Home Match Day Thread +++ 14/9/2019 OUFC v Tranmere Rovers Match Day Thread +++

[Steve Gilbert]

Seeing those highlights, what a challenge after the Eastwood parry save!

 

[Gary Baldi]

We didn't play our best today, but got the result - I can take that though as we've played well and lost too much this year.

The risk with Woodburn is his complete lack of experience in the men's game until now - sort of like Tyler Roberts when he came on loan. He does struggle to consistently get into games, but he is getting there and had a moment today where he physically got stuck in. Give him a month or so more game time, and I can see the light really going on for him.

Other thoughts. Mous is a really good leader out there, just a calm voice in a sea of uncertainty. He has some moments, but the little moments from he and Mackie today really kept things focused. Cadden looks more comfortable at RB but needs seasoning, Mackie suffers from Ryan Taylor syndrome - makes his runs in the box too early, but is a royal pain the backside to play against and Henry has put a yard of pace on. I hope Baptiste is ok.

Stand out players were Fosu and Brannagan. Fosu was fully engaged in that game and really exposed Tranmere's weaknesses and made their lives so hard. Brannagan is really showing what playing football can do for a players career and why being in a Premier League Academy is not the be all and end all.

Tranmere looked like a decent L2 team promoted too early. They will struggle against the better teams as hard work won't win you games on L1, but if you scrape points against Rochdale and Accrington, they'll be ok.

 

[Sandy]

To comment on Woodburn I'd say I'm quite disappointed after today. Tranmere was very poor indeed. This was the game Woodburn should have at last shown what he can do. He didn't- very ordinary. I think Robbo should tell him either put a shift in or go back.

 

[Scotchegg]

To comment on Woodburn I'd say I'm quite disappointed after today. Tranmere was very poor indeed. This was the game Woodburn should have at last shown what he can do. He didn't- very ordinary. I think Robbo should tell him either put a shift in or go back.

It's all about opinions, but I think Woodburn has looked a decent player this season. He has missed a couple of decent chances and been unlucky with a couple more, but could have been sitting on 5 or 6 goals already. He's also looked to hassle the defence and has come back into the middle to challenge back for the ball on countless occasions. All of this has been whilst playing behind Mackie, who does not play in the typical no.9 role and can often sit deep which can kill the no.10 position. I think once playing behind Taylor we will see the player that Woodburn is capable of becoming.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

To comment on Woodburn I'd say I'm quite disappointed after today. Tranmere was very poor indeed. This was the game Woodburn should have at last shown what he can do. He didn't- very ordinary. I think Robbo should tell him either put a shift in or go back.

Thankfully you aren't in charge of developing footballers! Woodburn IMO will do better against the better teams and will struggle with the lower teams that are big, physical sides. He is used to playing at a much higher standard and won't be used to how physical it is in the lower leagues. It will take him time to get used to it.

 

[uptheus]

I don't think there is one, and I'm not sure why some want to suggest there is.

He has been building his fitness and was not expected to be featuring regularly yet anyway. The initial bench was balanced with a replacement keeper (Stevens), full back (Long), CB/CM (Mous), CM/AM (Baptiste), RM (Hall), LM (Forde) and Striker (Taylor). Not being in the match day squad doesn't mean that he is rated, but like Sykes before, it is more often a case of balancing the options to change all areas of the team if needed.

Not saying there’s an issue between him/management, just why he’s not even on the bench, especially when we’ve had/got striker issues and that’s what is odd.

 

[uptheus]

It's all about opinions, but I think Woodburn has looked a decent player this season. He has missed a couple of decent chances and been unlucky with a couple more, but could have been sitting on 5 or 6 goals already. He's also looked to hassle the defence and has come back into the middle to challenge back for the ball on countless occasions. All of this has been whilst playing behind Mackie, who does not play in the typical no.9 role and can often sit deep which can kill the no.10 position. I think once playing behind Taylor we will see the player that Woodburn is capable of becoming.

