Home Match Day Thread +++ 10/08/2019 L1: OUFC v Peterborough FC +++

Great result, and an awesome team performance.

All over the pitch, we were first to everything, sharp, aggressive, and played some truly excellent football, especially in the first half, and managed the game brilliantly in the 2nd half, when put under pressure.

Dickie was rock solid, Brannagan was running the game, moving the ball around brilliantly, Henry was excellent, with some very creative passing and skilful touches, Mackie was like a man possessed towards the end, which was great to see, and Cadden looks like a really good player, I just hope we can somehow keep him for the season.

The game should've been over by half time really, and should've been wrapped up in the 2nd half too, I'm sure we'll start putting those chances away, but it's great to see us playing such good football, and performing so well as a team on and off the ball, and with another excellent signing today, and another two attacking options coming soon by the sounds of it, I've got a feeling we're gonna be pretty hard to stop this season.

4 points after two games, against two of the top teams in the division is a great start to the season, well done, and keep it up lads!
 
James Henry is playing superbly

Yes. He had an excellent game, really showed his quality and why he remains a key part of the squad. The shot that hit the crossbar was almost sublime.

Other thoughts from today's game:

- Rob Dickie was immense and my man of the match.
- We were excellent as a team with a thoroughly deserved win and all players played their part.
- Jamie Mackie really led the line and I really liked the way he went over to Woodburn after that miss.
- Tariqe Fosu looks exciting based on that but as KR said needs a bit more fitness work as he clearly tired at the end. Unlucky with the shot that hit the post.
- What a lovely volley by Brannagan. The way he set up for it, he was never going to miss.
- I like what Alex Gorrin brings to the team and it allows Cam Brannagan to be a box to box midfielder. He is also so calm on the ball.
- All the players now look comfortable on the ball, which coupled with the good movement off the ball, showed up in how good we were.
- Even after 'that' miss I like that Ben Woodburn had 2 cracking efforts after so not hiding. I also really liked the crowd response afterwards when he went to take the corner.
- What a weird save by the Peterborough keeper with his chest from one of those Woodburn shots, just plain weird.
- I did chuckle at Toney claiming a foul when he fell over whilst offside in the 1st half with no Oxford player near him.
- Promising from Chris Cadden, got forward but got the balance right with his defensive duties.

- And finally, congratulations to Mous. A fabulous achievement to play 500 senior games with more yet to come. An excellent performance today was fitting imo. A top professional on and off the pitch. I hope we are still talking about a coaching role for him at the club, maybe from next summer as a player-coach if he is going to play as he did today.
 
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40+ mph winds blowing through where a 4th stand should be suggests farcical conditions in which to try and play entertaining football. Neither goalkeeper will reach the halfway line with their goal kicks from the East Stand end.

1-1
Fosu, Toney.
Thankfully-Just goes to show how wrong you can be .
 
Absolute entertainment throughout the first half, second was more workmanlike with Posh chasing the game. What was so good was to hear, from all around, compliments on the football, the players and the effort put in by all. Made the journey home easy.
Optimism is high and, with more signings to come, wow!
 
That was a hard fought victory, but deserved particularly given our first half performance. Some lovely passing and movement in the first 45 mins with the 3 of Henry, Fosu and Woodburn all looking sharp and creating problems.

As others have said we had to dig in a bit in the second half, good to see that were able to defend stoutly when we needed to.

Dickie was immense, he looks so much more comfortable on the right hand side. Captains performance from Mousinho, he was excellent. Gorrin also looked a good player.

A pacy striker who is capable of running in behind and stretching defences would really make a difference to this team, possibly the missing piece of the jigsaw. Hopefully Agyei is that player, plus another on loan.

As for Peterborough they have a lot of good players, I suspect it was a good time to play them, they’ll soon climb the league.

Maddison is one of those players who I’d love to see in a yellow shirt but is annoying as hell whilst playing for the opposition. Eisa was totally anonymous, how much did that pay for him? After the break when Boyd moved into the number 10 role they looked a better team and started to cause us a few more problems. From the North Stand Iwas also impressed with Dembélé inthe first half.


Question; when was the last time we reached the dizzy heights of 7th in League 1? Did we ever get that high under Appleton?
 
And finally, congratulations to Mous. A fabulous achievement to play 500 senior games with more yet to come. An excellent performance today was fitting imo. A top professional on and off the pitch. I hope we are still talking about a coaching role for him at the club, maybe from next summer as a player-coach if he is going to play as he did today.

In regards to that last point, it's still on the cards. KR said at the training ground on Friday he's definitely going to be a manager, even alluded that he'd want John to take over at the point he moves on!

