Away Match Day Thread 18/9/21 L1: Cheltenham Town v OUFC

[Scotchegg]

I didn't see this criticism after we beat Lincoln?

Since then we've had 2 good halves of football (1st half yesterday and Wimbledon) 1 decent (2nd half Wycombe) 1 indifferent (1st half Wycombe) and 2 shockers (2nd half yesterday and Wimbledon).

The results haven't been good enough. We could have easily been looking at 7-9 points instead of 1. 6 points can be the difference between 7th and playoffs, or hopefully playoffs and autos. So I understand the frustration.

But we're not a bad side. We are exactly where we were early last season with performance not matching results, no end product and basic errors at the back, and all on the back of injuries and loss of form.

We need to get a bit of belief back in the team, and look at doing the basics right. Once we go past players we need to hit the box early with balls in to Taylor's feet. We need to hit the corners of the goal. Henry had two unstoppable shots against Lincoln and although the keeper made good saves yesterday they were there to be saved. We need to know when to shoot and when to pass. We need confidence in the final third and play to the talents we very clearly have.

2 wins against Gillingham and Accrington may paper over the cracks, but it will at least get us back in the mix and hopefully get a bit of confidence back on and off the pitch.

 

[OxfordYankee]

KR didn’t address the issues that he himself identified and I’d be concerned if the owners aren’t asking him why, particularly after our gutless performances away from home.

He has many fine qualities, but his stubbornness isn’t one of them.

 

[m]

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Something clearly has to change. Might one of these lineups and formations be an option?

I'm not against those teams per se but it's absolutely obscene to have as many wingers as we do and pick teams which don't use them!

 

[Big Ronaldo]

Getting pissed off with Groundhog Day. I honestly thought it would be different this year.
We started the season well. No question, we looked decent but once again, we haven’t converted the many chances we have created in each game that we have played.
Wasteful, wasteful Oxford.
Sides that cannot live with our style of play have somehow hung in there and fashioned wins against us despite our dominance.
The worst of it is, you know what’s coming when we fail to score when we are on top.
You don’t force teams out of their shape to get back in the game.
In the end.. They score and it is us playing catch up.
We have to address this, otherwise we can forget about promotion and just concentrate on avoiding the drop.

 

[ECYellow]

I didn't see this criticism after we beat Lincoln?

Since then we've had 2 good halves of football (1st half yesterday and Wimbledon) 1 decent (2nd half Wycombe) 1 indifferent (1st half Wycombe) and 2 shockers (2nd half yesterday and Wimbledon).

The results haven't been good enough. We could have easily been looking at 7-9 points instead of 1. 6 points can be the difference between 7th and playoffs, or hopefully playoffs and autos. So I understand the frustration.

But we're not a bad side. We are exactly where we were early last season with performance not matching results, no end product and basic errors at the back, and all on the back of injuries and loss of form.

We need to get a bit of belief back in the team, and look at doing the basics right. Once we go past players we need to hit the box early with balls in to Taylor's feet. We need to hit the corners of the goal. Henry had two unstoppable shots against Lincoln and although the keeper made good saves yesterday they were there to be saved. We need to know when to shoot and when to pass. We need confidence in the final third and play to the talents we very clearly have.

2 wins against Gillingham and Accrington may paper over the cracks, but it will at least get us back in the mix and hopefully get a bit of confidence back on and off the pitch.

I really enjoy your posts and i think you offer a great balance to the forum.

However, i do not agree that we had a ‘good’ half yesterday.
We got ourselves into some reasonable positions first half but at no point, do i recall their keeper making a save - other than Henry’s two speculative efforts.

I’d also say that results away from home certainly do reflect performances thus far.

 

[Swaby39]

Holy cow the doom and gloom about this place is ridiculous after 8 games - I’m going to have to bring back my favourite word that got banned on the other thread - ‘hysteria’! That’s what this is… FWIW, I’m as frustrated as any fan would be having completely let Cheltenham off the hook yesterday in that first half - but I saw nothing to make me write off the manager, or our season. That said, I’m prepared to look at both sides of the coin here despite being a fan of KR and what he brings to the club.

