Ex Player Nathan Holland

I think Barker has to be one of our most underrated players of recent times for me. At times he terrorised defenders, they couldn’t live with him. Scored one of the best solo goals I’ve seen by an Oxford player as well. Yes he was inconsistent and drifted in and out of games but when that’s levelled at Holland people are quick to say ‘That’s what wingers do - especially at this level’ - ok well why doesn’t that apply to Brandon Barker as well then?
 
HampshireYellow said:
I think Barker has to be one of our most underrated players of recent times for me. At times he terrorised defenders, they couldn’t live with him. Scored one of the best solo goals I’ve seen by an Oxford player as well. Yes he was inconsistent and drifted in and out of games but when that’s levelled at Holland people are quick to say ‘That’s what wingers do - especially at this level’ - ok well why doesn’t that apply to Brandon Barker as well then?
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Our only fast winger of recent times. We specialise in the medium-paced winger and have done for some time (since Marvin Johnson).
 
HampshireYellow said:
I think Barker has to be one of our most underrated players of recent times for me. At times he terrorised defenders, they couldn’t live with him. Scored one of the best solo goals I’ve seen by an Oxford player as well. Yes he was inconsistent and drifted in and out of games but when that’s levelled at Holland people are quick to say ‘That’s what wingers do - especially at this level’ - ok well why doesn’t that apply to Brandon Barker as well then?
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I think there are probably two reasons. One is that he came with big expectations. Barker isn't a youngster coming through an academy, he's at the point in his career where if you've come through the Man City Academy and in the Rangers first team squad, you expect so much more from him as a complete player.

The second is that he was 'out' of games more than he was 'in'. He may have scored a good goal or two, but his work rate and off-the-ball contributions to the team were lacking.
 
One of the few players who has been a bit disappointing this season.
I know that we had an option to buy him, but assume we will turn that down.
At times he shows glimpses of class, but is frustratingly inconsistent
 
OxfordYankee said:
He used to be fast. Haven’t seen much evidence of it this time around.
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Not sure about that. He came on as a sub in the game against Cheltenham iirc and there was one run down the left wing where I was like "what the hell" - it was ridiculously quick. I agree we don't seem to use his pace very effectively these days, but I think he does still have it.
 
Foley said:
One of the few players who has been a bit disappointing this season.
I know that we had an option to buy him, but assume we will turn that down.
At times he shows glimpses of class, but is frustratingly inconsistent
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Yes he does show class on occasions but alas not often enough.
 
Foley said:
One of the few players who has been a bit disappointing this season.
I know that we had an option to buy him, but assume we will turn that down.
At times he shows glimpses of class, but is frustratingly inconsistent
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He had a few good games on the left a while back. The trouble is we don’t really play with wingers at the moment! So he’s best as a sub. We’d be jealous if someone else got him but I wouldn’t break the bank to sign him
 
When he played against us for West Ham he looked ridiculously quick, has had a lot of injuries since then though. I just wonder if his constant niggles are affecting his outright pace, specially hamstring issues.
 
Holland doesn't seem to have the belly for the fight when games are tough, and other than very occasionally popping up with a nice goal once in a blue moon, is otherwise consistently ineffective, and I think we can do much better, so unless he suddenly has a major upturn in form and commitment, we should send him back to West Ham at the end of the season.

A season or two ago, we'd put up with such players, but we're moving forwards and aiming much higher now, and require better, stronger and more committed players than Holland is proving himself to be.

I wasn't impressed with Holland when he was here first time around, and have been even less impressed this time around.

Prove me wrong Nathan....
 
Mad dog87 said:
Holland doesn't seem to have the belly for the fight when games are tough, and other than very occasionally popping up with a nice goal once in a blue moon, is otherwise consistently ineffective, and I think we can do much better, so unless he suddenly has a major upturn in form and commitment, we should send him back to West Ham at the end of the season.

A season or two ago, we'd put up with such players, but we're moving forwards and aiming much higher now, and require better, stronger and more committed players than Holland is proving himself to be.

I wasn't impressed with Holland when he was here first time around, and have been even less impressed this time around.

Prove me wrong Nathan....
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I was chuffed he came back here but he hasn’t shown the form he did in his first spell with us. His goal against Pompey was absolute class, but we all know you can’t produce that sort of class every game. If this class was shown often then we would all be cock-a-hoop but this time round it’s not.
Would I sign him? The jury is out on that one.
 
He's a left winger who, when he plays on the left, is still one of our best players, without a doubt. He is technically gifted and has a quality pass and shot in him. He just doesn't have much of an opportunity to do that on the left at the moment. Not his fault, all the criticism seems unfair.
 
Yellow There! said:
He's a left winger who, when he plays on the left, is still one of our best players, without a doubt. He is technically gifted and has a quality pass and shot in him. He just doesn't have much of an opportunity to do that on the left at the moment. Not his fault, all the criticism seems unfair.
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I don’t think he is being criticised in a bad way because he has had food spells but unfortunately he hasn’t produced what we all know he is capable off and like most on here and at the ground would love to see him do what he does best.
 
Mad dog87 said:
Holland doesn't seem to have the belly for the fight when games are tough, and other than very occasionally popping up with a nice goal once in a blue moon, is otherwise consistently ineffective, and I think we can do much better, so unless he suddenly has a major upturn in form and commitment, we should send him back to West Ham at the end of the season.

A season or two ago, we'd put up with such players, but we're moving forwards and aiming much higher now, and require better, stronger and more committed players than Holland is proving himself to be.

I wasn't impressed with Holland when he was here first time around, and have been even less impressed this time around.

Prove me wrong Nathan....
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Totally agree, one or two moments aside (Newcastle), he looked lightweight and not that great the first time he was here. Nothing against him at all and hope he comes good but couldn't really understand the excitement when we resigned him.
 
Yellow There! said:
He's a left winger who, when he plays on the left, is still one of our best players, without a doubt. He is technically gifted and has a quality pass and shot in him. He just doesn't have much of an opportunity to do that on the left at the moment. Not his fault, all the criticism seems unfair.
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Rubbish, modern wingers need to play across the front three. He has had ample opportunities to play on the left. He just isn't there yet. One of many, it seems, academy stars who struggle to make the transition to senior football.
 
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