Home Match Day Thread +++ 20/08/2019 L1: OUFC vs Burton Albion+++

[brassmonkey]

I thought the ref did good......I think now we have a great,squad the dilemma can be who to play where.... thought our defence looked shaky .... thorne although not the fastest was cool as a cucumber to score ... but they had a game plan to press and muscle us off the ball and it worked .. very well

Really? I thought the ref cost us 2 clear chances by pulling the game back for a foul on us and missed a blatant penalty for a push on Taylor when he would have had a tap in

 

[TailsWeWin]

Lots of criticism flying around for Mous & Dickie’s performances last night - and whilst I agree they didn’t cover themselves in glory, I do think the impressive Burton gameplan was as much to do with it as underperformance on the part of our CB’s. They identified how we play with combative but diminutive midfielders alongside progressive full backs and continually nailed us with quick switches of play which went in behind our full backs (particularly Ruffels with big Aikens). It meant Dickie and Mousinho were constantly getting pulled apart into wider areas than they’d like. Mous wasn’t great and made a lot of errors. But well into his 30’s, on his weaker side, and with the muscular Aikens (plus the rest of their impressive and energetic attacking line-up) running at him...it wasn’t a game which played to Mousinho’s strengths and he had a tough time - but we should’ve done more to protect him.

Lots of calls to get Moore in too - and FWIW I agree. However, had Moore been playing I’m not convinced the pattern of play or result would’ve been any different. Burton had a brilliant game plan for the way we are set up to play. We showed for 20 minutes at the start of the second half how to counteract them (by moving it quickly and accurately, retaining possession to prevent them getting in behind our full backs and by matching them for energy and endeavour in the press)...but couldn’t maintain it. Even into the 95th minute their front players were steaming around the pitch and making it difficult. I thought they were very impressive.

Our CB’s weren’t the best and Mousinho did have a poor game. But they were very exposed and got no protection at all due to the performances of players higher up the pitch, and the fact that we were tactically out-manoeuvred by a very good team. I did think it was a good game of football though. Even when not at our best I thought we looked dangerous going forward and some of our play when we did ‘get it right’ was good. I still feel very positive - but last night we got set a benchmark and a warning sign for how teams will look to beat us. Over to KR and the players to work out how to play ‘our game’ against teams who play like Burton

Excellent post.

 

[horseman]

Sadly this often happens when interest reaches a high (holiday games etc) but it's the nature of football

I would say that it may turn out to be a good thing long term as many were getting slightly carried away after the recent incomings and this result may just help manage expectations a little better.

 

[Osleroad]

Really? I thought the ref cost us 2 clear chances by pulling the game back for a foul on us and missed a blatant penalty for a push on Taylor when he would have had a tap in

Thorne??Forde wasn't it?.in reply to FC.

 

[Mellowyellow]

Yes but it seems very clear that we have reached our budget.

Probably yes, but it always seems to be the one area Kr refered to in terms of what we are lacking, pace coming in from the wing.
Budget spent then, he has what he could only have dreamed of having last season. A hammering at hom from a mid table team at best is simply not good enough. Let’s see how Rovers goes.

 

[Mad Dog]

After last night I'd play:

Eastwood
Cadden Dickie Moore Ruffels
Brannigan Hanson Sykes
Fosu Taylor Forde​

I’m sorry but how anyone can think Henry deserves to be dropped is beyond me, some of his passing and link up play last night was outstanding, and he works hard off the ball as well, a key player right now when he’s playing like that.

I agree Gorrin probably needs to come out of the side, but I’d rather Thorne play there when fit, than Hanson.

And for me, other than one good cross for Taylor in the first half, and taking his goal well, Forde offered very little to suggest he deserves a staring place on Saturday.

Once Batiste and Thorne are fully match fit, my team would be:

Eastwood
Cadden Dickie Moore Ruffels
Brannagan Thorne Baptise
Henry Taylor Fosu
​

I think that team and formation could get us promoted

 

[Oufc28]

A Lot of people saying about caddens delivery. I agree he is fairly erratic at times but if his crossing was pin point each time he would be in the championship or prem.

 

[bazzer9461]

I’m sorry but how anyone can think Henry deserves to be dropped is beyond me, some of his passing and link up play last night was outstanding, and he works hard off the ball as well, a key player right now when he’s playing like that.

