Home Match Day Thread 25/9/2021 L1: OUFC v Gillingham

[QR]

We had good stats at Cheltenham. Did they reflect how well we played there? My point being, you can manipulate the stats to
Satisfy your argument. The fact is, we are not scoring enough goals yet to suggest we are going to give someone a good hiding like you suggest.

Seddon, Bran & Whyte are not regular scorers. Despite their attempts.

Forgive me, I’m incredibly underwhelmed by the fare on offer so far and i am tired of the spin that comes from the manager and the growing number of statisticians looking far too closely at stats and not as closely at the thing that matters most, goals.

True. Bottom line is we couldn't break down an mediocre Gillingham side. With the exception of the goal a complete lack of quality in their box. Loads of possession but all of it was in front of their back four. It's great if you have the killer ball every three of four spells of possession but we don't, and when we occasionally do we don't convert (Kane's ball through for Taylor's miss).

 

[Wandering Yellow]

Atmosphere at the Kassam has always been crap by the nature of the stadium. But in terms of this season it was particularly flat today, which I don't think is that surprising given our current form and the scoreline for most of the game.

Sort of, I agree the nature of the stadium is s**t but it was rocking at points in the past.

 

[Carpy]

i am tired of the spin that comes from the manager

I loved that KRs first comment for his interview was how amazing us fans were today and how intelligent we were for seeing that they’re trying… he couldn’t get his tongue far enough up our arses if he tried

Unfortunately, some of our fans buy his fakery! I don’t want to hear about our fans, I want to hear how he’s going to address our poor results

 

[Scotchegg]

I loved that KRs first comment for his interview was how amazing us fans were today and how intelligent we were for seeing that they’re trying… he couldn’t get his tongue far enough up our arses if he tried

Unfortunately, some of our fans buy his fakery! I don’t want to hear about our fans, I want to hear how he’s going to address our poor results

Although I'm sure if the fans didn't get a mention then you'd be here saying how disgraceful it was for Robinson not to acknowledge the paying public.

 

[Carpy]

Although I'm sure if the fans didn't get a mention then you'd be here saying how disgraceful it was for Robinson not to acknowledge the paying public.

Nope, couldn't give a monkeys personally, plus, we all know why it was the first thing he said, because he knows the fans are getting restless. I think most fans would rather he was just honest about our downfalls first, say how he intends to address them and move on.

 

[Scotchegg]

Nope, couldn't give a monkeys personally, plus, we all know why it was the first thing he said, because he knows the fans are getting restless. I think most fans would rather he was just honest about our downfalls first, say how he intends to address them and move on.

If you listened to what he said, he was honest about how we were too casual in the last 20 minutes of the first half and how we failed to take our chances, just like we have done in recent games. He even acknowledged that this was the same as previous slow starts over the last few seasons.

So the fact that he said most of what you wanted him to say, it looks like you do give a monkeys.

 

[Carpy]

If you listened to what he said, he was honest about how we were too casual in the last 20 minutes of the first half and how we failed to take our chances, just like we have done in recent games. He even acknowledged that this was the same as previous slow starts over the last few seasons.

So the fact that he said most of what you wanted him to say, it looks like you do give a monkeys.

I must have missed the bit when he said we've flattered to deceive and that our lack of goals is really concerning, and where he said that we can have all the possession we want but it matters for nothing when we don't put the ball in the back of the net

We all know you're KRs forum mouthpiece so it really is pointless having a debate with you on this because you can't diverge from your KR lovein

 

[Scotchegg]

I must have missed the bit ....

Seems like you missed a lot!

 

[Oxford1996]

Gillingham are an awful awful side.. 2 points dropped

 

[Oxford1996]

Player ratings. Stevens 7, Long 6, Moore 7, Thorniley 6, Seddon 5, Gorrin 6, Brannagan 6, Kane 8 MOTM, Henry 6, Taylor 7, Whyte 7

 

[m]

Looking at the stats we dominated that game, except for fouls commited. But I would love to see stats for time wasted compared to time added on by the ref. That would be very interesting.

They weren't that bad, I've seen plenty worse.

They were no worse than I'd hope we'd be in similar circumstances.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Stevens 8 did what he had to do really well
Long 6 will have far better games
Moore 8 won some great headers
Thorniley 7 typical 7 out of 10 performance
Seddon 5 too many careless final balls
Brannagan 7 linked well with Kane
Gorrin 6 got in the box more than usual
Kane 8 looked a class above L1
Henry 6 decent enough
Whyte 7 much better second half
Taylor 7 goal and generally played well

Sykes 7 good half hour off bench
Bodin 7 same as Sykes
Agyei no time

 

[Eaststanding]

Tbf a lot of the possession stats were from us playing the ball back and sideways between our defence and holding the ball, unless we attack more we can’t say we played well if we aren’t attacking and making the most of our good play. Playing well doesn’t win you points it’s the ball in the back of the net that does.

