Current Player #23 Josh Murphy

Even in the first half he got their right centre back booked, and the guy could have had another booking if not for offside. Had him on toast.
 
I enjoyed the foul on him about twelve minutes in. The Wigan left back was all over the shop and couldn’t cope with Murphy’s pace and close control. You could see the defender think “I’m going to have to foul him here” and then put in the most clumsy challenge. Very pleased for Josh. He had a great game
 
There was one moment in the second half where he was stood up at the halfway line and played it one way around an opponent and went the other side and took it. Made it look easy, but from a standing start at this level, that doesn't even come off 1 in 20 times, if that. He also stretches teams as you can't leave him alone for a second.

One of the few players with that extra something that makes things happen, but I agree too flakey over his time here to warrant a new deal.
 
I like Murphy but thought his performance last night was a bit tentative. Looked like a player easing himself back in and didn't really have a serious run at a defender and his tracking back and closing down was a bit flaky. The player that we saw in those closing stages at Reading, before injury, is the one we need to really have an impact. He was flying past defenders that night. Last night I felt he checked back a lot rather than having that confidence to go on the outside and show genuine pace. Really well taken goal though.
 
tatabanya said:
Think a new deal structured so that he only gets paid when playing would be a no brainer for us, but I imagine Murphy will get better offers.
Click to expand...

Certainly going to be interesting how we approach it.

Only Dale & Goodrham as contracted wingers for next season.

Decisions to be made on Murphy, Edwards (who sounds like he’s certain to be offered a new deal) & Browne.
 
Nice people that they are, it would be reassuring to bbe told Murphy and Browne have been removed from our plans permanently.
 
It would be crazy and lunacy to offer him anything other than a pay as you play deal.

He’s cost a lot of money, and for just over half of the time he’s been here, he only wanted to play when he fancied it.

He may well be great until the end of the season, but I have my concerns, and his wages would be better spent else where on the pitch ie a quality right back.
 
We have Murphy, Browne & Edwards all on deals which presumably expire at the end of the season.

All of them extremely talented, and when they are on the pitch among the best players in the league. But none of them get on the pitch enough. They all have a track record of consistently being unavailable for long periods, season after season.

I don’t mind if we take a punt on one for next season. But not all three. The fact that Edwards is even here suggests he might be the one we’re looking at taking said punt on. And that makes sense given that last season he did find a way onto Ipswich’s bench and occasionally contribute to one of the strongest teams we’ve seen in all the years we’ve been back in League One.

In which case, as much as I love watching Browne when he plays, and I’ve really enjoyed Murphy’s cameos this season - the other two have to go. (Or only be extended on terms so profusely benefiting the club and detrimental to them when they don’t play that there’s no way they wouldn’t get a better offer elsewhere and leave anyway - most likely from Salford)

Any top promotion challenging squad can support a fragile maverick or two. But we’ve got far too many. A huge part of our recruitment criteria this summer needs to be clearing out these fragile, damaged players and spending their considerable wages far more sensibly on substantially more robust playing options

EDIT - and I say this with no negativity towards Murphy at all. I gladly gave him a standing ovation last night. He was outstanding and a genuine pleasure to watch (even without his vital goal in the equation). He’s been good whenever we’ve got him on the pitch all season. Of that trio of players he has arguably contributed far more to our season than either Browne or Edwards…
 
Last edited:
McXal said:
We have Murphy, Browne & Edwards all on deals which presumably expire at the end of the season.

All of them extremely talented, and when they are on the pitch among the best players in the league. But none of them get on the pitch enough. They all have a track record of consistently being unavailable for long periods, season after season.

I don’t mind if we take a punt on one for next season. But not all three. The fact that Edwards is even here suggests he might be the one we’re looking at taking said punt on. And that makes sense given that last season he did find a way onto Ipswich’s bench and occasionally contribute to one of the strongest teams we’ve seen in all the years we’ve been back in League One.

In which case, as much as I love watching Browne when he plays, and I’ve really enjoyed Murphy’s cameos this season - the other two have to go. (Or only be extended on terms so profusely benefiting the club and detrimental to them when they don’t play that there’s no way they wouldn’t get a better offer elsewhere and leave anyway - most likely from Salford)

Any top promotion challenging squad can support a fragile maverick or two. But we’ve got far too many. A huge part of our recruitment criteria this summer needs to be clearing out these fragile, damaged players and spending their considerable wages far more sensibly on substantially more robust playing options
Click to expand...
They're all tremendous players who I love watching, though I'm a bit less keen on Browne than on the other two, given that he seems to go in circles rather than attack directly. But I hope decisions on who to keep are informed fully by intensive fitness assessments and predictions, rather than 'fingers crossed / he could be great if he recovers fully'.
 
