Home Match Day Thread +++ 23/12/2017 OUFC v Wigan Athletic match day thread +++

[Pompeyyellows]

Ouch that was painfull

 

[Marked Ox]

The last 6 games have resulted in 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses (incidentally against two sides who are widely considered to have many players too good for this league and are favourites to go up), this run of games has also included three clean sheets so it’s hardly like getting ripped apart is a regular problem that we have.

Of course today wasn’t good enough but what you don’t do is make decisions about the suitability of a manager on the day of a heavy defeat, feelings are still too raw.

The period of results listed above points to a mid table finish which, given the players we lost in the summer, isn’t a disastrous outcome.

If performances like today become the norm rather than the exception you clearly have to make changes but as that isn’t the case.

It’s worth remembering, even the great Sir Alex Ferguson was on the end of similar results at Newcastle and Southampton.

The problem is we are making the same mistakes game after game with a rigidly tactical approach. Our game plan (certainly in home games) seems to be hang on for grim death for the 1st 20 mins and hope to be 0-0. After that, then try to be more expansive by playing through Jack Payne.

The difference with Wigan and Blackburn is that they had the class to punish the repetitive errors our defence/midfield makes, such as passing backwards to nobody unlike Doncaster who missed 3 free headers on the edge of the 6 yard box.

If Jack Payne is marked out of the game long enough and press us high up the pitch, then we are screwed (Walsall, Blackburn, Northampton and now Wigan*). Pep has no alternative if this happens as clearly today, the players haven't trained playing 4-4-2 based on that 2nd half.

Pep keeps picking the likes of Tiendalli who keeps making major errors and provides no threat going forward. Canice Carroll deserves a go at right-back, he will make the odd mistake undoubtedly but I reckon far less than Tiendalli. Lego also should be in for Xemi and at least put a bit of bite into the midfield.

The defence is a shambles and you can see it is affecting Simon Eastwood and his confidence.

Do we train defending set pieces? It appears not considering the same errors are made game after game. What marking system are we operating because I haven't a clue as it doesn't seem one or the other?

Edit: The team also had no organisation or team shape from the start. At least be organised so that it is harder for opposition but we had none so it was easy for Wigan.

 

[Notaswindonfan]

First things first, credit where credit is due, the burger before the game was lovely,but our performance was a right turkey

 

[Manorlounger]

Highlight of the day: Round of applause for the chap at the back of the SSU (behind the directors) bellowing out that we were losing and that we needed to be playing two up front! Oh yes, and also that we should have someone up field to play out to following set pieces! What novel ideas!

 

[Oufcad30]

I said in the Rochdale thread that we'dget slaughtered. I honestly didn't think it'd be that bad!! I walked out after the 6th!! First time I've done that!!

 

[Osei Yaw]

Highlight of the day: Round of applause for the chap at the back of the SSU (behind the directors) bellowing out that we were losing and that we needed to be playing two up front! Oh yes, and also that we should have someone up field to play out to following set pieces! What novel ideas!

When we went 2 up front then we conceded 4. So in hindsight a bad idea

 

[Victor1986]

Our man from Catalonia HAS to go. The real trouble is he is too " nice "- Wigan were 6 up & their management team were still screaming instructions from the touch line. This was a particularly embarrassing experience for all of us & will take a long time to forget. Clotet's interview on RO was dreadful - failing to even apologise is inexcusable. The real fact is that a lot of us have been waiting for a "tonking" for a while - we are too slow in our build ups, pass sideways & backwards too much &, bluntly the whole squad is not good enough. At Rochdale we were very lucky to get a point, 3 against Doncaster was unfair to Donny - in both games we were crap! DE must come out of hiding & make a statement of intent - & hopefully that includes putting Faz in charge for Boxing Day.

 

[BarrySpang]

Our young side today...

Eastwood 28
Tiendalli 32
Williamson 34
Mousinho 31
Ricardinho 33
Ruffels 24
Xemi 22
Henry 28
Payne 23
Mowatt 22
Thomas 30

5 players 30+ and 4 of the under 30’s have Championship experience.

 

[derek]

That was proper decent from them.

Yes - only good moment of the match - fair play to Cook, raced out of his technical area to tell his players to kick the ball out of play.

 

[m]

Highlight of the day: Round of applause for the chap at the back of the SSU (behind the directors) bellowing out that we were losing and that we needed to be playing two up front! Oh yes, and also that we should have someone up field to play out to following set pieces! What novel ideas!