Where I will criticise is having now seen a handful of games, I’m starting to think we might have got it wrong with Thorniley. For all his ability on the ball (and we have plenty of players in that bracket), In the absence of a real imposing holding player we need a much more dominant centre back than he is proving to be and alongside McNally who is learning on the job and a bit wet behind the ears against the more direct teams, I think we are very soft-centred. You need someone back there who can deter the opponent from sending it long and we are badly missing Moore in that regard. I think when he’s back and at full speed we will see a positive change.

Up top it’s very difficult. We look incredibly flat in the box with no intensity, selfless running etc. If you drop Taylor you hurt his confidence even more, but stick with him and not much is likely to change as he just looks so off the pace. I think he’s there on merit from last season but time is running out because he’s not even getting involved in general play which is not a big ask. Winnall does that job better but offers nothing in front of goal, however, right now I think I would be picking him out of the 3 just for his fight and general involvement in moves. In short, I understand why KR uses Agyei sparingly which seems to be mallet of the month to whack him with even though when called I don’t think he give us all that much more. He could be such an asset but he’s all brawn and no brain. If he could use his head once in a while he could be lethal.

There is a lot to improve that can only come with time as a result of this style we play. We need partnerships to develop, patterns of play, communication, fitness. It takes time and no club at this level is a stranger to that because of the natural turnover of players every year. Some get out the traps quickly but typically those teams soon get found out and fall away as other teams with stronger squads find their winning formula and rise to the top. If they manage to stay there then they are a very special case and well worthy of their place in the Championship.

The calls for KR to be moved on - or even just the question of his position - I find embarrassing as an OUFC fan. He’s well and truly earned the time and support of the fan base to put this team together and work on it. He built the squad and the largest part of the reason we, as fans, kicked off the season with optimism so for everyone to bail on him after a couple of dodgy moments this early is poor. If we’re 14th come the end of the season, yes, maybe questions need asking. But how many clubs have to tumble down the pyramid before people learn you must be very, very careful what you wish for and right now we may not be perfect or wild favourites for the league but we are incredibly stable with ambition and a genuine chance of success. We have to be realistic about what failure actually looks like for us. For me, it’s finishing in the bottom half and anything top half or more is far from embarrassing this year with the teams involved and money spent, even if it’s not what we hoped for. A knee-jerk change now would be laughable. I think it’s poor as a fan base we’ve got this level of moaning & the damning of our chances at this premature stage and looking to out someone from his job who’s done nothing but put 100% in to the club and brought us reasonable success and entertainment - I love watching us play any time but when at our best, we get a product nobody else in this division gets to watch and I’m proud of that.

Every team needs a plan B of sorts but if we start smashing it up the pitch you’ll all start bitching about players resorting to ‘hoofing’ the ball like Cheltenham did for the goal. We could then get on KR’s back for being spineless and going back on his principles when he’s under pressure… Where do you draw the line? Can he ever win? Let the guy do his job and get behind him until he’s actually failed.

A few changes needed, yes, perhaps more a shift in mentality to become much, much more ruthless than anything. But that’s the extent of it in my view and all this flapping that we are some tragic lost cause that needs drastic change is beyond belief.

And breathe…..

 

[Mad Dog]

I'm not against those teams per se but it's absolutely obscene to have as many wingers as we do and pick teams which don't use them!

I picked Bodin as a winger in one of those lineups, as he's clearly the pick of the bunch with regards to the wingers at the club, if he's fit.

But in my honest opinion, Whyte has done nothing to warrant a place in the starting lineup since his return, and I simply don't rate Holland, he has been even more useless than when he was here the first time, I wouldn't even have him on the bench, he's weak and flimsy, and completely ineffective.

Williams has surprised me, he looks a much better player than when he was here last time, and looks like a surprise option at RB, so he's still an option for a starting spot.

Overall, Sykes has been in good form on the RW, but for all his good work, his final balls and decision making are pretty poor, with little end product, so there needs to be another option considered.

For some unknown reason, Cooper, like Agyei, simply isn't on KR radar in any meaningful way.

I think Henry is the only potential wide player who is capable of consistently crossing the ball effectively, and when he was on the right, Taylor was getting multiple chances, and scoring for fun, and Henry was regularly scoring himself, so I'd happily see him given a chance on the right again, although he's showing himself to be very useful in the middle now as well. Just a class player.

