Away Match Day Thread 03/02/2026 - MDT: Sheffield United v Oxford United

[Peterdev]

It'll be Bromley rather than the Olympic Stadium but it'll be more enjoyable. More chance of winning and promotion and a repeat of the scenes in town that we saw in 2024.

We'll be back (if the panic spending doesn't hurt us).

Also Salford and Swindon to look forward to. Along with Bolton maybe and Reading. Will be tough that’s for sure.

 

[Oufcrealist]

The same could be said for Konak's contribution on Saturday, yet we've gone with Vaulks from the start tonight, who, as much as it pains me to highlight it, offers absolutely nothing at this level any longer.

Problem with Konak is he's a sending off waiting to happen!!

 

[tatabanya]

The manager is starting to look a worry too.

He’s not immune to criticism but you can’t judge him too harshly in defeats against two of the most expensively assembled squads in the league. Same with Coventry on Saturday, anything from these games would be a huge bonus given our players are naturally way off the level of theirs.

This season will now swing on the home games against the teams around us, and Bloomfield should be judged on those.

 

[Gordon]

It’s not Longs fault but if you are playing a 31 year old Sam Long as a right wing back and a right footed Spencer as a left wing back then I would say that has played a part in it. Don’t think any other side apart from the basket case one on minus points would be even considering that as an option.

Square pegs in round holes, and unfortunately at this level it gets exposed.

 

[MadridYellow]

Really hoping MB is only wedded to this mad 5 2 3 formation because all the new players are unavailable for whatever reason. If we keep it up all season after everyone is fit, really not sure how McDonnell, BDK, Bran, Jin, Donley, MPH and Emakhu all manage to make an impact on the second half of the season

 

[ECYellow]

And to think some thought Rowett was the problem!

There is no way that people stomach a 5 at the back with Spencer at LWB under the previous regime. Not to mention the two midfielders that were basically playing as two more centre halves, they were that deep!

Brannagan is not doing enough. He runs around a lot; throws his arms about a lot, but what is he giving us? I’m struggling to see it anymore and think he’s a very expensive problem.

Any team that ends a game in this league with Harris, Dembele and Romney up front, are not staying up.

Nice to see the big money signing from Korea make the bench, bloody shame he wasn’t deemed sufficient to make a difference after we had gone behind.

Credit to everyone else that travelled. Ox through and through

 

[90syeIlow]

Really hoping MB is only wedded to this mad 5 2 3 formation because all the new players are unavailable for whatever reason. If we keep it up all season after everyone is fit, really not sure how McDonnell, BDK, Bran, Jin, Donley, MPH and Emakhu all manage to make an impact on the second half of the season

Agree.

I think some people on here forgot about our injuries and the fact that some of our signings aren't ready to play yet.

 

[uptheus]

Sam Long right wing back

He wasn’t though. And continues to be one of best defenders.

Get, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie or Roosken or Leigh in the back 4. Mills, Brannagan, Konak, Placheta or Emakhu or MPH
Prelec, or MPH no. 10 role, then Lankshear/Harris/Romeny etc, but this area needed to be addressed as it’s weak/light.

 

[carefreeoufc]

No word from Bloomfield after the game?

Did he clap the fans though? He surely clapped the fans!

 

[Bicester Yellow]

Not for me.

Long turned his back on Brooks’ shot for the second goal instead of attempting to block the shot. No idea what happened to Brown either - he went to ground far too easily in the build up.

Brannagan got brushed off the ball like a schoolboy too btw but not many mentioning that.

 

[uptheus]

16 games to go.
Keep the faith.
Goodnight.

That’s all we have!

 

[Northstandboy]

Did he clap the fans though? He surely clapped the fans!

GR always spoke to RadOx after the game, even in midweek!

 

[Osei Yaw]

It’s not Longs fault but if you are playing a 31 year old Sam Long as a right wing back and a right footed Spencer as a left wing back then I would say that has played a part in it. Don’t think any other side apart from the basket case one on minus points would be even considering that as an option.

Is there anything to be said for getting Matt Phillips back?

 

[tonyw]

This season will now swing on the home games against the teams around us, and Bloomfield should be judged on those.

