Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on April 24, 2019, 09:01:50 am
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How do you follow that? is the main question, so disappointed last night with first the result, and secondly with the team picked.
Disjointed, no balance to the central defenders, and two of our better players somewhat mysteriously left out, and senior players who you would think would have things to say in the dressing room.
Have things gone tits up off the field? can we get back at it on Saturday? who do you play? is the manager just tinkering? Or does he have doubts about what is his best team? surely something he should know by now.
The two biggest problems are that we do not have a right back, and if the two strikers are shackled the back up strikers are at least two standards below division 1.
Add to that other players being out of form, and a lack of pace down the centre of defence and things do not look good.
Why have we changed systems in the last two games?
Why pick players who have done nothing all season at this level?
Will we go to Oxford with any hope of getting the result we need?
Or will our season finish the way the last two have? disappointed and at a time when season ticket sales are important to the club knocking the stuffing out of the supporters?
Everyone has their own thoughts, mine is that we have a nucleus of probably thirteen players we should turn to, and the others are water carriers and just make up the numbers.
Please have your say
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Team for Oxford assuming all are fit.
Marosi
Blair
Anderson/Downing
Butler
Andrews
Kane
Whiteman
Rowe
Coppinger
Wilks
Marquis
4-3-1-2
Copps needs to play behind front 2 where he is influencing the game.
Total waste of his talents playing him wide left imo.
I did say Sadlier needs to start on another thread last night but in hindsight the above team gives more experience and Copps has to start if fit.
Subs. Jones, Lewis, Anderson/Downing, Crawford, Sadlier, May, Smith.
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My away form has transferred to home now !
I will stick with my trust in GM - far more inspirational than ....... ever was !
He will know he has problems at the moment and when (not if) we make the Play offs the real test of his mettle will be right there in focus
On paper the above starting 11 looks ok to me and hopefully we will get them geed up for Saturday - and there are some in there that really need a kick up the backside !
Better not name them because people on here then defend them to the hilt and in some cases cant see that as good as "player x/y/z" is he is just not doing the business at this moment. He will come back all guns blazing but it would be good if he / they did it now ! I say they because there is more than one at the moment as we could see last night and at Sunderland
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Sadlier has to start after his second half last night.
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Just looked at Oxford and they really are in cracking form. We’re going to need to be brave and not let the pressure get to us.
I have a sneaky feeling Walsall may pull something out of the bag v Boro
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Sadlier has to start after his second half last night.
If Copps is not fit/unavailable then yes he does. But not sure you can play them both from the start.
Who else do you leave out without unbalancing the team?
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Paul, I think that would be my exact team and formation, and would also add Boocock for May on the bench. He has earned it scoring goals at reserve team level, which May has also struggled to do.
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Paul, I think that would be my exact team and formation, and would also add Boocock for may on the bench. He has earned it scoring goals at reserve team level, which May has also struggled to do.
Won’t argue with that Brian.
I know you like Crawford as i also do for his energy, closing down, and passing (most of the time )
Problem is he can’t tackle and in a 3 in midfield we need people who can.
He is also blowing hot and cold with his performances.
2nd half at Sunderland excellent, 1st half last night awful to put it politely.
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My team would be
Marosi
Blair Anderson Butler Andrews
Crawford Rowe
Wilks Copps Sadlier
Marquis
we had some good wins with that team and would give Whiteman a bit longer to get back we really can't afford half fit players out there.
Edit: completely forgot about Kane he goes in for Rowe on this Rowe is too hit and miss but he's a really good sub with half and hour left to make something happen
I would also consider a 442 with smith up with marquis and Wilks on the right sadlier the left and Rowe/Sadlier wide if copps isn't able to start. Think John might need some help up their and Smiths pace could give him that
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If you are going to use Boocock on the bench Incan be for May or Smith, because apart from score two goals against Burton he’s done nothing in any of his chances to play. Both are not up to a league 1 playoff team, mind there are a few more in the squad.
Wasn’t there last night apart from shooting did Sadlier or Wilks create any chances for other players.
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Sadlier has to start after his second half last night.
If Copps is not fit/unavailable then yes he does. But not sure you can play them both from the start.
Who else do you leave out without unbalancing the team?
Simples, Rowe
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Sadlier has to start after his second half last night.
If Copps is not fit/unavailable then yes he does. But not sure you can play them both from the start.
Who else do you leave out without unbalancing the team?