But regardless of how many wingers are here, I don't think KR has the slightest clue how to actually set his teams up tactically to utilise having wingers on the pitch, which is painfully ironic.

I'm just spitballing some ideas, and regardless of weather I'm right or wrong with these particular lineups and formations, it shows that there are options, and something has to change, and KR needs to start showing some tactical flexibility, and start trying different things, as at the moment his ideas are not working.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

I really enjoy your posts and i think you offer a great balance to the forum.

However, i do not agree that we had a ‘good’ half yesterday.
We got ourselves into some reasonable positions first half but at no point, do i recall their keeper making a save - other than Henry’s two speculative efforts.

I’d also say that results away from home certainly do reflect performances thus far.

Look, I think Scotchers is as deluded and over-positive as the next man, but we absolutely did have a ‘good’ first half against Cheltenham. We drew it 0-0 away from home, didn’t concede a shot on target, had multiple shots ourselves including a couple which forced the keeper to pull off great saves, and forced multiple corners. It wasn’t a great half, because we didn’t score, but it was a good one. I watched the game and we dominated the first half and looked by far the better team - they were on the ropes at times.

Sadly, the second half was absolutely atrocious.

 

[OxfordNondie]

7

Have to say, I thought James Henry was the only Oxford player who looked like scoring today.
According to the stats, we had 5 shots on target today. Well, I'm certain that Henry had 4 of them (including forcing a couple of excellent saves).....I can't recall who had the 5th, but it may have been him as well.
He's also the only Oxford player who's scored more than one goal this season (he has four).

Yes, he gave the ball away a few times today, but I wouldn't have taken him off either when we're so lacking in goal threat from anyone else at the moment......

Shame he plays in midfield and stifles all our creative play.

 

[Bacon]

our ‘favourable’ start to the season doesn’t bode well does it?…

 

[OX14]

Look, I think Scotchers is as deluded and over-positive as the next man, but we absolutely did have a ‘good’ first half against Cheltenham. We drew it 0-0 away from home, didn’t concede a shot on target, had multiple shots ourselves including a couple which forced the keeper to pull off great saves, and forced multiple corners. It wasn’t a great half, because we didn’t score, but it was a good one. I watched the game and we dominated the first half and looked by far the better team - they were on the ropes at times.

Sadly, the second half was absolutely atrocious.

A result of a game is awarded after 90 minutes not 45. If we put 5 goals in the first half and let in 6 the second half it's still a loss and a shite result and performance.

 

[horseman]

The normal reaction because Oxford dare to lose a game of football, it is clear that some just don't like the manager but perhaps some fans should take a backward step and then they might realize we are a 3rd tier club with no given right to beat any team in this division.

Perhaps the past 18 months or so have changed my outlook on life and i tend to watch us in very relaxed mode these days and i'm certainly not getting way over the top reactions when we don't win a game of football.

it has been obvious once we knew what teams were in this league this season that there are 11/12 clubs capable of pushing for the Autos and Play Offs and add the odd surprise team that always pop up and realism really should be in everyone's thought process.

Maybe it's the hysteria of having wealthy guys on board that has made people not think things though and have wrongly thought we only have to turn up, on top of this it's strange how people's opinion of a player really does swing full circle because said player might have the odd off day or 2.

I don't get the we should be beating these sides that gets spouted on here, there are no easy matches and like it or not there is no Guarantee of success in football, most people likely predicted a play off place but that's not a given and i really do think some should put things into perspective.

 

[arthurturner]

KR didn’t address the issues that he himself identified and I’d be concerned if the owners aren’t asking him why, particularly after our gutless performances away from home.

He has many fine qualities, but his stubbornness isn’t one of them.

The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. I also failed to understand his incoherent post match interview. After Blackpool, even he recognised the need for more pace and physically. Where is it? No leaders on the pitch. No players recruited with the bottle to question the manager's tactics. With Chris Short gone, whose doing the coaching?

 

[OxfordYankee]

The normal reaction because Oxford dare to lose a game of football, it is clear that some just don't like the manager but perhaps some fans should take a backward step and then they might realize we are a 3rd tier club with no given right to beat any team in this division.

