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The game was poor, 0-0 all over it.
First time I have seen us this season and blimey it was like being back in the days of midtable league two finishes.
Pitch was poor. Bobbly, cut up and lots of divets and that was before kickoff.
Our passing all game was so so poor and from all over the pitch, we gave it away in our box, on the centre circle, in the attacking third, everywhere!
I had heard about Pep's love for narrow fullbacks but hadnt realised quite how much. It played right into Rochdale's hands for long diagonal balls.
To be fair to the back four, they dealt with everything in the main, not prettily or without panic but did the job. Eastwood pulled off 4/5 top saves.
New player wise -
Tiendalli was good defensively but the worst on the pitch for passing.
Williamson and Mous has a battle against two lumps up top but managed it.
Not sure what Mowatt offers or what he is supposed to be. A freezing cold December game away in rochdale probably isn't the best to be judged on but Xemi was poor.
Henry strayed from looking completely disinterested to a flash of good play back to poor again.
Wes put a good shift in but was fighting a losing battle being on his own. Seems like we don't have an alternative option to change to in a game.
On paper a good point.
But performance wise, "good" doesn't feature. Eastwood got us a point.
Basically, with these two world beaters back, Ivo and Agon, why do we need to sign anyone. Classic Eales.
Ledson and Rothwell have to come back in against Wigan for me. Ledson hasn't been consistent this year, but he would provide the steel we need against, what is easily he best midfield in the league. I can't understand why Rothwell didn't start today. Mowatt is a tidy little player but doesn't really do enough to hurt the opposition. Rothwell is direct and makes things happen. I know who I would rather defend against.
Basically, with these two world beaters back, Ivo and Agon, why do we need to sign anyone. Classic Eales.
Ledson simply has to start v Wigan to add some grit otherwise our entire midfield will get overrun by the likes of Morsy/Power and Evans
I'd start Rothwell over Mowatt too.
Wigan can score goals for fun and we could easily get ripped apart next week. Equally, if we are on our game then we are capable of beating them.
Hopefully those that remain from last season will give Pep some tips about how to expose Dunkley. His centreback partner Burn is also a bit of a lanky unit, hopefully Wes et al can move them about a bit.
Friend of highlights here, who was at the game (highlights has opened his account up to a few friends who get to see Oxford in the flesh a bit more than he does - we all work in the game, and no, none of us work for OUFC!)
Jesus what an awful game. For a passing team like Oxford that was a living hell. Moving the ball at speed down the middle of the pitch on the ground was near impossible. The only place OUFC had any joy was on the wings, and even that was limited.
Those slating the team, I think are being unfair. A passing team was always going to struggle on that joke of a pitch. That said, I think Pep got his tactics wrong. It was a game for the ball to be in the air - and for some reason the team's best aerial player, John Obika, didn't get on the pitch. Obika could have offered a valuable outlet to hold the ball up - as it was OUFC just couldn't keep the ball.
Also Eastwood looked nervous. Some cracking stops - but compare and contrast Lillis (Dale's keeper) and Eastwood. Lillis dominated his six yard box. Anything near him was gobbled up. Eastwood looked uneasy when anything came near him in the air.
Anyway. I think most sides who play passing football would have taken a point in those conditions. I hope to god the next game I'm sent to is a) warmer and b) better quality
Ledson is a must he hasn't been as good as he was before that knee injury last season but he is a really good anchor in the midfield and allows Ruffels to go forward. However, if Mowatt is to be dropped it would have to be (in my opinion) for Van Kessel or Napa, this current team lacks pace with Hall out injured and we can't drop Henry because against Wigan we're going to need someone with a good delivery out wide, Those outlets being Henry and Ricardinho because as we know Dunkley doesn't do too good under pressure so if we can put the crosses in that cause him issues dealing with them then we could get a decent result.
Not necessarily the high crosses more the low hard ones, that Ricardinho likes to put in always cause defenders issues, so if we can get them in there could cause them an issue, he was never very good when with the ball in the defensive box and seemed hesitant about weather to get rid or pass it forward.Would imagine Dunkley and his big centrehalf partner will be delighted if we chuck crosses at them all game. Moving between the lines and causing them problems on the deck is more likely to cause them trouble I think.