Away Match Day Thread 17/02/2024 L1: Wycombe Wanderers v OUFC

[Northstandboy]

POST MATCH PACK:

Post Match Discussion

Interview - Des Buckingham

Interview - Stephan Negru

Interview - Matt Bloomfield

Match Highlights

Match Report

Ref Watch

Fans View

 

[Swaby39]

I think we will finish in a play off place but we won't win them. Every other team around us is just as inconsistent.

Blackpool in the last 5 games lost against Cheltenham and Stevenage away , Drew against Us and Charlton at home, only the win away yesterday against Posh was a decent result for them.

Peterborough on an awful run in the last 5, lost against Blackpool and Wigan at home, lost against Exeter and Wycombe away and only just scraped a 0-0 away at Lincoln.

Stevenage while they won against Blackpool at home they have lost at home to Reading and Bristol rovers, Drew away at Port Vale and Lost to Derby away


Leyton Orient have won 3 and lost 2 out of the last 5 but 2 of them wins came against strugglers Carlisle at home and Port Vale away. They lost at home to Burton yesterday.

Still all to play for.

You’d expect at least a couple of those to find some consistency in the run in which could nudge us out but I agree with you, I think we’ll somehow cling on to 6th and get blown away in the play offs by a Derby or a Bolton. I still find it impossible to believe that the very average looking Pompey side we saw a few weeks ago sits comfortably top. That says a lot about the league and I’d argue we have some better players in certain positions than they do.

People will point to the results, no loss for a while and so on but the performances are alarming. In the last 3 Blackpool was the only result I felt was reflective of the game, I think we’re 3 points better off than we truly deserve across this week.

I watched the EFL highlights this morning and even teams in league two can get the ball wide in space and put a decent ball in. I just don’t know what we’re doing. We create nothing besides openings from distance which is exactly what the opponent wants you to have because barring a freak game like Wigan on Tuesday, you won’t often do damage from there. It’s actually incredible how little we do to win a game across 90 minutes at the moment and certain players are drowning in the system. Rodrigues should be at the forefront of our attack but he’s vanished, Des can’t get him playing. It figures for me that Harris would improve because we aren’t playing much in to feet, it’s all in to the channels now hoping for a lucky break it seems. The selections and changes often confuse me as well.

How long before it’s considered fair to judge? I’m long past that. Given the players we had on the field yesterday it was pathetic.

 

[chromeyellow]

We create nothing besides openings from distance

Apart from the chances for Harris and Bodin in the second half, Brannagan's shot from inside the penalty area (it's in the highlights at the top of the page)- and the stonewall penalty not given

 

[m]

We will NOT finish in a playoff place.

And if we did manage that feat and by some miracle go up, we will come straight back down, and I fear it will do us more harm than good.

I’d much rather go up, and be better prepared. We are miles away from that. I’d also rather go up with a better stadium to where we are currently.

Oh dear!

Still, if we did get a play off place, and Des did manage to take us up, you'd have to admit that he'd done an amazing job, wouldn't you?

 

[uptheus]

The playoffs beckon in my view, we will finish 5th or 6th. Then, who knows, probably go out to someone like Bolton.
I’ve said before that we are a good team but not a top team and unfortunately injuries have added to it.

But we make a rod for our own back where injuries are concerned

 

[Siho]

It's not even glass half empty, it's glass with nothing in it at all!

And the glass is broken

 

[OX14]

You’d expect at least a couple of those to find some consistency in the run in which could nudge us out but I agree with you, I think we’ll somehow cling on to 6th and get blown away in the play offs by a Derby or a Bolton. I still find it impossible to believe that the very average looking Pompey side we saw a few weeks ago sits comfortably top. That says a lot about the league and I’d argue we have some better players in certain positions than they do.

People will point to the results, no loss for a while and so on but the performances are alarming. In the last 3 Blackpool was the only result I felt was reflective of the game, I think we’re 3 points better off than we truly deserve across this week.

