Ex Player Josh Ruffels

He is said to work very hard at his game - whether that be his fitness, physique or football attributes. A very good pro who has and will continue to maximise the talent he has. Great asset for OUFC as far as Im concerned.
 
He’s a player I’ve admired for sometime and was more than confident with him in the left back role, whereas others didn’t.
 
Brilliant news, a player with a knack of popping up with important late winners - Wycombe, Doncaster....

A consistent performer. An Oxford United legend in the making.
 
Not the same player since his return from the injury at Lincoln.
Thought once again he was shocking and targeted by Blackpool. CJ Hamilton done him every time. Just like Wilks did last week. Maybe Obita plays left back Tuesday with Shodipo coming in wide left?

His form is a big problem.
 
That makes us potentially stronger at the back, but weaker further forward. The problem isn't about conceding at the moment, its about not creating enough for Taylor, and not breaking through from midfield.

I'd stick with what we have as our starting line up, but on the back of his cameo yesterday I'd be tempted to swap Kelly for Hall to try to make more happen.

Ruffels is struggling but I'd stick with him for now.
 
The defensive performances have improved over the last few weeks.
To be fair to Ruffels, Wilks seems to be tearing it up this season and every team seems to be having g orobl6with him.
I think that we should keep the defence as if is and the thing that we need to focus on now is creating and scoring goals
 
Obita gone very quite on the left wing now over the past few games with him & Henry on the wings we are totally pace less & lacking that goal threat, Ruffels hasn’t performed all season for him & I see this the perfect time for Obita to slot into that Left Back position, KR came out to say Obita is cover for Ruffels in midweek that should be his replacement not cover.
 
Not the same player since his return from the injury at Lincoln.
Thought once again he was shocking and targeted by Blackpool. CJ Hamilton done him every time. Just like Wilks did last week. Maybe Obita plays left back Tuesday with Shodipo coming in wide left?

His form is a big problem.
This is becoming a bit of a narrative and I don't think it's really borne out. As I said in the match thread, in the last two league games we came up against the league's two form teams, and going into each game each team's right winger was, statistically speaking, their best attacker (Hamilton 7 goal contributions, the highest in their team, Wilks Hull's top scorer). Any left back would get a bit of an examination against them. Obviously both players looked dangerous running at Ruffels, but did they ever comfortably beat him? Did they create any clear chances? Hamilton did once, I think, when he squared it in the first half (I'm not counting his pot shot that hit the post), but one clear chance created in two matches against two of the best right wingers in the league isn't 'shocking', is it?
 
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I put Ruffels in the Eastwood category. Great servant for OUFC which means many don’t see the form drop off as clear as they would for say a Clare/Aygei/Shodipo etc.

I do think we’d improve with Obita left back. Just like we have with Stevens replacing Eastwood

It’s hard to see due to who Ruffels is and not the reality.

Just my opinion.
 
This is becoming a bit of a narrative and I don't think it's really borne out. As I said in the match thread, in the last two league games we came up against the league's two form teams, and going into each game each team's right winger was, statistically speaking, their best attacker (Hamilton 7 goal contributions, the highest in their team, Wilks Hull's top scorer). Any left back would get a bit of an examination against them. Obviously both players looked dangerous running at Ruffels, but did they ever comfortably beat him? Did they create any clear chances? Hamilton did once, I think, when he squared it in the first half (I'm not counting his pot shot that hit the post), but one clear chance created in two matches against two of the best right wingers in the league isn't 'shocking', is it?
It's not just the last two games where he has looked ropey (to some) though is it. It's been the majority of games this season.
 
Can we do better? Almost certainly.
Do we have the financial capability or squad to shoehorn another left sided defensive player in there with Ruffels and Obita in the squad? Probably not.
 
And would we miss Obita's midfield play if we moved him backwards? I think we would.

On the basis that (however we have managed to do it!) the goals conceded column has recently been showing much smaller figures, I'd be tempted to leave the defence well alone (if possible depending on Atkinson's injury). Let's have a look at how to make the wide players and attacking midfielders get the ball to Taylor without booting it as his head - the more the ball is up front, the less pressure will be on the defence anyway.
 
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