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

[chromeyellow]

I hate to be a negative ninny but when your three highlights of a players performance are a decent shot down the middle, missing a sitter and running the ball out of play uncontested then it's not all that promising.

I'd dearly love him to come good but I'm still in the camp that anything we get from him will be a bonus. He did well to get the ball for Brown's sending off to be fair.

The "sitter" he missed was a fantastic piece of interplay between him and Rodrigues. His run was perfectly timed. he should have scored- just as Harris should in the first half, but the chance existed because of his perfectly timed run.

In any case as we are going to be without Browne, Edwards and Mills for the next few games he and Goodrham are the only wide attacking options we have. And Sometimes we are going to need his strength and experience.

 

[ECYellow]

Yesterday was an excellent result, despite a performance that was sub standard for large parts.

It was also plain to see early on that the back 3 wasn’t working. We lost the midfield and couldn’t get control of the game. Their ginger haired lad ran the game for the first hour.

It’s pleasing that we were able to get the win and it’s certainly a game we wouldn’t have won in seasons gone by.

Moore has been outstanding in every fixture so far this. He seems to have gone up a level and looks unflappable.
Beadle for me, was MOTM.

Sam Long. I’m not sure what can be said that hasn’t already? When up against a polished forward like Collins, he gets horribly exposed. For me, that RB position is a ‘must improve on’ in January.

Harris has started ok for us. I’m not convinced that he’s going to get us 15 league goals + a season. For me, I’d be looking to spend the Marriot money in January on an out and out goal scorer. JCH would be the obvious one (OOC in the summer) or Langstaff at Notts. GO’D huffs and puffs but doesn’t really look like scoring.

The international break comes at a good time. There are stiff tests to come this month and we will need to be disciplined to continue our impressive run. Fingers crossed!

 

[bazzer9461]

Yesterday was an excellent result, despite a performance that was sub standard for large parts.

It was also plain to see early on that the back 3 wasn’t working. We lost the midfield and couldn’t get control of the game. Their ginger haired lad ran the game for the first hour.

It’s pleasing that we were able to get the win and it’s certainly a game we wouldn’t have won in seasons gone by.

Moore has been outstanding in every fixture so far this. He seems to have gone up a level and looks unflappable.
Beagle for me, was MOTM.

Sam Long. I’m not sure what can be said that hasn’t already? When up against a polished forward like Collins, he gets horribly exposed. For me, that RB position is a ‘must improve on’ in January.

Harris has started ok for us. I’m not convinced that he’s going to get us 15 league goals + a season. For me, I’d be looking to spend the Marriot money in January on an out and out goal scorer. JCH would be the obvious one (OOC in the summer) or Langstaff at Notts. GO’D huffs and puffs but doesn’t really look like scoring.

The international break comes at a good time. There are stiff tests to come this month and we will need to be disciplined to continue our impressive run. Fingers crossed!

Langstaff for me as I think of reports are true that JCH will return to the Gas

 

[Symp59]

Harris is so much better than God he needs a loan in January. Harris makes great runs and never stops making space alot mor goals to come from him. Rodriguez is special great set up for Bodin and Murphy and lots more to come from him. A good break now and get the boys rested and ready for the next game.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[Osei Yaw]

I'm also firmly in the camp that thinks the last 30 minutes was poor and that we got away with one yesterday.

But... it's so refreshing that we still got the win, against Rovers as well. They can go away thinking what could have been, whereas we just have the 3 points. A nice change from recent history and that suits me just fine.

Also a reflection that standards are already improving. Last season a result like that would've brought a collective sigh of relief, but now there are plenty who still want improvement - which is obviously a good, healthy thing.

I also trust Manning and Hogg to do just that. They won't rest on their laurels, they'll have a good look through yesterday and task the players to improve. Again, this is where Manning is a revelation from last season. When you hear Barton go off on one it's just all so Robbo - blame everyone else and make outlandish statements. Of course the fans lap it up but it does little to actually improve things.

Barton's words should be music to our collective ears - he's rattled, and most of what he comes out with is just arrogance and bluster, which in turn just breeds complacency. You can already see that coming out with comments like 'we're the better side' and then their fans carrying it on with 'we'll beat Oxford at our place'. We were below par yesterday but we still created 4 clear goalscoring opportunities, which isn't something you could say for Rovers. So crack on Joey - the stage is yours, and whilst you're up there telling the world how you've been robbed, I'm sure Manning is working away in the background to make further improvements.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

I'm also firmly in the camp that thinks the last 30 minutes was poor and that we got away with one yesterday.

