Home Match Day Thread 07/10/2023 L1: OUFC v Bristol Rovers

[Golden Dr Otto]

Well I am going to say we look way off the standard of recent weeks and Rovers have dominated the last15 minutes of the half. We don’t look sharp, slow to the ball, too many passes off , and just a generally languid lack of tenacity.

If we come out like this second half they’ll score on us at least once

 

[Sarge]

Bollox ref

 

[ljs]

We are standing off and letting them have time on the ball to dictate play.

 

[Scrongo]

We need to shape up,

 

[Jolteon]

wtf is this ref doing

 

[Sarge]

Poor referee yet again

 

[WuTang]

We were very comfortable on the ball for long spells in this half. Then we've sat deep and panicked on it for the latter stages, inviting enormous pressure. We'll do well to go in at half time with a clean sheet. Lots to ponder for Manning. Perhaps some more pace on the break with Mills/Murphy will help

 

[Symp59]

They could have 4 by now iam sure things will chase at half time ,but we are lucky to be winning. Only really one team in it. Rodriguez one or two pieces of magic .And some great goal keeping by Beadle.

We need to shape up,

 

[Oxford84]

A change of formation with pace out wide needed?

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

We’re 1-0 up but Rovers have been the better team and have dominated the game. It’s been more like they’re the home team and we’re away. We’re very lucky to not have conceded / Beadle has been brilliant and made three great saves - he’s been our best player.

For me, the problem is the formation. Sorry but I don’t like it. It’s so defensive and invites pressure, and there’s very little outlet for us and less in midfield. I don’t see what was wrong with our 4-2-3-1? What we’re doing is clearly not working.

Long has had an absolute shocker and no-one apart from Beadle and maybe Rodrigues has really been on it. Harris has been non-existent and Bodin took his goal well but apart from that has looked slow.

Let’s go back to 4-2-3-1, get some pacy wingers on and pushed up high and wide and run at them like we did for the first few games of the season! Because so far today we’ve looked tired and flat.

Edit: (Yes we’re 1-0 up and if we win I’ll be buzzing, but if we keep conceding chances and possession like that in the second half we’ll do well not to concede!)

 

[bdodwell]

Their 23 is controlling McGuane. Might need some support in there. Best team we played.

 

[tonyw]

So Manning needs to change something otherwise we're going to need a lot of luck (and James Beadle) to win this. Rovers were the better team that half.

Mills/Murphy for Rodrigues/Leigh and revert to 4-2-3-1 is one way you could go.

The alternative is keep the same formation and personnel but play with more positivity and aggression. Our wingbacks were playing like fullbacks for much of that half, and we let the Rovers fullbacks play like wingbacks. Their LB, #42 was their most dangerous attacking player. If we keep this shape, then Leigh and Stevens have to push on a hell of a lot more to force their fullbacks back.

Super goal by Bodin, mind.

 

[WarwickOx]

A bit scrappy with a couple of errors from long and brown. BR look the better side but we are a goal up, and let's face it, that's the only important stat we need to worry about.
Strong 2nd half required

 

[Northstandboy]

Sam Long is having a good game so far.

Last 5-10 mins of the game we had a pretty bad time.

 

[Mellowyellow]

Long could have cost goals, having a poor game.

 

[Northstandboy]

We’ve not had much part from the goal.

Attendance looks to be not as good as we would have hoped for.

 

[Theox07]

Harris has been poor

 

[Northstandboy]

Harris has been poor

When he hit that shot late in the first half, I said if he hadn’t had his 3 match ban that would have been way better.

He’s still a bit rusty, like he was at the start of the season, get a goal and they will come!

 

[Berliner]

Long could have cost goals, having a poor game.

They are obviously targeting him. Time for a shift around for me otherwise they will end up scoring.
Nobody is really on top of their game, bar Beadle and to a degree Bodin. Lot of 6/10 performances at most.
Ref is a complete randomiser as well, get the feeling there will be some controversy in the second half.
Stay strong lads!
COYY

 

[ChamonixOx]

Credit where credit is due - Rovers are one of the better sides we have played this season in my opinion.