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

[Carpy]

 

[WRox]

Exactly, so for them to say Rowett's football is s**t...

I still can’t get over those chants from Millwall, they just played a more advanced version of Rowett-ball than us on Saturday. And the only reason they could do that is because Rowett kept them up consistently.

The football might not be the most progressive, but in the last decade, Millwall are the only club a similar or smaller size to us that’s got promoted and established themselves in the Championship. No Rowett and they could have just been another Rotherham, Barnsley, Wigan, Posh, Wycombe, Burton, Luton, Blackpool or Plymouth.

 

[holdsteady]

Most of the teams we have played this season seem to play a bit like us, just better at it. Rowett ball is back in fashion so even if we replace him it will be someone with a similar style, can’t see anyone coming in, looking at our squad and thinking “all out attack, that should keep this team up and me in a job”.

 

[DanC]

It's always a slow day for clicks on our podcast after a defeat... which is a shame as actually we spend 90 percent of our podcast remember much happier moments. So, don't get annoyed by yesterday's drubbing... instead come listen to us waxing lyrical about Joey Beauchamp and laughing at the antics of three players living in a house on the Osler Road in the 90s. In video here or in audio here

 

[Boris]

Not that anyone cares, but here's the somewhat belated Rage Online report from the game (warning, have anti-depressents ready before reading): https://rageonline.co.uk/fans-view-25-26-stoke-city-h/

 

[Bucks yellow]

Not that anyone cares, but here's the somewhat belated Rage Online report from the game (warning, have anti-depressents ready before reading): https://rageonline.co.uk/fans-view-25-26-stoke-city-h/

Need a few of them listening to Rowetts post match interviews every week. really good of him to say he understood why we practically gave up at 3-0 though. Just what we pay our hard earned wages to watch for

 

[Stranger]

Need a few of them listening to Rowetts post match interviews every week. really good of him to say he understood why we practically gave up at 3-0 though. Just what we pay our hard earned wages to watch for

Much as I love him, I think bringing on Mark Harris nowadays is the equivalent of throwing the towel in

 

[Bucks yellow]

Much as I love him, I think bringing on Mark Harris nowadays is the equivalent of throwing the towel in

Yea sparky is one of the players that’s suffered under rowett. Sad to see.

 

[TailsWeWin]

Yea sparky is one of the players that’s suffered under rowett. Sad to see.

What are you on about?
You suggesting he’s utterly hopeless BECAUSE of Rowett?
Really?

 

[90syeIlow]

Yea sparky is one of the players that’s suffered under rowett. Sad to see.

He's been s**t since RR left

 

[Osleroad]

Yea sparky is one of the players that’s suffered under rowett. Sad to see.

Reckon we're all suffering hoping he'll make a difference and score these days for whoever he plays for.

 

[wolvercoteyellow]

Not that anyone cares, but here's the somewhat belated Rage Online report from the game (warning, have anti-depressents ready before reading): https://rageonline.co.uk/fans-view-25-26-stoke-city-h/

I care. I thank you for the Rage Online report every game. So much better than the anodyne OM reports. I've stopped bothering with those, especially since they've tightened up the paywall.

How come Fan's View is no longer its own category in Yellows Forum? You now have to search to find the link buried within the match day thread.

 

[DenbighYellow]

He's been s**t since RR left

Good shout that, never thought of it like that.

They were very close off the field, and I think RR's physicality in the 10 really helped him on the pitch.

 

[Bucks yellow]

He's been s**t since RR left

Yea agree. They had a great partnership

 

[Bucks yellow]

What are you on about?
You suggesting he’s utterly hopeless BECAUSE of Rowett?
Really?

Not directly rowett but the style of play doesn’t exactly help his game. Since Ruben gone who is capable of creating from central?? Vaulks and can just pass backwards and go and get the ball in positions where they’re not under any pressure. I feel for anybody playing up top in that team.

 

[Eric Blair]

It's always a slow day for clicks on our podcast after a defeat... which is a shame as actually we spend 90 percent of our podcast remember much happier moments. So, don't get annoyed by yesterday's drubbing... instead come listen to us waxing lyrical about Joey Beauchamp and laughing at the antics of three players living in a house on the Osler Road in the 90s. In video here or in audio here

The quality of Oxford Utd fan podcasts is very high

 

[Kernow Yellow]

Not that anyone cares, but here's the somewhat belated Rage Online report from the game (warning, have anti-depressents ready before reading): https://rageonline.co.uk/fans-view-25-26-stoke-city-h/

Thanks. I have to take issue with some of it though.

Stoke's second goal was "diabolical defending"? Lankshear stuck with Nzonzi's run all the way, but was beaten by the strength and skill of someone who has played in (and won) a World Cup Final and played many times in top European leagues and CL. It was a great piece of football from a top player. Defending (or rather lack of midfield protection) for the other goals was much flimsier imo.

