Moses Odubajo

[ContrifibulatoryFred]

When Moses left the Os I thought he was one of the most exciting wing back prospects in the game.
In our near-promotion season he had scored 12 goals in 57 appearances, and he was our standout performer on so many occasions

However, the path Moses has subsequently followed (or been coached to follow) seems to have smothered his wondrous attacking instincts.

There is no denying that Moses did exceptionally well in the Championship for Brentford and was instrumental in Hull City's promotion playoff success resulting in promotion to the Premier League. But this was not the Moses we knew, because he had now retreated into a purely defensive role - abandoning the key part of his game that had made him such a great prospect, and making him (in my opinion) less of a player.

How Moses would have progressed we will never truly know because a terrible pre-season injury prevented him having the opportunity of testing himself against the top clubs. Since that 10-month layoff, Moses seems to have lost his sparkle. Although he has established himself at Sheffield Wednesday, it is a another defensive role meaning that it is now 5 years since Moses has scored a goal.

I sometimes wonder if modern training techniques, and the fear of losing has taken something vital and important from football. It calls to mind Mourinho going crazy at Joe Cole after he had done some showboating skills in a game at Stamford Bridge. It might even apply to Brentford's lame scaredy-cat performance against Fulham last night.

I feel that it is sad to see creativity and flair sacrificed on the altar of thou-shalt-not-lose.

There must be more examples of players who have had the rough edges polished away so much that they end up being competent, but nondescript

[Scuba Diver]

Think this sort of thing has been an issue for years.

Slade played him very much as an attacking RM, with Cuthbert behind him, allowing the licence to get forward. Clearly, the lad could dribble, and finish. Although the full-back role in the modern is more attacking than it's ever been, his stats speak for themselves.

A shame, really, as I also saw him very much as a flair player and to think he's only moved up one division (L1 to Championship) in the 6 years he's been gone from Orient is surprising.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

You probably cant underestimate what a bad injury might do to a player. Some people never come back the same, especially players who had pace as one of their top attributes.

I think it's nothing to be sniffed at for him to be a regular Championship player.

But I agree in the sense of how the game has changed. I watched a lot of football from the late 90s and early 00s during lockdown and its almost like a different game. In Euro 96, the football wasn't particularly good and teams would turn over possession every 30 seconds sometimes but it was exciting, attacking football. When you watch the top leagues now (and i actually think the Championship is very exciting), it's all about possession. Kids are trained to not shoot from distance, and find an extra pass to get it into the box. I see a lot of young players up and down the leagues who pick up the ball and their first thought isn't to turn towards goal and see if there's an attacking pass on, but to ensure they retain possession and tend to to look sideways or backwards.

[EliotNes]

You probably cant underestimate what a bad injury might do to a player. Some people never come back the same, especially players who had pace as one of their top attributes.

I think it's nothing to be sniffed at for him to be a regular Championship player.

I agree wiv the above

[AckneyAwks]

I know the game is all about ball retention now'adays but one of my biggest bug bears is this. A attacking team are going forward at pace the ball is laid out to just outside the penalty area and the winger or over lapping full back instead of crossing into the area for the on-rushing forwards check back and pass the ball back which then ends up back by the halfway line.
The forward players must get really frustrated as to have defenders back tracking at pace gives the forwards a much greater advantage.
Defenders hate pace!

[DuvB]

Moses was quick when he was with us but then he moved up a league and by comparison it wasn't as easy to speed past his new level of opponents. Add his bad injury to that and its easy to see why he is now more defensive.

[ComeOnYouOs]

If he wouldn't have got his career threatening injury, I'm convinced Moses would now be a regular Premier League player now. After he got back from it, he got another bad injury.

[gshaw]

If he wouldn't have got his career threatening injury, I'm convinced Moses would now be a regular Premier League player now. After he got back from it, he got another bad injury.

Yup was gutted for him when that happened. So much of a footballer's career is down to luck with injuries, how many times does a player come back a shadow of their former self.

[PutneyO]

When did Odubajo last score a goal?

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Moses was quick when he was with us but then he moved up a league and by comparison it wasn't as easy to speed past his new level of opponents. Add his bad injury to that and its easy to see why he is now more defensive.

This.

[AckneyAwks]

When did Odubajo last score a goal?

yesterday in training.