Home Match Day Thread 21/10/2023 L1: OUFC v Blackpool

[East Stand Fan]

Deeply concerning performance today but not a defeat and hopefully we can overcome it this coming week. Probably the worst we’ve played under Manning and I don’t think I have ever seen such an ineffective bunch of subs in my entire lifetime of watching this club. Hopefully it’s down to the illness and not a sign of what we’ve seen all to often over the decades. The lack of a goal scorer today was more apparent than ever.

Blackpool dominated the second half and probably should’ve won having missed several presentable chances. We didn’t get any foothold whatsoever and aside from Bodin’s shot over the bar, I don’t think we created a single chance since the goal.

Goodrham, O’Donkor and Murphy probably had the ball in their possession for less than 10 seconds collectively. We lost our shape real bad after Mills departed.

 

[Followtheox1]

Deeply concerning performance today but not a defeat and hopefully we can overcome it this coming week. Probably the worst we’ve played under Manning and I don’t think I have ever seen such an ineffective bunch of subs in my entire lifetime of watching this club. Hopefully it’s down to the illness and not a sign of what we’ve seen all to often over the decades. The lack of a goal scorer today was more apparent than ever.

Blackpool dominated the second half and probably should’ve won having missed several presentable chances. We didn’t get any foothold whatsoever and aside from Bodin’s shot over the bar, I don’t think we created a single chance since the goal.

Goodrham, O’Donkor and Murphy probably had the ball in their possession for less than 10 seconds collectively. We lost our shape real bad after Mills departed.

While I agree with most of what you say, calling it deeply concerning is a tad over the top in my view.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

The 'dozen' is up, and for the record...

OUFC points tally from our opening 12 League one games, 2023/4: 28.

Average OUFC points tally from our opening 12 League One games, 2018/19 - 2022/23: 13.4.

It's fair to say that, after a quarter of the season, we are literally 100% better than a typical season under the previous regime.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Clear today that Leigh is our best left back and Brown is our best left-sided centre back. Funny that.

Just wait until we get a good right back!

 

[Oufccraig45]

The subs killed us just looked very ordinary after that very disappointing just to sit back when scored you can see why MK DONS was a nearly side for promotion manning got that all wrong 1-1 at least it wasn't a loss hope manning takes a look at them subs for Tuesday just wasn't good enough today RANT OVER looking forward to Tuesday now but that is now a must win and that won't be easy cannot let pompey get to far ahead while we need to maintain the 5 point gap to 3rd just hope we don't blow up now COYY

 

[battman]

We've done more than you both historically and in the present. We are a bigger club and every neutral football fan would agree.

Is that the present where the big mighty Blackpool couldn’t beat lowly Oxford, or the history where Blackpool have spent only one season in the top flight in the past 50 years?

 

[Common Villager]

Deeply concerning performance today but not a defeat and hopefully we can overcome it this coming week. Probably the worst we’ve played under Manning and I don’t think I have ever seen such an ineffective bunch of subs in my entire lifetime of watching this club. Hopefully it’s down to the illness and not a sign of what we’ve seen all to often over the decades. The lack of a goal scorer today was more apparent than ever.

Blackpool dominated the second half and probably should’ve won having missed several presentable chances. We didn’t get any foothold whatsoever and aside from Bodin’s shot over the bar, I don’t think we created a single chance since the goal.

Goodrham, O’Donkor and Murphy probably had the ball in their possession for less than 10 seconds collectively. We lost our shape real bad after Mills departed.

Deeply concerning is very ott, imo. First half we were very good and comfortably the better team. I think the decision to sit back was conscious (Manning referred to dropping into a block in his post-match interview ), and we have been successful in doing so numerous times this season. Personally, I would've preferred us to push for a second before doing so, but to suggest we played poorly is well wide of the mark.

 

[greatunclekip]

Fascinating stat. Greg Leigh, left back, has a goal every 96 minutes. That is staggering, and you can't expect that to continue from your, to repeat, left back.

Harris has a goal every 242 minutes. With two of those coming in one game. The decision not to sign an experienced goal scorer is going to cost us.

It was nuts then. It's nuts now.

 

[Oufcrealist]

Deeply concerning performance today but not a defeat and hopefully we can overcome it this coming week. Probably the worst we’ve played under Manning and I don’t think I have ever seen such an ineffective bunch of subs in my entire lifetime of watching this club. Hopefully it’s down to the illness and not a sign of what we’ve seen all to often over the decades. The lack of a goal scorer today was more apparent than ever.

Blackpool dominated the second half and probably should’ve won having missed several presentable chances. We didn’t get any foothold whatsoever and aside from Bodin’s shot over the bar, I don’t think we created a single chance since the goal.

Goodrham, O’Donkor and Murphy probably had the ball in their possession for less than 10 seconds collectively. We lost our shape real bad after Mills departed.

First half was very good.
Second half was concerning.

 

[Scrongo]

We've done more than you both historically and in the present. We are a bigger club and every neutral football fan would agree.

What every neutral fan over 70??

 

[werthersoriginal]

Missed CamBran’s energy a lot in the second half. Blackpool were physical throughout and had some quality in midfield.

Subs input minimal.

Our goal was glorious, Rodrigues is now up to speed with League 1 and his touch and vision was superb, ( untill he ran out of legs.)

Our defence was again great and should be getting more praise.

Spoke to a Blackpool fan before game in burger queue and amused by his over confidence. ‘We won the FA Cup once, did you know that pal?