I agree Gorrin probably needs to come out of the side, but I’d rather Thorne play there when fit, than Hanson.

And for me, other than one good cross for Taylor in the first half, and taking his goal well, Forde offered very little to suggest he deserves a staring place on Saturday.

Once Batiste and Thorne are fully match fit, my team would be:

Eastwood
Cadden Dickie Moore Ruffels
Brannagan Thorne Baptise
Henry Taylor Fosu
​

I think that team and formation could get us promoted

Last nights team should be able to get us promoted as well, things happen we had a wake up call, but to say that is a team that could get us promoted and last nights wasn’t is a bit strange. Your team as good as it looks could also have a game like last night let’s say to Accrington and then we will get player permutations and saying that’s the team themat will get us promoted.

 

[Paul Cannell]

Lots of criticism flying around for Mous & Dickie’s performances last night - and whilst I agree they didn’t cover themselves in glory, I do think the impressive Burton gameplan was as much to do with it as underperformance on the part of our CB’s. They identified how we play with combative but diminutive midfielders alongside progressive full backs and continually nailed us with quick switches of play which went in behind our full backs (particularly Ruffels with big Aikens). It meant Dickie and Mousinho were constantly getting pulled apart into wider areas than they’d like. Mous wasn’t great and made a lot of errors. But well into his 30’s, on his weaker side, and with the muscular Aikens (plus the rest of their impressive and energetic attacking line-up) running at him...it wasn’t a game which played to Mousinho’s strengths and he had a tough time - but we should’ve done more to protect him.

Lots of calls to get Moore in too - and FWIW I agree. However, had Moore been playing I’m not convinced the pattern of play or result would’ve been any different. Burton had a brilliant game plan for the way we are set up to play. We showed for 20 minutes at the start of the second half how to counteract them (by moving it quickly and accurately, retaining possession to prevent them getting in behind our full backs and by matching them for energy and endeavour in the press)...but couldn’t maintain it. Even into the 95th minute their front players were steaming around the pitch and making it difficult. I thought they were very impressive.

Our CB’s weren’t the best and Mousinho did have a poor game. But they were very exposed and got no protection at all due to the performances of players higher up the pitch, and the fact that we were tactically out-manoeuvred by a very good team. I did think it was a good game of football though. Even when not at our best I thought we looked dangerous going forward and some of our play when we did ‘get it right’ was good. I still feel very positive - but last night we got set a benchmark and a warning sign for how teams will look to beat us. Over to KR and the players to work out how to play ‘our game’ against teams who play like Burton

Turned over by a well-prepared team that look very good going forward and who collectively worked their socks off to break up our pretty play. A bit of a footballing lesson.

They've worked out that we defend very narrow and, as @McXal pointed out, that caused chaos since we didn't keep the ball very well. Mousinho isn't a bad player but last night showed why he's not a good CB. I think Moore has to come in now, and I think Mousinho will get plenty of matches playing in front of the back four, where he's good. We need another proper, adult CB (I have mentioned this before).

Not sure whether their pressing made us lack movement or our lack of movement made their pressing look good, but we were ponderous on the ball and not incisive on the break. Some of this is down to being unfamiliar with playing using a striker, which time will heal, I hope.

Full-backs and wide players seemed to me to repeatedly turn back inside and play the ball square. We lack pace big time, nobody was prepared to take a player on (I'm letting Fosu off because he is injured imo). I can't see how it won't be far more effective to have Sykes and Shandon when that's possible and I would get Sykes on on Saturday in place of Henry / Forde who come with any pace you like - as long as it's slow.

Dismal night out but I suspect it had to happen. At least it should quieten the positivity police for a day or two. 3/10

 

[Mad Dog]

Last nights team should be able to get us promoted as well, things happen we had a wake up call, but to say that is a team that could get us promoted and last nights wasn’t is a bit strange. Your team as good as it looks could also have a game like last night let’s say to Accrington and then we will get player permutations and saying that’s the team themat will get us promoted.

I totally agree, and I’m not in any sort of state of panic or doom and gloom after last night at all, it was a very below par performance, but like you say, it could happen to any other lineup at any time.

