Away Match Day Thread 06/12/2025 - MDT: Swansea City V OUFC

[Northstandboy]

 

[SamLongSlidingTackle]

One of the worst performances I have seen. Swansea where there for the taking in the first 20 minutes and we didn't capitalise, their fans were already turning on the players by then but we allowed them into the game and to build confidence. I remember we were in attack and playing out from the back but had 4-5 men behind the ball, we were so slow to do anything positive - almost like we were waiting for something to happen. I can see why Swansea are near the bottom but their attack was everything we weren't doing - overlapping runs, finding space, running at defence, running into space and they got their rewards after missing enough opportunities and plenty of warnings for us. I think the ref did ok was fair considering he could have given a couple of our players yellows in the first half but we kept making silly fouls and bringing their player down with cynical pulls on shirts etc but we never learnt not to do that and so kept bringing down their players and awarding free kicks.

There seemed no plan of attack, no tactics to exploit their weakness, just pass the ball around the back now and again. No effort for the second ball, Swansea showed a lot of energy and I couldn't see where any goals were coming from

 

[tatabanya]

I had a debate with @tatabanya on this on the Rowett thread the other week, that stat is largely meaningless to me and games like today prove exactly why, we were outplayed by them on every inch of that pitch, I don’t care what xG says, my eyes saw a dismal, toothless performance that made a s**t Swansea team look fantastic.

Having gone today, I really wish I hadn’t wasted my time and money. I can accept losing, but I can’t accept the performance that went with it, very poor from every player that contributed to that s**t show.

All the basic xG data tells you from yesterday is that we had some chances and didn’t score while they took their chances, including one of the goals of the season. It doesn’t tell much of a story of what went on between both boxes, and when you drill into it you see that most of our higher xG chances came at 2-0 when the game was lost. It’s no substitute for watching the game and only as part of a way bigger data set can it give a fairly accurate assessment of a team’s performance, but as ever contextualising the raw data is key and the final figures for each team in a game doesn’t do that.

I’ll never understand though why some are so keen to dismiss xG as meaningless when it’s just useful tool to measure accumulative chance quality. It’s a numerical representation of what we see with our eyes, but without bias. It’s also not perfect and, particularly with the publicly available free models, the algorithm will be pretty basic. But over time xG trend are proven to be pretty predictive of what’s to come and would certainly beat most people’s eye in that respect because we are all programmed to be far more results focussed that the processes that got us there.

 

[windmill]

One of the worst performances I have seen. Swansea where there for the taking in the first 20 minutes and we didn't capitalise, their fans were already turning on the players by then but we allowed them into the game and to build confidence. I remember we were in attack and playing out from the back but had 4-5 men behind the ball, we were so slow to do anything positive - almost like we were waiting for something to happen. I can see why Swansea are near the bottom but their attack was everything we weren't doing - overlapping runs, finding space, running at defence, running into space and they got their rewards after missing enough opportunities and plenty of warnings for us. I think the ref did ok was fair considering he could have given a couple of our players yellows in the first half but we kept making silly fouls and bringing their player down with cynical pulls on shirts etc but we never learnt not to do that and so kept bringing down their players and awarding free kicks.

There seemed no plan of attack, no tactics to exploit their weakness, just pass the ball around the back now and again. No effort for the second ball, Swansea showed a lot of energy and I couldn't see where any goals were coming from

You have painted a very bleak picture. Do no know whether playing again so soon is going to be a good or bad thing.

 

[Village-Yellow]

I’ve never liked this analogy. You only have to look at the picture on the box. They literally tell you what you’re going to get.

Yeah, it is a bit crap, but it makes the point (assuming people have watched Gump).

Now, if I had said a bag of Revels, we are much more on the money

 

[Coffin Dodger]

Here is why

One free kick, and ignore the 14 goals from 66 games, a decent strike rate for a midfielder. A far better record than many others.

 

[bazzer9461]

One free kick, and ignore the 14 goals from 66 games, a decent strike rate for a midfielder. A far better record than many others.

