General The Injured Midfield

The trouble is, I really feel Sykes is a major weak link. He's clearly a talented player, but physically, he's nowhere near strong enough to play at this level.

I've never known us have so many key players out injured at the same time, and there's no escaping the fact we're suffering a major injury crisis, and while we wait for players to recover, we need to batten down the hatches, make ourselves hard to beat, whilst still having adequate attacking threats, and I feel having Long at RB, with Cadden on the RW, provides us with the strength we'll need with and without the ball all up and down that right side.

In the meantime, Sykes needs to get himself in the gym, and beef himself up, or he won't make the grade, and fulfil his obvious potential.

Yesterday, for the 1st half Sykes was the only one who showed any creativity and imo he coped reasonably well physically yesterday. He did have moments when he was knocked off the ball but then there were times he gave it back so I don't have any particular concerns on that score. Rarely for him, Fosu got knocked off the ball far more yesterday.
 
That depends precisely on whether all the damage was initially done in one single trauma and was just impossible to run off - or whether playing on made the initial trauma worse.

Which, respectfully, nobody shall ever know.

Absolutely not picking holes in what you're saying! I value the debate.

But, believe me, we medics get plenty enough criticism...and only deserve most of it. I'll always leap to the aid of a colleague when I can!
Medics do a wonderful job and it was only an observation that we have been likely unlucky with all three.
As you say impossible to tell straight off but I would have not taken any risks with Henry.
 
Yesterday, for the 1st half Sykes was the only one who showed any creativity and imo he coped reasonably well physically yesterday. He did have moments when he was knocked off the ball but then there were times he gave it back so I don't have any particular concerns on that score. Rarely for him, Fosu got knocked off the ball far more yesterday.
Fosu and Hall got knocked off the ball far more than Sykes IMO .... Sykes is better in more of a winger type role, however, he was tasked with playing more centrally in yesterdays game, against a side who, as another poster has pointed out, seriously rival Wycombe in the anti football stakes
 
KR needs to be very careful with certain players and not rushing them back to soon before they are ready physically and mentally.....
I'm assuming that you're talking about Shandon Baptiste but the way you post suggests that KR is not being careful.

Baptiste has been really carefully looked after since he picked up an injury in his return to the side a year ago. It is why he has played less than many would have wanted. Robinson knows more than anyone the importance of keeping Shandon in a good place, both physically and mentally and will not rush him back. It's also why he is being protected from transfer speculation. PL clubs have shown an interest but the club want to put the needs of Baptiste first, and think he will develop better here than in a PL youth set up where he'll be lost. The money being spoken of would be massive for someone with only 21 games under his belt at this level.

There are gambles every time a play steps on to the pitch, but you can absolutely guarantee that Baptiste will not be selected unless he is mentally and physically ready.
 
Don't get me wrong, I like Sykes, and think he's a very talented player, and I wasn't at the game yesterday, for the first time in years, so obviously didn't see the individual performances of the players, but at the moment, given our injury crisis, we really need to make ourselves hard to beat whilst we ride it out and wait for players to return, and given the obvious physical limitations of Sykes and Hall, I feel playing Cadden on the right wing, and Long at right back would really provide strength all along the right side, weather we're attacking or defending, and with Gorrin and Mous in the middle, Fosu on the left wing, and Mackie and Taylor up front, that could be the perfect lineup and formation to allow us to continue our good run, whilst waiting for key players to come back from injury.

Sometimes the most obvious and simple options are the most effective, and as much as I respect and appreciate everything Robbo's been doing this season, I think he was trying to be too clever yesterday.
 
Don't get me wrong, I like Sykes, and think he's a very talented player, and I wasn't at the game yesterday, for the first time in years, so obviously didn't see the individual performances of the players, but at the moment, given our injury crisis, we really need to make ourselves hard to beat whilst we ride it out and wait for players to return, and given the obvious physical limitations of Sykes and Hall, I feel playing Cadden on the right wing, and Long at right back would really provide strength all along the right side, weather we're attacking or defending, and with Gorrin and Mous in the middle, Fosu on the left wing, and Mackie and Taylor up front, that could be the perfect lineup and formation to allow us to continue our good run, whilst waiting for key players to come back from injury.

Sometimes the most obvious and simple options are the most effective, and as much as I respect and appreciate everything Robbo's been doing this season, I think he was trying to be too clever yesterday.
think youre more or less there or thereabouts @Mad dog87 .... KR was out thought (and mugged) by Ricketts & Whitehead IMO ( with a weak /poor referee aiding and abetting)
 
think youre more or less there or thereabouts @Mad dog87 .... KR was out thought (and mugged) by Ricketts & Whitehead IMO ( with a weak /poor referee aiding and abetting)

Disagree on the out-thought bit with KR. KR adapted the team midway through the 1st half after starting with a makeshift, square pegs in round holes central midfield and coped with 2 injuries to that makeshift midfield. Whilst Shrewsbury were clearly better in the first 20/25 mins after the reshuffle the 1st half evened up and then we were comfortably the better team in the 2nd half. That Sam Ricketts (who I hope never to see as the Oxford manager based on his team's performance) when presented with an opponent with a very weakened central midfield (regardless of our previous form) set his team up not to lose, and then didn't change to attack us after the injuries says to me he is overly cautious/lacks ambition/tactical nous to do so. We started as a wounded animal, got another wound and Ricketts didn't have the nous to beat us after KR changed our set up.

Also Sykes is definitely a starter for me at the moment in midfield yesterday he was one of our better players. Will he start with all the other players back, unlikely, but he has been a regular part of the team in this unbeaten run in the league and has earnt that chance on merit.

Whereas for me against such an opposition, Rob Hall isn't a starter. Rob Hall wasn't great defensively before his injury problems but yesterday demonstrated his loss of pace has made it worse. Cadden was having to cover for him so couldn't get forward much in that 1st half. I think Sam Long being the better defender can cover Rob Hall but it didn't work for me with Cadds. I'd much prefer Sam Long at right back with Cadds in right midfield at MK Dons with Rob Hall able to come on as a sub if necessary.
 
Disagree on the out-thought bit with KR. KR adapted the team midway through the 1st half after starting with a makeshift, square pegs in round holes central midfield and coped with 2 injuries to that makeshift midfield. Whilst Shrewsbury were clearly better in the first 20/25 mins after the reshuffle the 1st half evened up and then we were comfortably the better team in the 2nd half. That Sam Ricketts (who I hope never to see as the Oxford manager based on his team's performance) when presented with an opponent with a very weakened central midfield (regardless of our previous form) set his team up not to lose, and then didn't change to attack us after the injuries says to me he is overly cautious/lacks ambition/tactical nous to do so. We started as a wounded animal, got another wound and Ricketts didn't have the nous to beat us after KR changed our set up.

Also Sykes is definitely a starter for me at the moment in midfield yesterday he was one of our better players. Will he start with all the other players back, unlikely, but he has been a regular part of the team in this unbeaten run in the league and has earnt that chance on merit.

Whereas for me against such an opposition, Rob Hall isn't a starter. Rob Hall wasn't great defensively before his injury problems but yesterday demonstrated his loss of pace has made it worse. Cadden was having to cover for him so couldn't get forward much in that 1st half. I think Sam Long being the better defender can cover Rob Hall but it didn't work for me with Cadds. I'd much prefer Sam Long at right back with Cadds in right midfield at MK Dons with Rob Hall able to come on as a sub if necessary.
Agree apart from the tactics bit. KR'S hand was forced with the injury to Forde. Moore came on Mous moved to DM and Henry moved forward. IMO thats how we should have started. Having Henry that far back was a waste of his talent.
Agree about Hall. A shadow of his former self and a liability defending. Long and Cadden if Henry is not fit. Hall on the bench. I feel some people are being a bit overcritical of Sykes. He was average but not poor by any means.
 
I’d like to know what Hall’s supporters see in him. Please?
 
I’d like to know what Hall’s supporters see in him. Please?
Hall isn't useless, he's just not as good as others. We have a threadbare midfield at the moment so we are using players who wouldn't otherwise be first choice.

Generally this season, Hall has offered something going forward. Whilst not as quick as he once was, he offers a direct option which can put defences on the backfoot. His goals against Sunderland and H&Y were well taken, as was his free kick against West Ham that hit the bar. He also played well in the middle against West Ham where he read the game well with some decent link up play.

He offers virtually nothing defensively and if he does play on the right we need Long behind him. He's also not blistering quick, so he'll rarely go flying past players, and isn't strong enough to do some of the hold up work Henry does.

So in an ideal world, Hall would not be picked and would maybe limited to 20 minutes against a tiring defence. But we're not in an ideal world and some of the criticism is a little unfair.
 
I’d like to know what Hall’s supporters see in him. Please?

I see him having been badly injured for two years, and having worked his way back from a point where some of us thought he might not ever kick a ball again. Before that I saw a lot of magic.

I still count 5 goals this year in cup competitions. Most against questionable competition, but there are returns nonetheless.

I see a fairly full treatment room, and our manager having to utilise the squad at his disposal. And in our squad, he's turning towards a player he knows very well, and trying to coax out of him whatever ability and quality remains in his legs. In an ideal world, it'd be for the last 20 minutes of a game, but at the moment it has to last for 70-90.

Mostly, I see an Oxford United shirt on his back. So I am a Rob Hall 'supporter'.
 
I wonder if it's worth not taking risks at MK (though the 3 points are desperately needed) and just making sure we have a fully fit side:



Archer

Cadden Dickie Moore Ruffels

Sykes Gorrin Mous Fosu

Taylor Mackie

Even if Brannagan and Baptiste are technically 'fit', there's no way they should be starting next week having been out for up to a month each.

It's a very defensive setup, but keep the midfield four compact and get the central pair to sit back. Then we can let Cadden, Ruffels, and perhaps even Dickie wander further up the pitch.

I'll suggest something a little different:

Archer
Cadden Dickie Mous Long
Gorrin Ruffels
Hall Sykes Fosu
Taylor​

It'll compromise us out on the left wing but Long has already filled in there this season, Ruffels still has the engine to go box-to-box and it minimises the disruption in other positions.
 
I see some improvement every time Hall plays.

I don't as yet see a player who has got close enough back to his best to start a game - except when the manager has little choice.
 
I don’t think it’s unfair to suggest the squad has now moved on from Hall - that’s not a slight on Hall but a reflection of how the club have progressed.
 
I don’t think it’s unfair to suggest the squad has now moved on from Hall - that’s not a slight on Hall but a reflection of how the club have progressed.
In the same way I don't think it's unfair to say that Hall shouldn't be made a scapegoat and that he has a contribution to make even if down the pecking order.
 
I see some improvement every time Hall plays.

I don't as yet see a player who has got close enough back to his best to start a game - except when the manager has little choice.

Not yesterday though, don’t remember him doing anything, almost forgot he was on the pitch.
 
Re Hall i agree he contributed little either in final third or defensively. He was like a lost soul but has shown sparks previously. Jordan Graham would be a better bet by far had we signed him but he had his faults too. We miss Gavin Whyte when counter attacking and also opening up defensive, nasty sides but feel sure KR will address that come January. Cadden in front of Long seems the best short term solution until Baptiste, Cam , Woodburn and Henry are back. Sykes is better wide too. Lacks the physical presence and awareness for central midfield in my opinion. Wycombe will be more robust and press even more than Shrews. I fancy Mackie may relish that sort of game.
 
Not yesterday though, don’t remember him doing anything, almost forgot he was on the pitch.
I agree generally, although there was one nice mazy run that he finished off by falling over in their pen area in the first half - not enough though. The problem is that he is OK coming on (depending on the match situation) when the rest of the players are tiring a bit, but he definitely shouldn't come on to start. He doesn't track back at all, is still leery of making much of a tackle and his pace has definitely gone down a gear or two. His performance wasn't to blame yesterday though, I thought taking Henry out of the attack to prop up the defensive midfield was very odd when Moore looks excellent at left central defence and Mous is an experienced DM. Henry wasn't brilliant further back and we missed him up the pitch. A combination of a 'streetwise' ( I think that's the polite expression!) opposition, an odd team selection, a weak ref and some under par performances by many contributed.
 
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