But... it's so refreshing that we still got the win, against Rovers as well. They can go away thinking what could have been, whereas we just have the 3 points. A nice change from recent history and that suits me just fine.

Also a reflection that standards are already improving. Last season a result like that would've brought a collective sigh of relief, but now there are plenty who still want improvement - which is obviously a good, healthy thing.

I also trust Manning and Hogg to do just that. They won't rest on their laurels, they'll have a good look through yesterday and task the players to improve. Again, this is where Manning is a revelation from last season. When you hear Barton go off on one it's just all so Robbo - blame everyone else and make outlandish statements. Of course the fans lap it up but it does little to actually improve things.

Barton's words should be music to our collective ears - he's rattled, and most of what he comes out with is just arrogance and bluster, which in turn just breeds complacency. You can already see that coming out with comments like 'we're the better side' and then their fans carrying it on with 'we'll beat Oxford at our place'. We were below par yesterday but we still created 4 clear goalscoring opportunities, which isn't something you could say for Rovers. So crack on Joey - the stage is yours, and whilst you're up there telling the world how you've been robbed, I'm sure Manning is working away in the background to make further improvements.

But would you take a point against Blackpool?

 

[Colin B]

For those asking about Tyler's injury/illness, I spoke to him before the game and it is not an illness, so not sure where Radio Oxford got that from? He said he got a bang on the head in training, had headaches last night, but (typically for a youngster) wanted to play. However the medical team told him he couldn't. He'll be fine for the next game.

On a separate note, although I've spoken to him before, he spent about 10/15 minutes with us yesterday and is just such an absolutely pleasant and polite young man. A credit to the club and his parents.

 

[derek]

I hate to be a negative ninny but when your three highlights of a players performance are a decent shot down the middle, missing a sitter and running the ball out of play uncontested then it's not all that promising.

I'd dearly love him to come good but I'm still in the camp that anything we get from him will be a bonus. He did well to get the ball for Brown's sending off to be fair.

I didn't say those were the only highlights.

I was just pointing out that he had more than one chance, when people were only crediting him with one.

 

[Sarge]

Yesterday was an excellent result, despite a performance that was sub standard for large parts.

It was also plain to see early on that the back 3 wasn’t working. We lost the midfield and couldn’t get control of the game. Their ginger haired lad ran the game for the first hour.

It’s pleasing that we were able to get the win and it’s certainly a game we wouldn’t have won in seasons gone by.

Moore has been outstanding in every fixture so far this. He seems to have gone up a level and looks unflappable.
Beagle for me, was MOTM.

Sam Long. I’m not sure what can be said that hasn’t already? When up against a polished forward like Collins, he gets horribly exposed. For me, that RB position is a ‘must improve on’ in January.

Harris has started ok for us. I’m not convinced that he’s going to get us 15 league goals + a season. For me, I’d be looking to spend the Marriot money in January on an out and out goal scorer. JCH would be the obvious one (OOC in the summer) or Langstaff at Notts. GO’D huffs and puffs but doesn’t really look like scoring.

The international break comes at a good time. There are stiff tests to come this month and we will need to be disciplined to continue our impressive run. Fingers crossed!

a smokin' performance that was

 

[Hook]

Mills’ red card was harsh and he definitely got the ball - but no chance of that getting overturned. He jumped and scissored. You can’t argue he was in full control, therefore, soft as it was, there’s surely no grounds to overturn it. I thought a yellow for both him and their defender (who seemed to shove him in the face afterwards - totally unpunished) would’ve been sensible when watching it live. But sensible officiating was well beyond that ref. He was dreadful - for both sides.

I called it in pretty much the first minute when he failed to book one of their players for a shocking challenge on Ciaron Brown that he had no ability to control a game. From that point no amount of waving his card around at arbitrary (and at times seemingly completely random) incidents was going to work. Just an awful, awful display of how to control a football game by a referee. I’m surprised it didn’t boil over much earlier in truth.

But having said that - both Brown and Smyth’s red cards were absolutely right. The rules are pretty clear this season that you can’t do anything that remotely constitutes kicking the ball away. Both Brown and Smyth were unforgivably dozy for their teams. And I have no clue what Brown was protesting for his second yellow!

