Wilson Odobert

[Surfless]

whatever the noise from the media and fair weather fans, we have actually got a coaching team that will improve young players - its been Cochrane and Frank's thing for years. Odobert is clearly a talent that needs nurturing, just as are Tel, Moore, Udogie, Scarlett, Gray and Bergvall.

The issues we are having around the team at the moment are linked in some ways to the youthful age of most of the main participants. There's a reason we have signed 2 established players in Palhinha and Gallacher, and are after Robertson from Liverpool - we need a balance of youth and experience and at the moment the only real experience we have is Romero and all his international triumphs.

For its part, the club has managed through a combination of decisions, to eliminate any kind of upward bounce we could have got from the Europa League win - this comes from the fact that Ange had got so bad in the league, and then the owners decided to remove Levy, who by the way would have sacked Frank by now, absolutely no doubt about it. As a result of the lack of an upward bounce we are now waiting on several young players to develop, and that is not something that is linear.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Best game I've seen him play for us and on the right of all places. There's an element that makes me wonder if the Dortmund RB was just that bad, but Odobert had the beating of him every time. He didn't have the hesitancy that he often demonstrates on the left. I've not been a fan of his RW performances up till now but this was avery promising go.

It was partly because Porro was pushing forward and Dortmund's left back had two to deal with most of the game making it quite easy for Odobert. Once Dortmund moved to a 3-5-1 system in the second half they managed to control Porro and Odobert much better (by the wing back and LCB combining to shut that space down that we were operating in in the first half).

 

[Finney Is Back]

Thanks. When you say he's getting ball in better situations, do you mean our other players are looking for him earlier and passing it quicker to him when he's in space?

The disappointment i had in the second half vs Dortmund is that we didn't continue to get him the ball to run into sopace against their full-back (who i felt he had on toast at times in the first half)

See my post above. Dortmund changed shape, which allowed them to match up their LCB against Odobert and their left wing back against Porro. In the first half Porro and Odobert were doubling up on Dortmund's left back.

I have almost never seen a full back fare well when having to try to cope with two players - one of the reasons why I was so confident that Danny Rose would become a great player way back when he first got into our team was because I watched him actually cope OK on the frequent occasions when Nacer Chadli didn't bother tracking back, leaving him with two. I remember people used to dig Rose out and suggest he wasn't good enough, instead of realising that he was basically constantly having to deal with two attackers all by himself due to Chadli's laziness.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

Not entirely sure on physical strength. More the lack of hesitancy discussed above. Think it's also partly getting the ball in better situations. Maybe a bit stronger now, but for me more that his lack of physical strength is less of an issue when set up well and being more direct I would guess.

I don't think his physical strength is an issue. He's just about average in that department.
His confidence has been his turning point this season....and it's impossible to know who is responsible for the uptick

 

[braineclipse]

I don't think his physical strength is an issue. He's just about average in that department.
His confidence has been his turning point this season....and it's impossible to know who is responsible for the uptick

Agreed. Don't think physicality is a big issue, but mostly he will get stronger over the coming years and that will be a good thing (not bulky or super strong as an aim, more a natural process and through continued training).

Responsibility is difficult to know beyond some of it being on him at least. I think he's starting to become more the player he was at Burnley before we signed him and his injuries, and probably developing a bit from there.

The key for me, as with most players, is that we have to keep finding ways to set him up in situations he can thrive in. Not just against one of the worst teams in the league, or in a game where we had Bergvall and Gray in central midfield and was clearly on the front foot. But in most games, at least for phases of the game.

 

[braineclipse]

his general play is poor if he doesn't get to go full speed chasing the ball
many passes too slow or a behind the recipient, and he doesn't get back to pressure or defend much unlike spence
definitely a highlights reel player imo

You talking about Odobert or someone else here?

 

[SpurMeUp]

his general play is poor if he doesn't get to go full speed chasing the ball
many passes too slow or a behind the recipient, and he doesn't get back to pressure or defend much unlike spence
definitely a highlights reel player imo

Very inconsistent. But he is improving. Had a good game against his former club. Still hugely frustrating I agree. More accurate crosses and we’d have scored in the opening minute for example.