Away Match Day Thread 08/11/2025 - MDT: West Bromwich Albion v OUFC

[Northstandboy]

 

[uptheus]

Does anyone know how many fans we took yesterday?

 

[Billyox]

I do not rate GR. However he will NOT be sacked. There is no Planning Permission for the new stadium until all the Section 106 matters are agreed and signed off - this will be months away and another hefty wedge which is causing much wringing of hands in Indonesia..They are casting around for new sugar daddies and may very well find someone shortly but who is driving the bus atm? Do they understand us fans? I don't want to be back watching us play Northampton next season.

I suggest you leave the stadium stuff to the people who understand you have clearly shown over the past 2 years to have little understanding.
The s106 agreement will be signed in the coming weeks not months as you allude too
This old line of cant afford to sack someone is a absolute load of rubbish brought out by every club supporters
You don't pay a manager off in one big payment the payment is spread out

 

[m]

Just felt it was too early to be making the relegation battle comment, especially when I think we were only 7 points off of the play off spots too!

Like I said, nothing wrong in saying it if we were in the relegation places and miles off of the others then I could have sort of understood it, but with 30 odd games to go, so effectively 90+ points to be had, I thought the timing was odd/a bit defeatist.

Yeah, I'll concede that's a more than fair point given it's early November!

 

[38yearsofpain]

You don't pay a manager off in one big payment the payment is spread out

Not exactly true, it depends on the contract terms. Almost the first terms agreed by a manager's negotiating team is the exit clause. Gary Waddock ,remember him, he was paid in full by OUFC in less than 3 months after leaving. He had only been with us 4 months.
Every manager knows they have a finite time in the job, and you will always negotiate the best deal when you are wanted not when you leave.

 

[headingtonoldboy]

Not sure if I'm qualified to comment, but yes perhaps a little.

In which case, shouldn't we have more points. Just saying.....

 

[ECYellow]

Not read the thread yet and have deliberately stayed away from SM generally. But, here are my musings after another defeat:

Our main source of attacking intent and chance creation is from Brannagan’s 25 yard speculative efforts. That is not a sustainable method of staying up, imo. We need to create more from open play, and the wide men and forwards need to offer more than they currently are.

Helik has been poor for a number of weeks now, I’d not be adverse to him missing out for Davies to get a run of games.

Jamie Cumming is making the same mistakes every game - pushing the ball into trouble, is it 3 goals it’s now cost us in 3 games? He has no competition for his place, so hopefully he rediscovers his excellent form, sharpish.

I think BDK and Brannagan are running on empty in the centre of the pitch, and they are an injury waiting to happen. That is a product of the awful squad composition that was done in the summer by Waldron and the recruitment team. Lose one of those two for 4-6 weeks, prior to January and I think it could be terminal for the season, they are THAT important right now.

We’ve a big few games coming up, and I think we need 25 points by Jan 1st to stay in touch and hopefully add a couple of oven ready first team players to the group, while churning some of the dead wood.

I believe Rowett remains the man for the job, he’s just got to be given the right tool box to get it done!

 

[uptheus]

Not read the thread yet and have deliberately stayed away from SM generally. But, here are my musings after another defeat:

Our main source of attacking intent and chance creation is from Brannagan’s 25 yard speculative efforts. That is not a sustainable method of stating up, imo. We need to create more from open play, and the wide men and forwards need to offer more than they currently are.

Helik has been poor for a number of weeks now, I’d not be adverse to him missing out for Davies to get a run of games.

Jamie Cumming is making the same mistakes every game - pushing the ball into trouble, is it 3 goals it’s now cost us in 3 games? He has no competition for his place, so hopefully he rediscovers his excellent form, sharpish.

I think BDK and Brannagan are running on empty in the centre of the pitch, and they are an injury waiting to happen. That is a product of the awful squad composition that was done in the summer by Waldron and the recruitment team. Lose one of those two for 4-6 weeks, prior to January and I think it could be terminal for the season, they are THAT important right now.

We’ve a big few games coming up, and I think we need 25 points by Jan 1st to stay in touch and hopefully add a couple of oven ready first team players to the group, while churning some of the dead wood.

I believe Rowett remains the man for the job, he’s just got to be given the right tool box to get it done!

A good workman never blames his tools! But I’m not sure that saying’s right!!