Perhaps the past 18 months or so have changed my outlook on life and i tend to watch us in very relaxed mode these days and i'm certainly not getting way over the top reactions when we don't win a game of football.

it has been obvious once we knew what teams were in this league this season that there are 11/12 clubs capable of pushing for the Autos and Play Offs and add the odd surprise team that always pop up and realism really should be in everyone's thought process.

Maybe it's the hysteria of having wealthy guys on board that has made people not think things though and have wrongly thought we only have to turn up, on top of this it's strange how people's opinion of a player really does swing full circle because said player might have the odd off day or 2.

I don't get the we should be beating these sides that gets spouted on here, there are no easy matches and like it or not there is no Guarantee of success in football, most people likely predicted a play off place but that's not a given and i really do think some should put things into perspective.

It isn’t just one game. We’ve amassed 1 points from 4 away games, 3 of which have been against promoted teams.

More concerning than the defeats themselves has been the manner of them.

I don’t think this is hysteria, it’s a reaction to what people see with their own eyes. Of course KR should have time to address the current issues, but surely even the most positive correspondent on this forum can’t deny that we’re in our own version of Groundhog Day.

My main concern is that KR constantly talks up our progression, something I’m not currently seeing, and it appears, not many are.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

A result of a game is awarded after 90 minutes not 45. If we put 5 goals in the first half and let in 6 the second half it's still a loss and a shite result and performance.

That’s fine - but in that scenario is it a good first half?

 

[Followtheox1]

Got to be honest - I don't.

I think the squad is woefully imbalanced, and severely lacking in many key attributes, most notably size, strength and defensive aggression and awareness (also beginning to think we may have to add finishing to the list, unless and until Matty gets his groove back).

It's a great squad for playing silky football, and pretty one touch passing moves.

I'm not convinced it's a great squad for winning the 25+ games you likely need to to be in contention for the automatics.

As people can see from my posts I am pretty supportive of Robinson. However, one area I think the local media should question him about is our lack of strength and athleticism in the middle of the park and up top. He clearly identified this as an issue that needed addressing in terms of summer recruitment, after the defeat to Blackpool, so it is odd it is hasn't. It's one thing him not feeling it is an area we need to address but he has been on record stating it is, so I would like him to be asked about why he has chosen not too.

 

[Swaby39]

It isn’t just one game. We’ve amassed 1 points from 4 away games, 3 of which have been against promoted teams.

I take issue with this. Going away to the promoted teams early doors is not easy at all so this notion they should be a certain 3 points is an arrogance that’s probably at the route of this bonkers panic.

All 3 are off the back of great seasons where they proved themselves to be winners and have a confidence and togetherness that comes with that, not to mention good crowds who will be buoyant after this recent success. Being promoted is a clear indication you are above the level below so they will be competitive in these early games, particularly at home.

Bolton 8th
Cheltenham 9th
Cambridge 13th
Morecambe 18th

 

[AbsoluteZero]

As a team we play the percentages very poorly and don't give ourselves the best chance to score goals whilst instead giving the opposition opportunities that they don't deserve or shouldn't be able to create to score in our net. Example from the game at Cheltenham

First half, a good passing move led to a sustained attacked and good possession around the Cheltenham penalty area. The ball was shuffled back to Gorrin who was 25-30 yards from goal. He had a 5 yard sideways pass to his right to Long, a 5 yard sideways pass to his left to Henry, a 5 yard pass forward left to Taylor and a 5 yard pass forward right to Sykes. If he didn't fancy any of those because the said players were well marked he could have chipped it left towards the corner flag for Whyte or Seddon to run onto. His choice was to spin on the ball so that his back was now to the opposition goal. His only pass available then was to go back to McNally on the half way line. Pass to McNally made.

