[Albion] Matt O Riley [26/08/24 - sings on a 5-year deal]

[Machiavelli]

Yes, maybe you're right.
It wasn't the main point I was trying to make really (and kind of wish I hadn't). Just wanted to say that the penalty-taker decision was very much up for 'debate' on the pitch that day – and that in the end, it was a very good penalty. Will be interesting in a possible post-Pedro world who takes them as 1st choice. We've become very used to seeing our penalties go in without fear. Our conversion rate has been incredible really.

You're being remarkably fair and generous, so can you extend it to ...
... I just love a body language analysis, and put considerable weight on it when forming judgements

 

[Greg Bobkin]

With respect, I don't think it's nonsense. It's what happened. I didn't say Matt is not popular or a decent bloke (I have no idea and I am sure he is), but that's just how it looked to me at the time and on TV replays later. The comparison with the Gomez goal/celebration was probably unfair though I admit.

No, it didn't – not how you iniitally decribed. Look from eight minutes in on here. Gomez, Minteh and Mitoma are all moving towards him the minute the ball hits the back of the net – well before he had to 'beckon teammates over'.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

No, it didn't – not how you iniitally decribed. Look from eight minutes in on here. Gomez, Minteh and Mitoma are all moving towards him the minute the ball hits the back of the net – well before he had to 'beckon teammates over'.

Yes. Fair play.
Had another look and it's not the case. I was two seats from the front and very low down and the aerial view corrects me here.
Retraction of last para please.

 

[Bozza]

“I’m best at the number 8 position, where I can go box to box. I’ve only played two games there, otherwise I’ve been used as a winger, false number 9 or something else,”

“It makes it difficult to show off when you play a position you’re not completely happy with.”

“I’m just giving my opinion. I can play better for the team if I play the number 8 position, but I can play well in other positions. You can say it in a way that is not aggressive. If you are honest with another person, you don’t lose anything. The coach can always say he doesn’t agree."

Matt O'Riley kæmper med uvante positioner i Brighton

Læs mere her.

www.bt.dk

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

“I’m best at the number 8 position, where I can go box to box. I’ve only played two games there, otherwise I’ve been used as a winger, false number 9 or something else,”

“It makes it difficult to show off when you play a position you’re not completely happy with.”

“I’m just giving my opinion. I can play better for the team if I play the number 8 position, but I can play well in other positions. You can say it in a way that is not aggressive. If you are honest with another person, you don’t lose anything. The coach can always say he doesn’t agree."

Matt O'Riley kæmper med uvante positioner i Brighton

Læs mere her.

www.bt.dk

The way Matt puts it is totally fair enough.

But Hurzeler show no sign that he thinks O'Riley can outcompete one of, let alone all of, Gomez, Hinsh or Ayari (who play the closest to a no 8 position) for that spot.

I think we'll get a bid for something close to what we bought him for and we'll sell

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

It is interesting as watching him, I would say he is more like a 10 or false 9 than a number 8.

Nice player with some good touches and awareness but he doesn't appear to have the physicality, engine, power or explosiveness generally needed to be a genuine 'box to box' number 8 in the modern PL. Rice, Szoboszlai, Guimaraes etc he is not.

I would be with FH on this and maybe he's not going to be the best fit for us going forward. Shame if so as I think there's a player there.

 

[Zeberdi]

I think it shows that either FH and or team mates trust him to take one. That is a good thing after the stop/start season he’s had, no?

I think too much focus is being put on the penalty (and my short comment questioning the proposition, based on that, he could be a successor for Pedro). I am thinking about the player as a whole (we have plenty of players who can shoot from the spot and can do just as good a job)

Clearly my earlier comments about his lack of physicality for PL level, lack of aggression and lack of speed in tracking back to defend is a POV few share, to the point I am talking ‘horseshite‘ apparently. So let’s see where he is after the Summer window and whether FH feels the same.

Even if he stays, for the speed and intensity of football FH is looking for, I maintain Rutter, Ayari, Gruda, Gomez, Hinsh (and Yalcouye, possibly Buonanotte) all start ahead of him next season imo despite the effort FH has made to bed him in and because of that, because of next year’s WC, he may ship out to get more regular football.

