Ghost of Clough

2 convincing performances in a row and you still want to come on here for a dick swinging contest with those who were critical when things weren’t good enough. Just enjoy the win ffs…

Just you with your usual pish after a win.

Paul Warne: tactical genius

Paul Warne: tactical genius

Paul Warne: tactical genius

Paul Warne: tactical genius

Paul Warne: tactical genius

League table since Oxford appointed their current manager on November 16th:

Despite the change in form since the post you're quoting (2nd of November) I still haven't changed my mind. We've done well to climb up the table but I think that not bringing in a properly quality No.9 will cost us.

League table since Oxford appointed their current manager on November 16th:

Yet we have scored 1 or less in 12 of our 22 games resulting in just 13 points. It's in these games where we need more options to breakdown those defences - a couple of players who can score or create different types of goals to our existing squad.
Aside from Mendez-Laing, our other wide mids/forwards have just 4 goals combined. Our attacking mids have just 4 assists.
John-Jules returns to Arsenal in January, Washington is out until March and Waghorn is probably going to be hit and miss for the rest of the season. Relying on just Collins to see us through to the end of the season would be a risky move, especially after going into the 2nd half of last season with just Collins and McGoldrick proved costly.

Our top 3 Whoscored players are Cashin (7.43), Mendez-Laing (7.34), and Nelson (7.09). Cashin is also the top League 1 player, whislt Mendez-Laing is 4th.
In terms of consistency, Cashin has only scored lower than Nelson's average 4 times - the first 2 games of the season, the Bolton game when he cam on as a late sub the day after his deadline day transfer collapse, and Stevenage. He's also only had 4 games rated higher than 8.0

Minutes per goal contribution at each club he's been at:
Derby = 384
Lincoln = 248
Swansea = 198
Plymouth = 127
He had a couple of issues here. The first was having the wrong manager, who didn't understand what sort of player he was or have the patience to develop him. The second was he needed time to develop physically and mentally to Championship football. It took him a year to settle at U18 and then U23 level, so it was nonsensical to expect him to hit the ground running in the first team.

Minutes per goal contribution at each club he's been at:
Derby = 384
Lincoln = 248
Swansea = 198
Plymouth = 127
He had a couple of issues here. The first was having the wrong manager, who didn't understand what sort of player he was or have the patience to develop him. The second was he needed time to develop physically and mentally to Championship football. It took him a year to settle at U18 and then U23 level, so it was nonsensical to expect him to hit the ground running in the first team.

Yet we have scored 1 or less in 12 of our 22 games resulting in just 13 points. It's in these games where we need more options to breakdown those defences - a couple of players who can score or create different types of goals to our existing squad.
Aside from Mendez-Laing, our other wide mids/forwards have just 4 goals combined. Our attacking mids have just 4 assists.
John-Jules returns to Arsenal in January, Washington is out until March and Waghorn is probably going to be hit and miss for the rest of the season. Relying on just Collins to see us through to the end of the season would be a risky move, especially after going into the 2nd half of last season with just Collins and McGoldrick proved costly.

League table since Oxford appointed their current manager on November 16th:

Yet we have scored 1 or less in 12 of our 22 games resulting in just 13 points. It's in these games where we need more options to breakdown those defences - a couple of players who can score or create different types of goals to our existing squad.
Aside from Mendez-Laing, our other wide mids/forwards have just 4 goals combined. Our attacking mids have just 4 assists.
John-Jules returns to Arsenal in January, Washington is out until March and Waghorn is probably going to be hit and miss for the rest of the season. Relying on just Collins to see us through to the end of the season would be a risky move, especially after going into the 2nd half of last season with just Collins and McGoldrick proved costly.

Yet we have scored 1 or less in 12 of our 22 games resulting in just 13 points. It's in these games where we need more options to breakdown those defences - a couple of players who can score or create different types of goals to our existing squad.
Aside from Mendez-Laing, our other wide mids/forwards have just 4 goals combined. Our attacking mids have just 4 assists.
John-Jules returns to Arsenal in January, Washington is out until March and Waghorn is probably going to be hit and miss for the rest of the season. Relying on just Collins to see us through to the end of the season would be a risky move, especially after going into the 2nd half of last season with just Collins and McGoldrick proved costly.

