Ex-Player Gavin Whyte

[Mad Dog]

Look, Whyte can’t play as a left winger. I mean, he can, he can do his best, but he’s so so so obviously and clearly blunted when he plays there, he looks like a man trying to play football with sand in his shorts, plus who’s also desperately trying to remember if he left the oven on. He’s a right winger, he’s absolutely smashed teams for us playing on the right, he’s happier on the right hand side. I know we somehow have got ourselves into a situation where after having Shodipo and Barker on the left, two brilliant left wingers, we have none (apart from the criminally-overlooked Cooper) but please can we not solve that by forcing Gavin Whyte to be miserable on the left hand side?

Free Gavin Whyte! Play him on the right!

I agree, he's been really ineffective since his return, the occasional nice bit of link up play, but he hasn't skinned the fullback or set the place alight once, and I often forget he's even on the pitch at times, but it's not his fault, it's KR fault for playing him on the wrong side.

KR has even played Williams on the left for god sake!

With the injuries to Bodin (surprise surprise) and Holland, who even when fit, has been about as ineffective as his first spell here (except for the goal vs Newcastle) why not give Cooper a chance to show what he can do on the left, otherwise what was the point of bringing him back?

Whyte is clearly better on the right, so let him and Sykes battle it out for that position, and play the specialist left wingers on the left, it's not rocket science, even though KR like to pretend it is!

For all the good things Robbo does, he also gets some really basic, simple decisions so very wrong sometimes, and needs to wise up.

Play the best players in their best positions, and you'll get the best results, surprisingly enough!

 

[werthersoriginal]

I agree, he's been really ineffective since his return, the occasional nice bit of link up play, but he hasn't skinned the fullback or set the place alight once, and I often forget he's even on the pitch at times, but it's not his fault, it's KR fault for playing him on the wrong side.

KR has even played Williams on the left for god sake!

With the injuries to Bodin (surprise surprise) and Holland, who even when fit, has been about as ineffective as his first spell here (except for the goal vs Newcastle) why not give Cooper a chance to show what he can do on the left, otherwise what was the point of bringing him back?

Whyte is clearly better on the right, so let him and Sykes battle it out for that position, and play the specialist left wingers on the left, it's not rocket science, even though KR like to pretend it is!

For all the good things Robbo does, he also gets some really basic, simple decisions so very wrong sometimes, and needs to wise up.

Play the best players in their best positions, and you'll get the best results, surprisingly enough!

Karl needs to wise up, and you’re the man to tell him what to do?

Agree Whyte has been unobtrusive so far. Even if it’s his wrong side you’d expect him to make more of the role. But Sykes has been one of our best players lately and you’d want to fit them both in.

 

[PottersRightBoot]

But you can’t really drop Sykes.
Maybe the answer might be to play Whyte up front. We have to use his pace better.

 

[Mad Dog]

Karl needs to wise up, and you’re the man to tell him what to do?

Agree Whyte has been unobtrusive so far. Even if it’s his wrong side you’d expect him to make more of the role. But Sykes has been one of our best players lately and you’d want to fit them both in.

No, I don't want to fit them both in, when did I say that??

I'm not saying Sykes should be dropped for Whyte, but they should be competing for the role, and when one of them wins that battle, the other starts on the bench.

Don't just shoehorn the other one into the lineup on the other side, at the expense of someone who is more naturally suited to the role, that is naive.

Whyte is making as much of the role as he can, but unsurprisingly it's not working, because he's a right sided, right footed attacker, so in the absence of Bodin, who when fit, should be first choice on the left, and with our other naturally left sided winger Holland not offering much even when he's fit, give Cooper his chance, and leave Whyte and Sykes to battle it out as our options on the right.

Like I say, it's not rocket science

 

[Billy Billy]

Gavin’s not great form at the moment is more to do with his poor decision making at the vital moment, more than what side he is playing. He burst through the middle yesterday running straight at the penalty area, Sykes pulled wide left pulling a defender with him and Gavin passed to him! He could have attacked the centre of the box at pace, there was also a player arriving on the right. It’s his end product that is at a miss at the moment. But he is a good player, so I’m sure his form will change.

 

[Bornyellow]

Gavin also put what should of been a goal on a plate for Sykes who did his usual and played the worst ball possible in the situation.

 

[Andy1505]

To me, this convo just highlights how top heavy the squad is with midfielders and wingers/wide players! And simply just not enough defensive cover or even striking options.

Whyte
Williams
Holland
Cooper
Bodin
Sykes
(and even Agyei)

are all basically competing for the two wide places....maybe we needed less players on the books and some more consistency in those positions and give players a chance to nail down the position and what they need to do in terms of gameplay/movements etc? Yes we've been unlucky with injuries, I get that, but for example Cooper has not had a look in at all (someone has said he might be back off to Belfast?)

Now of those six players, Williams is turning out to be a bit of a utility player which I guess we do need, Sykes has been kind of converted from a central position by KR, Holland and Whyte to an extent have both been a little disappointing so far....but it's still three (and a half with Agyei!) players for each position!

Then we have Gorrin, CamBran, Jamo, Kane, McGuane, Hanson and Forde all able to play centrally. That should be rich pickings for any club at this level. Forde has been a saviour in terms of the RB position but if the recruitment had been better then maybe he could have contributed further forward which is where he is probably more effective?

If one less player had been signed or we had released one player from each of those central and wide players it would have freed up two more slots so the club wouldn't have to list Nosakhare on the OWS page as part of the first team, and then we could/should have had the specialist full back cover we so desperately needed.

