Away Match Day Thread 02/04/2021 L1 Sunderland v OUFC

[werthersoriginal]

Can't be any less promising than Grayson, Winnall and to a lesser degree but might as well give LC-P a go rather than Kelly who also is unlikely to be here next season.

Oh yes if you mean in dead rubbers at end of season, I agree. But hopefully we can keep the real stuff going a bit longer

 

[Horse]

Yesterday Oxford United showed unbelievable class for Micky Lewis. Today Sunderland lacked class. I know who I’d rather support and be associated with.

 

[Oxford84]

Happy to wager money on this if you’re offering?

we are 4 points off 14th too. We have played 25% fewer remaining games than some of the teams above us.

Our form over 38 games is not adequate for playoffs. We have gone backwards since last year.

I’m not saying we will get into the playoffs.I’m just saying there’s more to it than just looking at the table now.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

Oh yes if you mean in dead rubbers at end of season, I agree. But hopefully we can keep the real stuff going a bit longer

No , not necessarily. Kelly and Grayson I'd much rather L C-P , Elechi, McNally . We can still win playing them and the long shot of play offs remains the same....a long shot now.

 

[holdsteady]

You have to wonder if Robinson fancies Elechi if he is playing Hanson at left back ahead of him unless there is another reason I haven’t heard about? One great tackle and pass aside he put a lot of effort in but he is never a left back, surely he better to have a specialist play there?

 

[Nadi-]

If Sykes didn’t go for that people would have questioned his desire.
In front of goal and maybe putting us 2:1 up, he has to go for it.

 

[Eaststanding]

To be fair it annoyed me but it’s no different to a couple of the Maguire antics when he played for us that we all enjoyed and actually bigger him up for, think crying motions and goalkeeper penalty dive mocking.

Fair play to Power showing some passion!

‘Fair play’, are you serious?!
If you were just ‘annoyed’ by what he did and excuse his actions as no different to Maguire’s then I’m not surprised he thinks this club has a ‘soft underbelly’....

 

[Manorlounger]

You have to wonder if Robinson fancies Elechi if he is playing Hanson at left back ahead of him unless there is another reason I haven’t heard about? One great tackle and pass aside he put a lot of effort in but he is never a left back, surely he better to have a specialist play there?

No argument here. Just a shame that KR didn't bother recruiting any defenders, worth a salary, in the last window.

 

[Eaststanding]

We lost, we deserved at least a point, the ref was diabolical at best, their 2nd goal should never of stood and I don’t think Sykes deserved 2 yellows.
That said, I find the reaction to Power and the petition against Kettle from our fans a little embarrassing. Everyone loved Maguire holding 7 fingers up infront of the scum, we loved when Maguire scored against Bury I think it was and swaggered down the line infront of their fans, we loved Maguire doing his goalkeeper celebration infront of the Keeper after that penalty.
Max Power is a s**t house and they are a dying breed in the game. We have Taylor, we used to have Mackie and Hylton in years gone by.
Power is also right when he says we have a soft under belly. I’ve thought it for a while that we are too soft in games and don’t do the nasty side of it well enough.

I get we lost and we didn’t deserve to but let’s lose with dignity!

I’m guessing you’re aged between 15-25.

 

[Dilla]

You have to wonder if Robinson fancies Elechi if he is playing Hanson at left back ahead of him unless there is another reason I haven’t heard about? One great tackle and pass aside he put a lot of effort in but he is never a left back, surely he better to have a specialist play there?

Business end of the season probably wants experienced players starting. Ruffels back on Monday.

 

[Paul Cannell]

No argument here. Just a shame that KR didn't bother recruiting any defenders, worth a salary, in the last window.

Or the summer.

 

[Scotchegg]

Very mixed emotions after that. Obviously intense frustration, but I think we genuinely were the better side, away at the league's form side who are third in the league. I'm really quite pleased. It looks like the week off did us the world of good.

I hate blaming referees. I really do. I always feel like, if you're good enough to win a game, you should be able to win it with or without an impartial arbiter making judgment calls. But that today was just obscene. We literally weren't allowed to play our game in the first half because players like Shodipo and Taylor were getting scythed down whenever they touched the ball, while any coming together in our half resulted in a freekick for them. It was absolutely absurd. And, while Sykes generally was a bit stupid, and going for that sending-off ball while on a yellow was totally boneheaded, the only reason he was on a yellow was because he was booked for 'persistent fouling' - practically none of which were fouls! And the goal, well - reminded me of Wales v England a few weeks ago. Actually quite pleased KR got sent off for his response, and for the way the bench presumably backed him. I like seeing our manager backing his side. Power's reaction just shows we had Sunderland properly rattled. He knows how lucky they got.

