- Joined
- 5 Dec 2017
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- 8,636
The matches seem to be coming thick and fast now.
At time of writing this post, the weather is set to be a warm 12oC!
At time of writing this post, the weather is set to be a warm 12oC!
Harris's work rate isn't that good, half the time he is offside which for someone with his pace is shocking, he doesn't seem to look across the line.We seem to think that possession counts for every thing even when we are behind as match stats show. Reality, as we all know, is that only goals matter and we have srikers that can't strike.
Can't fault the work rate of Harris but work rate alone is not enough, O'Donkor is big fast and strong but lacking in guile/anticipation, neither score at the goals per game required.
Yes, we're stumbling, but can hardly blame a manager who has barely had time to stamp his mark at all. Fans are so impatient these days. Give him a bit of time.
I despised Murphy last season and think he’s been powder puff for a lot of this season.He has featured in 32 league games for us and managed 4 assists and 0 goals.
Thing is, it doesn’t have to be anyone amazing. A sturdy youth who’s banged in a few for Cambridge or Accrington would improve us.
Absolutely. Only a few weeks ago the league was looking like a 2 or 3 horse race. Suddenly, 6 points separate 1st from 6th. All is not lost by a few dodgy performances but it does need rectifying before it becomes a rot.Yes, we're stumbling, but can hardly blame a manager who has barely had time to stamp his mark at all. Fans are so impatient these days. Give him a bit of time.
Agree with that. It looked awful. I think the only reason we wore it was because it was sold as the 'second' kit and we hadn't used it once. The 'third' kit is more attractive and that's what we've used in preference . We ought to wear yellow whenever we can though.I hope we’ve seen the last of the red and black kit , no reason not to wear yellow yesterday.
The worst since entry in to L1? Crikey, that’s a bit much, but I agree he’s not visible enough on a consistent basis. Too often on the periphery for me and the obvious problem is he seems allergic to the ball in the box and more importantly the netting he’s meant to boot it towards.We cannot continue to play Harris up front. He offers nothing. The idea that he works hard is a total fabrication.
Not that I think O’Donkor is necessarily the answer, it is time to give him a run of games. Harris has been afforded the luxury of a starting spot week in week out, despite being the worst centre forward we have signed since we have been in L1.
Time to give GOD a run of games (not 10 mins here or there) or try something else. I’m not against Perkins although there is clearly a reason why neither manager has selected him in many squads. Failing that, we could try Bodin or Rueben in some kind of false 9.
We cannot persist with Harris. It’s embarrassing.
Nothing's working right now, Harris is useless, we don't have enough quality in wide areas, and we don't control the ball enough in the middle of the pitch.
It's pretty obvious we need to change something, with a bit of out of the box thinking.
So f**k it, try this:
View attachment 17085
Not this season but it did take him his 8th match in charge to get his 1st win for us.Did we at any point under Manning this season have a run of three league games where we didn’t win a game or score a goal?
Did we at any point in his tenure here?
I'm going to try and offer an honest view. That was s**t, utter s**t, but there are mitigations and a few points of discussion.
1) I'm not Des out and I want him to do well, I advocated an experienced, solid manager to steer us through and I stand by that.
2) bring Steve Cotterill in as assistant.
3) our squad is nowhere near Posh, Bolton, Blackpool or Pompey. We can argue it is but it isn't. After one window you wouldn't expect it to be. They were always going to click at some point.
4) Get Negru back in.
5) we had a fantastic start to the season, some really decent performances, but in terms of goals, Greg Leigh had a brilliant purple patch, he's our second top scorer from left back. That's nuts.
6) going into a season with no proven striker was madness. Absolutely genuine unmitigated madness. It was always going to cost us, the question was how much, whilst the goals were coming from elsewhere (mainly left back).
4 eminently winnable games now.
"Siri, name me an Oxford United team that is completely lopsided and has everyone playing out of position."Nothing's working right now, Harris is useless, we don't have enough quality in wide areas, and we don't control the ball enough in the middle of the pitch.
It's pretty obvious we need to change something, with a bit of out of the box thinking.
So f**k it, try this:
View attachment 17085
And we’re about to play the two worst teams in the league (statistically 23rd and 24th I mean, rather than 2nd and 4th)Or how about we’ve just possibly played the two best teams in the league?
You are correct on that, but Harris is not and will never be a Centre Forward. He’s not making the runs in behind & is too busy wrestling with the defenders rather than trying to run beyond them. The difference between Jade Jones, Charles for Bolton & Harris is stark. The other two made runs down the side & stretched our defence. Harris gives opposition defenders their easiest game of the month atm. O’donkor isn’t the answer & I think he looks too heavy & has lost the pace he had last season but he did put himself about when he came on, we can’t simply keep picking Harris, because he’s not performing to the standard required & isn’t offering our midfielders or defenders any relief by running into the channels or even closing the ball down.With respect, that line up is significantly worse than what we have right now!