Shosho
Well-known member
- Joined
- 10 Dec 2017
- Messages
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A few bits to catch up on:
Having not been able to travel to Peterborough we looked to match them. Dembele looked to be the key player offensively for Peterborough...he is one of the top ball carriers in the league along with Marcus Browne and Onyedinma (I seem to remember us being linked with him?).
I have been down playing peterbrough for a while as their conversion has been ridiculous along with generally conceding a higher xG and more shots. However, for Oxford to go behind twice and come back is a good result. The link between Ruffels and Browne continues to grow with Brannagan instrumental in picking the ball up off the CBs/Mousinho. To my mind, Brannagan/Mousinho and Henry are instrumental in our turn in form.
Have already talked up Brannagan with is passing, however Mousinho has now established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders in the league.
Mousinho has won nearly 33% of his defensive duels (most in the league), he's involved in nearly 10 aerial duels per 90mins (3rd most in the league), winning 61% (5th in the league) along with 6 interceptions per match (14th best in the league). All of the above are based on Centre midfielders that have played over 1000 minutes this season.
Mousinho doesn't simply defend with 38 passes a match, 16 of which forwards. Mousinho is instrumental in breaking up play and progressing the ball (mostly to Brannagan).
Secondly, James Henry. Obviously on a pretty hot streak at the minute, however the numbers show how influencial he is. 0.27 non penalty goals per 90, an xG per 90 of 0.39, 2.39 shots per 90 and 0.12 xA (expected assists) per 90. All of the above put Henry in the top 10 for attacking midfielders in league 1. Twin the above with Henry's defensive numbers and the fact he has started to play more of a midfield role and he is looking impressive (aside from being handy on penalties!)
Finally Blackpool. Instead of looking at the style etc I will look at players that could possibly be good acquisitions for Oxford (the excitement of January transfers!! (HMRC etc aside).
Curtis Tilt:
Preparing for Nelson possibly leaving, Tilt looks like a sensible addition. 27, out of contract in the summer and plays left side CB. Comes high on pretty much every defensive metric, aerially, interceptions etc (Dickie performs well here also). He has the highest xG for CBs in the league (Nelson in second!), so is an attacking threat too. Tilt looks a good replacement for Nelson should he leave.
Marc Bola:
21, out of contract in the summer, LB. Looking at a Ruffels upgrade, Bola looks to be a good prospect. Currently at 0.15 xA per 90 (more than James Henry) and 9th for crosses per 90 along with 2.3 dribbles per 90. Bola is clearly a good attacking LB, however defensively he looks to intercept rather than defend 1v1. Will be a good battle against (presumably, Whyte).
Jordan Thompson:
21, out of contract in 2020, represented by New Era, attacking midfielder. A good xG per 90, however looks to be one of the best midfield creators in the league. Certainly looks to be the primary attacking threat with Bola and Turton (plays RB).
All 3 of the above will be worth watching and look to be solid acquisitions in positions we require from a squad building perspective.
Having not been able to travel to Peterborough we looked to match them. Dembele looked to be the key player offensively for Peterborough...he is one of the top ball carriers in the league along with Marcus Browne and Onyedinma (I seem to remember us being linked with him?).
I have been down playing peterbrough for a while as their conversion has been ridiculous along with generally conceding a higher xG and more shots. However, for Oxford to go behind twice and come back is a good result. The link between Ruffels and Browne continues to grow with Brannagan instrumental in picking the ball up off the CBs/Mousinho. To my mind, Brannagan/Mousinho and Henry are instrumental in our turn in form.
Have already talked up Brannagan with is passing, however Mousinho has now established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders in the league.
Mousinho has won nearly 33% of his defensive duels (most in the league), he's involved in nearly 10 aerial duels per 90mins (3rd most in the league), winning 61% (5th in the league) along with 6 interceptions per match (14th best in the league). All of the above are based on Centre midfielders that have played over 1000 minutes this season.
Mousinho doesn't simply defend with 38 passes a match, 16 of which forwards. Mousinho is instrumental in breaking up play and progressing the ball (mostly to Brannagan).
Secondly, James Henry. Obviously on a pretty hot streak at the minute, however the numbers show how influencial he is. 0.27 non penalty goals per 90, an xG per 90 of 0.39, 2.39 shots per 90 and 0.12 xA (expected assists) per 90. All of the above put Henry in the top 10 for attacking midfielders in league 1. Twin the above with Henry's defensive numbers and the fact he has started to play more of a midfield role and he is looking impressive (aside from being handy on penalties!)
Finally Blackpool. Instead of looking at the style etc I will look at players that could possibly be good acquisitions for Oxford (the excitement of January transfers!! (HMRC etc aside).
Curtis Tilt:
Preparing for Nelson possibly leaving, Tilt looks like a sensible addition. 27, out of contract in the summer and plays left side CB. Comes high on pretty much every defensive metric, aerially, interceptions etc (Dickie performs well here also). He has the highest xG for CBs in the league (Nelson in second!), so is an attacking threat too. Tilt looks a good replacement for Nelson should he leave.
Marc Bola:
21, out of contract in the summer, LB. Looking at a Ruffels upgrade, Bola looks to be a good prospect. Currently at 0.15 xA per 90 (more than James Henry) and 9th for crosses per 90 along with 2.3 dribbles per 90. Bola is clearly a good attacking LB, however defensively he looks to intercept rather than defend 1v1. Will be a good battle against (presumably, Whyte).
Jordan Thompson:
21, out of contract in 2020, represented by New Era, attacking midfielder. A good xG per 90, however looks to be one of the best midfield creators in the league. Certainly looks to be the primary attacking threat with Bola and Turton (plays RB).
All 3 of the above will be worth watching and look to be solid acquisitions in positions we require from a squad building perspective.