On us being the better team - I really think that's a performance to be proud of. Bear in mind we had two midfielders as fullbacks against some of the best wingers in the league and probably the best target man in the division, and it's really impressive. Until we went down to 10 men, we didn't look troubled. Sure, they scored a goal from our backup LB getting skinned, had a bit of pressure towards the end of the first half and crossed the ball into the box a lot, but didn't actually create anything dangerous. We were containing them well, and looked dangerous going forward. The sending off changed the game, but even with 10 men, it was so refreshing actually seeing us push forward for a late equaliser, rather than the many games in the last 6 weeks where we've limply surrendered over the finish line.

Our goal was gorgeous - Henry's return has given us a real boost, I think. We look like a playoff-standard side with him in there. He just drives us forward so well. I really like Brannagan in that deep role. His range of passing really gives us another dimension with the ball, and he brought the wide players into play really well today. Barker had a great game too.

The thing with Sykes is that, while I don't think he deserved the red and thought he was good on the ball, he consistently gives away stupid, unnecessary fouls. Today was not the first time - there have been a number of games where we've been chasing a late goal in the last couple of months where he gives away those little niggly fouls which allow the other side to kill the game. The sending off today, while unlucky, was another example of just not having that game intelligence. It makes him, unfortunately, a massive liability.

Our most difficult game of the run-in (on paper) out of the way, and a side that looks reenergised, with some key players coming back from injury and into form. We could make a real fist of this final month of the season. Frustratingly, it's probably a bit too little too late. I can't see Sunderland going up. Look significantly poorer than Hull and less threatening than Posh, and with their run-in, I think they'll find it tough. Fair play lads - heads up, and smash Accy on Monday.

Probably the most balanced and fair response to a game that had many positives.

Every game is tough, and we need a huge push, but if we made the playoffs and got Sunderland I wouldn't be worried.

 

[Scotchegg]

I want Robinson to go all Kevin Keegan in his response.

"He went down in my estimations with what he said.... he's got to go to Peterborough, Charlton, Blackpool twice, Hull and get something.... we've kept quiet, but, you know, I'd love it, LOVE IT, if we beat them!!!"

 

[Left Wing Cross]

Have you been reading the previous comments at all?!?

This is confirmation beyond KR making comments.

 

[Fourthstand]

If Sykes didn’t go for that people would have questioned his desire.
In front of goal and maybe putting us 2:1 up, he has to go for it.

Sorry just can’t agree. It was ill judged and out of control. He was on a booking - he knew if he got it wrong it was goodbye and pressure on the team. He was poor in general today and should have been subbed earlier.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Happy to wager money on this if you’re offering?

we are 4 points off 14th too. We have played 25% fewer remaining games than some of the teams above us.

Our form over 38 games is not adequate for playoffs. We have gone backwards since last year.

The way the season ended who really knows if we were good enough last year?

 

[OxfordYankee]

The way the season ended who really knows if we were good enough last year?

We were certainly a better team last year. There’s no doubting that, surely?

 

[derek]

The way the season ended who really knows if we were good enough last year?

I firmly believe that if the season had continued, we would have been in the automatics, and Wycombe below the playoff spots. Can't be proved though, obviously.

 

[greatunclekip]

KR should play these comments on repeat for the last 8 games.

Saying Oxford are a soft team etc

https://twitter.com/x/status/1378038408099065861

A very fair interview. Dont see anything wrong with it. We "can" be a good team when we play well. We are brittle and have an incredibly soft underbelly (are bottlers) Hence why we'll finish midtable.

 

[Nadi-]

Sorry just can’t agree. It was ill judged and out of control. He was on a booking - he knew if he got it wrong it was goodbye and pressure on the team. He was poor in general today and should have been subbed earlier.

A lot of ifs and buts,
If Barker had tucked in alongside Hanson, we may of been still one up.
As for being subbed that’s not his decision,
And can’t believe his manager or team mates would of congratulated him if he pulled out.