Home Match Day Thread 18/12/2021 L1: OUFC v Wigan Athletic

[Malc]

Quote from the Wigan forum

"Toughest 3 points this season and that game could have been any score, fortunate Taylor missed a certain goal so we can’t say we don’t have rub of the green there. One thing nobody can fault is the players character who keep going until the final whistle, my only gripe is our game management when ahead, it’s been really poor of late. Merry Christmas!"

 

[uptheus]

We were swarming all over them for 5 minutes after we equalised but the game got broken up and they sort of regrouped and got a foothold for 10-15 minutes, culminating in the goal. They are up there for a reason and I think it’s too easy to just say we should have kept our foot down.

A decimated squad, makeshift team, two goals down to the team in second, I think we could be excused for not continuing to throw the kitchen sink at them and undoing all the hard work. That said, they obviously scored and in hindsight, yes, throwing players forward might have been the way to go but I’d excuse us for being caught between a rock and a hard place in this instance.

The vast majority of Oxford fans would have taken a point.

I would have taken a draw, but as the game went on and after getting it back to 2-2 I thought we were the better team and they were there for the taking.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

A real shame to come away with nothing but a great spirited performance that showed some class as well.
Full squad then no one in the league will worry us unduly , especially if we have a good transfer window .

 

[Yellowmania]

I would have taken a draw, but as the game went on and after getting it back to 2-2 I thought we were the better team and they were there for the taking.

I agree and I think the game turned away from us with the injuries to Sykes & Forde, we lost our tempo and rhythm with the many stoppages.

 

[Foley]

Wigan fan here.

I’d just like to say that it’s obvious from the comments on this forum that we were completely outclassed today and totally undeserving of the win.

I shall be encouraging my fellow Latics fans in joining me in writing a strongly-worded letter to the EFL demanding the result be over-turned and 3pts awards to the mighty yellows.

Sincere apologies for scoring 3 against your 2.

Mmm. Not sure anybody has suggested you were outclassed.
Your post suggests a lack of class in my view

 

[uptheus]

I agree and I think the game turned away from us with the injuries to Sykes & Forde, we lost our tempo and rhythm with the many stoppages.

I’m not sure if we planned those stoppages to break up the game and stop them from getting any tempo etc, so if we did it back fired on us.

Additionally, if they weren’t planned it still had an effect on us.

Yeah, we performed extremely well considering the key players that were out, but we’ve lost to another promotional contender at home which is a shame.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Just watched the highlights: https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/oxford-united/12499283/oxford-2-3-wigan

Have ti say I'm a little disappointed in Eastwood for letting their winner in, looks like that should've been saved to me. Poor defending for their first and second which left a mountain to climb. Which we nearly did

 

[Mellowyellow]

A fully fit Oxford wins that match today wigan weren't nothing special I was far more impressed with Plymouth and Rotherham tbh get our place in order get the players fit and this will be our year

A guy asked me the question at work, then why for the second time in 3/4 weeks are we/Oxford 5 or more players down again, as other clubs manage to keep fuller squads all bar a couple of players.
I didn't know what to say. Whether its covid or injuries, we always do seem to suffer the most.

 

[Mellowyellow]

I listened to the Wigan manager on BBC Sport and you'd think they were some smoothly purring football machine! It'e effective but basic, laced with enough class in certain positions and being incredibly dangerous on set pieces. He also referred to our squad depth, rather than mentioning that half of the team and most of the subs were missing!

I can see why they will probably go up - and why they will probably come down again straight away.

Does it matter how they played, they won, the only thing that matters. I've got that same groundhog 3 year feeling they and Rotherham will go up, whilst we lose out again in the play offs to someone, in a similar timid fashion, despite kr "caring," for our club.
This year after 3 attempts, something has to give, surely, and the board not be suckered into the weekly kr rhetoric we hear weekly, about his love for the players/club etc.
This was the year he got the budget he wanted, so hopefully he delivers promotion from a league without a standout team, but with a squad of players, that would have other managers rubbing their hands in anticipation.

 

[chuckbert]

Does it matter how they played, they won, the only thing that matters.

That might be true if you just check the results on ceefax or in the betting shop.
I actually quite like football.

