General Oxford United Squad 2023/24

[Scotchegg]

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

But, you know best.

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.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

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.

Imagine how good he would be at centre back then

 

[RyanioBirdio]

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

Considering Ciaron Brown has played a massive amount of his total number of professional games at this club, where he’s been used almost exclusively as a left back, it’s worth approaching percentage stats with caution when it comes to ‘where he plays’.

 

[Swaby39]

Yes. Sam Long has played 75% of his professional career at right back. Ciaron Brown nearly 60% of his career at left back. To refer to them in every post as centre backs is madness.

Whether they have been good enough this season, or whether they are good enough to be our starting full backs next season is a completely different discussion.

Brown has made over half of his career appearances for us where he's been forced to play LB as we can't be bothered to find a natural full back. A slight distortion, if you ask me. Sam Long you can make a case for but is dreadful on the ball. Yes, dreadful. He's functional as a defender but for all the world, to me, looks like a mobile centre back.

 

[Swaby39]

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.

Third best in the league and yet he doesn't get in any of the top 6 sides at left back? what are you talking about! And for those who use wing backs, are you suggesting they'd go to a back 4 to fit him in? Or would they just play him at CB - his best position.

Player of the season in which there are probably only 2 or 3 credible candidates. He'll get the award for being the only player that managed a minimum 6 out of 10 every week.

 

[Cotswolds Cowboy]

Really?
I am not sure that I necessarily agree.
The classic example is Smyth. Manning seems to be playing him further forward leaving Brannagan to play deeper.
Had Robinson done that there would have been people on here suggesting it was square pegs in round holes.
As I said very early days ( and I am one who thinks that many players can play in more than one position!)

Smyth didn't get a chance at all under the last bloke so I guess LM is trying to work out his most effective position
It's good that everyone seems to be getting a chance now
Perhaps LM is prioritising our own players ahead of loans like Konate and Smith?
Time will tell

 

[werthersoriginal]

Third best in the league and yet he doesn't get in any of the top 6 sides at left back? what are you talking about! And for those who use wing backs, are you suggesting they'd go to a back 4 to fit him in? Or would they just play him at CB - his best position.

Player of the season in which there are probably only 2 or 3 credible candidates. He'll get the award for being the only player that managed a minimum 6 out of 10 every week.

Actually I don't think he's been as good when he's been played as centre back. (I do agree that ideally we'll sign a really good mobile specialist left back).

 

[tatabanya]

Smyth didn't get a chance at all under the last bloke so I guess LM is trying to work out his most effective position
It's good that everyone seems to be getting a chance now
Perhaps LM is prioritising our own players ahead of loans like Konate and Smith?
Time will tell

I was always a bit confused about everyone saying Smyth was a Gorrin-like replacement given all evidence I had seen suggested he was an attacking midfielder who had, weirdly, played CB a bit.

 

[tatabanya]

What is a player's 'natural position'? Were they born that way?

 

[Paul Cannell]

Really?
I am not sure that I necessarily agree.
The classic example is Smyth. Manning seems to be playing him further forward leaving Brannagan to play deeper.
Had Robinson done that there would have been people on here suggesting it was square pegs in round holes.
As I said very early days ( and I am one who thinks that many players can play in more than one position!)

I think from what I've seen that he should be playing Smyth as 'holding' & Brannagan forward, specially as I think McGuane & Smyth with complement (sp!) each other, but Manning's pegs neither as round nor square as Robinson's were.

This forum habitually places staff on pedestals, and the guff about Manning's handling of Murphy will be particularly premature until we see what he's up to next season. I hope it's true, it looks more promising than the previous acting incumbent so far.

 

[Marked Ox]

Pretty early to say that I would have thought.
In the cycle of managers, I am pleased when a manager has a honeymoon period, but I expect that at some stage when we struggle some supporters will suggest that Manning has no man management skills, is tactically inept, is putting square pegs in round holes etc!!

Somebody was already doing that prior to Tuesday's game with their text into RadOx.

 

[Paul Cannell]

What is a player's 'natural position'? Were they born that way?

Well, some. I don't think Murphy is a born centre-back, or Moore a born winger.

 

[TailsWeWin]

What is a player's 'natural position'? Were they born that way?

Well, Scotchers knows everything…. and he was born that way.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

What is a player's 'natural position'? Were they born that way?

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.

 

[Marked Ox]

What is a player's 'natural position'? Were they born that way?

Nathan Ake was a centre back, now he is doing a pretty good job of playing left back.

James Milner has moved around a lot as well.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Nathan Ake was a centre back, now he is doing a pretty good job of playing left back.

James Milner has moved around a lot as well.

Elite level players. Internationals and serial trophy winners. Apples and oranges when compared to League One footballers.

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

Nathan Ake was a centre back, now he is doing a pretty good job of playing left back.

James Milner has moved around a lot as well.

Some players can. Many can’t.

Try playing Gary Lineker or Santi Cazorla at center back or Akinfenwa as a wing back.

 

[Marked Ox]

Elite level players. Internationals and serial trophy winners. Apples and oranges when compared to League One footballers.

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.

 

[Marked Ox]

Some players can. Many can’t.

Try playing Gary Lineker or Santi Cazorla at center back or Akinfenwa as a wing back.

I never said everybody could do it but there are plenty that can.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

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.