Current Player Thread Sam Long

Player Photo

2.Sam Long

Position: Defender
Nationality: England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Departed: DATE
Previous Clubs: Hampton & Richmond Borough (Loan), Kidderminster Harriers (Loan)
Instagram: samlong_22
 
Last edited:
I've said this before numerous times on here - but Sam Long is a terrific defender who lacks two things.....size and pace. If he had both of those, he'd likely be in the World Cup squad!

Most of the time, he can cover for those deficiencies with outstanding positioning and all-round hustle. That is often easier to do so as a Centre Back than a Full Back.

But every now and again - particularly when he's playing at full back - he can struggle against extremely quick wingers or truly massive physical units, or especially players that are both (the two people I can really remember giving him fits were Haji Wright and Lyle Foster.....)

You don't face those sorts of players every week at Championship level, so mostly Long is great. Every now and again though we do, it's not the worst thing on those occasions to play horses for courses, and we are fortunate enough to have alternatives with the size (Helik) and the pace (Spencer) if we really need them.
 
tonyw said:
I've said this before numerous times on here - but Sam Long is a terrific defender who lacks two things.....size and pace. If he had both of those, he'd likely be in the World Cup squad!

Most of the time, he can cover for those deficiencies with outstanding positioning and all-round hustle. That is often easier to do so as a Centre Back than a Full Back.

But every now and again - particularly when he's playing at full back - he can struggle against extremely quick wingers or truly massive physical units, or especially players that are both (the two people I can really remember giving him fits were Haji Wright and Lyle Foster.....)

You don't face those sorts of players every week at Championship level, so mostly Long is great. Every now and again though we do, it's not the worst thing on those occasions to play horses for courses, and we are fortunate enough to have alternatives with the size (Helik) and the pace (Spencer) if we really need them.
Click to expand...

To be fair to Long he never complains or lets it get to him when he is left out, so that sort of role is fine with him. He barely played till he was 22/23 and hasn’t had many 40 plus league game seasons, not playing every single game might actually help him have a longer career as well, not got that high mileage on the clock at 31 and never being a player reliant on rapid pace will help with that.
 
I’ve been critical of Long multiple times in the past and didn’t think he had the required ability at every level I have watched him at.
I’m coming around to the conclusion that I’m wrong.
 
Emilio said:
Wonder how much that was to do with Clare though. To come in as first choice right back from Hearts in the summer and then sent out on loan to Burton by January...either you are far, far worse than the manager expected, or you've got a bad attitude. If you're unhappy at a young Longy beating you to the starting line up, and you'd rather take a move than fight for your place, doesn't say much towards your character.

Not wanting to cast shade on Clare, as I don't know the guy at all, but either the manager or the player decided he should be loaned out mid-season, and it would be wild for the manager not to keep him (at least as a backup) unless there were issues between them. Of course, his 3-year contract ended early as he was sold to Charlton at the end of that season.
Click to expand...
Sean Clare has had a decent career though, it’s not like he’s flopped everywhere
 
Think Sam does well by staying under the radar, working hard in training and just always being ready to give his all. He's never let anything get to his head, stayed humble and loyal. Helps that he just loves the club too.

Would love to know how many games in total he's played for OUFC at all levels including youth team. There can't be many others with more?
 
tonyw said:
I've said this before numerous times on here - but Sam Long is a terrific defender who lacks two things.....size and pace. If he had both of those, he'd likely be in the World Cup squad!

Most of the time, he can cover for those deficiencies with outstanding positioning and all-round hustle. That is often easier to do so as a Centre Back than a Full Back.

But every now and again - particularly when he's playing at full back - he can struggle against extremely quick wingers or truly massive physical units, or especially players that are both (the two people I can really remember giving him fits were Haji Wright and Lyle Foster.....)

You don't face those sorts of players every week at Championship level, so mostly Long is great. Every now and again though we do, it's not the worst thing on those occasions to play horses for courses, and we are fortunate enough to have alternatives with the size (Helik) and the pace (Spencer) if we really need them.
Click to expand...
Sam does get skinned by a really good winger, but rarely for the whole game- he tends to get to grips with him in the second half ( though he did get switched around against QPR).
 
unification said:
He’s up to 297 appearances for us now.