I sort of characterise this team as effective if not particularly lovable.
It's a direct comparison but think how George Burley's play off team is remembered pretty glowingly, despite failing whilst Billy Davies promotion side was more effective, achieved promotion (and it was Billy's PNE side did for Derby that time) but doesn't have the same fondness.
But then, as a latecomer to fandom in general, idiakez was the first genuinely special player I watch play for us.

It's a good question, but a difficult one to answer. It's not just goals because even if you average 2 a game, that's only a couple minutes of 'excitement' each game. So, what do I enjoy for the other 88+ minutes?
Goalkeepers denying certain goals, defensive players making last ditch tackles and driving forward with the ball, players on the ball beating a man 1 on 1 or threading balls through to the attackers or quick 1 touch passes around the opposition defence, attackers causing problems for their defence and keeper...
The first 60 mins against Wigan was viewed by most fans as the best football we've played all season. We just need to play like that more often and for longer periods in each game going forward.
What do we actually excel at? By this, I woupd say something we're one of the 3 best clubs at doing.
1. Conceding shots - fewest shots conceded and 3rd fewest saves made
2. Counter attacks - 2nd most goals
3. Crossing - 3rd most crosses, 3rd most accurate, and 2nd for key passes
4. Getting the ball forward quickly - 3rd most direct team
As you can see, there isn't much we excel at which I view at 'entertaining' which we do consistently compared to other sides. Taking shots as an example, Peterborough have had 66% open play shots than we have, whilst Portsmouth have had 35% more from set pieces.

Yet we have scored 1 or less in 12 of our 22 games resulting in just 13 points. It's in these games where we need more options to breakdown those defences - a couple of players who can score or create different types of goals to our existing squad.
Aside from Mendez-Laing, our other wide mids/forwards have just 4 goals combined. Our attacking mids have just 4 assists.
John-Jules returns to Arsenal in January, Washington is out until March and Waghorn is probably going to be hit and miss for the rest of the season. Relying on just Collins to see us through to the end of the season would be a risky move, especially after going into the 2nd half of last season with just Collins and McGoldrick proved costly.

Yet we have scored 1 or less in 12 of our 22 games resulting in just 13 points. It's in these games where we need more options to breakdown those defences - a couple of players who can score or create different types of goals to our existing squad.
Aside from Mendez-Laing, our other wide mids/forwards have just 4 goals combined. Our attacking mids have just 4 assists.
John-Jules returns to Arsenal in January, Washington is out until March and Waghorn is probably going to be hit and miss for the rest of the season. Relying on just Collins to see us through to the end of the season would be a risky move, especially after going into the 2nd half of last season with just Collins and McGoldrick proved costly.

Warne's 'rotated' side:
Wildsmith
Nyambe   Nelson   Cashin   Forsyth
Hourihane
Wilson   Sibley   Bird   Mendez-Laing
Collins
 
Subs: Vickers, Bradley, Ward, Elder, Fornah, Barkhuizen, John-Jules

Our top 3 Whoscored players are Cashin (7.43), Mendez-Laing (7.34), and Nelson (7.09). Cashin is also the top League 1 player, whislt Mendez-Laing is 4th.
In terms of consistency, Cashin has only scored lower than Nelson's average 4 times - the first 2 games of the season, the Bolton game when he cam on as a late sub the day after his deadline day transfer collapse, and Stevenage. He's also only had 4 games rated higher than 8.0

Our top 3 Whoscored players are Cashin (7.43), Mendez-Laing (7.34), and Nelson (7.09). Cashin is also the top League 1 player, whislt Mendez-Laing is 4th.
In terms of consistency, Cashin has only scored lower than Nelson's average 4 times - the first 2 games of the season, the Bolton game when he cam on as a late sub the day after his deadline day transfer collapse, and Stevenage. He's also only had 4 games rated higher than 8.0