The free kick was appalling but yes his return was pretty decent

 

[Toe knee]

Is it manager or recruitment??
If it's recruitment, why did Des get the sack .??
Or is it manager, then why is Rowett still here..
I know which one it is ,if you know you know .
I'll leave it for you lot to decide....

 

[Upthecowboys]

Looks like Prelec could be the latest addition to the ever increasing list of players who looked good until Rowett got his teeth into them.

It's funny. It seems the worse the player's perform, the greater Rowett's stock for (apparently) struggling along with them.

I don't buy it. For me, the greatest underperformance at Oxford United (football side at least) is currently coming from the manager.

Prelec has showed glimpses but not sure about him. Never done it consistently at a level equivalent to the Championship..

sure

Swans first goal.

Deep free-kick to the back post and Cumming unsure whether to come for the ball but Sam Long is easily out-jumped by Stamenic who heads in from three yards out.

Cumming is so far from being our biggest issue, it almost feels unfair commenting but..

He’s not performing as well this season compared to last and that downturn in form is making a difference.

We probably can’t do it this window, but he needs some serious competition; he hasn’t got it at the moment.

 

[Londox]

I think the fact our summer window hasn't seemed to improve us greatly has a section of our fanbase rightly feeling a bit miffed.

When I think of our most solid and reliable performers most of them have been with us a good while. Cumming. Brown. Brannagan.

A lot of players we have brought in are so inconsistent.

I want to try and be philosophical about it all but if I travelled all that way to Swansea I'd be pretty furious.

I'm starting to wonder how "sustainable" Rowett is as boss. I think our fanbase wants to see us develop a clear style beyond long throws. They want to see patterns of play, creativity, pace. Pragmatism clearly has been limitations even if GR was the right man to appoint last season.

We've got to hope. January is coming up.

 

[OX14]

Is it manager or recruitment??
If it's recruitment, why did Des get the sack .??
Or is it manager, then why is Rowett still here..
I know which one it is ,if you know you know .
I'll leave it for you lot to decide....

Rowett gets a free ride because of his past experience in the championship from alot of our fanbase.

 

[londonyellow]

Rowett gets a free ride because of his past experience in the championship from alot of our fanbase.

Not that he should get a free ride, but if you listen to people who know a lot about this league, they'd consider it madness to get rid of Rowett.

Maybe they're wrong. He's certainly struggling to get a tune out of this team consistently.

But I'd say there's a good reason why most had us down as favourites to get relegated before the season kicked off. The quality of the squad isn't quite there. Better than last year? Probably. But pretty much everyone strengthened more than we did. And relying on loanees and imports from Europe with no championship experience is not exactly a proven recipe for success.

Anyway, gets a bit boring to rehash the same old arguments I know. I'll leave it there.

 

[SamLongSlidingTackle]

You have painted a very bleak picture. Do no know whether playing again so soon is going to be a good or bad thing.

Haven't got a scooby. We're consistently inconsistent.

 

[90syeIlow]

Rowett gets a free ride because of his past experience in the championship from alot of our fanbase.

Yep.

People are so drawn to his past that they cannot see what a mediocre job he is doing this season.

 

[Village-Yellow]

Yep.

People are so drawn to his past that they cannot see what a mediocre job he is doing this season.

Who would you have in? Honest question.

I ask, because I can only assume you would be suggesting managers with previously good records at this level (like GR).

 

[Village-Yellow]

Haven't got a scooby. We're consistently inconsistent.

I just love this saying.

I wouldn't be surprised if Tuesday is off.

 

[90syeIlow]

Who would you have in? Honest question.

I ask, because I can only assume you would be suggesting managers with previously good records at this level (like GR).

When GR came in I was optimistic due to his previous experience with Championship teams. I felt even more optimistic when we won our first 3 games under his tenure and felt confident we would survive relegation, which we did. If this was any other manager with Championship experience then I would feel the same way during their appointment.

My frustration with him right now comes from this season - His attitude and ability to get the best from this squad isn't right apart from the odd game at home.

I personally can't give him a free pass because we didn't recruit the 6ft 4 physical players that he wanted and instead went with smaller, more technical ones that that he has no idea how to work with. He cannot adapt.

 

[OX14]

Who would you have in? Honest question.

