Away Match Day Thread 08/02/2022 L1: Accrington Stanley v OUFC

[IsleofWightYellow]

As is always the case though when we dare to lose a game of football out come the knives...A B C D E not good enough one minute then why wasn't A B C D E playing.

Who specifically has been called not good enough one minute and then asked why they weren’t playing??

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Gorrin sitting in front of the back four is essential and we need a covering left back like Joe Skartz because Seddon is an attacking full back

Indeed - hence why there was so much focus on here on getting in a proper CDM in the January window. Now we know we have a 'space' in the squad, it's even weirder that we didn't.

 

[Oxymoron]

Who specifically has been called not good enough one minute and then asked why they weren’t playing??

Dan

 

[Oxymoron]

we have probably one of the worst defences

Distinctly middling

League One Defence stats Football - Sports Mole

Defence stats in League One and other Football divisions from Sports Mole

www.sportsmole.co.uk

 

[harrymark1]

Being one of the 307 last night, I dont think the 'doom' is necessary. The game last night was decided on very small margins. we had 2 chances cleared off the line (one was amazing) and the keeper made a decent save in the first 20 minutes from Holland one of those goes in and the game is totally different. Cant agree with the scapegoating of Seddon, he is being asked to predominantly be an attacking full back therefore will often be 'the wrong side of the ball' he also has not had a stable left sided centre back to work with. Also his winger always tends to be our less defensive one eg Holland or Whyte whereas Long tends to get Williams or Sykes in front who always track back. Without knowing the stats I would imagine Seddons goals/assists far outway the RB position.

Anyway onto Bolton, COYY

 

[Made-in-Jericho]

We looked pretty good in patches before their 1st and 2nd goal - pretty clear that the conditions suited them better than us and would've been very different had one of our chances gone in. It was one of those nights.

 

[pooshooter]

We can't seem to play teams that don't want to play football on the carpet. Why is that?

 

[chuckbert]

Highlights weren’t too pretty.

“Can we not knock it?”

 

[harrymark1]

We can't seem to play teams that don't want to play football on the carpet. Why is that?

I thought they played some good stuff on the carpet to be fair

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Yes, in fact I thought that it was *us* that rather resorted to punting it up the field once our passing disintegrated.

 

[m]

Yup. Seems like some are trying to shoehorn last night into familiar 'don't perform against physical sides' territory. Not what I saw at all.

Just a bad day I hope.

 

[Joey]

For those saying about lack of defenders we have had the following for CB’s this season, Mous, McNally, Moore, Brown, Thornley. Thornley gets recalled so Brown is brought in so still 2 players for each CB role plus Long.

I think that's really generous regarding the defenders. Thorniley and Brown were never here at the same time and both appeared to be last minute thoughts almost. Mous can't be included, would you feel confident having him play 90 minutes for a few games in a row? We've had 5 defenders for 4 spots all season, 5 and half if you include Mous. We've got wingers who can "do a job" at right back but absolutely nothing for left back when it's clear Seddon needs taking out the firing line. That isn't bad luck, it's bad planning.

Long gets injured, McNally has a personal issue, Brown gets injured. That is bad timing/luck.
You can’t sign loads of players incase we have a injury crisis.

Have you seen how many midfielders and wingers we have? If you think we're fine for numbers defensively then surely it's massive overkill and a huge waste of wages having 8 or so wide players on the books for 2 spots? Across those 5 positions we've got probably 13 or 14 players, some decent players won't even get in the squad and yet our back line is picked by default.

It was only today people were saying this is the best squad we have had in years!

It probably is, although the promotion team isn't far behind I think. That doesn't mean it can't be better balanced.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I think it may be true that the individuals we have within the squad are collectively the best we've had for quite a while. But as Joey says, the make up of the squad as a whole seems to be lopsided. I don't think that's an opinion that's surfaced since last night's loss - most on here have been saying that all season (jokes about buying more wingers, wondering if we will get more defenders, central strikers, defensive midfielders in the transfer window etc.).

 

[Big Ron]

Being one of the 307 last night, I dont think the 'doom' is necessary. The game last night was decided on very small margins. we had 2 chances cleared off the line (one was amazing) and the keeper made a decent save in the first 20 minutes from Holland one of those goes in and the game is totally different. Cant agree with the scapegoating of Seddon, he is being asked to predominantly be an attacking full back therefore will often be 'the wrong side of the ball' he also has not had a stable left sided centre back to work with. Also his winger always tends to be our less defensive one eg Holland or Whyte whereas Long tends to get Williams or Sykes in front who always track back. Without knowing the stats I would imagine Seddons goals/assists far outway the RB position.