Other than a mindless 10 minutes at the end, I was impressed with that today. They were very good, played in a well-drilled manner to nullify our wingback system and Beadle was superb. That save at 1-0 on the brink of halftime was fantastic. To grind out the win when not at our best against a good side is incredibly positive. I thought Manning’s half time change of system was excellent, and a real example of how different he is from KR (who at 1-0 up would absolutely have left it for another 15 minutes of second half to ‘have a look’). Love that Manning identified the problem, didn’t hesitate to fix it and had the personnel to do so. Pleasing all round, and absolutely buzzing with a(nother) win.

(Say it quietly but we’re running out of wingers. Browne, Edwards, now Mills for three games. A problem for another day…)

3-4-2-1 solves the winger issue

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Apologies if this has been posted, Joey Barton excelling himself here:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1710900012807295479

 

[MJB]

Apologies if this has been posted, Joey Barton excelling himself here:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1710900012807295479

So funny that this was what Barton was up to at nine o’clock at night. Presumably he had to put his Nietzsche down for two minutes to demonstrate his mental prowess on Twitter. A strange little man!

 

[Osei Yaw]

But would you take a point against Blackpool?

Well, if you take their fan opinions seriously (which I always do) then they were essentially champions elect when they beat Burton 2-0 on the opening game of the season. Add in that they then bought Kyle Joseph for £1.5m without spending a single penny and they're clearly a club with clever people in charge.

I'm not saying I would take a point now, but I wouldn't not be happy with a draw.

 

[Bigfella72]

Great summary.

Can’t disagree too much but I felt Ruben tired after the break and has a tendency to want too much time on the ball and this scrambles his thinking.
McGuane bizarrely felt he could flick and back heel the ball in the ‘heat’ of the midfield battle. Twice they counter-attacked with menace.

Sam Long had a torrid 107 minutes - Collins tormented him for fun but that’s not surprising given that he’s probably the most valuable player in L1. What a talent.He will be in the Prem come February 1st 2024.

Manning got the HT call correct with Mills for Stevens and Stanley did well. Did not see the incident at he end but Adrian Durham on TalkSPORT
said he had seen the ‘foul’ by Mills and that he got the ball and he felt the red would be overturned.

From a position of control at 2-0 against ten men, we attempted the unthinkable - almost wilfully and criminally surrendering two vital points.
Smyth selling himself like that in front of ‘that‘ ref was naive in the extreme and he was blanked by the exasperated Manning.
We were rabbits caught in the headlights at the death but thankfully young James Beadle plays with such calm authority and has huge belief in his ability and was a major reason why we achieved the three points against the best opponent I’ve seen this season. Fullback Jack Hunt pinging 60 yard diags over Long to Collins
was pre-planned. It was a major part of their armoury.


That was a massive win - nine in eleven is sensational -but some lights are starting to flash red on the dashboard In my view.
Glad we’ve two weeks to work on things.

Collins reminds me of that annoying Pompey player (can’t for the life of me remember his name) that has the talent but obviously not the desire/attitude or would already be playing at a higher level.

 

[Joey]

He had his full back panicking every time he got the ball as he was outpacing him whenever it was 1 on 1. He took the pressure off the defence a fair number of times with those runs.

You don’t think Murphy played well? I thought he did, obviously not everything he tried came off but he was better than Bodin was in the second half

I didn't say those were the only highlights.

I was just pointing out that he had more than one chance, when people were only crediting him with one.

The "sitter" he missed was a fantastic piece of interplay between him and Rodrigues. His run was perfectly timed. he should have scored- just as Harris should in the first half, but the chance existed because of his perfectly timed run.

To answer all of these at once I wasn't at the game yesterday and wasn't able to catch it all in iFollow. He did well to draw the foul from Brown for his second yellow but that chance was a sitter and he took the ball out of play under very little pressure in a good position. Perhaps he did very well in the bits I didn't see, I'll be trying to watch the game back on Tuesday and if I'm being too harsh on him I'd be more than happy to say he did well.

I would say some of these back up what I've said before that a lot of people are going out of their way to praise him in some places while being all too happy to gloss over mistakes. We should be expecting more, that's not unfair or being overly harsh. Being better than Bodin Inthe second half is all well and good but it seems picking someone who's not played well for a bit and saying "well Murphy was better than him" is a pretty low bar, particularly off the back of Bodin scoring a very good goal to give us the lead. Not sure why "sitter" needs to be in quote marks, it was a sitter. A good run to get there but essentially irrelevant if he skies it like he did under very little pressure.

