Home Match Day Thread 03/10/2023 L1: OUFC v Shrewsbury

[Malc]

Another 3 points today? I think so, 2-0 to the mighty Yellows.

 

[Osei Yaw]

Really? Great defensively but Moore gave it away a number of times in the second half.

He may have given it away a few times but he had a 90% pass completion rate. When you've attempted 128 passes, that means you've only duffed 13 in total but completed 115 (so basically for every 10 he made, he missed 1). Granted, a lot of those towards the end were just shifting it sideways as the game was totally done, but, before that there were several really good first time passes up the pitch to Brannagan or McGuane. I lost count of the number of times he formed a little triangle with 2 teammates and quickly passed the ball out the back.

It makes such a difference having that composure and technique (as opposed to someone like Findlay). He's clearly under instructions to move it quickly and for the most part I thought he did that really well.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I am not pining for the KR days, believe me! It wasn't a criticism of the team or manager really - and certainly not of us over all this season. I think it was more the way Shrewsbury seemed to rather give up, the lack of a vocal opposition following to spark the crowd into life and the sheer ease with which we passed the ball about and totally controlled the game. It was a good win, a professional performance and a well-deserved 3 points. Not our fault the opposition was so passive.

Yeah I agree, it was too comfortable and the crowd realised the players didn't need them last night and just sort of sat back in the armchair, feet up, dozing off and waking up every now and then to applaud a goal. That's how it felt anyway ! The atmosphere would have definitely ramped up had we been chasing the game at any point.

 

[Followtheox1]

He may have given it away a few times but he had a 90% pass completion rate. When you've attempted 128 passes, that means you've only duffed 13 in total but completed 115 (so basically for every 10 he made, he missed 1). Granted, a lot of those towards the end were just shifting it sideways as the game was totally done, but, before that there were several really good first time passes up the pitch to Brannagan or McGuane. I lost count of the number of times he formed a little triangle with 2 teammates and quickly passed the ball out the back.

It makes such a difference having that composure and technique (as opposed to someone like Findlay). He's clearly under instructions to move it quickly and for the most part I thought he did that really well.

Fair enough if those are the stats but like you said a lot of simple passes in those stats which I don't have an issue with at all. The ones later in the game he gave away were real hospital passes which is why they probably stood out.

 

[Leysboy]

2.4 points per game. Ridiculous form!

 

[WEYellow]

I don't think I've ever been more relaxed at a game than I was last night, even at 0-0 I felt calm that we'd get at least one goal. I was surprised to see the same formation as Saturday but I do wonder if Manning knew Shrewsbury would come with a back 5, and going man for man with them would have been the best option as we are comfortably better individually, again this probably shows why he's a manager and I am not .

It was evident from the start that they would sit 30 yards outside their box and not press, Moore and Long were essentially playing as central midfielders in the first 20 minutes, I think when teams come here and press they have more joy, so not quite sure whether Matt Taylor has watched us for the past 5 seasons if he can't notice that.

Harris' movement was absolutely superb and he sacrificed a lot for the team, there were a couple of times he got the better of Dunkley (who was by far their best player) and he was really important to our play. He should have scored the 1v1 but honestly I don't care when the movement to get into those positions is so good in the first place. Also a special mention to Rodrigues for the pass to set him free, the crowd were screaming for it to be played first time but he took his time and waited for Harris to advance beyond their last man, it's the small things the crowd don't notice but it's so so good. I've noticed that a lot with Rodrigues actually, he will always wait until the last opportunity to play the pass and make sure it's right - also some of his touches in the opening 25 last night were ridiculous, it made me feel ways that I'm sure only @RyanioBirdio knows.

Stevens' finish was brilliant with little time to react and on the charge, it was his best performance tonight and I really like him as a player. He suits the RWB role perfectly and I don't see many weaknesses to his game, he reminds me of Jonjoe Kenny when he came in that he's quite small but he's a tenacious little f***er and will go full pelt for the 90. Not quite sure what Anderson (?) was thinking wiping him out like he did when on a yellow but oh well, we got a goal straight after and wrapped it up.

Enjoyed Marosi getting so bored that he tried to play outfield at the end, he's a relatively decent keeper at this level but was shocking last night, I'm not sure his dour manager's tactics helped and he just decided he'd had enough, it was hilarious that he just bypassed GOD and was seemingly happy to pass it to Leigh instead. Mind you, some finish .