dickwalton1964 said:
I like Murphy but thought his performance last night was a bit tentative. Looked like a player easing himself back in and didn't really have a serious run at a defender and his tracking back and closing down was a bit flaky. The player that we saw in those closing stages at Reading, before injury, is the one we need to really have an impact. He was flying past defenders that night. Last night I felt he checked back a lot rather than having that confidence to go on the outside and show genuine pace. Really well taken goal though.
Click to expand...
What? He burnt past his defender a number of times, once to win a yellow card and again when he was harshly judged to have been offside - probably would have got his man sent off then. Also tracked back constantly and won the ball a few times, earning praise from Radio Oxford about it. MOTM from the sponsors (not that that means much, I admit!) and clear winner of the vote on here.

I agree he looked a bit rusty and like he was easing himself back, and wasn’t the best he’s ever played for us, but he looked our most dangerous player and did pretty well.
 
McXal said:
We have Murphy, Browne & Edwards all on deals which presumably expire at the end of the season.

All of them extremely talented, and when they are on the pitch among the best players in the league. But none of them get on the pitch enough. They all have a track record of consistently being unavailable for long periods, season after season.

I don’t mind if we take a punt on one for next season. But not all three. The fact that Edwards is even here suggests he might be the one we’re looking at taking said punt on. And that makes sense given that last season he did find a way onto Ipswich’s bench and occasionally contribute to one of the strongest teams we’ve seen in all the years we’ve been back in League One.

In which case, as much as I love watching Browne when he plays, and I’ve really enjoyed Murphy’s cameos this season - the other two have to go. (Or only be extended on terms so profusely benefiting the club and detrimental to them when they don’t play that there’s no way they wouldn’t get a better offer elsewhere and leave anyway - most likely from Salford)

Any top promotion challenging squad can support a fragile maverick or two. But we’ve got far too many. A huge part of our recruitment criteria this summer needs to be clearing out these fragile, damaged players and spending their considerable wages far more sensibly on substantially more robust playing options

EDIT - and I say this with no negativity towards Murphy at all. I gladly gave him a standing ovation last night. He was outstanding and a genuine pleasure to watch (even without his vital goal in the equation). He’s been good whenever we’ve got him on the pitch all season. Of that trio of players he has arguably contributed far more to our season than either Murphy or Edwards…
Click to expand...

I would agree about a punt on one. Sadly Browne is not the one. I'm thinking Murphy if he stays fit for the next 15 games over Edwards. What I would say, it is possible for seemingly Injury prone players to come back and maintain fitness. Look at Jodi Jones with his 3 x ACL injuries and Luke Shaw who had significant injuries in his early career. I just don't think we should be taking risks on so many with significant injuries, we need to learn our lesson.
 
Last edited:
McXal said:
We have Murphy, Browne & Edwards all on deals which presumably expire at the end of the season.

All of them extremely talented, and when they are on the pitch among the best players in the league. But none of them get on the pitch enough. They all have a track record of consistently being unavailable for long periods, season after season.

I don’t mind if we take a punt on one for next season. But not all three. The fact that Edwards is even here suggests he might be the one we’re looking at taking said punt on. And that makes sense given that last season he did find a way onto Ipswich’s bench and occasionally contribute to one of the strongest teams we’ve seen in all the years we’ve been back in League One.

In which case, as much as I love watching Browne when he plays, and I’ve really enjoyed Murphy’s cameos this season - the other two have to go. (Or only be extended on terms so profusely benefiting the club and detrimental to them when they don’t play that there’s no way they wouldn’t get a better offer elsewhere and leave anyway - most likely from Salford)

Any top promotion challenging squad can support a fragile maverick or two. But we’ve got far too many. A huge part of our recruitment criteria this summer needs to be clearing out these fragile, damaged players and spending their considerable wages far more sensibly on substantially more robust playing options
Click to expand...
If we could have all three on heavily weighted ‘pay as you play’ deals, where they’re earning the lowest possible amount when out injured, but when scoring and assisting they’re handsomely rewarded, I’d be happy with having all three next season. But I guess they’d prefer more financial security at other clubs, which is fair enough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Northstandboy
Current Player #24 Josh Johnson
2
Replies
34
Views
5K
MarkG
MarkG
DannyW
Ex Player Josh Ruffels
22 23 24
Replies
466
Views
59K
Leysboy
Leysboy
O
Transfer News Josh Barrett
2
Replies
27
Views
5K
Foley
F
Sarge
General Josh Ruffels double century
2
Replies
28
Views
4K
unification
unification
D
General Josh Ruffels
2
Replies
36
Views
6K
derek
derek
Back
Top Bottom