Brannigan and play off games.

L

LA-KINGS

Well-known member
I've just watched both playoff games against Oxford to see what kind of player Brannigan is. In both games he played extremely deep. Oxford were 3-4-3 when in possession and 5-4-1 when we had possession. Brannigan was in thevback 3 with the 2 centre backs and they pushed the full backs into mid. Kind of in the back three when 5-4-1.
To be fair he had a shocker in both legs. A lot of Passes sideways to defenders and a few long balls straight to our centre backs head or out of play. Over the 2 legs when they went 3-4-3 we closed down and won the ball and went wide quickly. All our wide players and Ellis and Gerry really ran them ragged. Probably being nervous at the time I didn't realize how much we dominated. The last 30 mins of the 2nd leg you could get a sense of what Brannigan would offer when things were going well. I think he would be a much better player when the team is on top. I think Oxford would dominate more games in league one than they or we would in the championship. I don't know if this is his regular role or was just for these games, and I am not sure if Critch would have him a s more of a centre mid. For those on the board that hate Henderson (I dont), you should be happy he didn't come. Think deeper, with more hand waving, smaller and on a par with backwards Passes.
Really interesting to watch those games and concentrate on him.
P.S Demi Mitchell had a blinding game in the home leg.
 
Just to add. He had a shocker but I am sure he has had lots of good games. Seems to be rated by Oxford fans and our manager. Just be interested to see if anybody else has these games to watch and their opinion of how and if he would fit into our current team, if it had happened.
 
When I thought we could be signing him I specifically watched an Oxford game a couple of weeks ago. I can only say that he didn't stand out or do anything special. I wasnt to dissapointed when we didnt sign him.
 
He's a decent player at L1 level, whether he could step up I'm not so sure. Why aren't other clubs in the Championship after him? Most wouldn't think twice about spending £1.2M.
 
For those that watched tonight. Was he in the same very deep position. With or just in front of 2 centre backs ..
 
Oxford forum tonight said he played further forward tonight. A poster said he's better played deep.

Critch is a better coach and tactician than Robinson, by a distance, and knows the player. To push like we did he must believe he could really add something to us in the right position in the right system.
 
LA-KINGS said:
I've just watched both playoff games against Oxford to see what kind of player Brannigan is. In both games he played extremely deep. Oxford were 3-4-3 when in possession and 5-4-1 when we had possession. Brannigan was in thevback 3 with the 2 centre backs and they pushed the full backs into mid. Kind of in the back three when 5-4-1.
To be fair he had a shocker in both legs. A lot of Passes sideways to defenders and a few long balls straight to our centre backs head or out of play. Over the 2 legs when they went 3-4-3 we closed down and won the ball and went wide quickly. All our wide players and Ellis and Gerry really ran them ragged. Probably being nervous at the time I didn't realize how much we dominated. The last 30 mins of the 2nd leg you could get a sense of what Brannigan would offer when things were going well. I think he would be a much better player when the team is on top. I think Oxford would dominate more games in league one than they or we would in the championship. I don't know if this is his regular role or was just for these games, and I am not sure if Critch would have him a s more of a centre mid. For those on the board that hate Henderson (I dont), you should be happy he didn't come. Think deeper, with more hand waving, smaller and on a par with backwards Passes.
Really interesting to watch those games and concentrate on him.
P.S Demi Mitchell had a blinding game in the home leg.
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Watching Demi Mitchell last night I was surprised how quick and fit he looks; I thought he had a decent game. No idea why we let him go? 🤷

Re: Henderson, he is like your Brannigan analogy, most of the time he is frustrating, negative and doesn't command the game as he should. But when the team is doing well he does too.
 
Most of the assessments of Brannagan are irrelevant as it is clear that Critch rates him and has tried repeatedly to sign him.

If he is considered by the boss to be able to make the step up and improve the team then that’s good enough for me.
 
I’m surprised to hear how deep he plays, because from what I’ve seen of him, he’s a midfield player who looks strong, often gets forward for Oxford. Looks like he makes things happen in the final third with an eye for a tricky pass to a running team mate.

He also chips in with goals. I feel we’re a classic ‘only score with the forwards’ team right now, (Keshi being the one who notched most who is neither a striker of a winger).

I can see what Critchley sees in CB. And of course there is the Liverpool connection?

Just my opinion, of course.
 
Graves said:
I’m surprised to hear how deep he plays, because from what I’ve seen of him, he’s a midfield player who looks strong, often gets forward for Oxford. Looks like he makes things happen in the final third with an eye for a tricky pass to a running team mate.

He also chips in with goals. I feel we’re a classic ‘only score with the forwards’ team right now, (Keshi being the one who notched most who is neither a striker of a winger).

I can see what Critchley sees in CB. And of course there is the Liverpool connection?

Just my opinion, of course.
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Re watch the playoff games against Oxford and concentrate on him. Reckon you will be surprised how deep he played
 
LA-KINGS said:
Re watch the playoff games against Oxford and concentrate on him. Reckon you will be surprised how deep he played
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Yep, I rewatched and you’re right about those games in particular. CB often sat in front of the back line CDM role. Seems they were more aware of our attacking threat than we were of theirs?

For the record, anyone who needs an instant mood lift, just watch the playoff highlights again!
 
If Brannigan is as mediocre as some on here seem to think, maybe Critch can see something in him that he can develop?
Critch is a good judge of a player, as we've seen, so maybe there is a footballer in there somewhere.
 
Graves said:
Yep, I rewatched and you’re right about those games in particular. CB often sat in front of the back line CDM role. Seems they were more aware of our attacking threat than we were of theirs?

For the record, anyone who needs an instant mood lift, just watch the playoff highlights again!
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How did we not win the 2nd leg by 3 goals plus. 3 defensive howlers to gift them goals, and we scored 3 and could have had double that.
 
LA-KINGS said:
How did we not win the 2nd leg by 3 goals plus. 3 defensive howlers to gift them goals, and we scored 3 and could have had double that.
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Absolutely. It was as if Critchley said ‘go out there and just be Blackpool - score more than they do’.

Suppose it worked for Ollie in the play offs!
 
Graves said:
Absolutely. It was as if Critchley said ‘go out there and just be Blackpool - score more than they do’.

Suppose it worked for Ollie in the play offs!
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I honestly think he said, go and put on a show for the fans.

That and some terrible goals to give away.
 
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