This side looks as if the strategy is to keep it to 0-0 at 60 minutes then bring on Maddison, Williams, Aneke to win it at the end, because none of those 3 will be able to manage more than 30 minutes
Most of Oxford’s threat will come from the three players in behind the striker - as tends to be the case in Robinson’s sides.
I think this is the kind of game where Watson and Pratley will do a good job of nullifying the threat of those players.
Well, neither of them are very fast. So we'll see.
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
That line-up makes sense. I think Bowyer will have been a little bit rattled by how vulnerable we looked without either Watson or Pratley and retreated back to having both. Robinson teams play nice football so spoiling that will be high on the agenda. I'm looking forward to us hopefully bringing Maddison on as the game goes on. If he's able to create from wide areas then you can get away with a workman-like midfield. We've got Chuks and Williams to come on if needed as well, so we're looking pretty good
Most of Oxford’s threat will come from the three players in behind the striker - as tends to be the case in Robinson’s sides.
I think this is the kind of game where Watson and Pratley will do a good job of nullifying the threat of those players.
Well, neither of them are very fast. So we'll see.
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
Maybe it’s been doing so well because of the help it’s been getting?
Honestly give me Pratley, Watson, Shinnie over Levitt, Williams, JFC every time.
Most of Oxford’s threat will come from the three players in behind the striker - as tends to be the case in Robinson’s sides.
I think this is the kind of game where Watson and Pratley will do a good job of nullifying the threat of those players.
Well, neither of them are very fast. So we'll see.
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
Maybe it’s been doing so well because of the help it’s been getting?
Honestly give me Pratley, Watson, Shinnie over Levitt, Williams, JFC every time.
Against the latter, Northampton mustered one chance, from a set-piece
Doubtless Bowyer has instructed goal-machine Pratley to get forward whenever he can, secure in the knowledge that Watson (aka King of the D) will sit behind him.
Me and Leuth are delighted about this. Don't take any notice of Leuth's pretend suppressed rage. He is slowly coming to terms with all things Watson, and it will take a while.
Most of Oxford’s threat will come from the three players in behind the striker - as tends to be the case in Robinson’s sides.
I think this is the kind of game where Watson and Pratley will do a good job of nullifying the threat of those players.
Well, neither of them are very fast. So we'll see.
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
Dont need to be fast if you can get the ball to where it needs to go, or if you can anticipate early enough where the ball is going
Most of Oxford’s threat will come from the three players in behind the striker - as tends to be the case in Robinson’s sides.
I think this is the kind of game where Watson and Pratley will do a good job of nullifying the threat of those players.
Well, neither of them are very fast. So we'll see.
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
Maybe it’s been doing so well because of the help it’s been getting?
Honestly give me Pratley, Watson, Shinnie over Levitt, Williams, JFC every time.
Against the latter, Northampton mustered one chance, from a set-piece
But it was obviously a dross combination for a fight in a gale, yeah
Most of Oxford’s threat will come from the three players in behind the striker - as tends to be the case in Robinson’s sides.
I think this is the kind of game where Watson and Pratley will do a good job of nullifying the threat of those players.
Well, neither of them are very fast. So we'll see.
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
Maybe it’s been doing so well because of the help it’s been getting?
Honestly give me Pratley, Watson, Shinnie over Levitt, Williams, JFC every time.
Against the latter, Northampton mustered one chance, from a set-piece
Talking of “against the latter”, how many chances did the three of them create?
Most of Oxford’s threat will come from the three players in behind the striker - as tends to be the case in Robinson’s sides.
I think this is the kind of game where Watson and Pratley will do a good job of nullifying the threat of those players.
Well, neither of them are very fast. So we'll see.
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
Maybe it’s been doing so well because of the help it’s been getting?
Honestly give me Pratley, Watson, Shinnie over Levitt, Williams, JFC every time.
Against the latter, Northampton mustered one chance, from a set-piece
Talking of “against the latter”, how many chances did the three of them create?
Zero, sure. Williams for one had an absolute stinker.
Anyway, it's not like we need to choose between those three distinct units. We can mix and match! Shinnie, yes. Watson OR Pratley, yes. And...someone who can control and carry the ball, yes. JFC, Williams, maybe even Levitt, maybe even Maddison.
Most of Oxford’s threat will come from the three players in behind the striker - as tends to be the case in Robinson’s sides.
I think this is the kind of game where Watson and Pratley will do a good job of nullifying the threat of those players.
Well, neither of them are very fast. So we'll see.
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
Maybe it’s been doing so well because of the help it’s been getting?
Honestly give me Pratley, Watson, Shinnie over Levitt, Williams, JFC every time.
Against the latter, Northampton mustered one chance, from a set-piece
Talking of “against the latter”, how many chances did the three of them create?
Zero, sure. Williams for one had an absolute stinker.
This isn’t my first choice midfield (missing Gilbey and Maddison) and I think people who are saying that we’ll grow through the season to only need one of the two is probably right. I can appreciate why Bowyer thinks we need to steady the ship with both.
Eventually I’d like to see Pratley/Watson behind Gilbey, Shinnie and Maddison.
If it's good enough for LB, it's good enough for me. Reading some of the moans on here, you would think Watson and Pratley don't venture over the halfway line. But, to my mind, they are both very good players who can add something to our attacking play as well as nullifying the Oxford midfield. Age is but a number.
If it's good enough for LB, it's good enough for me. Reading some of the moans on here, you would think Watson and Pratley don't venture over the halfway line. But, to my mind, they are both very good players who can add something to our attacking play as well as nullifying the Oxford midfield. Age is but a number.
Watson's your man for hitting Row X. Pratley's your man for if you need a loose ball Brexited in from a corner. In open play? Come off it
If Maddison is fit I would really like to see him get at least 30 minutes. That's a lot of talent and goal threat to have sitting on the bench too long.
The less glamorous players provide the balance that allow us to play better both ways. They shield the defence and they provide a platform for more creative players to build on. A midfield of Levitt, Williams and JFC failed spectacularly because they weren't smart enough on the pitch to know how to support each other, not just because it was windy. It's no surprise that we took control of the game once Pratley came on, because he freed up the players around him. I'd like to see us get to the point where we play only one of them, mostly because surely one of them has to run out of puff before the season ends, they're hundreds of years old each, but I'm ok with us starting with both while the team gels
Comments
Shouldn't we be more concerned with giving Oxford something to worry about? Our defence has been on fire recently and doesn't need that much help, surely?
Honestly give me Pratley, Watson, Shinnie over Levitt, Williams, JFC every time.
I know we'd all like to see this fast expansive football, but Bowyer obviously doesn't think they're ready for it yet.
In him we trust
Me and Leuth are delighted about this. Don't take any notice of Leuth's pretend suppressed rage. He is slowly coming to terms with all things Watson, and it will take a while.
You'd think he'd need the extra few days just to sure he has healed fully. After all we are going to need him to be regularly involved.