Home Match Build-Up 02/11/2024 - Championship: Oxford United vs Swansea City

[BillyTurleys CurlyWurly]

Huge game. Need at least 4 points from these next two.

Cumming
Kioso Moore Brown Leigh
Vaulks McEachran
Dale Rodrigues Goodrham
Harris

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Shake it up!

View attachment 23430

There's width, as well as defensive cover out wide, there's two up top, there's Tyler playing in the middle, there's Sibley to add a bit of drive in the middle, and there's Josh to pull the strings.

Simples!

El Mizouni for Sibley or McEachran to add a bit of bite. El Mizouni has been played out of position a lot this season, he's best as a central defensive midfielder.

 

[Symp59]

4 points? 4 bloody points???!!!

We can take 9 points from the three games. That has to be the target. 4 points means you're accepting a loss in one of the games. I NEVER accept a loss, and I certainly don't plan for one, as you seem to be.

Luckily for us you aren't managing, or playing, for us.

We will see after the next three games you must be on something

 

[Ewes]

Didn’t Joey play on loan at Swansea in his younger days?

 

[Mad Dog]

Didn’t Joey play on loan at Swansea in his younger days?

Briefly he did yes, during his early years with us, before his move to West Ham.

 

[Colin B]

We will see after the next three games you must be on something

Why must I be "on something"?

I have higher aspirations than hoping to get 4 points from three games, that hardly makes me deranged.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Cumming
Ter Avest Moore Nelson Brown
McEachran
Dale Sibley Goodhram Harris
Scarlett​

I fancy us for a 3-1 win.

 

[Nadi-]

Haven’t seen anything yet, that would suggest Dale gets a start.

 

[Hackney Jack]

Haven’t seen anything yet, that would suggest Dale gets a start.

Yes. Starting Dale should never happen in the Championship. If we’re looking at him to start I’d say that’s a big concern.

 

[Scotchegg]

Not sure on the downer about Owen Dale. We have very few wide options and he has always contributed more to the team than he has perhaps shown individually. He wouldn't be starting if we had a full squad, but we haven't!

 

[Symp59]

I think the next 5 games are massive ,we have just taken 5 points from the last 6 games ,with 4 from the next 5 games at home points are crucial because the away form is poor. That's why I think 4 points from the next 3 games is what we will get. Iam not having a go at Colin b but if you were working at bet 365 I don't think they would think we will get 9 points from the next 3 games. I hope you're right Colin and I apologise for saying you must be on something. Hopefully it's me on the Doom bar juice and right on the positive juice I

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Looking forward to giving our old mate Lawrence a warm welcome on Saturday!

 

[Scotchegg]

We have two home games against midtable opposition and away against an inconsistent Watford side that has been comfortably beaten by Stoke, Preston and Luton this season.

There's a difference between targeting results and guaranteeing them. We absolutely should be looking to win all three. That's don't being arrogant or showing false bravado as some have suggested, it's backing your team to be able to compete with everyone in this league.

 

[Mad Dog]

El Mizouni for Sibley or McEachran to add a bit of bite. El Mizouni has been played out of position a lot this season, he's best as a central defensive midfielder.

I must say, as good a player as he is, I can't remember seeing any evidence of El Mizouni having any "bite"

El Mizouni and Rodrigues have been below par in the last couple games, and could probably do with being rotated. Sometimes a good shake up wakes things up, and we need three points on Saturday.

I also think we'd get more bite, whilst still getting plenty of attacking drive up the pitch from Sibley, who has been pretty effective when he's come on in recent games.

We need Josh back in the side ASAP, he's very comfortable at this level, and was pulling all the strings in midfield, before his layoff.

 

[Foley]

Haven’t seen anything yet, that would suggest Dale gets a start.

TBF he has only just got fit
The one thing with Dale, is that he has a lot of energy and helps to protect our right back.
If Des wants to move Tyler, then I can't see why he wouldn't give Dale a go.

 

[McVicar]

Incredibly frustrating that we apparently aren't going to see any of the injured players return until after the next International Break in a couple of weeks. Cam aside most of the others seemed to have suffered fairly innocuous injuries at the time (can't even remember why Edwards is out again), but they just seem to take forever to return. Lucky we have a bigger and better squad this season to deal with it.