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

Just had a gander at their forum. They’ve convinced themselves that we didn’t really have any players out and it was close to our strongest starting 11.

In case any of them pop on here here’s the starting players missing:
Stevens (gk)
One of Thornley / McNally (cb) (Hence playing a right back at center back and a winger at right back)
Gorrin / Kane / Brannigan (so our entire midfield starting team including two of the best in the division )
Henry /Holland (forwards)

So 7 starters out (I’m excluding a cb since we had a decent cb starting still). 6 if you recognize that whyte and Sykes alternate as starters (neither can hold down a starting role.)

I don’t think we are world beaters like their fans cutely imply we think (we are merely enjoying a good shift from the stiffs) but if that’s predominantly their first team then they’ll not be top two come May.

They must be nuts or new to the internet if they think that a football message forum would ever be this positive about losing to a promotion rival with a full first team playing .

Ps Not the smartest fodder on that forum…they don’t like their local radio offering but seemed surprised when they tuned in that radio oxford may lean towards the home team in their commentary.

 

[Andy1505]

Just had a gander at their forum. They’ve convinced themselves that we didn’t really have any players out and it was close to our strongest starting 11.

In case any of them pop on here here’s the starting players missing:
Stevens (gk)
One of Thornley / McNally (cb) (Hence playing a right back at center back and a winger at right back)
Gorrin / Kane / Brannigan (so our entire midfield starting team including two of the best in the division )
Henry /Holland (forwards)

So 7 starters out (I’m excluding a cb since we had a decent cb starting still). 6 if you recognize that whyte and Sykes alternate as starters (neither can hold down a starting role.)

I don’t think we are world beaters like their fans cutely imply we think (we are merely enjoying a good shift from the stiffs) but if that’s predominantly their first team then they’ll not be top two come May.

They must be nuts or new to the internet if they think that a football message forum would ever be this positive about losing to a promotion rival with a full first team playing .

Ps Not the smartest fodder on that forum…they don’t like their local radio offering but seemed surprised when they tuned in that radio oxford may lean towards the home team in their commentary.

Classless and clueless most of them! They obviously think they're above being in this league, will be funny watching them implode and seeing their fans meltdown.

 

[m]

Just watched the highlights: https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/oxford-united/12499283/oxford-2-3-wigan

Have ti say I'm a little disappointed in Eastwood for letting their winner in, looks like that should've been saved to me. Poor defending for their first and second which left a mountain to climb. Which we nearly did

Nah, was really well-hit and came through Moore's legs. Was a good goal.

Yeah, ropey defending for the 1st and 2nd.

It would be nice to play at our best when we visit their place.

 

[Scotchegg]

Does it matter how they played, they won, the only thing that matters. I've got that same groundhog 3 year feeling they and Rotherham will go up, whilst we lose out again in the play offs to someone, in a similar timid fashion, despite kr "caring," for our club.
This year after 3 attempts, something has to give, surely, and the board not be suckered into the weekly kr rhetoric we hear weekly, about his love for the players/club etc.
This was the year he got the budget he wanted, so hopefully he delivers promotion from a league without a standout team, but with a squad of players, that would have other managers rubbing their hands in anticipation.

I'll use the same word that I did to a similar post yesterday - pathetic!

You weren't at the game, however, to come out with drivel like that is nothing short of embarassing. Of course we lost, but that is not the "only thing that matters" to the vast majority of fans. What we want to see is a side that truly competes with the big teams in this league, plays excellent football and never gives up. We had that from everyone on and off the pitch yesterday.

There is nothing timid about this Oxford United squad. Look at players like Jamie Hanson and Anthony Forde as examples. They barely get a game but when called upon they have given absolutely everything for the shirt. Ryan Williams comes out of nowhere to play the way he did yesterday and would play in goal if asked! Or regulars like Sam Long or Matty Taylor who bleed yellow. Are they timid?

Karl Robinson clearly does care for our club and his players. How is that a bad thing? You can see by the response he gets from the players that give everything back in return so this only proves what a fantastic "team" he has created. He has brought players in that not only play football they way it should be done but also understand what it means to play for Oxford United. The board aren't suckered into anything, but fortunately a group of far eastern investers get this club more than idiots like you.

