Oxford player ratings (3 Viewers)

[BlueSkiesForever]

Palmer 6 - Tried stuff. Fluffed some shots.

Same old Palmer every week, feel like that should be written on his gravestone

 

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[duffer]

I called for Eccles to play tonight, but gave the ball away too often and in some poor areas. Bidwell caught of position a couple of times and I can understand why some are scoring Lati lower, although not 5, he's better on the ball than Thomas certainly was last week, but needs to be stronger and more dominant, I'd play Thomas ahead of him.

Stand out performance from MVE of course, couple if great goals from Haji and notable work rates from Ellis, Rudi and Torp. Not seen the goals back yet so not sure if they were offside or Dovin could've done anything different. Definitely not a free kick before their first though and I thought Ellis was stronger than their full back in the first half challenge so would like to see that back as I thought a great bit of play. Having said that, I'd have left him on and taken Haji off so what do I know?!

Funnily enough, Simms was starting to get on my nerves in the second half, because I thought he wasn't really putting in the effort.

I suspect part of that is because we weren't getting him the ball, and part of it is that when you start looking for bad things in players, you can over focus on them.

Either way, it's great when we can bring on players with the energy we've got on the bench. I don't want to jinx it, but it feels like the start of a very exciting season.

And of course, MVE was outstanding; if there's a better player than him in his position, in this division, I don't know who it is. Just superb.

 

[mmttww]

Fair enough. Though I think if you want a quick counter, having a teammate or two already advanced up the pitch, as opposed to having everyone in the ‘chasing pack’ running up it would be easier. That and allowing the other team to pack the box works in their favour from an attacking perspective.

We used to keep two players up, sometimes three. Too many people in the box and you get their first goal on Fri night. Keep the two wide forwards around halfway. Sorted.

 

[wingy]

Funnily enough, Simms was starting to get on my nerves in the second half, because I thought he wasn't really putting in the effort.

I suspect part of that is because we weren't getting him the ball, and part of it is that when you start looking for bad things in players, you can over focus on them.

Either way, it's great when we can bring on players with the energy we've got on the bench. I don't want to jinx it, but it feels like the start of a very exciting season.

And of course, MVE was outstanding; if there's a better player than him in his position, in this division, I don't know who it is. Just superb.

Keep strong duffer you know how being negative ends up, for all we know he could be subject to an offer on his service's?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

We used to keep two players up, sometimes three. Too many people in the box and you get their first goal on Fri night. Keep the two wide forwards around halfway. Sorted.

On the times we’ve won the ball from corners since we started doing this, it’s been either immediately hoofed away back to the opposition or players have had to pass it back into the chasing pack of players.

 

[StrettoBoy]

Fair enough. Though I think if you want a quick counter, having a teammate or two already advanced up the pitch, as opposed to having everyone in the ‘chasing pack’ running up it would be easier. That and allowing the other team to pack the box works in their favour from an attacking perspective.

I agree.

We should have one or two up towards the halfway line. The opposition will then need to keep one or two players back to cover the breakaway, so we wouldn’t lose defensive cover.

 

[Otis]

Same old Palmer every week, feel like that should be written on his gravestone

And if his family didn't have much money at the time of his passing, they could just shorten it to "fluffer" couldn't they.

 

[OffenhamSkyBlue]

I’m nowhere near as offended as you are at the idea of having everyone back for corners/defensive set pieces (and assume part of the thinking is to give opportunity for a quick break), but someone of Simms’ nature should be front post at corners and in the wall for a FK. Wouldn’t even say he’s that good in the air.

All of this could be avoided by Binks challenging for the initial ball in from the free kick. He just stood there and watched the guy have a free header. Poor from a CB

 

[SBAndy]

Fair enough. Though I think if you want a quick counter, having a teammate or two already advanced up the pitch, as opposed to having everyone in the ‘chasing pack’ running up it would be easier. That and allowing the other team to pack the box works in their favour from an attacking perspective.

See, I think by inviting as many of the opposition up for a corner, you could break and be 3 on 2. We don’t get out anywhere near quick enough though.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

See, I think by inviting as many of the opposition up for a corner, you could break and be 3 on 2. We don’t get out anywhere near quick enough though.

