Away Match Day Thread 12/12/2023 L1: Reading v OUFC

[Bath Yellow]

84. First game.
Headington United v Chelmsford City,
Southern League ( Now Conference ) Won 2-0.
Boxing Day 1949. 75yrs ago

The last 6 games v Reading:

W: 1
L: 6

07 Nov 1999	Reading v Oxford United	W	1-2	League Division 2
07 Mar 2000	Oxford United v Reading	L	1-3	League Division 2
28 Oct 2000	Reading v Oxford United	L	4-3	League Division 2
17 Apr 2001	Oxford United v Reading	L	0-2	League Division 2
24 Sep 2003	Oxford United v Reading	L	1-3	League Cup
25 Aug 2004	Oxford United v Reading	L	0-2	League Cup

 

[oufc1991]

I actually felt sorry for the fans that bothered to go tonight.. I watched it at home and honestly I could have fallen asleep watching us at the moment is really really boring

 

[yellowbow]

Nick Harris going against the RO positive spin and telling it as it is.

 

[NorthernExile]

Fans booing passing across the back four. Des Ball.

The difference in the quality between us the Pompey and Bolton last night is stark. I doubt we'll be bothering the top two from now on.

That won't bother the top ten, let alone the top two.

 

[Up The U's]

That was end of days KR levels of performance against a team In the relegation zone.

I don't think the squad or manager can get promotion (without heavy investment (5 players).

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Rosie ... almost seems like the clubs spin doctor.

That is *exactly* what he is. He is a club employee and so is not speaking freely at any time.

 

[OX14]

Fans booing passing across the back four. Des Ball.

The difference in the quality between us the Pompey and Bolton last night is stark. I doubt we'll be bothering the top two from now on.

Des Ball in my opinion is the worst I've seen for years. Nearly fell asleep watching that second half and ended up playing games on my phone to entertain myself.

 

[Cowleyfornia]

If you wanted some positivity, this is a team missing Leigh, Edwards, Rodrigues, Browne and Long. All these players improve the side.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I must be the only one who thought we were pretty good second half. That’s as good as we’ve moved the ball in weeks and if people want to deny that’s progress then we’re in for a long season. Murphy and Mills our only real threats on the field, one got an assist and Murphy did plenty but he can’t do it all.

Rodrigues has a field day in a game like that but again, it’s ifs and buts. We need depth and 2 or 3 that can do what he can do and ultimately someone in the 18 yard box who knows where the ball will be bouncing.

Poor result but that’s the first time since Des joined that I’ve come away with optimism. We’re missing so much individual quality at the top end of the park, I don’t know how people expect us to churn out these attacking assaults on teams.

Total control second half. The back 4 that closed the game out is the best we have available and needs a run from here on.

Yeah second half wasn’t terrible, a fairly fast and frantic game so it’s hard to draw many conclusions but it looked like two mediocre sides. Murphy was good in defence as well as attack but it tells you something when your winger has to spend a lot of time helping out at the back against a team at the bottom.

 

[Mellowyellow]

Another car crash of a performance other teams in the league lapped up.
Man City Group, nutured, worked with the best. It means nothing unless you have experience of the workplace you are going into.

 

[brassmonkey]

We're 16th in the form table (last 6 games) and we look like that's our level. Haven't we got a top 2 budget?

 

[Grumpy Git]

According to the BBC we had 9 shots, 1 on target. We desperately need Strikers, not one but a couple. I truly hope our recruitment team have players lined up, otherwise we’re fkd.

 

[Bitter]

Written off this season, nowhere near top two and doubt the play offs either. Had a very good start to the season, but that’s all it is. Still after last season it’s a work in progress so a few more transfer windows and Des to get the team playing his way, hopefully the future is bright.

 

[ttg17]

Even though we've drawn tonight, it feels like a defeat. I just don't get what we're trying to do when we step out on the field, we're not setting up as a side who are hard to beat, not are we looking to play a free-flowing expansive game. It seems like we're passing it around for a bit and hoiking it, which is what we did during Karl's disastrous last season. Doesn't help that we're low on options in the attacking sense, but it feels like no players are standing up to provide individual moments of brilliance to create the opportunities and take the chances. Just feels a bit meh really.

