Home Match Day Thread 25/04/2023: L1 - OUFC v Cheltenham Town

[RyanioBirdio]

Murphy, when will we ever learn.

He was probably our most creative and threatening player for the 30+ minutes he played on Saturday, so I would be surprised if Manning doesn’t start him.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I like the idea of playing Tyler Goodrham as the striker. I know that he's short, but not much shorter than Smith, but he gives so much energy and fight and is not afraid to shoot.

But if he plays up top then you need Joseph playing off him to win any balls in the air, but Tyler could be the perfect player to pick up and knock downs in and around the box. I wouldn't be against Smith playing and in a similar role, but he needs to be up for the fight and ready to give everything.

I'd also start with Murphy who was much improved when he came on at the weekend and can turn any game in an instance if he is on top form. It is asking a lot, but I think that our crowd really need to get behind him too. He looks the sort of player that needs lifting, and we all have to do what we can to get us the results we need.

I'm sure most won't agree, but I think Brannagan looks a better player when directing play from the back. A few years back he dropped back to replace Gorin and we looked better for it. But we need to have confidence in the defence doing their part, and that will give him licence to get around the box when we're in possession.

Play on the front foot from the start, like we did against Portsmouth and we will win tonight. But we need belief in the players and on the stands. This is our biggest game in years, and although it's not been the season that any of us would have wanted, we have three games left to wipe the slate clean and start again.

You'd have heard the groans from fans in the last match he played at home. Some of the fans, especially in the Oxford Mail stand, are absolute bell ends when it comes to supporting a player - especially in the state we are in. Who, in their own right mind, boos one of our players when they need every bit of help they can get. We can sort Murphy out in the summer but he has pedigree and right now he is one of the very few potential match changers we have. He needs backing, however frustrating he can be.

 

[holdsteady]

I think he might start Bodin over Goodrham. Browne and Murphy wide with BB in the ten.

Is he fit enough to start?

 

[Scotchegg]

I think he might start Bodin over Goodrham. Browne and Murphy wide with BB in the ten.

I'd forgotten about Bodin being back and think you're selection is more likely.

We know that Goodrham is always ready to come on and play wherever needed so no one can afford to go missing.

 

[OUFCwaffle]

You'd have heard the groans from fans in the last match he played at home. Some of the fans, especially in the Oxford Mail stand, are absolute bell ends when it comes to supporting a player - especially in the state we are in. Who, in their own right mind, boos one of our players when they need every bit of help they can get. We can sort Murphy out in the summer but he has pedigree and right now he is one of the very few potential match changers we have. He needs backing, however frustrating he can be.

Hear hear, there is NOTHING to be gained from booing anyone at this stage.

It was deserved towards KR but not now.

 

[Scotchegg]

Murphy, when will we ever learn.

When we start watching players rather than having preconceived ideas.

Murphy was our most productive player when he came on at the weekend, and has the ability to change games in an instance. He might be the difference between us staying up or going down, so we need to get behind him if he plays.

 

[andystroud]

Cheltenham have lost only once in the last ten. We haven't won in seventeen. This won't be the stroll in the park that some are expecting.
Our best hope is that Cheltenham are on the beach.

 

[Northstandboy]

All records must end.... It is just whether it is this season or next.

 

[uptheus]

He was probably our most creative and threatening player for the 30+ minutes he played on Saturday, so I would be surprised if Manning doesn’t start him.

I wouldn’t be surprised because nothing surprises me at the moment. But his total 1hr of playing well for the whole season I guess constitutes a start!!

I’d have Goodrham over him any day of the week

 

[Scotchegg]

Put my money where my mouth is!!

 

[Northstandboy]

View attachment 13060

Put my money where my mouth is!!

Never bet on OUFC.... it will let you down!

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Is he fit enough to start?

Dunno, but after two sub appearances I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get an hour tonight. It feels like the entire club has been gearing up for a three game season for the past month.

 

[uptheus]

You'd have heard the groans from fans in the last match he played at home. Some of the fans, especially in the Oxford Mail stand, are absolute bell ends when it comes to supporting a player - especially in the state we are in. Who, in their own right mind, boos one of our players when they need every bit of help they can get. We can sort Murphy out in the summer but he has pedigree and right now he is one of the very few potential match changers we have. He needs backing, however frustrating he can be.

