Ex Player Alex Rodriguez Gorrin

horseman said:
Oh come on what was the reaction on here when he informed us that there were a number of impending fathers among the squad + others going through other difficult issues?.
i fully agree people will give opinions on players but on here they do tend to surface after a defeat with calls for players to be elbowed binned off never wear a shirt again irrespective of past performances and if some had their way we would lose 4/5/6/players in an instant and all at a time when we've struggled to name a settled team.

I said after the game Saturday that KR did not send the team out to hoof it, fail to pass to a team mate and sit back for 20 minutes or so and we all have seen that is not how his teams play, it was not down to Mark Sykes or the 3 subs collectively as we win as a team and lose as a team.

it it was quite an important game but maybe just maybe that's what's led to much of the over the top criticism of individuals, players ,Mangement and recruitment team etc
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Christ, is that all you see the game against them is? I genuinely thought Oxford fans had grasped the meaning of losing such a game, the hurt until March comes around. Sorry, but I'm quite astounded that a board member seems to talk of the meaning of the game like that.

The comments/critisism of kr was not just following that game, but the season as a whole so far, where we have completely under performed, following reaching the play offs. Quite rightly expectations were high.

The recruitment was all wrong, players were not replaced, tactically the defence have been pretty poor. When additions were needed, even members of the local Derby and Joan club knew we were desperate for a Centre Back, it seems that kr didn't.

What makes it even worse is that we were poor against poor teams like Swindon and Ipswich. That's what the critsism has been about, not one game and sorry there is no real defence of that. If we can't beat teams like this we are going to really struggle, agree? Lets not go into throwing players under the bus, as he says in the next breath he keeps things in the dressing room.

Every fan realises that a failing manager is not an option, as our club suffers, therefore we need him to do well. He has though to realise his faults himself before we can move in the right direction. So far we have been in the basement area for most of the season, this cannot go on indefinitely, whether you accept fans being critical of him or not.
 
Scotchegg said:
What is Sykes best position?
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To be fair, he's had some of his best games for us on the wide right of a front three, but he's been played on the wide LEFT of a front three, and the wide left of the midfield three, and the wide right of a midfield three, more often than he has played on the wide right of the front three.

It's hard to know which is his best position, as he's been moved around so much, he's not really been able to settle into a position, and make it his own, but I'd like to see him in the number 10 role, or at the tip of a diamond, just behind the front two, as both those positions could allow him to drop into pockets of space, and be a good link between the midfield and attack.

That said, and as I have mentioned a number of times before, regardless of what position he finds himself playing in, he needs to get in the gym and bulk himself up, and make himself stronger, as he's currently far too flimsy and easily knocked off the ball.

He's clearly got talent, but I think it's more about finding the right manager who can find his best position, and help him play to his strengths, which our current manager isn't doing, and we have a number of players who are suffering similar problems, with a manager who's obsessed with "converting" players to play various different positions, but the problem with that approach, is that you end up with players who are bang average in multiple positions, but specialists in none.

It's an approach that needs changing
 
You've questioned Sykes not playing in his best position, said where his best position is, and then suggested that he plays in 2 other positions!!

That's the difficulty, we have someone who has shown glimpses of being a good player, but all to often he drifts out of games. Considering he has played the vast majority of his games on the right I'd suggest that this is a flaw of the player over the system.

I would love to see him play the way he did against West Ham every week. With Henry struggling, he should be fighting to make that position his own. But I'm just not seeing that desire or commitment to really up his game.
 
Scotchegg said:
You've questioned Sykes not playing in his best position, said where his best position is, and then suggested that he plays in 2 other positions!!

That's the difficulty, we have someone who has shown glimpses of being a good player, but all to often he drifts out of games. Considering he has played the vast majority of his games on the right I'd suggest that this is a flaw of the player over the system.

I would love to see him play the way he did against West Ham every week. With Henry struggling, he should be fighting to make that position his own. But I'm just not seeing that desire or commitment to really up his game.
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Both very similar positions though, in the fact that they’re very central, which would allow him to drop into pockets of space between the lines, and be more intricate with his play.

Surely it’s worth a try, as Robbo’s certainly not getting the best out of him in all the other positions he’s played him in.
 
Robinson was asked about Sykes on the Five Minute Phone In show on BBC Oxford last night. The tone of his answer (which was uncharacteristically abrupt) gave me the impression that a significant cloud hangs over Sykes and his future at Oxford United.
 
Gives the ball away far too much for me. Our midfield looks more in control without him in it this season.
 
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I think there's a player in Sykes but the strained relationship with Robinson has broken any real chance of seeing what that is, this isn't the first time they've fallen out and should KR get his way I think Sykes will be shown the door.
 
Carpy17 said:
I think there's a player in Sykes but the strained relationship with Robinson has broken any real chance of seeing what that is, this isn't the first time they've fallen out and should KR get his way I think Sykes will be shown the door.
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When did Sykes last have a good game? There were question marks over him in the summer, with many looking at games like West Ham or Man City where he was excellent but several more games where he was non-existent.

