Home Match Build-Up 14/12/24: Championship - OUFC v Sheffield Wednesday

[Joey]

Not a massive upgrade no, you're taking that bit too literally, I feel more comfortable with Long at RB when trying to be solid at the back. Wouldn't be upset if Kioso played instead, but I would be seriously concerned if both Kioso and Leigh played at RB and LB respectively after recent performances, we desperately need to start keeping clean sheets.

I don't even think that's the case. He had a mare on Wednesday, especially for the second half, but I don't think Kioso is less solid defensively than Long at all. If he's not fit after his illness then that's another question but at full fitness I don't think there's any question Kioso isn't the better option both offensively and defensively. Long had a pretty torrid time against Millwall I thought (worse than Leigh, who gets far more stick) and the fact he hasn't cost us a goal is more fortune than skill. No doubting his commitment but I think people see a local lad playing on through injury, which is commendable, and are happier to ignore his frailties. I'll say again that a lot of people seem to have written ter Avest off very early and I don't really understand why.

It's a little similar at left back. Leigh clearly struggles at this level but so has Brown when he's played out there but he doesn't get the same scrutiny. I remember plenty of times this season a winger leaving him for dust and getting into a good position. It creates another problem in that any defensive benefit of moving him there, and I'm not sure there's much, is more than negated by him not being in the middle as it's a drop off to Thorniley.

I can understand wanting to be solid at the back but sometimes you need to be able to create something. I thought Long and Brown were a weakness at League 1 level playing full back in terms of what they give you going forwards and it really hampered our performances. If we try that out in the Championship I don't see how we're going to create much at all and we can't afford to be any less threatening. Having your full backs barely crossing the halfway line and either passing back inside or launching it hopefully into the channels is either no threat at all or going to lose us possession and then we're under more pressure anyway. Personally I wouldn't mess with the Moore and Brown combo in the middle, keep Leigh at left back and if Kioso is definitely fit keep him at right back, if not then play ter Avest who seems to be the most comfortable on the ball.

 

[Carpy]

I don't even think that's the case. He had a mare on Wednesday, especially for the second half, but I don't think Kioso is less solid defensively than Long at all. If he's not fit after his illness then that's another question but at full fitness I don't think there's any question Kioso isn't the better option both offensively and defensively. Long had a pretty torrid time against Millwall I thought (worse than Leigh, who gets far more stick) and the fact he hasn't cost us a goal is more fortune than skill. No doubting his commitment but I think people see a local lad playing on through injury, which is commendable, and are happier to ignore his frailties. I'll say again that a lot of people seem to have written ter Avest off very early and I don't really understand why.

It's a little similar at left back. Leigh clearly struggles at this level but so has Brown when he's played out there but he doesn't get the same scrutiny. I remember plenty of times this season a winger leaving him for dust and getting into a good position. It creates another problem in that any defensive benefit of moving him there, and I'm not sure there's much, is more than negated by him not being in the middle as it's a drop off to Thorniley.

I can understand wanting to be solid at the back but sometimes you need to be able to create something. I thought Long and Brown were a weakness at League 1 level playing full back in terms of what they give you going forwards and it really hampered our performances. If we try that out in the Championship I don't see how we're going to create much at all and we can't afford to be any less threatening. Having your full backs barely crossing the halfway line and either passing back inside or launching it hopefully into the channels is either no threat at all or going to lose us possession and then we're under more pressure anyway. Personally I wouldn't mess with the Moore and Brown combo in the middle, keep Leigh at left back and if Kioso is definitely fit keep him at right back, if not then play ter Avest who seems to be the most comfortable on the ball.

Before Jan, I'm not worried about creating things and winning, especially against the bigger boys, I just want to get there having got a couple of points on the board and hopefully still be outside of the relegation places. Our current squad isn't good enough to be routinely creating chances with the injuries we currently have.

 

[Joey]

Before Jan, I'm not worried about creating things and winning, especially against the bigger boys, I just want to get there having got a couple of points on the board and hopefully still be outside of the relegation places. Our current squad isn't good enough to be routinely creating chances with the injuries we currently have.

All well and good but if you can't offer any sort of threat then you become easy to push back and pin in. I agree we aren't good enough to routinely create chances but we're also not good enough to keep teams at bay for 90 minutes if we keep surrendering possession and they know we're not going to get in behind them or give them much to think about.

It comes down to attack being a good defence. Get up the pitch with the ball and they don't have it and it also hopefully gives the fans something to get on board with and hopefully build some momentum from there. The squad are better than they're showing but we really need some bravery and a bit of belief to try and assert ourselves on games even when we're the underdogs, getting into that mindset is far easier said than done though. It really needs some sort of spark tomorrow like a quick start where we get a couple of shots off and force them back or even a big tackle could do it. It's why I'd start with Dale on the left, he is tenacious and will also try and gee the fans up and Christ knows we've got no one else any better to play there.

 

[Foley]

Well there have been around 7 different teams and 3 different formations there!
I am surprised that so e wouod drop Kioso. He was very poor Wednesday, but until then, in my view has been very good.
I would play Brown at left back to try and make us more solid ( Long with Moore at CB)

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

The rewriting of Kioso and his ability is f*****g laughable by some. Trying to get to put Long back in for him is laughable. Kioso has been outstanding this season.

