Home Match Day Thread 04/11/2025 - MDT: Oxford United V Stoke City

[Carpy]

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Agree with most of that. We don’t generally lose by 3 goal margins and are in the vast majority of matches until the death. I think people are seeing the scoreline and making an awful lot more of it than they should. Stoke were lethal on the break, PL quality in that respect but I didn’t think there was much in it between the boxes - we played some nice one touch stuff in a few passages of play.

I wouldn’t go as far to say that Stoke had premier league quality but I don’t think many teams do other than the odd player like Winks at Leicester given how big the gap is in ability between the Championship and Premier League now.
I messaged my dad at half time and spoke about how it was a strange 1st half as nothing much in it but they were 2 up due to 2 mistakes from us and we hadn’t taken our chances.
Last season we lost 6-2 to Middlesbrough and they were literally head and shoulders above us in every aspect, last night was our biggest defeat but no way was it that one sided.
As you say, I think people are just looking at the scoreline.

 

[BrockBuster]

What would have me most concerned if I was Rowett is our inability to score 'easy' goals. You look at the two quality finishes against Millwall, some of Brannagan's recent free-kicks, Shemmy's worldie against Bristol City that knocked the stuffing out of them - they're the sort of goals you can't rely on.

While at the other end we give away soft goals from bouncing long throws, counter-attacks, tap-ins etc. Too many mistakes.

That more than anything makes me think we're going to struggle near the bottom this year.

 

[Made-in-Jericho]

Seems like Mark Robins has Rowett’s number: what’s their head to head record?

 

[dickwalton1964]

I wouldn’t go as far to say that Stoke had premier league quality but I don’t think many teams do other than the odd player like Winks at Leicester given how big the gap is in ability between the Championship and Premier League now.
I messaged my dad at half time and spoke about how it was a strange 1st half as nothing much in it but they were 2 up due to 2 mistakes from us and we hadn’t taken our chances.
Last season we lost 6-2 to Middlesbrough and they were literally head and shoulders above us in every aspect, last night was our biggest defeat but no way was it that one sided.
As you say, I think people are just looking at the scoreline.

That’s the quickest front three or four I’ve seen at Championship level hence referencing the PL. I’d slightly disagree with you re Middlesbrough too, they took every chance going on the day but I didn’t think they were as good as five or six teams last season who beat us by lesser margins - Burnley away, Sheffield United away, Swansea home, Sunderland away, Leeds home, Sheffield Wednesday home I thought were all better sides than Middlesbrough. Agree with your general sentiment though.

 

[BicesterU]

"We didn't lay a glove on them."

Perhaps my understanding of this phrase is incorrect, but we had 8 shots in the area and within the width of the 6-yard box last night.

Isn't that landing a few decent shots, but not being able to deliver a telling blow?

Saying we didn't lay a glove on them makes us sound entirely toothless, and I'm not sure that was the case.

Our XG last night was 1.78 which is the third highest we've managed in the league this season behind the games against Derby (2.17) and Leicester (2.1), according to Sporting Life.

Obviously we need to see improvements, but I just don't think it's correct to imply that we didn't carry any threat.

 

[greatunclekip]

Very fair comments, I think we can't underestimate how long it takes to transform the squad from league 1 to championship level meaning staying up this season is looking really important to give us three more rather than one more window to finish the job and start to establish.

I am purely looking for two teams to finish above, at the moment my list of possibles is Norwich, Portsmouth, QPR, Swansea and Watford. Having seen derby I thought they were nailed on fodder but somehow they have flown recently.

I was also pretty fed up last night but we have to expect games where we drop back to L1 level until the job is complete, I would not at all be surprised if we get something at wba.

Living down here in the southwest I hear a lot about the pilgrims, now that is properly depressing, I'm glad we're still in the fight.

Charlton seem to have done a decent enough job with a reasonable level of investment? What you can’t do is build a League 1 squad on the cheap and expect it to compete with Stoke (who incidentally didn’t spend huge amounts) Thomas for example was less than 1.5 million. Imagine that.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I think the over-riding impression of us last night was slowness.

We were slow to close down: look how Stoke did it to us - as a unit and quickly. That isn't something that requires great amounts of footballing skill, it needs organisation and fitness (which may be a bit of a theme here).

We were slow to get back: I often think that our corners and long throws are as much a danger to our own goal as that of the opposition. If we lose the ball, we don't have enough pace to get back in time. Describing (at least some of) our players as 'lumbering' might be cruel, but an arthritic snail could give some of them a decent race.

We moved the ball incredibly slowly much of the the time. Some of that is confidence of course, but it takes an absolute age to (try to) move the ball up the pitch. Players were taking two or three touches, moving it five yards sideways, getting it back, another two or three touches, another sideways pass. And then either losing the ball or hoofing it up the pitch. Incredibly frustrating! A couple of times we were quicker (there was one lively move up the right in the first half which ended up in a decent shot) and looked so much better.

