Match Thread Were the Oxford goals Lucky or calamitous Defending ? (1 Viewer)

[SkyBlueMatt]

Mostly just individual errors that can be ironed out.

Simms for first one. Maybe lati should shout for it? I dunno

Bidwell losing his man completely for second. Usually a dependable defender

I am not worrying too much

Pretty much this, our performances (including the defence) have been a bit slow to get going. The 3 goals we have conceded have been avoidable but that can be worked on.

We've had 3 different CB pairs in 3 games. Sometimes it takes a little longer than we would hope to settle in for the new season but I'm confident we'll be fine.

I still want another C(D)M as we're a little light.

 

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[twistandshout]

Where ever you see a top defence, you will see a top midfielder screening.
Not a number 8 who can play number 6, but a top number 6.
Sheaf is 1 but we dont have another,

 

[Bad Boy]

How do you feel about the 2 Oxford howlers? Lati having a free shot that megs two defenders first and Haji's movement to capitalise on a bad pass?
Looked on the Oxford board and obviously they're ticked off, but nothing like the over-reaction on here to two sloppy goals.

I don't care about Oxford and their howlers
With respect, their expectations for this season aren't ours.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Aside from Oxford doing what they should have been doing in harassing and pressing the defenders into mistakes, I honestly thought both of Oxford's goals were really resulting from some sort of astrological/astronomical alignments that only occur once every one thousand years and also the Moon was in retrograde or something, just all improbable things falling into place at the right moment for them.. twice

.........No it's Just Bad Defending.

 

[Hincha]

I don't think it helps that we are playing two CBs but expecting the full backs to be wing backs.
If you want full on wingbacks you need another CB or DM to cover

For their second MvE went forward and Torp was covering but let the guy pick his spot.

Think he is as culpable as Bidwell - didn’t close down quick enough.

 

[OffenhamSkyBlue]

We need an experienced CB with a commanding presence who can jump and head the ****ing ball out 30 yards like Oxford's did. McFadz did that perfectly as well as being a great leader.
Binks stood and watched their player head it past him when the cross came over for their first. Needs to challenge.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

For their second MvE went forward and Torp was covering but let the guy pick his spot.

Think he is as culpable as Bidwell - didn’t close down quick enough.

Quite right, after Torp let him Cross the Ball he just Stood and watched, if he had pushed up the player would have been Definitely Offside. School Boy Error.

 

[skybluecam]

The (very small sample of) statistics say we have a decent defense (9th best xG against) coupled with a good attack (6th best xG for) and are unlucky to have conceded 3 from the chances we’ve faced.

My eye test says our midfield leaves too much space at times and is naive getting back. And Bidwell has had some poor moments. I think he could have done better at Stoke for their goal and for Oxford’s 2nd. Oxford’s first was largely bad luck imo.

I’m not too worried. Sheaf gives us more stability in the middle, I wouldn’t mind a late defensive minded midfielder signing though.

 

[ceetee]

Quite right, after Torp let him Cross the Ball he just Stood and watched, if he had pushed up the player would have been Definitely Offside. School Boy Error.

Torp is not a DM
Our only DMs are Sheaf and Eccles. Howley looked to be getting closer but seems to have lost his way

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Torp is not a DM
Our only DMs are Sheaf and Eccles. Howley looked to be getting closer but seems to have lost his way

Well okay, but he Should Know the Offside Rule right.

 

[ceetee]

Well okay, but he Should Know the Offside Rule right.

Yes

 

[Offhegoes]

First one was just freakish. Firstly the free kick should never of been given, the bounce off Simms and a great strike from the Oxford CB who would probably miss that 9/10.
2nd was poor.
I acutally don't think the defending has been that bad this season. We kept Stoke out for long periods, and they didn't create that much considering our whole team were below-par. Oxford had very few chances on Friday night to be honest.
As happened last season, massive holes in the middle when we lose the ball in their half, and the team breaks.
Sheaf coming back will help that, but that needs to be addressed.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

We have £6m of centre halves on the bench - I can’t see how we could spend more money on another one without moving one on first

If the goal is automatic promotion, you have to compare that to the other teams around us and the quality isn’t there yet. They’re all young for CBs and adding someone with a bit of experience in and/or getting promotion from league could only be a good thing. There’s a gap at RB too that Lati is covering too

For their second MvE went forward and Torp was covering but let the guy pick his spot.

