Player Watch Player Watch: Oliver Skipp

[Ribble]

Compilation from the game yesterday:



Something that strikes me from that is his movement, hits the pass and immediately he's on his way up the pitch to open up the passing option. Bet Ange is loving that application, if he can build on that in the coming weeks and just tidy up a few aspects of his game then I think he'll do just fine.

 

[easley91]

For me you keep a Skippy in your squad all the time. Utility player, hard working, willing to be on the bench and wait for opportunities without moaning about it. Not everyone can be a superstar!

It depends on what his ambitions are. If he wants to go be a starter then so be it. I think longer term, we sell. But he is far down the list as far as immediately selling for me.

 

[Nebby]

Feels like he's a victim of circumstance. If it weren't for injuries and the AFCON, he could be off on loan in the PL and getting a run of games. Would be huge for his progress.

 

[Nayim60yards]

Feels like he's a victim of circumstance. If it weren't for injuries and the AFCON, he could be off on loan in the PL and getting a run of games. Would be huge for his progress.

These kind of circumstances are exactly what he is in the squad for- cover. He can develop where he is, he has already shown what he can do on loan. Yesterday demonstrated that he can play very well for (and be of help to) us.

 

[N'Obody]

Love his application and effort for the team. He always gives 100%. He may not be the prettiest on the eye (in every send of the term ). But he definitely has technical ability, just not the agility to be quick footed, which he more than made up for with quick thinking yesterday.

He definitely has a place in the squad for me, and he is one that will keep improving with more game time and more knowledge of the system, he is the ideal teachers pet for Ange, he will soak up the info and give it his best every game.

Some players are blessed with exception natural ability, and some aren't, but they have the hunger and passion to work hard to succeed. He is one of those. He's one of our own and he will work his guts off to keep improving and be a useful member of the squad. More than happy to keep him around.

 

[TOLBINY]

Love his application and effort for the team. He always gives 100%. He may not be the prettiest on the eye (in every send of the term ). But he definitely has technical ability, just not the agility to be quick footed, which he more than made up for with quick thinking yesterday.

He definitely has a place in the squad for me, and he is one that will keep improving with more game time and more knowledge of the system, he is the ideal teachers pet for Ange, he will soak up the info and give it his best every game.

Some players are blessed with exception natural ability, and some aren't, but they have the hunger and passion to work hard to succeed. He is one of those. He's one of our own and he will work his guts off to keep improving and be a useful member of the squad. More than happy to keep him around.

Opinions are the lifeblood of this forum, and I respect what you say, but, while Skipp would not be top of my list of players we should upgrade, I do beleive we need better. As a club, and often fanbase, we have for too long now been willing to settle for avergae players in the hope they will come good. If we are serious about challenging season after season, we must be ruthless in our assessment and replacement of players and be constantly seeking to improve our squad.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

honestly, most people on this forum could make/see this run if they played a game

Michael Cox, arguably the most well-known journalist/writer on football tactics disagrees.

In below article he shows multiple examples of how Skipp's decoy runs was one of the key elements in our attacks yesterday.

There are better players out there than Skipp, but very few are going to accept being 5th/6th choice and being asked to run your socks off so that other players can get the ball.

 

[degoose]

Compilation from the game yesterday:



Something that strikes me from that is his movement, hits the pass and immediately he's on his way up the pitch to open up the passing option. Bet Ange is loving that application, if he can build on that in the coming weeks and just tidy up a few aspects of his game then I think he'll do just fine.

I was impressed with his passing and cheeky little flick ons yesterday and that brilliant pass at 1:05 in the video. A few times i had to take an extra look as it was Skipp. It was great to see some flair and range from him compared to the normally safe play that he usually does but i guess this is all part of a new system and he is now being tasked to be more attacking.

 

[eViL]

that brilliant pass at 1:05 in the video

Actually a typical pass from a fully match fit Oliver Skipp, and that hasn't been the case for well over a year now.

I hope gets a bit more of a run before the big boys come back into reckoning - looks like Ange has made his mind up he ain't going in the 6 no matter what.

 

[degoose]

Actually a typical pass from a fully match fit Oliver Skipp, and that hasn't been the case for well over a year now.

I hope gets a bit more of a run before the big boys come back into reckoning - looks like Ange has made his mind up he ain't going in the 6 no matter what.

I remember him being like that at Norwich, that season he was superb not just at being a DM but being a bit of a playmaker at times, i know it was the championship but he bossed that and i forgot he even had that in him any more, probably just the very safe football that conte had us playing

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Compilation from the game yesterday:



Something that strikes me from that is his movement, hits the pass and immediately he's on his way up the pitch to open up the passing option. Bet Ange is loving that application, if he can build on that in the coming weeks and just tidy up a few aspects of his game then I think he'll do just fine.

