Away Match Day Thread 04/10/2025 - MDT: Watford v Oxford United

[Carpy]

 

[Carpy]

Match Referee: Lewis Smith
Vicarage Road
Saturday 4th Oct 2025 @ 1500

 

[MJB]

 

[CarParkUltra]

I wonder if GR would be tempted to give Valkes a start with the wind swirling. His throws would be a nightmare to defend against with the wind behind him.

It will be interesting to see how he starts today. Lankshear looks like he needs a rest, I'd still be tempted to start him and just tell him he has 45 minutes so to run his socks off until then and switch it at half time.

Not sure what to do on the right. Shemmy had a decent enough game at BC but is so frustrating. I imagine he'll get a start again but thought Dembele looked good against both Brizzle and QPR so must be due a start soon.

The squad is in such a better place than last year where realistically we could change a few players without massively impacting the quality.

Watford arent a happy camp atm so hope we get at them early. An early goal could see their fans turn.

1-1 draw with Tyler coming on to score a late worldie

 

[Begtets]

My lad wants to know what shirt to wear today. Am I safe to assume we will play in the third Teal Pink kit?

 

[West Oxon U’s]

PLAYED FOR BOTH

The list includes Les Taylor, Keith Cassells, David Bardsley, Richard Hill, Tommy Mooney, Lee Nogan, Ray Train, Josh McEachran,
Jamie Hand, David Connolly, Will Hoskins and Jerome Sinclair.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

REF WATCH

Wigan based official Lewis Smith, 31 is this afternoon’s referee at Vicarage Road.
He frequently took charge of U’s fixtures last season.

 

[Wicko]

I’m going to rein in my optimism a bit and go for another battling draw. I’m also going to keep predicting a Cam penalty every week until we get one (hopefully there’s enough time left on his contract).
2-2 Helik and Cam

 

[sideshowrob]

REF WATCH

Wigan based official Lewis Smith, 31 is this afternoon’s referee at Vicarage Road.
He frequently took charge of U’s fixtures last season.

We can rule out the chance of a penalty then.

 

[Village-Yellow]

1-2

Lankshear back on the score sheet plus A.N. Other.

Moving up to 19th in the table.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

The U’s win at Vicarage Road on the final day of the 1992-93 season not before another Watford away kit crime.

United wore a combo of red shirts and navy shorts with yellow trim - not as bad as the 1998 fiasco.

 

[ECYellow]

The wind will be a great leveller, albeit I don’t think there is much between us anyway.

A quick start to keep them quiet, actually that won’t be hard. Vicarage Road was probably in the top 3 shittest atmosphere all of last season in memory.

Luke Harris to start and score.

2-1 Ox.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[BrockBuster]

Amazed a Watford fan has written a preview mentioning their manager's name. Must always be a risk of that being out of date by the time the game takes place.

 

[Daviddidcotexile]

Although not for this game but so pleased to see Brown played for the U21 team this week. Back in the squad after the international break you would think

 

[Essexyellows]

A solid point would do, although another Brizzle performance wouldn`t go amiss.

Baseline - avoid defeat, build confidence, get a run going.

 

[Sarge]

feeling quietly confident - 1-2 win, Lanks and a late Gregly winner

 

[Berliner]

Get a goal and the atmosphere will turn!
Up and attem!
2-0 to us. Helik from a long throw/corner, CamBran with a wind-assisted thunderbastard of a free kick.

 

[Peterdev]

I’ve got good vibes about this as Watford haven’t really set the world alight and the crowd will be on their backs.
Reckon 2-1 win with Lankshear and a Brannagan penalty in the last five minutes. We will be holding on for three points

 

[Yellowecky]

Watford 1 - Oxford United 2.

We will cope with the windy conditions better due to having played the last 20 odd years in a three sided wind tunnel!

 

[Jster]

How many tickets have we sold for this one (I think around 2250 were allocated)? My first away trip of the season.

 

[Stranger]

I’ve got good vibes about this as Watford haven’t really set the world alight and the crowd will be on their backs.
Reckon 2-1 win with Lankshear and a Brannagan penalty in the last five minutes. We will be holding on for three points

A penalty? That's just crazy talk

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

If we can start well and frustrate them for the first 20 I think we may see their crowd get on their backs a bit. Hope we can take advantage of all not being well there. Fail to do so and I fear it'll be a routine 2-0 home win sadly.

Hoping to be proved wrong and we see an attacking performance like at Bristol City and a QPR style defensive display.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

A penalty? That's just crazy talk

I wonder what the record is in number of games that a team has gone without being awarded a penalty ?

Just looked up and seen Port Vale went 70 plus games

 

[Made-in-Jericho]

How many games now are we up to without a penalty?

 

[Jster]

What are we on now? Haven't had one since the playoff semi second leg.

Edit - I think I make it 60 in all comps. (Playoff final + 49 games last season + 10 so far this.)

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

What are we on now? Haven't had one since the playoff semi second leg.

18 months ago!

 

[Jster]

Apparently Sheff Wed went 82 games without a penalty in the 1960s. No idea on relative frequency of pens back then though. Port Vale do apparently hold the "modern" record of 73, though Wednesday themselves went close a couple of years ago.

(https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foo...o-light-as-owls-approach-500-day-mark-4801252)

 

[Village-Yellow]

View attachment 31377

 

[Wallop]

To be fair - that's quite amusing. Can we claim on our insurance?

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

A solid point would do, although another Brizzle performance wouldn`t go amiss.

Baseline - avoid defeat, build confidence, get a run going.

Nah, need 3 points. Otherwise it's one win in nine games - whichever way you dress it up.

After Bristol City I was looking for 5 points from the next three games (Sheffield United, QPR, Watford). 2 points (with a draw today) would be a poor return - even if the result in itself is acceptable.