Rage Online

Will be very interesting to see how the senior players react to the game at North Leigh tonight.
Couple of years ago, in a similar game at Kidlington, I was shocked at the behaviour of one senior player who was clearly disgruntled at the pitch/facilities etc and gave a performance where he gave no support/coaching to youth team players alongside him and continually bickered with a teammate. At the same game, another player was displaying a completely opposite attitude - 100% effort for 120mins, continuous support/advice/encouragement to youngsters, great interaction with crowd.
Games like tonight are great opportunities to learn about the professionalism and attitude of players. Will be watching with interest.
Will also be good to see how the youth players acquit themselves in mens football,

Name names then!

I've often said that this is the kind of senior/youth balance that should be used in reserve games, as it allows the few selected to benefit from the experience from playing alongside the senior players, rather than the heavilly youth weighted sides that have been used in the past, which offers them very little benefit (particularly the older ones who are having to do the coaxing role themselves).

As for the senior players themselves, then I suspect this may give a good indication who may or not (want to) be still here at the end of January,

&quotJoey's Toe&quot wrote:Name names then!

Or speculate ...

Oxford started with a fairly strong line-up that included Billy Turley in goal, Adam Chapman and Kevin Sandwith in the full-back positions alongside Mark Creighton and Henry Owen in central defence. An impressive Lee Fowler was pulling the strings in midfield, with Richard Groves and James Dobson alongside him and the first-team trio of Franny Green, Matt Green, and Jamie Cook up front.

&quotHog&quot wrote:

&quotJoey's Toe&quot wrote:Name names then!

Or speculate ...

Oxford started with a fairly strong line-up that included Billy Turley in goal, Adam Chapman and Kevin Sandwith in the full-back positions alongside Mark Creighton and Henry Owen in central defence. An impressive Lee Fowler was pulling the strings in midfield, with Richard Groves and James Dobson alongside him and the first-team trio of Franny Green, Matt Green, and Jamie Cook up front.

One would imagine the trouble was up front, as I would hazard a guess that Fowler and Creighton were among the more supportive. Turley always looked disgruntled and bickered with people so difficult to tell the difference.

&quotJoey's Toe&quot wrote:Name names then!

Let's just say that the reason I was so shocked was that the player concerned was probably one of the last that I expected such attitude from.

The one who impressed was Frannie Green - again, not the obvious one.

&quotMooro&quot wrote:

&quotHog&quot wrote:

&quotJoey's Toe&quot wrote:Name names then!

Or speculate ...

Oxford started with a fairly strong line-up that included Billy Turley in goal, Adam Chapman and Kevin Sandwith in the full-back positions alongside Mark Creighton and Henry Owen in central defence. An impressive Lee Fowler was pulling the strings in midfield, with Richard Groves and James Dobson alongside him and the first-team trio of Franny Green, Matt Green, and Jamie Cook up front.

One would imagine the trouble was up front, as I would hazard a guess that Fowler and Creighton were among the more supportive. Turley always looked disgruntled and bickered with people so difficult to tell the difference.

Turley was as ever, and very good with youngsters.

&quotMooro&quot wrote:I've often said that this is the kind of senior/youth balance that should be used in reserve games, as it allows the few selected to benefit from the experience from playing alongside the senior players, rather than the heavilly youth weighted sides that have been used in the past, which offers them very little benefit (particularly the older ones who are having to do the coaxing role themselves).

As for the senior players themselves, then I suspect this may give a good indication who may or not (want to) be still here at the end of January,

I attend reserve games and the usual mix is core of senior players plus 3/4 youngsters and bench entirely youngsters - although this season we have also used reserve games to look at several triallists. Marsh nearly always starts and others that have featured are Alderman, Lynn, Morris. Typically a senior player will be played at CB (Kinni) allowing a youngster (David Lynn) in at FB. One player who seems to have dropped down the pecking order is Cole Hinchcliffe, CB, who featured several times last season.

&quotMooro&quot wrote:

&quotHog&quot wrote:

&quotJoey's Toe&quot wrote:Name names then!

One would imagine the trouble was up front, as I would hazard a guess that Fowler and Creighton were among the more supportive. Turley always looked disgruntled and bickered with people so difficult to tell the difference.

Fowler was released at his own request a few weeks later

&quotHog&quot wrote:

&quotMooro&quot wrote:

&quotHog&quot wrote:

One would imagine the trouble was up front, as I would hazard a guess that Fowler and Creighton were among the more supportive. Turley always looked disgruntled and bickered with people so difficult to tell the difference.

Fowler was released at his own request a few weeks later

Has since received treatment for alcoholism.
And no, not an obvious problem that night.

&quotDruid&quot wrote:

&quotMooro&quot wrote:I've often said that this is the kind of senior/youth balance that should be used in reserve games, as it allows the few selected to benefit from the experience from playing alongside the senior players, rather than the heavilly youth weighted sides that have been used in the past, which offers them very little benefit (particularly the older ones who are having to do the coaxing role themselves).

As for the senior players themselves, then I suspect this may give a good indication who may or not (want to) be still here at the end of January,

I attend reserve games and the usual mix is core of senior players plus 3/4 youngsters and bench entirely youngsters - although this season we have also used reserve games to look at several triallists. Marsh nearly always starts and others that have featured are Alderman, Lynn, Morris. Typically a senior player will be played at CB (Kinni) allowing a youngster (David Lynn) in at FB. One player who seems to have dropped down the pecking order is Cole Hinchcliffe, CB, who featured several times last season.

the problem came when the season before the reserves pulled out of hte league it was rare to have more than 2 or 3 senior players in the side, so the likes of Andy Gunn was having to marshall a defence of younnger players instead of trying to learn his game from a senior player. I think it definately hindered the progress of a few players like him at that time...

I would not be at all surprised to hear that JamieCook was not as helpful to the younger players as you would expect a former youth teamer to be.

&quotMooro&quot wrote:One would imagine the trouble was up front, as I would hazard a guess that Fowler and Creighton were among the more supportive.

IIRC, Creighton posted on Facebook after the game &quotIf that's what my career has come to, I'm hanging up my boots&quot - or something very similar. So, that's where my money's going on this book!

Fowler just signed for Fleetwood (as did Danny Rose).

Concentrating on the present and the positives. It is a good opportunity for all players, experienced or youth, to put on a show tonight. I’m looking forward to it.

Bit surprised to see Kinniburgh involved. Thought he might be on trial somewhere trying to get a move. Presume the young CB is injured or unavailable.

&quotMyles Francis&quot wrote:

&quotMooro&quot wrote:One would imagine the trouble was up front, as I would hazard a guess that Fowler and Creighton were among the more supportive.

IIRC, Creighton posted on Facebook after the game &quotIf that's what my career has come to, I'm hanging up my boots&quot - or something very similar. So, that's where my money's going on this book!

Bingo.

Off to game soon, will post a few thoughts later.