Dan Agyei: Oxford's secret weapon or their own worst enemy?

Rochdale fans must have been thinking Dan Agyei would be eying a move to the championship the way he started on Tuesday night.

The rest of the night, though, had a slightly different tinge for Oxford's mercurial talent. 

Tenacious, direct and dangerous. Yet also lackadaisical, careless and peripheral for large periods. If there was ever a game to sum up Dan Agyei’s time at Oxford, it would be this one.

His raw pace and power is there for all to see, but Oxford were largely better when Henry became the focus of play – the man who Agyei had replaced to come into this side.

The way Agyei started the game though seems to illustrate the potential still within him. 

Above is a still from a 3^rd minute corner for Rochdale, and Agyei is stationed to block any attempts at a short corner. His defending in this scenario, however, is irrelevant as the ball is claimed easily by Jack Stevens. Its what happens that is so impressive next. 

, though,

Within seconds of Stevens catching the ball, Agyei is breaking into the opposition half. The speed and determination of Agyei is shown by the Rochdale corner taker's (yellow circle) position. No more than 15 yards from Agyei at the start of the counter, United’s forward has now made an unsalable between the two of them.  

Agyei continues his run and finds himself one on one with the keeper, where he should score but curls his effort to close to the goaly. However, he would be on target ten minutes later in an opening period that seemed to show the desire Robinson has been craving from his front man.

Tackles were flying in and headers we being won like we haven’t seen from Agyei in a yellow shirt. Spurred on by his managers cries – even more audible given the lack of fans – Agyei looked the player we have all been waiting to see.

Then came what has so often been his downfall, a loss of concentration. 

Above is Rochdale’s first equaliser, and though there are a plethora of defensive errors that could be pointed at here, the lack of any support for Sam Long – whose been dragged towards the ball as the centre backs are caught out of position – is the most striking.

Agyei found himself engaged in a half hearted press on the halfway line, and would not come back onto screen at any point before Done drives the ball into the far corner.

The running that was so influential to Oxford’s early play had dissipated and all of Agyei’s good work undone.

This, unfortunately, was not a one off either. Large sways of Rochdale attacks came down the left wing, and Long was left two on one far too often.

Agyei struggled to bother a fragile – at times non existent – Rochdale backline from then on and he would end up going into half time being partly blamed for United’s collapse rather than credited for putting them in front.

Though the shift in fortunes was highlighted particularly in this match, it is an issue which has been at the heart of Agyei since he joined the club two summers ago.

It may be indicative that Oxford are yet to keep a league clean sheet when Agyei has started this season.

In fact, over the eleven matches Agyei has started in the league and cup this year, Oxford have conceded an average of 1.45 goals, compared to only 1.11 in the 19 without him.

Agyei, however, contributes significantly more at the other end of the pitch. 

Oxford have averaged 1.91 goals per game when Agyei starts compared to a meagre 1.26 when he is out of the first eleven. 

It goes on too.

United average 15.81 shots per game with Agyei and only 11.84 without him. Their conversion rate and shots on target per game are also greatly increased when Agyei’s in the side.

This has been the conundrum for Robinson and it looks set to continue to cause him a headache.

Agyei has a skillset exclusive to him in this Oxford squad, but harnessing those skills will be the real challenge.  

With Winnall returning to fitness and Matty Taylor still the firm first choice striker, the position Agyei is vying for is probably on the wing.

Though with Shodipo’s increasingly impressive performances, he has some way to go yet. 

If rumours over Nathan Holland’s return to Oxford are to be believed, the future waters could be very choppy for United’s now number three striker.

If Robinson can’t get his number one target in this January, then he will have a decision to make over whether he can trust Agyei to play on the wing regularly. 

His contributions upfield are inconsistent at best, but even Shodipo doesn't hold the same directness that Agyei can offer to this team. Yet the defensive side to him keeps coming back to haunt the former Burnley man. 

It’s all well and good when you are winning games 4-3, but at some point, Oxford’s luck will turn, and unless Agyei can prove to Robinson that he has what it takes to help Oxford at both ends of the pitch, he may find himself sliding worryingly low down the pecking.