It's
a good time to be an Oxford United supporter, as we all bask in what
has been an ideal start to the season. However, perhaps the most
interesting facet of our early success has been the players who have
made it happen.
The
few new
signings that have been brought in have performed well and seem
to have added some extra quality to the side, with Jake
Forster-Caskey and Michael Raynes particularly impressing. But
perhaps some of the most impressive players so far were already at
the club. Whether through injury or simply poor form, some of our
players suffered a miserable time last season, but this year seem
determined to make their mark.
Chief
among those is Deane Smalley. It's no secret that Smalley had a
terrible season last year, scoring a paltry two goals and being voted
'Worst Signing' in the TBFUTH
Awards. His ineffectual performances were compounded by the fact
that so much was expected of him before the season started, and one
could almost sense his despair as he struggled make an impact in the
cluster of matches he played in.
This
season he seems a changed man. His pre-season form was impressive,
scoring three goals against West Ham, Didcot and Seacoast United
Mariners, but hopes that he would have a better season were muted (he
scored four goals in pre-season last year). I have no idea what has
changed in the off-season, but Smalley is playing with huge amounts
of confidence at the moment. An unknowing observer wouldn't have
known that Smalley was coming off the back of such a poor season as
he stepped up to confidently slot away his penalty against
Bournemouth, nor when he netted his two beautifully taken goals
against Plymouth.
Smalley's influence on the team was such that the side's performance
notably dropped after he was substituted at half time. After four
matches Smalley has now equalled his tally in 39 (including his loan spell at
Bradford) last season. The transformation has been immense and long
may it continue.
Tommy
Craddock is another player who has started the season in blistering
form. He set the goalscoring trend with his brace
against Southend, and has looked dangerous every time he has
played this season. Last season was a total write-off for Craddock,
beset with injury throughout the season he failed to impress when he
did manage to limp onto the field (a particular lowlight being his
sending off in the JPT defeat to Southend, just seven minutes after
coming on). He managed just one goal in ten appearances, but already
has two in four this season.
Our
strikeforce underperformed hugely last season. James Constable's
total of 11 was poor for him, but none of our other strikers even
came close to matching that. With Constable still misfiring, it's
good to see that our other strikers have stepped up and filled the
void. I've written before that we desperately need a dedicated
attacking coach, but if our strikers continue with their current vein
of form, I may retract those words!
0 comments:
Post a Comment