Owen Dale - Critch's biggest mistake?

TonyParrsDodgyMic

TonyParrsDodgyMic

Well-known member
Being lauded by the Oxford manager “When we looked to recruit him, we were looking for a certain type of winger. He fitted that profile in terms of how we wanted to play, so he was always going to fit into the team, which is key and helps him because he comes in and plays.

“When you look for players, you look for the character of the player as well, and he’s a player where I think you could put him in any environment, and he’d cope quite well."

Might just have provided those extra 3/4 goals we needed at the end and at least would have been someone to come off the bench.
 
Dale was brought in to fit the system Critchley was using at the time 4-2-3-1 … He didn’t fit the system he is using now (he was asked to play wingback) his replacement was Coulson who is much better at playing wing back … so it was the right decision to move him on.
 
Same for Rob Apter, he might as well go too. Waste of time having forward thinking players who are attacking when we play the way we do.

The mistake wasn't perhaps to let Owen Dale go, the mistake was that we didn't replace him properly.

Coulson was a replacement for Dom Thompson and to stop us having to watch Owen Dale or Connolly at left wing back.

Change the formation to 4-2-3-1 like every normal successful team and it's worth having these players around.
 
I dont think it was a mistake letting him go, but they should have replaced him with another player like for like, this would have given Critchley another option.
 
Biggest mistake we ever made in my 54 years of following the 'Pool with regard to players we let go would have to be Ricky Lambert

Biggest ever mistake we made though would have to be signing Nile Ranger
 
Dale would have started even less games if it wasn't for Lyon's sad loss.
Andy started first 3 games as LWB until his Dad passed away,hot head Thomson couldn't be trusted, Connolly did two games before Dale having a crack at the role.
 
Another victim of the formation.. Dale, CJ, Ekpiteta, Gabriel, Lyons.... list goes on. There will be plenty more next season as well.
 
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If he was still here people would be saying he isn’t good enough.

I hope he continues to do well there even if it does mean we’ll have monthly threads about him until he retires.
 
Dale was average and inconsistent unfortunately like most of our squad. Our biggest problem was not recruiting enough quality last summer. If we had the likes of Rhodes, Byers, Coulson, and another decent striker and experienced centre back in then we would have done better.
 
SeasideKurt said:
Same for Rob Apter, he might as well go too. Waste of time having forward thinking players who are attacking when we play the way we do.

The mistake wasn't perhaps to let Owen Dale go, the mistake was that we didn't replace him properly.

Coulson was a replacement for Dom Thompson and to stop us having to watch Owen Dale or Connolly at left wing back.

Change the formation to 4-2-3-1 like every normal successful team and it's worth having these players around.
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Bolton and Barnsley both lined up with a back three last night, so it's not every normal successful team.

Apter has delivered goals and assists. Dale never has done.
 
Dale was ok to be honest but we never really got the best out of him due to the system we played

He's a winger not a wing back and certainly not a left wing back

3 at the back can work but only if you have players suited to that system for example 2 good wing backs on their correct side and all 3 central defenders being good on the ball

We didn't help ourselves playing folk out of position all the time
 
Dale wasn't exactly pulling up trees here and is another that just didn't fit into Critchley's plans or system. Coulson, once settled, was far better IMO. Getting him signed, along with Husband would be a decent start to the rebuild.
 
TonyParrsDodgyMic said:
Being lauded by the Oxford manager “When we looked to recruit him, we were looking for a certain type of winger. He fitted that profile in terms of how we wanted to play, so he was always going to fit into the team, which is key and helps him because he comes in and plays.

“When you look for players, you look for the character of the player as well, and he’s a player where I think you could put him in any environment, and he’d cope quite well."

Might just have provided those extra 3/4 goals we needed at the end and at least would have been someone to come off the bench.
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Dale was ok but nothing special, when he did get his chance he did nothing to make himself undroppable.
 
Dale has played in different formations for us and never really convinced. I was surprised we paid out for him after the loan tbh.
 
Sven said:
If he was still here people would be saying he isn’t good enough.

I hope he continues to do well there even if it does mean we’ll have monthly threads about him until he retires.
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A bit like every time Ryan Bloody Hardie scores then.😀
 
voyeur said:
Bolton and Barnsley both lined up with a back three last night, so it's not every normal successful team.

Apter has delivered goals and assists. Dale never has done.
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And to be honest Voy, I thought both were absolutely shite and defensively rubbish.

Portsmouth and Peterborough and Oxford both look far better than those two sides.

Leicester 4-3-3 - mostly
Man City 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1
Ipswich 4-2-3-1
Southampton 4-2-3-1

All play a variation of a back 4. We cannot play a back 5 and it isn't currently the formation of the month. It's not very exciting as you remove an attacking player for a centre back.

And with our variation, it relied on Karamoko Dembele and CJ Hamilton. One substantially better than the other.
 
The issue for me is that he is a decent asset and we sold him to a promotion rival. Who does that, part from Blackpool?
 
SeasideKurt said:
And to be honest Voy, I thought both were absolutely shite and defensively rubbish.

Portsmouth and Peterborough and Oxford both look far better than those two sides.

Leicester 4-3-3 - mostly
Man City 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1
Ipswich 4-2-3-1
Southampton 4-2-3-1

All play a variation of a back 4. We cannot play a back 5 and it isn't currently the formation of the month. It's not very exciting as you remove an attacking player for a centre back.

And with our variation, it relied on Karamoko Dembele and CJ Hamilton. One substantially better than the other.
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I would prefer a back four, but back threes have finished above us. Derby too.
 