 

[Sussexscots]

Yes, maybe you're right.
It wasn't the main point I was trying to make really (and kind of wish I hadn't). Just wanted to say that the penalty-taker decision was very much up for 'debate' on the pitch that day – and that in the end, it was a very good penalty. Will be interesting in a possible post-Pedro world who takes them as 1st choice. We've become very used to seeing our penalties go in without fear. Our conversion rate has been incredible really.

Penalties absolute yin and yang for us.

João Pedro never misses them.
Verbruggen never saves them.

 

[The Fits]

The guy’s 24 and he’s entering his prime. He probably expected to play a bit more than he has. Obviously he had the injury but I think he has been given a fairly decent crack of the whip. I’m not sure which way he’s going to go but I can see why he might be thinking there are better options. Ultimately he’s going to want to play as much football as possible at his age. He seems very sensible and level-headed and he’s not going to be expecting first team football per se but our midfield is very very congested and that’s before we sign anyone else this summer which is inevitable. I really wouldn’t be that surprised if he leaves. I don’t think you can blame him. I like players who are ambitious and want to be playing football. Ultimately the problem is our squad is huge, it’s absolutely huge. We’ve seen issues with Ferguson, we’ve seen issues with Enciso, Buonanotte had to go out on loan. This is the reality. Often it’s not even just about progress or improvement in terms of a loan, it’s about not being able to play and we are going to have countless examples I think moving forwards of people like O’Riley who never really settle and feel like they deserve or at least need more football.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I think too much focus is being put on the penalty (and my short comment questioning the proposition, based on that, he could be a successor for Pedro). I am thinking about the player as a whole (we have plenty of players who can shoot from the spot and can do just as good a job)

Clearly my earlier comments about his lack of physicality for PL level, lack of aggression and lack of speed in tracking back to defend is a POV few share, to the point I am talking ‘horseshite‘ apparently. So let’s see where he is after the Summer window and whether FH feels the same.

Even if he stays, for the speed and intensity of football FH is looking for, I maintain Rutter, Ayari, Gruda, Gomez, Hinsh (and Yalcouye, possibly Buonanotte) all start ahead of him next season imo despite the effort FH has made to bed him in and because of that, because of next year’s WC, he may ship out to get more regular football.

Disagree on the pen, I thought it was good. Side of the net can’t ask for much more.

But re the highlighted bit very much this.

I would add his movement actually is a bit brainless at times IMO, as if you watch closely he actually shuts down the space of others, particularly when he drifts wide. (Also, effectively abandoning his defensive responsibility - perhaps he has been encouraged to do so, I don’t know)

If he stays then great, another reasonable/good squad player, which again IMO, is all he is.
If he goes and we make a small profit, I won’t be that sorry.

 

[Weststander]

His heatmap at Celtic showed him employed far forward, in variously what I think of as Gross/Rutter roles. Making things happen in an around the box.

I don’t think he has the physicality to compete in the CM positions played variously by Macca, Baleba, Caicedo, even Hinsh.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I thought at the time he shouldn’t have stepped up, if the truth be told and said so to my mate. As it was, it was a good spot kick but at knee/thigh height and Vicario read him and went in the right direction at the right height - I wouldn’t call it ‘stonking’ and think he was lucky to be honest.

I certainly don’t see him as a spot kick replacement for Pedro, at least not based on that one penalty.

Now Gomez’s strike in injury time from 25 yards out was stonking!

EDIT - Getting my matches mixed up - what a hash - I was watching the Spurs match on TV

How come one player placing the ball in the right place is lucky but another is “stonking”?

 

[Zeberdi]

How come one player placing the ball in the right place is lucky but another is “stonking”?

You still going on about that penalty. I said it was a good penalty but IMO not a ‘stonking’ one. It was a passing point in response to a poster and certainly a very minor aspect of my POV of him as a player. Seriously, anyone saying MoR is a replacement for Pedro if he leaves has not been watching either of them this season - that was a specific suggestion and I made a specific response - lets not blow it up out of proportion.

