General Oxford United Squad 2023/24

[tatabanya]

Probably not, but everybody has a best role on a football pitch just as each personality type has a best occupation in everyday life. And while some players (not all, and arguably less and less the further down the pyramid you go) can play several positions in the same way that people can do multiple jobs, there will always be a best fit for them.

If someone is 8/10 in their best role and 6/10 in one or two others that they ‘can’ play, you would want to get that 8 out of them infinitely more than the 6. There’s been too much of that at this club for the last few seasons, and I’m hoping that Manning will be a little more square in that regard.

For sure, but you'll still have some on here saying Josh Ruffels isn't a left-back despite him playing there for the best part of a decade and now in the Cship. The same seems to be happening now wit Brown, with people incapable of changing their mind having once though for him as a centre-back. There isn't an elusive innate 'left-backness' that these guys are lacking.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

Steven Gerrard was played at right back for Liverpool a few times early in his career, and did ok there, but his managers would probably have been criticised if they played him there for the rest of his career.

Gareth Bale was signed as and played left back for Spurs for ages, but once he was moved forwards I don’t remember anyone demanding he be moved back again.

If both of those players as 21 year olds were suddenly our new right and left back though, I’d imagine they’d do very well in League One…

 

[werthersoriginal]

For sure, but you'll still have some on here saying Josh Ruffels isn't a left-back despite him playing there for the best part of a decade and now in the Cship. The same seems to be happening now wit Brown, with people incapable of changing their mind having once though for him as a centre-back. There isn't an elusive innate 'left-backness' that these guys are lacking.

Obvs there are physical constraints, and most players settle in to the role that suits them best, but the existence of 'wing backs' kind of proves that there are no intrinsic positions, who was a wing back in the playground?

 

[Berliner]

We need Hermann Hreidarsson in Champ Manager 2002 vintage.

DMF LRC

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

Obvs there are physical constraints, and most players settle in to the role that suits them best, but the existence of 'wing backs' kind of proves that there are no intrinsic positions, who was a wing back in the playground?

Yeah but if someone gave you Peter Crouch and Akinfenwa would you put them as wingbacks?!

 

[Swaby39]

Gone are the days where a player will only be able to play in one position. You will get full backs that can play on the wing as well (fleming, Johnson) or full backs that can play at CB too (Brown, Long).
If a player coming through now can only play one position (GK excluded) then they have a greater chance of not making it.
Even Tyler can play RB/RWB.
We have Browne, Bodin, Joseph and Murphy who can all play anywhere in a front 3. Brannagan can play full back as well as CDM & CAM.

Versatility is part of squad building, of course. You need a couple of Sam Long's around. But you don't go out with this as your whole strategy. You go for players with a specific position in mind and do your upmost to keep them there as that's where they're most effective. Then you find yourself a backup to avoid moving anyone else in the event of injury.

Only in the event of bad luck and desperation should you be playing someone away from their best position, especially when you have the budget we do. We haven't got Brown in at left back for any other reason than because we couldn't be bothered to get 1 or 2 who actually play that position. We have cut the same corners for years and been found out.

I never, ever, want to see a scenario where Brannagan is at right back, or Tyler Goodrham for that matter.

 

[tatabanya]

Only in the event of bad luck and desperation should you be playing someone away from their best position, especially when you have the budget we do. We haven't got Brown in at left back for any other reason than because we couldn't be bothered to get 1 or 2 who actually play that position. We have cut the same corners for years and been found out.

Steve Seddon been playing LB for a L1 side since Jan and was before signing for us. Brandon Fleming had been playing LB in League One and Championship for the last three seasons.

Ciaron Brown is playing because he is a better left-back than both of these left-backs.

 

[Joey]

And since then he's gone on to be the third best left back in league one, and will likely be our player of the season.

But you know best.

I asked before but you never answered, where does the third best left back in the league stat come from? Do you seriously think he'd be getting in to all bar two teams in this division at left back?

I'll say again, a few years ago Milner was filling in at left back for Liverpool and was statistically the second best full back, either side, in the top five leagues across Europe. I like stats but you have to apply context to them and to say he's the third best left back in the league is disingenuous.

I like Brown but if we're serious about playoffs next year we don't want to be going into it with him at left back. I'd have him at centre back ahead of Findlay or as the left sided centre back in a back three, he's a pretty powerful runner so would work well there.

 

[Common Villager]

This thread seems to have gone slightly off tangent...

Nonetheless, what I would say is that our current crop of defenders are, imo, better suited to playing in a back 3/5 than a back 4. I think a back 3 of Long, Moore, Browne would be good at this level. I also think both Anderson and Fleming would be good wing backs. A flat back 4 with any combination of the above doesn't seem to have the required balance of strength/speed/quality.

 

[m]

There will be lower league examples though, just I no longer have an encyclopedic memory of lower league club squads like I did as a kid.

Chris Hargreaves was a notable one.

Some people are more adaptable than others, and some are annoyingly good at whatever they try to do. It shouldn't automatically be heretical if a player is tried in a 'new' position.

KR is behind us. I trust Manning to build a more balanced squad. (What choice do I have?)

 

[Scotchegg]

I asked before but you never answered, where does the third best left back in the league stat come from? Do you seriously think he'd be getting in to all bar two teams in this division at left back?