 

[WRox]

Not read the thread, yet and have deliberately stayed away from SM generally. But, here are my musings after another defeat:

Our main source of attacking intent and chance creation is from Brannagan’s 25 yard speculative efforts. That is not a sustainable method of stating up, imo. We need to create more from open play, and the wide men and forwards need to offer more than they currently are.

Helik has been poor for a number of weeks now, I’d not be adverse to him missing out for Davies to get a run of games.

Jamie Cumming is making the same mistakes every game - pushing the ball into trouble, is it 3 goals it’s now cost us in 3 games? He has no competition for his place, so hopefully he rediscovers his excellent form, sharpish.

I think BDK and Brannagan are running on empty in the centre of the pitch, and they are an injury waiting to happen. That is a product of the awful squad composition that was done in the summer by Waldron and the recruitment team. Lose one of those two for 4-6 weeks, prior to January and I think it could be terminal for the season, they are THAT important right now.

We’ve a big few games coming up, and I think we need 25 points by Jan 1st to stay in touch and hopefully add a couple of oven ready first team players to the group, while churning some of the dead wood.

I believe Rowett remains the man for the job, he’s just got to be given the right tool box to get it done!

Completely agree with everything you’ve said here.

I thought we were crying out for three at the back yesterday. Johnston could, probably should, have had a goal and an assist first half. Long was continually isolated against him with Styles getting forward well too. BDK and Brannagan looked knackered, and desperate for an energetic physical midfielder to ease the burden.

Rowett couldn’t do that because there is noone fit who can play RWB and that midfielder doesn’t exist. There’s some misfortune in that with injuries, but some poor squad planning too. We really need to get lucky with injuries and take advantage of a couple of weeks recovery time.

 

[TailsWeWin]

I’ll sum it up:
Revert to the worst aspects of Rowett football (dour defensive displays with little attacking intent, hoping for a draw or nicking a 1-0) for the rest of the season
A 50% chance of survival
Or
Go at teams, home and away, hope for a goal or two but leave ourselves (even more) vulnerable at the back.
More enjoyable games but less than 20% chance of it being effective.
(TailsWeWin stats based on retaining and not improving current playing staff)
Your choice……

 

[38yearsofpain]

It's a very hard league but we are a distance away from optimal performances. Some players not in their best positions, slow to change tactics during the game, individual errors, incohesive team-work etc.
We need to get back to basics in the next 2 weeks, at least stop making things harder than they already are, starting with managerial decisions and then player disciplines during the matches. There are currently too many variables.

Interesting times for the management team. Do they think we can stay up? Do they think Rowett can keep us up? Do they think anybody else who is available can? We currently are regressing, albeit only slightly but slightly is the difference between winning and losing. Very fine margins, but because the style is grim defeats always look worse.
A key component to our problem are the injuries to Spencer and Currie, we currently have absolutely no pace at the back and look so vulnerable when we go forward and get caught losing the ball.
Not sure this experiment with Prelec and Lankshear is working. It means are short of bodies in midfield and we are constantly under pressure.
Last season we literally survived because of set pieces and long throws. But now everybody uses long throws and consequently everyone defends them better. Indeed we look like we struggle more defending them than most.
Whilst we are only marginally worse than most teams, certainly in terms of athleticism and work rate that invariably leads to constant pressure that some thrive under some do not. BDK looks like he is starting to struggle as do the whole back four. The attacking threats we have are limited, Placheta, Mills, Dembele, Goodrham, Prelec, Harris. They have some good days but not often enough and certainly not consistently.
Lankshear and Cam are the only real goal threats.
The international break could not come at a better time for players and fans alike.

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

I made a comment earlier about wanting a bit of what Sunderland are having atm….. I dream too

It’s not going great and it’s a tough watch, but no one said this was ever going to be easy… look at Sunderland only a few seasons ago

Anything can still be possible.

We traveled from the metropolis of greater Banbury to Birmingham Moore street then from Moore street to the Hawthorns same journey back.

For future you might want to consider Stratford Parkway. Free and easy parking. Direct train to the Hawthorns for £13. Can get off in Brum if you want. Easy.

 

[Bret chill]

For future you might want to consider Stratford Parkway. Free and easy parking. Direct train to the Hawthorns for £13. Can get off in Brum if you want. Easy.

