Away Match Day Thread 16/11/2021 FA Cup 1st R. Replay: Bristol Rovers v OUFC

[battman]

I think I'm just despondent tonight more than anything.

Changing the whole tactical set-up of the side because you're unwilling to sign more than one left back is poor management. We may have looked solid enough defensively, but as soon as we got it out to the wingbacks they had nothing to aim for in front of them. Let's not forget that we needed a penalty to take it to extra time. We have all these wingers and then choose to put Ryan Williams at left wing back. Some of the decisions beggar belief.

There was only one spell in the game where we looked like we were in the division above, and that's when we scored the two goals. And then we decided to change to a back 4 for the remainder of the game, despite not having a holding midfielder on the pitch. Rovers had too much energy towards the end, and we blew our load with the 3 subs midway through the 2nd half because the starting XI just wasn't good enough.

Agyei can win a ball back, but can't really do much with it. And he doesn't know how to successfully put himself about. I struggle to see the hype with McGuane, he was completely invisible tonight (albeit not helped out with the tactics), you're looking for a player with his potential to do a lot more. Starting to see why Forest were willing to let him leave. Sykes and Bodin also have to do a lot more when playing in a front three.

Even at 3-1 I would have struggled to name a man of the match, and the players on the pitch have to take a lot of responsibility, but again I think the manager has been tactically outdone today and made all the wrong decisions at the wrong time.

 

[Scotchegg]

think this is a bit different to the other games weve lost this season.

Arguably far less important.

 

[bazzer9461]

I think I'm just despondent tonight more than anything.

Changing the whole tactical set-up of the side because you're unwilling to sign more than one left back is poor management. We may have looked solid enough defensively, but as soon as we got it out to the wingbacks they had nothing to aim for in front of them. Let's not forget that we needed a penalty to take it to extra time. We have all these wingers and then choose to put Ryan Williams at left wing back. Some of the decisions beggar belief.

There was only one spell in the game where we looked like we were in the division above, and that's when we scored the two goals. And then we decided to change to a back 4 for the remainder of the game, despite not having a holding midfielder on the pitch. Rovers had too much energy towards the end, and we blew our load with the 3 subs midway through the 2nd half because the starting XI just wasn't good enough.

Agyei can win a ball back, but can't really do much with it. And he doesn't know how to successfully put himself about. I struggle to see the hype with McGuane, he was completely invisible tonight (albeit not helped out with the tactics), you're looking for a player with his potential to do a lot more. Starting to see why Forest were willing to let him leave. Sykes and Bodin also have to do a lot more when playing in a front three.

Even at 3-1 I would have struggled to name a man of the match, and the players on the pitch have to take a lot of responsibility, but again I think the manager has been tactically outdone today and made all the wrong decisions at the wrong time.

The problem with McGuane is I don’t think he is anywhere near 100% fit and maybe after his last injury his confidence may have taken a hit.
Agyei I’ve given up on him and I supported him as I did think we had a decent player there but after Stevenage I thought then time had to be up.
With Sykes I do believe we have a good player and if KR and the board offer him a contract with improved terms then great hope he signs.
Bodin still a work in progress seen some good things so hopefully he can come good.
Yes I agree we were tactically outdone tonight and it was total embarrassing.

 

[Oxford84]

Arguably far less important.

yep but its the manner of this defeat

 

[ljs]

sadly ( for Easty) it was a real clanger

Looking at the goal in the video clip, Long(?) should never have allowed their player to cut it back.

 

[Jolteon]

Not looking for an argument - lord knows theres enough aggro on here again tonight - but wouldnt that level of squad tinkering highlight a poor transfer window in the summer? Especially if youre already talking about offloading players signed in August? Isnt it disappointing to have to wait until half way through the season to get the squad properly balanced?

You're all good - I'm one of the few on here tonight not majorly pissed off, so I wont be biting your head off! For me I think we had a good window in the summer, but we've had some duds too. The big thing for me is we kept all our best players bar Atkinson, in particular CamBran. It can't be understated how big that was for our chances of promotion this season.

In terms of signings, I would say Holland, Thornily, Whyte, Seddon, Kane and McGuane were successful signings.

I don't necessarily think that Williams and Bodin are failed signings, they were both low cost, low risk and for me they just haven't cut the mustard yet and by Karl's comments tonight I was just speculating that they might be on his hit list. I'm fine if either or both stay, and fine if they go. I do also wonder if we brought those two in, not expecting players of Holland and Whyte's quality to become available later in the window, and now they've both struggled for minutes and to build any kind of form.

The result of the window is we've got a fantastic first 11, and a squad of 15 that I think are good enough to take us up. Unfortunately you need a squad of a lot more than 15 quality players to get the autos, and potentially the playoffs too, and we desperately need support for Seddon and Thornily.

My biggest disappointment to be honest is Agyei - really thought he'd kick on this season and he's regressed massively which is a huge shame because he looked ready to beat the world end of last season. On the flip side Sykes has done the opposite. When rumours of Ipswich offering 300k for him came in I was one who was indifferent to him going, but that seems bonkers now.

