Away Match Day Thread 23/12/2023 L1: Northampton Town v OUFC

[Carpy]

Another 3 points would be very welcome!

COYY

 

[dickwalton1964]

Appleton’s ‘Cambridge away’ moment came after his 15th match. He also saw that as an opportunity to bin off a couple of his own signings - Howard and Junior Brown. Des Buckingham has had eight matches and no transfer windows. The one player he has brought in has undoubtedly improved the team.

Yet there are a few on here with an attitude of ‘told you so’ and cannot wait to post about it. Many on here would have had Appleton here after KR left and tend to forget that MApp was not popular for much of 2014-15.

Get a grip. If you cannot see the limitations of what XI DB can put out, give your head a wobble. I’m not going to pretend it’s all rosy - I’m frustrated with our front line as much as anyone and would play Bodin as CF in every game until January if I could - but the same posters with TV the knives out and the same digs at DB only being here because he’s local is tiring.

DB gets judged by me in January. A lot rests on that to see how serious we are about ‘going for it’ this season.

We haven’t played City, Real, Liverpool or Bayern. We’ve played Cheltenham, Reading and Northampton amongst others. Des should not require a transfer window and a perfect set of support staff to get better results from these fixtures. There’s no excuse, the football has been an awful watch with results to match.

 

[LowerSouth]

Des came in with a ‘reputation’ of being a great coach. He hasn’t coached.

Everyone, including him, now blaming lack of support staff are giving him excuses he doesn’t deserve. He has an analyst, he has coaches - if he doesn’t want to work with them after coming into the club knowing the set up - does he deserve those excuses?

The club employed him in good faith, they have been shocked at his lack of coaching ability and ability to work with all the players and other staff. The hunt has been on for an assistant and an analyst partly for him but mainly to help him.

Sad turn of events for what the club thought would be a good appointment.

The new regime in the club have good staff but they don’t realise until it’s too late (Ed Denton, Wayne Brown, John Mousinho). The owners need to start valuing current staff as well as the fans.

You sound like someone who really knows what’s going on behind the scenes at Oxford United.
Who knew there was no intention to replace the assistant coach and analyst that left with Manning.
Who knew that DB did not want to work with the existing back room staff .
Who knew that DB is really the Lone Ranger with no Tonto .

 

[werthersoriginal]

Des came in with a ‘reputation’ of being a great coach. He hasn’t coached.

Everyone, including him, now blaming lack of support staff are giving him excuses he doesn’t deserve. He has an analyst, he has coaches - if he doesn’t want to work with them after coming into the club knowing the set up - does he deserve those excuses?

The club employed him in good faith, they have been shocked at his lack of coaching ability and ability to work with all the players and other staff. The hunt has been on for an assistant and an analyst partly for him but mainly to help him.

Sad turn of events for what the club thought would be a good appointment.

The new regime in the club have good staff but they don’t realise until it’s too late (Ed Denton, Wayne Brown, John Mousinho). The owners need to start valuing current staff as well as the fans.

Ner ner your lot lost as well

 

[Followtheox1]

Des came in with a ‘reputation’ of being a great coach. He hasn’t coached.

Everyone, including him, now blaming lack of support staff are giving him excuses he doesn’t deserve. He has an analyst, he has coaches - if he doesn’t want to work with them after coming into the club knowing the set up - does he deserve those excuses?

The club employed him in good faith, they have been shocked at his lack of coaching ability and ability to work with all the players and other staff. The hunt has been on for an assistant and an analyst partly for him but mainly to help him.

Sad turn of events for what the club thought would be a good appointment.

The new regime in the club have good staff but they don’t realise until it’s too late (Ed Denton, Wayne Brown, John Mousinho). The owners need to start valuing current staff as well as the fans.

Are you ITK or are you full of bull?! I never know how much to believe (or not) posts like this. I mean, sure he is inexperienced in this league but to say he doesn't have coaching ability when clearly he must have, to do what he has done so far in his career.

 

[Scotchegg]

Des came in with a ‘reputation’ of being a great coach. He hasn’t coached.