Anyway onto Bolton, COYY

Agreed HM1, I also think Seddon is getting singled out too often. Yes, he’s made mistakes but all too often he’s been isolated by a lack of cover from his team mates.

As was said earlier, let’s forget this and move on to the next game. Bolton need to win and we should therefore have another open match.

 

[Northernyellow]

Being one of the 307 last night, I dont think the 'doom' is necessary. The game last night was decided on very small margins. we had 2 chances cleared off the line (one was amazing) and the keeper made a decent save in the first 20 minutes from Holland one of those goes in and the game is totally different. Cant agree with the scapegoating of Seddon, he is being asked to predominantly be an attacking full back therefore will often be 'the wrong side of the ball' he also has not had a stable left sided centre back to work with. Also his winger always tends to be our less defensive one eg Holland or Whyte whereas Long tends to get Williams or Sykes in front who always track back. Without knowing the stats I would imagine Seddons goals/assists far outway the RB position.

Anyway onto Bolton, COYY

It was disappointing, but Accrington are a good team. They've had really decent results against the better teams in L1 this season. Oh well. How did Baldock play? Hard to tell on I player, but RadOx said his movement was excellent

 

[harrymark1]

It was disappointing, but Accrington are a good team. They've had really decent results against the better teams in L1 this season. Oh well. How did Baldock play? Hard to tell on I player, but RadOx said his movement was excellent

Movement very good and one low cross came in and he had got beyond the front post but had the quality to just feint and step over the ball and nearly created an opening. Most importantly looked fit and sharp

 

[Leysboy]

I think we miss Jamie Hanson badly. He has the skill to unlock defences like Accrington’s, his pace, and acceleration would of run them ragged. I also think he would of scored from the little opportunities we had. His distribution and set pieces always find a team mate, and I think the sooner he’s back the better.

 

[AbsoluteZero]

Unfortunately the team is set up to score goals, and if we don't score 2 or 3 we are likely to lose because we always concede. But sometimes you do have to play the conditions, and it was very clear that on a wet pitch with horrendous weather it was not for players that dribble the ball or have poor positional midfield qualities, so McGuane and Holland were poor choices. It was also going to be a game more likely to be unlocked by set pieces, so leaving Bodin out was a surprise, he can hardly be worn out already after playing just a small handful of games.

The positive to come out of the game was that Baldock has surely got above Winnall in the strikers choice. Maybe Taylor is one to come out for a game as well, but in Baldock we could well have a decent back up.

The manager does have to take criticism for the lack of defensive cover. Last season we had a dodgy spell in March when Long was injured, when he came back in April the team was suddenly brilliant again, he got injured for the play offs and we were rubbish defensively again. Long has started to have a history of having a few weeks out injured over the last couple of years so RB cover was clearly needed based on what has happened in matches without him before. It is a problem, and with no relief afforded to Seddon on the other side either we are scrambling a bit and relying on scoring lots of goals because we definitely can't keep them out.

 

[Up The U's]

For those saying about lack of defenders we have had the following for CB’s this season, Mous, McNally, Moore, Brown, Thornley. Thornley gets recalled so Brown is brought in so still 2 players for each CB role plus Long.
Long gets injured, McNally has a personal issue, Brown gets injured. That is bad timing/luck.
You can’t sign loads of players incase we have a injury crisis.
It was only today people were saying this is the best squad we have had in years!

With the EFL squad limit of 22, two to a position with additional depth provided by under 21's, that are exempt from said rule, seems like a rational way to divide this.

Lets compare that to the actual squad:
LB - Seddon / ?
CB - Brown/ Moore / McNally / Mous
RB - Long / Forde

Instantly it's clear we are lacking specialist LB cover.
Counter argument #1, Long can play left back.
This currently weakens our RB position as well, whilst also weakening LB by playing a player out of position, on his weak foot.
Counter argument #2, a CB can cover LB.
Due to the way that KR uses his full back to overload the opposition's midfield / defence, this limits how we attack down our left hand side, meaning oppositions know we will be attacking mainly down our right instead and adjust accordingly.