Cheers for that. Unfortunately I don’t drive.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

Just seen a rerun of our goal from different angles
Interesting how Prelec has no desire to join in the celebrations and he is the closest player to Lankshear

 

[Village-Yellow]

Just seen a rerun of our goal from different angles
Interesting how Prelec has no desire to join in the celebrations and he is the closest player to Lankshear

Yeah, I noticed that too.

Seemed a very odd reaction.

 

[OX14]

Completely agree with everything you’ve said here.

I thought we were crying out for three at the back yesterday. Johnston could, probably should, have had a goal and an assist first half. Long was continually isolated against him with Styles getting forward well too. BDK and Brannagan looked knackered, and desperate for an energetic physical midfielder to ease the burden.

Rowett couldn’t do that because there is noone fit who can play RWB and that midfielder doesn’t exist. There’s some misfortune in that with injuries, but some poor squad planning too. We really need to get lucky with injuries and take advantage of a couple of weeks recovery time.

But to argue this. Rowett came out and said a few times during towards the end of the transfer window that he was happy with the squad and he didn't want a huge squad.

You can blame the recruitment team as much as you want but when Rowett comes out and says we have too many attackers and not enough midfielders 10 games into the season it doesn't look good on the manager either.

We have Bradshaw taking up a squad place and he's only good enough for a few signing sessions at the club shop or John Lewis a season. He is taking up a valuable squad place where we could of bought in an energetic, strong midfielder even on loan would of done. Yes I know we have 5 loanees already but the rule is 5 max in one match day it would be quite easy to drop one per game.

Waldron and Rowett both need to go.

 

[Barbadosyellow]

Although it felt like Placheta was getting back and doing more work defensively than usual yesterday.

I certainly remember his "clearance" from the edge of the goal area which almost gifted them a goal

 

[yellowbow]

How much influence on recruitment does Rowett have?

He’s mentioned a few times that he has very little and leaves it to the recruitment team. If that is true then it does appear that he has players in the squad that don’t really suit his style of play and he seems unsure how best to utilise them.

Having said that, he’s a very experienced manager. Would he really leave something so vital - where ultimately it’s him that will stand or fall by it - to others?

There’s quite an interesting article by Tony Pulis on the BBC sport website, where he says he insisted on having input in recruitment because he was the person who would carry the can if things went wrong. The recruitment team are rarely held accountable for failure

We seem to have a situation where the head of recruitment is also basically the director of football and higher up in the hierarchy than the first team coach. It seems to have become the trend in modern football but does leave the first team coach, who is always the fall guy, on thin ice.

 

[38yearsofpain]

I’d say the Championship isn’t as good as last season!

The top 4 last season were exceptional. Look at the promoted teams are they struggling in the Premiership?
The bottom half were poor compared to this year. I think most teams are very similar and its fine margins between winning and losing.
We still do not have the squad quality required to compete as equals.
How many of our players would play in another championship side?

 

[OtteryYellow]

Tim, this hasn’t been our problem e.g. not having Spencer and Currie. I actually think Spencer was becoming a bit naive at times before his injury, a bit like Kioso was, and I was getting frustrated with Currie too, a bit lightweight and wasn’t really getting forward, but having said that, Leigh hasn’t covered himself in glory either.

The issue is, Placheta and Krastev or whoever plays in these roles e.g. Mills, Dembele, Prelec etc have got to work harder, be stronger and then deliver more in their primary roles, like beating defenders, finding a good pass/cross, but get back and support their team mates rather than make a token jog back!

Keersmaecker needs to up his game too, been poor since he returned after the last international break. I’m starting to wonder if he’s homesick or feels he’s made a mistake in joining us, but whatever it is, his body language looks wrong.

I think bdk is wondering why he is playing for a team that pumps the ball over his head expecting him to fight for scraps on the second balls.

 

[Gregortheox]

A month ago I would have said it was small margins.
This morning I think we have alot to do.

I’m not sure there is any room for it but I would be looking for 3 or 4 starters in jan window.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

I think bdk is wondering why he is playing for a team that pumps the ball over his head expecting him to fight for scraps on the second balls.

This is why you need Davies in the team, a player who is comfortable bringing the ball out of defence drawing a player to him then find BDK or Brannagan who can play through midfield.
Davies didn’t play when Brown was injured other than the Leicester game he looks a quality player. Just don’t understand Rowett sometimes.Brown could play left back, much better option than Leigh
If I was Davies I would want to be back at Rangers , the new manager may want him .
Look at Finlay playing for Hearts who are top of the league .