Everyone, including him, now blaming lack of support staff are giving him excuses he doesn’t deserve. He has an analyst, he has coaches - if he doesn’t want to work with them after coming into the club knowing the set up - does he deserve those excuses?

The club employed him in good faith, they have been shocked at his lack of coaching ability and ability to work with all the players and other staff. The hunt has been on for an assistant and an analyst partly for him but mainly to help him.

Sad turn of events for what the club thought would be a good appointment.

The new regime in the club have good staff but they don’t realise until it’s too late (Ed Denton, Wayne Brown, John Mousinho). The owners need to start valuing current staff as well as the fans.

I'm sorry, but you keep returning with the same half stories or rumours, but they just don't stack up. Are you saying that someone who was highly regarded at a number of different clubs has suddenly forgotten how to coach? Or has decided not to for some reason?

And the vast majority of the squad that were still giving everything despite the turmoil of last season have decided that now is the time to throw the towel in?

Des will split people's opinions, and defeats always lead to difficult questions, but I just don't buy what you are saying.

 

[Chippy]

Can’t handle direct teams. It’s been a problem all season, not a new issue.

It’s been a problem for 4-5 years

 

[werthersoriginal]

It’s been a problem for 4-5’years

Yes I’m sick of losing a couple of goals away to crap little teams. Even when Robinson’s teams were at their best we were vulnerable to it. I can’t remember if Appleton’s were the same.

 

[Eric Blair]

My take after watching that….
1st 20 minutes I thought Northampton offered nothing and were just happy to soak up the pressure, were hard to break down and we didn’t seem to have an answer. Murphy had their right back on toast but just couldn’t get that final ball in.
It was at this point I said to my mate that we will either batter them or lose it 1-0.
They got the early goal in the 2nd half and for the 1st time in a while we didn’t react to going behind and almost seemed in shock.
After the penalty it was all us but again, sloppy around the box and we left ourselves exposed to the counter attack.
Stupid foul from GOD and clever, experienced play from Hylton.
A massive blow but not the end of the world, just makes the Cambridge and Derby games that bit more important and I’m hoping at least 4 points from these games.

On a note of the Northampton commentators, before the game they were hoping for a draw and seemed quite worried. They then decided half way through the game that they should be 3 or 4 nil up which I found laughable. The biggest thing though for me was them wetting themselves everytime one of the Northampton players hit a long diagonal ball to one of their players like it was Brazil. If that is great football from them then I’d hate to watch them when they are poor!

I still think we will make the play offs but we are going to have to get back to going on a decent run again soon, along with bringing in probably 3-4 new players in the new year.

Steve - I think you’ve got the balance spot on here. A lot of teams hitting form just as we had injuries and the disruption of a new manager (and no full team of back room staff). I think Des has had nowhere near enough time and should be judged on a much longer term basis. Onwards and upwards.

 

[Eric Blair]

I'm sorry, but you keep returning with the same half stories or rumours, but they just don't stack up. Are you saying that someone who was highly regarded at a number of different clubs has suddenly forgotten how to coach? Or has decided not to for some reason?

And the vast majority of the squad that were still giving everything despite the turmoil of last season have decided that now is the time to throw the towel in?

Des will split people's opinions, and defeats always lead to difficult questions, but I just don't buy what you are saying.

Sorry, I’m sure people will think I am related to him but @Scotchegg once again spot on. He always speaks utter sense and I won’t hear any different. This is the hill I’m prepared to die on.

 

[Scotchegg]

Sorry, I’m sure people will think I am related to him but @Scotchegg once again spot on. He always speaks utter sense and I won’t hear any different. This is the hill I’m prepared to die on.

Cheers Dad!!!

 

[dickwalton1964]

I'm sorry, but you keep returning with the same half stories or rumours, but they just don't stack up. Are you saying that someone who was highly regarded at a number of different clubs has suddenly forgotten how to coach? Or has decided not to for some reason?

And the vast majority of the squad that were still giving everything despite the turmoil of last season have decided that now is the time to throw the towel in?

