Forget the goal for a minute

[The Year Of The Fox]

Matt oakley MOTM

[Wymsey]

I prefer him to Abe when he's not playing too badly.

[MattyFromLE]

Credit where its due, i really don't rate him. Best player on the pitch bar Bamba, and possibly Vassell

[samjohnson]

I thought Bamba was MOTM, mainly because I dont rate Oakley... But his goal was a pretty good one.

[Guest bennytwohats]

Matt oakley MOTM

By some distance imo, outstanding performance - happy for the guy as well. He has put in some shitty performances over the season but he always looks up for it and gives it his best, you can never expect more than a player than that - if he isn't good enough to be playing then that's the manager's problem and i hate to see that directed at the player. He was quality on saturday too, good to see him making the most of the opportunity starting again.

[Guest Bilo]

I personally don't rate him but Sven clearly does and seeing as he for one sees Oakley in training, and has over 30 years of successful management under his belt I'm going to bow to his superior knowledge and experience. I don't think he has the legs any more to be a regular but as a squad player, he adds something different that Sven clearly likes.

[Guest Col city fan]

I personally don't rate him but Sven clearly does and seeing as he for one sees Oakley in training, and has over 30 years of successful management under his belt I'm going to bow to his superior knowledge and experience. I don't think he has the legs any more to be a regular but as a squad player, he adds something different that Sven clearly likes.

I thought he looked the fittest player on the pitch tonight? the ground Oakley covered was phenomenal

[The Year Of The Fox]

To be fair I dont think hes had a bigger number of bad performances than the majority of the squad. I think some pick on him because of derby away last season. Im glad my view on him tonight and saturday-on here at least- doesn't seem to be in the minority.

Hes salvaged a point for us that could prove to be vital- though I dont see it that way

[Guest bennytwohats]

I thought he looked the fittest player on the pitch tonight? the ground Oakley covered was phenomenal

Indeed, he was everywhere. Putting in crunching tackles on the wings, back in our box (was our last man a few times), and was involved in lots of out build up play going forward.

[phillthefox]

I agree oakley tonight was amazing, and full credit was best player out there, does anyone know where king has gone

[cc_star]

Oakley's played pretty well since Abe's form dipped & he stood-in, since then he's been in & out the starting 11 a bit, but I think he's always performed above average at the very least.

[Guest Col city fan]

I agree oakley tonight was amazing, and full credit was best player out there, does anyone know where king has gone

Don't know whether anyone noticed but we vastly improved with the introduction of vassell which coincided with king starting to run the game from midfield... The problem is that king seems to having less and less of an impact in this way each week. It looks like he's burnt out at the mo and his influence on our attacks, though still important, has lessened recently. He's still a very good player but looks tired and jaded and needs a break in my opinion..

[Adster]

Off topic, but I though despite getting sent off, their Wilfred Zaha and Nathaniel Clyne were class acts, they had a super fast flank due to those two.

[Guest bennytwohats]

Don't know whether anyone noticed but we vastly improved with the introduction of vassell which coincided with king starting to run the game from midfield... The problem is that king seems to having less and less of an impact in this way each week. It looks like he's burnt out at the mo and his influence on our attacks, though still important, has lessened recently. He's still a very good player but looks tired and jaded and needs a break in my opinion..

Would love to see Abe given a chance as more of an attacking midfielder.

[lcfcsnow]

does anyone know where king has gone

He's been found out. He needs to add some urgency to his game.

[lcfc_jme]

As I posted in the 1-1 thread, Oakley has performed well every time I've seen him this term, and with that, there have always been worse performers on our team than him when I've watched him this time out. He's such an easy scapegoat, mostly because he rimmed the Derby fans last season, but also because he's got glass knees and because he's getting on a bit. Some people would do well to put their own bias aside and just judge him solely on performances.

He's not the player he once was but he's nowhere near as bad as a large majority make out he is.

[Corky]

In these two home games he's been fine.

As jme says he was never as bad as people made out. He is past his best, but he's shown that he can step in if required and won't play every game in any case.

[Haydos]

I've not seen much of him this season but when I have he's never looked much of a problem. Obviously his age is against him but he's a good player to have in the squad. Good for him that he's proving the 'he's shit' brigade wrong for once.

[broughtonblue]

Agree, even if he hadn't scored last night he was definately our best player by far.