Home Match Day Thread 09/04/2022 L1: OUFC v Sunderland

[RgYellows]

To be clear, we should have four centre backs. None of them should be Mousinho.

 

[Jster]

I think one of the players who has most enhanced his reputation this season has been Alex Gorrin. We sadly miss him in games like this.

 

[Carpy]

Would people really like to go back and watch an Ian Atkins style every week?

Why is this sort of argument wheeled out every time someone dare question the tippy tappy football approach of KR. KR teams play lovely football, but winners find ways of winning when they have tried to play the nice football and for whatever reason, it isn't working. KR has not and does seem capable of recognising this need, or building a team able to do it.

We needed to win by any means necessary in the last 3 games... and we haven't, and the argument from KR has been we've played great football but been unlucky, well maybe this is true to an extent, but this wasn't what was needed. You make your own luck sometimes

 

[Symp59]

I remember being told years ago you get out of league one with strong ,powerful players. Our midfield is not that Sykes skillful but not powerful ,Kane small skillful not powerful. Holland a poor season at least we know Browne if we can keep him injury a powerful player. Whyte just hasn't done it. Please don't sign Henry. We need a powerful striker alongside Taylor . Mobile one who would cause problems just to change it. I said the other week how many players could go that should now happen . I like Karl but he's got to produce next year we've always looked slightly on the backdoor. But please next year sort out that defence . We know you work hard Karl but please note power through the team.

 

[Scotchegg]

There's some crazy knee jerk stuff going on tonight!

Sykes never plays again.
KR's future might rest on Forde getting a new deal.
Craig Short has to go.
Sam Long 3/10 today.

A get everyone is frustrated and I'm not going to force my positivity on anyone. But a week ago everything was looking pretty good. We've put in 3 performances that would normally get 7/9 points. We got zip of course, but we're talking very fine margins.

If by some miracle we get 4 wins, we could still make the playoffs. Throw all our luck into those games and we may just still be walking out in the Championship come August.

Will it happen? Almost certainly not. But some perspective is needed.

 

[greatunclekip]

Why is this sort of argument wheeled out every time someone dare question the tippy tappy football approach of KR. KR teams play lovely football, but winners find ways of winning when they have tried to play the nice football and for whatever reason, it isn't working. KR has not and does seem capable of recognising this need, or building a team able to do it.

We needed to win by any means necessary in the last 3 games... and we haven't, and the argument from KR has been we've played great football but been unlucky, well maybe this is true to an extent, but this wasn't what was needed. You make your own luck sometimes

Would I like to be second in the league and impossible to score against? Yes! Robbo out!

 

[Oxford1996]

To be clear, we should have four centre backs. None of them should be Mousinho.

I’d say we currently have 3

McNally, Moore, Brown.

The issue is Long & Seddon are the only natural full backs at the club.

For some reason people think Brown is a left back, Forde is a right back, Williams can do a ‘job’ on either side, Sykes can do a job at right back etc. KR could make some believe he can walk on water!

 

[Osleroad]

There's some crazy knee jerk stuff going on tonight!

Sykes never plays again.
KR's future might rest on Forde getting a new deal.
Craig Short has to go.
Sam Long 3/10 today.

A get everyone is frustrated and I'm not going to force my positivity on anyone. But a week ago everything was looking pretty good. We've put in 3 performances that would normally get 7/9 points. We got zip of course, but we're talking very fine margins.

If by some miracle we get 4 wins, we could still make the playoffs. Throw all our luck into those games and we may just still be walking out in the Championship come August.

Will it happen? Almost certainly not. But some perspective is needed.

Plus a Gorrin type player who is usually sailing close to yellow cards ban (love Arod btw)

 

[Scotchegg]

I’d say we currently have 3

McNally, Moore, Brown.

The issue is Long & Seddon are the only natural full backs at the club.

For some reason people think Brown is a left back, Forde is a right back, Williams can do a ‘job’ on either side, Sykes can do a job at right back etc. KR could make some believe he can walk on water!

