Home Match Build Up 18/5/2021 Play Off L1 OUFC v Blackpool

[OX14]

I can't understand why so many are quick to run us down.

We had Rob Atkinson in the League 1 team of the year, Sam Long as player of the season and Jack Stevens as young player of the season. Elliott Moore has been a fantastic captain and rock solid at the back. And Josh Ruffels has had a few blips but is still a solid full back. Our defence may have slipped a load more but you get the same points for winning 4-3 at Rochdale as you do for winning 1-0.

We've scored far more than Blackpool and have looked fantastic in recent weeks. We're scoring from all areas of the pitch and have added a steely calmness to everything we do. Other teams should be more worried about us than we should be about them.

I appreciate @Athers coming on here and wish him well, but it's f*****g Blackpool not the Brazil side from 1970!!

Exactly. Also take the 15 games played mark for both us and Blackpool we were on 15 points and they were on 22 points that means we gained one more point then they did over the remaining 31 games, we also turned a - 8 goal difference to a +21 a 29 goal swing, Blackpool on the over hand turned a -2 in to +23 so a 25 goal swing. If anyone should be compared to Brazil it should be us especially the amount of goals scored.

 

[Athers]

I appreciate @Athers coming on here and wish him well, but it's f*****g Blackpool not the Brazil side from 1970!!

Thanks...I think

We’re both on good runs. Your attack has been excellent, our defence has been excellent. We both play good football. Both got good, young managers. Taylor and Yates scoring for fun. Should be a cracking tie

 

[OxfordYankee]

I can't understand why so many are quick to run us down.

We had Rob Atkinson in the League 1 team of the year, Sam Long as player of the season and Jack Stevens as young player of the season. Elliott Moore has been a fantastic captain and rock solid at the back. And Josh Ruffels has had a few blips but is still a solid full back. Our defence may have slipped a load more but you get the same points for winning 4-3 at Rochdale as you do for winning 1-0.

We've scored far more than Blackpool and have looked fantastic in recent weeks. We're scoring from all areas of the pitch and have added a steely calmness to everything we do. Other teams should be more worried about us than we should be about them.

I appreciate @Athers coming on here and wish him well, but it's f*****g Blackpool not the Brazil side from 1970!!

I wasn’t running us down. I was making an observation on the contrast of stable lineups vs a more effective defensive unit over the course of the season.

No more, no less.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I can't understand why so many are quick to run us down.

We had Rob Atkinson in the League 1 team of the year, Sam Long as player of the season and Jack Stevens as young player of the season. Elliott Moore has been a fantastic captain and rock solid at the back. And Josh Ruffels has had a few blips but is still a solid full back. Our defence may have slipped a load more but you get the same points for winning 4-3 at Rochdale as you do for winning 1-0.

We've scored far more than Blackpool and have looked fantastic in recent weeks. We're scoring from all areas of the pitch and have added a steely calmness to everything we do. Other teams should be more worried about us than we should be about them.

I appreciate @Athers coming on here and wish him well, but it's f*****g Blackpool not the Brazil side from 1970!!

I agree that are our first team is fantastic and probably the best at football In the division, but people rightly point out that we have no strength in depth at the back - a couple of reasonable fill-ins on the right but nothing on the left and an unknown quality in the centre.

 

[Scotchegg]

I agree that are our first team is fantastic and probably the best at football In the division, but people rightly point out that we have no strength in depth at the back - a couple of reasonable fill-ins on the right but nothing on the left and an unknown quality in the centre.

We've had the same message for months, but we still ended up in the playoffs.

We now have a clean slate. Earlier games count for nothing. September is a long long time ago. It's all about what happens across the next two games, and when we tick few teams can live with us. Of course Blackpool are a good side, and they set up from the back. But I'm not sure that I'd swap any of their back 4 for any of ours (assuming all fit).

 

[werthersoriginal]

We've had the same message for months, but we still ended up in the playoffs.

We now have a clean slate. Earlier games count for nothing. September is a long long time ago. It's all about what happens across the next two games, and when we tick few teams can live with us. Of course Blackpool are a good side, and they set up from the back. But I'm not sure that I'd swap any of their back 4 for any of ours (assuming all fit).

Yes of course, I agree, we’ve done incredibly well to have such a good season, I just hope we aren’t undone by lack of depth in defence.

 

[Yellowecky]

Can’t wait for Tuesday. Can’t wait to see some of our players in the flesh for the first time, possibly, maybe, depending on the ballot. Barker looks an exciting player on iFollow, I can only imagine he will look even better live in front of thousands of Oxford fans.

Oxford United 2 Blackpool 1. (Sorry Athers.)

 

[werthersoriginal]

Can’t wait for Tuesday. Can’t wait to see some of our players in the flesh for the first time, possibly, maybe, depending on the ballot. Barker looks an exciting player on iFollow, I can only imagine he will look even better live in front of thousands of Oxford fans.

Oxford United 2 Blackpool 1. (Sorry Athers.)