For his part, Mous understands there aren't many clubs at our level or above who would give him a coaching opportunity straight after retirement. So he's waiting for the point where he's no longer competitive as a player. Judging by today that might be a while yet!
 
Loved that performance, we looked like a good side but one that can also scrap and hold out, only two games in but those are promising signs. Dickie immense, Gorrin and Brannagan carry on like that and we have the best centre midfield in the league, all eleven put a real shift in and we look like we are going to be hard to beat.

To early to get to excited but a promising start, we have same points after two games this season as we did after 11 last.
 
missed the game cos down at the bloody windy seaside, so a belated YESsssssss from me.
interesting to read on here peoples opinions of how certain players get on and how varied they are, but after this game everyone seems to be in agreement that they all played well.
great start after the at times worrying summer but it’s all coming together.
must say though after seeing some pictures from today, god i hate that stadium. the teams progressing so hope the ground situation is too.
right that’s my two pennies worth, i’m off round the pubs of Hastings for a rare pint (or 2)
 
This was a brilliant performance from the boys today. They have worked exceptionally hard in the first two games and been up for it. The high press really worked in the first half, and they stayed tight in the second with some great chances created.

My scores on the doors:

Eastwood - 7 - not a lot to do, but made one excellent save. Kicking was pretty good. Controlled the box well and is punching instead of catching corners. Flapped one shot!

Cadden - 7 - excellent engine. Gets up and down the line and is defending well. Needs to work on final ball.

Dickie - 8 - excellent game yet again, particularly bringing the ball out of the back. Wasn't as dominant in the air today as Toney was battling hard.

Mousinho - 8 - has come back a new defender this year. Definitely stepped up his game. Controlled the back 4 and won some important interceptions.

Ruffels - 6.5 - solid game. Got up and down well. Lost the ball a few times and was beaten on the outside.

Gorrin - 9 - MOTM. Excellent game. Won everything. Covered overlapping fullbacks. Allows Brannaghan to get forward. Kept the ball moving nicely. Booked.

Brannaghan - 7.5 - such a quality player. His goal was struck sweetly. Passes well and always gets stuck in. Was booked and walking a tightrope so had to be subbed.

Henry - 7 - some clever interchange and passing. Worked so hard without the ball.

Fosu - 7 - direct and powerful running in the first half. Faded in the second. Needs to work on his first touch as it has a tenancy to run away from him.

Woodburn - 7.5 - most of our good play came through him. Very good player and works very hard. Missed an absolutely sitter but didn't let it affect him.

Mackie - 8 - works so hard and is such a pest! He helps us control the game brilliantly.

Hanson - 7 - came on for Brannaghan and helped keep us solid in the last 30 minutes.

Hall and Forde came on and didn't have time to impact the game. Helped us see it out.
 
Just liked the ‘dog’ in the whole team today; we were going to win come what may.

Ref was quite good to be fair, let the game flow.

Man of the match Henry, He’s got his mojo back.

Woodburn’s miss was awful but loved the East Stand encouraging him minutes later when he took a corner.

Early days but very promising.

Peterborough very decent, tried to play football the right way but ultimately toothless.
 
Obviously exceptionally early to be drawing any conclusions (for all we know, Peterborough are going to be this year's version of Bradford. A team everyone expects to contend who turn out to be crap. They certainly were in the first half......)

But that being said, you really feel we might just have a chance this year.
There wasn't a single weak link in the XI today - and all of a sudden we have some good depth. Agyei, Forde, Hall, Baptiste, Hanson, Moore, Long, Sykes - all guys we know can play (or expect that they're going to be able to play). If we do bring a couple more in before the window shuts, there's going to be some decent players not even making the bench to begin the season, and even more importantly we're going to have lots of cover, and in every position, when the inevitable injury bug strikes.

Whole lot of hope and optimism at the moment. It's a good feeling - especially compared to how we started the season twelve months ago!
 
By the way.....would expect some changes for the rematch on Tuesday.

Want to get some of those depth players I named some minutes. Definitely Forde, Hall, Hanson & Moore.

Would love to give Mackie the game off as well. With his injury history, and the way he puts himself about, I'd rather he wasn't playing twice in a week this early in the season.
Will rather depend on whether Agyei is ready to play, though. Not sure anyone else in the squad is capable of leading the line.....and don't want to give the game away......
 
By the way.....would expect some changes for the rematch on Tuesday.

Want to get some of those depth players I named some minutes. Definitely Forde, Hall, Hanson & Moore.

Would love to give Mackie the game off as well. With his injury history, and the way he puts himself about, I'd rather he wasn't playing twice in a week this early in the season.
Will rather depend on whether Agyei is ready to play, though. Not sure anyone else in the squad is capable of leading the line.....and don't want to give the game away......
Is there a signing deadline to be able to play on Tuesday?
 
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