Home Match Day Thread +++ 13/8/2019 EFL Cup 1st Rnd: OUFC v Peterborough FC +++

I thought Sykes looked a class above in the first half, i have no idea how he is not getting in the starting 11, let alone the 18. He drove with the ball provided much needed energy, vision and he's actually quicker than i thought. Also dickie and moore look like they could form a good partnership. However I'm very concerned out the two wing backs today... ruffels and long are good squad player but in my opinion shouldn't be starting full backs.
Agree with most of that, especially Sykes. Might be a touch harsh on the full backs... Or might not be.
 
I thought Sykes looked a class above in the first half, i have no idea how he is not getting in the starting 11, let alone the 18. He drove with the ball provided much needed energy, vision and he's actually quicker than i thought. Also dickie and moore look like they could form a good partnership. However I'm very concerned out the two wing backs today... ruffels and long are good squad player but in my opinion shouldn't be starting full backs.
On the fullbacks, I thought the system we played today (wingers cutting in, less ‘out and out’ than say Whyte) requires overlapping, attacking fullbacks. Ruffels and Long are not that. However, you would expect them to then be defensively solid, and there were a number of times today, especially in the first half, when I felt we were overloaded on the right side of defence especially. So while Long didn’t offer a huge amount defensively or in an attacking sense, he’s not first choice, so there’s no reason to really panic - whereas Ruffels was solid defensively, so it’s not a huge concern that he wasn’t doing a lot offensively, as that’s not his role.
 
Thought we played well, how Easty kept that out at the end I'll never know!
Sykes looked good again, Hall came more into it in the second half, give him time and he'll be firing on all cylinders. Forde looked good too
 

Ferguson unhappy.
What a knob. Tweaked it here and their after Saturday, well Ferguson not that good.
Knowing what an a**e their chairman is will Ferguson be manager still on Saturday? Mo Eisa 1.5 million wasn’t it? What a waste of money.
 
Not the best game I've ever seen, but good to see us getting a battling win as well as the much better performance on Saturday.

The players coming in did pretty well.

Sam Long was solid at the back including a few last ditch challenges, and whilst not as dynamic as Cadden he did offer enough going forward to prove that he can cover adequately if needed.

Elliott Moore had a fairly mediocre first 10 minutes or so but then settled into the game. Won a number of challenges and looked comfortable bringing the ball out but does need to pick his passes well so as not to be immediately on the back foot. Alongside Dickie we have a classy partnership in the making.

Jamie Hanson did pretty well I thought. Looking to break up the play at every opportunity and hassle and disrupt. He made some really good long range passes to spread the play but a bit casual with easier passes. Certainly good enough to provide cover in the middle if needed.

Robbie Hall seemed to struggle to get into the game in the first half, but as he was on the far side of the pitch I may not be doing him justice. Seemed more involved in the second half and looked to be fit enough but maybe lost a little of his pace and confidence. Would probably do better ahead of Cadden as he would have a better outlet or will be able to cut inside when the overlap takes the fullback wide.

Mark Sykes was busy and looking to get involved, but without really creating much. He undoubtedly has massive potential but I'm just not sure that he knows his true position yet. I would hope that he gets more games as there is clearly a player there.

Anthony Forde was fairly quiet for me. He gave some good cover behind and worked hard, but without much end product. Too early to judge, and maybe this wasn't the game to see what he's capable of, but jury's still out for me.

Malachi Napa ran his socks off and put himself about with little success. I just hope that he comes back from this injury and gets another chance to establish himself in the team. Sadly I'm not sure he will be an out and out striker but could definitely have a future on the wing.

Ben Woodburn, although he's played before that was the first look at him in the lone striker role. I thought he offered something and hassled and hurried the defenders as well as tackling back and doing the hard work for the team. We've got a real player there but he just needs a little luck.

But all in all, if that's our second string team then we'll do pretty well this season. Peterborough are a strong team and will still be up the top of the league come May. To come out on top twice in 4 days shows just how far we've come in the last 12 months.
 
Great defensive performance again. Toney is one of the best strikers in the division and he looked frustrated by the end.

Thought Forde had something about him; not quite match fit but a clever manipulator of a football and worked hard.

Hall looked like a crock in the first half; then second half we started playing to feet with him and he was far more effective.

Napa tackle was not very clever. Not quite sure what our physio was doing trying to get him to stand up on a suspected broken leg.

Not an exciting performance but very thorough and organised. Peterborough could never go gung go because we are dangerous in transition. We’d be even more dangerous with a tad more pace up front.

