Ex Player Mark Sykes

[werthersoriginal]

Yep - with you on that. I think our first line of defence needs attention too. As Ive said on other threads, Taylor needs a partner who is a bit nasty.

He won’t get a partner but a bigger plan B would be good. However we’d need to shift Winnall or get richer for that to happen.

 

[OUFC OX3]

Clotet was only with us for less than six months, thank God

I forgot what happened, was his contract terminated or did he leave (via the metro car)?

 

[Marked Ox]

I forgot what happened, was his contract terminated or did he leave (via the metro car)?

He got terminated.

 

[Foley]

He got terminated.

Eales termined aged him just before selling up.
He always seemed to maintain that it was not due to the results and what was happening on the pitch.

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

Just to clarify I think Sykes is good enough to be a squad player and I’d keep him if no money was offered.

.... But if someone’s offering a big chunk of change I’d take it and roll the dice with our recruiting team. I think with our track record it would be like a successful house flip and reinvestment.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Just to clarify I think Sykes is good enough to be a squad player and I’d keep him if no money was offered.

.... But if someone’s offering a big chunk of change I’d take it and roll the dice with our recruiting team. I think with our track record it would be like a successful house flip and reinvestment.

Kind of up to him a bit as well

 

[Nadi-]

Just to clarify I think Sykes is good enough to be a squad player and I’d keep him if no money was offered.

.... But if someone’s offering a big chunk of change I’d take it and roll the dice with our recruiting team. I think with our track record it would be like a successful house flip and reinvestment.

No problem with the big chunk,, everyone has their price, as long as it’s in the clubs interest.
And we replace with a future big chunk replacement.

 

[Osleroad]

Eales termined aged him just before selling up.
He always seemed to maintain that it was not due to the results and what was happening on the pitch.

I presume you mean off the pitch...some not so ethical going ons and performance trajectory compounded the decision should think.

 

[tonyw]

Man, the guy still drives me absolutely spare.

There was a moment first half on Saturday where someone played a long-ish ball into him in the middle of the park, and he took it down in-stride with his in-step on the turn and on the run - Messi couldn't had done it better. And then he drove forwards about ten yards before stopping and playing a really crap ball out right.

And then of course there's the penalty, which was absolutely brainless and cost us two points.
KR gave him a big chance to start the season, ahead of McGuane & Gorrin, and he's put in a performance that's probably going to see him banished again for a while (just like Swindon last year).

You watch Mark Sykes regularly, and all the pieces are there to create one hell of a player.....but he just can't seem to put it all together. I'm starting to fear that he never will now. Still too little end product and too many mental mistakes.

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

I would love to see the data (as ever)

Incredible to watch but ….
+ fouls
+ completed passes
+ assists
+ goals
+ successful tackles etc etc

matched up against his peers for us and across the division. Because quite frankly right now I don’t know what to make of him.

my hunch is similar to big Tony’s ….Premier league skill set but end product considerably lacking . His most important goal for us was a failed cross

 

[LeftSideBoy]

+ fouls
+ successful tackles etc etc

These two, are definitely the most concerning..

I can kind of look past the whole goals and assists thing, because you can still contribute to the game in a positive way, without those things. However, his tackling is an absolute shambles and so often, it causes us problems!

 

[Scotchegg]

I think because there isn't the end product, Sykes appears more and more anxious to make a difference and this leads to some of his errors. He needs composure and both ends of the pitch, and I think a top class Sports Psychologist could be the difference between him floating around the lower leagues and having a successful career in the Championship.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I presume you mean off the pitch...some not so ethical going ons and performance trajectory compounded the decision should think.

Oh such as?
(OK you probably can’t say)

 

[oufc1991]

I think because there isn't the end product, Sykes appears more and more anxious to make a difference and this leads to some of his errors. He needs composure and both ends of the pitch, and I think a top class Sports Psychologist could be the difference between him floating around the lower leagues and having a successful career in the Championship.

I think you could be right about a sports psychologist I honestly think there is a mental block stopping him becoming top end championship he has so much talent he could be the Irish version of Gascoigne

 

[ThatSlopesATwelfthMan]

I think Sykes shines when he's high up the pitch in a number 10ish role. Would be interesting to see him there with Agyei running on. He's full of energy to lead a high press too. The kind of technical player who needs permission to mess up half of what he attempts because when it works it's marvelous. The looping through-pass he played to set up Henry in the Gas friendly was sublime but he's rarely in that place or with central runners in our system. He's a disaster in our own half. Square peg, round hole? Even by KR standards the Cambridge game was notable for the % of our attacking play sent down the wings, almost to the point where Cambridge figured they could sacrifice the centre and come at us. Just not sure that's a style that suits Sykes (or Agyei for that matter).

 

[ECYellow]

I'm going to offer odds on this seasons 'Yellows Forum' OUFC fall guy:

Sam Winnall 5/6
Mark Sykes 7/5
James Henry 9/5
Billy Bodin 3/1
Simon Eastwood 5/1
Karl Robinson 8/1
Tiger 12/1

 

[LeftSideBoy]

I'm going to offer odds on this seasons 'Yellows Forum' OUFC fall guy:

Sam Winnall 5/6
Mark Sykes 7/5
James Henry 9/5
Billy Bodin 3/1
Simon Eastwood 5/1
Karl Robinson 8/1
Tiger 12/1

Jamie Hanson has got to be up there, despite the fact he can’t even play?

 

[Big Ronaldo]

There is a really good player lurking within Sykes that needs to be unleashed.
For me, he doesn’t get enough goals and he is a bit rash in his decision making but there is no doubting the skill and energy is all there.
FWIW, I agree that he could really benefit from some high end psych and tactical re-thinking. It could turn him into a really dangerous player.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

I'm going to offer odds on this seasons 'Yellows Forum' OUFC fall guy:

Sam Winnall 5/6
Mark Sykes 7/5
James Henry 9/5
Billy Bodin 3/1
Simon Eastwood 5/1
Karl Robinson 8/1
Tiger 12/1

Oxford substitute runs on the pitch during the game, drops his shorts, stabs the ref then does something so unspeakable Oxford are relegated to the conference and fined £500m.

A large number of people on the forum: mildly criticise said player, point out he really shouldn’t have done that

A few others: ‘Oh, here we go! I guess they’re this seasons scapegoat then!’

 

[OUFC OX3]

I think you could be right about a sports psychologist I honestly think there is a mental block stopping him becoming top end championship he has so much talent he could be the Irish version of Gascoigne

Hopefully, he won't play the pipes if he scores.