Simples, Rowe
Not simples at all because Sadlier is not a player who is going to be comfortable in a midfield 3
He is ideally suited to playing in the hole behind 2 strikers or in a front 3
It’s no good doing a Fergie and putting square pegs in round holes just to accommodate someone in the team.
Any successful team needs a structure and one that has the players playing in their best positions.
For example we have desperately missed Niall Mason because poor old Matty Blair is once again doing the full back role and having to do more defending than attacking. His greatest asset is is pace and his abilities are being stifled. Having said that he is a great pro and just gets on with what he is being asked to do without a fuss.
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I'd play sadlier in the front three with copps Whitman and Kane in midfield. Rowe would be benched
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Sadlier has to start after his second half last night.
If Copps is not fit/unavailable then yes he does. But not sure you can play them both from the start.
Who else do you leave out without unbalancing the team?
Simples, Rowe
Not simples at all because Sadlier is not a player who is going to be comfortable in a midfield 3
He is ideally suited to playing in the hole behind 2 strikers or in a front 3
It’s no good doing a Fergie and putting square pegs in round holes just to accommodate someone in the team.
Any successful team needs a structure and one that has the players playing in their best positions.
For example we have desperately missed Niall Mason because poor old Matty Blair is once again doing the full back role and having to do more defending than attacking. His greatest asset is is pace and his abilities are being stifled. Having said that he is a great pro and just gets on with what he is being asked to do without a fuss.
Sadlier can play anywhere across a midfield 3, left or right of a front 3 or in the hole in the 10. He's not in fact a striker he's an attacking midfielder.
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Midfield has to be Kane, Rowe and Whiteman if fit.
Upfront Marquis, Wilks and then either Copps or Sadlier.
If we put Lewis in at right back then maybe drop Rowe for him in midfield.
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We have done ok with three in midfield, until Whiteman and Kane closed in on 10 bookings then got injured. They covered for the third player with there aggression and stamina. We need three players who can get up and down, tackle and have power. Crawford and Rowe two different players but cannot play in that role unless the other two above do all the dirty work.
That’s why 4231 worked for the 4 games without them.
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I think we keep forgetting that Sadlier had already had a tough season in the Irish Leagues before he came to us. The guy needs a rest, which is why his outings have been limited.
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I think we keep forgetting that Sadlier had already had a tough season in the Irish Leagues before he came to us. The guy needs a rest, which is why his outings have been limited.
Yep, spot on SM Sadlier's been playing for 14 months straight which is why GM has been managing his pitch time and resting him when he can.
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Interesting looking at Oxford's form this season. They flip in and out of form rapidly.
From early Sept, their form in all competitions has gone.
8 matches without a win
16 matches with only one defeat
14 matches with only one win
11 matches with only one defeat.
Let's hope they're due another flip eh?
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I'd take the second half performance the other night without having to wait until we're down to produce it.
We need players on the pitch that are prepared to put their bodies on the line for the cause.
For that reason, Butler comes in for me. Not too fussy who plays with him.. Probably Downing who has a little more pace than Anderson.
Andrew. Yep, no other option but we need him to defend better, and when in the attacking half, make more than a half arsed effort to make himself available for the pass. And yes, more of the same from free kicks please.
Whiteman. More of the same from our most consistent player who makes us tick.
Kane. Just needs to keep it simple and keep supporting the ball carrier and finding space. No need for hail Mary passes too frequently.
Sadlier. Show the same intent and be disciplined in the team shape.
Wilks. Do what you like in the final third but use the other players who are there to help you in the middle third.
Marquis. Get your head up. Keep it simple and slow down a bit. Get into those positions of most opportunity.
Copps. The player I most want to see on the pitch to see the game out to hold his head whilst others are losing theirs. For that reason, I'd start him on the bench and get him on for the last 30 or 20 depending on the state of the game.
Crawford. Perhaps wanting to stick to the game plan literally but ends up rushing passes that miss his intended target. Bench for me.
Rowe. Can't afford for you to disappear for periods. You don't set the standard high enough for long enough. Bench for me.
Blair. No doubt at his best and we're better for it when he can run at defences from midfield. Plus, he'll give everything. This means might have to bring in Lewis to accommodate that.
Seems like I'm advocating a flexible 442 to give us a platform in the game before going for it with a 433 if we can. Get in front and get solid with the 4411.
Go and get the job done!