Sykes flattered to deceive a bit for me, he doesn’t get involved enough. Do not let him go in loan though : he has a bit of quality to him
 
Who’s come on in his place ? Was it a bad tackle or unlucky ?

It was an horrendous challenge. Napa has been pushed in the back initially meaning he was off balance when attempting to get to the ball, and their player (knob) went in with full force and over the top. Just an unnecessary reckless challenge of that nature which in my eyes deserved a red.

Just wishing Napa a speedy recovery.
 
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Frustrated with Ben Woodburn tonight. Just felt he showed his immaturity at times giving away petty fouls here and there.

Really hoping he comes good soon as it’s fairly obvious that he has the capability, but just needs to do the simple things first and hold up the ball if and when he can.
 
Not the best game I've ever seen, but good to see us getting a battling win as well as the much better performance on Saturday.

The players coming in did pretty well.

Sam Long was solid at the back including a few last ditch challenges, and whilst not as dynamic as Cadden he did offer enough going forward to prove that he can cover adequately if needed.

Elliott Moore had a fairly mediocre first 10 minutes or so but then settled into the game. Won a number of challenges and looked comfortable bringing the ball out but does need to pick his passes well so as not to be immediately on the back foot. Alongside Dickie we have a classy partnership in the making.

Jamie Hanson did pretty well I thought. Looking to break up the play at every opportunity and hassle and disrupt. He made some really good long range passes to spread the play but a bit casual with easier passes. Certainly good enough to provide cover in the middle if needed.

Robbie Hall seemed to struggle to get into the game in the first half, but as he was on the far side of the pitch I may not be doing him justice. Seemed more involved in the second half and looked to be fit enough but maybe lost a little of his pace and confidence. Would probably do better ahead of Cadden as he would have a better outlet or will be able to cut inside when the overlap takes the fullback wide.

Mark Sykes was busy and looking to get involved, but without really creating much. He undoubtedly has massive potential but I'm just not sure that he knows his true position yet. I would hope that he gets more games as there is clearly a player there.

Anthony Forde was fairly quiet for me. He gave some good cover behind and worked hard, but without much end product. Too early to judge, and maybe this wasn't the game to see what he's capable of, but jury's still out for me.

Malachi Napa ran his socks off and put himself about with little success. I just hope that he comes back from this injury and gets another chance to establish himself in the team. Sadly I'm not sure he will be an out and out striker but could definitely have a future on the wing.

Ben Woodburn, although he's played before that was the first look at him in the lone striker role. I thought he offered something and hassled and hurried the defenders as well as tackling back and doing the hard work for the team. We've got a real player there but he just needs a little luck.

But all in all, if that's our second string team then we'll do pretty well this season. Peterborough are a strong team and will still be up the top of the league come May. To come out on top twice in 4 days shows just how far we've come in the last 12 months.


You must have missed the first ten minutes. Moore did not put a foot wrong until about the 80th minute when he misjudged a high bouncing ball high up the pitch and then about five minutes later got out muscled by Toney. They were the only two occasions the entire night that I recall him being anything other than absolutely rock solid.

I don’t doubt Woodburn is a quality player, he has to be based on his early impact with Liverpool and Wales, but really not sure what you’re seeing in an Oxford shirt thus far that screams ‘real player’. He was our least effective player on Saturday and he wasn’t much better tonight if we are being brutally honest.
 
You must have missed the first ten minutes. Moore did not put a foot wrong until about the 80th minute when he misjudged a high bouncing ball high up the pitch and then about five minutes later got out muscled by Toney. They were the only two occasions the entire night that I recall him being anything other than absolutely rock solid.

I don’t doubt Woodburn is a quality player, he has to be based on his early impact with Liverpool and Wales, but really not sure what you’re seeing in an Oxford shirt thus far that screams ‘real player’. He was our least effective player on Saturday and he wasn’t much better tonight if we are being brutally honest.

Moore missed the ball where 'Boro scored when offside and seemed to lose Tovey again soon afterwards.

As for Ben Woodburn, he was involved in pretty much everything on Saturday and had some great little touches that showed his class whilst also able to battle it out with bigger and stronger players. Today I thought he offered a much better outlet than Napa had and ran himself into the ground to try to disrupt the defence as much as possible. He also came into the middle to tackle back when needed. We've not had an end product yet but think it will come.

Of course football is all about opinions and others will see things differently.
 
Moore missed the ball where 'Boro scored when offside and seemed to lose Tovey again soon afterwards.

