2025/26 Jake O'Brien

[Vaughan]

Spot on! The fact that our midfield is so reluctant to ,carry the ball forward and end up passing it back means our centre halves in particular rarely get any breathing spade. The ball is constantly coming at them, if not from our opponents, then from our midfielders.

the midfield has been too easy to play through all season, kdh adrift at 10, gana all over the place and garner fighting a lone battle, the defence has been really deep too

with branthwaite and obrien at cb you could really push the backline up and tighten the gap between defence and midfield, and really squeeze the opposition in the process

garner could play centrally as a 6 adding an extra barrier between the two, flanked by dewsbury hall and one of rohl, iroegbunam or armstrong. for me tim has put in the best performances this season and i do wonder if he might have kept his place ahead of gana had he not got injured. but i do think rohl and armstrong have higher ceilings and offensive qualities

 

[Joey66]

Not just Jake but the whole back four were constantly under threat on Tuesday as Bournemouth poured through a non existent defensive midfield.

This was from the kick off, not just in the second half.

Admittedly it was my first time seeing them in the flesh this season but what was glaringly obvious was a complete lack of midfield protection - a wet tissue would have been stronger.

The absence of an enforcer is a major problem imo. Too light, too lackadaisical, jogging around - simply unacceptable.

If the back four make mistakes, then criticism is warranted, but if they are under the cosh because of a midfield that's not doing its job, then that should also be called out.

Since returning Garna has disrupted our midfield & just goes A wall - hence when we are caught on the break our two man midfield - a vacuum of space & we get punished - more so at home ....

 

[Miked1e]

NOT A RIGHT BACK

 

[Joey66]

Oh dear 1- 1 deflection Gana chasing shadows...

 

[Joey66]

Beto 2-1

 

[davek]

Our second best CB and second best RB.

That's why he's a starter.

 

[Paul Rideout]

Our second best CB and second best RB.

Lie down David, you’re being too provocative here

 

[davek]

Lie down David, you’re being too provocative here

Just making the point he's one of our best performers wherever placed.

Only Branthwaite better at CB and only Garner better at RB.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Just making the point he's one of our best performers wherever placed.

Only Branthwaite better at CB and only Garner better at RB.

Doing what I expect, considering his size advantage....on the ball I'll give him his dues.

 

[Efcjake]

He played well today

 

[SJB]

A good, solid performance from him today.

He gives us physicality, aerial strength at the back post, and he’s far more comfortable defending one-v-one than other options we have. In games where we’re under pressure, he tucks in well, wins his duels, and keeps things simple. That stability matters, especially when we’re trying to grind out results.

 

[Cels]

Jake O'Brien had a decent enough game today, but he got shredded a few times, and that could have proven costly for us.

 

[HalfTimeSayers]

Must be his sheer size that puts wingers off rinsing him. They sometimes get the better of him, and he’s not slow. But you’d expect more of them to just keep going at him again and again, but they rarely do. Purely psychological as they must rationally know he won’t be able to turn as quick as a smaller fuller back.

Can’t wait for him to move inside a spot alongside JB. That could be an outstanding pairing for years.

 

[chicoazul]

He’s effective away from home but really we’re waiting too long to see him paired with Branthwaite.

 

[Eggs]

He played well today

…agree, Jake, thought he coped very well especially seeing off Anthony Gordon.