Jake O'Brien

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AjaxAndy
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Something I noticed today was how having 3 massive CBs makes it impossible for a chipped ball down the line or a longer diagonal to be affective. It's just meat and drink for O'Brien and Branthwaite to head away.

Also any crosses that come over whether front, middle or back are dealt with comfortably. Even just cut out by the first man wherever they are aimed sometimes.

It's really working well and huge credit to Moyes for going with it.
superpull
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AjaxAndy wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 10:38 pm Something I noticed today was how having 3 massive CBs makes it impossible for a chipped ball down the line or a longer diagonal to be affective. It's just meat and drink for O'Brien and Branthwaite to head away.

Also any crosses that come over whether front, middle or back are dealt with comfortably. Even just cut out by the first man wherever they are aimed sometimes.

It's really working well and huge credit to Moyes for going with it.
It's unreal how comfortable I am defending crosses into the box nowadays. Long before Dyche (maybe even back to Moyes?) I've always thought we were shaky when it was put direct at head height towards our box.
Paddockoldie
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Very shrewd by Moyes I think playing him at RB...When he becomes the right sided CB he'll have all the awareness for his role and cover for that area. I like him and he's growing in confidence
74Blue
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Paddockoldie wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 7:51 am Very shrewd by Moyes I think playing him at RB...When he becomes the right sided CB he'll have all the awareness for his role and cover for that area. I like him and he's growing in confidence
Minutes on the pitch can only improve him, whilst putting him in initially at right back mitigates the risk of any little errors being overly costly and shattering his confidence. As the Minutes increase, the errors will reduce and you have a good quality centre half, ready to step in. Having the extra height at the back is also great for defending set pieces and cutting out crosses. Moyes masterclass.
AndSeel
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74Blue wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 8:05 am Minutes on the pitch can only improve him, whilst putting him in initially at right back mitigates the risk of any little errors being overly costly and shattering his confidence. As the Minutes increase, the errors will reduce and you have a good quality centre half, ready to step in. Having the extra height at the back is also great for defending set pieces and cutting out crosses. Moyes masterclass.
Hes done this with loads of CBs hasnt he. Jagielka, Lescott, Heitinga if i remember correctly.

All turned out pretty decent.
The Doc
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Looks assured now, go on the big lad!
Cods
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Thought he did pretty well, good footy brain, solid passing and strength, out wide, currently. Can see him being really good over time.
Audrey Horne
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Fantastic
Bob Sacamano
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Yeah can see this lad going the distance. Very calm and that’s half the battle at this level.
AjaxAndy
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Caught flat footed for their first and he does definitely have these little moments where he shows his inexperience (allowing Mitoma inside to fire just wide springs to mind), but overall his performances have been really solid and he looks comfortable on the ball.

Enjoying seeing him play for us!
Toddacelli
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Will be the Branthwaite ‘replacement’ in the rebuild I fear.
AjaxAndy
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Passing was a bit poor today, knocked a few down the line and straight out of play that weren't particularly hard passes. Did skin 2 players out wide though and put in a good cross which I didn't think he had in his locker.

Probably a bit of a mixed bag overall today but needs to be more accurate with his passing than he was today.
Cozzie
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Classic Moyes bedding him in as a FB.

Branthwaite going or not he's gonna be in the middle next season and will be better off for his stint at FB.
Shogun
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AjaxAndy wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 10:37 pm Passing was a bit poor today, knocked a few down the line and straight out of play that weren't particularly hard passes. Did skin 2 players out wide though and put in a good cross which I didn't think he had in his locker.

Probably a bit of a mixed bag overall today but needs to be more accurate with his passing than he was today.
Suppose credit to Moyes for allowing him to make them mistakes in a position less fatal than if he was at CB

Going back to his stomping ground today, wasn't he? Probably a few nerves.
AjaxAndy
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Shogun wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:56 am Suppose credit to Moyes for allowing him to make them mistakes in a position less fatal than if he was at CB

Going back to his stomping ground today, wasn't he? Probably a few nerves.
Yeah 100% happy with how he's being used as it just takes the pressure off any issues he needs to iron out. I'd imagine those types of pass are a bit alien to him too as it's going to be rare as a CB you're out in the FB position trying to thread balls down the line. He's got a lot a really good attributes and now getting the time on the pitch he needs to develop any areas of weakness.
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