think he needed a year away to build his experience and self-confidence and improve his decision-making.He was very inconsistent for England at the U20 World Cup, drifting in and out of games and was often the first player subbed.I don't think he was ready for the first team but he will be much better for his season in the Championship. Pat Kelly 8 Posted 28/10/2017 at 21:10:25 He's a natural. Always looking for the ball. Great positional sense and an eye for goal. Paul Holmes 9 Posted 28/10/2017 at 21:16:16 I have watched some Forest games and have a mate who is a Forest supporter. We are both in agreement: Kieran Dowell is too good for Nottingham Forest!Forest players are mainly Championship class and they don't use him enough when they play; that is why he is quiet in some games. It's like not using Scholes or Cortinho, they by-pass him, they are not at his level. This lad will be our Number 10, he sees a pass before he receives the ball, he along with the other U20 World Cup winning Everton players (Kenny, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin, and Davies) are the future of the club for years to come and we must build our team around them. Come on, Unsy do well for the first team because these are your kids. Bill Gienapp 10 Posted 28/10/2017 at 21:28:02 Could Dowell contribute to the first team this season? Probably, but I think there's little doubt he'll be better off in the long-run for this loan move. We all know he can score pretty goals, but this was more about developing his all-around game. Tony Everan 11 Posted 28/10/2017 at 22:06:19 Exactly right, Lyndon, this loan will boost his confidence and belief. He will come back a better player.Not only from the footballing side but living away from home and maturing. It's the right move. Charlie Lloyd 12 Posted 28/10/2017 at 22:13:02 Paul @ 2The word for Dowell is consistency. Not to knock the lad but he's got to perform to a decent level week in week out. In fairness this loan is probably the best for him at this stage. I really hope he continues in this vain and returns home next season to really make the grade. Dave Abrahams 13 Posted 28/10/2017 at 22:20:13 I'm made up for the lad, he looks to be coming a pace at Forest and will learn there and come back here a better player, agree with Sam (5) Lyndon and others he is better being at Forest now, next season he will be back here with his confidence boosted by his spell in the Midlands. Aidan Baker 14 Posted 28/10/2017 at 22:37:36 I just love the way Dowell strikes a ball. He has the most natural way of hitting through a ball with either foot and at distance. He really is gifted.There is virtually no backlift when he shoots, which adds surprise to defenders who normally close in on a player when he is ready to shoot. Nearly all players have to pull the trigger with the foot pulled right back, yet he is able to hit long balls at pace without any need to break up his movement by slowing to shoot. I agree with the comments about his loan to Forest, a good move for all involved and I look forward to him being a key player in the Everton team in the near future, hopefully playing alongside Barkley. David Israel 15 Posted 28/10/2017 at 23:15:28 Great to see the lad doing so well! The first goal was a pure gem.Note: I'm part of the large legion who have breathed a collective sigh of relief over the departure of RK, but I don't think it's necessary to condemn his every decision. This one, I think, was quite right. Mike Berry 16 Posted 28/10/2017 at 23:54:52 This is exactly why it is so important to go on loan and gain experience and aid development, I cannot for the life of me, understand posters who object.Give Kieran the full 12 months in the Championship,the boy will then...have transformed into a man and the player we all hoped he would become.Well done lad ! John Grace 17 Posted 28/10/2017 at 23:56:46 If the Mirror is to be believed (pinch of salt journalism obviously) Kenwright wants Unsy to be given a run as manager whilst Moshiri wants someone proven. I would love to see Unsworth play more and more of our talented youth, mixed in with those more senior players who earn a place purely on form and not due to some ridiculous fee they came in on. Derek Thomas 18 Posted 29/10/2017 at 00:52:39 At first glance a small mistake from Koeman, but reality a giant leap for Dowell. Would it have benefited him as much being chopped and changed in a team that was stinking the gaff out - or even not being in the squad.Now Koeman's gone I doubt we'll be relegated...I doubt we would've if he had stayed, but nobody's