If that’s the reasoning I see the point of it, I just don’t think it works out that way in practice and is a higher risk defensively anyway.

Fewer opponents in the box makes it easier to mark and reduces pressure on the keeper.

 

[Gibbo]

My only concern about Dovin, allowing for the fact he was barely tested, came in the first half when dealing with a fairly tame cross from the left. He allowed Binks unchallenged to head it out for a corner from inside the 6 yard box. I would love a keeper to come and really get those. I can't remember the last keeper we have had that did that - it must be the way they are coached

 

[fernandopartridge]

He scored two, one being the winner, fair play.

but he could of had another 6 on top of that, even if he put half of those away, he would of had 5. So a 25% return isn’t going to have me creaming my undies like everyone else on here

HAVE

 

[fernandopartridge]

I have a theory that Eccles and Torp are so hard to tell apart that they often get blamed for things the other one did and it in turn makes their ratings a bit of a mess.

That's true, doesn't help that their squad numbers are similar either

 

[PVA]

My only concern about Dovin, allowing for the fact he was barely tested, came in the first half when dealing with a fairly tame cross from the left. He allowed Binks unchallenged to head it out for a corner from inside the 6 yard box. I would love a keeper to come and really get those. I can't remember the last keeper we have had that did that - it must be the way they are coached

He made another little mistake late in the game when we were chasing the winner. The ball was played over the top and Lati was running back and wanted to play a simple header back to the keeper to retain possession, but Dovin came out too far and booted it out of play to give them the ball. Lati was visibly annoyed by it.

Looks great with the ball at his feet though.

 

[fernandopartridge]

It’s weird, most people would say we put in a very good performance tonight, full of attacking play, yet some of our main players are being criticised as if they didn’t play a part in that very good performance….

Eccles gets criticism despite constantly picking up second balls and starting us going again, it's almost as if people don't recognise that a team is made up of many functions and they're not all shots or Hollywood passes

 

[Calista]

Looks great with the ball at his feet though.

Seems to be the mantra for all modern keepers!

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

Love the bench and the possibility of bringing on real pace after 60 minutes. The prospect of Palmer pulling the strings after 60 and feeding balls through to a front line of EMC/BTA and HW is just a nightmare for tired defences. We've had pace in the team before (Huckerby and Williams as examples) but never the collective pace across our front line that we can put onto the pitch today. Probably our most rapid forward line (in my memory). Just one class signing away (DM) from being real contenders.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Love the bench and the possibility of bringing on real pace after 60 minutes. The prospect of Palmer pulling the strings after 60 and feeding balls through to a front line of EMC/BTA and HW is just a nightmare for tired defences. We've had pace in the team before (Huckerby and Williams as examples) but never the collective pace across our front line that we can put onto the pitch today. Probably our most rapid forward line (in my memory). Just one class signing away (DM) from being real contenders.

A CM and a CB would really make us a Top 4 (possibly even automatic) contender. Based on the goals (+ chances) we’ve conceded so far, our defence could be our soft underbelly. As discussed on other threads, the midfield without Sheaf looks open too. We seem to be winning less ball higher up the pitch without Sheaf. It’s only early doors but I’m sceptical that Eccles (and the other CMs) could really dominate the midfield if (for arguments sake) Sheaf was sold or injured in the long term.

We should’ve battered Oxford 3 or 4-0 without the need for them to gift wrap a goal in stoppage time for us.

 

[stupot07]

He made another little mistake late in the game when we were chasing the winner. The ball was played over the top and Lati was running back and wanted to play a simple header back to the keeper to retain possession, but Dovin came out too far and booted it out of play to give them the ball. Lati was visibly annoyed by it.

Looks great with the ball at his feet though.

I really didn't mind that. He was decisive, and followed it through. Much better that than a hesitant keeper who ends up in no mans land, and the defender heads it past them or over them. It might not have been what Lati wanted him to do, but I don't think it was a mistake.

 

[wingy]

I have a theory that Eccles and Torp are so hard to tell apart that they often get blamed for things the other one did and it in turn makes their ratings a bit of a mess.

True this must confuse the opposition and like someone else mentioned didgets are also next to eachother on their backs!