He's always done that. I remember seeing a compilation of a Norwich game when he was in loan and liked how progressive his passing was and how good his movement is.
Minds get made up too quickly with some players by fans and in particular our homegrown midfielders.

 

[Kingellesar]

I've always liked him, he always gives it his all, even if his performances aren't always great. We would be mad to sell a player like him who is happy to cover when needed but is also homegrown.

 

[PLTuck]

Actually a typical pass from a fully match fit Oliver Skipp, and that hasn't been the case for well over a year now.

I hope gets a bit more of a run before the big boys come back into reckoning - looks like Ange has made his mind up he ain't going in the 6 no matter what.

He did a great first time crossfield pass in pre season a year or two back as well iirc.

We haven't seen enough of that from him, but that's not really his fault. He's had freak injuries and had Jose and Conte as managers.

Those of us that see a player in him know that he has the ability and vision to make that sort of pass when he hits a rhythm and gets a bit of confidence going.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Skipp is a player who has potentially been written off too soon by us fans.

We love to champion our young players (often to a borderline delusional extent, with players who have struggled to make a mark in lower leagues being touted as reasons not to sign ready made first teamers with top level experience). Skipp is a player who not only excelled in the Championship but who also - for a brief period - established himself as an important player in our first team. Yet he’s seemingly been consigned to the dustbin. He’s still only 23. He’s home grown. He’s on modest wages. No need to write him off just yet in my view.

 

[rabbikeane]

He's an additional midfielder, which if you compare with the other top 4 clubs they don't even have a player to compare with him.

 

[Montalbano]

Skipp is a player who has potentially been written off too soon by us fans.

We love to champion our young players (often to a borderline delusional extent, with players who have struggled to make a mark in lower leagues being touted as reasons not to sign ready made first teamers with top level experience). Skipp is a player who not only excelled in the Championship but who also - for a brief period - established himself as an important player in our first team. Yet he’s seemingly been consigned to the dustbin. He’s still only 23. He’s home grown. He’s on modest wages. No need to write him off just yet in my view.

He fit our previous systems much better, where our midfield was significantly less dynamic and conceded much of the ball. I think everyone acknowledges he’s a decent player, he just lacks the dynamism / athleticism to play a part in Ange’s midfield and is a clear level below our primary midfield options. He’s proven he’s beyond Championship level in seasons past, so it makes sense why he stood out in the Norwich side.

For the sake of his career (and for us, his transfer value), he should be moved on. He’d be a great option for a more defensive side or teams that have less of the ball like Sheffield, Forest, etc.

 

[C1w8]

there was a bit of a lack of coordination with Werner all game long and the goal was another instance. Son usually plays on the left and he likes to stay with outside leverage to get on the ball and force the 1v1. his usual instinct is to slow down to create cushion against the FB until the midfielder gets him on the ball. Werner on the other hand is more of an off ball attacker. his reaction there was to flex the run inside and try to get in behind.

guess my point is not that it wasn't necessarily poor due to technique but due to tactical familiarity. perhaps a more polished midfielder makes a better read on the fly but yea, the adjustment period of dealing with a new winger cuts him some slack in my eyes.

Werner was angling his run at his defender/towards goal as soon as he got going, and Skipp shouldve read this and played a pass accordingly. Whether it was technique, accuracy, or not being able to read what Werner was doing (in a situation where it was quite clear, and he had an abundance of time to recognise it), it wasn't a good pass and I dont feel like he needed familiarity to understand what Werner was doing.

Overall I thought he had a decent game. The club would be happy I'm sure to keep him on as a squad player, so it'll be up to Skipp to decide if he is willing to embrace that knowing he could go through lengthy spells without much game time, or if he wants to find a starting spot at another team.

 

[C1w8]

Skipp is a player who has potentially been written off too soon by us fans.

We love to champion our young players (often to a borderline delusional extent, with players who have struggled to make a mark in lower leagues being touted as reasons not to sign ready made first teamers with top level experience). Skipp is a player who not only excelled in the Championship but who also - for a brief period - established himself as an important player in our first team. Yet he’s seemingly been consigned to the dustbin. He’s still only 23. He’s home grown. He’s on modest wages. No need to write him off just yet in my view.

There are some who have written him off i'm sure but there's also a lot of us who think just given the context of the players in his position, the system, and the ambition of the club, a move for Skipp might be best for team and player.

He could establish himself at another team in a more suited system and have a long successful premier league career, as opposed to being stuck on the fringe with us hoping for spots of game time amongst injuries/suspensions/absences.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

There are some who have written him off i'm sure but there's also a lot of us who think just given the context of the players in his position, the system, and the ambition of the club, a move for Skipp might be best for team and player.

He could establish himself at another team in a more suited system and have a long successful premier league career, as opposed to being stuck on the fringe with us hoping for spots of game time amongst injuries/suspensions/absences.

 

[Clark28]

Thought he did well during his appearance today.