Home Match Day Thread 16/03/2021 L1 OUFC v Doncaster Rovers

[Manorlounger]

Still not convinced by Dan as a leading striker so I’d start Taylor and possibly even Dan, but wide.

I really thought we had resolved the issue with Agyei playing wide. It doesn't work. He is a striker, not a winger.

If we play Agyei up front then he will bring strength and agility to the attack. If we start Taylor then we need supply into the box, to his feet. Two different styles, two different strengths.

If we did start both then it would have to be Taylor in front of Agyei. One feeding off the other. That won't happen, just not a tactic in KR's style.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

I really thought we had resolved the issue with Agyei playing wide. It doesn't work. He is a striker, not a winger.

It’s because he’s got a bit of pace. That’s literally it. Nobody would dream of playing Taylor or Winnall as a winger but because Agyei can run fast it makes people go, “Oooh, he can probably do a job on the wing.” It’s the same mentality that meant football in this country spent decades putting fast, skilful players on the wing because they “couldn’t hack it in the middle of the park”. I don’t know why this is still happening but there we go.

Oh, and 1-0 Oxford. Why not.

 

[ttg17]

Stevens
Hanson Moore Atkinson Ruffels
Gorrin
Sykes Kelly
Lee Taylor Barker​

Back six picks itself. I'd give Bran a rest, he was looking a bit ropey on Saturday and isn't in a great vein of form anyway at the moment. I feel like a Kelly/Sykes midfield duo could also be very effective in its own right. Sykes there also gives us a bit of pace with Lee playing more of the IF Henry role. Taylor and Barker in for rotation. Agyei off the bench after 70 tears them a new one, anyway.

Two very tricky but winnable home games this week. If we can't get at least four points at home against two sides that will probably finish just outside the playoffs, then it's difficult to see how we make top 6 come May. A win here is a huge boost.

 

[Foley]

Still not convinced by Dan as a leading striker so I’d start Taylor and possibly even Dan, but wide.

Don't say that without a hard hat on!!

 

[Essexyellows]

A draw as a minimum...... always the starting point. Build from there, we are good enough to win it.

 

[mooro]

Stevens
Hanson Moore Atkinson Ruffels
Gorrin
Sykes Kelly
Lee Taylor Barker​

Back six picks itself. I'd give Bran a rest, he was looking a bit ropey on Saturday and isn't in a great vein of form anyway at the moment. I feel like a Kelly/Sykes midfield duo could also be very effective in its own right. Sykes there also gives us a bit of pace with Lee playing more of the IF Henry role. Taylor and Barker in for rotation. Agyei off the bench after 70 tears them a new one, anyway.

Two very tricky but winnable home games this week. If we can't get at least four points at home against two sides that will probably finish just outside the playoffs, then it's difficult to see how we make top 6 come May. A win here is a huge boost.

The actual front six will very much vary on how fit everyone actually is (there seem to be a number struggling at present - Bran, Gorrin, Lee, Shodipo, Sykes) but presuming it is the same 18 as the hull game (with LCP in for Forde), then I'm inclined to back that selection and see where it gets us

 

[Manorlounger]

Can only see Sykes playing a cameo role following his injury on Saturday. We know Gorrin is returning from an injury which will also limit his time although probably still long enough to collect a card!
Lee was tiring quickly on Saturday so he too will have a limit to how long he plays effectively. The midfield is going to be pivotal, not finding space to receive a pass is just not acceptable and likewise, moving the ball onto the striker whether by crossing into the box (Taylor) or to feet (Agyei) will be vital and must be quick and accurate - not something we have excelled at recently.
It ain't going to be pretty this evening.

 

[Victor1986]

I agree ttg. Give CB a rest on the bench. He has got entrenched in too "deep" a mentality & I cannot see him changing quickly. He has not been anywhere near the player he was before his lay-off.

 

[Bigfella72]

Don't say that without a hard hat on!!

I really thought we had resolved the issue with Agyei playing wide. It doesn't work. He is a striker, not a winger.

If we play Agyei up front then he will bring strength and agility to the attack. If we start Taylor then we need supply into the box, to his feet. Two different styles, two different strengths.

If we did start both then it would have to be Taylor in front of Agyei. One feeding off the other. That won't happen, just not a tactic in KR's style.

I’m not saying he’s a winger, just not a leading striker. I’d play Taylor 9 times out of 10 ahead of Agyei, is that better?

 

[Bigfella72]

Don't say that without a hard hat on!!

My opinion, he’s not composed enough in front of goal, it’s when he doesn’t have to think he’s at his best. (Obvs only in my opinion )

 

[Manorlounger]

I’m not saying he’s a winger, just not a leading striker. I’d play Taylor 9 times out of 10 ahead of Agyei, is that better?

They are two different players. Taylor is a crafty, quick turning and a bloody nuisance in the box. Agyei is a strong quick striker who will push into the box. Playing him out wide is not playing to his strengths. As a winger he would have to by default, be able to track back and defend, not something he displayed to any great prowess.
So, playing one over the other would be determined by tactics, both for and against, not by any opinion of which of the two is better.

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Still not convinced by Dan as a leading striker so I’d start Taylor and possibly even Dan, but wide.

How many times do we have to repeat the same message!? DAN AGYEI IS NOT A WINGER!

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

I’m not saying he’s a winger, just not a leading striker. I’d play Taylor 9 times out of 10 ahead of Agyei, is that better?

Have you seen his last 5 performances as a striker, compared to Taylor’s? Dan is the player in form at the moment, not the better player I don’t think, but in a team clearly struggling to create chances I think he will worry defenders more at the moment.

 

[m]

General question: how do folks think being a winger as part of a front 3 compares with the more traditional approach of a winger being part of a midfield 4?

 

[PottersRightBoot]

Not a chance in hell that Cam Bran will be rested. Sykes must be played on the right, he’s been good on several occasions there. I’d play Agyei from the start, get pace across the front. Keep Shodipo away from the starting 11

I’d actually bench Lee. He didn’t look fit on Saturday. Meaning a start for the little fella . Not my favourite player but he’s relatively fresh. We’ve got to get energy back into our performances.

Hope Chambers gets some minutes, he’s got a good engine and is a different type of player to the tried, trusted. And knackered.

Must win tonight. And I think we will.

 

[outsidethebox]

Injuries are killing us to the extent that I almost put my GUK hat on and predicted doom and gloom. Luckily my optimistic outlook returned so a dour performance relying on a pen or OG to secure a point.

 

[Wandering Yellow]

Want to be optimistic but just can't see where the goals are coming from atm. Law of averages.. we've got to score a couple tonight? COYY

 

[Foley]

General question: how do folks think being a winger as part of a front 3 compares with the more traditional approach of a winger being part of a midfield 4?

Good question.
All of this talk of wingers in a front 3 confuses me. Forde, Henry, Sykes Lee have all been used recently in a 'front 3'. I would describe none of them as 'wingers '

 

[werthersoriginal]

Good question.
All of this talk of wingers in a front 3 confuses me. Forde, Henry, Sykes Lee have all been used recently in a 'front 3'. I would describe none of them as 'wingers '

Well they're wide midfielders I guess, they probably get more crosses in than the flashy wingers but don't speed trickily past their man (though Shodipo and Barker are just as likely to tackle themselves then fall over).

 

[OxfordYankee]

0-0 with added almost endless loops of Spirograph patterns between the midfield and centre-backs. So pretty.