 

[Symp59]

Incredibly frustrating that we apparently aren't going to see any of the injured players return until after the next International Break in a couple of weeks. Cam aside most of the others seemed to have suffered fairly innocuous injuries at the time (can't even remember why Edwards is out again), but they just seem to take forever to return. Lucky we have a bigger and better squad this season to deal with it.

Are we dealing with it ?

 

[Bigdwoolly]

Shake it up!

View attachment 23430

There's width, as well as defensive cover out wide, there's two up top, there's Tyler playing in the middle, there's Sibley to add a bit of drive in the middle, and there's Josh to pull the strings.

Simples!

Problem with this team is lack of cover up front (only Goodwin really) and at left wing-back (no-one).

 

[SteMerritt]

Problem with this team is lack of cover up front (only Goodwin really) and at left wing-back (no-one).

The left wing-back situation wouldn't be a problem though, if Leigh picked up a knock you'd just revert to a flat back four.

 

[tonyw]

Incredibly frustrating that we apparently aren't going to see any of the injured players return until after the next International Break in a couple of weeks. Cam aside most of the others seemed to have suffered fairly innocuous injuries at the time (can't even remember why Edwards is out again), but they just seem to take forever to return. Lucky we have a bigger and better squad this season to deal with it.

I think that while, in general, our summer window was terrific - we did overload on injury risks in wide positions.
Edwards, Placheta & Phillips all have significant injury histories, and while they were signings that we maybe couldn't have afforded if it wasn't for that.....our own recent past has shown that when you sign players that have a history of getting crocked, they tend to get crocked a lot in the future as well and take a long time to recover.

A risk or two is fine, but three who all play in the same position was too many. The fact that we don't seem to trust Ebiowei compounds it.

It's why I'm totally onboard with those that are saying we should now be changing our formation to reflect our lack of healthy wingers. 3-5-2/5-3-2 fits our available personnel so much better.

 

[Big Ron]

Are we dealing with it ?

I think we did initially but agree we've become increasingly stretched and the absence of Brannagan in particular is noticeable. I don't dislike Dale at all but his presence in an indicator that we have a string of injuries to wide men, as does the use of Leigh in wide attacking roles.

 

[tonto]

I would like to see Leigh further forward, in a John Shuker role(for the older readers!)

 

[greatunclekip]

Shake it up!

View attachment 23430

There's width, as well as defensive cover out wide, there's two up top, there's Tyler playing in the middle, there's Sibley to add a bit of drive in the middle, and there's Josh to pull the strings.

Simples!

Less pace than my 8 years passed Nan.

 

[Scotchegg]

Less pace than my 8 years passed Nan.

Alternatives?

 

[Malc]

Alternatives?

His granddad?

 

[Oufccraig45]

Incredibly frustrating that we apparently aren't going to see any of the injured players return until after the next International Break in a couple of weeks. Cam aside most of the others seemed to have suffered fairly innocuous injuries at the time (can't even remember why Edwards is out again), but they just seem to take forever to return. Lucky we have a bigger and better squad this season to deal with it.

Role on January hopefully get rid of the passangers and get players in who can hit the ground running, January just may decide if we stay in the Championship

 

[Mad Dog]

Less pace than my 8 years passed Nan.

Silly Kip.

Leigh is a quick and powerful runner, full of energy and drive. Tyler is very nippy, particularly in central areas, full of energy and drive. Sibley looks to be now slouch, full of combative energy and drive. Harris is quick, fully of energy, hard work and drive. Scarlett looks similar to Leigh in being a quick and powerful runner. And Avest is supposed to be extremely quick.

But it's not always about pace, quality is just as important, if not more so, and considering we don't really have many other options, I think that's a pretty good team, that could easily get the win.

You're always quick to criticise Kip, and I don't disagree with a lot you say, at times, but you NEVER give your opinion or ideas.

Perhaps you could enlighten us with your wisdom?

 

[MarkG]

Kristian Pedersen in contention for Oxford clash | Swansea

Kristian Pedersen is back in contention for selection for Swansea City’s Championship clash with Oxford United.

www.swanseacity.com

 

[MarkG]

Luke Williams: Swansea City will come though football 'driving test'

Luke Williams believes Swansea City’s forward players will come through football’s answer to a driving test and prove they can score goals in the Championship.

www.bbc.co.uk