too big to go down. So in the long run It will do Us and him no Harm to play with the big lads.This may be one of the few things Koeman got right..Edit; If he wasn't before the hat trick will get him noticed and make him a target...another lesson to get under the belt. Ernie Baywood 20 Posted 29/10/2017 at 01:27:01 With the performances he's putting in at Forest, I don't think anyone could say that this loan deal is anything but a success. It will be interesting to see him back with us. He's tremendously talented but you won't see him charging around. Will we, as a support, accept that? History says maybe not. Ironically I think he's one of the few players that might have suited Koeman's setup! Steve Ferns 21 Posted 29/10/2017 at 01:55:37 Who says it was Koeman's decision to let him go on loan? I think it was Unsworth or even Walsh, because Koeman made it clear he wasn't going to pick him for the first team. The club would then sort out the loan move for him as he is clearly too good for another season in the U23s. Paul Ward 22 Posted 29/10/2017 at 03:25:17 In full agreement Lyndon, I think the more games in the Championship will make him a better player. Kieran has great potential and seems capable of always scoring special goals. The problem is he disappears like Barkley on too many occasions.Mark Warburton might just be the right coach to harden the boy up. Rob Dolby 24 Posted 29/10/2017 at 08:06:14 Dowell looked great last night when on the ball but reminded me of Barkley off the ball.This loan will benefit both the club and player. Warburton will hopefully increase Dowell's workrate and we will clear some space from our squad for him Barklay will leave whilst the jury is still out on Klassen. Can he play wide left? Or is he just one of our many number 10s?. Alasdair Mackay 25 Posted 29/10/2017 at 08:11:24 Something's gotta give before next season.It is unlikely that we will be in Europe and we will have Sigurdsson, Klaasen, Rooney and Dowell to accommodate in the no.10 role. And that is assuming Barkley doesn't stay. Neil Wood 26 Posted 29/10/2017 at 08:14:39 We have some ridiculously talented players in our youth set up including players like Beni, Dowell, Henen, Onyekuru et al... Mix this with some of the more experienced pros and things look exciting. We need to bleed these players in slowly yes, but not be scared of using them. Give them chances to show exactly what they can do .What we lack massively for me is a player just like Dowell. But I still believe a loan was the right decision. Would still be tempted to recall him though!!! HaImagine if we kept Delefeou as well... Ed Fitzgerald 27 Posted 29/10/2017 at 08:18:38 I don't know how many games people watched of the under 23s last year but I watched plenty and in my opinion he was ready for the prem at the start of the season. It won't do him any harm at Forest, not having available now for Everton has already done us harm. Koeman/Walsh et al have spent shed loads of money on players in positions we didn't need and managed not to recruit the one player we did need a centre forward, it's shameful given the amount of money they had at their disposal. Davies, Beni, Dowell, Kenny -are ready because they are good enough particularly for this team. Peter Gorman 28 Posted 29/10/2017 at 09:02:07 I've long been a fan of Dowell but it is worth noting that he doesn't start every game for Forest so I think the fears about inconsistency are here to stay. For all the hindsight claimed above, he is better off in the championship for now which, on the back of his World cup win, should really cement in his mind what he needs to do to capitalise on his talent. I truly hope he does, he is a special talent but I think we can all wait to see him next season, a better team player. Iain Love 29 Posted 29/10/2017 at 09:22:40 Warburton said in his post match interview that Dowell has now started to learn more about the game, the importance of tracking back for example. It's a learning curve that's required. I always thought that Dowell was probably more suited to the Spanish or Italian leagues as skill appears to be of more value than the physicality of ours. So a season in the championship should toughen him up.After watching the U17s win yesterday it struck me that most of those players wont reach the same pinnacles in the grown up game because even at our team , who's regarded as one of the better ones for giving youth a chance, we would rather go for foreign imports than give lads like Dowell a decent run in and around the 1st team.By the way Phil Foden... what a player. Tony