 

[Shosho]

Lots of thoughts after that, but ultimately the same errors keep cropping up. Having read a recent opposition report on us it focussed around allowing us possession, achieving a turnover, hits us on the counter, focus attacks down the left. Our primary goal threat coming from the right. And so was the case again today - turnover, counter once Oxford players had over committed, goal conceded.

Kane is a victim of his passing range. He does the defensive stuff well (in my opinion), not Gorrin levels, but very few in the league do. Kane as a proper number 8, in the final third is where he excels - we have been unable to unlock that this season. Matete was very good for Sunderland today, breaking up play. I would love Kane back (although I think that's improbable), but a progressive midfielder will be needed in the summer - an Ethan Galbraith type.

For a team that scores so many, we are very reliant on Taylor. If he doesn't score, then its set pieces. But Sykes and Holland slashed at chances, whilst we have seen Whyte do similarly this season.

Finally, this summer is the bog one. I suspect money will be committed, KR has no option but to challenge for promotion. Going in to the season with lacking defensive numbers as we have the previous seasons will be our undoing. This summer we assembled a squad that, in my opinion, is the best quality wise, and deepest that we've had. Players such as Williams, Bodin, Forde are top end League One squad players - this season feels an opportunity missed.

Anyway, do what we can in the last 4 matches, enjoy Brannagan, suspect Sykes will be off, don't think McNally will move, Smyth to be big for us next year.

P.s - Joe Tomlinson has been having a very good loan at Swindon. Got minutes in the Championship and I imagine will be getting big minutes next season. what could have been, eh? Maybe time to check in on Alex Cochrane again

 

[Oxford1996]

View attachment 8618

He literally did an interview after the game on BBC Radio Oxford saying ‘I am a centre back’..

Can’t be any clearer than that can it?

 

[Mad Dog]

I have see post below

Having watched it back, Brown was at fault, but it wasn’t just him.

McNally & Moore are marking the SAME player at one point, and Brown has drifted across, without even checking behind him, if he had, he would’ve seen the danger, and could’ve called for Moore to come away from the player he and McNally were BOTH marking, and Moore could’ve covered the player in the middle, and Brown could’ve then gone out to cover the player who was in acres of space behind him.

Poor communication.

There was also zero support or tracking back down the left from Whyte, who was currently playing on the left at that point.

But it’s the usual defensive shambles that always occurs and usually ends up with someone in acres of space, with all the time in the world to pick their spot.

It’s a combination of square pegs in round holes, no settled defensive unit used to playing together, due to poor recruitment and poor tactics, and poor coaching methods.

Today simply sums up what we’ve been like under KR these last 4 years: Good going forward, even though we do need multiple chances per goal, but atrocious defensively.

 

[Oxford1996]

Having watched it back, Brown was at fault, but it wasn’t just him.

McNally & Moore are marking the SAME player at one point, and Brown has drifted across, without even checking behind him, if he had, he would’ve seen the danger, and could’ve called for Moore to come away from the player he and McNally were BOTH marking, and Moore could’ve covered the player in the middle, and Brown could’ve then gone out to cover the player who was in acres of space behind him.

Poor communication.

There was also zero support or tracking back down the left from Whyte, who was currently playing on the left at that point.

But it’s the usual defensive shambles that always occurs and usually ends up with someone in acres of space, with all the time in the world to pick their spot.

It’s a combination of square pegs in round holes, no settled defensive unit used to playing together, due to poor recruitment and poor tactics, and poor coaching methods.

Today simply sums up what we’ve been like under KR these last 4 years: Good going forward, even though we do need multiple chances per goal, but atrocious defensively.

This is the thing.

It’s all well & good me saying Brown is at fault for it BUT he’s not a left back so the main blame lies with KR.

 

[OX14]

View attachment 8618

Go listen to Ciarons interview with Radio Ox after todays game scotchers rather than get your information from that website that isn't reliable.

