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

[Carpy]

 

[Bret chill]

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.

No enthusiasm lost from me for going to the games just unsure at the direction of travel at this moment in time. I’m not convinced about the manager but there’s clearly no alternative right now. New fan new to this forum but as I pay to watch I feel I’m entitled to my opinion. I haven’t got the depth of fandom others have here but still want to have my say wether I’m right or wrong

 

[WRox]

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.

I felt last night was that lack of an extra midfielder coming home to roost.

I know he got a nice deal at a bigger club, but stick Matos in that midfield and those quick counters and transitions from Stoke look different.

Being down to our third choice right back and second choice left back is misfortune, but the lack of defensive midfielders is just poor squad building.

 

[holdsteady]

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.

Soon won't those local fans have to worry about traffic and parking though?

I grew up walking distance from the Manor, then it was a short drive to the Kassam, then a bit longer till it got to the stage where its now an hour to an hour and a half (depending on how many roads they shut at night) but I still go to midweeks if I can, unless we get loads of fans who never move house or area we need to interview them and make sure they have the fortitude to keep coming once a bit of effort is involved, a no lightweight policy.

 

[BigAlan]

It’s a “so what” type of game which comes round now and again, can’t be arsed worrying about it but let’s hope we get on the band wagon and get back to beating West Brom, now that will be impressive.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[Mad Dog]

Des got sacked for less, by the way

Des got sacked for losing 6-2 at home and going ten (?) games without a win

1 win in 16 was what cost Des his job.

After a decent start when Rowett arrived, we went on a run of 1 win in 10.

By the end of the season that run was 4 wins in 18

This season, we have won 3 in 14.

That's a total of 7 wins in 32 games.

Regardless of the fact we've created a few chances in recent games, the same problems are glaringly obvious, no composure in the final third, getting overrun and outplayed in midfield, leaving our defence horribly exposed, then repeated poor defending costing us again and again. That can only be down to poor coaching and tactics.
It's constantly one step forwards, two steps back.

This is like death by a thousand cuts, eventually it's only gonna end one way, and surely Thohir and co will be looking on with concern, knowing if we keep circling the plughole like this, then eventually there's only one direction we'll be heading in.

 

[ThatSlopesATwelfthMan]

Someone a while back talked about the extra physical and mental load faced by teams who are having to 'play above themselves' on a regular basis versus the usual cut and thrust of professional footy. That's us. A large proportion of our team are playing week in week out right at the edge of their talent. Last night our players just weren't able to find that extra 5% needed to compete despite approaching the game positively. Stoke by contrast were ultra-efficient and must now be going into their next game in even better shape after coasting two second halves in a row. To face an opponent who have had 11 shots on target in 180 minutes of football and scored 8 of them is extremely unusual though. No panic but the manager is right, we need greater depth and some focused investment in January.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Someone a while back talked about the extra physical and mental load faced by teams who are having to 'play above themselves' on a regular basis. Definitely felt like that last night. Our players just weren't able to find that extra 5% needed to compete despite approaching the game positively. Stoke by contrast were ultra-efficient and must now be going into their next game in even better shape after coasting two second halves in a row. To face an opponent who have had 11 shots on target in 180 minutes of football and scored 8 of them is extremely unusual though. No panic but the manager is right, we need greater depth and some focused investment in January.

I think that's right, our lot have to play at their best and focus really hard to get anything out of a game, which is exhausting. I'm not sure how much the manager can do to help with that apart from rotate the side.

At this point in the season we don't know how good teams are. Stoke won 5-1 on Saturday and looked excellent last night, it could be that they're the best team we face all season.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

I know he got a nice deal at a bigger club, but stick Matos in that midfield and those quick counters and transitions from Stoke look different.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Our next two away are WBA and Norwich, both with managers under severe pressure. We have to be targeting four points from these two games.it will be very disappointing if we can’t take advantage and win at least one.

 

[Shosho]

I felt last night was that lack of an extra midfielder coming home to roost.

I know he got a nice deal at a bigger club, but stick Matos in that midfield and those quick counters and transitions from Stoke look different.

Being down to our third choice right back and second choice left back is misfortune, but the lack of defensive midfielders is just poor squad building.

Agree with you there. Think it’s the ability to cover ground. I don’t think matos was far off returning in the summer, but looks like we require a couple of midfield additions in Janury if we are to compete match to match

 

[Mad Dog]

There were never 10,300 in that ground last night.

You’ll get the usual suspects using the same old excuses - traffic, roadworks, stadium & parking. Yet, none of this is new.

If you don’t want to sit in traffic on Grenoble Road or in the car park to get out after the game, then park in Blackbird Leys or Littlemore and walk through. If you aren’t particularly mobile, then arrange to get one of the dedicated football special buses to the ground, the ones that drop you outside. They pick up from various points across Oxfordshire.

