Dubai Yellow
Active member
- Joined
- 9 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 804
Ruffles probably has been our most consistent defender which pretty much says it all (not a pop at Ruffles)
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I actually think Ruffels & Hanson are in the side on merit.
Ruffels is better than Garbutt or Long.
Hanson is better than Long or Norman was. It’s a close call between Hanson & McMahon, but that’s academic as McMahon’s gone back up north. Hanson was excellent against Portsmouth.
As has been said before Dickie is not comfortable on the left side of central defence, plus he’s obviously going through a loss of form at the moment and could probably do with a break. Perhaps the ‘plan’ is to get Kashi fit, play him defensive midfield with Mousinho taking the place of Dickie?
Mousinho makes a huge difference to the side when he’s playing in front of the back four, not just as a player but as a leader and organiser, and we plainly miss him when he’s not in the starting XI. Mousinho might look a better central defender with a better defensive midfielder* in front of him than he has had before in his OUFC career.
*Whether Kashi (when fit) is a better defensive midfield option than Hanson, Ruffels, Brannigan or Mousinho remains to be seen.
The defence is far from perfect, but for me it’s the striker issue which has been our biggest issue from day one of the season. Poor, poor recruitment whichever way you look at it.
Really? The manager 'probably barks out different contradictorary instructions each training session and match' Are you seriously? Do you have any evidence of that?All players in the back 4 are good players in themselves, what is lacking is good management, coaching, and organisation.
We have an assistant manager who has played 800 odd games at centre half but seems incapable of putting any structure in the defence and the supporting midfielders when the opposition are attacking.
I very much doubt our manager gives them much motivation and confidence. He probably barks out different, contradictory instructions each training session and each match.