In any case as we are going to be without Browne, Edwards and Mills for the next few games he and Goodrham are the only wide attacking options we have. And Sometimes we are going to need his strength and experience.

Agreed, we are very very light on wingers for a few weeks. Should be plenty of opportunities for him, if he still doesn't start or get many minutes then are there going to be plenty of people saying Manning is making a mistake not playing him? People still claim he's one of the best players in the league, if he can't get a start when we're missing three wingers already then perhaps there's something in Manning not trusting him.

I really, really want him to perform for us but currently haven't seen enough from him to get excited.

 

[Grumpy Git]

So funny that this was what Barton was up to at nine o’clock at night. Presumably he had to put his Nietzsche down for two minutes to demonstrate his mental prowess on Twitter. A strange little man!

If Barton is trolling another management team, I believe the FA should drag him up to face a disciplinary board.
What he’s trying to do is unprofessional And a form of bullying.
My bad, I’m talking about a convicted thug who has been imprisoned. Who got an 18 month ban for football gambling. Who recently escaped a court trial for beating up his wife.

 

[SteMerritt]

For those asking about Tyler's injury/illness, I spoke to him before the game and it is not an illness, so not sure where Radio Oxford got that from?

It was reported on the official club Facebook page yesterday lunchtime after the teams were announced that TG had an illness. Obviously some miscommunication somewhere in the club.

 

[werthersoriginal]

To answer all of these at once I want at the game yesterday and wasn't able to catch it all in iFollow. He did well to draw the foul from Brown for his second yellow but that chance was a sitter and he took the ball out of play under very little pressure in a good position. Perhaps he did very well in the bits I didn't see, I'll be trying to watch the game back on Tuesday and if I'm being too harsh on him I'd be more than happy to say he did well.

I would say some of these back up what I've said before that a lot of people are going out of their way to praise him in some places while being all too happy to gloss over mistakes. We should be expecting more, that's not unfair or being overly harsh. Being better than Bodin Inthe second half is all well and good but it seems picking someone who's not played well for a bit and saying "well Murphy was better than him" is a pretty low bar, particularly off the back of Bodin scoring a very good goal to give us the lead. Not sure why "sitter" needs to be in quote marks, it was a sitter. A good run to get there but essentially irrelevant if he skies it like he did under very little pressure.


Agreed, we are very very light on wingers for a few weeks. Should be plenty of opportunities for him, if he still doesn't start or get many minutes then are there going to be plenty of people saying Manning is making a mistake not playing him? People still claim he's one of the best players in the league, if he can't get a start when we're missing three wingers already then perhaps there's something in Manning not trusting him.

I really, really want him to perform for us but currently haven't seen enough from him to get excited.

Murphy and Mills had the beating of the full back every time , which is a great attribute to have, and generally used the ball well. Murphy missed an absolute sitter though he was offside. Overall it was a great game and a real Derby atmosphere

 

[Followtheox1]

To answer all of these at once I want at the game yesterday and wasn't able to catch it all in iFollow. He did well to draw the foul from Brown for his second yellow but that chance was a sitter and he took the ball out of play under very little pressure in a good position. Perhaps he did very well in the bits I didn't see, I'll be trying to watch the game back on Tuesday and if I'm being too harsh on him I'd be more than happy to say he did well.

I would say some of these back up what I've said before that a lot of people are going out of their way to praise him in some places while being all too happy to gloss over mistakes. We should be expecting more, that's not unfair or being overly harsh. Being better than Bodin Inthe second half is all well and good but it seems picking someone who's not played well for a bit and saying "well Murphy was better than him" is a pretty low bar, particularly off the back of Bodin scoring a very good goal to give us the lead. Not sure why "sitter" needs to be in quote marks, it was a sitter. A good run to get there but essentially irrelevant if he skies it like he did under very little pressure.


Agreed, we are very very light on wingers for a few weeks. Should be plenty of opportunities for him, if he still doesn't start or get many minutes then are there going to be plenty of people saying Manning is making a mistake not playing him? People still claim he's one of the best players in the league, if he can't get a start when we're missing three wingers already then perhaps there's something in Manning not trusting him.

I really, really want him to perform for us but currently haven't seen enough from him to get excited.

Light on wingers, ah remember the days where wingers were practically the only players we signed!