I said, yes I did and that it’s now time to move on from 1953. He was wearing orange DMS to boot.

Curious chap.

Anyway fwiw you were a decent team ‘pal’.

We had a problem in that three of our most incisive players in Bodin, Mceachran and Rodrigues tend to run out of steam after an hour or so, whereas Cam never gets tired

 

[800000.01]

Frustrating afternoon on the whole, unfortunately. Some of the football we played in the first half was sublime; Blackpool couldn't lay a glove on us. As others have suggested, we stopped playing in the second half and instead seemed content containing Blackpool. Generally it has worked for us this season, but usually we've been at least 2 up so even when the inevitable late onslaught comes we've got enough of a cushion to see it out (E.g. Rovers).

I'm generally not a fan of 'sitting back', especially when we are the better team. Some have pointed to the subs being poor when they came on - I do think that has a lot to do with the overall mentality of the team (and fans). Regrettably it seems to have gotten to the stage where everyone in the stadium knows as soon as O'Donker enters the field we are no longer interested in scoring a goal.

Hey ho - it's not the worst result. Portsmouths's last minute winner (how many of them have they had now this season?!) made it slightly more disappointing, but as we know it's a marathon not a sprint. On to the next one - a tough game to come on Tuesday. 3 points at Wigan and the 1 point today won't be so bad.

One last note, the delusion of grandeur amongst Blackpool fans really is quite something. I know every club's fans probably thinks they're bigger than they are (ourselves included), but my god they take it to the next level. For what is essentially a higher end Conference / Lower League 2 club, you would think they'd be more grateful for the relative highs they've had in recent years. The incessant cheering when the ref awarded them a free-kick sort of lost meaning after the 20th time.

Blackpool fan here - firstly it was a good game today, you played really well in the first half but allowed us to fight back in the second, a draw was a fair result and a welcome one for us.

Im under no illusions of where we are as a club, but higher end conference? very bizarre…I imagine Oxford United are knocking on the Premier League in your warped reality?

 

[Grumpy Git]

We've done more than you both historically and in the present. We are a bigger club and every neutral football fan would agree.

You are not a big club, you are just a league one club like us. Now go forth.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Fascinating stat. Greg Leigh, left back, has a goal every 96 minutes. That is staggering, and you can't expect that to continue from your, to repeat, left back.

Harris has a goal every 242 minutes. With two of those coming in one game. The decision not to sign an experienced goal scorer is going to cost us.

It was nuts then. It's nuts now.

You won't win this argument.

There are too many who spent the summer mocking the idea of signing Alfie May (8 goals so far, in a bang average side).

Blackpool, themselves, scored just 2 in their first 4 League games - so they signed an out and out striker on loan from the League above and he's subsequently contributed 8 in 9 games.

It's not disrespectful to our current squad, or to our excellent summer recruitment, to point out that we could have done with a little more firepower up top.

You were right then, you're right now. And you'll be right when we do sign that striker in January and he goes on to have a massive contribution for us.

The good thing is that I trust the management and recruitment team are also aware, they know they've dropped a bollock on Perkins, and I suspect that we'll spend well in January for that bit of quality.

 

[Scrongo]

The reality is we're a league 1 club. The illusion is you think your not

 

[Mellowyellow]

Superb game, especially in the first half, but a one goal lead is dangerous to defend. The second half we tired, a little concerning. We neded pace and energy of the bench and another goal scoring option. Both Oxford youngsters offered little, showing they are not up to the standard expected of this league.
Another striker is needed to share the mantle with Harris, especially during a period when he isnt scoring goals.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

The subs killed us just looked very ordinary after that very disappointing just to sit back when scored you can see why MK DONS was a nearly side for promotion manning got that all wrong 1-1 at least it wasn't a loss hope manning takes a look at them subs for Tuesday just wasn't good enough today RANT OVER looking forward to Tuesday now but that is now a must win and that won't be easy cannot let pompey get to far ahead while we need to maintain the 5 point gap to 3rd just hope we don't blow up now COYY

I think you are being a bit over dramatic, Blackpool are no mugs and have come into some form.
Yes we should have killed the game off in the 1st half but to say Wigan away is a must win is very OTT. It is going to be a very long season with many ups and downs and we could look back at this point as the one that gets us up.
I would also say that having a sickness bug clearly didn’t help and that many players being out on their feet suggests that it hit a fair few players.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Superb game, especially in the first half, but a one goal lead is dangerous to defend. The second half we tired, a little concerning. We neded pace and energy of the bench and another goal scoring option. Both Oxford youngsters offered little, showing they are not up to the standard expected of this league.
Another striker is needed to share the mantle with Harris, especially during a period when he isnt scoring goals.

I think Tyler has shown enough times that is very much up to the standard. Today was an off day but young players are going to have those.

 

[holdsteady]

The subs killed us just looked very ordinary after that very disappointing just to sit back when scored you can see why MK DONS was a nearly side for promotion manning got that all wrong 1-1 at least it wasn't a loss hope manning takes a look at them subs for Tuesday just wasn't good enough today RANT OVER looking forward to Tuesday now but that is now a must win and that won't be easy cannot let pompey get to far ahead while we need to maintain the 5 point gap to 3rd just hope we don't blow up now COYY

Tuesday is must win?

 

[800000.01]

The reality is we're a league 1 club. The illusion is you think your not

Perhaps you’re right. Certainly a section of our fan base, which unfortunately has a big online profile on our forum's, have an expectation that doesn’t meet reality.

Doesn’t hurt to be ambitious mind!