He may not have a great relationship with Robinson, and as a new Dad he may be struggling behind the scenes. But eventually he has to put performances in that make a difference and I'm struggling to remember the last time he did this.
 
The 5min phone in: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p090dxdy

Theres money in Jan.
He doesn't regret singling out Sykes
Players will go out on loan in Jan
He contacted Cardiff about Whyte - see what happens in Jan

Re: Sykes - hopefully this is KR looking for a response, but Sykes appears to have had a few chances? Play him in the #8 consistently and he will perform (imo)....KR is just running down an asset atm
 
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Scotchegg said:
When did Sykes last have a good game? There were question marks over him in the summer, with many looking at games like West Ham or Man City where he was excellent but several more games where he was non-existent.

He may not have a great relationship with Robinson, and as a new Dad he may be struggling behind the scenes. But eventually he has to put performances in that make a difference and I'm struggling to remember the last time he did this.
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The problem is, even if all of his performances had been exactly the same, and people on here were criticising Mark Sykes, but Karl Robinson was defending him, you wouldn’t be saying this, you’d be defending Sykes to high heaven!
 
I just feel that Sykes amongst others hasn’t produced the standard that he can play to, and this the reason why we are in the position in the table, no one knows what goes on inside the club , or the real relationship between players and management, I disagree with Karl’s willingness to discuss players in public , it doesn’t inspire faith in the players to play to their best ,knowing that a public dressing down is coming , no comment should be Karl’s opening gambit for any type of performance, it should be that “the team’s “performance that he should be commenting on , there has to be a reason why it’s difficult to get players to come here perhaps this is one of the reasons
 
Scotchegg said:
When did Sykes last have a good game? There were question marks over him in the summer, with many looking at games like West Ham or Man City where he was excellent but several more games where he was non-existent.

He may not have a great relationship with Robinson, and as a new Dad he may be struggling behind the scenes. But eventually he has to put performances in that make a difference and I'm struggling to remember the last time he did this.
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Now i wont look back to confirm the opposition but there were at least 3 games where it did ok/well/very good.....Posh Watford Rochdale + a very good pressing game which may have been Mk Dons?

You asked about his best position, has to be down the Right where i have pointed out on many occasion his excellent link up play with Long Agyei Henry.

Mark Sykes is a very talented young player and i'm surprised so many want him binned off, i find it odd how he and a few others can come under so much Flak but others are afforded Golden Boy status that are "currently" contributing little.
 
I hope Sykes goes in January.
Someone used the phrase "flatters to deceive" and that is spot on.
He runs around and he sometimes shows bursts of energy that catch the eye, but he doesn't have some of the basic technical requirements: his first touch isn't good enough, his passing is iffy and he doesn't read the game.
 
Mark Sykes is December’s Dan Aygei then.

When will Robinson learn about keeping this kind of stuff in-house? People can see through the public throwing under the bus by now and it’s becoming a bore.


In answer to when did Sykes last have a good game, 3 games were mentioned.

Now when was the last time anybody had a decent 3 games this season?

More players than not have been way below par.
 
Scotchegg said:
When did Sykes last have a good game? There were question marks over him in the summer, with many looking at games like West Ham or Man City where he was excellent but several more games where he was non-existent.

He may not have a great relationship with Robinson, and as a new Dad he may be struggling behind the scenes. But eventually he has to put performances in that make a difference and I'm struggling to remember the last time he did this.
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Do you remember all the times you performed really well when you and your manager essentially hated each other? Or when your manager publicly said to the rest of your team how you're no good?
 
Shropshire U said:
I hope Sykes goes in January.
Someone used the phrase "flatters to deceive" and that is spot on.
He runs around and he sometimes shows bursts of energy that catch the eye, but he doesn't have some of the basic technical requirements: his first touch isn't good enough, his passing is iffy and he doesn't read the game.
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He has the talent. Against West Ham he showed that. Against Wycombe he showed it (to an extent). He's raw, but hes got something. What he needs is coaching. Supposedly Karls speciality.

Out of all the players who have not delivered this season, Mark Sykes is quite low down my list.
 
greatunclekip said:
He has the talent. Against West Ham he showed that. Against Wycombe he showed it (to an extent). He's raw, but hes got something. What he needs is coaching. Supposedly Karls speciality.

Out of all the players who have not delivered this season, Mark Sykes is quite low down my list.
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Agree
Eastwood
Clare
Ruffels
Henry
Have all been way below the standard expected of them surely? Apart from a comment on Eastwood, I don't think any of them have been singled out for a KR rant!! Sykes is talented but inconsistent that is his main problem.
 
Glenavon, played as a number 10 just behind the striker(s)
Northern Ireland, played as a number 10, just behind the striker(s)
Oxford United, played in central midfield, wide left, wide right, but not as a 10 in behind the strikers.

Another casualty to Robbo's insistence of signing players who perform well in their natural position, but would prefer them to play elsewhere...
 
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