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Based on Tuesdays second half team, Lewis in for Blair( a better defender) and Copps in for Sadlier but playing central ( in the hole) behind Marquis and Wilks up front who would have licence to roam making them harder to pick up.
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Interesting looking at Oxford's form this season. They flip in and out of form rapidly.
From early Sept, their form in all competitions has gone.
8 matches without a win
16 matches with only one defeat
14 matches with only one win
11 matches with only one defeat.
Let's hope they're due another flip eh?
Bit more exaggerated than ours but our league form has been a rollercoaster this year as well:
1 defeat in the first 10 games
1 win in the next 7 games
1 defeat in the next 9 games
2 wins in the next 12 games
4 wins on the bounce
2 defeats on the bounce
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Still undecided on whether to go this game. :crying:
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Interesting looking at Oxford's form this season. They flip in and out of form rapidly.
From early Sept, their form in all competitions has gone.
8 matches without a win
16 matches with only one defeat
14 matches with only one win
11 matches with only one defeat.
Let's hope they're due another flip eh?
But guess who has the best record excluding the top 5 teams over the last ten matches -- this site chose the last ten not me
won 7 drawn 2 lost 1 (23 points) both Rovers and Peterborough are won 4 drawn 2 lost 4 (14 points)
https://thefishy.co.uk/leaguetable.php?table=3&season=16
and last home game they beat Charlton 2-1
here are their last ten results
https://thefishy.co.uk/team.php?team=Oxford+Utd
and a league table for the last ten matches they are 3rd (2nd equal actually) behind Portsmouth
https://thefishy.co.uk/formtable.php?table=3&season=16
so on paper this is a much harder match than at first appears
i'd better get the discliaimer in quick "Past Performance is No Guarantee of Future Results"
this is a brilliant site as we know
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Based on Tuesdays second half team, Lewis in for Blair( a better defender) and Copps in for Sadlier but playing central ( in the hole) behind Marquis and Wilks up front who would have licence to roam making them harder to pick up.
Sorry, Lewis is not a better defender than Blair, not even close and why would you drop Sadlier who was our best player from the second half when Wilks was almost anonymous all night?
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At this stage of the season it shouldn’t matter who plays now as everyone should be focused on the job that needs doing . Players should be hammering McCann's door to be in the side . We have seen to many games where we’ve just not committed to the job at hand and just stroll about taking the game for granted . If players can’t play at their best now then it’s not football they should be playing .
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Sadlier has to start after his second half last night.
for me, first name on the team sheet, only player who knows we can only score if we shoot!!
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Marosi
Lewis. Downing. Anderson. Andrew
Kane. Whiteman. Rowe
Blair. Marquis. Wilks
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Marosi
Lewis. Downing. Anderson. Andrew
Kane. Whiteman. Rowe
Blair. Marquis. Wilks
No Butler or Copps are you serious or mad?
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Butler turns like the Titanic, Copps more beneficial from the bench. We need legs and a strange concept I know but let's play Blair in his natural position
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Had anyone who has driven down before got any idea what sort if time you have to arrive to be able to get in the car park? I'm thinking 1pm, then nip over the road and get some dinner...
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Butler turns like the Titanic, Copps more beneficial from the bench. We need legs and a strange concept I know but let's play Blair in his natural position
We need their experience and know how.
Would you have left Corporal Jones out at Brentford. His turning circle was like the Titanic also.
They have to play imo.
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https://twitter.com/Blades_analytic/status/1102464881993895938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The stats show Butler is one of the best defenders in the league.
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https://twitter.com/Blades_analytic/status/1102464881993895938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The stats show Butler is one of the best defenders in the league.
Some of us don't need to look at stats to know that.
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Stats don't look great on this one, I have a 5er on Oxford at 3/1 just to soften the blow - https://www.betseven.net/football-betting-tips/english-league-one/oxford-vs-doncaster/
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Saw a stat last night that Mallik Wilks had the 4th most successful dribbles in the entire EFL this season as well.
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Saw a stat last night that Mallik Wilks had the 4th most successful dribbles in the entire EFL this season as well.
Well he is very young.
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Saw a stat last night that Mallik Wilks had the 4th most successful dribbles in the entire EFL this season as well.
This one made me laugh.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2mVk7IX4AI0W-R.png)
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Marosi
JM. JM. JM. JM
JM. JM. JM
JM. JM
JM
just to show I’m not fully opposed to our talisman playing based on current form!