And with Winnall being so poor so far and KR's apparent aversion to using Agyei up there maybe another striker should have been addressed, tho I suspect KR was hoping Winnall would come good but maybe he is turning out to be too injury prone as some worried about?

I really hope now that Longy is back he can stay fit and that Seddon stays out of trouble, or we will be facing the same problems we had the last couple of seasons - the goss is that Thorniley can play LB too but should not be our cover for that position.

I really hope these deficiencies will be addressed in Jan but we've been saying it for two years now?! Is KR too stubborn that his way is right and he won't bend in his approach? Let's hope he has got it right.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

So it seems that players can be played out of position, which makes them less effective?

Huh. I thought that wasn’t a thing. Every day is a school day.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Well, it’s official - he’s better on the right

 

[Osleroad]

Well, it’s official - he’s better on the right

The best thing I've seen him do is that goal against Charlton away on the right..but if he seriously had more than that.. would he be back here anyway. Disappointing Gav ...needs to get on the scoresheet.

 

[QR]

Nice problemd to have. Good/great managers find the answer.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Play him on the right!

 

[dickwalton1964]

Better from him today. He should have rode that challenge though, he had loads of the pitch to run in to and have a go himself or at the very least tee it up for someone else.

 

[Nadi-]

Signed him at the right time from crusaders, and had a lot to prove.
Which he did,
and Robinson got the best out of him.
Hasn’t managed to move on since his move to Cardiff, but hope he and Robinson get it back together,

 

[rosieburns]

Better from him today. He should have rode that challenge though, he had loads of the pitch to run in to and have a go himself or at the very least tee it up for someone else.

Job to run when you're legs have been taken from under you, the kind of tackle that is a fraction from causing a serious injury

 

[dickwalton1964]

Job to run when you're legs have been taken from under you, the kind of tackle that is a fraction from causing a serious injury

I don’t think there was any contact. It’s a yellow all day long because the intent was undoubtedly there but if Whyte rides that he’s in.

 

[Wallop]

I don’t think there was any contact. It’s a yellow all day long because the intent was undoubtedly there but if Whyte rides that he’s in.

I was right behind it and he was clattered.

 

[Scotchegg]

The disappointing thing with Whyte is he is yet to really influence a game this season. He was better on the right, but still not enough in my view.

If we look at Nathan Holland, he came back in against Accrington with something to prove and saw him come off the wing to influence the game through the middle, both with his run then coming inside to score his second. Shodipo did that successfully last season. Barker would do nothing for 85 mins but would grab the game by the balls for 5 and get a goal or an assist.

I'm not sure if it's a confidence thing, or whether he's just not the player he was, but I don't know what Gavin brings to the team at the moment. And I don't buy this preferred position thing either. He could have pulled out to the right yesterday knowing that Henry would come inside, but he never tried it. He's had the same opportunities on the left as Holland but we've not seen him drive through the middle or find himself on the penalty spot to score.

We need to start seeing much more.

 

[rosieburns]

I don’t think there was any contact. It’s a yellow all day long because the intent was undoubtedly there but if Whyte rides that he’s in.

The speed the defender came in, no chance of riding that. And if there is intent as you say, it's at least a yellow card.

 

[Left Wing Cross]

Whyte is called up again by NI and misses the trip to Ipswich.

Sykes is a bit unlucky not to get the call too given his recent form

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Whyte is called up again by NI and misses the trip to Ipswich.

Sykes is a bit unlucky not to get the call too given his recent form

Takes a lot more to get called to the ROI though, that’s why his move was a bit of a gamble (from a playing games perspective)

 

[oufc1991]

Takes a lot more to get called to the ROI though, that’s why his move was a bit of a gamble (from a playing games perspective)

I suppose when he’s tearing up the championship playing for us he will get called up to R.O.I squad

 

[Junior_1]

Takes a lot more to get called to the ROI though, that’s why his move was a bit of a gamble (from a playing games perspective)

Would say NI are the better team at present.

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Would say NI are the better team at present.

Do you think Whyte would get in the ROI squad? Would Sykes get in the NI squad?

 

[tonyw]

Do you think Whyte would get in the ROI squad? Would Sykes get in the NI squad?

There's four League One forwards in the new RoI squad.

Will Keane is tearing it up at Wigan, so granted neither Sykes nor Whyte are getting into the squad ahead of him.

But Parrott at MK Dons? Ogbene at Rotherham? Horgan at Wycombe?
You could argue that Sykes' 21/22 stats compare favourably with any of them, as does Gavin Whyte's pedigree.....

 

[OUFC OX3]

Played a solid 72 minutes against Italy.

 

[StockholmOx]

Had the NI game on alongside the England cricket match against san marino. Whyte played in a front 2 in a relatively traditional 442, occupying the hole just off Magennis, usually a little to the left. Thought he did very well throughout, particularly off the ball in the press, very high work rate. Picked up loose balls a few times to just run at Italy, with some success - in the first half skinning Tonali who had to bring him down and take a booking. However can't remember him getting in behind or beating Bonucci once (not exactly an easy feat to be fair). Nearly assisted in one of NI's best chances with a fantastic cross for Jamal Lewis in the second half. Wonder if playing off a main striker is indeed his best position, KR has played him in the 10 slot a few times now this season

 

[Oxford1996]

9 League 1 Assists according to the BBC.

Only McConville 12, has more for Accrington.

League One Top Scorers - BBC Sport

League One top scorers. Showing assists, time on pitch and the shots on and off target.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Carlislehotdog]

He's coming into some really great form. He hasn't stuck out quite as much as the previous visit, but I think that probably says more about the level of competition now vs 2018/19 than it does about him.