10/4/02: Oakley's goal tally

Last updated : 10 April 2002 By Christian Kelly
Typical isn't it. You score one goal and suddenly everyone is expecting you to get barrel loads. Of course in the case of Matthew Oakley, it's not the lack of talent that's holding him back in this department. After his great strike against Derby Gordon Strachan said: "I am always telling Matt to get forward more. Rory Delap often gets to the spaces ahead of him and had he not been injured for a while this season he could have got between six and eight goals for us, but we want Matt to take up the same sort of positions and I keep telling him if he sees the space to go for it.

"Matt has been a big player for us this season and deserves more of the plaudits. Every week he gets better and that is a fantastic attribute."

Many fans level criticism at Oakley, expecting him to play a more prominent role in the side. While he could impose himself a little more when things are going wrong, I think it would be a mistake to try to force him upfield all the time. Matty has taken the mantle of supplier to the attack form the defence. He holds the ball well and his passing and skill are excellent. To have him in the final third of the pitch would get goals all right, but for both sides. No one else in the Saints team can perform the role Oakley has to the same degree and I don't see Delap or Svensson dropping back too much. Perhaps the settled team Strachan has been putting out will allow a partnership to develop naturally but until then I wouldn't expect too much from Oakley. He does a fine job where he is.