But I said before the game, that a
4-2-3-1 formation with Taylor isolated up front on his own, wasn’t going to work, and hopefully Robbo recognises that as well, and I’ve only tweaked a couple of players and moved to what I think would be a more suitable formation for those players to perform to the standards we already know they can, it’s not like I’ve ripped the whole team apart and made wholesale changes in some knee jerk reaction to last nights game.

That’s just my opinion on which team would be best for Saturday, and moving forwards, until we can get Thorne and Baptiste match fit, and then that would be my first choice lineup for the season.

But obviously things change, players dip in and out of form and get suspensions and injuries, so they’ll always be chopping and changing, and thank god we’ve got good enough quality in depth to make those changes when needed.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

I’m sorry but how anyone can think Henry deserves to be dropped is beyond me, some of his passing and link up play last night was outstanding, and he works hard off the ball as well, a key player right now when he’s playing like that.

I agree Gorrin probably needs to come out of the side, but I’d rather Thorne play there when fit, than Hanson.

And for me, other than one good cross for Taylor in the first half, and taking his goal well, Forde offered very little to suggest he deserves a staring place on Saturday.

Once Batiste and Thorne are fully match fit, my team would be:

Eastwood
Cadden Dickie Moore Ruffels
Brannagan Thorne Baptise
Henry Taylor Fosu
​

I think that team and formation could get us promoted

Last night Forde assisted one of our goals and scored the other - and both required good work from him, they weren’t lucky (great vision and accuracy to pick out the pass for the assist and a solo run and finish for the goal) and I’ve seen at least one other poster agree that Henry did a 5/10 performance, he didn’t really offer anything - I struggle to see how, based on facts and logic, you could argue that Henry played better than Forde?

 

[Whingit]

Henry and Forde are both neat and tidy players and I think there's room for only 1 of them on the wing in the XI, there needs to be some contrast. Hopefully Agyei is more explosive.

 

[Scotchegg]

Hmmm not great but not one to lose our minds over.

A few points:

- Henry didn’t stay wide enough and didn’t fancy running into the space behind the LB (we scored vs Peterborough this way). The pattern of play became too predictable - Henry inside, Cadden outside, play the one two

- Cadden has acres of space most of the match and was our most advanced a wide player...we simply didn’t get the ball to him soon enough taking too many touches

- Cadden needs to add some end product...9 crosses only 1 making it to an oxford player. Still, cut backs to the penalty spot are the one.

- Gorrin is getting criticised - defensively he was good, on the ball he was pressed into errors.

- I think we look more secure with three in midfield. Adding Baptiste in who can beat a press will be crucial but does mean losing the #10 or even adding Hanson in.

- Mousinho was shakey but has kept McNulty/Grigg/Toney/Eisa quiet in previous matches - however he was again pressed into errors

- playing with Taylor added a different dimesnsion. He stays between the CB and makes runs behind. He was doing it all match we just need Woodburn etc to learn his runs (like the first goal).

- we scored two very good goals

- after we scored the second we failed to manage the game. Can see below from 60mins onwards we lost our hold on the game:

View attachment 2062

We have a pretty stacked squad now and almost have too many options. KR will have a load of decisions to make which possibly means dropping some big players.

Excellent analysis.

I was frustrated with Cadden. He undoubtedly has talent but took far too long getting crosses in and had very limited success when he did put the ball over. Just before half time was a good example of where he found himself in loads of space to cross from deep but looked to go past his player, he was crowded out and played the ball back where it was passed to death for 2 minutes before the final whistle went with us barely getting into their last third. In addition, he left loads of space behind him and we were exposed down their left time after time. I agree that Henry always going inside gave him very few options and made us very narrow. We need to look to stretch teams more and move the ball earlier.

Also, Taylor is a battle, but will never win every ball into the box. We therefore need to look at Forde/Henry coming in around the back when crossing from the opposite flanks as well as Woodburn/Brannagan looking to get on the end of second balls that come out centrally. Too often we see balls sail past the front man or getting cleared easily through the middle.

The good news is that none of this is beyond the players we have, and will come with more training/playing together. We have developed a very strong squad with lots of options, and now just need to tweak the way we play to get the best out of them.

