Re: Oxford Cty
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:47 pm
All for the mix of youth and experience in a game like this, but the balance was wrong for me - with all the inexperience at the back, rather than spread through the side. I would have thought it better to have started Meades (as presumably our 2nd choice LB) at LB and a youngster (either our triallist MF Ruffles or 2nd year scholar Ashby - maybe 45 mins each) alongside Hall in the middle. Likewise, when Lynn went off, that would have been an opportunity to make that switch, but instead Ruffles was placed at LB - very strange!
Given who he had alongside (and behind) him, I would say it would be unfair to judge Raynes on last night, any player would struggle to look good in such circumstances, with a lot of his time spent trying to shepherd his colleagues through rather than just concentrating on his own game. I would always suggest at least two senior players in the back five for the experience to be effective for the younger players.
Would have thought that there may have been an opportunity to give a couple of the scholars on the bench a run-out too, rather than just giving Sharma five minutes at the end...especially as the game was effectively lost earlier on. I know Wilder probably gave instructions to Lewis as to who should play for how long, but apart from minutes on the pitch (which may actually be all he cares about) not sure the senior players would gain much from staying on the field for the full 90.
Anyway, good luck City, just hope this lot aren't just here on an empty promise from the Yank
Given who he had alongside (and behind) him, I would say it would be unfair to judge Raynes on last night, any player would struggle to look good in such circumstances, with a lot of his time spent trying to shepherd his colleagues through rather than just concentrating on his own game. I would always suggest at least two senior players in the back five for the experience to be effective for the younger players.
Would have thought that there may have been an opportunity to give a couple of the scholars on the bench a run-out too, rather than just giving Sharma five minutes at the end...especially as the game was effectively lost earlier on. I know Wilder probably gave instructions to Lewis as to who should play for how long, but apart from minutes on the pitch (which may actually be all he cares about) not sure the senior players would gain much from staying on the field for the full 90.
Anyway, good luck City, just hope this lot aren't just here on an empty promise from the Yank