2025/26 Jake O'Brien


Mental how when hes got the ball in a central area he seems so much better on the ball. When he's out right its like he has blinkers on. 3 times today when he turned back with the ball there was a simple pass to Pickford but he turns on the outside again and panics. Same with Dibling in front of him, just doesn't have a picture of playing it off and moving. Looks absolutely shocking right back yet looks like he can drive out with the ball from central defence.
 

This insistence on forcing him out of position needs to stop. Michael Keane is not worth forcing anyone out of position for.
Presumably the manager thinks that, on balance, Jake at RB and Keane at CH is a stronger defence overall than Jake at CH and, say, Patterson at RB.

It's speculation but I can think of no other reason for that decision. If that is the reason it seems spurious as I'm not sure that Jake is a better RB than Patterson defensively and certainly not offensively.

Except in the absence of equivalent cover, players should be played in their best positionclearly more talented players can be equally effective in more than one position). Jake isn't a RB. (McNeill isn't a 10. Rohl isn't a winger.)
 

I'd say if Jake gets injured the defence is in bad way whether he's playing at CB or RB. Underrated at RB, have a look at the goals conceded if he does. With the option to take one the best CMs in PL and put him there.

He's better and more composed on the ball than Patterson and is night and day ahead of Patterson in defence and physicality.
A few times hes been skinned by elite wingers but its a rarity. And some of these same wingers have been completely bullied and outplayed by the end of the game.

I'd say hes probably hated in intense training. Good, someone to build a side around.

We need a RB and we need JOB at CB but reckon this frustration sees the bias against what he is actually doing
 
Keane is a 4th choice centre half, so should never be ahead of JOBrien.
I recall him bringing Keane on in a match instead of moving OBrien into CB and bringing on a RB.
Moyes should be fixing the RB slot and not by compromising the CB.
It’s madness, as the last 2 results clearly show.
 

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