NewburyOne said:
Dale wasn't exactly pulling up trees here and is another that just didn't fit into Critchley's plans or system. Coulson, once settled, was far better IMO. Getting him signed, along with Husband would be a decent start to the rebuild.
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Coulson better as a defensive wing back and that is exactly where it all goes wrong. Andy Lyons is a better left wing back than Coulson and if allowed will add to the the goals column. I know he is right footed, but he actually likes to cut in.
 
SeasideKurt said:
Yep and Derby are shite too. It's a really poor league.

None of the majorly successfully and good on the eye teams in England are playing back 5s for a reason.
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Success is relative. Several teams above us use a back three. You said every normal successful team has a back 4, but it's not really true, or as simple as that. As much as I'd prefer a back 4.
 
basilexile said:
Coulson better as a defensive wing back and that is exactly where it all goes wrong. Andy Lyons is a better left wing back than Coulson and if allowed will add to the the goals column. I know he is right footed, but he actually likes to cut in.
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Lyons did very well in the Championship but was incredibly poor last season. I know he had a few personal issues to deal with and the injury was cruel but we need to see more of the player we first signed.
 
voyeur said:
Success is relative. Several teams above us use a back three. You said every normal successful team has a back 4, but it's not really true, or as simple as that. As much as I'd prefer a back 4.
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Spot on.
Leverkusen just upset the odds to win the Bundesliga playing a back 5, and Inter just won Serie A playing 3-5-2. The difference being they had the players to fit their system and didn't play people out of position - square pegs in round holes is our issue.

... but yes I'd also prefer a back 4.
 
April13th1970 said:
Biggest mistake we ever made in my 54 years of following the 'Pool with regard to players we let go would have to be Ricky Lambert

Biggest ever mistake we made though would have to be signing Nile Ranger
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Remember KOKO signing Ranger on minimum wage (approx £90 pw) with a big appearances fee. When Ranger went awol KOKO kept him on his 2 year £90 pw contract out of spite without him ever paying again.

I’m sure Ranger went to the papers about it!
 
April13th1970 said:
Biggest mistake we ever made in my 54 years of following the 'Pool with regard to players we let go would have to be Ricky Lambert

Biggest ever mistake we made though would have to be signing Nile Ranger
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What about Chopra? Waste of time.
 
by the sea UTP said:
Spot on.
Leverkusen just upset the odds to win the Bundesliga playing a back 5, and Inter just won Serie A playing 3-5-2. The difference being they had the players to fit their system and didn't play people out of position - square pegs in round holes is our issue.

... but yes I'd also prefer a back 4.
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Stop it. You can’t point out facts like that.
Or that the season before went up with 3-5-2.

We lacked firepower up front. When fit Rhodes was banging them in and we climbed the table. He was building a nice partnership with Beesley. Without Rhodes all our strikers struggled way too often to finish chances.
 
Chunkylad said:
Except that was exactly the role he was playing in Ireland when we were attracted to his goals from the left.

Once again another Avftt myth
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Ahh that old argument. He was good for Guinness Town at left wing back so good enough for us ... despite him playing poorly in that position this season.
 
Chunkylad said:
Stop it. You can’t point out facts like that.
Or that the season before went up with 3-5-2.

We lacked firepower up front. When fit Rhodes was banging them in and we climbed the table. He was building a nice partnership with Beesley. Without Rhodes all our strikers struggled way too often to finish chances.
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We have never won promotion playing 3-5-2.

You are also focusing on the strike force being the sole problem. What about the fact our defence look like school children trying to learn the offside trap?
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
We have never won promotion playing 3-5-2.

You are also focusing on the strike force being the sole problem. What about the fact our defence look like school children trying to learn the offside trap?
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Levekusen never won the league playing it either until now. Nor Derby got promoted playing it etc. A formation becomes popular for a period of time and then the cycle begins again.

Defence went something like 10 games conceding only 3 goals. Our lack of goals cost us most.

Think about it Baresi.
 
Dale was just average for us n played shite as many times he played ok. Glad he’s gone n found a club that suits him better.
Look at Crainy as an example of other clubs saying he was useless etc. He was a perfect fit for us and a great player!
Some players just click at certain clubs and that’s that.
Dale was average for us … move on and stop fuckin grumbling about anything you can think of.
 
Sandgrown1 said:
Dale was just average for us n played shite as many times he played ok. Glad he’s gone n found a club that suits him better.
Look at Crainy as an example of other clubs saying he was useless etc. He was a perfect fit for us and a great player!
Some players just click at certain clubs and that’s that.
Dale was average for us … move on and stop fuckin grumbling about anything you can think of.
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The point is that he could have been good if played in a position to suit him

He wasn't
 
Who knows, but definitely fitted in really well for us. Main thing that doesn't go unnoticed by us is his work rate up and down the wing that really helps the team. His raw stats on goals/assists are tearing up trees as some of you have said, but his work rate is helping the team a lot, certainly with our high press.
 
Chunkylad said:
Levekusen never won the league playing it either until now. Nor Derby got promoted playing it etc. A formation becomes popular for a period of time and then the cycle begins again.

Defence went something like 10 games conceding only 3 goals. Our lack of goals cost us most.

Think about it Baresi.
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Can’t believe you are defending utter shitness. If you were a Utd fan, you’d be backing Ten Hag
 
tangomonkey said:
Remember KOKO signing Ranger on minimum wage (approx £90 pw) with a big appearances fee. When Ranger went awol KOKO kept him on his 2 year £90 pw contract out of spite without him ever paying again.

I’m sure Ranger went to the papers about it!
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He did … It finally went to PFA and the Gazette said he was free to leave in Feb 16 (after the club appealed, I guess for spite as you say 😆)
Steve Davies talks about it here, albeit said £200 (with £3k/appearance) rather than £90 or the £150 which Gazette and others quote (who also say £2k/appearance)

https://fb.watch/rXhaPezRJA
 
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