Everan 30 Posted 29/10/2017 at 09:26:34 You can't help but be transported back to the 80s. The magic of Kevin Sheedy's left foot was a gift from god. Clean hitting , power and accuracy in abundance.Dowell is only 20. If he keeps on this trajectory of improvement he can rival the great man.I tuned in to watch him last night . His first 2 goals Kev would have been proud of ! Peter Gorman 31 Posted 29/10/2017 at 09:29:51 Anyway, here are those goals if you missed them; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS8ogFR2VUA John Hammond 32 Posted 29/10/2017 at 09:40:32 Probably a good job he went on loan as playing under Koeman would have shot his confidence. A good season with Forest and he should be primed for us hopefully next season. Neil Wood 33 Posted 29/10/2017 at 10:11:03 That second goal is immense. Yes the first one is a really good goal but he's allowed ridiculous amounts of space. The second however just oozes class. You k ow when a player has a gift and this lad certainly does. Liam Reilly 34 Posted 29/10/2017 at 10:18:25 Dunno why, talented left footed footballers just look more graceful with the ball. That first goal is magic.Sheedy had it in spades and this boy looks the real deal. Derek Knox 35 Posted 29/10/2017 at 10:41:43 I concur with Charlie Lloyd that while being made up for the lad, getting more experience under his belt can only augur well for his future; which, I may add is hopefully with us.Being with us now, doesn't guarantee he would be scoring. He is basically a winger, who is capable of scoring. The experience will have him returning a better more confident player all round. Ian Tunstead 36 Posted 29/10/2017 at 10:50:49 Agree with Ed, I was concerned that when we would finally have money to spend we would splash it around on average foreign players and block the progress of perhaps the best group of young players in a generation. Dowell would be better off getting experience in the PL rather than the Championship. I can not believe we have brought in 3 number 10s and wasted 㿙m on an average underperforming 29 year old When we have players in the under 23s or out on loan such as Dowel who will prove to be better in a year or 2 years time. Rahman Talib 37 Posted 29/10/2017 at 11:10:08 Dowell should fit right in seeing we are short of left sided wide player since Pienaar left us Steven Jones 38 Posted 29/10/2017 at 11:13:01 Lovely to watch - it is the speed or thou that sets him apart and of Premier league class. Evolving as a player will come as his experience winning the World cup as a leading figure, winning the Premier League 2, then getting in the first team squad and now playing a prominent role at Forrest - all great development steps.I noticed in his first few Forrest games the other players were not playing him so often - think they will now and he is building a reputation within the squad and they will be off loading to him anywhere near the box now.Well done Kieran!! Head down keep going . Still fighting for a professional career so lets no get ahead of ourselves. Looking good though! Steve Ferns 39 Posted 29/10/2017 at 11:14:29 He's not a winger. He's a central attacking midfielder or a number 10. Half his game is lost if he's shoved onto the wing. Paul Holmes 40 Posted 29/10/2017 at 12:26:19 Kieran Dowell has got the football brain that perhaps we wish Ross Barkley had.He knows what to do before he receives the ball,he is class and I will say it again he is too good for Nottingham Forest !.Make sure he is back at Everton next season to take the place of Klassen (25 million ffs !). Selby Wells 41 Posted 29/10/2017 at 12:42:13 I think that its great that he has added some goals in a hard league but the thing that the management at Everton will be looking at now is whether Dowell kicks on becoming the key player for Forest and scores 10-15 goals this season or will he be inconsistent living off the hat-trick for the rest of the season.This will go a long way to identifying whether he will have a future in our 1st team or if we cash in while his stocks high. Anthony Dwyer 42 Posted 29/10/2017 at 12:45:53 I'm on side with those of you who believe a loan to the championship was the best thing for the lad.Apparently he'd loving the hustle and bustle of the league, he's loving being a main man for forest and being given a roll within the team were he's a big player for them.He will play close to 40 games if he stays fit, that's massive for his development and we will reap the rewards when he comes back.Keep Ross if possible, keep Davies add Dowell and Henry add them to the