Think he is as culpable as Bidwell - didn’t close down quick enough.

Torp was covering because it was his misplaced pass that kicked off the move. Getting caught in possession like that is probably why Bidwell was where he was because we retreated in a 3 + Torp. All 3 of them (Torp, Binks and Bidwell) could’ve done better there, it was a rubbish goal to to concede.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

First one was just freakish. Firstly the free kick should never of been given, the bounce off Simms and a great strike from the Oxford CB who would probably miss that 9/10.
2nd was poor.
I acutally don't think the defending has been that bad this season. We kept Stoke out for long periods, and they didn't create that much considering our whole team were below-par. Oxford had very few chances on Friday night to be honest.
As happened last season, massive holes in the middle when we lose the ball in their half, and the team breaks.
Sheaf coming back will help that, but that needs to be addressed.

The first goals wasn’t freakish at all, it was just poor defending. First, we failed to clear our lines and Torp and then Binks’ loose aerial duels. Lati, Simms and Binks all ball watch before Simms’ touch teed it up for their defender. It was a good finish but that was after a catalogue of errors.

 

[FergieTheFinisher]

I think it is very easy to think we’re leaking goals and we must bring in another CB/DM or experienced head. But in the Oxford game we saw one piece of bad luck by Simms and one occasion of Bidwell not being aware of what was behind him.

The crazy thing is these 2 incidents gave Oxford their only 2 shots on target the entire game. It’s bad luck we were punished by 2 shit goals that were from their only 2 attempts on target.

Therefore defensively, apart from 2 individual incidents, we kept them away from goal pretty well. Is there room for individual and team improvements? Absolutely, but this is only the second league game of season and that improvement will continue to come. We saw a big improvement over the first game and that will continue. PUSB. In Robbins we trust!!

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

For their second MvE went forward and Torp was covering but let the guy pick his spot.

Think he is as culpable as Bidwell - didn’t close down quick enough.

Solved by fouling on half way for me - might get a yellow but oh well
Then having run back all the way he doesn’t even block the cross ffs

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

First one was just freakish. Firstly the free kick should never of been given, the bounce off Simms and a great strike from the Oxford CB who would probably miss that 9/10.
2nd was poor.
I acutally don't think the defending has been that bad this season. We kept Stoke out for long periods, and they didn't create that much considering our whole team were below-par. Oxford had very few chances on Friday night to be honest.
As happened last season, massive holes in the middle when we lose the ball in their half, and the team breaks.
Sheaf coming back will help that, but that needs to be addressed.

I agree Oxford had few chances, but the fact is they scored twice and both times a number of our players made mistakes in the build up and if even one of them doesn't then they don't score. For an average team in a division this is fine, but if we're looking to be pushing for promotion we can't have collective defensive brain farts two or three times a game. It will leave us with too much to do.

 

[KersleyDigs]

The second goal was almost entirely Torp's fault from start to finish. He really needs to step up and fast...

 

[Cov98]

The second goal was almost entirely Torp's fault from start to finish. He really needs to step up and fast...

As mentioned, Torp isn't a DM. If Sheaf was fit and in the team he wouldn't be that deep and it wouldn't be his responsibility.

So he doesn't really need to 'step up' , he just needs to be played where he's comfortable.

 

[TewkesburySkyBlue]

I just don’t rate any of the three we bought from Barnsley strange decision I thought. Hope Im proved wrong

 

[TomRad85]

I just don’t rate any of the three we bought from Barnsley strange decision I thought. Hope Im proved wrong

Sigh.. we didn't sign 3 players from Barnsley. I wish that..
A. People would stop getting this wrong.
B. People would judge them individually rather than a weird trio they've made up in their heads.

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[shmmeee]

Sigh.. we didn't sign 3 players from Barnsley. I wish that..
A. People would stop getting this wrong.
B. People would judge them individually rather than a weird trio they've made up in their heads.

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They were all playing for Barnsley immediately before us TBF.

 

[lewys33]

Left back is the weak link in the defence currently.