If we write off our away games against top half and expensively assembled squads, then it's now almost impossible for us to reach 50 points.

We'd have to win every single one of our remaining home games......after only having won 3 of our first 15!

 

[Bicester Yellow]

And to think some thought Rowett was the problem!

There is no way that people stomach a 5 at the back with Spencer at LWB under the previous regime. Not to mention the two midfielders that were basically playing as two more centre halves, they were that deep!

Brannagan is not doing enough. He runs around a lot; throws his arms about a lot, but what is he giving us? I’m struggling to see it anymore and think he’s a very expensive problem.

Any team that ends a game in this league with Harris, Dembele and Romney up front, are not staying up.

Nice to see the big money signing from Korea make the bench, bloody shame he wasn’t deemed sufficient to make a difference after we gone behind.

Credit to everyone else that travelled. Ox through and through

I’m glad some are starting to see it.

I can’t believe Jin-Woo didn’t get on tonight, ridiculous, especially once we were behind.

 

[uptheus]

Not for me.

Long turned his back on Brooks’ shot for the second goal instead of attempting to block the shot. No idea what happened to Brown either - he went to ground far too easily in the build up.

I think he (Brown) stubbed his foot/got studs stuck in the turf. Looked like he could have had a bad injury (knee again), so wouldn’t surprise me if it swells up, but hopefully not!

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Is there anything to be said for getting Matt Phillips back?

We missed him in those final 20 minutes

 

[holdsteady]

Is there anything to be said for getting Matt Phillips back?

Always thought he retired one game to early, he still had tonight in him.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Is any Oxford supporter really enjoying watching us this season? Talking about the football rather than the beer, the day out etc. There have been a few bits to savour, but blimey they are few and far between. We look bereft of quality and even forward thinking ambition much of the time. I hoped the new manager might be a breath of fresh air, but I will admit I am scratching my head a bit at the moment. We went one up tonight and I had absolutely no confidence that we would take even a point from the game. It's all a bit depressing.

We haven't scored a goal at home since Boxing Day.

 

[Billyox]

What is it with managers yes it worked vs Leicester playing with 3 at the back and 2 wingback but trying knock square pegs in to round holes to try and replicate the same system and tactic is just plain stupid

Long is a center back end of never a wing back
Spencer is a right back not a left wing back

Vaulks is no energetic hard working hard tackling replacement for McDonnell

If you dont have the personal to play the system then change the system to suit the personal

 

[Oldman159]

FWIW.
Well….that was a hard one to watch (again)

I know that the gulf in ‘values’ is vast, but so is the level of skill. Once again we started off OK with some good work. Pressed well and robbed a few balls, took but couldn’t consolidate, the lead. They equalised and we reverted to type and tried to defend a slender lead. It was almost as if they felt “right…we’re a goal ahead so we earned our money…let’s sit back and await the inevitable”. Sad.

Shemmy had a couple of opportunities to cross but, once again, chose to go himself. Will must have been pretty frustrated. Surely that is a ‘coaching’ issue?

Half Harris was my MotM but he must be wondering if he’s done the right thing That said, if he’s putting himself in the window for summer, it is easier to stand out in a poor performing team.

Finally….I had hoped we’d seen the back of ‘odd’ substitutions……

Hey Ho Tiswattiz.

 

[Swaby39]

Well, that was a new low. It doesn’t tell us anything new, so I don’t know why I feel I need to rant now, but I do. Getting smothered like that and conceding 3 with that many defensive players with no answer at any stage in the game was a f*****g grim watch. Back to back games now we’ve stuck with plan A when clear as day it wasn’t going to get us to the finish line with anything. We didn’t appoint Bloomfield to give us more of the same - he needs to find some b*****s, fast.

I can’t compute how we put in 2 solid foundation performances in the first 2 games in a back 4 and have since abandoned it irrespective of missing key pillars to play a back 5. It worked at Leicester and rightly applauded, but the two teams we’ve played since were much too good to sit and defend for that long without throwing a punch. Bloomfield appears absolutely hell-bent that we will play that shape and it scares the crap out of me.

