Away Match Day Thread 25/11/2023 L1: Cheltenham Town v OUFC

[Northstandboy]

Des has left behind melting Mumbai and starts his English managerial career at cold Cheltenham.

COYY!!!

 

[behindthegoal]

Un u

As poor as we were yesterday, who evers decision to completely dismantle the strength and spine of the side centrally.
Needs to have a good look at themselves.

I didn’t see any posts from you stating this fact before the game.?

 

[Nadi-]

Was unaware of the team until kick off as travelling, but mentioned it at half time.

 

[Shaun Rice]

Was unaware of the team until kick off as travelling, but mentioned it at half time.

But the central area was the same? Moore was suspended. I thought our biggest weakness was actually out wide until the changes were made with Edward’s and Murphy But also having watched the highlights we had 3 chances a team with ambition of promotion really should’ve put away. Also Rodrigues second yellow was never a yellow card considering everything else that was left unpunished in the game.
Still onto the next one.

 

[OX14]

I think it’s only natural for a player to stop for a mili second when they see the linesman’s flag go up. I thought it was odd that the ref didn’t go over to consult the linesman! Why did he put it up?

You realise the linesman can raise his flag and the ref over rule him at any time? The players shouldn't stop playing until the whistle is blown.

This isn't the first time this season either, a couple of times players have gone down claiming a foul and all players have completely stopped playing only for the ref to not give it and the game to continue.

 

[Oxford84]

You realise the linesman can raise his flag and the ref over rule him at any time? The players shouldn't stop playing until the whistle is blown.

This isn't the first time this season either, a couple of times players have gone down claiming a foul and all players have completely stopped playing only for the ref to not give it and the game to continue.

Once hes raised the flag he has to keep it up, putting the flag down again shows hes not good enough for this level.

 

[OX14]

Once hes raised the flag he has to keep it up, putting the flag down again shows hes not good enough for this level.

Incorrect, he put his flag up but then the ref over ruled his decision as the Cheltenham player didn't flick it on. The linesman then has to continue with play to see if any other offsides or fouls happen.

The only argument we would have is if the ref blew the whistle and then continued.

First job for Des is to sort out the discipline of this squad and to make sure they play to the whistle.

 

[Followtheox1]

Talk is one thing, actually playing for them is another. He was a good defensive partner alongside Moore (under Moore’s stewardship - although both right footed), but to play for Brighton (and ongoing for Oxford), he is a long way off and will need to develop his ability with the ball at his feet and his composure. Today showed the current gulf in class between Moore and Negru despite what some on here have been saying. Negru may (or may not) one day play at a higher level as defensively he shows potential, but he is WiP and nothing more currently. Moore, definitely first on Tuesday’s team sheet in my opinion. But Moore, as skipper, needs to realise he should be setting an example for the team. Talk to the referee (we know they are s**t) as the skipper, but cutout the needless yellow cards by stepping over the line. It doesn’t change his mind - quite the opposite!

Yesterday showed nothing but one performance. The worst since Negru has been here by all accounts (I wasn't there) but it's unfair to read anymore into it than that given his sterling performances earlier in the season and given the poor performance of some of the more experienced players yesterday. He made a big difference when brought on last match against Orient too. I agree he is a work in progress given his age and inexperience but he was tremendous earlier in the season when he had a run in the team and anyone saying otherwise has very short memories!

 

[yellowbow]

To be fair to Negru, he got absolutely pole-axed by that elbow in the first half. That would affect anybody’s performance for the rest of the game I would think!

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

Fine margins , RR scores to equalise as he should have then we go onto win and everyone is calmer.
RR doesn't get a frankly laughable 2nd yellow from a ref desperate to even up even though the Street red was an awful challenge again I feel we get something out of the match.
To lose Moore and Leigh completely weakened the centre of defence.
Very tough game Tuesday against a mightily inform Bolton.

 

[Oxford84]

Incorrect, he put his flag up but then the ref over ruled his decision as the Cheltenham player didn't flick it on. The linesman then has to continue with play to see if any other offsides or fouls happen.

The only argument we would have is if the ref blew the whistle and then continued.

First job for Des is to sort out the discipline of this squad and to make sure they play to the whistle.

Did the ref wave play on then after looking at the linesman?

 

[ChamonixOx]

Yesterday showed nothing but one performance. The worst since Negru has been here by all accounts (I wasn't there) but it's unfair to read anymore into it than that given his sterling performances earlier in the season and given the poor performance of some of the more experienced players yesterday. He made a big difference when brought on last match against Orient too. I agree he is a work in progress given his age and inexperience but he was tremendous earlier in the season when he had a run in the team and anyone saying otherwise has very short memories!

I think he has potential and was rock solid defensively at the start of the season. However, I felt, even back then, that his lack of confidence and limited ability on the ball (particularly quick, one-touch passing) was evident, notwithstanding, the need to have someone like Moore alongside him, helping him through the game.

For the record, I have no issue with Negru; more the fact that certain fans seem to jump onto the latest new offer/toy (Negru), whilst dismissing (and devaluing) players already in the team (Moore), that, as we saw yesterday, are key to our success. Moore may not be the quickest, but he reads the game brilliantly, dominates defensively, and his ability on the ball (particularly since Manning to be fair to him) has developed in leaps and bounds. So much so on the latter point, that most of our play from the back this season has centred around him, and boy, did we miss that yesterday.