 

[WuTang]

Another one here who isn't too bothered by tonight. I'm not sure much importance was put on the result by the formation experiment and starting 11 before kick-off.

I'm not going to lose sleep over missing out on a home game Vs Sutton and more fixture pileup.

Our current position is fantastic for this time of year and we have a real opportunity to strengthen in January with the new owners and push on.

Don't get me wrong, that was a capitulation of the highest order but if we win on Saturday it will be lost in the memory.

I'm glad we came through it injury free, I'd have been far more gutted if Taylor suffered a nasty injury and we had Dan Agyei leading our promotion push.

If it effects our league form then I'll return and ask serious questions.

 

[Big Ronaldo]

A shat way to go out of the cup tonight, particularly with the expended extra-time effort that we have put in for no realistic gain.
Saturdays test now looms large.
We need to regain momentum so dwelling on this strange collapse will do us no good at all.
Come out swinging Saturday boys, that is all the result we need.

 

[battman]

In terms of signings, I would say Holland, Thornily, Whyte, Seddon, Kane and McGuane were successful signings.

I don't necessarily think that Williams and Bodin are failed signings, they were both low cost, low risk and for me they just haven't cut the mustard yet and by Karl's comments tonight I was just speculating that they might be on his hit list.

I'm not sure I can agree that Whyte's been more successful than Williams. With Williams we knew what we were getting, a solid, dependable right-winger. It's unfortunate for him that due to a lack of fullbacks he played like one game in his favoured position before being asked to fill in at RB and doing a decent job of it. I mean, tonight he was playing left-wing back, how is he possibly meant to impress from there?

Whyte too has been playing out of position, either on the left on behind the striker, and he's yet to have a meaningful impact on a game, and he was signed as a game-changer in a way Williams wasn't. He hasn't scored all season, how is that a success?

I think too many people look favourably upon McGuane because of his potential rather than what he brings to the side. Could he be a successful signing? Absolutely. Is he a successful signing so far? I'd say no.

 

[werthersoriginal]

You're all good - I'm one of the few on here tonight not majorly pissed off, so I wont be biting your head off! For me I think we had a good window in the summer, but we've had some duds too. The big thing for me is we kept all our best players bar Atkinson, in particular CamBran. It can't be understated how big that was for our chances of promotion this season.

In terms of signings, I would say Holland, Thornily, Whyte, Seddon, Kane and McGuane were successful signings.

I don't necessarily think that Williams and Bodin are failed signings, they were both low cost, low risk and for me they just haven't cut the mustard yet and by Karl's comments tonight I was just speculating that they might be on his hit list. I'm fine if either or both stay, and fine if they go. I do also wonder if we brought those two in, not expecting players of Holland and Whyte's quality to become available later in the window, and now they've both struggled for minutes and to build any kind of form.

The result of the window is we've got a fantastic first 11, and a squad of 15 that I think are good enough to take us up. Unfortunately you need a squad of a lot more than 15 quality players to get the autos, and potentially the playoffs too, and we desperately need support for Seddon and Thornily.

My biggest disappointment to be honest is Agyei - really thought he'd kick on this season and he's regressed massively which is a huge shame because he looked ready to beat the world end of last season. On the flip side Sykes has done the opposite. When rumours of Ipswich offering 300k for him came in I was one who was indifferent to him going, but that seems bonkers now.

I don’t think we’ve only got a dozen good players - I think the way we play relies on establishing a pattern and understanding, and making wholesale changes disrupts that, even if the players coming in are good. So changing to a whole new formation as well is inviting disaster. Having said that, at 3-1 up in extra time we should have been able to hold on.

 

[Eaststanding]

Learn the lessons and move on, bigger fish to fry.

 

[Wandering Yellow]

Learn the lessons and move on, bigger fish to fry.

As I've discussed on here before I'm neither "KR in" or "KR out" but one thing the guy never ever does is learn from his mistakes.

 

[Oxford1996]

KR cost us that game with delusional tactics. No excuse now not to get top 6. January is huge. Bin off players like Agyei, Winnall & Hanson… and bring it 3/4 quality players.

 

[Yellow There!]

Quite amusing actually, watching the limbs after Bristol's 4th. Nothing we really could have done about the 3rd, 4th was a weird one. Poor obviously but Wigan away is a huge game, need to focus on that rather than having a massive tizzy!

 

[RyanioBirdio]

My biggest disappointment to be honest is Agyei - really thought he'd kick on this season and he's regressed massively which is a huge shame because he looked ready to beat the world end of last season.

He was told that he could go despite a good back of the end of last season and a decent pre-season, which knocked the wind out of his sails once and for all because even playing well didn’t change anything, and was halfway out the door when he was yanked back due to some cold feet around Winnall’s fitness. What the talk of a new contract was about I have no idea. He is completely shot and will never come good here now.