We’ve thrown endless s**t at the wall in January, signed a load of players and yet to see a meaningful impact from 7 of the 8. We’ve even turned to an unwanted Dembele over a £1m signing today. Ignored the future of Turkey to play a 5th choice centre mid and a purebred defensive right back at left wing back when we have one sat on the bench…. It’s a total mess and I don’t know how Bloomfield figures this out. Way too many players yet not enough correct ones to play the way he is adamant we are going to play.

Bloomfield may yet get it right but I can’t understand why we’ve been forced in to the scrap heap for a manager only to go and turn the taps on for players. Surely it was better to get the dugout spot on with a high calibre, brave, front footed manager that could maybe unlock something in what we’ve got and add just 5 or 6 rather than 8, a couple of which will miss out each week anyway through loan congestion. Pointless.

Just WHAT have the hierarchy at the club done with this season. Total f*****g mess and where we are is exactly where their decisions deserve for us to be.

 

[Oxford84]

He’s not immune to criticism but you can’t judge him too harshly in defeats against two of the most expensively assembled squads in the league. Same with Coventry on Saturday, anything from these games would be a huge bonus given our players are naturally way off the level of theirs.

This season will now swing on the home games against the teams around us, and Bloomfield should be judged on those.

Letting him off lightly there. Yep Sheffield Utd have a load of good players but this season theyve been s**t, they lost 15 games this season, the same as us now. As for Coventry, theyve lost a 10 point lead at the top and seem to be struggling for form, despite having good players.

Basic good/normal defending stops at least 2 of the goals today, we made it easy for them.

 

[tatabanya]

If we write off our away games against top half and expensively assembled squads, then it's now almost impossible for us to reach 50 points.

We'd have to win every single one of our remaining home games......after only having won 3 of our first 15!

I’m not saying we should write them off, just that saying “the manager’s a problem” after losing to Birmingham and Sheffield United’s £100m XIs is a bit harsh.

 

[Dr Bob]

Pompey away and WBA, Wednesday and Blackburn at home are now critical. 12 points is more or less essential.

 

[uptheus]

Really hoping MB is only wedded to this mad 5 2 3 formation because all the new players are unavailable for whatever reason. If we keep it up all season after everyone is fit, really not sure how McDonnell, BDK, Bran, Jin, Donley, MPH and Emakhu all manage to make an impact on the second half of the season

Not sure the intention is 5-2-2-1, but should be 3-5-1-1. Whatever it is, it isn’t f*****g working

 

[holdsteady]

I’m glad some are starting to see it.

I can’t believe Jin-Woo didn’t get on tonight, ridiculous, especially once we were behind.

You know there is a good chance that after 5 minutes of watching him you will see why he doesn’t play? Because if he can’t get in this team then we have just set fire to a million quid.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Problem with Konak is he's a sending off waiting to happen!!

I'd love to see it! A bit of fight could galvanise matters.

 

[Symp59]

Sadly Brannagan is not good enough for the championship we needed better but we ended up with more defenders we needed a midfield General and a striker but still appreciate the effort and money from the chairman he's brilliant, it's a really tough league and we are out of our depth but I think I would rather see us have a go than whimp along maybe we really just have a poor team end of

 

[Bicester Yellow]

On the plus side, love island looks decent tonight.

Not just our players behaving like Fannies then

 

[Chippy]

He’s not immune to criticism but you can’t judge him too harshly in defeats against two of the most expensively assembled squads in the league. Same with Coventry on Saturday, anything from these games would be a huge bonus given our players are naturally way off the level of theirs.

This season will now swing on the home games against the teams around us, and Bloomfield should be judged on those.

I just don’t think we’ve got the players up top, to score the goals and to win enough games of football to keep us up. No criticism of Bloomfield against Bristol C or QPR, but we were just powder puff up front against them in perfectly winnable games.

Lankshear shows plenty of endeavour and will score a few goals, but we’ve got no one else, it’s embarrassing what we have at our disposal to actually try and win games by scoring enough goals. It’s like our recruitment team either don’t think it’s an important area or can’t see that we have are a million miles away from what’s needed at this level of football. What we have isn’t good enough for League One let alone the Champ, I find it so frustrating how it’s not been addressed.

We’ve even had Goodwin, Scarlett and Perkins in recent seasons, it’s utterly mental how we can’t recruit any quality and how we’ve failed so badly in this area in particular.