Negru may become a very good L1, possibly higher, centre-half, but he probably needs to have a L2 loan spell to build on the solid foundations and get comfortable on the ball under pressure.

 

[Scrongo]

The Next 3 or 4 League matches are very important.
It either keeps us near the top, if we shake off this poor defeat. Or If the bad form continues we could end up mid table in a short space of time.

 

[OX14]

Did the ref wave play on then after looking at the linesman?

I'm not sure but in this instance if the ref see there was no flick on he wouldn't be looking for an offside as you can't be offside direct from a goal kick.

 

[yellowbow]

Looking back at the highlights for the first time. Yet another referee horribly out of his depth. The Rodrigues sending off was never a red card in a million years. The refs are all rabbits in the headlights. No clue whatsoever

 

[Followtheox1]

I think he has potential and was rock solid defensively at the start of the season. However, I felt, even back then, that his lack of confidence and limited ability on the ball (particularly quick, one-touch passing) was evident, notwithstanding, the need to have someone like Moore alongside him, helping him through the game.

For the record, I have no issue with Negru; more the fact that certain fans seem to jump onto the latest new offer/toy (Negru), whilst dismissing (and devaluing) players already in the team (Moore), that, as we saw yesterday, are key to our success. Moore may not be the quickest, but he reads the game brilliantly, dominates defensively, and his ability on the ball (particularly since Manning to be fair to him) has developed in leaps and bounds. So much so on the latter point, that most of our play from the back this season has centred around him, and boy, did we miss that yesterday.

Negru may become a very good L1, possibly higher, centre-half, but he probably needs to have a L2 loan spell to build on the solid foundations and get comfortable on the ball under pressure.

I'm not sure there are many devaluing Moore. At least I haven't seen or heard many do that. Praising Negru is not mutually exclusive with criticising Moore. I think they have both been very good this season. I actually think Negru was very calm and composed when playing the ball out earlier in the season and if anything is better than Brown in that area of the game (Brown has other areas he has strengths in).

 

[christenedinjericho]

Incorrect, he put his flag up but then the ref over ruled his decision as the Cheltenham player didn't flick it on. The linesman then has to continue with play to see if any other offsides or fouls happen.

The only argument we would have is if the ref blew the whistle and then continued.

First job for Des is to sort out the discipline of this squad and to make sure they play to the whistle.

First job for Des tomorrow morning is to look at his office door and see that he is the boss!

 

[TailsWeWin]

To me it felt more like they were complacent than disinterested. Think they felt they had the game in the bag and then when Cheltenham hit them like a train right out of the blocks they never recovered from the shock.

What worried me the most is that Buckingham didn’t communicate with the players at all. They all stood around in silence compared to under Manning, when they frequently come across for a drink and a quick briefing. People can say what they like about the man, but he was engaged and he made sure he kept the players thinking about what was going on around them. Yesterday the players were left to drift around and get lost in their own heads, IMO.

I’m slightly concerned that he is in “competition winner” mode where he’s slightly overawed by the emotional homecoming stuff, and doesn’t yet seem comfortable with grabbing hold of the job. Contrast his first day when he stood around watching training with his hands in his pockets, and the footage of Manning on his first day at Bristol where he’s in the middle of everything and directing every single drill. I’ve no doubt that he will settle in and get to grips with it all but perhaps a bit of a wake up call that you don’t have time to waste in this division.

Complacent is the right word. But then the same criticism can be levelled at many of our “yeah, they’re rubbish, we’ll score at least four…” fans. But it’s not the fans on the pitch.
Perhaps we are starting to believe our own hype: we’re a very good team and can play some lovely football, but we’re NOT automatic promotion certainties. If we make the playoffs that will be massive progress after last season. And we cannot, just cannot, stroll onto the pitch thinking we will beat anybody.
And that includes Grimsby.

 

[Yellow2K22]

The more I think about it, the more that result seems even more and more worse. Some of the posters earlier in this thread have mentioned what I feared, does ‘Des’ have the respect of the players?. Im
Not sure.

I didn’t want to admit it but his ‘sideline’ manner was rubbish, looked like a manager out of depth. Didn’t instil confidence, would be typical of Oxford for this appointment to go badly wrong…….However hope he proves me wrong, perhaps it was nerves, perhaps it was just a bad day at the office, either way that is not a good start, i genuinely want him too do well….. but the signs there were not

1-0 Oxford win incoming Tuesday

 

[Yellow2K22]

Complacent is the right word. But then the same criticism can be levelled at many of our “yeah, they’re rubbish, we’ll score at least four…” fans. But it’s not the fans on the pitch.
Perhaps we are starting to believe our own hype: we’re a very good team and can play some lovely football, but we’re NOT automatic promotion certainties. If we make the playoffs that will be massive progress after last season. And we cannot, just cannot, stroll onto the pitch thinking we will beat anybody.
And that includes Grimsby.

Agree… we’ve just gone to a team 2nd from bottom (due to a points deduction) that have scored 7 goals in 16 games (yes you read that right). And we have lost…. Against 10 men for a 3rd of the game and have gone on to concede 2. Very end of era Robinson.

 

[Oxford84]

I'm not sure but in this instance if the ref see there was no flick on he wouldn't be looking for an offside as you can't be offside direct from a goal kick.

Ok,interesting that the bbc reporter says their midfielder set that goal up rather than the goalkeeper.