Gillingham came to defend en masse and hit us on the break, they often had 10 behind the ball and worked bloody hard to stop us playing through them. We always find it difficult against teams that play this way but we created enough to win the game. Quality in the final third is what cost us yesterday.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

From watching the extended highlights:

Taylor took his goal well and Kane has the capacity to play a brilliant through ball

Seddon’s cross for the Taylor header which hit the bar was good

Sykes seemed lively and involved when he came on

How did Bodin miss that?! Isn’t that the second time he’s had a big miss from close range already this season?

Long seemed closer to his rampaging best, he puts a weird-looking ball in but it seems to work

 

[Eaststanding]

We had good stats at Cheltenham. Did they reflect how well we played there? My point being, you can manipulate the stats to
Satisfy your argument. The fact is, we are not scoring enough goals yet to suggest we are going to give someone a good hiding like you suggest.

Seddon, Bran & Whyte are not regular scorers. Despite their attempts.

Forgive me, I’m incredibly underwhelmed by the fare on offer so far and i am tired of the spin that comes from the manager and the growing number of statisticians looking far too closely at stats and not as closely at the thing that matters most, goals.

I had a lifetime of working with performance stats so know how they can and can’t be used but you just can’t ignore them.
Yesterday, 25 shots, 7 on target. Through a combination of luck, resolute defending and poor decision making we didn’t score more. We also had 12 corners, sure we should be doing better with them but we are creating opportunities to score.
If you don’t create the opportunities, you don’t score. If we weren’t creating opportunities, I’d be worried.
I’m confident. You’re not. Let’s hope for a goalfest on Tuesday.

 

[Swaby39]

I must have missed the bit when he said we've flattered to deceive and that our lack of goals is really concerning, and where he said that we can have all the possession we want but it matters for nothing when we don't put the ball in the back of the net

We all know you're KRs forum mouthpiece so it really is pointless having a debate with you on this because you can't diverge from your KR lovein

He’s not going to say that though, is he. So it’s another situation where he will never win. This is not a KR thing - as time has gone on 95% of media responses from every manager are lip service. They border on sterile and pointless because if they are too honest/emotional or critical of players, the media (particularly social media) get all over them and they risk damaging their relationship with the dressing room and now is not the time to be doing that. So they are right to go through the motions and try and be positive - that’s their job and a bi-product of the world we live in where everyone has to be perfect all the time.

Look at how the media handle Premier League coaches when they single out players. They get lambasted and told to keep it behind closed doors - so why bother having the interview if they can’t speak their mind? The same with their opinions on referees - they can’t answer with a straight bat because they get fined. You’ve got the benefit of speaking to someone at the very top level of the game and yet their answers are near enough scripted to protect themselves.

I’ve watched all the interviews and once you get past the praise for fans (which he is absolutely right to do after 18 months of not having any), he sums it up pretty well - they might not be your words but he’s not wrong. I’m sure if he was asked why he thinks the goals are not flowing or why Agyei doesn’t come on until injury time, he would answer honestly as he always does - which he is also criticised for. We’ve had debates on here where he’s been too honest!! But perhaps it’s also the questions rather than the answer that’s the problem.

 

[uptheus]

Only 7 shots on target to Gills’ 4

 

[uptheus]

Why oh why he doesn’t put Whyte on the right is beyond me.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Nope, couldn't give a monkeys personally, plus, we all know why it was the first thing he said, because he knows the fans are getting restless. I think most fans would rather he was just honest about our downfalls first, say how he intends to address them and move on.

The fans are getting restless? I wasn’t there but we drew 1-1withGillingham , probably the archetypal Oxford result, and are unbeaten at home. I don’t think all our fans are such snowflakes.

 

[Notaswindonfan]

Whilst agreeing with most of what you’re saying he can always expand on his answers to cover a question he feels hasn’t been asked.

He’s not going to say that though, is he. So it’s another situation where he will never win. This is not a KR thing - as time has gone on 95% of media responses from every manager are lip service. They border on sterile and pointless because if they are too honest/emotional or critical of players, the media (particularly social media) get all over them and they risk damaging their relationship with the dressing room and now is not the time to be doing that. So they are right to go through the motions and try and be positive - that’s their job and a bi-product of the world we live in where everyone has to be perfect all the time.

Look at how the media handle Premier League coaches when they single out players. They get lambasted and told to keep it behind closed doors - so why bother having the interview if they can’t speak their mind? The same with their opinions on referees - they can’t answer with a straight bat because they get fined. You’ve got the benefit of speaking to someone at the very top level of the game and yet their answers are near enough scripted to protect themselves.

I’ve watched all the interviews and once you get past the praise for fans (which he is absolutely right to do after 18 months of not having any), he sums it up pretty well - they might not be your words but he’s not wrong. I’m sure if he was asked why he thinks the goals are not flowing or why Agyei doesn’t come on until injury time, he would answer honestly as he always does - which he is also criticised for. We’ve had debates on here where he’s been too honest!! But perhaps it’s also the questions rather than the answer that’s the problem.