Ex-Player Thread Mark Sykes goes to Bristol City.

[MJB]

Was watching him closely today and the bloke was putting about 50% effort in.

I can only assume he’s been signed up by another club in January, which would also explain why he hasn’t scored since the first week of the year.

Here he is, as usual, at the final whistle not bothering to join the players and staff in clapping the sell-out home crowd who pay for his wages.

We need better than flitty, players like him who play well for 15 games in front of the scouts and then go missing.

Bin him off now, play someone who wants to be here, and start rebuilding.

 

[Northernyellow]

Was watching him closely today and the bloke was putting about 50% effort in.

I can only assume he’s been signed up by another club in January, which would also explain why he hasn’t scored since the first week of the year.

Here he is, as usual, at the final whistle not bothering to join the players and staff in clapping the sell-out home crowd who pay for his wages.

We need better than flitty, players like him who play well for 15 games in front of the scouts and then go missing.

Bin him off now, play someone who wants to be here, and start rebuilding.

Don't disagree. He obviously doesn't want to stay, so let him go. I know he's made an ROI squad, but I still don't see him as more than a good L1 player

 

[MJB]

Don't disagree. He obviously doesn't want to stay, so let him go. I know he's made an ROI squad, but I still don't see him as more than a good L1 player

He went mentally months ago. An absolute passenger today who looks like he’s here to pick up a wage, keep fit and not get injured.

 

[Osleroad]

He was good in the game v Burton that I saw but from the sounds of it his form has dropped off again.

 

[OxfordBoy]

Was told he is going Cardiff, probably rubbish but he’s clearly off and has been for a long time

 

[Dubai Yellow]

Harsh on Sykes. He’s been one of our best players this season. And most recently asked to play out of position predominantly due to poor recruitment for defensive players.

 

[oxfordfan1]

Harsh on Sykes. He’s been one of our best players this season. And most recently asked to play out of position predominantly due to poor recruitment for defensive players.

Really???

 

[oxfordfan1]

I said this the other day he's been garbage lack of any sort of conviction in tackles, shots and all round gameplay see ya the grass isn't always greener.

 

[gingerox]

Very easy to say in hindsight, but would have been better to get a decent fee in Jan for him.

Hasn't been the same since + don't think it's coincidence the best he played was leading up to the transfer window.

 

[Oxford1996]

We gonna get the same thread on a number of other players?

 

[MJB]

We gonna get the same thread on a number of other players?

Go for it, it’s a free country.

Long had a shocker today too, but at least he keeps giving his all.

I want to talk about Sykes because he couldn’t be bothered to applaud the fans, again, which is all the more disrespectful given that he put in a half-arsed performance, again.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Latest scapegoat.

 

[Symp59]

He's a good player but he's not a cam sort of player it's a shame we won't get a fee for him . But we need to move on and replace him with a stronger player we had this problem last year and never sorted it.

 

[MJB]

He's a good player but he's not a cam sort of player it's a shame we won't get a fee for him . But we need to move on and replace him with a stronger player we had this problem last year and never sorted it.

If we’d found ourselves in the Championship, I wouldn’t have seen him as playing very much.

As you and others have said, we really should have cashed out when he was having his Asa Hall like goalrush.

 

[oxfordfan1]

Brannagan opitimises a professional he gives 110percent it will be a huge loss losing him in the summer without him in recent games we've looked bang average! Let's be honest

Latest scapegoat.

Hardly a Scapegoat I'd call him a asshole waste of space who thinks he's bigger than our club but hey ho and that's being polite.

 

[EastStandKieran]

Bit harsh this thread on Sykes from today's performance I'd much rather have Sykes in the team than Holland who was shite today
I can't wait to find out who gets the boot put in them on Friday I can guarantee it won't be long who was pants today or Taylor who didn't have a sniff today

 

[Scotchegg]

I think it's hugely unfair to criticise Sykes performance, today or throughout the season. Today he looked as hungry as anyone and put a number of balls across the box that should have resulted in goals. He also tracked back well and at one point was our last defender.

If that was 50% then it explains why we've struggled as that was better than many at 100%

The clapping at the end of the game is strange as its something he doesn't do much regardless of the result. I think he is very emotional and probably just wants to get off the pitch. I don't agree with it, but it's not new.

 

[MJB]

I think it's hugely unfair to criticise Sykes performance, today or throughout the season. Today he looked as hungry as anyone and put a number of balls across the box that should have resulted in goals. He also tracked back well and at one point was our last defender.

