Home Match Day Thread 23/01/2024 L1: OUFC vs Barnsley

[Carpy]

Should be our toughest test of recent times this evening if the form table is to be believed

 

[Swaby39]

Why does every defeat feel like a disaster on this forum? Frustrating game but we created enough chances to get something from a game against promotion/playoff rivals, and we were on top at the end. It was far from being ‘very poor’ and other semantics, especially in some bad conditions.

At the moment you feel this side needs to score relatively early to have a chance of winning the game, so I do feel we need to see a couple of attacking additions come in asap, ideally one before the weekend. But I don’t think we’re as far behind as some are suggesting.

Class myself in the hot and bothered bracket tonight but this is a hard one to take. It’s like a wound that heels a bit with a couple of good days but gets gashed open again when we come up against someone remotely decent.

Conditions will be factored in by any fair minded person but Barnsley played in them too and made us look like a collection of schoolboys with one standout kid with a competitive streak in the middle. They played it for what it was and did a far more with it than we did.

We can say ‘nevermind’ if that’s the preferred approach. But this hurts because I feel the game was won/lost tonight on squad depth and the knowledge/ability to change the game to what’s happening on the day. We’ve had 3 weeks to address the squad issues and countless weeks beyond that to surround Des with people who would’ve pushed him in to different ideas tonight. Ill-prepared doesn’t cover it. We’re handicapped!

We’re injury ravaged. Ok. But we haven’t helped ourselves in the slightest with what we’ve done in the window. By the time they’re fit, so will the other players be that they’ve arrived to cover. We’ll be flush for options then, but what about now when we get beaten up in our own back yard?

It’s not game over and in the morning it’ll resonate that it’s just one game but it’s a sore reminder of where we’re at and will be still for the rest of the season I fear which is massively disappointing given the position we found ourselves in coming in to January.

 

[Oxford84]

Isn't this a knee jerk reaction in itself?

no

 

[Deanroger]

In fairness we have just spent the best part of half a mill on exactly the player we were missing tonight.

Is that the injured guy?

 

[Northstandboy]

Did the decision to start Sam Long cost us the game?

Been injured for ages, playing against an in-form Barnsley team.

I’m swaying towards “yes it did”.

 

[Jster]

I'd love Des to do well, but the only time we've really controlled a game under him was against Burton. Obviously he needs time, but it's been very underwhelming so far. We do know successful managers can start slowly, so there is hope. Suspect next season rather than this though.

 

[Oxford84]

Well I tell you this, the people that actually went to the game ,seem to be having a different view & opinion of the game & situation , than people that didn't.. mmmmm

i follow??

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

I don't think that was the game to bring Long back.

I watched the game and I think it’s very generous to say that Long was back at any point

 

[yellowbow]

I try not to be too critical, and I haven’t read any other posts, but I have to say it - we were utter dog shite tonight. I know the conditions were bad but it was the same for both teams. I was really expecting us to go for it and take the game to Barnsley in the second half with the wind behind us but we spent the first 20 minutes of it tapping the ball around at the back. So frustrating… It was men against boys on and off the pitch. No urgency, no tempo, the players don’t seem to know what they are supposed to be doing. There’s no structure, decent players are being made to look really poor. I was surprised at how poor Burey looked. Tyler Goodrham was just outmuscled although he kept trying and showed flashes of what he can do. McGuane was non-existent and Rodrigues just cut a frustrated - and frustrating- figure. Harris was outnumbered up front with no real support. Greg Leigh, with the wind behind us, should have been a key attacking player but he just stayed at left back and didnt really contribute much… The ‘x factor’ is just missing.

Really frustrated tonight.

 

[Nadi-]

Thought Smyth was solid and positive on the ball, should start Saturday whether Long’s fit or not.

Would have played may times in those conditions in places like Larne, Coleraine etc. should of stated and looked the most comfortable player on the ball on the pitch.

 

[Nadi-]

How your boys Charlton do ?

Lapado 2 air shots infront of goal.

 

[WRox]

Would have played may times in those conditions in places like Larne, Coleraine etc. should have stated and looked the most comfortable player on the ball on the pitch.

Clearly should’ve started. Sure he will Saturday.

 

[Osleroad]

Appleton sacked

 

[chromeyellow]

I'd love Des to do well, but the only time we've really controlled a game under him was against Burton. Obviously he needs time, but it's been very underwhelming so far. We do know successful managers can start slowly, so there is hope. Suspect next season rather than this though.

Carlisle?

 

[Northernyellow]

Some of the posters on here are over-reacting just a tad. It wasn't very good, but probably should have been a draw. Conditions were awful. I'm not reading too much into tonight

 

[Jster]

RR is starting to really irritate me now. Flashes of brilliance mixed with long periods of mediocrity and carelessness, and he seems to be booked for dissent virtually every game

 

[Coffin dodger]

I think you are related to Des?

I think you're related to Private Fraser.

 

[Jster]

Carlisle?

Maybe for part of it, but we were a brilliant Cumming save away from possible capitulation.

 

[NorthWestOx]

At least we fans can relax a bit knowing we are safe from relegation this season....this squad is nowhere near good enough for promotion at this time.

I don't agree that we are 'nowhere near good enough for promotion' we at the very least matched Barnsley tonight, and had Cam had a little more luck, we'd have got a draw if not more.
Only Derby and Peterborough have really outplayed us, Peterborough will probably get auto's and we beat Derby at their place.

Still a long way to go and we've got 6 first team squad players to come back.

 

[behindthegoal]

Conditions were bad, both teams had good halves, Barnsley didn't score, we did, unfortunately.

 

[Swaby39]

Thought Smyth was solid and positive on the ball, should start Saturday whether Long’s fit or not.

Lost far more than was ever going to be gained that’s for sure. OK he needs to find himself a bit defensively but having Moore next to him will accelerate that. He won’t let him go far at his own cost. He was central to the two away wins we had recently. Handled the occasion at Charlton so really nothing on paper suggested tonight would be one too many. Daft change.