I have to say, I've been getting this feeling recently. No desire to be a doommonger but we have that slightly listless quality Robinson's teams had at their worst.

 

[greatunclekip]

Des Ball in my opinion is the worst I've seen for years. Nearly fell asleep watching that second half and ended up playing games on my phone to entertain myself.

The strange thing is that if you read up on Buckingham teams (I haven't watched them in person) they are known for fast, exciting, attacking.

I have concerns of course, growing each week, but the huge issue, and every passing week it is clear as day as I said it would be in the summer (negative Kip) was that we play without a striker. Without Leigh and Edwards who can make s**t happen, we are bloody boring and hoping for miracles. It's simply not possible at League 1 level to do well consistently without a striker.

The player we are missing beyond belief is Greg Leigh. Our left back. That's nuts.

 

[Chippy]

Murphy the standout, but he must be wondering why there was never anyone in a goal scoring position in the box on the numerous times he beat his man and played the ball in.

Our whole way of playing, formations and style has to change, we need more power, more steel, more pace and we need to play the ball in the oppositions half instead of constantly pratting around in our own final quarter of the pitch. Oh and we need at least 2 if not 3 centre forwards and to play two of them at the same time.

As for Rosie on Rad Ox saying we looked a lot better tonight than on Sat, that’s debatable, we were playing a really poor side! So disappointing

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Another car crash of a performance other teams in the league lapped up.
Man City Group, nutured, worked with the best. It means nothing unless you have experience of the workplace you are going into.

Oh yes, the seductive, mystical city group. Put me in charge of one of their sides with their budget and I'll win the f*****g Indian Super League

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

Beadle: 7 - Made some good claims and a few saves

Brown: 7 - Solid and took his goal well

Thorniley: 5 - He did ok, made some good blocks, doesn’t seem anything special

Moore: 7 - I’ve been critical in the past but he was good tonight, solid and did well on the ball

Stevens: 5 - Poor first half, a little better second but didn’t offer enough

McEachran: 4 - Dreadful first half, passed almost everything backwards, and was weak, and slow. Like many he improved second half but I don’t want to see him in the side on Saturday

McGuane: 6 - His dip in form continues, not dreadful but couldn’t boss the game like he does sometimes

Murphy: 8 - MOTM, has great pace, won about 5-6 corners, nearly scored and sent a couple of good crosses in which were just missed by everyone. Did his defensive work and tracked back too

Brannagan: 7 - Worked really hard but doesn’t run the game as much as he does from a deeper position

Mills: 6 - Did well for the goal but looks low on confidence and doesn’t beat his man like he used to

Harris: 5 - He looks a bit slow and rusty for some reason. Works hard every game but it’s just not happening for him.

Subs:

Bennett: 7 - I like the look of him, doesn’t really give the ball away, start him on Saturday please

Bodin: 6 - Did ok

Goodrham: 6 - Looked lively

 

[Nadi-]

Browns attitude is what the rest of the team need to match. Moore is so much better with him next to him,
Murphys ability head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch.
It’s going to be a long few weeks, with no real attacking threat.
Disappointing set pieces, Browns goal was about the only header we won in the box. Moore nowhere near were delivered. And the one he did get to, was a poor effort.

 

[Symp59]

Relegation form end of ,lose on Saturday and the fans will turn .What a shame .

 

[Wandering Yellow]

Written off this season, nowhere near top two and doubt the play offs either. Had a very good start to the season, but that’s all it is. Still after last season it’s a work in progress so a few more transfer windows and Des to get the team playing his way, hopefully the future is bright.

I'm just confused as to what Des is trying to do. Going to give him the benefit of the doubt due to injuries. But I genuinely can't tell what the game plan is or what style he is trying to implement.

Passing it sideways around the back?