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.

 

[uptheus]

My honest opinion and this hurts believe me, we are relegated but come straight back up and playing at the triangle in the new stadium.

I fear we’d be more like a Luton or Plymouth than a Cardiff as our recruitment is generally shite!!

 

[uptheus]

There is a reasonable chunk of our fan base who have never witnessed a relegation and have only seen a rise up the leagues in the last 16 years. As most on here know it's a terrible experience going down a division and we should be doing all we can to avoid it. I just don't buy into this go down and come straight back up again theory.

I remember fans said this when we were in relegation places the last time we were at the Championship level 25+ years ago, that getting relegated would be the best thing so that we could rebuild and come back stronger. Well, it took us 25+ years to get back to this level with a hell of a lot of shite to endure during that period, so I would bite your hand off if we can stay up and not have to go through all that shite again.

If we can stay up I really think we could address our player recruitment and have a massive restructure/reset and truly come back stronger in the Championship next season, so I’m praying we can avoid the drop!!

 

[m]

There is a reasonable chunk of our fan base who have never witnessed a relegation and have only seen a rise up the leagues in the last 16 years. As most on here know it's a terrible experience going down a division and we should be doing all we can to avoid it. I just don't buy into this go down and come straight back up again theory.

100%. I couldn't agree with this more.

We should be doing everything, everything, to stay up. I hope we are.

 

[uptheus]

Bloomfield needs time but he hasn’t really got it has he.

Well, he needs to do the basics which he isn’t, such as, play players in the rightful positions and play a system that fits the personnel, so the fact that he’s not done that is worrying in my eyes. Oh, and even more baffled why Mike Dodds agrees with it either, I’d rather f*****g Ken Dodd if that ‘s the case!

 

[m]

Exactly, nobody is saying they're "happy" to see us relegated and nobody is arguing we shouldn't "fight", whatever that means.

Just a load of sentimental, sabre rattling old twaddle - of course everyone wants us to stay up.

My issue is the (possible) assumption that we'd come straight back up, or even be at a relative advantage to do so.

 

[Symp59]

Have a look at their second goal. It’s a pathetic attempt to challenge from Brannagan. He might as well have not been trying to defend it. He certainly wasn’t trying very hard!

He’s nowhere near the player he once was for us in League 1, which is understandable. But, we can’t afford to have passengers and have the game pass our midfielders by. Especially when they’re picking up the kind of money that Brannagan is.

He needs to be braver on the ball (pass forward) and he needs to demonstrate that tenacity and fight that has endeared himself to all of us over the years.

Maybe Bran is not the player he was in league 1 is because that's his standard ,the gulf is massive now ,I think the championship is like the old Premier league with the massive influx of overseas players ,money really dies matter ,how good were Leeds last year just hanging on near the bottom. Love Bran but even if we go down time to replace him ,he will be great back up but definitely not the main man.

 

[uptheus]

You're probably right. However, no disrespect to Ed Waldron, but the manager is the one who carries the can for failure, yet the recruitment team seems to carry serenely on without being questioned. Doesn't seem fair to me, but what do I know?

It’s so the club has a player DNA/some kind of structure which isn’t dictated by the manager/head coach etc e.g. it can carry on with the same objectives without the manager/head coach having an impact as Aldo says!

This obviously means that the DNA/Structure/Objectives still needs to be reviewed/aligned/agreed on a regular basis to ensure it’s still current/valid/right approach etc

 

[ECYellow]

I think re the 2nd goal last night it all stemmed from when Brown seemed to catch his studs in the turf as he was about to try and challenge the Sheff U player out wide, after that 3 or 4 players were culpable for either poor challenges or attempts to make a block, including Brannagan, and Long and Mikosso right as the shot was hit. It was a poor goal to concede but CB was no more culpable than several others.

I agree he hasn’t hit the levels he did in League One but I think some of that is due to playing 2 in midfield and especially alongside Vaulks, and some of it due to him have to cover about 3 positions all at the same time due to the way out last couple of managers have set things up. He’s almost a victim of trying too hard, coupled with probably never being allowed to fully recover 100% from his knee injury because we’ve not had the resources to cover midfield due to shoddy recruitment in that area prior to Jan.

I’ve seen CB have numerous good games this season but that’s when we’ve either played 3 in midfield (very rare) or when he’s been allowed to have a bit of freedom and not trying to make up for a complete lack of midfield prescence far too often.

He is still Mr OUFC and a go to player, but needs support and allowed time to recover from any injuries or fatigue, something he’s never allowed to do, as he’s still overall our best midfielder and we generally struggle without him.

I’d argue that the fact we miss him when he isn’t playing says more about our other midfielders and our inability recruit players of the requisite level, rather then the ability of Brannagan in the Champ.

All opinions though

 

[Eric Blair]

Why would we keep him on if we go down? Unless he wins a good number of games and just fails to keep us up he should go.

