Reality bites: Oxford report
5 takeaways
The realities of the National League North were laid bare to Macclesfield as they lost 2-1 away to Oxford City this afternoon.
If you want a match report, check out the club’s official site. If you want sugar coating you’re looking in the wrong place. This was a desperately disappointing defeat against a team who WILL struggle at the wrong end of the NLN this season, despite them folding 3-2 versus Fylde last week.
Oxford barely laid a glove on the Silkmen, but still scored two goals from sporadic attacks. Some immediate takeaways…
We’re not progressive enough from defence
Defenders are there to defend, I get it, but we’re not even doing that properly. Balls come into our box too easily, Matheson and Lee need to get tighter to prevent attacks coming into our box. Yarney particularly and Rollin need to be more aggressive.
But going forward we were too safe. Yarney and Menayese are too backwards and safe in their passing. Attacks are stifled before they start, the momentum is slow and we lack the ability to break lines and enter midfield without Mendy and Dawson being comfortable in possession. We turn the ball over far too easily because we don’t have centre backs who are positive on the ball.
Dawson can’t do everything
Let’s be frank, the skipper dragged us out of a hole v Worksop last week, but he can’t do it on his own. Daws was trying to win the ball in midfield and then spray 20 / 30 yard passes to the flanks today due to the lack of options and movement centrally. Few of his teammates gambled, made forward runs or took ownership. We’re lucky boys to have Dawsons’ balls, but he can’t carry us indefinitely.
Fensome and Griffiths need to start
Fenners has made way for new signing Josef Yarney at centre half, but Rooney may need to swallow his pride sooner rather than later. Fensome was preferred by Savage ahead of Dawson and Meyanese at the turn of the year - on merit. Why Lewis has been sacrificed in the starting eleven is beyond me.
As previously highlighted on this site, and against Worksop last week, Yarney is neither a dominant centre half aerially or a ball playing centre half. In contrast Fensome, who is similar in height, is a better passer and does compete better for headers.
We were noticeably better when Fensome came on against Oxford. Passes from the back were played QUICKER and more PURPOSEFULLY. He needs to start. End of.
Regan Griffiths also did well after coming on. I’m not sold on Regan, unlike others, but he played with the best intentions. Balls were sprayed with urgency, he wasn’t afraid to try difficult crossfield balls to get us up the pitch. He almost scored with a thunderbolt from 30 yards which produced a great save from the Oxford keeper. In contrast, I don’t know what Danny Whitehead offered today or against Worksop. Griffiths in.
Play Etaluku on the left or don’t play him at all
Sean Etaluku is a left winger playing on the right. This isn’t a Rooney falling as such, but is a hangover from Savage’s rein. How many times do our attacks slow, or fail to lead to chances, because Etaluku constantly checks back onto his left foot because he lacks the conviction to go it alone on his right and attack the byline? The lad was a left winger at Burnley’s academy, he’s got pace to burn. Play him on the left, please.
Alternatively, play Isaac Buckley-Ricketts who scored an excellent goal today after coming off the bench today and switch Luke Duffy centrally where he can really influence the game.
4-2-3-1 doesn’t suit the current personnel in a tougher division
We’re not playing to our strengths. We’d be better with a back three of Fensome, Yarney and Menayese, two wing backs, Dawson and Griffiths in midfield, Duffy as an attacking midfielder / number 10 with D’Mani & Danny Elliott upfront in a 3-4-1-2. We’re struggling to dominate the midfield against better sides without Mendy, and Danny Elliott is too isolated.
I’m conscious this is game 2 but of a 46 game league season, and I’m not directing criticism at John Rooney personally - I think we’d be facing the same challenges if Savage stuck around.
But if we don’t solve or address the above predicaments, sooner rather than later, a top half finish seems ambitious given we’ve lost to a mediocre Oxford side today.