There was very little movement off the ball. And when there was, any runs were just ignored in favour of a 'safe' pass. Confidence again - but then the players stop making the runs and there is no outlet.

I do wonder if our players are not athletic enough and simply just not fit enough (which might explain our constant dropping off later in games as well).

We do seem slightly obsessed with playing little triangles in very tight areas near the touchlines. Can anyone explain why to me? It is so stodgy, rarely leads to anything positive and (again) slows everything down.

 

[Village-Yellow]

"Stoke didn't get out of second gear."

That's the way they play, and should prove a valuable lesson to the 'get it forward!' brigade.

They weren't gung ho, they weren't camped on the edge of our box for 80 minutes, they weren't pumping long balls into the channels all night and chasing them like maniacs. They kept possession and recycled it in their defensive two thirds to try and pull us out of position so they could attack the spaces, and tried to pick us off on the counter when we committed players to a high press, or had committed players forward in attack. It worked perfectly twice, and is the sort of tactic that works best when you're gifted an early goal and can sit back and pick your moments.

I said last night that we were watching two teams happy for the other to have the ball, and the key differences I saw were that when they had the ball they looked composed and controlled, and when they won it off us, they were quick a clinical on the counter.

I think Robins is doing a fine job of creating a well drilled team with the added incentive of hunting down Coventry.

He is a really good manager, currently getting the best out of his squad.

 

[werthersoriginal]

One other thing I wanted to point out is that I was really disappointed with Helik and Brown last night. Having seen how good, grizzled, experienced CB’s have somewhat nullified Lankshear and made him anonymous in games this season I really hoped they could do similar to Mubama (someone of similar experience and profile to Lankshear). But on the night he was miles too good for them. He made both of them look foolish on multiple occasions, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Helik caught out of position, slow and on the turn quite so often.

Leigh has been getting a lot of pelters (and I understand his MOM award was slightly comical). And the whole defence was left cruelly exposed by Stoke’s pace and precision in transition which our midfield was woefully too one-dimensional to combat - leaving the back four exposed. But I thought both with and without the ball Helik and Brown were disappointing. We were never going to beat a side of Stoke’s potential and form this season without our first choice full-backs, with a plodding, isolated Vaulks in holding midfield and with our best CB’s having a really poor night…

Yes I agree, most of the trouble they caused us came down the middle and Helik and Brown were not as dominant as usual, added to which Cumming is looking more fallible this season.

 

[Brahma]

For me, we were utterly outclassed, whilst being pretty pathetic (I don't buy this we played well but each to their own). We weren't much better versus Millwall but all realism pops out the window when you score a 96th minute equaliser. We were equally as poor at Wrexham for long spells.

It's OK to call that out. I am one of the most positive people in the stand, I am a big GR fan and like the style to an extent in terms of what we're trying to achieve but last night stank. He needs to get a grip of the situation.

Stan Mills is a liability both defending and out of possession. In fact, too many stood still watching and now the malaise has started to creep into Jamie's game - why is he parrying shots into dangerous areas (whilst his defence are second to react). Two really poor goals from Jamie recently before you look at Watford. He's our best keeper by a mile, yet he has no competition whatsoever.

We have got to a stage where the squad looks fractious. The bench look like they want to leave because they're not getting chances. Tom Bradshaw posting his Millwall goals reel on his Instagram looks to be a dig. Big changes needed in January.

And bringing on Sibley - do me a favour - that was for the benefit of Erick T who was sat there - with GR discreetly making his point about his squad.

 

[38yearsofpain]

A number of things jumped out from that abject performance.
We struggle to play midweek games, after playing on the weekend. Our overall fitness or athleticism is not at Championship level. Hence we get caught on the break for far too many goals. We are at our weakest defensively when we attack!
We struggle to score simple goals, only set pieces and worldies for us. That means even when we create chances we don't score enough simple goals
We do not have the consistency of performance levels from far too many players at this level.
The hardest job last night was picking our man of the match.
The fact we lost 3-0 to a Stoke team that were athletic was disappointing but also showed where our problems lie.
We have wide players who have no desire or idea how to defend, a real lack of defensive pace all over the pitch.
I have maintained that for us just to be competitive in this league at least 7 or 8 players have to play well, last night showed what happens if nobody turns up.
Last night was not only a bad night but a real eye opener as to what is required every game if we are to stand any chance of survival.

 

[unification]

Final thoughts after listening to WATG.

