Owen Dale - Critch's biggest mistake?

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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Biggest mistake not really, just one of very many.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
The point is that he could have been good if played in a position to suit him

He wasn't
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Neither were a few others.
If he’s gonna stick to that crap formation then he’d best be signing players for those positions.
Oxford have signed some decent players and seemingly got it right.
I watched their play offs and Dale didn’t impress me but they love him there n good luck to the lad.
The players around him suit his game, as does their formation.
We have the players for 4 at the back and if only we were a 4/3/3 attacking side eh? Or other forward formation but 4 at the back.
But let’s see who is brought in and hope they click.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
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
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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

Absolutely 💯 spot on
 
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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That's a good point but...I doubt Leverkusen played many teams that just hit the big lad and didn't really bother with pressing or worry about getting pressed cos they just leather it direct.

I want to see adaptability - the 5-3-2 has worked a treat at times. It's when we're not playing teams that play as Critchley would like them to that we struggle and we need to be able to respond to that.
 
On the topic of Dale, I thought he had a decent season for us. I think if we had the data to look at proper need stuff like 'pre-assists' then he'd come out quite well. He's tidy and has the ability to play on the wrong foot. He had a little bit of attitude about him.

I personally wouldn't have let him out without taking Apter back because as Wycombe showed, if Kaddy wasn't fit, we had literally nothing in terms of that bit of impudence or creative spark.
 
td53 said:
On the topic of Dale, I thought he had a decent season for us. I think if we had the data to look at proper need stuff like 'pre-assists' then he'd come out quite well. He's tidy and has the ability to play on the wrong foot. He had a little bit of attitude about him.

I personally wouldn't have let him out without taking Apter back because as Wycombe showed, if Kaddy wasn't fit, we had literally nothing in terms of that bit of impudence or creative spark.
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We should have brought Apter back basically. Agree about the need for more adaptability. It's just strange that Critch 1 adapted the set up for each game, Critch 2 stick to one set up at all times, with players shoe horned in. Two very different Critches. Did Gerrard replace him or something? Where's the real one? Saudi? Under his patio? Running one of his businesses?

(Apparently Gerrard has a bottled water company and a clothing company, SG Apparel, with clothes inspired by "the refined lad culture look synonymous with Liverpool menswear" while incorporating "some nods to the history of the city, with all product style names based on the street names and areas where Steven grew up."
 
td53 said:
On the topic of Dale, I thought he had a decent season for us. I think if we had the data to look at proper need stuff like 'pre-assists' then he'd come out quite well. He's tidy and has the ability to play on the wrong foot. He had a little bit of attitude about him.

I personally wouldn't have let him out without taking Apter back because as Wycombe showed, if Kaddy wasn't fit, we had literally nothing in terms of that bit of impudence or creative spark.
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Totally agree @td53 - I get the feeling Critchley was thinking with heart not head and thinking he was doing Dale a favour whilst shafting us royally!
 
Oxford going up does not mean that Owen Dale shouldn't have been sold. I watched all three play off games and he didn't look any better than he did for us. And Oxford looked no great shakes either. We finished 4 points behind Oxford over 46 games and it wasn't because Dale swapped clubs. We underperformed away from home, we lost Rhodes to injury and our other strikers didn't do the business.
 
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voyeur said:
We should have brought Apter back basically. Agree about the need for more adaptability. It's just strange that Critch 1 adapted the set up for each game, Critch 2 stick to one set up at all times, with players shoe horned in. Two very different Critches. Did Gerrard replace him or something? Where's the real one? Saudi? Under his patio? Running one of his businesses?

(Apparently Gerrard has a bottled water company and a clothing company, SG Apparel, with clothes inspired by "the refined lad culture look synonymous with Liverpool menswear" while incorporating "some nods to the history of the city, with all product style names based on the street names and areas where Steven grew up."
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What are you on about mate?!
 
voyeur said:
Oxford going up first not mean that Owen Dale shouldn't have been sold. I watched all three play off games and he didn't look any better than he did for us. And Oxford looked no great shakes either. We finished 4 points behind Oxford over 46 games and it wasn't because Dale swapped clubs. We underperformed away from home, we lost Rhodes to injury and our other strikers didn't do the business.
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Dale didn't suit the system that Critchley wants to play and I don't believe that he's Championship quality either, so for me no big issue with him being sold. If he proves me wrong good luck to the lad, but it won't change my view on his fit with us. The worry for me is that we may well have others that don't fit the system either - CJ immediately spring to mind. Also of the defenders we have, how many are good enough to defend well in a back three?
 
Murciaseasider said:
Dale didn't suit the system that Critchley wants to play and I don't believe that he's Championship quality either, so for me no big issue with him being sold. If he proves me wrong good luck to the lad, but it won't change my view on his fit with us. The worry for me is that we may well have others that don't fit the system either - CJ immediately spring to mind. Also of the defenders we have, how many are good enough to defend well in a back three?
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For me he didn't suit the system and he wasn't that good anyway. Pompey didn't want him back after a full season in L1. I read threads on their forum and the common feeling was that he didn't have much end product as a winger, with a shortage of assists and goals. He's a tidy player with the ball at his feet but he doesn't impact games much and will be out of his depth in the Championship in my opinion. Oxford will need better.
 
He’s played a full 90 at Wembley and helped his new team get to the Championship. Selling players to teams directly competing with you at the business end of the season demonstrates either a lack of care or just plain negligent. Not keeping Dougall was also a dreadful decision with him being in contract. We haven’t helped ourselves
 
NewburyOne said:
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.
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Lyon’s & Gabriel weren’t used properly & Lyon’s didn’t get a run of games then got a serious injury used properly & I mean in a back 4 I believe they could get back to their best. If it were me I’d be wanting to play in or about my best position or I’d be looking to move on.
 
Saw a social media post from his partner a few weeks ago that said, after the death of their baby, they wanted a fresh start and a move away. I know this won't necessarily fit the narrative some of you are peddling but it makes sense to me.
 
td53 said:
On the topic of Dale, I thought he had a decent season for us. I think if we had the data to look at proper need stuff like 'pre-assists' then he'd come out quite well. He's tidy and has the ability to play on the wrong foot. He had a little bit of attitude about him.

I personally wouldn't have let him out without taking Apter back because as Wycombe showed, if Kaddy wasn't fit, we had literally nothing in terms of that bit of impudence or creative spark.
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Bang on 👌
 
zico_bamber said:
He’s played a full 90 at Wembley and helped his new team get to the Championship. Selling players to teams directly competing with you at the business end of the season demonstrates either a lack of care or just plain negligent. Not keeping Dougall was also a dreadful decision with him being in contract. We haven’t helped ourselves
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Kenny pimped himself out and basically went on strike. Had ‘time off’ when we were struggling to have photos taken on mountains whilst his girlfriend waxed lyrical about them being zen preparing meals. Can’t blame the club on the Kenny front. He pulled the wool.
 
He doesn’t fit the system and regardless of what anyone thinks of the system there’s no point in keeping someone who doesn’t work within that structure. It’s not a mistake on that basis.
 
I watched all Oxfords play off games and paid special attention to Dale, and to be honest he played the exact same for them as he did for us. High energy, always looking for the ball, closing down but ultimately his final ball is dreadful and he still lacks any real quality. At best he may get you a corner.
Didn’t see anything that made me think I wish we had him back but good luck to him.
 
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