Not overly rated Woodburn so far, but you can see he has potential which is the frustrating bit.

 

[Marked Ox]

Tariqe’s best game so far.

Would like to sign their no.6

He is the only one out of their team I would want based on today's game, they were very poor.

Their centre forward (Stefan Payne?) was awful, only notable for his fouling.

Fosu's defensive work was good today as well as his attacking play.

Also a mention for Mous who settled in and had a reasonable game.

 

[Shosho]

He is the only one out of their team I would want based on today's game, they were very poor.

Their centre forward (Stefan Payne?) was awful, only notable for his fouling.

Fosu's defensive work was good today as well as his attacking play.

Also a mention for Mous who settled in and had a reasonable game.

Plenty of teams would take Monthe...think he signed a new contract in the summer.

Dominant in the air, mobile and decent on the ball - plus left sided CB and left footed

 

[werthersoriginal]

I have to say, I’m really surprised by people saying Woodburn was either good today or looks a real prospect in general. I think he’s been totally anonymous and very disappointing virtually the entire time he’s been here, and today he was pretty dire. Needs to seriously up his work rate and start imposing himself on games. Sometimes you need to make things happen yourself and up your energy levels, close a few people down and put some sprints in to get yourself into the match. I’m yet to see it, and at League One level work rate and ability to get about the pitch really matters. He needs to put a bit more in - having a nice touch and being effective when you have lots of time and space counts for very little at this level.

Not trying to lambast the kid or chuck him in the bin by any means, but I think he’s got a lot of improving to do and just can’t get on board with the notion that he’s been playing well.

Agree, I don’t think Woodburn should be an automatic choice though he may well come good. Forde might be more effective in terms of goals and assists, which would let Henry play more centrally.

 

[tonyw]

Tranmere’s CBs were decent but their left back was atrocious. Lost count of the number of times we got in behind him with relatively simple balls (and Cadden’s good enough to do that to any full back.....just not to today’s extent). Going forward, I thought they had nothing to offer. They’re lucky that only three go down this year, and Bolton are in such a complete mess. Gives them a fighting chance.

Didn’t think anyone on our side was terrible today, just mostly workmanlike. Fosu put in a great shift and was always half a step quicker than them - I’d have had him as MoM as well.....

 

[Foley]

Plenty of teams would take Monthe...think he signed a new contract in the summer.

Dominant in the air, mobile and decent on the ball - plus left sided CB and left footed

He was by far their best player

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

Eastwood: 6 - He doesn't look himself still, although he did make a couple of good saves. KR mentioned him negatively in his post match interview which is never good!

Cadden: 8 - It's not his fault that we're rubbish from corners. If we had a Luke Garbutt swinging brilliant balls in then his multiple corners generated a game would result in a few goals. He gets so wide and so high up that he's just a constant outlet and teams can't seem to live with him. One ball he drilled across the box would surely have been tapped in by a poacher like Taylor.

Dickie: 7.5 - He just looks classy, composed, and so good on the ball. If only we had a left-sided CB as good as him

Mousinho: 6.5 - He did well enough having only just come in to the team before the game

Ruffels: 6 - Didn't look his usual self to me.

Gorrin: 6.5 - Sorry but I don't rate him as high as some do on here. I can see why Guardian-reading football hipsters would like him, he's very Spanish and tiki-taka, but he doesn't always put enough tackles in for me and I don't think it's a coincidence that we look so vulnerable at the back with him in the team. His passing is also very uninspired, usually slow and backwards. Possible weak link for me.

Brannigan: 7.5 - He's just a step above the other midfielders on the pitch. He's comfortable on the ball, can dribble, give and go, and now he's added goals to his game he's quickly becoming the most vital player in our team. Not his best game but popped up with another goal.

Henry: 7 - Took both penalties well and it's nice to have someone reliable to score them - even when both he had to wrestle off other players! But overall I only thought he was good not great. He tried to take on his man a couple of times and failed in the first half, but was decent in the second.