Finally, budgets! Do you have the faintest idea how much Wigan spent to put that team out? Or Ipswich? Or Sunderland, Rotehrham, Wycomber over the last couple of years? They have far exceeded anything that we have spent and whilst we have a squad of great players, we have absolutely no right to be expecting anything against teams like Wigan, even without half of them missing.

If you are unable to take positives out of yesterday, or in fact anything over the last 3 years, then you don't deserve to follow our club.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[Northstandboy]

Powers strike was good, I hate to say!

 

[West Oxon U’s]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1472269248483450880

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Caught badly out of shape for the winner. Poor goal to concede but McClean had a lot to do after receiving the ball on the touchline.
Easty beaten all ends up.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1472250019424124946

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Powers strike was good, I hate to say!

Really poor headed clearance from Seddon though to the middle of the goal but we then don’t react.
Probably unsavable with the venom and accuracy of the strike from Max Power.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I'll use the same word that I did to a similar post yesterday - pathetic!

You weren't at the game, however, to come out with drivel like that is nothing short of embarassing. Of course we lost, but that is not the "only thing that matters" to the vast majority of fans. What we want to see is a side that truly competes with the big teams in this league, plays excellent football and never gives up. We had that from everyone on and off the pitch yesterday.

There is nothing timid about this Oxford United squad. Look at players like Jamie Hanson and Anthony Forde as examples. They barely get a game but when called upon they have given absolutely everything for the shirt. Ryan Williams comes out of nowhere to play the way he did yesterday and would play in goal if asked! Or regulars like Sam Long or Matty Taylor who bleed yellow. Are they timid?

Karl Robinson clearly does care for our club and his players. How is that a bad thing? You can see by the response he gets from the players that give everything back in return so this only proves what a fantastic "team" he has created. He has brought players in that not only play football they way it should be done but also understand what it means to play for Oxford United. The board aren't suckered into anything, but fortunately a group of far eastern investers get this club more than idiots like you.

Finally, budgets! Do you have the faintest idea how much Wigan spent to put that team out? Or Ipswich? Or Sunderland, Rotehrham, Wycomber over the last couple of years? They have far exceeded anything that we have spent and whilst we have a squad of great players, we have absolutely no right to be expecting anything against teams like Wigan, even without half of them missing.

If you are unable to take positives out of yesterday, or in fact anything over the last 3 years, then you don't deserve to follow our cl

I'll use the same word that I did to a similar post yesterday - pathetic!

You weren't at the game, however, to come out with drivel like that is nothing short of embarassing. Of course we lost, but that is not the "only thing that matters" to the vast majority of fans. What we want to see is a side that truly competes with the big teams in this league, plays excellent football and never gives up. We had that from everyone on and off the pitch yesterday.

There is nothing timid about this Oxford United squad. Look at players like Jamie Hanson and Anthony Forde as examples. They barely get a game but when called upon they have given absolutely everything for the shirt. Ryan Williams comes out of nowhere to play the way he did yesterday and would play in goal if asked! Or regulars like Sam Long or Matty Taylor who bleed yellow. Are they timid?

Karl Robinson clearly does care for our club and his players. How is that a bad thing? You can see by the response he gets from the players that give everything back in return so this only proves what a fantastic "team" he has created. He has brought players in that not only play football they way it should be done but also understand what it means to play for Oxford United. The board aren't suckered into anything, but fortunately a group of far eastern investers get this club more than idiots like you.

Finally, budgets! Do you have the faintest idea how much Wigan spent to put that team out? Or Ipswich? Or Sunderland, Rotehrham, Wycomber over the last couple of years? They have far exceeded anything that we have spent and whilst we have a squad of great players, we have absolutely no right to be expecting anything against teams like Wigan, even without half of them missing.

If you are unable to take positives out of yesterday, or in fact anything over the last 3 years, then you don't deserve to follow our club.

I agree with a lot of what you say but you’re a bit misguided if you think our players are anything more special than any other teams players in giving everything for the shirt. Wigan won yesterday, so did their players give that tiny bit more effort than ours ? Players, in the main, play for themselves. Do you honestly believe that if Robinson signed a new right back on January 1st and put him straight in the team, relegating Long to the bench, then Long - despite apparently ‘bleeding yellow’ - will be sat there hoping for a slick team performance and a MOTM display from our new right back ?