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

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

I thought Matt improved again today. Seems to be getting a little better each game. Sweet left foot and always looks to make things happen.
A good pre-season and we may see a very good player for 25/26.

My thoughts entirely. He was very good playing for a Championship level team in a pretty bang average league but is intelligent and fast enough to step up to the EPL.
I think the pace and intensity has somewhat flummoxed him, but as you say, a good pre season and he may well bring another different dimension to the team for next season.

TNBA


TTF

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

I think he will be fine. He'll never be a top talent like some which will mean he'll not be off. He seems a good squad player and will contribute significantly over the season. Got the winner against City didn't he?

As he gets more game time he'll improve a bit.

With the injuries and substitutions in the game these days teams need players like him. Wholehearted who always give 100 per cent and who can be a threat.

 

[Flounce]

I think he will be fine. He'll never be a top talent like some which will mean he'll not be off. He seems a good squad player and will contribute significantly over the season. Got the winner against City didn't he?

As he gets more game time he'll improve a bit.

With the injuries and substitutions in the game these days teams need players like him. Wholehearted who always give 100 per cent and who can be a threat.

Very odd reaction from him post match imo

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

I think he will be fine. He'll never be a top talent like some which will mean he'll not be off. He seems a good squad player and will contribute significantly over the season. Got the winner against City didn't he?

As he gets more game time he'll improve a bit.

With the injuries and substitutions in the game these days teams need players like him. Wholehearted who always give 100 per cent and who can be a threat.

Building on this, I think our best hope with him is that he develops into a Pascal Gross type of role because ultimately he’s not got the physical profile to play as a second striker/10 (which has reminded me that’s where Gross played in his away debut against Leicester and looked like a competition winner!). Continuing to develop his intelligence, guise, passing range and finishing will be his best route to a regular position in the side.

 

[DJ NOBO]

I like him, and rate him. We’ve got a few in that attacking midfield area though.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he went somewhere on a season loan in 2025/26. .

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

No matter what you think of his footballing skills, you have to agree he scrubs up well and looks rather dashing in a suit. Developing a bit of a man crush on the handsome bugger.

 

[Zeberdi]

No matter what you think of his footballing skills, you have to agree he scrubs up well and looks rather dashing in a suit. Developing a bit of a man crush on the handsome bugger.

View attachment 201382

He’s Sponsorship McDreamy.

 

[The Optimist]

Very odd reaction from him post match imo

Possibly just not happy with his performance.

 

[singing4seagulls]

Feels like this is a big game for O'Riley today.

He's had a decent run of games now and shown some potential, but I think like he needs to start really owning the position and getting some assists etc. if he's going to have any chance of keeping a place in the team when some of our injured players/Pedro/loan players return.

It's a highly congested position, especially when you add in our loanees.

I'm rooting for him to have a decent game today.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Feels like this is a big game for O'Riley today.

He's had a decent run of games now and shown some potential, but I think like he needs to start really owning the position and getting some assists etc. if he's going to have any chance of keeping a place in the team when some of our injured players/Pedro/loan players return.

It's a highly congested position, especially when you add in our loanees.

I'm rooting for him to have a decent game today.

I think he delivered, he was popping up all over the place and causing Wolves a lot of problems.

 

[Jim in the West]

I think he delivered, he was popping up all over the place and causing Wolves a lot of problems.

He was frustratingly hesitant at times though - notably when he decided not to shoot when Sa’s clearance went straight to him. Similarly, when presented with the ball by a spectacularly poor free kick that the Wolves right back took, which went behind his team-mate on the other side of the pitch, and gave O’Reilly a potential one on one with the keeper. But he wasn’t confident enough to go for it.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

He was frustratingly hesitant at times though - notably when he decided not to shoot when Sa’s clearance went straight to him. Similarly, when presented with the ball by a spectacularly poor free kick that the Wolves right back took, which went behind his team-mate on the other side of the pitch, and gave O’Reilly a potential one on one with the keeper. But he wasn’t confident enough to go for it.

Fair points, but at least he’s not just a passenger, he’s actually causing the opposition a headache which is good.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

I think he delivered, he was popping up all over the place and causing Wolves a lot of problems.

Sitting on the coach back from a very enjoyable, inpressive away day/game and result. Nothing personal but I have to strongly disagree re: MOR. Thought he was comfortably our weakest link and worst player all game. As did many others around me in the ground.

I watched him - focusing solely on him for about 20 mins today. He might have popped up in a few good areas, but he did very, very little with any of those opportunities. He was quite careless in possession, his pressing game is so half hearted- like he’s almost doing it for show.