Des will split people's opinions, and defeats always lead to difficult questions, but I just don't buy what you are saying.

I sort of agree but even you have to admit that our slide is a real concern. There’s no patterns to our play, can anyone say how Des wants to identify as a team ? We look lost and worryingly passionless. There’s basics in football and I don’t think Des is even hitting those levels. None of us - including the board - have any real idea what he’s like as a coach. We can’t even say what he was like as a player to give a hint as to what sort of coach/manager he might be. He’s born around the corner, that’s the bit we’re hanging on to but even that has a shelf life.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

I sort of agree but even you have to admit that our slide is a real concern. There’s no patterns to our play, can anyone say how Des wants to identify as a team ? We look lost and worryingly passionless. There’s basics in football and I don’t think Des is even hitting those levels. None of us - including the board - have any real idea what he’s like as a coach. We can’t even say what he was like as a player to give a hint as to what sort of coach/manager he might be. He’s born around the corner, that’s the bit we’re hanging on to but even that has a shelf life.

I can, he was professional, demanding and wouldn’t be happy with players not taking responsibility.

 

[RgYellows]

Are you ITK or are you full of bull?! I never know how much to believe (or not) posts like this.

Everyone here is full of s**t, trust me.

He’s born around the corner, that’s the bit we’re hanging on to but even that has a shelf life.

Who is hanging on to that? I’ve read every post in this thread and I can’t remember anyone saying we should give him more time because of where he was born.

 

[Chris on a Bike]

Experienced assistant an absolute must. I'm not joking when I suggest someone like Steve Cotterill needs to come in..

Christ on a bike! You're finished on here!

 

[Scotchegg]

I sort of agree but even you have to admit that our slide is a real concern. There’s no patterns to our play, can anyone say how Des wants to identify as a team ? We look lost and worryingly passionless. There’s basics in football and I don’t think Des is even hitting those levels. None of us - including the board - have any real idea what he’s like as a coach. We can’t even say what he was like as a player to give a hint as to what sort of coach/manager he might be. He’s born around the corner, that’s the bit we’re hanging on to but even that has a shelf life.

Sam Long
Greg Leigh
Stephan Negru
Kyle Edwards
Billy Bodin
Marcus Browne
Max Woltman

All injured

Sonny Perkins not in contention

The only fit player we have at the club that wasn't on the bench today is Ed McGinty.

Josh Murphy was taken off to protect him, and James Henry will also be nursed through the next few games.

We're on our barebones and that is the main reason for our slide. It doesn't matter what identity Des has for the team if he only has a handful of players to pick from.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Christ on a bike! You're finished on here!

I may disagree with a lot of what Kip says but he adds much more to this forum than you do.

 

[Scotchegg]

Kip on a bike!

 

[ECYellow]

Decided to give it a while before posting, but here goes…

That today, along with Peterborough and Reading was utterly shambolic. For all of the ball we seemed to have, we barely tested their keeper. Did he make a meaningful save all game? I’m struggling to think of one.

I’m 100% behind Buckingham. I want him to be successful with us, but, I’m really struggling to understand what the game plan is away from home. I’ve not yet seen a clear way in which we are set up and trying to play under him, away from the Kassam.

It was unbelievable that we seemingly decided to sit in a low block with 15 minutes to go, bring Smyth on and settle for a point! This was Northampton we were playing, not a Pompey or Bolton. The lack of adventure was synonymous with our overall play and it has been that was in every game under the new regime, except against a very poor Burton side last week.

It was also concerning that Des sounded like he’d have been content with a point, judging by his comments in his post match presser.

Did we win a second ball in either attacking third of the pitch all day? I don’t recall a single instance where we picked up the second ball after trying to score from a set piece or where we were defending from one. That isn’t coaching, that comes down to desire and heart of the players to get in front of the opposition.
Northampton were physical and battled. I couldn’t say the same for our lot on many occasions.

O’Donkor is so far off the level required that I actually feel sorry for him. When he came on, we might as well of packed up from an attacking sense as he wasn’t going to do the business.
Harris, well I think it’s actually becoming laughable at this stage. The poor bloke needs to be taken out of the team asap. Those that think him creating space for others is sufficient output for our number 9 really need to wake up. His return is not good enough.