I watched the EFL highlights this morning and even teams in league two can get the ball wide in space and put a decent ball in. I just don’t know what we’re doing. We create nothing besides openings from distance which is exactly what the opponent wants you to have because barring a freak game like Wigan on Tuesday, you won’t often do damage from there. It’s actually incredible how little we do to win a game across 90 minutes at the moment and certain players are drowning in the system. Rodrigues should be at the forefront of our attack but he’s vanished, Des can’t get him playing. It figures for me that Harris would improve because we aren’t playing much in to feet, it’s all in to the channels now hoping for a lucky break it seems. The selections and changes often confuse me as well.

How long before it’s considered fair to judge? I’m long past that. Given the players we had on the field yesterday it was pathetic.

We could be one of the teams to find consistency in the remaining 13 games though. We will hopefully have Edwards and Browne to add to the mix come the last few games.

Remaining home games

Northampton
Leyton Orient
Cheltenham
Lincoln
Fleetwood
Peterborough
Stevenage

Away games

Portsmouth
Bolton
Port Vale
Shrewsbury
Burton
Exeter

Normally the 77 point mark guarantees you in the play offs. We should be able to get 21 points from them remaining games.

 

[Joey]

I personally don't think we should even be trying for promotion until at least a couple of years in the new stadium. Give us a chance to settle in for a couple of years and find our feet, let the fans find the best parking spots before the big crowds come etc.

 

[Nox]

On.the basis that you said we would definitely not make the play offs, if we won that would be a very good achievement?
Then if course if we did go up ( where we would have to beat what Bolton or Derby), it would be all about recruitment.
To me the next 2 games are critical. You are far better at looking into your crystal ball than me !

It's not about looking into a crystal ball.
For a projection of the possibility of finishing in the playoffs you have to consider the current data.
If we sustain the current points tally from the last five games until the end of the season, we categorically won't finish in the playoffs.
If we continue with the points won since Buckingham's tenure started we would be nowhere near the playoffs.
Of cause things can improve or indeed become worse.
Being optimistic hopefully things will improve with the squad becoming fitter and with more options available to the coach.
From this point onwards I don't think that the Head coach would have too many excuses for not finishing in the playoffs.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

A bizarre moment yesterday occurred in the second half. We won a free-kick just in their half. Inexplicably Harris took it quickly when we weren’t set and he should have been getting up the field but he passed the ball straight to a Wycombe player. The ball was quickly flighted over the top of our back four leaving their striker Lubala one on one with Cumming.

Luckily Cumming was out very quickly with the ball sailing behind the goal. It was footballing suicide from us.

 

[Manorlounger]

Held back from posting until I had a look at the replay and considered the game as a whole. The full replay does show, of course, the Rodrigues penalty shout. It's one of those that most officials would have given consideration and, on balance, probably would have awarded. Rodrigues actually makes an effort to jump over the trailing leg and gets clipped by one of the two defenders either side of him. That he gets carded for simulation(?) or disputing the decision is unclear, either way, the official is incompetent.
What is clear is that the official designated as replacement for Mather was not up to the task. Quite simply not experienced enough to take over. The ensuing mix up with no mike active for the fourth official added to the farce, imagine the outcry if such an official and circumstances occurred in the Premiership.

As for the team performance I find myself agreeing with others in questioning the tactics etc. Mrs L and I were equally frustrated with the slow play out from the back and watching Negru looking desperately for an outlet. He appeared unwilling to try a ball over the defence to the runs of our attackers and, inevitably, went sideways or back to Cumming. The game slowed down defenders got back to mark and any chance of a quick break vanished.
Similarly, throw-ins were slow and resulted in almost aimless throws which were intercepted - what do we train for? The latest tactic for goal kicks is to aim for Leigh and hope that he can flick the ball on, quite who the recipient would be seems unclear. It didn't work anyway.

