Cockle pickers
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 10:58 am
Made my first trip to Morecambe and also my first game of the season.
Make no mistake, ignore the one eyed reports and commentary, we were poor (as were Morecambe).
I was quite shocked actually.
Junior Brown flatters to deceive and created all manner of problems, but not for the opposition. Despite playing left midfield, he tracked back virtually never, leaving Newey badly exposed all game. Brown needs to be told in no uncertain terms that he has defensive responsibilities. Attacking wise, he gave the ball away far too cheaply, and rarely beat his man. He was like a poor man's out of form Alfie Potter. On that performance, and I appreciate it is only one performance, I wouldn't give him a game in the reserves.
Carlton Morris. Think Steve Anthrobus without the ability. Appalling first touch, no work rate at all. Struggled to even get a single shot away all night. The only small point in his favour was that he was prepared to drop a little to collect the ball and move it on. Otherwise his movement was non existant. I'm sorry but on that performance, he is badly sub-standard and worse than any striker we had last season.
The third player who will get my ire this morning is Joe Riley. Bring back Hunt, all is forgiven (it isn't but you get my drift). Riley was guilty of being caught in possession close to our penalty area on numerous occasions. He was rounded with ease by Morecambe players and pushing forwards he had no pace, and he ended his runs standing with the ball taking forever to pass it and unsurprisingly ended up being dispossessed cheaply.
George Long is the Top Gear equivalent of a flappy paddle gearbox. He had no confidence in the air at all. Slow off his line, but when he came, often he came too far. Positioning very questionable for set pieces as well. Max Crocombe is a better keeper and should be started on Saturday.
Jake Wright and Johnny Mullins were excellent and without them we could have been beaten very easily by this very mediocre Morecambe side. Bring this back to me if you like, but Morecambe will not be top by the end of September and will end the season mid table at best.
Tom Newey regularly found himself the wrong side of the Morecambe winger due to his poor positioning, bad judgement of the flight of the ball and lack of pace. In fairness he got no protection at all from Junior Brown, but even so he had a poor game.
Ruffels, very one paced. He might make a defensive midfielder, as he tackles really well and has good movement and reads the game well. He won't make it as a creative midfielder though.
Collins I quite liked. Strong and mobile and always happy to receive the ball providing a great first link between defence and attack.
Rose was played out of position on the right wing and was ineffective there. Whenever he drifted inside he looked much more useful. Like Brown he too was guilty of not tracking back.
Hylton surprised me the most, albeit that I had low expectations. Very hard working, very mobile, but lacking a little pace. He desperately needs a competent striker alongside him.
On the subs, O'Dowda was pretty much the only Oxford player to even attempt to take on the right back.
Jakubiak saw so little of the ball that it was difficult to assess him. He looked quick but had zero shots.
Potter was awful and didn't look remotely interested in being there.
The style of play was quick passing but this was all done in the central third and never in dangerous areas. There was no incisive passing, and any attempts to get into the penalty area were easily dealt with by Morecambe.
Things have to change quickly or we will be facing a very difficult season.
We desperately need a free scoring striker, better still two. A replacement keeper. A right back, a left back, two wide midfielders and a creative central midfielder.
Saturday will be a much tougher test.
A mention for the shocking ref and Lino. We should have had at least one penalty, with the Morecambe keeper sent off. Hylton's yellow card was a joke. The Morecambe goal was offside when the first shot went in.
Make no mistake, ignore the one eyed reports and commentary, we were poor (as were Morecambe).
I was quite shocked actually.
Junior Brown flatters to deceive and created all manner of problems, but not for the opposition. Despite playing left midfield, he tracked back virtually never, leaving Newey badly exposed all game. Brown needs to be told in no uncertain terms that he has defensive responsibilities. Attacking wise, he gave the ball away far too cheaply, and rarely beat his man. He was like a poor man's out of form Alfie Potter. On that performance, and I appreciate it is only one performance, I wouldn't give him a game in the reserves.
Carlton Morris. Think Steve Anthrobus without the ability. Appalling first touch, no work rate at all. Struggled to even get a single shot away all night. The only small point in his favour was that he was prepared to drop a little to collect the ball and move it on. Otherwise his movement was non existant. I'm sorry but on that performance, he is badly sub-standard and worse than any striker we had last season.
The third player who will get my ire this morning is Joe Riley. Bring back Hunt, all is forgiven (it isn't but you get my drift). Riley was guilty of being caught in possession close to our penalty area on numerous occasions. He was rounded with ease by Morecambe players and pushing forwards he had no pace, and he ended his runs standing with the ball taking forever to pass it and unsurprisingly ended up being dispossessed cheaply.
George Long is the Top Gear equivalent of a flappy paddle gearbox. He had no confidence in the air at all. Slow off his line, but when he came, often he came too far. Positioning very questionable for set pieces as well. Max Crocombe is a better keeper and should be started on Saturday.
Jake Wright and Johnny Mullins were excellent and without them we could have been beaten very easily by this very mediocre Morecambe side. Bring this back to me if you like, but Morecambe will not be top by the end of September and will end the season mid table at best.
Tom Newey regularly found himself the wrong side of the Morecambe winger due to his poor positioning, bad judgement of the flight of the ball and lack of pace. In fairness he got no protection at all from Junior Brown, but even so he had a poor game.
Ruffels, very one paced. He might make a defensive midfielder, as he tackles really well and has good movement and reads the game well. He won't make it as a creative midfielder though.
Collins I quite liked. Strong and mobile and always happy to receive the ball providing a great first link between defence and attack.
Rose was played out of position on the right wing and was ineffective there. Whenever he drifted inside he looked much more useful. Like Brown he too was guilty of not tracking back.
Hylton surprised me the most, albeit that I had low expectations. Very hard working, very mobile, but lacking a little pace. He desperately needs a competent striker alongside him.
On the subs, O'Dowda was pretty much the only Oxford player to even attempt to take on the right back.
Jakubiak saw so little of the ball that it was difficult to assess him. He looked quick but had zero shots.
Potter was awful and didn't look remotely interested in being there.
The style of play was quick passing but this was all done in the central third and never in dangerous areas. There was no incisive passing, and any attempts to get into the penalty area were easily dealt with by Morecambe.
Things have to change quickly or we will be facing a very difficult season.
We desperately need a free scoring striker, better still two. A replacement keeper. A right back, a left back, two wide midfielders and a creative central midfielder.
Saturday will be a much tougher test.
A mention for the shocking ref and Lino. We should have had at least one penalty, with the Morecambe keeper sent off. Hylton's yellow card was a joke. The Morecambe goal was offside when the first shot went in.