Our CB'S;

• A very talented, promising but green\raw player in McNally.
• A 35 year old player who recently had knee surgery, that despite being our only fit CB didn't get brought on with 35 minutes to go, in Mous.
  (It will say more than I, this forum, or even KR ever could about how the club really see Mous this weekend should Brown not be fit.)
• A loanee, that his own fan's questioned & has so far not done any thing to disprove these rumors, looking shaky in both games.
  (though no decision can be made yet as he may not be fully match sharp / fit, so judgement MUST wait)
• A championship calibre defender, that will ultimately end up there.

So of our four CB's, we have two clear first choice, one currently unknown quantity that has had an indifferent start and a player that has had 5 appearances in the league totalling 43 minutes in the season by Feb.

At RB, over a season as back up ford will make mistakes that lead to goals, which in turn will cost points. For the odd game as cover he is fine, a third choice emergency player. To go into a season without specialist full back cover on either side is negligence.

Your notion that this situation is just down to bad luck is wilfully ignorant or naïve at best.
This situation was created by KR building an imbalanced squad in the summer, and compounded by lack of defensive signings in January.

If you think there is no creed in anything I have said just look at the numerical data, despite having four places in defence we only have 7 players (Seddon, Moore, Long, McNally, Forde, Brown, Mousinho), in contrast to the three attacking position we have 9 players (Taylor, Sykes, Henry, Whyte, Holland, Williams, Bodin, Winnall, Baldock).

We can not expect to have to score 2+ goals in every game to win them.
(I wont even get into having only one CDM at the club, as this post is long enough already).

Is it me or do some of our posters only ever watch us lose? We never see them after a win!!

I would assume not everyone lives on this forum, unlike some.

When we win they go happily on with their lives, and when we lose they like to be analytical; discussing & debating what went wrong, as a form of cathartic release.
I would also assume the reverse to be true for people as well.
Nothing wrong with this.

 

[ECYellow]

With the EFL squad limit of 22, two to a position with additional depth provided by under 21's, that are exempt from said rule, seems like a rational way to divide this.

Lets compare that to the actual squad:
LB - Seddon / ?
CB - Brown/ Moore / McNally / Mous
RB - Long / Forde

Instantly it's clear we are lacking specialist LB cover.
Counter argument #1, Long can play left back.
This currently weakens our RB position as well, whilst also weakening LB by playing a player out of position, on his weak foot.
Counter argument #2, a CB can cover LB.
Due to the way that KR uses his full back to overload the opposition's midfield / defence, this limits how we attack down our left hand side, meaning oppositions know we will be attacking mainly down our right instead and adjust accordingly.

Our CB'S;

• A very talented, promising but green\raw player in McNally.
• A 35 year old player who recently had knee surgery, that despite being our only fit CB didn't get brought on with 35 minutes to go, in Mous.
  (It will say more than I, this forum, or even KR ever could about how the club really see Mous this weekend should Brown not be fit.)
• A loanee, that his own fan's questioned & has so far not done any thing to disprove these rumors, looking shaky in both games.
  (though no decision can be made yet as he may not be fully match sharp / fit, so judgement MUST wait)
• A championship calibre defender, that will ultimately end up there.

So of our four CB's, we have two clear first choice, one currently unknown quantity that has had an indifferent start and a player that has had 5 appearances in the league totalling 43 minutes in the season by Feb.

At RB, over a season as back up ford will make mistakes that lead to goals, which in turn will cost points. For the odd game as cover he is fine, a third choice emergency player. To go into a season without specialist full back cover on either side is negligence.

Your notion that this situation is just down to bad luck is wilfully ignorant or naïve at best.
This situation was created by KR building an imbalanced squad in the summer, and compounded by lack of defensive signings in January.

If you think there is no creed in anything I have said just look at the numerical data, despite having four places in defence we only have 7 players (Seddon, Moore, Long, McNally, Forde, Brown, Mousinho), in contrast to the three attacking position we have 9 players (Taylor, Sykes, Henry, Whyte, Holland, Williams, Bodin, Winnall, Baldock).

We can not expect to have to score 2+ goals in every game to win them.
(I wont even get into having only one CDM at the club, as this post is long enough already).


I would assume not everyone lives on this forum, unlike some.

When we win they go happily on with their lives, and when we lose they like to be analytical; discussing & debating what went wrong, as a form of cathartic release.
I would also assume the reverse to be true for people as well.
Nothing wrong with this.

Reasoned debate this , it's one of the better first first posts that i've seen on this forum for sometime.