All in all a very solid professional performance, I don't think we will face many sides worse than Shrewsbury, and if there are 4 teams worse than them in the divison I'd be amazed. Didn't even have to get out of second gear and I am expecting a much more frantic game on Saturday.

RATINGS

Beadle - 8 - So assured and some of his passes are absurd. 19 years old for goodness sake, future England GK.

Stevens - 8 - Cracking finish and a non stop performance
Long - 6 - Probably the worst of our starters tonight, lot of loose passes and got dragged out of position a lot
Moore - 8.5 - Rolls royce, didn't break a sweat, didn't need to either to be honest.
Brown - 7.5 - Solid and reliable and a poachers goal from OUFC's best gambler
Leigh - 9 - Goal and an assist and just another mentally good performance, surely Ipswich don't have 2 left backs better than him?

Mcguane - 7 - Played within himself a bit I thought compared to other games, maybe down to the oppositions park the bus tactics but assured nonetheless
Brannagan - 7 - Non stop as ever and never looked troubled, set piece delivery poor though

Bodin - 6.5 - Didn't have too much of an impact but some neat touches and good movement, earned a rest (i hope it's just that?)
Rodrigues - 9 - Personally my MOTM. Really coming into his own now, some crazy touches and flicks and played 3 steps ahead of everyone else.

Harris - 7 - Selfless movement which really benefited us in the first half, quieter second half and should have scored the 1v1

Goodrham - 5.5 - Quality of our play significantly dropped off when he came on, hopefully just an off night but couldn't get into it.
Maceachran - 6.5 - Kept things ticking over well but I fear he is made of paper as was struggling late on.
GOD - 5.5 - Done alright for the 3rd goal but he looked off again, there was a wonder ball across the box from Leigh which was an easy tap in and he just didn't move?? Reacted eventually but it was by the corner flag then.

 

[Brahma]

Relaxed, comfortable, boring, dull, lacked of ambition......... take your pick - it was a complete stroll, which turned into a boring affair from about 60 minutes. We weren't interested in attacking in the final third in the second period and for me, harsh at it is. I really thought some of the crowd were going to turn and groan as we went from the edge of an attacking third back and put our foot on the ball (which the defenders did regularly late on). Instead of groans, people flocked out with five/ten minutes left.

How times have changed - me moaning about the performance and we won 3-0. As poor as we've been all season. Misery and out.

 

[Marked Ox]

I agree with the poster who said it was weirdly dull! The two best bits were the goals at either end of the game.

We were very professional, Shrewsbury were so passive it was unbelievable. They seemed to have absolutely no belief they could get back on even terms at 1-0 and once we scored again it turned to a passing training session for us. They'd better get their arses in gear or they are going down. We didn't have to expend that much energy, which is good for Saturday.

An amazing turn around from last season, when a 3-0 home win would have been greeted by me as the dawning of a bright new era - now I am thinking I won't remember much from the game in a month's time!

I think the only thing I'll remember is the 3rd goal because of the comedy value.

 

[Sheik djibouti]

Let's face it, we hardly broke a sweat last night. A very assured and professional performance to get the job done with consummate ease. Whilst we lost our shape and drive a bit with the substitutions, the game was pretty much a dead rubber by then.

That pass from Rodrigues . . . , that finish from Harris

And yes, Ruben was superb last night....if I had one tiny (and I mean tiny) criticism, it is that he's a little (understandably) naive at times, but he is at the best club, in the best team with the best coaches to overcome that - he is some player.

Special mention to Greg Leigh too - if you could bottle what he brings to the club on AND off the pitch . . . fabulous player and character and STILL can't understand how he was the 3rd best left back at Ipswich (scanning their squad for R Carlos or P Maldini) - thank f**k they saw it that way!

What strikes me most is the way absolutely everyone is enjoying their football. They've been unburdened and unleashed by Manning and blimey does it show.

Finally, hope Billy recovers* in time for Saturday, but even if he doesn't, we have got players lining up to fill the gap - happy days!

*There's no truth in the rumour he was taken off nursing a semi, brought on by how fecking awesome our play is right now.

 

[behindthegoal]

Where did that ending with manning going to the crowd come from.?

 

[Followtheox1]

Where did that ending with manning going to the crowd come from.?

Klopp.

 

[Marked Ox]

Where did that ending with manning going to the crowd come from.?

It is the celebration that Klopp does I think.

 

[andystroud]

Where did that ending with manning going to the crowd come from.?