I’m glad the players got a bit of bird at the end (not me, I had it on my toes the moment Simpson scored) they bloody well deserved it after that! Some of us have already spent thousands following every game this season and performances in the last 3 away games have not been of a standard that should ever be deemed acceptable. I hate to say it but Carlisle (a) is 13.01.24. Unless things improve, I think plenty of followers will be thinking twice about spending £100 in fuel/rail fare, £20 odd quid on a ticket and food/drink money to travel 275 miles to watch this current rabble.

Des needs to assert himself on this set of players and the club, now. He had a whole week on the training ground last week and that is what we got served up. It’s not a good start, at all.

 

[Chippy]

Des came in with a ‘reputation’ of being a great coach. He hasn’t coached.

Everyone, including him, now blaming lack of support staff are giving him excuses he doesn’t deserve. He has an analyst, he has coaches - if he doesn’t want to work with them after coming into the club knowing the set up - does he deserve those excuses?

The club employed him in good faith, they have been shocked at his lack of coaching ability and ability to work with all the players and other staff. The hunt has been on for an assistant and an analyst partly for him but mainly to help him.

Sad turn of events for what the club thought would be a good appointment.

The new regime in the club have good staff but they don’t realise until it’s too late (Ed Denton, Wayne Brown, John Mousinho). The owners need to start valuing current staff as well as the fans.

I can only assume you are somehow closely linked to a former or current employee who is trying to make things difficult with suggestions that make all of us wonder what is going on? However you never actually finish the story, like the man or woman who couldn’t complete a cohersive ………

 

[Manorlounger]

Decided to give it a while before posting, but here goes…

That today, along with Peterborough and Reading was utterly shambolic. For all of the ball we seemed to have, we barely tested their keeper. Did he make a meaningful save all game? I’m struggling to think of one.

I’m 100% behind Buckingham. I want him to be successful with us, but, I’m really struggling to understand what the game plan is away from home. I’ve not yet seen a clear way in which we are set up and trying to play under him, away from the Kassam.

It was unbelievable that we seemingly decided to sit in a low block with 15 minutes to go, bring Smyth on and settle for a point! This was Northampton we were playing, not a Pompey or Bolton. The lack of adventure was synonymous with our overall play and it has been that was in every game under the new regime, except against a very poor Burton side last week.

It was also concerning that Des sounded like he’d have been content with a point, judging by his comments in his post match presser.

Did we win a second ball in either attacking third of the pitch all day? I don’t recall a single instance where we picked up the second ball after trying to score from a set piece or where we were defending from one. That isn’t coaching, that comes down to desire and heart of the players to get in front of the opposition.
Northampton were physical and battled. I couldn’t say the same for our lot on many occasions.

O’Donkor is so far off the level required that I actually feel sorry for him. When he came on, we might as well of packed up from an attacking sense as he wasn’t going to do the business.
Harris, well I think it’s actually becoming laughable at this stage. The poor bloke needs to be taken out of the team asap. Those that think him creating space for others is sufficient output for our number 9 really need to wake up. His return is not good enough.

I’m glad the players got a bit of bird at the end (not me, I had it on my toes the moment Simpson scored) they bloody well deserved it after that! Some of us have already spent thousands following every game this season and performances in the last 3 away games have not been of a standard that should ever be deemed acceptable. I hate to say it but Carlisle (a) is 13.01.24. Unless things improve, I think plenty of followers will be thinking twice about spending £100 in fuel/rail fare, £20 odd quid on a ticket and food/drink money to travel 275 miles to watch this current rabble.

Des needs to assert himself on this set of players and the club, now. He had a whole week on the training ground last week and that is what we got served up. It’s not a good start, at all.

Spot on and also mine and Mrs L's thoughts. Things must improve. Boxing day will be a stern test for all involved. And, I mean all, that's us supporters included. I don't relish being sober enough to drive to the Kasstad and eat in the car park for more of that s**t.