Away Match Day Thread 16/03/24 - L1: Port Vale v OUFC

bazzer9461 said:

Loved Jerome there “ Cumming cums Cumming claims “

Click to expand...

He’s got a way with words. One of the best football commentators on radio in the country.

Vale terrible particularly in the first half but you can only beat what’s in front of you.

I’ve been impressed with Dale recently, works hard takes his man on and looks like he really cares.

One signing I’ve been really disappointed with though is McEachran, his sloppy pass nearly gave them a goal and he doesn’t boss the games like I thought he would.

A much needed result today, and other results went our way, apart from a seriously in form Lincoln, who demolished Bristol Rovers.

Let’s not get carried away, we’ve beaten a very poor side today, and looked good, just as we did at Carlisle. It was nice to see a decent performance, and a result to match, but it will mean nothing if we don’t go and win our next few winnable games against Shrewsbury/Fleetwood, and Burton. Win them we have a chance.

I’m not sold on Buckingham, and still want him out asap. I’m just pleased the players put in the effort today, and gave us fans that went to Vale Park something to cheer about going back down the M6.

Just pulled up at the services, and having an uncle kip special. KFC.

Well done lads.

Theox07 said:

Don’t care he’s shocking

Click to expand...

Idiot.

Highlights up.

Let’s just say, if we’d conceded those two goals we’d be raging.

tomoufc said:

He’s got a way with words. One of the best football commentators on radio in the country.

Click to expand...

Yeah. When I listen to other teams commentators I feel we are quite lucky with Jerome in that respect.

Pleased with the win today, but very concerning that after being restricted to cameos since being here, and even then picking up an injury, that on his (first?) start for us, Goodwin goes off injured at half time.

Hope to god we’ve not lumbered ourselves with another crock

Good performance against a woeful team.

Only met Vale fans in the pub, and they were impressed by Dale and Murphy, as I was. The wingers were stand out.

Good people the Vale fans. I feel sorry for them but it sounds like they don’t have dreadful owners, so they should be OK long term.

Shout out to CB: not his most accomplished performance, but gave everything: his tracking back and slide tackle in around the 80th minute was superb. We wouldn’t even be talking about the play-offs if it wasn’t for him.

I can’t see us getting promoted but this season isn’t the horror show some of us think it is.

You can only beat what’s in front of you, and Vale were P**s poor. But we did OK. Totally different level of challenge to Bolton which suggests where we probably are ability wise.

Lincoln in absolutely mad form, to be honest can’t see anyone but them in that last playoff place.

Josh Murphy is absolutely reborn!

tomoufc said:

He’s got a way with words. One of the best football commentators on radio in the country.

Click to expand...

Did you know he won BBC young commentator of the year in 1986?
We were at the same school school, and I remember it being mentioned in assembly

greatunclekip said:

Lincoln in absolutely mad form, to be honest can’t see anyone but them in that last playoff place.

Click to expand...

The most galling thing about this is that it's been fuelled in no small part by the loan signing of a striker that was an absolute open goal for any remotely ambitious League One club in January.

Joe Taylor was banging them in at Colchester, was always likely to be recalled by Luton and then given a loan a division higher - and yet somehow ended up at (then very much bottom half) Lincoln.

8 goals, 2 assists, in just 12 games.

Oh, and he was signed as early as the 8th January - when only poor/reckless/rushed signings can apparently be made...

SirAndyOfCrosby said:

The most galling thing about this is that it's been fuelled in no small part by the loan signing of a striker that was an absolute open goal for any remotely ambitious League One club in January.

Joe Taylor was banging them in at Colchester, was always likely to be recalled by Luton and then given a loan a division higher - and yet somehow ended up at (then very much bottom half) Lincoln.

8 goals, 2 assists, in just 12 games.

Oh, and he was signed as early as the 8th January - when only poor/reckless/rushed signings can apparently be made...

Click to expand...

You win some you lose some, and to be fair Goodwin is looking an excellent alternative.

The last few weeks has consistently seen Murphy and Dale as our best two players and this is clearly the embryonic stages of Des establishing his style.

Two out and out wingers getting past their defenders and crossing or pulling the ball back for others to come on to.