That is just how it is - these things happen and I’m not even going to attempt to discuss it beyond this because it’ll just end up in an argument about “blame”. No blame, no finger pointing, no going round in circles. Just a thing that has happened that means nobody can win now. He needs to go and we need somebody who believes there is a point in being here to contribute, because as it stands we now have one top quality L1 forward who can’t ever be rested despite being in his thirties, one zombie whose head is long gone, and one serial crock who might as well stay in the jacuzzi until his contract is up.

There is money to spend in January so hopefully it will be used wisely. We need another striker, some proper depth and cover at the back, and a bit of power in the middle of the park now that Gorrin is out. Stay in and around the top six until January, get some business done and push on.

 

[Scotchegg]

KR cost us that game with delusional tactics. No excuse now not to get top 6. January is huge. Bin off players like Agyei, Winnall & Hanson… and bring it 3/4 quality players.

Which tactics were they? The ones that had us 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go?

 

[Oxford1996]

Which tactics were they? The ones that had us 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go?

WHEN HE CHANGED FROM A BACK 3 TO A BACK 4 FOR THE 2ND HALF OF EXTRA TIME???

 

[Jolteon]

I'm not sure I can agree that Whyte's been more successful than Williams. With Williams we knew what we were getting, a solid, dependable right-winger. It's unfortunate for him that due to a lack of fullbacks he played like one game in his favoured position before being asked to fill in at RB and doing a decent job of it. I mean, tonight he was playing left-wing back, how is he possibly meant to impress from there?

Whyte too has been playing out of position, either on the left on behind the striker, and he's yet to have a meaningful impact on a game, and he was signed as a game-changer in a way Williams wasn't. He hasn't scored all season, how is that a success?

I think too many people look favourably upon McGuane because of his potential rather than what he brings to the side. Could he be a successful signing? Absolutely. Is he a successful signing so far? I'd say no.

Fair points - and Whyte was one I debated whether to say he's a success or not. The difference is we know what Whyte is capable of so I have higher hopes of him making a bigger impact as the season goes on. So far I have been disappointed but still think he's offered marginally more than Williams and Bodin (from a lot more minutes admittedly).

McGuane I feel was signed for the long term rather than instant impact and what he's shown since coming back from injury, today aside possibly, has been a good sign for the future.

I don’t think we’ve only got a dozen good players - I think the way we play relies on establishing a pattern and understanding, and making wholesale changes disrupts that, even if the players coming in are good. So changing to a whole new formation as well is inviting disaster. Having said that, at 3-1 up in extra time we should have been able to hold on.

To clarify the 15 good players - I'm saying they're good enough to challenge for autos. The others for the most part aren't inherently bad players, just more mid table L1 players. 100% agree we thrive on consistency, which has its benefits and detriments.

He was told that he could go despite a good back of the end of last season and a decent pre-season, which knocked the wind out of his sails once and for all because even playing well didn’t change anything, and was halfway out the door when he was yanked back due to some cold feet around Winnall’s fitness. What the talk of a new contract was about I have no idea. He is completely shot and will never come good here now.

That is just how it is - these things happen and I’m not even going to attempt to discuss it beyond this because it’ll just end up in an argument about “blame”. No blame, no finger pointing, no going round in circles. Just a thing that has happened that means nobody can win now. He needs to go and we need somebody who believes there is a point in being here to contribute, because as it stands we now have one top quality L1 forward who can’t ever be rested despite being in his thirties, one zombie whose head is long gone, and one serial crock who might as well stay in the jacuzzi until his contract is up.

There is money to spend in January so hopefully it will be used wisely. We need another striker, some proper depth and cover at the back, and a bit of power in the middle of the park now that Gorrin is out. Stay in and around the top six until January, get some business done and push on.

Sometimes things just happen in football that suck for everyone. For us it was signing Winnall. A player who in the past was a monster at this level, and with a bit of luck would've transformed us into a force. Instead, he's spent more time in the treatment room than the training pitch, the pressure on Agyei has been immense as the sole backup for Taylor, and then he misses out on a loan(?) that could be the turning point in his career because of it. Everyone loses. Us because we have two poor backups in strike, Winnall because he'll probably struggle to find a team willing to take him end of the season, Taylor because he's being run to death, and the biggest loser is Agyei who must be wondering where on earth he goes next.

Probably best for everyone at this point to say thanks for the memories and move on, that way Agyei may still make a career for himself, because the attributes are there.

 

[Scotchegg]

WHEN HE CHANGED FROM A BACK 3 TO A BACK 4 FOR THE 2ND HALF OF EXTRA TIME???

No need to shout, especially with something as ridiculous as that!!!

 

[battman]

Which tactics were they? The ones that had us 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go?

Are you forgetting that we couldn't score a goal in open play against a League One side for 90 minutes? I don't know if you were at the game tonight, but I was and the choice to play a back 3 was wrong. As soon as we got the ball out to our wingbacks, they had no forward options to pass to. We had 2 shots in the first half, and only scored our goal in the second half thanks to a spot kick.