Away Match Day Thread 05/04/22 L1: Morecambe v OUFC

[RgYellows]

A manager with the tactical nouse to play players in the correct position.
A manager who doesn't see collecting wingers as a prudent pastime.
A manager able to react and make the correct decision when using subs.
A manager who realises what is so blindingly obvious in a transfer window.
A manager who shows he has the ability through the season to beat higher level teams and those struggling.

No wonder we can't afford any full backs if we need that many managers

 

[MJB]

No wonder we can't afford any full backs if we need that many managers

All we need is a team of managers, a team of managers.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Consolation #1: if we’ve blown it, maybe the other teams will relax a bit and blow it too!

Consolation #2: it’s quite likely that Sunderland or Wycombe will miss out too! Ha ha!!

 

[Mellowyellow]

No wonder we can't afford any full backs if we need that many managers

As many of those rolled into one! Did someone say Appleton??

 

[Mellowyellow]

I am not apologising for Robinson but injuries have killed us. When you have big players missing like we have it does make the difference. I expect he will get a kicking though if we fall short which is looking likely.

But why do we seem to get a greater proportion of injuries all together, at the start of the season and other key times in the season?

 

[werthersoriginal]

As many of those rolled into one! Did someone say Appleton??

The guy who had one good season then nearly got shitty Lincoln relegated?

 

[oxfordfan1]

Lazy?
I`m no stats geek but something like 70% possession suggests it was rather one-way traffic.
Whilst that doesn`t win games, it was like siege warfare with them putting 10 behind the ball in the last 18 yards.
That is hard to get through and you need a bit of luck, something we never seem to get.

yes lazy did you watch it? tuesday was everything we haven't been doing all season in 90minutes! certain players out there already looked on there holiday if we had half of what morecambe put into that game we would of cruised it.

 

[oxfordfan1]

I don’t want to come across all @Scotchegg but… really?! I can’t think of one player who looked like they didn’t care, players were constantly bombing forwards and making runs etc. If anything they were rushing things at times and lost patience, calmness and accuracy, but I didn’t see any lack of effort?

Kane was poor and Taylor went missing after his goal but apart from that most players performed well, I’d say Sykes and McGuane were both excellent, full of effort and invention. Whyte you have a point with, his finishing was poor.

I’m as critical as anyone when we lose but I don’t think you can say the players didn’t care.

no grit or determination Brannagan such a huge loss for us!

 

[Symp59]

All teams that do well have a good defense let's be honest I go into every game thinking we are going to let goals in. It was not really addressed in January and that goes with a defencive midfielder as well. We are paying and will continue to pay for it. My only hope is that Whyte gets his shooting boots on for five games and some how we get into the play offs we still have a chance. And also what has been the point of keeping Mous in the match day squad since January we needed to get another player in but let's hope . But if we lose Saturday we could have a terrible end to the season for the team and Karl . COYY

 

[Paul Cannell]

Agreed - I actually don't think that KR has been particularly unlucky with injuries this season; I think he was more lucky with injuries in the previous two seasons.

Last year, Atkinson, Moore & Ruffels all played 40+ league games, and Sam Long played 36 (most of the rest of the RB starts were the ill-fated Sean Clare saga).
In 2019-20, we played 38 league games total (including the playoffs); Josh Ruffels played all of them and Rob Dickie played 37 of them. Chris Cadden handed over to Sam Long at RB, and either Mous or Moore made the rest of the defensive starts.

Basically, we had no long-term defensive absences for two years, and so KR was able to get away with not having recruited enough defenders.
But that is not normal - usually the wear-and-tear of a league two season is going to take its toll on your defense. Which is why it's standard practise to have 7-8 specialist defenders to provide capable cover.

Quite!

 

[horseman]

Agreed - I actually don't think that KR has been particularly unlucky with injuries this season; I think he was more lucky with injuries in the previous two seasons.

Last year, Atkinson, Moore & Ruffels all played 40+ league games, and Sam Long played 36 (most of the rest of the RB starts were the ill-fated Sean Clare saga).
In 2019-20, we played 38 league games total (including the playoffs); Josh Ruffels played all of them and Rob Dickie played 37 of them. Chris Cadden handed over to Sam Long at RB, and either Mous or Moore made the rest of the defensive starts.

Basically, we had no long-term defensive absences for two years, and so KR was able to get away with not having recruited enough defenders.
But that is not normal - usually the wear-and-tear of a league two season is going to take its toll on your defense. Which is why it's standard practise to have 7-8 specialist defenders to provide capable cover. And of course it's been compounded this season by the fact that the guy he brought in to replace Josh Ruffels is really not a great defender.

I don't think this season has been a disaster by any means, and I also don't think it's over yet - win on Saturday, and we still have a chance.

But it does stick in your craw a little hearing KR complain about injuries, when it's his squad construction which is really the root cause of our troubles.
As I mentioned at halftime - that's now 52 goals we've conceded in 41 games. It's been four years since anyone got promoted from League One having conceded more than 46.......

I wonder if by his comments what he refers to is having his ideal players available in so much as we are and have been very good when able to field his preferred 11.

There is very much a case of how long is a piece of string. i think it's often forgotten that during IL and Mapp tenure sports science was often the go to area and we were not adverse to bringing players in with past/recent history of injuries.

We also have to keep in mind that maybe defenders were targeted but they chose to go elsewhere, in some cases in search of regular football, FFP also plays a big part and players have to be moved on who also prefer to assess their options.

it's not as simple as some appear to think.