Woodburn: 6.5 - You can see he has ability but he never seems to take the game by the scruff of the neck or really impact it. Frustrating and to be honest if it was a straight choice (not saying it should be) I'd rather see Baptiste there.

Fosu: 8.5 - clear MOTM for me - Tranmere couldn't live with him at times, how he could be anything other than MOTM is baffling to me when he won the penalty for the first goal, set up the second and generally tormented the defence - and even tracked back well! Seeing him defending for the cause was great, you couldn't really ask for more from a wide man.

Mackie: 7 - He certainly worked hard but at times there is little end product. It's funny watching him run, arms pumping, gangling legs flying about the place, yet getting nowhere fast. I think a fit Taylor or Agyei take him place in the team.

Subs:

Taylor: Didn't have much time but good to see him fit
Baptiste: Involved as usual. Won the penalty. Hope he's not injured
Forde: He's got class, good ball for the pen

Some might think these ratings are a bit harsh but let's be honest, we were poor today against a very weak team. Still, 3-0 win and a clean sheet is a good day at the office.

 

[Foley]

Eastwood: 6 - He doesn't look himself still, although he did make a couple of good saves. KR mentioned him negatively in his post match interview which is never good!

Cadden: 8 - It's not his fault that we're rubbish from corners. If we had a Luke Garbutt swinging brilliant balls in then his multiple corners generated a game would result in a few goals. He gets so wide and so high up that he's just a constant outlet and teams can't seem to live with him. One ball he drilled across the box would surely have been tapped in by a poacher like Taylor.

Dickie: 7.5 - He just looks classy, composed, and so good on the ball. If only we had a left-sided CB as good as him

Mousinho: 6.5 - He did well enough having only just come in to the team before the game

Ruffels: 6 - Didn't look his usual self to me.

Gorrin: 6.5 - Sorry but I don't rate him as high as some do on here. I can see why Guardian-reading football hipsters would like him, he's very Spanish and tiki-taka, but he doesn't always put enough tackles in for me and I don't think it's a coincidence that we look so vulnerable at the back with him in the team. His passing is also very uninspired, usually slow and backwards. Possible weak link for me.

Brannigan: 7.5 - He's just a step above the other midfielders on the pitch. He's comfortable on the ball, can dribble, give and go, and now he's added goals to his game he's quickly becoming the most vital player in our team. Not his best game but popped up with another goal.

Henry: 7 - Took both penalties well and it's nice to have someone reliable to score them - even when both he had to wrestle off other players! But overall I only thought he was good not great. He tried to take on his man a couple of times and failed in the first half, but was decent in the second.

Woodburn: 6.5 - You can see he has ability but he never seems to take the game by the scruff of the neck or really impact it. Frustrating and to be honest if it was a straight choice (not saying it should be) I'd rather see Baptiste there.

Fosu: 8.5 - clear MOTM for me - Tranmere couldn't live with him at times, how he could be anything other than MOTM is baffling to me when he won the penalty for the first goal, set up the second and generally tormented the defence - and even tracked back well! Seeing him defending for the cause was great, you couldn't really ask for more from a wide man.

Mackie: 7 - He certainly worked hard but at times there is little end product. It's funny watching him run, arms pumping, gangling legs flying about the place, yet getting nowhere fast. I think a fit Taylor or Agyei take him place in the team.

Subs:

Taylor: Didn't have much time but good to see him fit
Baptiste: Involved as usual. Won the penalty. Hope he's not injured
Forde: He's got class, good ball for the pen

Some might think these ratings are a bit harsh but let's be honest, we were poor today against a very weak team. Still, 3-0 win and a clean sheet is a good day at the office.