Cumming
Kioso Moore Brown Leigh
Vaulks Brannagan
Goodrham Rodrigues Edwards
Scarlett

 

[yellowbow]

I’d like to see Phillips stay in the team (if fit) he’s got good experience at this level and, despite not being great against QPR, he still showed glimpses of that extra quality. I’m hoping he’s just a bit rusty after his lay-off and needs a run of games to get up to speed.

 

[Nadi-]

Cumming
Long Moore Brown
Kioso Vaulks Brannagan Leigh
Edwards Scarlett Goodrham

 

[Carpy]

The rewriting of Kioso and his ability is f*****g laughable by some. Trying to get to put Long back in for him is laughable. Kioso has been outstanding this season.

Cumming
Kioso Moore Brown Leigh
Vaulks Brannagan
Goodrham Rodrigues Edwards
Scarlett

That team will lose, Rodrigues is a complete passenger in that lineup.

Also, I assume some of your comment on Kioso is aimed at my comments, I have no concerns with the ability Kioso has, I would just rather move to what I feel is a more defensively sound lineup, by all means disagree, not sure it's laughable though.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

Kioso is ...strong , quite fast , not a cultured full back and a bit erratic distribution.
Decent but can see why he hasn't played too much at this level tbh .

 

[Vancouver Yellow]

Kioso & Cumming players of the season thus far by a wide margin!

 

[headingtonoldboy]

I still think we should go 3-5-2. Other formations haven't worked lately. There is nothing to lose by giving this system a try.
My team would be:

Cummings

Long. Moore Brown

Kioso Tyler. CamBran El Mizouni Leigh

Scarlett. Goodwin

At least it's worth a try IMO

 

[Nadi-]

Derby playing like how we started the season, would be nice to look forward to game days, like the first few weeks again.

 

[Jimmycarterxi]

I still think we should go 3-5-2. Other formations haven't worked lately. There is nothing to lose by giving this system a try.
My team would be:

Cummings

Long. Moore Brown

Kioso Tyler. CamBran El Mizouni Leigh

Scarlett. Goodwin

At least it's worth a try IMO

Agreed that our current tactics haven’t worked because I don’t think our wingers are playing at Championship level at the moment. Think this could be the way to go with the two up top.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Haven’t read the whole thread so apologise if I repeat someone but it is vital we pick up something from this game.
Hull have Coventry away, Plymouth are away at Sheff U and Cardiff are away to Stoke. I can see all 3 losing so we need to take advantage.

 

[dickwalton1964]

The rewriting of Kioso and his ability is f*****g laughable by some. Trying to get to put Long back in for him is laughable. Kioso has been outstanding this season.

Cumming
Kioso Moore Brown Leigh
Vaulks Brannagan
Goodrham Rodrigues Edwards
Scarlett

I agree.

You have to seriously wonder what some are seeing ro replace Kioso with Long. Sam Long does an admirable job but on a footballing level these two are poles apart. There might be times throughout the season when Kioso’s form dips or he’s over played but right now is not one such time.

 

[90syeIlow]

It's amazing that people think that Kioso is a poor player based off a bad game at QPR.

He's been great this season and is a defender I've felt most confident with. To write him off after a bad game (where most of the team were also shocking) after returning from illness is really bizarre to me

 

[Scotchegg]

It's amazing that people think that Kioso is a poor player based off a bad game at QPR.

He's been great this season and is a defender I've felt most confident with this season. To write him off after a bad game (where most of the team were also shocking) after returning from illness is really bizarre to me

It's not about writing anyone off, but for me, Long gives you a "never say die" attitude that we desperately need in the team right now. Equally, I would put Vaulks in to the middle alongside Brannagan, because not only is that where he's been at his best, but he also has more fight than El-Miz as an example.

We have to make ourselves hard to beat first and foremost, and that sometimes means picking players on leadership, attitude and mindset over quality alone.

 

[90syeIlow]

It's not about writing anyone off, but for me, Long gives you a "never say die" attitude that we desperately need in the team right now. Equally, I would put Vaulks in to the middle alongside Brannagan, because not only is that where he's been at his best, but he also has more fight than El-Miz as an example.

We have to make ourselves hard to beat first and foremost, and that sometimes means picking players on leadership, attitude and mindset over quality alone.

Kioso has a similar attitude and is more technically astute than Sam Long so I'd prefer him to be honest.

Also, speaking about leadership, did you forget Kioso captained Peterborough?

 

[dickwalton1964]

It's not about writing anyone off, but for me, Long gives you a "never say die" attitude that we desperately need in the team right now. Equally, I would put Vaulks in to the middle alongside Brannagan, because not only is that where he's been at his best, but he also has more fight than El-Miz as an example.

We have to make ourselves hard to beat first and foremost, and that sometimes means picking players on leadership, attitude and mindset over quality alone.

Kioso is high energy, fully committed. It’s bizarre that you seem to think Long offers more in this respect than Kioso. Kioso is equally as ‘never say die’ than Long, quicker and far better technically. There’s maybe an argument for dropping Leigh, shifting Brown to left back and bringing in Long alongside Moore but that’s the only way you’re getting Long in the side in my opinion.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Kioso is high energy, fully committed. It’s bizarre that you seem to think Long offers more in this respect than Kioso. Kioso is equally as ‘never say die’ than Long, quicker and far better technically. There’s maybe an argument for dropping Leigh, shifting Brown to left back and bringing in Long alongside Moore but that’s the only way you’re getting Long in the side in my opinion.

Kioso is coming back from a serious illness when on international duty which was clear on Wednesday. Long is a player that is a solid replacement who will come in and do a job.