My earlier posts reflect my views of him as an overall player.

Happy to discuss other aspects of his game with you but banging on about one penalty is just argumentative and happy be proved wrong in September about what I have said regarding his weaknesses (and strengths) if he chooses to stay and compete for a start in Hurzelers side but I’m not sure he will.

 

[Weststander]

- but it’s an area we are oversubscribed in unfortunately and could be even more so if Enciso and/or Buonanotte return. It sounds like MoR is trying to carve out an 8 role for himself which under FH’s system means he will need to start tracking back more and do his job better defensively and compete with those you mention - I think he’s been slow/uncommitted tracking back and showed poor decisions with his passing in front of our own box sometimes oblivious to danger.

That said his short passing and composure I mentioned above make him far more useful off the bench imo as a 10 or even false 9 at the moment - I think his attacking through balls are excellent at times which should mean he’s a valuable assist/final pass man and with two good feet, as a pivot on the edge of the 18 yard box.

A really likeable chap though

I too hope he succeeds with us, he‘s shown in glimpses he can succeed in the PL. So unlucky that the Crawley thug affected his season.

In a league of CM powerhouses, hard to see him being one of the two which FH teams require in the Baleba/Wieffer roles.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

uh?

You still going on about that penalty. I didn’t say he was ‘lucky’ - I said it was a good penalty but IMO not a ‘stonking’ one.

Seriously, anyone saying MoR is a replacement for Pedro if he leaves has not been watching either of them this season.

That’s my POV.

Happy to be proved wrong in September when he becomes our star pen taker and whacking them in from open play but it will take more than one narrow margins penalty and one assist last season to convince me.

1). No, it’s the first time I have made a post regarding his spurs penalty.
2) You did say he was lucky, “I think he was lucky to be honest”

 

[Zeberdi]

1). No, it’s the first time I have made a post regarding his spurs penalty.
2) You did say he was lucky, “I think he was lucky to be honest”

I wasn’t talking about comments you made but the fact you chose to prolong a discussion that had run its course because you wanted to pursue an argument the thread had moved on from. You jumped on my last post too before I had a chance to read it through and edit it.

I‘m not biting and have nothing further to say to you tbh.

Have a good evening. Enjoy a nice glass of wine. I will.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

O'Riley is frustrated at not playing number 8.

Not as frustrated as I am watching him.

How many players in the modern era don't have the flexibility to play various roles in centre mid.

He had a run of games at the end of the season and eventually ended up being used as a sub.

 

[Zeberdi]

I too hope he succeeds with us, he‘s shown in glimpses he can succeed in the PL. So unlucky that the Crawley thug affected his season.

In a league of CM powerhouses, hard to see him being one of the two which FH teams require in the Baleba/Wieffer roles.

Agree - injury unfortunate - not helped by the fact our other summer signings were bedding into the team ahead of him and he went down the pecking order - As it stands, I wouldn’t begrudge him moving on and I don’t think the Club would either if it’s regular starts he wants in preparation for the Denmark side.

Maybe it’s unfair but he really hasn’t done it for me yet. I remain to be wowed even momentarily.

 

[Weststander]

Agree - injury unfortunate - not helped by the fact our other summer signings were bedding into the team ahead of him and he went down the pecking order - As it stands, I wouldn’t begrudge him moving on and I don’t think the Club would either if it’s regular starts he wants in preparation for the Denmark side.

Maybe it’s unfair but he really hasn’t done it for me yet. I remain to be wowed even momentarily.

The initial fee without add ons was reckoned to be £26m. I haven’t been following Albion transfer gossip so far, what sale price has been mooted in the media?

 

[Zeberdi]

The initial fee without add ons was reckoned to be £26m. I haven’t been following Albion transfer gossip so far, what sale price has been mooted in the media?

Not sure - around £33m I think which sounds about right. (We paid £25 + sell on)

Celtic still have a 10% sell on clause against us so we will need one ourselves - especially given his potential.