He first used it after we clinched League One survival at FGR. Given its links to Klopp (and Liverpool) I’m surprised people are so accepting of it. Not sure that KR in his pomp would have got away with it.

 

[Leysboy]

One more BIG performance on Saturday against Bristol Rovers, then the players can take a well earned rest.

Then start fresh for Blackpool, and continue our good form.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I think people only accept it because Manning is obviously so reluctant to do it! He had to be pushed forwards by the team to do it at Stevenage and has said that it isn't really his sort of thing.

 

[Joey]

It was evident from the start that they would sit 30 yards outside their box and not press, Moore and Long were essentially playing as central midfielders in the first 20 minutes, I think when teams come here and press they have more joy, so not quite sure whether Matt Taylor has watched us for the past 5 seasons if he can't notice that.

While they were incredibly passive I don't think this is quite right. Under Robinson we struggled but these season we've been absolutely brilliant against a press, most our early season goals came from counter attacks and the one time in the first half they had men committed we should have scored through Harris.

Also a special mention to Rodrigues for the pass to set him free, the crowd were screaming for it to be played first time but he took his time and waited for Harris to advance beyond their last man, it's the small things the crowd don't notice but it's so so good. I've noticed that a lot with Rodrigues actually, he will always wait until the last opportunity to play the pass and make sure it's right - also some of his touches in the opening 25 last night were ridiculous, it made me feel ways that I'm sure only @RyanioBirdio knows.

I still think he could release it sooner sometimes. He did brilliantly for the Harris chance but he also lost the ball a couple of times when a pass was on, even on the extended highlights from yesterday on iFollow (about 3:30 in) I thought he could have released Bodin a bit quicker and it would have lead to a better opportunity. He does seem to be getting better every game though and is clearly going to be a hell of a player this season, fantastic signing.

Stevens' finish was brilliant with little time to react and on the charge, it was his best performance tonight and I really like him as a player. He suits the RWB role perfectly and I don't see many weaknesses to his game, he reminds me of Jonjoe Kenny when he came in that he's quite small but he's a tenacious little f***er and will go full pelt for the 90. Not quite sure what Anderson (?) was thinking wiping him out like he did when on a yellow but oh well, we got a goal straight after and wrapped it up.

Got a bit of stick early on, partly for a couple of average performances and partly because he's not Sam Long, but I thought he was very good last night. It's hard to define exactly what he's good at but I just think he's good at a lot of things. Some of his little touches round the corner look fortunate but they come off so often that it's obviously intentional.

Enjoyed Marosi getting so bored that he tried to play outfield at the end, he's a relatively decent keeper at this level but was shocking last night, I'm not sure his dour manager's tactics helped and he just decided he'd had enough, it was hilarious that he just bypassed GOD and was seemingly happy to pass it to Leigh instead. Mind you, some finish .

Leigh is absolute quality. A great athlete as well, just look at the press of the fullback before his goal. Mentally he was onto the pass before he was played and from a physical point of view he was really shifting considering it was the 95th minute. Good cross on him too.

GOD - 5.5 - Done alright for the 3rd goal but he looked off again, there was a wonder ball across the box from Leigh which was an easy tap in and he just didn't move?? Reacted eventually but it was by the corner flag then.

Agree with most of the ratings, although bar the goal I didn't think Brown had a very good game last night either. Regarding GOD though I've made this point before, he doesn't anticipate like a striker. That chance was at 74:30 or so on the highlights, when Leigh has it and shapes to cross it's only going in one place but GOD never got above a jog, prime Matty Taylor and that's a goal as the cross was superb on the run. When he realised it was staying in he showed a turn of pace so he can move but he very rarely gambles. Would love to have signed another striker so he could have gone out on loan and got some regular football, although that really would have been the cherry on the cake as far as the summer window went. He needs to get into the habit of gambling every time the ball is around the box. If you do it 10 times a game and it only comes off every third game it's still worth it.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I am not pining for the KR days, believe me! It wasn't a criticism of the team or manager really - and certainly not of us over all this season. I think it was more the way Shrewsbury seemed to rather give up, the lack of a vocal opposition following to spark the crowd into life and the sheer ease with which we passed the ball about and totally controlled the game. It was a good win, a professional performance and a well-deserved 3 points. Not our fault the opposition was so passive.

