Oxford United (h): What 3 Things Did We Learn?
- Thread starter Jules
- Start date
Impetus
Vital Youth Team
1) Now he has his own players and assembled his own squad, Appleton's playing style is starting to bear fruit. True, it's early days but IMHO we are much better at playing it out from the back than we were last season, ditto playing it along the ground - and the pitch is more suitable to doing so. Better football all round.
2) Alex Palmer is a class apart and was well worth the wait to sign him. He kept us in the game today some some first class saves - including the double save at point blank range. His distribution is good too - and he's a cool head behind the defence. He was my MOTM.
3) It's great to see how far Harry Anderson has developed since joining us while we were in the conference. He still runs - but his runs are more productive and less likely to be down blind alleys. A great cross to set up Anthony Scully's opening goal. And a great run though the Oxford players in the dying seconds - shame he was cynically brought down by Robert Atkinson. Still not sure about his haircut though.
2) Alex Palmer is a class apart and was well worth the wait to sign him. He kept us in the game today some some first class saves - including the double save at point blank range. His distribution is good too - and he's a cool head behind the defence. He was my MOTM.
3) It's great to see how far Harry Anderson has developed since joining us while we were in the conference. He still runs - but his runs are more productive and less likely to be down blind alleys. A great cross to set up Anthony Scully's opening goal. And a great run though the Oxford players in the dying seconds - shame he was cynically brought down by Robert Atkinson. Still not sure about his haircut though.
sedgleyimp
Vital Champions League
1. You want to play in a team for Michael Appleton, you not only need to be comfortable on the ball, but you are going to have to work your socks off. The precision in how the players set up whenever Oxford had the ball was clear. The expectation was that they fall into formation and prevent them getting through. That was evident from the kick off to the final whistle. Players were running from one end of the pitch to the other.
2. Counter attacking will be our forte this season. Oxford had something like 60% possession but did precious little with it. When we went on the attack, there was speed and positioning throughout. Speed on movement and speed of thought. Players are comfortable in several places on the pitch which helps when, for example Sean Roughan tries to cross from a left wing position, they clear and Anthony Scully is covering at left back and makes a tackle. We will cause all teams problems this season with that kind of football.
3. Tom Hopper is going to be vital to how we play this season. He's our number 9 but his game is not all about putting the ball in the net. Plowing the lone furrow up front, I don't think his contribution will be appreciated as much as it should be. His hold up play is excellent. He chases after lost causes and will bring in other players constantly. He probably won't score as many goals as most supporters would want, but akin to how Oliver Giroud is appreciated at Chelsea and with France, Tom's contributions in making those chances and space for others will be vital.
2. Counter attacking will be our forte this season. Oxford had something like 60% possession but did precious little with it. When we went on the attack, there was speed and positioning throughout. Speed on movement and speed of thought. Players are comfortable in several places on the pitch which helps when, for example Sean Roughan tries to cross from a left wing position, they clear and Anthony Scully is covering at left back and makes a tackle. We will cause all teams problems this season with that kind of football.
3. Tom Hopper is going to be vital to how we play this season. He's our number 9 but his game is not all about putting the ball in the net. Plowing the lone furrow up front, I don't think his contribution will be appreciated as much as it should be. His hold up play is excellent. He chases after lost causes and will bring in other players constantly. He probably won't score as many goals as most supporters would want, but akin to how Oliver Giroud is appreciated at Chelsea and with France, Tom's contributions in making those chances and space for others will be vital.
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Chesterimp
Vital Football Hero
1. Much has been made of playing style, being comfortable on the ball, etc, but the old cliche "you have to earn the right to play" rings true. Stamina, organisation and sheer hard work without the ball earned the right to play effectively with much less of the ball and reduced much vaunted opponents for the most part to mere powder puff football. The result was a fair one.
2. After some stuttery preseason moments at both ends of the pitch, today saw the different elements coming together. Solid, at times outstanding defending. A midfield which put in a shift defensively but with the skill and energy to provide crucial support to the front 3 who throughout the 90 minutes terrorised the Oxford defence.
3. Now our longest serving player, Harry A had one of his best games in an Imps shirt, showing an improved level of awareness and technical ability to set up Scully's goal, a crucial part of the dynamic team performance throughout and the lung bursting run in injury time which deserved to end in a goal not stopped by a cynical foul.
2. After some stuttery preseason moments at both ends of the pitch, today saw the different elements coming together. Solid, at times outstanding defending. A midfield which put in a shift defensively but with the skill and energy to provide crucial support to the front 3 who throughout the 90 minutes terrorised the Oxford defence.
3. Now our longest serving player, Harry A had one of his best games in an Imps shirt, showing an improved level of awareness and technical ability to set up Scully's goal, a crucial part of the dynamic team performance throughout and the lung bursting run in injury time which deserved to end in a goal not stopped by a cynical foul.