Away at Coventry could well see him join the 300 club.
Click to expand...

Just 13 more and he breaks into our top 20 of all time.

1000038258.png

Presumably CamBran will overtake Shotts into 14th place within the next month.
 
Last edited:
tonyw said:
I've said this before numerous times on here - but Sam Long is a terrific defender who lacks two things.....size and pace. If he had both of those, he'd likely be in the World Cup squad!

Most of the time, he can cover for those deficiencies with outstanding positioning and all-round hustle. That is often easier to do so as a Centre Back than a Full Back.

But every now and again - particularly when he's playing at full back - he can struggle against extremely quick wingers or truly massive physical units, or especially players that are both (the two people I can really remember giving him fits were Haji Wright and Lyle Foster.....)

You don't face those sorts of players every week at Championship level, so mostly Long is great. Every now and again though we do, it's not the worst thing on those occasions to play horses for courses, and we are fortunate enough to have alternatives with the size (Helik) and the pace (Spencer) if we really need them.
Click to expand...
I’d add Mikey Johnstone and Paul Smyth to the wingers list from recent weeks, but totally agree with what you’ve said. I often struggle to rate Long’s performances because they’re regularly as good as they could possibly be within the limitations that he has.

At centre back, and especially at centre back in a 3, those limitations are nowhere near as exposed. His performance Saturday was absolutely outstanding, and how he gets the maximum out of his ability was in stark contrast to most of the Leicester players going through the motions.
 
joshua said:
Well I can remember everyone of those players , but who is Frank Ramshaw
Click to expand...
According to his page on Rage Online:

Born Oxhill, County Durham. Made club captain for the 1952-53 season, and led the club to its first Southern League championship. He also captained the side to two Southern League Cup wins and was skipper for the momentous FA Cup run in 1953-54. Eventually retired on the advice of a specialist, aged 33. Died in October 2003
 
Yellowblood said:
Just googled "Johnny Love" !! Has definitely had an interesting career change after hanging up his boots.
Click to expand...
The sister of a friend of mine in North Hinksey went out with United’s Johnny Love. I hadn’t realised he’d played so many games.
 
A terrific piece with Longy to celebrate his 300 appearances.

Throughout the years i have been one to question his technical ability as we have risen through the leagues, to this day i'm still not entirely sure that he's quite at Championship level. All that aside, his love and committment to our football club is unquestionable. He absolutely will go down in history as a club legend, and that is a status that will be richly deserved.
 
ECYellow said:
A terrific piece with Longy to celebrate his 300 appearances.

Throughout the years i have been one to question his technical ability as we have risen through the leagues, to this day i'm still not entirely sure that he's quite at Championship level. All that aside, his love and committment to our football club is unquestionable. He absolutely will go down in history as a club legend, and that is a status that will be richly deserved.
Click to expand...
What he lacks in quality at this level he makes up with heart, desire and work rate.
 
Eric Blair said:
Sam Long: A Poem By Eric Blair

Sam Long, you are never wrong.
Always strong
And you belong
Not in Hong Kong
But riding a mallangong (look it up)
Like Neil Armstrong
You deserve a gong
Jog along
Sam Long
Sam Long
Sam Long
Click to expand...

His name is Sam.
He's mates with Cam.
"Maghoma has the ball" - f*ck you, WHAM.
Next season he'll smash West Ham.
 
Carpy said:
What he lacks in quality at this level he makes up with heart, desire and work rate.
Click to expand...
I would also argue consistency.

We have had many better players over the years, but often their form can be up and down (see Spencer for a recent example). When Long's name is on the team sheet, you know exactly what you are going to get from him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar Threads

C
Current Player Thread Sam Long
3 4 5
Replies
126
Views
23K
stokeu
stokeu
Scotchegg
Sam Long
2
Replies
56
Views
15K
Foley
Foley
Sarge
General Sam Long
Replies
29
Views
5K
Frustrated Yellow
Frustrated Yellow
Sarge
Sam Long?
Replies
21
Views
7K
CaptainOx
CaptainOx
Witneyoldfella
General Sam Baldock and James Henry
Replies
6
Views
4K
akilham
A
Back
Top Bottom