GR said it was the ‘poorest’ he’d seen us since being here. I wouldn’t say that since we carried an attacking threat for most of the game. I’d say it was one of the most ineffective we’ve been though since WBA away last season since nothing we tried ever landed. The closest we got was a mishit cross from Mills. As I said earlier in this thread, the biggest concern was that we didn’t take the chances presented to us and failed to fashion any of our 16 efforts into something that would test their ‘keeper.

Also, Liam Burton of The Fence End drew a neat analogy that could well apply to last night’s game. When we beat Swansea in the FA Cup back in 20216, MApp had said that we needed to be at our best and they needed to not be at theirs. The reverse was the same yesterday – Stoke were right on it from the second minute and we dropped a level from the weekend (which is becoming a trope for our midweek matches). We still have a lot of League 1-era players (Long, Leigh, Brown, Marris, even Brannagan) who are having to raise their levels twice a week to compete with the best in this division. That’s not always easy. With each window, we’re looking to up that level but we’re not there yet especially after being away from this division for 25 years.

As with any result, learn your lessons and draw a line under it. It’s a defeat and we can get over it quickly if we can put in a performance to get a result against a WBA who are below where they want to be.

 

[Shosho]

The squad is in a weird spot.

Last season we decided we couldn't persist with Vaulks as the sole holding player, we have now reverted to ditching the #10 to play him, but we are now left with a bunch of similar players who are playing limited roles. Dembele, Krastev and Goodrham all look very similar, L. Harris has only played just over 100 minutes (even Elliott Moore has played more minutes for us this season!) and our attacking reliance is now down to Placheta and Mills.

Our midfield is woefully light, once again having to ask players to put in 8/10 performances to remain competitive whilst playing 3 matches a week. Fingers crossed we make it through the next 8 weeks - no clue what happens if any of our midfield 3 get injured.

All this whilst we have players who Rowett obviously wants to move on (and for whatever reason couldn't shift them in the summer). O'Donkor sat around again, Sibley clearly without a future here, Bradshaw barely making the bench. Goodrham, for some reason hasn't kicked a ball for us since the end of August vs Coventry.

Already January looks like a load of work needs to be done.

 

[JoeUFC]

Did anyone see what was on those t shirts being shot into the crowd? Assuming just "oufc" and "baxi"?

 

[Kernow Yellow]

To be fair, our defenders were just as bad. If their second goal hadn't gone in, it should have been a penalty. Cam literally threw their attacker to the floor. Our defenders were at it all night from corners.

Indeed. If Ciaron Brown starts telling the ref to watch out for shirt pulling in the box he'll be asking for trouble!

 

[OUFC1978]

I have noticed when we get the ball into midfield it always seems to be bouncing around and our players are playing head tennis or doing weird flicks that dont progress the ball. Other teams seem to be able to keep in on the ground and move it quicker. Every time we gain possession it just seems to jump up and Vaulks or Shemmy have to battle to win a header and knock it 5yds.
Dembele is not agressive enough moving up the pitch. He slows to an almost stop every time he gets the ball as if he is waiting for the defender to commit before he makes a move. But they never do and he ends up getting tackled.

 

[BTCW]

0-1 Portsmouth
2-2 Coventry
2-2 Leicester (10 men from 24th minute)
0-1 Sheffield United
1-0 Derby
2-2 Millwall
0-3 Stoke

6 points from a possible 21 at home.
The Portsmouth & Sheffield United defeats along with the dropping of points versus Leicester look shockingly bad at this current point.

Middlesbrough & Ipswich to come this month at home, we are gonna need to finally turn up at the Kassam and pick up a couple of shock results.

• Des Buckingham was sacked after 20 Championship games with us on 18 points. We are currently on 13 points after 14 games.

 

[OUFC1978]

Did anyone see what was on those t shirts being shot into the crowd? Assuming just "oufc" and "baxi"?

Navy blue tshirt with Baxi logo and the Ox.

 

[Bret chill]

Low down on the list compared to traffic management issues and general stadium experience I'd suggest.

Not to mention the fact that this will prove to be one of our highest ever averages anyway.

So it would be third on the list then. Let’s hope for a good result against West Brom on Saturday. I didn’t hear any oxford fans join in with the chants about Rowetts football on Saturday but last night I did. And six points from a possible 21 at home is worrying. But hey I don’t have the answers. That’s down to the manager and the team he puts out.

 

[m]

0-1 Portsmouth
2-2 Coventry
2-2 Leicester (10 men from 24th minute)
0-1 Sheffield United
1-0 Derby
2-2 Millwall
0-3 Stoke

6 points from a possible 21 at home.
The Portsmouth & Sheffield United defeats along with the dropping of points versus Leicester look shockingly bad at this current point.

Middlesbrough & Ipswich to come this month at home, we are gonna need to finally turn up at the Kassam and pick up a couple of shock results.

• Des Buckingham was sacked after 20 Championship games with us on 18 points. We are currently on 13 points after 14 games.