 

[OxfordYankee]

What a day.

I only saw 10 mins before having to seek medical attention. After the first half in the First Aid room in the South Stand (thanks to all there) and then the the rest of it at the JR (brilliant), I’ve just got home.

For the first time in my life, I have a modicum of perspective on the importance of OUFC. Ask me again tomorrow, I will have swept my new found perspective clean away.

It’s been a highly enjoyable season but I can’t help but think it’s an opportunity wasted.

Still, i’m home, feeling better and the misery can wait until tomorrow.

All the best.

 

[battman]

I've just watched the replay, Brown went to close down the player closest to him which was just left of centre and they had an overload of the score to the right hand side. The whole defence were too far over and that comes down to not playing with each other in them positions before. Brown is a centre half being forced to play at left back due to the incompetence of the gaffers recruitment. He did a cracking job the rest of the game.

Having just watched the footage back I can see where you're coming from. I do still think Brown gets sucked in towards the ball, because he isn't anywhere near the passer and lets the goalscorer have acres of space on his side of the box. I will admit this wasn't helped by the lack of players tracking their runners, especially with the player who made the assist, which is where a midfielder should be helping out.

 

[bazzer9461]

What a day.

I only saw 10 mins before having to seek medical attention. After the first half in the First Aid room in the South Stand (thanks to all there) and then the the rest of it at the JR (brilliant), I’ve just got home.

For the first time in my life, I have a modicum of perspective on the importance of OUFC. Ask me again tomorrow, I will have swept my new found perspective clean away.

It’s been a highly enjoyable season but I can’t help but think it’s an opportunity wasted.

Still, i’m home, feeling better and the misery can wait until tomorrow.

All the best.

Hope your medical attention wasn't to bad and you are ie ready for the MK Dons game

 

[battman]

I keep seeing posts on here that Stevens is destined for the championship in the summer… on what basis? He’s been shite this season

I think it all stems from Aston Villa chasing him in the summer, and whilst I don't think he's been shite, I certainly don't think he's been anywhere near his best. We probably don't know how much of an effect his illness has had on his abilities, and I hope that a rest over the summer can see him return to the player we know he can be. But I can't see anyone signing him in the summer, as he's either been out injured or off form for the entire season.

 

[battman]

There's some crazy knee jerk stuff going on tonight!

Sykes never plays again.
KR's future might rest on Forde getting a new deal.
Craig Short has to go.
Sam Long 3/10 today.

A get everyone is frustrated and I'm not going to force my positivity on anyone. But a week ago everything was looking pretty good. We've put in 3 performances that would normally get 7/9 points. We got zip of course, but we're talking very fine margins.

If by some miracle we get 4 wins, we could still make the playoffs. Throw all our luck into those games and we may just still be walking out in the Championship come August.

Will it happen? Almost certainly not. But some perspective is needed.

I honestly don't think so. I think it's just people recognising the issues that have been present for the past three seasons now.

Even you have to admit Karl Robinson's side is very much a 'Plan A Only' type side, and people's frustrations stem from the fact that we've not been able to grind out the results in what are six-pointer games at the moment. And that's made even harder when his squad-building frailties come home to roost, especially with defensive cover.

Brown was signed as a replacement for Thorniley, and it made it handier that he *could* deputise for Seddon in extreme circumstances, but it's also reliant on both Moore and McNally being fit. And because Karl has only had one senior left-back in his squad in Seddon, when he falls out for favour, it messes up the whole of the defence at what is a crucial point of the season.

Of course we could have picked up 12 points in our last 4 games, but we've only picked up 1. When it comes to crunch time, that's nowhere near good enough, and when fine margins go against you that often (normally for similar reasons) then you can't really take a que sera sera approach to it if you want the side to learn from their mistakes and improve.

 

[m]

More people need to face the fact that have gone in reverse regarding progressing

Phrase of the year right there!