….i think the form of both O’Brien and Iroegbunam has tailed off as late. They’re sadly not alone in that.
Iroegbunam was dreadful against Newcastle at home early in the season, it was so bad a performance I didn’t think he’d come back from but he really picked up afterwards. In an interview he said he likes working for Moyes, who is quite chilled but gets annoyed and leaves you in no doubt when you don’t do certain things he demands. In his case, I’m sure it was about being to lethargic and losing the ball easily.
I couldn’t see it but he really stepped up during AFCON. Supreme athlete, him and Garner have that priceless ability of what I label ‘power of recovery’. Such a nuisance to play against because you rarely run away from players like Iroegbunam. He’s still only 22 (23 next month), I think he’s made huge strides this season but is another who ‘you’re only as good as your last game’ might apply as I think his recent form disguises how much he’s improved. He might be a squad player, he might actually be leapfrogged by Armstrong, but I think he plays well with Garner and has become a useful resource this term.
Not sure anybody but Moyes would’ve thought about playing O’Brien at RB (I certainly didn’t) but he’s come in and largely done fine. It doesn’t excuse our failure to acquire an effective conventional RB, an issue that adds to his detractors but he’s surprised me with the job he’s done. Vulnerable to a mistake that matters, back-pass in pre-season and gifted Sunderland a goal last week but he was terrific in the game at Villa when he shifted to CB. It’s not easy shifting like that, but I do think his spell at RB will do him no harm if he does transitions to partner Branthwaite. Like Iroegbunam, we might ultimately bring in somebody who leapfrogs him but he’s ’more effective than fancy’ (he’ll never be pleasing on the eye) and has really come on these last 18 months. He’s also a threat in opposition box.