Well he hasn’t shown it much if at all this season, so why you’d think he’d start producing consistently now is beyond me.

Yes, support the team/players, but if I were the manager I’d play players who gave done it more consistently and deserve it, not these ones who turn up when they feel like it or if it’s a high profile game, but then still play shite (Arsenal /MK Dons games spring to mind)

 

[uptheus]

Dunno, but after two sub appearances I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get an hour tonight. It feels like the entire club has been gearing up for a three game season for the past month.

Left that potentially too late too.

 

[uptheus]

You'd have heard the groans from fans in the last match he played at home. Some of the fans, especially in the Oxford Mail stand, are absolute bell ends when it comes to supporting a player - especially in the state we are in. Who, in their own right mind, boos one of our players when they need every bit of help they can get. We can sort Murphy out in the summer but he has pedigree and right now he is one of the very few potential match changers we have. He needs backing, however frustrating he can be.

I don’t agree with fans abusing our players, but Murphy hasn’t endeared himself, so I can understand some fans frustrations. I guess some fans feel abused by his actions (or lack of them) throughout the season

 

[oufc1991]

We bear Cheltenham earlier in the season so why can't we do it again I won't lie I'm not confident but if we play like we did against Pompey we could get a result tonight

 

[uptheus]

When we start watching players rather than having preconceived ideas.

Murphy was our most productive player when he came on at the weekend, and has the ability to change games in an instance. He might be the difference between us staying up or going down, so we need to get behind him if he plays.

30mins, great return on the investment.

My opinion isn’t based upon preconceived ideas, it’s based upon his contribution all f*****g season or should I say lack of it. And he didn’t do much else in the 2 preceding seasons before that with other clubs. May be he’s just realised that he might get booted out at the end of the season (I know he’s got a year left, god forbid), so just trying to do enough to try and mitigate getting booted out so we think he’ll do it next season. Thing is, I can see him say at the back of the SSU again, playing with his legs hone not giving a s**t.

Like I said, I’d play players who deserve and give their all for the team/club, so I’d play Goodrham over him any day of the week.

 

[Scotchegg]

30mins, great return on the investment.

May opinion isn’t based upon preconceived ideas, it’s based upon his contribution all ticking season. And he didn’t do much else in the 2 preceding seasons before that with other clubs.

Like I said, I’d play players who deserve and give their all for the team/club, so I’d play Goodrham over him any day of the week.

The penny will drop eventually, but earlier this season, last season or the season before are completely irrelevant.

It's all about the next 90 minutes and based on his last showing Murphy deserves a shout. That's not knocking Goodrham (a player I was pushing for first team involvement from this time last season!) but Murphy has the potential to create something out of nothing, and we need that right now.

If I was the gaffer, I'd be getting Murphy fired up to play the best 45 minutes of his time with us. Replicate Charlton and our season could be saved on that alone. We can always bring Goodrham on if Murphy tires, so he can give it everything from the off.

 

[ChamonixOx]

No Donks in the squad tonight .... guessing it could be (alas) Smith and Joseph up front?

feel confident we'll somehow get a much needed win, 3-1 would be good, 1-0 would suffice

( tribute to my late Dad ,Ray, is supposed in tonights match programme- should've been in the Pompey matchday programme- so I shant believe it till I see it- come Oxford, even if not for anyone else, win this one for me Dad )

We need a miracle to score a goal or three so I’m going to help us a long but saying Smith couldn’t hit a barn door based on the few cameos I’ve seen him! That should do it, guaranteed a hattrick now!

 

[holdsteady]

The penny will drop eventually, but earlier this season, last season or the season before are completely irrelevant.

It's all about the next 90 minutes and based on his last showing Murphy deserves a shout. That's not knocking Goodrham (a player I was pushing for first team involvement from this time last season!) but Murphy has the potential to create something out of nothing, and we need that right now.

If I was the gaffer, I'd be getting Murphy fired up to play the best 45 minutes of his time with us. Replicate Charlton and our season could be saved on that alone. We can always bring Goodrham on if Murphy tires, so he can give it everything from the off.

So everything previous is irrelevant but Murphy deserves to be picked on what he did in a previous 30 minute spell against Charlton?