Home Match Day Thread +++ 15/02/20 OUFC v Sunderland +++

[uptheus]

When you consider the money Sunderland have spent in the last 2 years and we have a goal and a penalty shoot out between us over the 5 games. I thought we played as well as we have this year today without a little luck, and also a little sharpness upfront. The ball didn't fall right on a few occasions, but really good teams antiscipate that a little better and make these count. We are not far off being that team, and have some more friendly fixtures coming to hopefully make up ground.

Disappointing today as Sunderland were definitely beatable, but think we have the opportunity to step up a couple of gears where they were virtually at their best. Hopefully we will win the next meeting at Wembley in May.

We don’t have to talk about the gap in the size between the two clubs and use it as an excuse e.g. Bournemouth, Sheffield Utd, Burnley etc.

We were the better team today both technically and performance wise and have been on the other occasions, so we are what we are. They just got lucky today, but we didn’t help ourselves in creating good chances or testing them in the final third where it matters.

What really pisses me off is, we had a bloody good chance of making the play offs minimal, but due to lack of ambition when it counted we’ll probably finish just outside of them which is extremely frustrating, so let’s just hope we can turn things around.

 

[Shosho]

I thought he was a bright spark but is still raw. He needs to be a bit more dynamic with his runs - his goal at Burton came because he took off and told Taylor exactly where to play it. Felt he could’ve done that a bit more today, but at least he stretched them and wanted to go forwards. I thought that after half time his hold up play really started to click and he was putting himself about well, but I don’t think there was a chance of him lasting beyond an hour, for various reasons.

Again, it is not about him being the messiah, it is about him not being the worst forward we have to the point where he’s lucky to get on the bench. Taylor isn’t our player (and is 30 next month) and Mackie is on the verge of retirement - he needs opportunities not just for his own development but for the good of the team beyond this season.

Have to say, I was watching Agyei pretty closely and he was making some great runs off the Sunderland CBs. Making some nice moves between the CBs and LB/RB...there were certainly times when Henry (and others) simply didn’t spot the runs

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Have to say, I was watching Agyei pretty closely and he was making some great runs off the Sunderland CBs. Making some nice moves between the CBs and LB/RB...there were certainly times when Henry (and others) simply didn’t spot the runs

Interesting... He wasn’t flat footed by any means, just felt he could be more demanding / firmer with his play. Perhaps if he had a bit more dynamism he would be found more often? Sometimes in that situation you really need to make yourself heard of you aren’t seen.

Either way, I thought he was promising. He carries a threat with his power and speed, and offers something different to our other options. I really hope he stays in and around the team and gets regular runs off the bench if he isn’t starting, for more than 5/10 minutes at a time.

 

[Scotchegg]

We don’t have to talk about the gap in the size between the two clubs and use it as an excuse e.g. Bournemouth, Sheffield Utd, Burnley etc.

We were the better team today both technically and performance wise and have been on the other occasions, so we are what we are. They just got lucky today, but we didn’t help ourselves in creating good chances or testing them in the final third where it matters.

What really pisses me off is, we had a bloody good chance of making the play offs minimal, but due to lack of ambition when it counted we’ll probably finish just outside of them which is extremely frustrating, so let’s just hope we can turn things around.

The reason I mentioned the size of Sunderland (and their spending) is to show that it is not all about how much is spent, but more about how it is spent. I don't think that anyone at the club lacked ambition, but that the players we wanted/needed were simply not available. But all of that aside, Sunderland came to us on a great run and we were significantly weakened through injuries and those coming back to fitness. We were the better team and without the lack of focus right at the start, I think (with a little luck) we would have won easily. That shows that not a million miles of playoff standards and have nothing to fear should we get there.

 

[ttg17]

Sorry to be pessimistic but I think the play offs are out of reach now, and yes I would love you to come back on here and lambast me saying “what do you know when we’re now at Wembley in the Olay off final”

Nah I’m with you mate I’m resigned to it, just loving the positivity !

 

[christenedinjericho]

After Burton I said about the teams slow starts and unfortunately it happened again today but tbh we should have probably smashed them with a bit more luck and fortune in front of goal.

However, it was at the end of the match what actually surprised me more than the 3 points lost. In general after the final whistle I tend to enjoy a bit of 'friendly' cat calling banter with the away fans whilst walking down the North stand plank but today tbf they (the sunlan fans) were having none of if it as they were solidly eyes fixed on the player's celebrating on the pitch and nothin' else - no taunting - no w*nker signs - no big I'am - just old fashioned support for their team except for a lady and a gent facing us in their late 60's clapping us ol' north Stander's going down the steps and saying something along the lines of 'well done - you were the better team'. This gesture absolutely hook line and sinker stole my thunder and made me think about my end of game histrionics.This lovely couple restored my faith a little. I'm orf to church in the morning. The lord is my shepherd.

Coyy's.