I ask, because I can only assume you would be suggesting managers with previously good records at this level (like GR).

Why do we need to go for a manager with previous good record at this level?

Swansea just beat us easily with a 37 year old Portuguese manager who has only managed youth teams and a few months managing a Portuguese 2nd division club.

 

[Village-Yellow]

Why do we need to go for a manager with previous good record at this level?

Swansea just beat us easily with a 37 year old Portuguese manager who has only managed youth teams and a few months managing a Portuguese 2nd division club.

So who would you go for ? And why ?

 

[Village-Yellow]

When GR came in I was optimistic due to his previous experience with Championship teams. I felt even more optimistic when we won our first 3 games under his tenure and felt confident we would survive relegation, which we did. If this was any other manager with Championship experience then I would feel the same way during their appointment.

My frustration with him right now comes from this season - His attitude and ability to get the best from this squad isn't right apart from the odd game at home.

I personally can't give him a free pass because we didn't recruit the 6ft 4 physical players that he wanted and instead went with smaller, more technical ones that that he has no idea how to work with. He cannot adapt.

I just don’t get this perception that a new manager suddenly resolves all our problems.

Maybe GR can resolve them if he gets more of a say in recruitment?

 

[90syeIlow]

I just don’t get this perception that a new manager suddenly resolves all our problems.

Maybe GR can resolve them if he gets more of a say in recruitment?

I'd give GR the January window, yes.

It will be a very interesting one and hopefully will inspire us to better away performances.

 

[OX14]

I just don’t get this perception that a new manager suddenly resolves all our problems.

Maybe GR can resolve them if he gets more of a say in recruitment?

You mean like Tom Bradshaw

 

[unification]

Robin on Radox absolutely spot on

He only calls when we lose and then comes out with ridiculous superlatives (‘that’s the wurrst performance I’ve ever seen (sic) …’) often without attending in the case of away games.

I thought the points he made were a load of b*****s personally from a fan who doesn’t understand what our ambitions are this season.

Also, I’m dubious of any Oxford fan called ‘Robin’ too …

 

[Village-Yellow]

I'd give GR the January window, yes.

It will be a very interesting one and hopefully will inspire us to better away performances.

Me too

 

[OX14]

So who would you go for ? And why ?

Michael Carrick based on his Middlesbrough side that absolutely destroyed us last season. Sure he may not keep us up this season but I believe he could build a squad that would bounce back up next season.

 

[Village-Yellow]

Michael Carrick based on his Middlesbrough side that absolutely destroyed us last season. Sure he may not keep us up this season but I believe he could build a squad that would bounce back up next season.

How much did he have to spend at Boro?

 

[OX14]

How much did he have to spend at Boro?

No idea but how much did Rowett have to spend to get Millwall to be an established boring championship side?

 

[Village-Yellow]

No idea but how much did Rowett have to spend to get Millwall to be an established boring championship side?

No idea..

I don’t have any answers either.

But if you are suggesting MC even if you think we may still go down, I would perhaps instead give GR January to see (with his experience) if he can keep us up, then assess for next season.

 

[BS32]

You mean like Tom Bradshaw

I think that Bradshaw will probably get a game on Tuesday, shudder!

 

[werthersoriginal]

When GR came in I was optimistic due to his previous experience with Championship teams. I felt even more optimistic when we won our first 3 games under his tenure and felt confident we would survive relegation, which we did. If this was any other manager with Championship experience then I would feel the same way during their appointment.

My frustration with him right now comes from this season - His attitude and ability to get the best from this squad isn't right apart from the odd game at home.

I personally can't give him a free pass because we didn't recruit the 6ft 4 physical players that he wanted and instead went with smaller, more technical ones that that he has no idea how to work with. He cannot adapt.

Crazy if we’re not signing the players he wants though, especially as he’s the one who’s accountable for our results.

 

[Essexyellows]

Haven't got a scooby. We're consistently inconsistent.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this.

When we are good we are good.......... when we aren`t we are

Something in the middle would be nice, for a whole game, game after game....... and would keep us in the Champ.

Beating and drawing against the top of the table clubs counts for now`t if you can`t beat those around you................