Yep, no denying that our home record simply isn't good enough.

 

[werthersoriginal]

So it would be third on the list then. Let’s hope for a good result against West Brom on Saturday. I didn’t hear any oxford fans join in with the chants about Rowetts football on Saturday but last night I did. And six points from a possible 21 at home is worrying. But hey I don’t have the answers. That’s down to the manager and the team he puts out.

Aren't you a new fan who's just started going to games? Didn't take long for you to lose enthusiasm.

Bit of a feeble turnout yesterday - we need more local true fans who don't have to worry about traffic and parking. However a couple of years back we'd have got 5,000 for a drizzly Tuesday against a northern team in red, so there is progress.

 

[SSO]

Another one blasted over the bar

Yep and that was my cue to leave about 30 mins early. Wow do you know how quiet the roads are then?

Totally outplayed at the back and didn’t take our chances up front which were there from the first minute. So many mistakes all round the pitch but we had enough chances to stay in the game without necessarily playing well.

The chance just before HT to go in undeservedly 1-2 just had to be taken. That goes in and you have the chance to get something second half.

Missed grandsons birthday tea and watching CL for that on a foul night. Might think twice next time.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Yep and that was my cue to leave about 30 mins early. Wow do you know how quiet the roads are then?

Totally outplayed at the back and didn’t take our chances up front which were there from the first minute. So many mistakes all round the pitch but we had enough chances to stay in the game without necessarily playing well.

The chance just before HT to go in undeservedly 1-2 just had to be taken. That goes in and you have the chance to get something second half.

Missed grandsons birthday tea and watching CL for that on a foul night. Might think twice next time.

Missed grandsons birthday tea? That's a shame, no one would disagree with you prioritizing that over football.

But missed watching CL? Are you sure you're an Oxford fan?

 

[East Stand Fan]

Frustrating night and it just sucks that the beatable teams like Millwall and Stoke are doing really well this season. We started positively and then conceded a silly goal. We got back into the game and then conceded a poor goal once more. We then started the second half strongly and then conceded yet another. Stoke were clinical and we created very little aside from some wayward efforts.

I don't think Placheta warranted a start despite his weekend heroics and we really missed Currie. Ciaron Brown and Greg Leigh don't seem to work well together and I just wonder if playing Brown at LB and brining Davies into the fold would've been more robust.

West Brom are another big side that are really struggling so this is huge opportunity to get something but we'll need to play a lot better than that and we really need to address those silly mistakes at the back which are costing us goals.

 

[Old Man]

Why can't we produce two decent performances

The quicker this thread is put to bed the better! I

 

[Marked Ox]

To be fair, our defenders were just as bad. If their second goal hadn't gone in, it should have been a penalty. Cam literally threw their attacker to the floor. Our defenders were at it all night from corners.

At the same corner a couple of ours were pushed out of the way as well. The Ref also warned one of theirs pre-taking the corner for trying to bulldoze our players to clear a route.

I'm not saying we don't do it but we are either not doing it as well and need to toughen up or up the amount to what is being allowed.

Jake Cooper was a classic example on Saturday, saw what the Ref was allowing and pushed it to the edge whether set pieces or open play. Something we didn't do. Helik and Brown could do well to watch his approach.

 

[BicesterU]

Aren't you a new fan who's just started going to games? Didn't take long for you to lose enthusiasm.

Bit of a feeble turnout yesterday - we need more local true fans who don't have to worry about traffic and parking. However a couple of years back we'd have got 5,000 for a drizzly Tuesday against a northern team in red, so there is progress.

Not sure only local fans can be 'true' fans.

The good peopke of Bicester travelled in their numbers last night - the bus was as full as an egg.

 

[Mad Dog]

Question:
Millwall fans on Saturday: Gary Rowett your Football is s**t.
Stoke fans tonight: Gary Rowett your Football is s**t.
Stay up this season, I will take it. If we do thanks Gary as a job well done.
But I agree with the Millwall and Stoke fans.
Also Oxford fans are intelligent and will accept a pragmatic season if we atay up. But you can see why 2 or 3 seasons and he moves on.
Football is boring.

Birmingham fans were singing the exact same thing earlier in the season as well!

I'm sensing a theme

 

[werthersoriginal]

Not sure only local fans can be 'true' fans.

The good peopke of Bicester travelled in their numbers last night - the bus was as full as an egg.

Yeah I use the term humorously, I'm 30 minutes walk away so it's no sacrifice to go. I couldn't stay in knowing the lads were playing in my postcode but I don't travel to away games.

 

[derek]

And two home games in a row where opposition fans have sung about our s**t football, all while Erik and Co were in the stands...not a good look

They wouldn't have sung that if they hadn't been managed by him in the past, so nothing to read into that.