Ex Player Alex Rodriguez Gorrin

If you criticise our players and all you can suggest to replace them are former players please just save time and don't bother posting.

We keep talking about needing an experienced striker in case Taylor gets injured. Aldo scored 90 goals for us, and is currently without a club!
 
As we are now familiar with Rob, I believe he needs a thread of his own.

Cut from the same cloth as Dickie but dare I say, even better on the ball and much better in the air. Composed at one end and a threat at the other. He looks like he has everything you would want or need from a modern day CB.

After having seen the Oxford Mail's pre-season minutes graph with Atkinson coming 2nd to only Ruffels, it is clear to me that he is going to be our starting CB, alongside Moore.

Exciting times ahead. I see him having a big season for us.
 
I'm cautiously optimistic after watching Atkinson in pre season. I hope we have found another quality player and am routing for him to start the season strongly.

I must say a couple of times I've had to double check some of his play as it's quite rare to see a centre back behave in the way he does.
A few factors spring to mind, both for OUFC and our opposition. Firstly we will have to be switched on as a team when he decides to surge forwards. The consequences of being dispossessed in the areas Atkinson operates are high, however so are the rewards of breaking the line and moving the opposition around.
Secondly, he will pose a real dilemma for strikers who we all know are the first line of defence. As a striker you often look to shut down the full backs who then have little option but to rush their decision out wide or come back inside to the centre back. Often, at most levels, centre backs don't really want it...especially if there is a tempo to the game. Centre backs are usually the best natural defenders so understandably don't want to be caught out of position. However Atkinson looks like he has tekkers and he can get a jog on too. Our opponents will be guessing how we are going to penetrate and who. Clare is mobile, Brannagan has real passing range, mcguane can carry and so can Atkinson.
Im fascinated to see how we get on and wish Atkinson the very best. On first impressions he looks pretty good.
 
Looks very confident on the ball which is crucial when playing high pressing teams. Will be interesting to see how he gets on against big physical teams. Hope the experience of Mousinho will have given him a bit of know how when and where to hold it and to get rid.
 
Hope the experience of Mousinho will have given him a bit of know how when and where to hold it and to get rid.

I don't know about this bit. Even though he was much better last season, I'm still anxious every time I see Mous dawdling on the ball and inviting pressure from the strikers!
 
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One thing I was very impressed with was a purely defensive attribute. His heading looks to be insane... Not only is the connection usually strong but the height and distance he gets allows us that vital second or two to find our positions or get control of the ball again. Anyway, I must not get too excited ?
 
I share everyone's enthusiasm. Too early to say he's better than Dickie but he's definitely better than RD when he first arrived. Hopefully we won't be too hard on him the first time he's caught in possession leading to a goal.
 
I share everyone's enthusiasm. Too early to say he's better than Dickie but he's definitely better than RD when he first arrived. Hopefully we won't be too hard on him the first time he's caught in possession leading to a goal.

Well, if it happens this season, it's safe to say he won't have 6,000 fans screaming obscenities at him!

I do wonder how much of an impact no fans has on defenders. On one hand you're not getting chastised for mistakes, but on the other you don't get the feedback from fans, for example the anxious energy if you're in possession and an attacker is closing you down on your blind side.
 
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Well, if it happens this season, it's safe to say he won't have 6,000 fans screaming obscenities at him!

I do wonder how much of an impact no fans has on defenders. On one hand you're not getting chastised for mistakes, but on the other you don't get the feedback from fans, for example the anxious energy if you're in possession and an attacker is closing you down on your blind side.
And to top it all he comes with the name of a most illustrial legend in the history of OUFC back fours.
 
Well, if it happens this season, it's safe to say he won't have 6,000 fans screaming obscenities at him!

I do wonder how much of an impact no fans has on defenders. On one hand you're not getting chastised for mistakes, but on the other you don't get the feedback from fans, for example the anxious energy if you're in possession and an attacker is closing you down on your blind side.

Hopefully you’d be able to hear the call from your teammates though!
 
He will never be the Tank. Ron earned that nickname by being powerful, slow and oily.
 
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