Yeah I agree, it was too comfortable and the crowd realised the players didn't need them last night and just sort of sat back in the armchair, feet up, dozing off and waking up every now and then to applaud a goal. That's how it felt anyway ! The atmosphere would have definitely ramped up had we been chasing the game at any point.

While they were incredibly passive I don't think this is quite right. Under Robinson we struggled but these season we've been absolutely brilliant against a press, most our early season goals came from counter attacks and the one time in the first half they had men committed we should have scored through Harris.

I still think he could release it sooner sometimes. He did brilliantly for the Harris chance but he also lost the ball a couple of times when a pass was on, even on the extended highlights from yesterday on iFollow (about 3:30 in) I thought he could have released Bodin a bit quicker and it would have lead to a better opportunity. He does seem to be getting better every game though and is clearly going to be a hell of a player this season, fantastic signing.

Got a bit of stick early on, partly for a couple of average performances and partly because he's not Sam Long, but I thought he was very good last night. It's hard to define exactly what he's good at but I just think he's good at a lot of things. Some of his little touches round the corner look fortunate but they come off so often that it's obviously intentional.

Leigh is absolute quality. A great athlete as well, just look at the press of the fullback before his goal. Mentally he was onto the pass before he was played and from a physical point of view he was really shifting considering it was the 95th minute. Good cross on him too.

Agree with most of the ratings, although bar the goal I didn't think Brown had a very good game last night either. Regarding GOD though I've made this point before, he doesn't anticipate like a striker. That chance was at 74:30 or so on the highlights, when Leigh has it and shapes to cross it's only going in one place but GOD never got above a jog, prime Matty Taylor and that's a goal as the cross was superb on the run. When he realised it was staying in he showed a turn of pace so he can move but he very rarely gambles. Would love to have signed another striker so he could have gone out on loan and got some regular football, although that really would have been the cherry on the cake as far as the summer window went. He needs to get into the habit of gambling every time the ball is around the box. If you do it 10 times a game and it only comes off every third game it's still worth it.

Brown did misplace a lot of passes in the first half, got his goal though and played pretty well thereafter.

 

[Peterdev]

I can’t get anything on YouTube to watch the goals again. does anyone have a link?

 

[mooro]

Relaxed, comfortable, boring, dull, lacked of ambition......... take your pick - it was a complete stroll, which turned into a boring affair from about 60 minutes. We weren't interested in attacking in the final third in the second period and for me, harsh at it is. I really thought some of the crowd were going to turn and groan as we went from the edge of an attacking third back and put our foot on the ball (which the defenders did regularly late on). Instead of groans, people flocked out with five/ten minutes left.

How times have changed - me moaning about the performance and we won 3-0. As poor as we've been all season. Misery and out.

I was disappointed by our approach in the second half last night.

I get all the comfortable, in control, secure the win, it's three points etc etc, and in the bigger picture it was a win, three points, +3 goal difference, etc, etc

I also get that when one or two goals up, then it is sometimes sensible to strangle the game against plucky sides who are still trying to make something happen, and I appreciate that we are fortunate to be in a position to be able to do that when required.

But....last night wasn't or shouldn't have been one of those games. They had given up and when they gave up, we gave up. I'm not advocating going hell for leather for goals but we should not have eight players behind the ball for a free kick two yards outside the corner of the box.

After our second sub, we appeared to descend into a robbo-esque lack of structure and were almost more likely to give away a silly chance or get an injury trying to retrieve a sloppy pass than we would have just continuing as we were.

As I say, not really a moan, more just disappointment that we chose not to kick on against a side seemingly more dispirited than we were at the worst of last season, in front of 7000 people who can earnestly discuss the merits of our approach all they like, but would in truth have much preferred putting 5 or 6 past them.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

I can’t get anything on YouTube to watch the goals again. does anyone have a link?

 

[ttg17]

Special mention to Greg Leigh too - if you could bottle what he brings to the club on AND off the pitch . . . fabulous player and character and STILL can't understand how he was the 3rd best left back at Ipswich (scanning their squad for R Carlos or P Maldini) - thank f**k they saw it that way!

He obviously comes across better in interviews than I think any other player we've had at OUFC in my supporting lifetime, but also worth highlighting how, after his wondergoal yesterday, he went straight to GOD and was gesturing to the crowd that the plaudits should be directed at him for his pressing. Hugely impressive that, after scoring something of a wondergoal, his first thought is to give a boost to a youngster who's just starting out on his first season as a bona fide squad player, rather than lap up the praise for himself.

God I love him.