Home v Oxford United 23.03.21

[guest3429]

It's worth visiting the Oxford Forum (yellowsforum.co.uk) just for the sheer arrogance of their fans, this is from a club that has spent a third of the last 15 seasons in non league !

I think there's quite a few kids on their forum. Many comments of the football being of non-league standard, well only they would know that!

The average age on here is probably over 50.

[BackOfTheNet]

The average age on here is probably over 50.

That's why I like it; it's the only place where I get to feel like a young whippersnapper these days...

[Winslow Lee]

How much does his "attacking threat" let him down? By any stretch, even for a defensive midfielder, a record of just one goal in 105 games is poor!

I don’t know the last thing I would want is for Brady to encourage McWilliams to get further forward just to pick up a few extra goals. I remember Chelsea doing that with Kante and while he got more goals he isn’t remotely as good as player as when sitting at the base of midfield. Sowerby is the one I expect more of in the attacking half.

[guest3429]

Oxford beating Lincoln last night puts the win in even more context, although they were helped by the Imps getting a bout of Covid with Morton testing positive.

[bungle]

How much does his "attacking threat" let him down? By any stretch, even for a defensive midfielder, a record of just one goal in 105 games is poor!

Claude Makelele, a defensive midfielder so good that his name became synonymous with excellence in the position, scored 2 goals in his entire Chelsea career and 1 goal in his entire Real Madrid career.

McWilliams is a key reason why our defensive record is comfortably the best in the bottom 7. His job is simply to win the ball and play a simple pass to our creative players, and he does that job very well.

It's Sowerby/Morris who need to produce more in terms of assists and goals, not McWilliams.

[BackOfTheNet]

Claude Makelele, a defensive midfielder so good that his name became synonymous with excellence in the position, scored 2 goals in his entire Chelsea career and 1 goal in his entire Real Madrid career.

McWilliams is a key reason why our defensive record is comfortably the best in the bottom 7. His job is simply to win the ball and play a simple pass to our creative players, and he does that job very well.

It's Sowerby/Morris who need to produce more in terms of assists and goals, not McWilliams.

I used to love watching Makelele play. An absolute master of his craft.

[Coolcat]

Claude Makelele, a defensive midfielder so good that his name became synonymous with excellence in the position, scored 2 goals in his entire Chelsea career and 1 goal in his entire Real Madrid career.

McWilliams is a key reason why our defensive record is comfortably the best in the bottom 7. His job is simply to win the ball and play a simple pass to our creative players, and he does that job very well.

It's Sowerby/Morris who need to produce more in terms of assists and goals, not McWilliams.

This is simply omission bias!

Yes, but you are only telling half the story, omitting the liability aspect of his game through discipline.
How well our defence holds up is your opinion, rather than fact!

[bungle]

This is simply omission bias!

Yes, but you are only telling half the story, omitting the liability aspect of his game through discipline.
How well our defence holds up is your opinion, rather than fact!

I think you'll find that it's quite easy to find a 'factual' record of the efficacy of our defence. It is a statistical fact that our defensive record is the best in the bottom 7. I would argue that McWilliams is a big factor in that and that our defence improved markedly following his return. I'm sure the stats would back that up, particularly as our 4-0 tankings against Oxford (away) and Lincoln occurred when he was not in the side.

Despite the perception on here that McWilliams is some sort of loose cannon, he has only 1 red card this year with 8 bookings (the same as Ryan Watson). Alan McCormick had 8 bookings in 15 appearances last year and no one complained. It's pretty much par for the course if you're an effective defensive midfielder.

It takes a certain amount of football intelligence to appreciate the work of a defensive midfielder. McWilliams is one of the best we've had for a good while.

[Athena]

Understand Appleton was not at all happy with Lincolns defeat at Oxford last night. Apparently he was heard to shout in the dressing room afterwards 'even sod**** Northampton Town could beat sod**** Oxford'. Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke!

[Winslow Lee]

This is simply omission bias!

Yes, but you are only telling half the story, omitting the liability aspect of his game through discipline.
How well our defence holds up is your opinion, rather than fact!

With 1 red card in over 100 games for a defensive midfielder to say he is a disciplinary liability seems harsh.

He is easily my player of the year for us this season.

[Shoemender]

Let's hope it's not 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Just saying!