Interesting to note that Wigan had every player in their box for our corners/free kicks.

 

[Leysboy]

Clotet’s managerial record isn’t great it has to be said.

I don’t think he is management material if I’m honest, a good coach maybe, but manager not for me!

 

[Leysboy]

I think a Steve Coterill approach could be the way forward.

 

[mcf86]

I have not seen a worse display from an OUFC team in decades of support, that I had family with me who were coming to see 'what the fuss is all about' - made things even worse. I was embarrassed, ashamed and bloody angry, yet at the same time we in the North stand enjoyed some 'gallows humour' clapping and cheering ferociously when we had a corner!! Rows of people must have thought there was a fire drill and were streaming out at 'only' 3-0!! It really was pathetic, and listening to clot head on Radox didn't help my mood at all, the man's delusional and a fantasist. One thing he's not, a manager. At most clubs in our division he'd be on his bike, instead I wouldn't be surprised if another trip to Spain wasn't in the offing in the new year. Fcking livid.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I also managed to stay until the end.

What a fecking shambles, from start to finish to post match managerial crap-spouting.

I thought we were bad against Doncaster and were lucky to win, by all accounts Rochdale was awful, we were lucky in the rubbish cup - this result is sadly not a real surprise, but the sheer awfulness of the performance was an eye-opener. We gifted them goals as if it was Christmas, with the usual rotten passing along the back to blame (and there were more that weren't punished - so let's not have the 'every time they attacked they scored' excuse), hardly made a tackle, had our first shot after more than an hour and looked as if we were a non-league outfit facing a prem team.

And then for Clotet to spout nonsense about us being a 'young team', to say that we were on the front foot at the start of the game (in the first 10 minutes we conceded three corners before conceding the first goal), to say the team would learn (yeah, right!) and to shrug his shoulders and say 'these things happen' (umm. No. This was a record home defeat. It has NEVER happened before) - is all completely unacceptable.

It is time for Eales to sh!t or get off the pot. If he is going to sell the club - sell it. If he isn't then he needs to decide what to do about the poor squad and drastically underachieving manager. Fast.

 

[moomooland]

Tippy tappy 0 Proper football 7
That performance was totally unacceptable. The players didn't turn up and had no desire whatsoever.
They have been let down by poor tactics and were totally unmotivated.

Clotet should be sacked first thing in the morning.

 

[StEbbesYellows]

If one player summed up the game for me, and the difference between the two teams, it was the commitment shown by their number 11, Massey. Put a real shift in, constantly putting our defenders under pressure, chasing down lost causes and passes into space down the wing. Our players were thinking of the Xmas turkey and playing like the turkeys (AKA journeymen) they are. I suspect Clotet will survive on the basis that we'll get the occasional draw and win to propel us ever closer to mid-table. Worse things can happen in life, but it's all rather bland and uninspiring.

Ps. Clotet doesn't seem to do 'angry', wish he did, or does he leave that to Faz and Chris Allen behind the scenes?

 

[moomooland]

I think we will be in a relegation battle by Easter if Pep stays.
He can't motivate the players.

 

[Jimmy Ike]

Even Patto shredded the team on at least one occasion...to the point where Jerome was speechless for a second. Remember it well.

Anyway, don't let it spoil your Chrimbo mate...hugs to you and the missus.

Better or worse today than ten years ago? I reckon ever so slightly better. But still cack.

Same to you and Sveta and the kids, bud - have a smashing one!

 

[YellowShark]

Totally horrible,embarrising heap of shite. Collapsed completely after the second goal, from then on it was only a question as to whether or not Wigan would hit double figures. Ridiculous refereeing decisions (not that I'm blaming the ref). None looked like they were trying that hard, if you cared and the things are going that badly you'd expect to see the odd temper flaring here and there and a yellow card or two. Players weren't trying or at least I hope they weren't. If they were trying then we really are in trouble. Clotet s post match interview complacent and patronising. If it reflects his attitude to the rest of the game it explains a lot.

 

[Davox]

It’s quite simple to me. Clotet is deluded and in serious denial about how good this team is. We get a record thumping and he’s still praising them! I’m speechless! We need to get rid before we join crappy Swindon in the basement division.
I was there to witness the most abject performance I’ve seen in years. Our players were light years away from Wigan, physically and mentally. Everyone should be issued a refund for that dross.