Only kidding,....I’d have Wilkes has the loan striker.....lol
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Marosi
JM. JM. JM. JM
JM. JM. JM
JM. JM
JM
just to show I’m not fully opposed to our talisman playing based on current form!
Only kidding,....I’d have Wilkes has the loan striker.....lol
Wilkes is a loan striker
COYR
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How can you not start Sadlier
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Oxford make eight changes :ermm:
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How can you not start Sadlier
He can’t start he’s not fit enough but can do 30 mins as sub .
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As they have nothing to play giving young lads a chance and some also coming back from injury.
Hopefully Wilks, Blair and Andrew can use their pace expect Kieron to come on 2nd half again
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Surely gives us a helluva chance to get the job done.
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Hope you are right.we have everything to play for.
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Hope you are right.we have everything to play for.
We have had everything to play for for sometime now....let’s hope we muller emphatically
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Hope you are right.we have everything to play for.
We have had everything to play for for sometime now....let’s hope we muller emphatically
Yeah and we have won four of the last six matches.
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Well if they have made 8 changes , glad we are not playing the first team
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We’ve made 3,
Maybe they rested some in the last game and brought them back today?
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It is more or less their first team. Only two of the starting XI have started fewer than 20 league matches this year.
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It is more or less their first team. Only two of the starting XI have started fewer than 20 league matches this year.
So no need for disparaging comments by people then.
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2-2
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Today was first game we have scored two away from home since 12 January (one today was an OG of course).
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That was a topsy tervy game, very open, the wind getting hold of the ball, terrible defending, a great save,we could have again had two penalties one for hand ball, and Marquis again brought down from behind, and two goals disallowed (correctly) for Oxford for off side and hand ball.
Again we gave two poor goals away, both avoidable, but all round I thought it a fair result, in which both teams had the chance to win the game.
Entertaining, exciting, and heart stopping, with everyone aware of results at other places, and still nothing resolved, and I am now a Portsmouth supporter for a few days.
Why oh why can't we do things easy? and just think what Manchester United fans missed for so many years.
My MOM John Marquis and a special mention for Copps. Marquis was back to his best today, could have had a penalty, scored a poachers goal and worked his nads off.
Copps, ran the game second half, being more central where he can twist and turn his markers and play the clever ball, without having to run away from defenders.
Butler and Wilks had massive games, and Anderson shone in the second half, and Marosi drew plaudits with another great save when it mattered. All the team stuck at it and at the end we were the better side and proved we can mix with the good sides when we are at it.
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That was a topsy tervy game, very open, the wind getting hold of the ball, terrible defending, a great save,we could have again had two penalties one for hand ball, and Marquis again brought down from behind, and two goals disallowed (correctly) for Oxford for off side and hand ball.
Again we gave two poor goals away, both avoidable, but all round I thought it a fair result, in which both teams had the chance to win the game.
Entertaining, exciting, and heart stopping, with everyone aware of results at other places, and still nothing resolved, and I am now a Portsmouth supporter for a few days.
Why oh why can't we do things easy? and just think what Manchester United fans missed for so many years.
My MOM John Marquis and a special mention for Copps. Marquis was back to his best today, could have had a penalty, scored a poachers goal and worked his nads off.
Copps, ran the game second half, being more central where he can twist and turn his markers and play the clever ball, without having to run away from defenders.
Butler and Wilks had massive games, and Anderson shone in the second half, and Marosi drew plaudits with another great save when it mattered. All the team stuck at it and at the end we were the better side and proved we can mix with the good sides when we are at it.
Cheers for that rest selby.
A good summary after what I had heard,
Aren’t all goals avoidable though.
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I am looking for positives in this truly terrifying run in we have had, that looks to be heading to positive conclusion - that means the team might play with greater freedom once we actually get to the play offs themselves.
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They probably are Hound, especially if you have a proper right back.
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They probably are Hound, especially if you have a proper right back.
I didn’t see anyone picking up Marquis when he scored our first and am still wondering why their player put the ball into his own net.
Yep, all goals are preventable.
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Hound, we agree especially the repeat offenders. I have no doubt the manager will resolve the problem as soon as a transfer window is open.
Until then we have a make do converted winger who struggles with defensive positioning and passing ability, and a youngster on loan who may have a bright future, but the manager thinks is not quite ready. My own opinion of course, others will think differently and have a right to say so.
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If defenders did their job right, there would be no goals......Wait a minute though.......If attackers did their job right, there would be goals........So if EVERYBODY did their job right.......Oh b*llocks, I give up!