Away Match Day Thread +++6/04/2019 Walsall v OUFC match day thread+++

[Common Villager]

Another good win and it's nice to be able to relax knowing we'll be in League 1 again next season. Hats off to Robinson for turning things around.

We seem to have finally found the knack of grinding out wins which was something we obviously really struggled to do earlier in the season. It's nice to see certain players 'stepping up' when others are having off games and doing what's necessary to get a result. For example, I thought Nelson (who has been magnificent in recent weeks) had a slightly off game yesterday but Dickie had a really great game and dealt well with the physical threat posed by Cook. Similarly, Kashi (who has been a bit of a revelation in midfield) didn't seem his usual self but I thought Brannagan really grew into the game and helped us win the midfield battle.

My hope now is that we can continue this good form right through to the end of the season. We need to end on a high so that there's a bit of a feelgood factor going into the summer as it's been a mess of a season (largely due to off field factors). Finally we seem to have a bit more balance and mettle throughout the squad and long may it continue. If we can keep Kashi and Graham (still don't rate Garbutt, sorry, and Browne is far too much of an individual rather than a team player), as well as adequately replace Nelson (we're going to miss him), find a first choice right back, get Baptise fit, and possibly bring Sinclair back, we could be in for a more enjoyable season next time around.

Oh and Tiger sorting his s**t out wouldn't hurt.

 

[Marked Ox]

A few thoughts:

- Lovely cross for the opening game. Nice to see we had numbers in the danger area as well.

- What was Nelson doing for their goal?! He should have just lumped it out for a corner.

- Excellent link play between Henry and Long to set up Garbutt. Fantastic airshot by their defender as well for it.

- Fantastic block tackle by Rob Dickie when Clint spilt the ball.

- Good composure by Sinclair for the 3rd goal.

- Did those there enjoy taking the p1ss out of Cook after his mild attempts at goading as I assume you did? And Cook definitely has a fair bit of timber on him.

- I assume the highlights were edited at the Walsall end based on the stats I saw.

 

[Oxford Aesthete]

And if you wanted people to think your posts were worth reading you could have edited in the returns in your quoted post, rather than bizarrely sniping at a useful post!

That's the point it wasn't useful it was the opposite as it was impossible to read

 

[Foley]

Klopp accepts charge over celebration

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accepts a charge of misconduct for running on to the pitch after his side's 96th-minute winner against Everton.

www.bbc.co.uk

So no he wasnt b0oled

 

[Foley]

So no he wasnt b0oled

Booked!

 

[NottsYellow]

Watching the extended highlights back, how on earth did their keeper get away with a head height studs up challenge on Mackie?

100% Red card.
Surely the ref could see the goalies feet made contact with Mackie's head at 5 ft above the ground and could see the headwound!

 

[tim lane]

Another good win and it's nice to be able to relax knowing we'll be in League 1 again next season. Hats off to Robinson for turning things around.

We seem to have finally found the knack of grinding out wins which was something we obviously really struggled to do earlier in the season. It's nice to see certain players 'stepping up' when others are having off games and doing what's necessary to get a result. For example, I thought Nelson (who has been magnificent in recent weeks) had a slightly off game yesterday but Dickie had a really great game and dealt well with the physical threat posed by Cook. Similarly, Kashi (who has been a bit of a revelation in midfield) didn't seem his usual self but I thought Brannagan really grew into the game and helped us win the midfield battle.

My hope now is that we can continue this good form right through to the end of the season. We need to end on a high so that there's a bit of a feelgood factor going into the summer as it's been a mess of a season (largely due to off field factors). Finally we seem to have a bit more balance and mettle throughout the squad and long may it continue. If we can keep Kashi and Graham (still don't rate Garbutt, sorry, and Browne is far too much of an individual rather than a team player), as well as adequately replace Nelson (we're going to miss him), find a first choice right back, get Baptise fit, and possibly bring Sinclair back, we could be in for a more enjoyable season next time around.

Oh and Tiger sorting his s**t out wouldn't hurt.

I think the current first choice right back - young and improving all the time, it seems to me - might, indeed should, be considered for that role at the start of next season!

 

[Foley]

I think the current first choice right back - young and improving all the time, it seems to me - might, indeed should, be considered for that role at the start of next season!

Agree,
I think that our full backs are really under rated

 

[werthersoriginal]

Agree,
I think that our full backs are really under rated

Ruffels for player of the season?

 

[Marked Ox]

So no he wasnt b0oled

Indeed but he got punished for it retrospectively.

 

[Discoland]

Ruffels for player of the season?

Would get my vote.

 

[RCYellowRC]

Ruffels for player of the season?

Close between him and Nelson in my opinion.

 

[SteMerritt]

Close between him and Nelson in my opinion.

Yeah but you just know Ruffels is going to win it late and from nowhere...

 

[Foley]

Close between him and Nelson in my opinion.

Nelson has been very good recently (although not his best game yestetday), but this season he has been not at his best in my view.
Ruffles Brannaghan or Whyte?

 

[tonyw]

I reckon that we have two decent full backs in Long and Ruffels. The lack of goals conceded recently says an awful lot.
Long is getting better going forward as was evidenced yesterday.
KR was right in suggesting that Ruffels has been one of our most consistent performers.
Sure neither are like a Baldock, and neither stand out but both are 7 out of 10 most weeks and I reckon they are under rated.

I agree - Ruffels and Long have been outstanding over the last couple of months, and are a good part of the reason why we've looked so much more solid defensively. If they're both in the team alongside Dickie and a new CB (being realistic about Nelson) on the first day of next season, it'll be just fine.

Buuuut - they will need genuine cover and competition. And I don't know that we have that.
After the past couple of months, I would be comfortable offering Garbutt something, because he has some ability - a great left foot and a good engine. But as a wide midfielder as he's not good enough defensively to play fullback regularly. And, from his performances, Hanson's not a fullback either.

 

[windmill]

In my day all we had were crayons.

In my day it was a quill.

 

[bazzer9461]

I hope Baptiste comes back as strong as he was. it was a nasty injury so may take him a while to get back to how he was playing, but there certainly seems to be some quality youngsters coming through

He said about 6 months on the family coach when we went to Coventry

 

[Topper Haines]

100% Red card.
Surely the ref could see the goalies feet made contact with Mackie's head at 5 ft above the ground and could see the headwound!

If that was the same ref from Wycombe blood wouldn't come into it - Browne was taken out with elbow in the area by Wycombe's full back and he gave nothing.

 

[uptheus]

Apart from when long did it yesterday with only 10 men for our second you mean ??

And when ruffels has done it to assist and score in the 94th min two home games running

Needs to be more than just one offs during a game, and I think you’ll find that the ball was laid BACK to Ruffels for his goal.

 

[Common Villager]

I think the current first choice right back - young and improving all the time, it seems to me - might, indeed should, be considered for that role at the start of next season!

I think Sam Long is a good utility player / backup for a number of positions and certainly think he has a place in the squad, but I don't think he's good enough (yet, at least) to be first choice right back for a team that will hopefully be pushing for the playoffs in League 1.

I don't think he's got enough quality on the ball in the final third and can still be quite erratic, such as his tendency to settle for lashing the ball clear / out of play rather than taking a touch and playing a pass.

Had he not suffered so many injuries I've no doubt he could quite comfortably have established himself as first choice by now, but until he gets more games under his belt and proves he can stay fit I think he should be considered backup. I'd be disappointed if we started the season with Sam as first choice RB.