If that was 50% then it explains why we've struggled as that was better than many at 100%

The clapping at the end of the game is strange as its something he doesn't do much regardless of the result. I think he is very emotional and probably just wants to get off the pitch. I don't agree with it, but it's not new.

Looking less than “hungry” for the winner.

Absolutely stuffed on whatever his signing-on fee is I’d say.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Probably because he’s leaving for nothing and people can‘t handle it.

 

[Scotchegg]

Looking less than “hungry” for the winner.

Absolutely stuffed on whatever his signing-on fee is I’d say.

Yes, it was a half arsed attempt to track back but there were plenty of others who should have done more to stop that goal.

You're normally one of the more measured posters and I think it's the result that is leaving you looking for someone to blame. I'm just not sure that you've got the right target this time.

 

[MJB]

Yes, it was a half arsed attempt to track back but there were plenty of others who should have done more to stop that goal.

You're normally one of the more measured posters and I think it's the result that is leaving you looking for someone to blame. I'm just not sure that you've got the right target this time.

I’ve been thinking it for a while, today was just a bit blatant and yes it left a bitter taste.

Shelvy-esque.

Not so bothered about the result as our season was effectively over on Tuesday. Today was just the nail that most of us having seen coming for a little while.

But I am an ever-optimist. The one benefit of not making the play-offs is that we can start to rebuild the squad earlier and not have to wait until mid to late May to know what division we’ll be in.

I think we’ll get better than Sykes. Both more consistent, but also mentally stronger.

 

[tim lane]

Looking less than “hungry” for the winner.

Absolutely stuffed on whatever his signing-on fee is I’d say.

Frankly, I think you're talking rubbish. Sykes busted several guts chasing several balls down the right in the second half. Perhaps you should stick to posting pointless videos.

 

[Oxford1996]

Taylor & Long - both far worse than Sykes today…

 

[Scotchegg]

I’ve been thinking it for a while, today was just a bit blatant and yes it left a bitter taste.

Shelvy-esque.

Not so bothered about the result as our season was effectively over on Tuesday. Today was just the nail that most of us having seen coming for a little while.

But I am an ever-optimist. The one benefit of not making the play-offs is that we can start to rebuild the squad earlier and not have to wait until mid to late May to know what division we’ll be in.

I think we’ll get better than Sykes. Both more consistent, but also mentally stronger.

Mentally stronger, or at least, better decision making is key. We have some exceptional players but at key moments they go missing. Actually Sykes started to buck that trend earlier this season but it was him losing his head that gave the penalty away at Cambridge on day 1.

Today we took too many extra touches in the box when trying to score but booted the ball anywhere whilst defending. Get those key moments right and we are an automatic promotion side.

I do agree about the rebuild. We have an extra month now to really think about getting the right players in. We're not rubbish so a complete overhaul isn't needed. But we do need players who are clinical upfront, decisive at the back, and damn right nasty in the middle.

 

[Leysboy]

Taylor plays better in a front two. He was brilliant with Baldock up top with him.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Long put In a dreadful, nervy, error strewn performance at full back. Long is a decent centre half not a right back.
Having said that I would have played him over Forde but not Williams.

Our worst performer by far today and is a Sunderland fan and one could have thought he was playing for them at times!

Thought Sykes put in another mixed display and was involved in their second goal.

 

[Northstandboy]

Poor Sykes, first Robbo threw him under a bus, now @MJB has!

Hope he has 9 lives!

 

[OX14]

Having said that I would have played him over Forde but not Williams

Agree, still baffled why we've signed Forde for another season. It's like Karl loves to carry passengers every season and try and turn them to play in another position.

 

[Followtheox1]

Yes, it was a half arsed attempt to track back but there were plenty of others who should have done more to stop that goal.

You're normally one of the more measured posters and I think it's the result that is leaving you looking for someone to blame. I'm just not sure that you've got the right target this time.

Talking about tracking back. Interestingly, I went with a non OUFC fan today and they commented how poor Brannagan was at tracking back and after he said it I noticed it myself. It's interesting getting the views of a neutral sometimes.

 

[OX14]

Talking about tracking back. Interestingly, I went with a non OUFC fan today and they commented how poor Brannagan was at tracking back and after he said it I noticed it myself. It's interesting getting the views of a neutral sometimes.

First half the whole midfield were guilty of that, I sat in the SSU for the first time and the space Sunderland had in the middle of the pitch after a failed attack from us was staggering. Kane isn't a defensive mid and I'm not sure why he is asked to play as one, actually I know why it's because Karl didn't sign a replacement for Gorrin in January.