Guardian reading football hipsters? Wow!
I have never read the Guardian and am most certainly am no hipster but rate Gorrin a lot.
See the highlights and his block which saved a goal. Says it all about Gorrin.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

Guardian reading football hipsters? Wow!
I have never read the Guardian and am most certainly am no hipster but rate Gorrin a lot.
See the highlights and his block which saved a goal. Says it all about Gorrin.

Yes he made a good block - the bare minimum for a defensive midfielder really. He's not awful and he does good things in a game, but you could just as easily pick out multiple times players go past him with ease. I think of the 2 or 3 long range passes he attempted all game one was hit badly out of play.

 

[Gary Baldi]

Tranmere’s CBs were decent but their left back was atrocious. Lost count of the number of times we got in behind him with relatively simple balls (and Cadden’s good enough to do that to any full back.....just not to today’s extent). Going forward, I thought they had nothing to offer. They’re lucky that only three go down this year, and Bolton are in such a complete mess. Gives them a fighting chance.

Didn’t think anyone on our side was terrible today, just mostly workmanlike. Fosu put in a great shift and was always half a step quicker than them - I’d have had him as MoM as well.....

Both starting Tranmere full backs had hard games because of their formation and lack of pace in the back 4. The right back getting injured did him a favour as he looked like a fish out of water against a winger that didn't just go up and down. Their temporary change in the 2nd half to 352 exacerbated the problem out wide as it gave our wide players a lot of space and left them open to the counter attack.

Other than that, Woodburn is used to a more technical type of football, so he has to get used to L1 and all it entails. It's one thing being given the time and space against Sunnerland, it's another being asked to graft against Tranmere for scraps. He has ways to go, but the talent is really there. It's a case of leading him to the promised land, rather than assuming he's there.

 

[ljs]

I have to say, I’m really surprised by people saying Woodburn was either good today or looks a real prospect in general. I think he’s been totally anonymous and very disappointing virtually the entire time he’s been here, and today he was pretty dire. Needs to seriously up his work rate and start imposing himself on games. Sometimes you need to make things happen yourself and up your energy levels, close a few people down and put some sprints in to get yourself into the match. I’m yet to see it, and at League One level work rate and ability to get about the pitch really matters. He needs to put a bit more in - having a nice touch and being effective when you have lots of time and space counts for very little at this level.

Not trying to lambast the kid or chuck him in the bin by any means, but I think he’s got a lot of improving to do and just can’t get on board with the notion that he’s been playing well.

Wasn't it Woodburn that did the closing down and block that set up Fosu for his run for the first goal?

 

[Foley]

Yes he made a good block - the bare minimum for a defensive midfielder really. He's not awful and he does good things in a game, but you could just as easily pick out multiple times players go past him with ease. I think of the 2 or 3 long range passes he attempted all game one was hit badly out of play.

Totally disagree. I reckon he adds loads and that block was fantastic (and dozens of our midfield players in the past would not have made that block)
Regardless of what newspaper you read ?

 

[Scotchegg]

Not saying there’s an issue between him/management, just why he’s not even on the bench, especially when we’ve had/got striker issues and that’s what is odd.

I think it is all about getting the right balance on the bench. If you look at the bench we were looking to start with before Mous replaced Moore, then who would you swap Ageyi for? He could replace Sam Long, but we'd be screwed if Cadden or Ruffels got injured. He could replace Mous but we'd be reliant on using Sam Long at Centre Back if needed and would also leave us short of a defensive midfielder at a time when they've been picking up bookings and are both coming back from injuries. He could replace Rob Hall, but he has been one of our go-to subs in recent weeks and appears to be up the pecking order. And he definitely isn't ready yet to repalce Baptiste, Forde or Taylor who are all more than good enough to be in the starting line up. So something has to give, and like Mark Sykes, I'm not sure its personal but a sign of the strength of our squad that not everyone will make the 18 man match day squad.

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

Not saying there’s an issue between him/management, just why he’s not even on the bench, especially when we’ve had/got striker issues and that’s what is odd.

maybe I have missed the point but Agyei was on the bench today - he just didn't come off it