Also, "But if this ‘pragmatic’ football continues without success, how long until the first faction become the majority?"
I really don't think we are playing overly negative or basic football at the moment - no more so than our opponents most weeks. Ironically, when we did play more 'pragmatic' football (I'm thinking Derby, Stoke, Cardiff away last season) we were picking up points, despite it being barely watchable. We seem to be trying to be more expansive this season, with varying results - scoring more, but also conceding quite a lot more. It is wrong to equate our poorer results with a so-called 'Rowett-ball' approach. Again imo.

 

[Swaby39]

He's been s**t since RR left

It’s not just Harris, I think the squad is weaker for him going. He’d feed the wingers more, score a goal or two, enable us to press better.

He wasn’t perfect, this isn’t a re-write of history. He was awful one minute, brilliant the next. But find me someone who isn’t in our squad. Was he a necessary fall guy? No chance. We’ve kept worse players and recruited worse players than Ruben last summer.

He was always fit, worked hard and we knew exactly where his best position was. He had “that pass” in him and scored important goals. To think he’s gone and Luke Harris was our answer (who we won’t even use) is beyond embarrassing.

We probably needed the fee for FFP so that’ll be the justification but that aside the decision to let go of someone like that who we knew inside out and not replace effectively is on the list of this season’s shockers.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

He was always fit, worked hard and we knew exactly where his best position was. He had “that pass” in him and scored important goals. To think he’s gone and Luke Harris was our answer (who we won’t even use) is beyond embarrassing.

I don't disagree with this.

But I also don't believe that Luke Harris was, at the time of Ruben's departure, the intended replacement.

I reckon that Levi Smans was always the Rodrigues upgrade.

Until, of course, he wasn't.

 

[Carpy]

I don't disagree with this.

But I also don't believe that Luke Harris was, at the time of Ruben's departure, the intended replacement.

I reckon that Levi Smans was always the Rodrigues upgrade.

Until, of course, the transfer kitty was slammed shut.

Fixed it.

 

[Twiggy85]

It’s not just Harris, I think the squad is weaker for him going. He’d feed the wingers more, score a goal or two, enable us to press better.

He wasn’t perfect, this isn’t a re-write of history. He was awful one minute, brilliant the next. But find me someone who isn’t in our squad. Was he a necessary fall guy? No chance. We’ve kept worse players and recruited worse players than Ruben last summer.

He was always fit, worked hard and we knew exactly where his best position was. He had “that pass” in him and scored important goals. To think he’s gone and Luke Harris was our answer (who we won’t even use) is beyond embarrassing.

We probably needed the fee for FFP so that’ll be the justification but that aside the decision to let go of someone like that who we knew inside out and not replace effectively is on the list of this season’s shockers.

The number of times this season you see lankshear make space for himself in the box and is not fed does make you wonder if RR would have fed him more. In the last two games Mills could have fed him just after the 1st goal against Millwall and then Brannagan against Stoke in the first half. I think you notice it more since Lankshear does throw his arms up, but do think we don’t always make the best decision in the final third.

 

[Swaby39]

I don't disagree with this.

But I also don't believe that Luke Harris was, at the time of Ruben's departure, the intended replacement.

I reckon that Levi Smans was always the Rodrigues upgrade.

Until, of course, he wasn't.

Which is why it goes down as a shocker. We let him go thinking we could go and get someone better when we couldn’t.

What’s worse is Goodrham who most would widely consider to be the next best option at 10, is completely shut out despite getting offers himself. I think if Ruben were still here, he’d have played significantly more minutes than Tyler has, and we’d be a better side for having him here. Instead, he’s gone, Tyler is out of the picture and the alternatives are L Harris who’s lucky to get 10 mins and Dembele who has to be the most overrated player in our squad, and typically put out wide anyway. Romeny is probably the longest a jury has been out for - closing in on a year at the club and nobody has a clue if he’s any good.

We sold the surest thing we had in that position and for all the weird things that happened in the window, that’s up there with the worst of them for me.

 

[Swinny]

Romeny is probably the longest a jury has been out for - closing in on a year at the club and nobody has a clue if he’s any good.

I'd argue that GR has made his mind up on that...

 

[Boris]

I care. I thank you for the Rage Online report every game. So much better than the anodyne OM reports. I've stopped bothering with those, especially since they've tightened up the paywall.

How come Fan's View is no longer its own category in Yellows Forum? You now have to search to find the link buried within the match day thread.

Thanks for the feedback. I will try to resurrect the Fans View thread (not certain there on apostrophe placement as it's arguably the view of more than one fan)

 

[Trevor L]

Tyler not even making the bench at this point is the most puzzling aspect for me. Not in any way a direct replacement for RR, but someone who could fit into a similar role and create something in midfield. I agree about Romeny, no idea if he has what it takes. Judging by appearances though, he looks an awful long way away from being fit.