 

[Mad Dog]

Last night Forde assisted one of our goals and scored the other - and both required good work from him, they weren’t lucky (great vision and accuracy to pick out the pass for the assist and a solo run and finish for the goal) and I’ve seen at least one other poster agree that Henry did a 5/10 performance, he didn’t really offer anything - I struggle to see how, based on facts and logic, you could argue that Henry played better than Forde?

I see your point re Forde, and I agree the two or three things he did do, he did very well, and maybe I’m wrong, but I didn’t see much else from him, but that doesn’t mean to say I think he’s a bad player, from what I’ve seen he looks to be a good player, but for me personally, I think Henry offers a lot more, but for some reason gets a lot of stick, and not enough recognition for all the good things he brings to the team, a bit of an unsung hero really, and it’s only when he’s not on the pitch, that you really see how important he is to the team.

Either way, I think we’ve got some really good players throughout the squad, and good competition for places, which is why we’re able to have such debates about whose best for which position and formation, so it’s all good

 

[Oldham]

In think once our midfielders get used (in training) to how Taylor wants the ball delivered it will be a step forward. I didn’t see the point In Fosu being put on or even being on the bench if he’s not fully fit, he’s a class act but any good player becomes average when not fit. Dickie is not the finished article but you can see he has great potential, same with Woody. Agree above Mous should sit in front of Dickie and Moore. Two up front? Why not? Taylor getting the scraps if Mackie wins the ball. I think we will have a very good season, squad still bedding in. Burton had us watched before hand and worked us out perfectly, fair play to them the done a good job on us but we will learn and continue to improve I’m sure.

 

[Marked Ox]

A Lot of people saying about caddens delivery. I agree he is fairly erratic at times but if his crossing was pin point each time he would be in the championship or prem.

My concern with Cadden was him overplaying most of the time when in attacking positions. He got himself into some excellent positions but always seemed to take 2 or 3 touches too many which meant he got closed down. Something KR or one of the coaching staff can solve relatively easily by suggesting he mix it up with early crosses.

The defence wasn't good yesterday but I'm not discouraged by the team performance as I could see what they were trying to do, just that it wasn't clicking.

Burton were very good, organised and efficient.

I thought the Ref, bar some glaring errors (errors will happen) was decent.

 

[Shosho]

My concern with Cadden was him overplaying most of the time when in attacking positions. He got himself into some excellent positions but always seemed to take 2 or 3 touches too many which meant he got closed down. Something KR or one of the coaching staff can solve relatively easily by suggesting he mix it up with early crosses.

The defence wasn't good yesterday but I'm not discouraged by the team performance as I could see what they were trying to do, just that it wasn't clicking.

Burton were very good, organised and efficient.

I thought the Ref, bar some glaring errors (errors will happen) was decent.

Have to say, not playing advantage in the first half was a stinker ?

 

[UTM]

Just reading all theses posts , it’s good to see chaps on here talking about the football and how we can improve on last night! Which we can do with this team l am sure of.

 

[bazzer9461]

I totally agree, and I’m not in any sort of state of panic or doom and gloom after last night at all, it was a very below par performance, but like you say, it could happen to any other lineup at any time.

But I said before the game, that a
4-2-3-1 formation with Taylor isolated up front on his own, wasn’t going to work, and hopefully Robbo recognises that as well, and I’ve only tweaked a couple of players and moved to what I think would be a more suitable formation for those players to perform to the standards we already know they can, it’s not like I’ve ripped the whole team apart and made wholesale changes in some knee jerk reaction to last nights game.

That’s just my opinion on which team would be best for Saturday, and moving forwards, until we can get Thorne and Baptiste match fit, and then that would be my first choice lineup for the season.

But obviously things change, players dip in and out of form and get suspensions and injuries, so they’ll always be chopping and changing, and thank god we’ve got good enough quality in depth to make those changes when needed.

I totally agree that 4 2 3 1 does not work and hasn’t worked at our club, we need to adopt 4 3 3 or good old fashioned 4 2 2 or even 5 3 3

 

[Scotchegg]

I totally agree that 4 2 3 1 does not work and hasn’t worked at our club, we need to adopt 4 3 3 or good old fashioned 4 2 2 or even 5 3 3

I would favour 533 over 422 as it gives us an extra 3 players which could be useful!!

In fact with our squad and KR's love of midfielders and attacking wingers, I'd go with a 585 to give us a better chance!