 

[battman]

I wonder if by his comments what he refers to is having his ideal players available in so much as we are and have been very good when able to field his preferred 11.

There is very much a case of how long is a piece of string. i think it's often forgotten that during IL and Mapp tenure sports science was often the go to area and we were not adverse to bringing players in with past/recent history of injuries.

We also have to keep in mind that maybe defenders were targeted but they chose to go elsewhere, in some cases in search of regular football, FFP also plays a big part and players have to be moved on who also prefer to assess their options.

it's not as simple as some appear to think.

But Karl's had so many transfer windows to fix this. It's not like he started in the summer, he's been here for four years. Any deficiencies in the squad are his fault, and he should take ownership of that.

We all knew going into January that we needed full-back cover, a defensive midfielder, a striker and, when Thorniley left, a replacement for him. The prep work should have been happening in Nov/Dec to identify targets so we could get signings over the line in early Jan, so players have a chance to settle in and play as many games as possible by the season's end.

Instead, we didn't sign anyone until the final day, having a mad dash scrambling for players, and didn't bring in a striker until February.

And that's just the most recent transfer window. There have been plenty of other times where we've been panicking for players and end the window with massive holes in our squad.

 

[werthersoriginal]

But Karl's had so many transfer windows to fix this. It's not like he started in the summer, he's been here for four years. Any deficiencies in the squad are his fault, and he should take ownership of that.

We all knew going into January that we needed full-back cover, a defensive midfielder, a striker and, when Thorniley left, a replacement for him. The prep work should have been happening in Nov/Dec to identify targets so we could get signings over the line in early Jan, so players have a chance to settle in and play as many games as possible by the season's end.

Instead, we didn't sign anyone until the final day, having a mad dash scrambling for players, and didn't bring in a striker until February.

And that's just the most recent transfer window. There have been plenty of other times where we've been panicking for players and end the window with massive holes in our squad.

I really would like to understand more of what goes on in our transfer windows. We seem to identify targets but then really struggle to sign them and end up panicking on the last day. Is it all Karl manning the phones solo and not listening to anyone else, or is it more down to our directors all being in different countries and not being able to authorize signings?

 

[horseman]

But Karl's had so many transfer windows to fix this. It's not like he started in the summer, he's been here for four years. Any deficiencies in the squad are his fault, and he should take ownership of that.

We all knew going into January that we needed full-back cover, a defensive midfielder, a striker and, when Thorniley left, a replacement for him. The prep work should have been happening in Nov/Dec to identify targets so we could get signings over the line in early Jan, so players have a chance to settle in and play as many games as possible by the season's end.

Instead, we didn't sign anyone until the final day, having a mad dash scrambling for players, and didn't bring in a striker until February.

And that's just the most recent transfer window. There have been plenty of other times where we've been panicking for players and end the window with massive holes in our squad.

Was that because in some cases players had agreed to join us and then went elsewhere pretty much within hours of window closing?

Correct me if i'm wrong but was Thorniley not staying until pretty much last minute? (relatively speaking )

Whatever we all knew was needed, when he changed formation (often was accused he lacked) and we were getting results the likes of Sykes etc were getting thought of as having found a natural position for him. The only time it get's brought out with the washing is after losing a game along with a lot of over reaction stuff.

"That" Blackpool game keeps getting brought up at such times but again we've been sat top 6 most of the season and as our manager rightly stated, our opponents have had 3 shots in 2 games none of which would be spoken about had we taken our chances.

 

[Sarge]

Lets not forget when it comes to bringing players in , its a collective that includes KR, Tiger & another ( who's name eludes me atm)

 

[horseman]

Lets not forget when it comes to bringing players in , its a collective that includes KR, Tiger & another ( who's name eludes me atm)

i'd try and answer but i'm rubbish with Anagrams

 

[Notaswindonfan]

Lets not forget when it comes to bringing players in , its a collective that includes KR, Tiger & another ( who's name eludes me atm)

Not Hanson is it

 

[Oxymoron]

Wasn't there a piece in one of the pre-match shows a month or so back that explained that the club doesn't just "go after" a player; transfer targets are identified many months prior and a whole dossier is compiled about then. They are effectively profiled to ensure they are a "fit" to what we want both on and off the pitch and only then would official enquiries be made about availability and fees. Pass those hurdles and you would talk with the player and co-relate that information back to the profile and then maybe start to talk terms with his agent and weed out any hidden requirements. Eventually, you may make a formal offer, which may be accepted in principal, documents drawn up and even after all that, the deal may not conclude.

It's no wonder that most of the transfers come to naught....

 

[werthersoriginal]

Wasn't there a piece in one of the pre-match shows a month or so back that explained that the club doesn't just "go after" a player; transfer targets are identified many months prior and a whole dossier is compiled about then. They are effectively profiled to ensure they are a "fit" to what we want both on and off the pitch and only then would official enquiries be made about availability and fees. Pass those hurdles and you would talk with the player and co-relate that information back to the profile and then maybe start to talk terms with his agent and weed out any hidden requirements. Eventually, you may make a formal offer, which may be accepted in principal, documents drawn up and even after all that, the deal may not conclude.

It's no wonder that most of the transfers come to naught....

Yes but other clubs seem to snap up plenty of players, presumably with at least as much due diligence.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1511494141825351681