It’s rare that I disagree with you but I do here. As long as we show improvement, that he can gel a team together and that the feedback from players and staff is good then we need to back him for promotion IF we go down. I think we’re playing the long game (investing in a well thought of young manager and high ceiling young players). Staying up is a big ask now. To get rid of a manager with a good record in League One would be madness.

 

[holdsteady]

Has anyone actually claimed we would bounce straight back? But if people think talking about a relegation in the position we are in is negative then what do you make about all the talk that we are doomed to spend 25 years below this level if we do go down? We are well backed and have a new ground on the way, no reason having to rebuild in a division we know well should be the end of success for us, sometimes you just have to take a detour.

 

[SouthOxonOx]

I remember fans said when we were in relegation places the last time we were at the Championship level 25+ years ago that getting relegated would be the best thing so that we could rebuild and come back stronger. Well, it took us 25+ years to get back to this level with a hell of a lot of shite to endure during that period, so I woukd bite your hand off if we can stay up and not have to go through all that shite again.

If we can stay up I really think we could really address our player recruitment and have a massive restructure/reset and truly come back stronger in the Championship next season, so I’m praying we can avoid the drop!!

Yep. I also remember that

 

[Kernow Yellow]

Have a look at their second goal. It’s a pathetic attempt to challenge from Brannagan. He might as well have not been trying to defend it. He certainly wasn’t trying very hard!

He’s nowhere near the player he once was for us in League 1, which is understandable. But, we can’t afford to have passengers and have the game pass our midfielders by. Especially when they’re picking up the kind of money that Brannagan is.

He needs to be braver on the ball (pass forward) and he needs to demonstrate that tenacity and fight that has endeared himself to all of us over the years.

The main problem with Cam Bran, in comparison to people playing in his position for better Championship teams (like Brum and Blades), is the amount of time he wants on the ball. Cam, like many of our players, usually receives the ball, takes a touch, looks up, takes another touch and then plays a pass. We saw last night, and on Saturday, the difference between that style of play and players who play quick, first-touch passes in tight situations. Leaving our defence and midfield for dead. It doesn't always work but it is what leads to the most dangerous situations.

No disrespect to Cam - he's been great for us. But he isn't at the same level as our better opponents.

And, make no mistake, there was a massive gulf in class between Sheffield United and Us last night. People saying they are a poor team are having a laugh. And the conditions were pretty horrible, which may not have been evident to those of you watching on telly. I've seen plenty of worse performances than that from Us in the Championship. Sometimes you have to credit the opposition too.

 

[werthersoriginal]

It’s rare that I disagree with you but I do here. As long as we show improvement, that he can gel a team together and that the feedback from players and staff is good then we need to back him for promotion IF we go down. I think we’re playing the long game (investing in a well thought of young manager and high ceiling young players). Staying up is a big ask now. To get rid of a manager with a good record in League One would be madness.

Well I’m not sure we totally disagree, if he acquits himself well and almost keeps us up we may well retain him. But not if we just lose every week with no shots and 25 per cent possession.

 

[Eric Blair]

Well I’m not sure we totally disagree, if he acquits himself well and almost keeps us up we may well retain him. But not if we just lose every week with no shots and 25 per cent possession.

Agreed but looking at the middle ground IF we went down with a few games to spare but we showed signs of improvement then I would absolutely back him. I have faith in the strategy - do our best to stay up this year but be in a good position to challenge again if we go down. The manager and some of the players in suggest that is what we’re doing.

Having said that I’m on record as saying that Bradshaw and Phillips would come good this season so shows what I know.

 

[Slade Yellow]

Has anyone actually claimed we would bounce straight back? But if people think talking about a relegation in the position we are in is negative then what do you make about all the talk that we are doomed to spend 25 years below this level if we do go down? We are well backed and have a new ground on the way, no reason having to rebuild in a division we know well should be the end of success for us, sometimes you just have to take a detour.

And an honest look at the entire playing and coaching staff. Continually being sentimental at this will not fix the season after season same old problems.
The Good old boys theory does not work.
If better is possible then good is no longer enough

 

[TailsWeWin]

It’s tempting to look at our incomings and see them as potentially very good League One players, with just about enough talent to keep us up at a push.
Whether that’s the strategy or not, is an interesting question.

 

[JOHN BOY]

Still 7 players to come into side.

 

[90syeIlow]

Cam is a fantastic player, but this season, two things have happened:

1) He's been more mistake prone than usual. It could be the pressure of trying to keep us up/the newborn distraction or some other reason.

2) He's more explosive than normal and loses his head more frequently than he used to. I posted in the matchday thread last night that I think Vaulks screaming at every single opportunity is rubbing off on him, and this attitude combined with their lack of mobility (Cam less so than Vaulks) mean their partnership is absolutely dire in this league.