If you don’t particularly like the stadium, then that is understandable, but if you’ve been supporting us throughout our time at the Kass then you cannot tell me it’s any worse now that we are in the Champ than when we were watching dross on a Tuesday night in tiers 4 and 5! Just get on with it and support YOUR team, my god they need every one of us.

Mark my words, if it were a big FA Cup game, people will have battled through their excuses to get there.

The club cannot allow a malaise to set in, where it is normalised to see empty seats at home games this season. Hopefully they are all over this for Ipswich (Friday night - end of the working week, Friday traffic and before pay day for some).

Siege mentality is required on and off the pitch and to create that we need our house full to bursting and noisy.

That's rich! You said you left on 75 mins!

 

[headingtonoldboy]

There were never 10,300 in that ground last night.

You’ll get the usual suspects using the same old excuses - traffic, roadworks, stadium & parking. Yet, none of this is new.

If you don’t want to sit in traffic on Grenoble Road or in the car park to get out after the game, then park in Blackbird Leys or Littlemore and walk through. If you aren’t particularly mobile, then arrange to get one of the dedicated football special buses to the ground, the ones that drop you outside. They pick up from various points across Oxfordshire.

If you don’t particularly like the stadium, then that is understandable, but if you’ve been supporting us throughout our time at the Kass then you cannot tell me it’s any worse now that we are in the Champ than when we were watching dross on a Tuesday night in tiers 4 and 5! Just get on with it and support YOUR team, my god they need every one of us.

Mark my words, if it were a big FA Cup game, people will have battled through their excuses to get there.

The club cannot allow a malaise to set in, where it is normalised to see empty seats at home games this season. Hopefully they are all over this for Ipswich (Friday night - end of the working week, Friday traffic and before pay day for some).

Siege mentality is required on and off the pitch and to create that we need our house full to bursting and noisy.

I'm an exile and always park in Grenoble Road but parking in Blackburd Leys would be an option only I don't know where to park, so any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

 

[OUFCGav]

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

think it was central Ox head badge and Baxi.

 

[OUFCGav]

Agree with you there. Think it’s the ability to cover ground. I don’t think matos was far off returning in the summer, but looks like we require a couple of midfield additions in Janury if we are to compete match to match

Matos was reasonably close, but Chelsea went for a bigger fee (not surprisingly). He is not really getting a look in at Sheff Utd - 3 starts and 3 sub apps (and 4 of those were in September).

 

[Northernyellow]

Matos was reasonably close, but Chelsea went for a bigger fee (not surprisingly). He is not really getting a look in at Sheff Utd - 3 starts and 3 sub apps (and 4 of those were in September).

I read he went for about £6M. If that's anywhere near the truth, that's a crazy fee. He was good but not that good. Potential, I suppose.

 

[uptheus]

As many have said, Stoke’s transition was lightening and cost us 2 goals, plus poor marker for their 2nd.

We just don’t have players with that pace or enough of them/players that are as physical/big.

Stoke were very decisive, quick and direct. For example, when their defenders are under any pressures they don’t dilly dally with it, they put distance on the ball e.g. kicking the ball high/beyond our defenders making them have to turn to retrieve the ball so they’re back effectively playing with their back to play, whilst at the same time their forward line is closing us down. This turns what is a pressured situation for them into an attacking one within one kick. Whereas, we dilly dally with it e.g. Vaulks on Saturday and again with their first goal last night (Poor by Keersmaecker too, think it was him that Vaulks played it to, he was too weak!). Also, when our defenders kick the long ball we tend to play it in front of them, meaning they can come on to us and continue the pressure/play on the front foot.

Re; Keersmaecker, he’s playing too high up the field (not sure if it’s a false 10, whatever that f*****g means!), but I think that’s why we’re being overrun in midfield!! Not sure for home homes whether we should be playing the holding midfield role (Vaulks), but can sort of understand it away from home or if we’re under the cosh etc! Also with Keersmaecker he just doesn’t look right e.g. his body language and general all round play has been poor for a while now!

I believe it was difficult for our defenders last night because they seemed to have 3 up top e.g. one on each wing with one more central and that split our defence, so when you’ve got the likes of Mills & Placheta who are generally poor defensively, and weak (Mills reminds of a petulant child, gets stroppy when things don’t go his way so then runs around like a headless chicken making himself more stroppy), rather than getting his head down, being more focused and acting like a team member rather than and individual. Placheta’s similar, but is more worried about what his legs look like (pulling up his shorts as if to say ‘look at my muscular legs’), and don’t start me about his hair!! Just get around your man FFS and deliver a cross.