McNally then had limited choices because firstly he couldn't afford to lose the ball where he was, secondly a pass forward to the area where Taylor, Sykes etc were meant losing the ball there threatened a counter attack from Cheltenham with the midfield defensive cover too advanced up the pitch. The best option was a kick the ball over the top to the left for Whyte or Seddon to challenge and try and make something happen with Kane backing up to pick any pieces up. The ball goes forward, a defensive mistake, a lucky bounce, a piece of decent skill and we are through to have a shot on goal. Instead McNally turned round and passed the ball back to Stevens. The ball was now in our penalty area. We had lost the opportunity to advance on Cheltenham's goal and we immediately put ourselves in a position where if we did something silly we risked conceding a goal. Within 2 passes we then lost the ball in our own half and were under pressure.

This was possession for possessions sake without any realisation that the objective is to threaten the opposition defence and to reduce the risk to our own goal. It made no sense at all given we went from the edge of their box to back to our keeper in 2 passes. And this happens quite regularly. It's no wonder we don't score enough goals, we are not giving ourselves the best possible opportunity to do so. In the example given it would surely be better for Gorrin to just boot the ball out near the opposition corner flag for us to challenge for the next ball from a reset position and start again from a good territorial area where there is zero risk to our own goal. Going backwards from there just summed up the tactics.

 

[Manorlounger]

Having just watched back the iFollow highlights (extended), KR's post match with Chris Williams and Mark Sykes post match reaction, several thoughts came to mind. The goal was as a direct result of Cheltenham playing how they play - long ball, big lad collects and crosses. Very simple but, we had nobody tracking Alfie May who ended up with an open goal and an easy finish. Then the number of wayward passes and the number of crosses into spaces where there should have been a tall physical striker to finish. (yes, that player we don't have)
Robinson's post match was as usual, we played well, lots of chances, dominant etc etc blah blah blah. Oh yes, we are building something, 2 1/2 years etc etc. A slight acknowledgement to the fans with a mention of his concerns when Mark Sykes went over to speak to the fans. - In other words, he knew damn well that the fans were not happy and wasn't going to go near any of them himself nor was he condoning any player doing the same. Sykes, in his interview expressed his concern that the fans needed to have someone face up, talk and listen, which he did. Great shame that nobody else saw fit to personally thank the fans for travelling in numbers, again. I like the man even more after hearing an honest and understanding interview.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I don't think the annoyance on here is 'because we lost a game of football'.

It is because:
It is become obvious (as if we didn't know it already!) that the squad that has been assembled contains some very talented individuals, but little thought *seems* to have been put into how they fit together and how there will be options to cover injuries and loss of form in various positions. If we are going to lump the ball up (after passing it sideways for a while) we need a target man. We haven't really got one. If we are going to put in crosses, then we need an excellent, tall header of the ball who can dominate large central defenders. We haven't really got one. So the only conclusion is that we have bought/retained decent players, but perhaps not ones who fit into the system we are playing. But yet we've got loads of wingers who either don't get a game (Cooper) or get played on the wrong side. The squad is ridiculously imbalanced.
Yet again we seem to have players like Winnall and McGuane who are made of wet tissue paper. A strong breeze and they are on the treatment table for a month. Do we sign some players based on their reputations rather than how they might actually perform now?
It's all very well having a set way to play, but when that isn't working just doing it over and over again and hoping things somehow improve is quite daft. Our away games have settled into a fairly predictable pattern.
The team is not as fit as it should be. By 75 minutes we are puffing and blowing - so the last quarter of the match seems to always be a real trial.
After a decent start, we have now reverted to our usual early season form under KR. The excuses are wearing thin (bad time to play promoted teams, Wimbledon have a new ground, injuries, unlucky etc). You'd have though he'd have learned by now, but apparently not. Points gained and lost now are just as precious as those gained in a long unbeaten run later in the season - but relying on the latter happening every year is a risky option.
The substitutions made by the manager often seem preplanned (whatever the match situation) and are frequently very ineffective - often making things worse rather than better,

It's not a crisis of course - we are early in the season still, But there *obviously* need to be changes. We have to work with what we've got until January. So we need a bit more flexibility from the manager in team selection, tactics and substitutions, some stamina training to make sure we don't keep fading in matches and (even if we keep playing the same style) a bit more urgency and a bit more willingness to carry the ball forward, to go past a man and to try a forward pass (not a hoof) rather than taking the safe option. The challenge for KR is to take the players he has bought/kept and make them into a better 'team' than they are presently.