Goodwin still looks a bit rusty, but I think that he fits the central role better than Harris if we play this way. I also think that Des would prefer Goodrham in the no.10 role instead of Rodrigues, but he's not been available.

On paper, Brannagan and Matete would fit the central midfield roles as both can tackle and disrupt play, but can also pick a pass and link play. Unfortunately, Matete looks like he's unfit or horribly out of form. Whether that sits with Buckingham, the recruitment team, or just bad luck is for others to speculate, but it does look like there was a plan.

Elliott Moore being back in a huge boost too. Bolton aside (where everyone had a shocker), he looks to be the leader we've needed and is also confident in bringing the ball out from defence. Brown was also much better in the bits of the first half I saw.

I also suspect that we'll see out and out full backs next season rather than wing backs or some kind of hybrid role. The only thing I'm not sure of is that both right and left back appear to be drilled into starting in a much more central position when the ball is on the other flank before going across to defend of the ball is moved to their side of the pitch. I'm not sure that we have players who are quick enough, or read the game well enough, to get over in time and this has cost us several times in recent weeks.

And yes, I know that this has come off a game against an awful Port Vale side, but this style of play should be enough to get us a big chunk of points from the next 3 games which might just give us a chance.

Naturally delighted we won, credit must go to manager and team, but my goodness we were wasteful in front of goal and could have feasibly conceded 2 if it weren’t for their ineptness.

I think Des has been lucky here that his next game after the Bolton farce fell against by far the worst team I’ve watched this season. Perhaps it’s the luck he needed….. it will take a multiple more wins to change my mind on his credentials though.

As a side note, what are Lincoln doing that is enabling them to perform this well, be interested to know what formation they are currently playing…? Absolutely flying

Yellow2K22 said:

As a side note, what are Lincoln doing that is enabling them to perform this well, be interested to know what formation they are currently playing…? Absolutely flying

Click to expand...

Largely 352 with an attacking midfielder (Moylan) joining the attack. They have spent very little but are exceptionally coached.

Won 8 drawn 2 of the last ten. 3 goals against, 26 for. Absolute madness.

Im certain Des has a plan however.

greatunclekip said:

Lincoln in absolutely mad form, to be honest can’t see anyone but them in that last playoff place.

Click to expand...

There's still 7 games left and they won't want this international break. They certainly look handy but I doubt they'll sustain this, at the moment everything is going in and it can't last. They looked incredibly fortunate to not concede today and they won't keep scoring with pretty much every shot.

It's certainly a stroke of luck that the game next week is postponed mind you. Chance for their hot streak to die down and us to try and play our way into some form against a few of the weaker sides in Shrewsbury, Fleetwood and Burton

It was better today. Vale were beyond help but after Tuesday I feel in no position to point and laugh. We should do that to them routinely with our players so I’ll give credit for doing the necessary, being professional and meeting expectations. We had no right to turn up today and half a**e it and we didn’t which is good to see.

Good selection. No prizes for guessing who Des thinks the passengers are and who he trusts. Great to see McEacrhan back, I really enjoy his cameos.

Dale is just making my season with some of his play. He’s a breath of fresh air and I’m delighted with that signing. Murphy was fantastic but still a niggling doubt for me about keeping him around.

A good XI man effort and in a clear shape that was much more relevant to our players and they appeared to understand it. Didn’t think anybody had a poor afternoon (beyond the typical expectations) so all in all a solid routine win and with Stevenage clumsily losing we live to fight another day.

Barnsley having a wobble and unable to beat a very poor Cheltenham side ? As was largely said last week .
Stevenage ,Blackpool as well struggling.
Lincoln obviously playing out of their skins at the moment but certainly going to be a fascinating run in with a few twists and turns yo come .

Scotchegg said:

Didn't see or listen to the second half, but the only thing I was ever going to be interested in was the result and the 3 points.

But can't quite believe looking through this thread that 50% of the posts in the second half were discussing Murphy! I know some find it impossible to move on from the false narrative about him not wanting to play, but surely the last few months have shown that he has consistently been one of, if not our best player when he plays.

I've said that no one should get a free ride, but in the "coat our players off" chart there are plenty more deserving than Murphy.

Click to expand...

Totally agree. Murphy and brannigan have been our best players for a little while

Who pulled Murphys shorts down when he celebrated his goal.