Re; Long, I actually like him as he tends to put the effort in, is strong and has got better putting the ball down the line e.g. doesn’t dilly dally with it, whereas, I was starting to think Spencer was starting to get like that, similar to Kioso. And re; Currie, I just feel he’s still a bit lightweight and starry eyed, but not sure if that’s how he’s being coached as he seemed good pre-season e.g. too frightened to attack, hence him checking back rather than going forward. Leigh’s a bit like that too, just seems fearful of going forward/losing the ball, but because of this fear we then end up losing the ball or giving a shite ball meaning the receiving player is in a difficult situation etc!

I really hope in January we can get done mobile, fit, physical, big and pacy players as we’re going to need them for the relegation battle we’re/we’ll be in.

And the whole Goodrham situation is farcical. Going from an asset in the summer to probably being virtually worthless is so poor management. Yes, he wasn’t at the races early on, but to go from being a player on the pitch to now being overtaken by Sibley, Romeny etc is laughable! I guess Romeny being on the bench/coming on was for Erik’s sake!!

Need a performance against West Brom Saturday/before the international break (how frustrating as these, not allowing any momentum in the leagues)!

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

Maybe we shouldn't have committed 30k per week on a CB journeyman who doesn't even play. That could have got us a decent midfielder surely.

 

[Brahma]

Maybe we shouldn't have committed 30k per week on a CB journeyman who doesn't even play. That could have got us a decent midfielder surely.

Possibly but that CB played well at Sheffield Wednesday before being told to sit on the bench AGAIN. I guess we are in a lucky position to park a quality centre-half on the bench and play a CB3, who has played four or five games in 2 weeks since his 6 month lay-off.

 

[OUFCGav]

I read he went for about £6M. If that's anywhere near the truth, that's a crazy fee. He was good but not that good. Potential, I suppose.

they valued him at £10m in 2024

 

[OUFCGav]

Maybe we shouldn't have committed 30k per week on a CB journeyman who doesn't even play. That could have got us a decent midfielder surely.

We are not paying his entire wage by a long way. The cost to us is nowhere near that much.

 

[Eaststanding]

Very good Stoke team, we played below average. They deserved the win.
It wasn’t our worst performance but that doesn’t suit the moaners does it; the manager, squad size, squad quality, comparing us to top Championship squads, all up for targeting when we lose.
And the moaning about crowd size and noise is so predictable on the back of a home defeat; midweek game, rain, school night, etc etc, the same variables that have affected crowd sizes since time began. It happens. Play well, win games, people come to watch…
Onto Saturday, mid table West Brom, the sort of game we can win.

 

[Chippy]

View attachment 31795

I think people thought in the summer that we may be able to do better than Matos, not do without anyone at all which is what happened!

 

[DenbighYellow]

A good Stoke team against a very average Oxford side.

In those sort of games you need to be clinical if you are to get anything out of them.

Something that we certainly are not.

 

[bazzer9461]

Something I noticed on my way to football last night on the Sandford road they had traffic cones all the way from the junction with Grenoble Road to almost the A4074 and on match day there has always been parking along there for those who can walk to the ground. A bit naughty for whoever was responsible.

 

[ECYellow]

That's rich! You said you left on 75 mins!

Yep, I certainly did. 3 down and staring at empty seats was enough for me.

If people make the effort to get there, then it is in their gift to leave early if the team perform like we did last night.

 

[SSO]

Could it by something to do with the style of football.

I don’t think the style of football is a big problem. We had chances last night to go ahead and who knows what happens then. We had plenty of games last season where we did not look like scoring. This season we are just not finishing. Not easy chances but chances nonetheless.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Good to see Denis Smith there last night albeit wearing a red scarf ! I have to say he did look a bit frail but ages catches up with us all and he must be well into his 70's now !

 

[werthersoriginal]

I don’t think the style of football is a big problem. We had chances last night to go ahead and who knows what happens then. We had plenty of games last season where we did not look like scoring. This season we are just not finishing. Not easy chances but chances nonetheless.

And we've suddenly stopped looking solid at the back - we're letting in so many silly goals.

 

[londonyellow]

And we've suddenly stopped looking solid at the back - we're letting in so many silly goals.

This is the most worrying thing for me. Two clean sheets all season is a big concern for #TeamsLikeOxford

 

[SSO]

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?

I came back from years away last season and stayed this season. I am trying to be an Oxford fan again but it is not the life and death it used to be for me.

I left on 62 minutes not long after we stuck a simple chance over the bar. Sometimes you know you are going to get beat and I just decided I had had enough medicine for the day.

I think next time I may just watch the CL with our game on Sky+ at the same time which is what I am sure a lot of people did last night looking at the empty seats in the East and North stands.