He seems utterly disinterested in the physical side of the game (whereas Weiffer flourished in this respect today). This may be the injuries playing on his mind still - which is the only area I’m giving him the benefit of doubt with. I’d go as far to say I felt his performance today was quite lazy at times. He never really put any real pressure on the last line of defence. Did not bring others into play particularly well - as his quality in tight spaces is lacking or just failed to pick the right pass or retain possession.

He played some ok ‘comfort zone’ backwards or sideways passes but that’s about it. Gruda came on and suddenly that pocket of space MOR was sometimes occupying between midfield and the strikers came alive. I thought Gruda caused more problems in his first five minutes than MOR did in 75.

Oh .. and he’s quite fond of pointing and directing his teammates all the time. Sorry for the harsh critique but I have been massively underwhelmed by him so far. And today, he irritated me tbh. I hope Gruda gets the solid run of games MOR has had. I hope Matt comes good like all our signings. I don’t hate the guy. I don’t hate/dislike any of our players. But right now he looks well off the pace and quality in that important position.

 

[5Ways Gull]

No matter what you think of his footballing skills, you have to agree he scrubs up well and looks rather dashing in a suit. Developing a bit of a man crush on the handsome bugger.

View attachment 201382

Think he talks posh as well!

 

[jcdenton08]

Oh .. and he’s quite fond of pointing and directing his teammates all the time.

I certainly agree with this part - I find that quite annoying, because often he’s pointing at a space HE should be in.

 

[Flounce]

Fair points, but at least he’s not just a passenger, he’s actually causing the opposition a headache which is good.

I thought he played pretty well. Annoyed that he didn’t shoot for the open goal though, clearly lacking in confidence. He very nearly reached a great cross from Minteh though. I cannot fault his effort. I think he’s feeling the pressure, much like Wieffer has until thenlast couple of games.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

He was frustratingly hesitant at times though - notably when he decided not to shoot when Sa’s clearance went straight to him. Similarly, when presented with the ball by a spectacularly poor free kick that the Wolves right back took, which went behind his team-mate on the other side of the pitch, and gave O’Reilly a potential one on one with the keeper. But he wasn’t confident enough to go for it.

Yeah this.

Doesn't seem to have the confidence to take centre stage.
Which is a shame, because I think he has it in him to be a superstar

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

I certainly agree with this part - I find that quite annoying, because often he’s pointing at a space HE should be in.

Yes. Agree.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

Yeah this.

Doesn't seem to have the confidence to take centre stage.
Which is a shame, because I think he has it in him to be a superstar

Don’t disagree. Might be feeling the step up from Scottish football is much, much bigger than he expected? It’s all going on around him at the moment rather than him influencing it. Needs time, but I would say he has been given a fair crack of starts and games now. (He was the summer signing I was most excited about - which is maybe why I’m being a bit harsh).

 

[Jeremiah]

Sitting on the coach back from a very enjoyable, inpressive away day/game and result. Nothing personal but I have to strongly disagree re: MOR. Thought he was comfortably our weakest link and worst player all game. As did many others around me in the ground.

I watched him - focusing solely on him for about 20 mins today. He might have popped up in a few good areas, but he did very, very little with any of those opportunities. He was quite careless in possession, his pressing game is so half hearted- like he’s almost doing it for show.

He seems utterly disinterested in the physical side of the game (whereas Weiffer flourished in this respect today). This may be the injuries playing on his mind still - which is the only area I’m giving him the benefit of doubt with. I’d go as far to say I felt his performance today was quite lazy at times. He never really put any real pressure on the last line of defence. Did not bring others into play particularly well - as his quality in tight spaces is lacking or just failed to pick the right pass or retain possession.

He played some ok ‘comfort zone’ backwards or sideways passes but that’s about it. Gruda came on and suddenly that pocket of space MOR was sometimes occupying between midfield and the strikers came alive. I thought Gruda caused more problems in his first five minutes than MOR did in 75.

Oh .. and he’s quite fond of pointing and directing his teammates all the time. Sorry for the harsh critique but I have been massively underwhelmed by him so far. And today, he irritated me tbh. I hope Gruda gets the solid run of games MOR has had. I hope Matt comes good like all our signings. I don’t hate the guy. I don’t hate/dislike any of our players. But right now he looks well off the pace and quality in that important position.

Always good to get a view from someone who was there. The BBC vote had him as MOTM !

Watching online I was frustrated by him today and he is physically weak - he gets brushed off the ball too easily as does Ayari.

Like you I really hope he comes good. Time will tell .