We need BDK and our other CM's back, so Vaulks can be benched as often as possible and Cam rotated when necessary.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

He is still Mr OUFC and a go to player, but needs support and allowed time to recover from any injuries or fatigue, something he’s never allowed to do, as he’s still overall our best midfielder and we generally struggle without him.

Lee Dixon was on R5 Live yesterday. He reckoned that in his 350-odd Arsenal appearances, he was only fully rested and uninjured for 25 of them.

Not saying you are wrong about CB though - he does seem to come back after injury (and want to play on when injured) too quickly for his own good.

 

[werthersoriginal]

And an honest look at the entire playing and coaching staff. Continually being sentimental at this will not fix the season after season same old problems.
The Good old boys theory does not work.
If better is possible then good is no longer enough

The good old boys have kept us going, it’s the newer signings that have been disappointing in many cases.

 

[SteMerritt]

My issue is the (possible) assumption that we'd come straight back up, or even be at a relative advantage to do so.

We've not once managed to come straight back up again after a relegation in our history. Best we have managed is bouncing back after 2 seasons in the mid 90s.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Staying up is a big ask now. To get rid of a manager with a good record in League One would be madness.

His record in League One is 148 points from 97 matches. Akin to 70 points over a season. Enough to finish 8th last season. Or 10th in our promotion season.

Incidentally, Karl Robinson's League One record averages out at 70 points over a season too.

I'm prepared to give Bloomfield the benefit of the doubt, but his record at this level is poor, and his record at League One is only passable.

He's done very well to get this fantastic job. He needs to keep us up. He took over with us having an almost identical record to Hull at the same point last season. Or one point better off than QPR the previous season (not to mention three points better off than Wednesday). It was, and is, very much do-able.

If he doesn't keep us up, he would be fortunate to keep his job - that's the reality.

But then it's not my call.

It's the call of someone who saw where Luton were this time last season, saw where they are now, 12 months on - and apparently thought 'I want a bit of that'.

 

[uptheus]

Cam is a fantastic player, but this season, two things have happened:

1) He's been more mistake prone than usual. It could be the pressure of trying to keep us up/the newborn distraction or some other reason.

2) He's more explosive than normal and loses his head more frequently than he used to. I posted in the matchday thread last night that I think Vaulks screaming at every single opportunity is rubbing off on him, and this attitude combined with their lack of mobility (Cam less so than Vaulks) mean their partnership is absolutely dire in this league.

We need BDK and our other CM's back, so Vaulks can be benched as often as possible and Cam rotated when necessary.

BDK has been mostly poor with fleeting moments! We need a player with energy and drive, not one that slows the momentum down and sometimes loses the ball by dicking around, especially if they’re playing along Brannagan

 

[holdsteady]

We've not once managed to come straight back up again after a relegation in our history. Best we have managed is bouncing back after 2 seasons in the mid 90s.

The thing is no one has said we will come straight back up though? I don’t think anyone thinks we are likely to, we made hard enough work of Colchester and MK Dons in the cups to know we are nothing special.

Although I don’t think it is anymore fanciful than the idea that if we can stay up we will be able to improve in this division next season, people said it about last season and it just never happened, we don’t have access to the player talent pool to do that, we can’t afford them and they don’t want to come here. It will likely just be more of the same.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

BDK has been mostly poor with fleeting moments! We need a player with energy and drive, not one that slows the momentum down and sometimes loses the ball by dicking around, especially if they’re playing along Brannagan

What.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

Yep it was, i remember going to the last game that season away to Notts Forest. Shame we went down, not surprised, we sold our best players and not really replaced with great players. ie billy whitehurst, dave leworthy, ricky hill, colin greenall.

If only we had signed Ricky Hill and not Richard !!
My first relegation , still remember the awful 0-3 at Watford and midweek 0-3 to Sheff Weds that basically gave us no hope of staying up.
Worry a bit this season we have games that if we win all of them we get x amount of points...if we lose though

 

[ZeroTheHero]

We've not once managed to come straight back up again after a relegation in our history. Best we have managed is bouncing back after 2 seasons in the mid 90s.

Yes, I think it is demonstrably untrue that the relegated teams from one division are somehow superior next season to all of the teams in the division below. It doesn't work that way in the majority of cases.

If we were relegated, all of the current loans and 'six month deals' would go and you'd suspect some of the better permanents would go as well - either because they wanted to play higher up or the club would like to reduce the financial implications of relegation. It would be a large rebuild (again), and that never guarantees success.

 

[londonyellow]

BDK has been mostly poor with fleeting moments! We need a player with energy and drive, not one that slows the momentum down and sometimes loses the ball by dicking around, especially if they’re playing along Brannagan

I really don't understand this view. BdK is so important for us. Far more assists than any other player on the team. Can he be better? Sure. But poor? Don't see it personally

 

[Eaststanding]

Have I missed something? Are we already relegated?
Get a grip people, we’re not down yet ffs.

 

[Yellowecky]

Are there any highlights available?