General Most Impressive Opposition Players 2024-2025

[West Oxon U’s]

Which players for opposing clubs have impressed you most this season?

For me Tatsuhiro Sakamoto for Coventry was most impressive as was his team mate Haji Wright in the away match. Matt Grimes is a top midfielder which he showed for both Swansea and Coventry. Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze impressed in both games. Winger Dan James looked unplayable for Leeds. I rate Max Bird and Jason Knight at Bristol City too.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan is always a class act and Burnley’s two centre backs CJ Egan-Riley and Maxine Esteve plus ‘keeper James Trafford are top drawer.

Of course the Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath went to the MLS in January - a huge loss for Boro. He was excellent.

 

[holdsteady]

Doak for Boro as well, glad we won't be facing him again. Hamer for Sheff U, we couldn't get near him.

 

[Marked Ox]

I barely know who most of the opposition players are, so will struggle to tell you who is most impressive. Certainly didn't know who the Watford players were until the Georgian winger was mentioned by somebody else, and then I had a vague memory of watching him on TV some weeks ago. Their striker (39) seemed to be following the fitness regime of Akinfenwa.

But as somebody has mentioned Sakamoto, he was impressive clearly as I can remember him.

 

[Bazoufc]

Chakvetadze has stood out for me so far this season above everyone else. Couldn't believe they took him off at the weekend when needing a goal

 

[Big Ron]

Chakvetadze has stood out for me so far this season above everyone else. Couldn't believe they took him off at the weekend when needing a goal

I thought he was brilliant in the first game and very average on Saturday - also completely one footed. He sometimes looks as if the ball is glued to his right foot but can't actually kick it properly with his left. I saw something on their forum to the effect that he hasn't really kicked on since joining them. Probably why he's with Watford in this division.

Also though Rudoni looked good for Coventry and Sargeant at Norwich is a class act, as is Borj-Sainz - both unlikely to be there next season..

 

[Osei Yaw]

I liked Woodman at Preston. I enjoyed him running out into no man's land in the home game so that Harris could head the ball over him.

Then in the away game I was a big fan of him passing the ball to Rodrigues for an easy goal.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Ben Doak, and the right-winger for Burnley at our place, can't remember his name.

 

[holdsteady]

I thought he was brilliant in the first game and very average on Saturday - also completely one footed. He sometimes looks as if the ball is glued to his right foot but can't actually kick it properly with his left. I saw something on their forum to the effect that he hasn't really kicked on since joining them. Probably why he's with Watford in this division.

Also though Rudoni looked good for Coventry and Sargeant at Norwich is a class act, as is Borj-Sainz - both unlikely to be there next season..

Really liked Sargent for Norwich, just what we could do with up front, if we could find someone like that (relatively) cheap it would really improve us but it’s probably a big ask.

 

[Sarge]

Pompey's Murphy is a bit good

 

[Northernyellow]

Ben Doak- we weren't very good on the day, but he was unplayable.

 

[Lost Marbles]

I'm not sure about individual players but Sunderland's passing and movement in the away game was a class above. Maybe I just noticed it more as we were right at the front of the top tier. A couple of home fans said afterwards it was the best they'd played all season.

 

[Foley]

Really liked Sargent for Norwich, just what we could do with up front, if we could find someone like that (relatively) cheap it would really improve us but it’s probably a big ask.

He is rated as just about the best finisher in the Championship .
For us to get anybody near as good as him will need fantastic recruitment ( and a bit if luck)

 

[Foley]

Chakvetadze has stood out for me so far this season above everyone else. Couldn't believe they took him off at the weekend when needing a goal

I heard that he was carrying a knock and couldn't play 90 minutes

 

[holdsteady]

He is rated as just about the best finisher in the Championship .
For us to get anybody near as good as him will need fantastic recruitment ( and a bit if luck)

His hold up play and movement was impressive as well. I know, just wishful thinking really.

Norwich are a pretty average side with two very good forwards, don't know how long they will be happy their unless they bring in better players.

 

[LowerSouth]

Chakvetadze has stood out for me so far this season above everyone else. Couldn't believe they took him off at the weekend when needing a goal

He was outstanding when we played at there place .

 

[dickwalton1964]

Hannibal Mjebri was excellent for Burnley in the away game, haven't seen many more energetic performances this season. He's one of those who plays on the edge and is never too far away from a bit of controversy but he's a very good player at this level. Never really rated him in the odd games I saw him have in the PL though. Bellingham is another obvious one, was very dominant against us up there but it was a match of men against boys so hard to tell on just that one showing.

 

[mariokempes]

Ruben Colwill Cardiff City

 

[Berliner]

The Hull winger Belloumi tore us a new one down the right at home. If they had someone capable of finishing they could have scored 3 or 4 before half time.

Unfortunately he later went off with what turned out to be a torn ACL and is now back on the recovery trail.

 

[Tomox]

Jobe Bellingham, Chakvetadze, Dan James, Doak, Romain Esse

 

[Jster]

Yeah, Belloumi stood out for me too.

 

[LowerSouth]

I liked Coventry City player Sakamoto.
He has stood out in all 3 games this season

 

[OxfordBoy]

The entire Sunderland midfield, both Boro wingers and Sakamoto were the ones I genuinely thought looked so good we couldn’t compete

 

[Nadi-]

Dan Neil, Fin Azaz, Ben Doak

Edit Trai Hume

 

[Nadi-]

Ruben Colwill Cardiff City

Thought he was poor at our place, but could be a lot different at theirs. If he’s on it very good.

 

[McXal]

Bellingham, Isidor, Doak, Latte Lath, Chakvetadze, Esteve, Murphy, Bannan etc have all had plenty of mentions, and I agree with all of those.

A few I’ve not seen mentioned as much- I think Van Erwijk at Coventry is outstanding and was dangerous against us in both games. I also think Emil Riis, in a pretty mediocre Preston side, has looked a handful. Quite like Tanganga at Millwall too. Also think Adams in Derby’s midfield is excellent.

(EDIT: sample size of one half basically, but at Ashton Gate I thought Yu Hirakawa savaged us in the second half for Bristol City)

 

[werthersoriginal]

I wonder if home fans have rated any of our players? From occasional looks at forums it seems Placheta has caught the eye at times, and one guy said he wouldn't mind having 'that big defender' (not sure if Brown or Moore) - to which someone else responded 'what for, to carry your shopping?'

 

[Foley]

I wonder if home fans have rated any of our players? From occasional looks at forums it seems Placheta has caught the eye at times, and one guy said he wouldn't mind having 'that big defender' (not sure if Brown or Moore) - to which someone else responded 'what for, to carry your shopping?'

I think that it was a Stoke fan who suggested that Brannagan was a 'nasty bastard that I would like to see in our midfield'

 

[Tomox]

I wonder if home fans have rated any of our players? From occasional looks at forums it seems Placheta has caught the eye at times, and one guy said he wouldn't mind having 'that big defender' (not sure if Brown or Moore) - to which someone else responded 'what for, to carry your shopping?'

I work with a Leeds fan who said he looked dangerous at Elland Road.

I know Brannagan has caught the eye more than a few times this season too

 

[PottersRightBoot]

Stoke keeper, Victor Johanssen.
Bannan.
Sykes.(!)
Esteve
Manor Salomon.
Ampadu.
O’Haire
Sakamoto

To name but a few

Worst player.

Bidwell - pub standard bruiser. Surprised Lampard gives him a game.

 

[Vancouver Yellow]

Jack Rudoni is a bit of a pest for Coventry. Definelty the type of profile I’d love us to sign