 

[uptheus]

The reason I mentioned the size of Sunderland (and their spending) is to show that it is not all about how much is spent, but more about how it is spent. I don't think that anyone at the club lacked ambition, but that the players we wanted/needed were simply not available. But all of that aside, Sunderland came to us on a great run and we were significantly weakened through injuries and those coming back to fitness. We were the better team and without the lack of focus right at the start, I think (with a little luck) we would have won easily. That shows that not a million miles of playoff standards and have nothing to fear should we get there.

I thought we were still going to make it, play offs that is.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Not wishing to raise the Agyei/Mackie debate again but you watch that today and really do wonder what Mackie can give more than Agyei. Agyei’s first thought is to get face on to the defender and try and get in a one on one situation, he’s committing the defender.

He doesn’t have Mackie’s experience or gamesmanship but for a footballing side, like us, he offers much more. He’s work in progress but there’s an explosiveness to him that, Brown aside, we don’t possess elsewhere.

I’m not suggesting we start him every week but he should be more at the forefront of Robinson’s thinking other than a player who occasionally scrapes in the match day 18.

 

[Oxford1996]

We are completely different team now because Fosu & Baptiste would draw 2 markers every time leaving space for the likes of Henry etc to always be free far side with an overlapping Cadden. Our January transfer window was an absolute disaster as the new players don’t suit the system.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

The thing that impressed me about Agyei was that when he was given the ball he never seemed to lose it, he always laid off a simple pass or attacked the defence and won a corner etc. Whenever he was sent off down the wing with the ball at his feet he’d lay it off to a teammate and keep the move going.

He does seem to take a bit too long to shoot, and try and have that extra touch - if he could take a snapshot he might score more. But I think he did enough to deserve to start the next game - him, Taylor and Browne could be a very good combination.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I thought he was a bright spark but is still raw. He needs to be a bit more dynamic with his runs - his goal at Burton came because he took off and told Taylor exactly where to play it. Felt he could’ve done that a bit more today, but at least he stretched them and wanted to go forwards. I thought that after half time his hold up play really started to click and he was putting himself about well, but I don’t think there was a chance of him lasting beyond an hour, for various reasons.

Again, it is not about him being the messiah, it is about him not being the worst forward we have to the point where he’s lucky to get on the bench. Taylor isn’t our player (and is 30 next month) and Mackie is on the verge of retirement - he needs opportunities not just for his own development but for the good of the team beyond this season.

Agyei is a gawky lummox and looks more like a promising lad signed from Bromley than Burnley, but he played well and was a threat. Every time he ran into the area we had the chance of a penalty as they weren’t sure how to stop him. You can see why he’s been been held back since he does look raw but he deserves more chances now.

 

[Carpy]

I have to say that I’m on the side of you make your own luck, been far too many games this season where we can say we’ve dominated but then lost or drawn, I really wish we could win ugly

 

[Carpy]

I don't think that anyone at the club lacked ambition, but that the players we wanted/needed were simply not available.

Where can I get a pair of these rose tinted specs of yours?

 

[Bigfella72]

Not wishing to raise the Agyei/Mackie debate again but you watch that today and really do wonder what Mackie can give more than Agyei. Agyei’s first thought is to get face on to the defender and try and get in a one on one situation, he’s committing the defender.

He doesn’t have Mackie’s experience or gamesmanship but for a footballing side, like us, he offers much more. He’s work in progress but there’s an explosiveness to him that, Brown aside, we don’t possess elsewhere.

I’m not suggesting we start him every week but he should be more at the forefront of Robinson’s thinking other than a player who occasionally scrapes in the match day 18.

They are obviously completely different footballers and the switch in formation definitely suited Agyei over Mackie.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[West Oxon U’s]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1228953210745868288

 

[West Oxon U’s]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1228929753471750144

 

[Yellows1]

On a side note did anyone see the 2 Sunderland fans applaud their players off in the SSL yesterday, think there were quite a few in home end areas yesterday, not sure how that was allowed???

 

[MC Yellow]

I don't think that anyone at the club lacked ambition, but that the players we wanted/needed were simply not available.

But that is the very point isn’t it?

We apparently couldn’t get the players we felt we needed to strengthen the squad, but on the very last day we still let two go.

In the light of the above, ambition would have been better demonstrated by preventing Baptiste’s departure until the summer.

We may still have a possibility of squeezing into the playoffs, but that likelihood has certainly diminished and the board have to take responsibility for that with their actions.

 

[horseman]

The reason I mentioned the size of Sunderland (and their spending) is to show that it is not all about how much is spent, but more about how it is spent. I don't think that anyone at the club lacked ambition, but that the players we wanted/needed were simply not available. But all of that aside, Sunderland came to us on a great run and we were significantly weakened through injuries and those coming back to fitness. We were the better team and without the lack of focus right at the start, I think (with a little luck) we would have won easily. That shows that not a million miles of playoff standards and have nothing to fear should we get there.

As i've said in another thread, using your very weak argument what if it was Posh in the play offs?