We need an assistant head coach. We need a set piece specialist. We need cohesive and understandable (not least for the players) tactics and formations. DB may have all these attributes and more besides, I just wish they were demonstrated on the pitch.

 

[Scotchegg]

If we sustain the current points tally from the last five games until the end of the season, we categorically won't finish in the playoffs.

We have got 7 points in the last 5 games at 1.4 points per game. Roll that over the next 13 games and we finish with 72.2 points which would keep us 6th.

Do the same ppg over the last 5 for other teams around and this is how they'd finish;

5th Lincoln 73.6
6th Oxford 72.2
7th Leyton Orient 71.4
8th Stevenage 64.2
9th Blackpool 63
10th Peterborough 58.8

Of course the season wont play out this way, and Lincoln wont average 2.2ppg for the rest of the season anymore than Peterborough will only get 0.8ppg either. But the idea that the recent form table proves we won't make the playoffs is clearly wrong.

We need to get another 21/22 points in my view, which will need a ppg of 1.7, so we have to improve but absolutely no reason why we can't do that, and winning on Tuesday will be a good start.

 

[chromeyellow]

Interesting that Buckingham says that the new 4th official wasn’t miked up to the guy in the middle for much of the game. He also said it was a penalty

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Leyton Orient can look a top side at times - won 3-0 at Portsmouth , beat in form Northampton 4-3 last Tuesday night also beat Bolton at home.

Yesterday they lost at home to Burton. Unpredictable.

 

[CCYellow]

We will NOT finish in a playoff place.

And if we did manage that feat and by some miracle go up, we will come straight back down, and I fear it will do us more harm than good.

I’d much rather go up, and be better prepared. We are miles away from that. I’d also rather go up with a better stadium to where we are currently.

Agreed mate.

If we get promoted this season, whilst not being ready to get promoted, Des Buckingham deserves the sack.

If we don't get promoted this season, he also deserves the sack, as we were second a few months ago.

 

[Scotchegg]

Agreed mate.

If we get promoted this season, whilst not being ready to get promoted, Des Buckingham deserves the sack.

If we don't get promoted this season, he also deserves the sack, as we were second a few months ago.

And if Buckingham does get us promoted, and keeps us up and competitive, then he also deserves the sack for doing it before we play in the new stadium!

Horton out!

 

[Followtheox1]

A bizarre moment yesterday occurred in the second half. We won a free-kick just in their half. Inexplicably Harris took it quickly when we weren’t set and he should have been getting up the field but he passed the ball straight to a Wycombe player. The ball was quickly flighted over the top of our back four leaving their striker Lubala one on one with Cumming.

Luckily Cumming was out very quickly with the ball sailing behind the goal. It was footballing suicide from us.

To a degree although, at the time, at least from where I was sitting, the Wycombe player didn't look ten yards away when Harris did that.

 

[QuietYeller]

I have to say his shooting in the warm up was really poor. I wondered if that was a sign of how he would play.

I thought he played ok yesterday and was part of why we played better 2nd half. But I agree he hasnt played that well this season generally. You can tell he’s capable of better, he’s also a chopsy so and so which needs to stop

 

[MJB]

A bizarre moment yesterday occurred in the second half. We won a free-kick just in their half. Inexplicably Harris took it quickly when we weren’t set and he should have been getting up the field but he passed the ball straight to a Wycombe player. The ball was quickly flighted over the top of our back four leaving their striker Lubala one on one with Cumming.

Luckily Cumming was out very quickly with the ball sailing behind the goal. It was footballing suicide from us.

No doubt in my mind that Eastwood would have given away a penalty at this point if he had been playing!

 

[Followtheox1]

No doubt in my mind that Eastwood would have given away a penalty at this point if he had been playing!

Well it was outside the box so would have been pretty hard for him to do that!

 

[MJB]

Well it was outside the box so would have been pretty hard for him to do that!

I’m assuming he’d have been slower off his line, s**t the bed, and then penalty.