As for Ben Woodburn, he was involved in pretty much everything on Saturday and had some great little touches that showed his class whilst also able to battle it out with bigger and stronger players. Today I thought he offered a much better outlet than Napa had and ran himself into the ground to try to disrupt the defence as much as possible. He also came into the middle to tackle back when needed. We've not had an end product yet but think it will come.

Of course football is all about opinions and others will see things differently.
Moore
Looked pretty decent and I think he will make a good partnership with Dickie
 
Not the best game I've ever seen, but good to see us getting a battling win as well as the much better performance on Saturday.

The players coming in did pretty well.

Sam Long was solid at the back including a few last ditch challenges, and whilst not as dynamic as Cadden he did offer enough going forward to prove that he can cover adequately if needed.

Elliott Moore had a fairly mediocre first 10 minutes or so but then settled into the game. Won a number of challenges and looked comfortable bringing the ball out but does need to pick his passes well so as not to be immediately on the back foot. Alongside Dickie we have a classy partnership in the making.

Jamie Hanson did pretty well I thought. Looking to break up the play at every opportunity and hassle and disrupt. He made some really good long range passes to spread the play but a bit casual with easier passes. Certainly good enough to provide cover in the middle if needed.

Robbie Hall seemed to struggle to get into the game in the first half, but as he was on the far side of the pitch I may not be doing him justice. Seemed more involved in the second half and looked to be fit enough but maybe lost a little of his pace and confidence. Would probably do better ahead of Cadden as he would have a better outlet or will be able to cut inside when the overlap takes the fullback wide.

Mark Sykes was busy and looking to get involved, but without really creating much. He undoubtedly has massive potential but I'm just not sure that he knows his true position yet. I would hope that he gets more games as there is clearly a player there.

Anthony Forde was fairly quiet for me. He gave some good cover behind and worked hard, but without much end product. Too early to judge, and maybe this wasn't the game to see what he's capable of, but jury's still out for me.

Malachi Napa ran his socks off and put himself about with little success. I just hope that he comes back from this injury and gets another chance to establish himself in the team. Sadly I'm not sure he will be an out and out striker but could definitely have a future on the wing.

Ben Woodburn, although he's played before that was the first look at him in the lone striker role. I thought he offered something and hassled and hurried the defenders as well as tackling back and doing the hard work for the team. We've got a real player there but he just needs a little luck.

But all in all, if that's our second string team then we'll do pretty well this season. Peterborough are a strong team and will still be up the top of the league come May. To come out on top twice in 4 days shows just how far we've come in the last 12 months.
A bit harsh on Forde and a bit generous to Hall imo. Forde clearly isn't an exciting out-and-out-winger but he was a clever and effective left sided midfielder for me. Meanwhile, I know we all love Hall, but he has lost the X-factor. He didn't look like beating his man once all evening, even in the second half when he was a bit better.
 
A bit harsh on Forde and a bit generous to Hall imo. Forde clearly isn't an exciting out-and-out-winger but he was a clever and effective left sided midfielder for me. Meanwhile, I know we all love Hall, but he has lost the X-factor. He didn't look like beating his man once all evening, even in the second half when he was a bit better.

I would like to see him ahead of Cadden before writing him off. As much as I like Sam Long, he is a little slow to offer an overlap which means that Hall has to slow the play down or gets doubled up on.

Forde does offer something different to the likes of Fosu but whilst busy I was a little disappointed with his end product. I do think he will adapt and we will see the player he's capable of, but didn't see that tonight.

But hey, 3 games in, 2 wins and a draw with 2 points robbed. An evolving team with more to come and we haven't had an easy fixture yet. I hope you're right with Forde and I'm right with Hall!
 
Moore missed the ball where 'Boro scored when offside and seemed to lose Tovey again soon afterwards.

As for Ben Woodburn, he was involved in pretty much everything on Saturday and had some great little touches that showed his class whilst also able to battle it out with bigger and stronger players. Today I thought he offered a much better outlet than Napa had and ran himself into the ground to try to disrupt the defence as much as possible. He also came into the middle to tackle back when needed. We've not had an end product yet but think it will come.

Of course football is all about opinions and others will see things differently.


You’re right that we all see things differently.

It was Dickie who got underneath the cross for their disallowed goal and while you could argue Toney got a run on Moore he was about four yards offside (I was bang in line with it) and that suggests to me that Moore knew exactly where Toney was.

There’s plenty of endeavour with Woodburn but I’m seeing nothing productive at the minute. Hopefully it will come.
 
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