I'll say again, a few years ago Milner was filling in at left back for Liverpool and was statistically the second best full back, either side, in the top five leagues across Europe. I like stats but you have to apply context to them and to say he's the third best left back in the league is disingenuous.

I like Brown but if we're serious about playoffs next year we don't want to be going into it with him at left back. I'd have him at centre back ahead of Findlay or as the left sided centre back in a back three, he's a pretty powerful runner so would work well there.

It was on a tweet and based on Opta data statistics, which are a pretty reliable data source.

From memory, the top 3 were Leif Davis, Joe Jacobson and Ciaron Brown, then Marvin Johnson and Nicky Cadden I think.

I'll look out the tweet later.

 

[Swaby39]

Steve Seddon been playing LB for a L1 side since Jan and was before signing for us. Brandon Fleming had been playing LB in League One and Championship for the last three seasons.

Ciaron Brown is playing because he is a better left-back than both of these left-backs.

Despite the biggest budget in our history, we started the season with Seddon, deemed unfit for purpose the season before, and Brown who was signed as things started to get desperate - he's proven a good signing, that's fair. But we still needed a left back then. Maybe even 2 if Seddon wasn't good enough. Where are our standards if that's acceptable recruitment?

Fleming joining was late, but progress. I like him but Karl couldn't find a way to protect him (same for Anderson on the other side) and Manning doesn't like small players. He's been unlucky as I don't really see what he's done more wrong than anyone else.

 

[Scotchegg]

Despite the biggest budget in our history, we started the season with Seddon, deemed unfit for purpose the season before, and Brown who was signed as things started to get desperate - he's proven a good signing, that's fair. But we still needed a left back then. Maybe even 2 if Seddon wasn't good enough. Where are our standards if that's acceptable recruitment?

Fleming joining was late, but progress. I like him but Karl couldn't find a way to protect him (same for Anderson on the other side) and Manning doesn't like small players. He's been unlucky as I don't really see what he's done more wrong than anyone else.

"Manning doesn't like small players"

Here we go!!

 

[yellowbow]

Ciaron Brown said after the Bolton away game that he's a Centre Back, playing out of position.

But, you know best.

Three questions I bloody want answers to at the fans forum!:

Is Ciaron Brown a centre back or a fullback?

Is goal difference worth an extra point?

What the f**k does xg mean??

We better get satisfactory answers or heads need to roll!

 

[MJB]

Yeah but if someone gave you Peter Crouch and Akinfenwa would you put them as wingbacks?!

Yes. Because it would be hilarious.

 

[Northernyellow]

I asked before but you never answered, where does the third best left back in the league stat come from? Do you seriously think he'd be getting in to all bar two teams in this division at left back?

I'll say again, a few years ago Milner was filling in at left back for Liverpool and was statistically the second best full back, either side, in the top five leagues across Europe. I like stats but you have to apply context to them and to say he's the third best left back in the league is disingenuous.

I like Brown but if we're serious about playoffs next year we don't want to be going into it with him at left back. I'd have him at centre back ahead of Findlay or as the left sided centre back in a back three, he's a pretty powerful runner so would work well there.

If we do stay up, then I would be pretty sure that Moore and Brown will be the first choice centre half pairing next season (unless LM plays three centre backs). Brown obviously isn't a full back, but his distribution in a better team (that is giving him options) isn't bad at all. I've seen him play for Northern Ireland a few times in the last 18 months at Windsor Park. I would say NI is the standard of a lower mid-table Championship team, and he doesn't look at all out of place. His passing is pretty accurate and he plays at a good pace. Some of the clumsy distribution this season (particularly the clipped balls down the wing) were probably: a) because there was nothing else on, and: b) because that was what he was told to do by our much loved former manager. And I'll put it out there now- I think Findlay will leave. He's actually done ok in the last ten games, but Brown and Moore are better, and I think Negru will be pushing for a first team spot as well.

 

[tatabanya]

Ciaron Brown said after the Bolton away game that he's a Centre Back, playing out of position.

But, you know best.

Fabien Barthez said he was a striker playing out of position

 

[Swaby39]

Yes but what's all of that got to do with saying Brown is only playing LB because we don't have any LBs, when he has kept two regular L1 LBs out of the team?

Ciaron Brown is a very good left-back at this level, thankfully for us. Can he play LCB? Yes, but that doesn't mean he isn't a very good left-back at this level, which is why he is an auto pick for us.

It's not an attack on Brown. He's capable and had a good season in context. If that's all we want then fine, let's bumble around mid-table next year or maybe sneak top half. We've got to be doing better if we're shooting for bigger things. All eggs were in the Seddon basket and he blew it. Poor recruitment meant Brown was put in there to plug a very leaky gap and fortunately for us, he's done well. Far more luck than judgement. I don't really know why Fleming isn't picked more often and I'm not going to discredit Brown for the sake of it. He's doing a good job. I think if Appleton were hired, Fleming would be at left back. Just think we either need to move him inside or look to upgrade to someone who is more effective at both sides of the game.

 

[Jster]

I think if Manning changes to his apparently favoured 3/5 at the back style next season, Brown might well end up on the left of the 3. But he's a capable left back if need be, so I'm not going to sweat on his "official" position.

 

[zstep123]

Yes. Because it would be hilarious.

Fair