2-1? Dangerous score. But I feel we’d be pretty dangerous away as well, we can score out of nothing if we’re on form.

 

[ljs]

I can't understand why so many are quick to run us down.

We had Rob Atkinson in the League 1 team of the year, Sam Long as player of the season and Jack Stevens as young player of the season. Elliott Moore has been a fantastic captain and rock solid at the back. And Josh Ruffels has had a few blips but is still a solid full back. Our defence may have slipped a load more but you get the same points for winning 4-3 at Rochdale as you do for winning 1-0.

We've scored far more than Blackpool and have looked fantastic in recent weeks. We're scoring from all areas of the pitch and have added a steely calmness to everything we do. Other teams should be more worried about us than we should be about them.

I appreciate @Athers coming on here and wish him well, but it's f*****g Blackpool not the Brazil side from 1970!!

It was obvious a link was being pointed out between having full defensive cover and not letting in many goals, whether valid or not is a point to debate, not get overly sensitive about.

 

[Scotchegg]

It was obvious a link was being pointed out between having full defensive cover and not letting in many goals, whether valid or not is a point to debate, not get overly sensitive about.

I thought my point was equally clear, and you are welcome to debate that if you wish.

But in case you don't understand I'll explain again. The number of goals we have conceded to this point counts for absolutely nothing. Oxford beating Rochdale 4-3 means nothing less than Blackpool beating Bristol Rovers 1-0. Both give 3 points and +1 in the GD column. And collectively both teams have collected enough points to go into a two game shoot out with a chance to get to Wembley.

I'm tired of hearing those who gave up on this season weeks ago now talking up our opposition rather than acknowledge the huge number of positives that we have. Does that make me overly sensitive? Perhaps. But I'd rather be like that than those who are dour despite everything we've seen in recent weeks.

 

[OxfordYankee]

You call for debate but accuse anyone with a differing view to your own as dour, negative or lacking in support for the club.

You don’t debate; you rant with superciliousness to decry the views and character of anyone who doesn’t agree with you. No nuance. Black and white. Right or wrong.

 

[Essexyellows]

You call for debate but accuse anyone with a differing view to your own as dour, negative or lacking in support for the club.

You don’t debate; you rant with superciliousness to decry the views and character of anyone who doesn’t agree with you. No nuance. Black and white. Right or wrong.

To be fair we need more of that in life.

And more positivity......... our season is now down to 2 games to get to 1 game.
That has to be approached with a positive mindset.
On our day we can beat anyone.

 

[m]

And more positivity......... our season is now down to 2 games to get to 1 game.
That has to be approached with a positive mindset.
On our day we can beat anyone.

Absofuckinglutely.

Didn't expect to be here so let's enjoy the ride, anything can happen.

 

[OxfordYankee]

To be fair we need more of that in life.

And more positivity......... our season is now down to 2 games to get to 1 game.
That has to be approached with a positive mindset.
On our day we can beat anyone.

More positivity?

I happen to think that we’ll win the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean that we are or have been a perfect team. None are and there’s nothing wrong in discussing how we can improve.
That’s not negativity, that’s debate.

 

[OxfordYankee]

BELIEVE!

There, we’re up.

 

[Fourthstand]

Anyone left the ballot until the last (45) minutes? COYY

 

[Scotchegg]

More positivity?

I happen to think that we’ll win the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean that we are or have been a perfect team. None are and there’s nothing wrong in discussing how we can improve.
That’s not negativity, that’s debate.

This thread is about one game. Constantly bringing up a defensive failing from September is irrelevant. Goals conceded in the previous 46 games count for nothing. It's about what happens on Tuesday and then Friday.

BELIEVE!

Firstly, its a bit of a tagline, not an order, and I really don't take myself very seriously so calm down!

Secondly, and very much on a personal level, I have kept belief through difficult times in many aspects of my life. Not belief in a God or a higher power, but just a belief that things will get better. I won't go into that but it moulds the positivity I hold for other things and probably adds to my frustrations at those who give up or are unnecessarily negative. Having hope doesn't change the result of anything but it does reduce the stresses along the way. It works for me and I'll stick with it.

As for the whole debate process, I get plenty thrown at me and give more than my fair share back. But that's the beauty of a forum where strongly opposed views can be held and discussed. People know my default position and can choose to actively ignore me, or skip past my comments if easier.

 

[Colin B]

Blackpool conceded 29 fewer goals than we did.

You need to brush up on your maths mate.

56 minus 37 = 19. They've conceded 19 less than us, not 29.

 

[Osleroad]

Perhaps if we weren't in the playoffs then there would be nothing to moan about for weeks or is it a ruse to blindside Blackpool thinking we have NOT much of a defence to speak of..
We don't know extent of Long injury ..Mousino is recovering from op to see if he will be a playing option and anyone can get a bad back but has managed to play 90 mins on it.

 

[uptheus]

Anyone left the ballot until the last (45) minutes? COYY

Left it until the last minute in the hope that my ticket’s on the top of the pile! Knowing my luck the tickets will be in a drum (like the lottery) which I guess it is!!