young lads like Pickford, Holgate, Sandro, Calvin-Lewin, Kenny, Lookman and Keane and all of a sudden we look like a team full of energy and pace.Get points on the board between now and January, climb up the league get a good run in the fa cup and hopefully bounce back next season with a young squad full of English player most of whom have played under Undsworth. Andy Meighan 43 Posted 29/10/2017 at 21:30:03 He's got a great left foot but to compare him with one of our greatest ever players (Sheeds) is madness. The kid has done brilliant for Forest, but and this is only my opinion he reminds me of Bilyaletdinov. Same languid style and not physical enough for us, especially at this time while we are struggling Time on his side though.... Dave Abrahams 45 Posted 30/10/2017 at 13:53:05 We are crying out for good footballers who can battle as well. Nowhere enough fight in the team. A fit James McCarthy would be ideal, but it looks like James is out for another few weeks. I hate to be on a downer for the Blues but it is looking very bleak and no matter who takes over the squad is mainly a powder puff one. I hope I am completely wrong. Drew Shortis 46 Posted 30/10/2017 at 14:12:24 Although we could do with Kieran right now I disagree his loan to Forest was a mistake. He's getting regular playing time in a very good league and turning out superb performances. This will mean he is fully prepared to be thrown into our first team next season. Had he stayed his playing time would have been limited, having to compete for the number ten slot with Rooney, Klaassen and Sigurdsson.The big question is who will be the main two players in this slot next season? If you account for Barkley being convinced to stay then we will have five players battling for their natural position, one who is a massive name and two who just came in for massive fees. We can't keep them all and keep them happy. Perhaps Sigurdsson could be played slightly deeper alongside Davies, Gana, Morgan, Besic, McCarthy, Beni (another position where we're overstocked). I see Klaassen as being one to leave if he doesn't start showing what he can do, and I have my doubts about Barkley being convinced to sign a new contract. This would leave us with Dowell & Rooney as the Number 10 pair with Sigurdsson as another option. James Royston 47 Posted 30/10/2017 at 16:18:09 He could still be in the Championship next season "with a blue shirt on" if we carry on playing the way we are.I don't really think so but neither did Newcastle. Leeds, even Forest who won the European cup remember. We desperately need a few wins quickly then the confidence should come back. Phil Walling 48 Posted 30/10/2017 at 18:52:33 The lucky young beggar has managed to escape the comedy show that has been Everton this season!He would probably be in the ToffeeWeb tomb of failed youngsters if he had suffered first team selection here in recent weeks. As it is, he can still be viewed as a promising kid for the future. Even if it is in the division he has taken by storm this weekend! Jack Convery 49 Posted 31/10/2017 at 00:23:51 He will have all the info we need for next season. Where the away grounds are etc etc.What a prospect. Tony Everan 50 Posted 01/11/2017 at 18:30:56 Not a winger was playing as a left sided no10 on Saturday.One of our better no10s at the moment , and that's no mean feat considering how many we've got .shame that he's playing for another club...! Geoff Williams 51 Posted 04/11/2017 at 15:58:44 And another goal again today. Forest fans love him! Peter Gorman 52 Posted 05/11/2017 at 06:04:32 Dowell is on fire for Forest, Geoff. He loves his backheels as well. Peter Gorman 53 Posted 05/11/2017 at 07:39:55 I'm not sure where else to post this but I'm guessing it passed a bit unnoticed.Joe Williams scored a possible contender for Barnsley's goal of the season a few days ago in their 4-2 win away at Burton.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsCxfdGRBo0Another one to be keeping tabs on. I think he has become a fixture for Barnsley in every game so far. Jimmy Salt 54 Posted 05/11/2017 at 10:02:47 Ive been working in Leamington Spa and one of the guys im working with is a forrest fan.According to him Dowell is head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch. They are worried Everton will try and get him back in January but I think he will be best staying put the way things are going here. Dennis Ng 55 Posted 05/11/2017 at 18:52:43 I think we should get Dowell back if we're can give him at least 45 mins every game. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads