Home Match Day Thread 19/09/20 L1 - OUFC v Sunderland

I think it’s a bit harsh to go on about the fact that we apparently need a centre back, when even if we’d not conceded a league goal at all we’d have a grand total of 2 instead of 0 points.

We need a decent left back mainly. And the manager to pick a formation/style and stick to it, and give the players a clear understanding of how he wants them to play. Some blistering pace somewhere wouldn’t hurt either
 

I agree, I remember last season when we played Rotherham at home, we lost 3-1, and what struck me most of all was how they had a team of senior seasoned pro's, who were big, physical players, who clearly wanted it more than we did, and they were simply too strong for us, and the game was over by half time, and I remember saying at the time, that that's what will be the difference between them getting promoted and us not, and unfortunately, I was right, talent and quality alone is not enough, you also need fight, desire, and physical and mental strength as well, something that we didn't have enough of last season, and doesn't really exist at all in this squad.

If you look at most of our squad, they're all very small, thin and flimsy, and get outmuscled a lot, and none of them seem to have the desire to get stuck in and really fight and have a go, we need some beasts to lead the charge!!

A Mackie type dare I say?
 
We need a decent left back mainly. And the manager to pick a formation/style and stick to it, and give the players a clear understanding of how he wants them to play. Some blistering pace somewhere wouldn’t hurt either
I suppose it depends how long Ruffs is going to be out for. He is perfectly decent as a left back.

I'd be concentrating on:
A right back (Clare needs to play further forward), with Long as the 'utility man' who could play anywhere across the back if needed.
A left sided midfielder with some pace.
 
A Mackie type dare I say?
Yep. But preferably younger, 25-30, with experience of the league, and a better overall player.

Not every player has to have future potential sell on value, we also need players who are already up to the job, straight from the off
 
I'm all for finding rough diamonds and polishing them, and having players here who are a "work in progress" however....

The current rough diamonds, or "works in progress" or players simply lacking game time and fitness are:
Clare
Atkinson
Jones
Elechi
Mcguane
Kelly
Osei
Cooper
Winnall
Asonganyi
Agyei
Napa

Add to that players like Hall, who needs to managed very carefully due to his knees, and Hanson, who is never fit, and thats 14 players in our squad of 22, who are not currently at the levels of quality, fitness or experience we need them to be at, in order to take us to the next level, and thats pretty bloody shocking!

I have been raising these concerns all pre season, and honestly haven't been this concerned since Clotet was here.


Its got to a point where KR has to be ruthless, and lose peripheral players or players he sees nowhere near the first team, even buying out contracts: Hall. Hanson, Napa, Jones. Then bring in the experience and physicality we need, in the areas where we are weak..

At times yesterday, the players showed a clear lack of fitness, and played like limp lettuce.
 
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I think it’s a bit harsh to go on about the fact that we apparently need a centre back, when even if we’d not conceded a league goal at all we’d have a grand total of 2 instead of 0 points.

We need a decent left back mainly. And the manager to pick a formation/style and stick to it, and give the players a clear understanding of how he wants them to play. Some blistering pace somewhere wouldn’t hurt either


We are desperate for a CB, with only Moore and Atkinson as the main stay. At most clubs Atkinson, due to experience would be considered back up, and moore cover for the main pairing.
 
Its got to a point where KR has to be ruthless, and lose peripheral players or players he sees nowhere near the first team, even buying out contracts: Hall. Hanson, Napa, Jones. Then bring in the experience and physicality we need, in the areas where we are weak..

At times yesterday, the players showed a clear lack of fitness, and played like limp lettuce.

Why on Earth would we buy out the contracts of underage players?
 
Gorrin could be back in a few games time if the initial assessment is still correct. Will be like a new signing!
 
People can go on all they want about our defence but we had 1 shot on target in 90 minutes and that was a tame effort!
5 shots in total.
 
it’s a mess at the minute even @Scotchegg cant find much of a positive spin.

But there are positives, or at least reasons not to panic. I don't want to look like Trump, but now is a time for calm reflection rather than wholesale changes.

And, that is where I think we got things wrong yesterday. The diamond exposed our flanks and left Clare, in particular, overwhelmed. It also gave no space for Kelly to pick passes or Brannagan to drive forward. We would have been better playing the more familiar 4,2,3,1 with Cooper and Henry in the wider roles and Osei or Sykes, or even Hall, playing in the number 10 role. Not saying it would have been perfect, but I think it would have offered more control and structure.

Robinson gambled, and it failed. But I would also say that the end of the first half showed that it was not a careless gamble and a bit of discipline could have seen it pay off in the second half. But our heads dropped and we looked beaten as soon as they scored, and that is the bigger issue and one that needs addressing.

But, as we saw last season, things can change quickly if the foundations are right. The team that struggled to a draw at Bolton then went on to put 6 past Lincoln and 4 past West Ham in a week. The team that looked knackered and out of ideas when beat by Sunderland then put 5 back to back wins together.

So yes, there are positives that we can look at now, and in the immediate future.
 
Yep. But preferably younger, 25-30, with experience of the league, and a better overall player.

Not every player has to have future potential sell on value, we also need players who are already up to the job, straight from the off

It would have to be the centre half for that role with the limited senior squad places.
 
But there are positives, or at least reasons not to panic. I don't want to look like Trump, but now is a time for calm reflection rather than wholesale changes.

And, that is where I think we got things wrong yesterday. The diamond exposed our flanks and left Clare, in particular, overwhelmed. It also gave no space for Kelly to pick passes or Brannagan to drive forward. We would have been better playing the more familiar 4,2,3,1 with Cooper and Henry in the wider roles and Osei or Sykes, or even Hall, playing in the number 10 role. Not saying it would have been perfect, but I think it would have offered more control and structure.

Robinson gambled, and it failed. But I would also say that the end of the first half showed that it was not a careless gamble and a bit of discipline could have seen it pay off in the second half. But our heads dropped and we looked beaten as soon as they scored, and that is the bigger issue and one that needs addressing.

But, as we saw last season, things can change quickly if the foundations are right. The team that struggled to a draw at Bolton then went on to put 6 past Lincoln and 4 past West Ham in a week. The team that looked knackered and out of ideas when beat by Sunderland then put 5 back to back wins together.

So yes, there are positives that we can look at now, and in the immediate future.
If you cant pass a ball then it doesnt matter what formation you play. Half our team couldnt even pass it a few metres to a yellow shirt. Aimless hoofs up the pitch or shanks off the pitch.
 
But there are positives, or at least reasons not to panic. I don't want to look like Trump, but now is a time for calm reflection rather than wholesale changes.

And, that is where I think we got things wrong yesterday. The diamond exposed our flanks and left Clare, in particular, overwhelmed. It also gave no space for Kelly to pick passes or Brannagan to drive forward. We would have been better playing the more familiar 4,2,3,1 with Cooper and Henry in the wider roles and Osei or Sykes, or even Hall, playing in the number 10 role. Not saying it would have been perfect, but I think it would have offered more control and structure.

Robinson gambled, and it failed. But I would also say that the end of the first half showed that it was not a careless gamble and a bit of discipline could have seen it pay off in the second half. But our heads dropped and we looked beaten as soon as they scored, and that is the bigger issue and one that needs addressing.

But, as we saw last season, things can change quickly if the foundations are right. The team that struggled to a draw at Bolton then went on to put 6 past Lincoln and 4 past West Ham in a week. The team that looked knackered and out of ideas when beat by Sunderland then put 5 back to back wins together.

So yes, there are positives that we can look at now, and in the immediate future.

What positives?
 
What positives?

Look at my previous posts or those from @Colin B , but to summarise;

We've got the core of a decent squad, many of whom were here last season. Eastwood, Moore, Long, Ruffels, Gorrin, Brannagan, Henry, Sykes. They haven't become bad players.

Our key injuries are fairly short term. Gorrin and Ruffels should both be back in a couple of weeks, and both will give much more stability.

The transfer window remains open, and our recruitment team have got far more right than wrong.

The likes of Clare, Cooper, Kelly, McGuane, Atkinson and Osei have all shown glimpses of what we can expect. Patience is needed, but there's plenty of time left.

Hall and Forde showed on Tuesday that there is strength in depth, even if they're still building their fitness. And we have Winnall to come through and some promising youth.
 
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