 

[m]

Not read the thread yet and have deliberately stayed away from SM generally. But, here are my musings after another defeat:

Our main source of attacking intent and chance creation is from Brannagan’s 25 yard speculative efforts. That is not a sustainable method of stating up, imo. We need to create more from open play, and the wide men and forwards need to offer more than they currently are.

Helik has been poor for a number of weeks now, I’d not be adverse to him missing out for Davies to get a run of games.

Jamie Cumming is making the same mistakes every game - pushing the ball into trouble, is it 3 goals it’s now cost us in 3 games? He has no competition for his place, so hopefully he rediscovers his excellent form, sharpish.

I think BDK and Brannagan are running on empty in the centre of the pitch, and they are an injury waiting to happen. That is a product of the awful squad composition that was done in the summer by Waldron and the recruitment team. Lose one of those two for 4-6 weeks, prior to January and I think it could be terminal for the season, they are THAT important right now.

We’ve a big few games coming up, and I think we need 25 points by Jan 1st to stay in touch and hopefully add a couple of oven ready first team players to the group, while churning some of the dead wood.

I believe Rowett remains the man for the job, he’s just got to be given the right tool box to get it done!

Do you think we're creating more chances from open play than last season?

I do.

Not to diminish your point about needing more from our forwards and wide men which I very much agree with.

 

[Londox]

It’s all about players. When two of your most promising defenders, who are pacy and energetic are missing you’re going to struggle. Injuries contributed to our defeat today more than anything else.

Here are our championship standard players. It is not a long list.

Cumming , Helik, Spencer, Currie, Brown, Brannagan, Krastev ( but get more involved man), Dembele ( likewise). De K looks knackered.

Good

The support is championship standard though. Excellent again today.

Brannagan was brilliant. He could have scored a hat trick on another day. The keeper saved them a point

The centre backs dealt with the high bamks and set pieces superbly.

Bad

Most everything else.

Lankshear is championship standard

 

[Last_man]

I'm not sure we have to go down the route of an unemployed manager waiting for the next opportunity if we act now.

David Wagner or Gary O'Neil should be on our list of potential managers though.

we cant seriously be this delusional. No chance we could get Gary O'Neil. David Wagner's a slim chance at best

 

[Yellowmania]

Lankshear is championship standard

I sort of agree but he needs to work on his hold up play and bringing midfielders into play. In his first few games he showed well that side of his game but recently that’s dropped away. Maybe trying to hard and I’m sure he’ll do well.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

I have yet to read this read all the way through but from this game and others I do think that Jamie has caused quite a few problems for us with his punching and palming ball away
This is an observation from someone who has played football for many years and never was and never wanted to be a goalie

Third game running that we’ve conceded after Cumming has palmed the ball to his left and didn’t get enough on it. Not criticising just a fact.

 

[Stranger]

I think that we're missing Moore more than we might have thought. Not necessarily for his playing ability (although it would be nice to have another right-footed centre back to give Helik some much-needed downtime) but for his leadership skills. I love Cam and he has great workrate and leads by example, but I'm not sure he has Ells' reading of the game and organisational skills. Elliott was calm and assured and was a great communicator with his teammates. I would target his replacement in January, along with another central midfielder, over and above any other recruitment.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Just seen a rerun of our goal from different angles
Interesting how Prelec has no desire to join in the celebrations and he is the closest player to Lankshear

I was about to post that as well, not what I would expect when you consider that we’ve just scored.

 

[Bath Yellow]

Does anyone know how many fans we took yesterday?

1630 WBA match report

 

[WRox]

But to argue this. Rowett came out and said a few times during towards the end of the transfer window that he was happy with the squad and he didn't want a huge squad.

You can blame the recruitment team as much as you want but when Rowett comes out and says we have too many attackers and not enough midfielders 10 games into the season it doesn't look good on the manager either.

We have Bradshaw taking up a squad place and he's only good enough for a few signing sessions at the club shop or John Lewis a season. He is taking up a valuable squad place where we could of bought in an energetic, strong midfielder even on loan would of done. Yes I know we have 5 loanees already but the rule is 5 max in one match day it would be quite easy to drop one per game.

Waldron and Rowett both need to go.

I agree with a chunk of this - it’s the last line I’d take issue with.

I don’t think the last transfer window was a disaster by any stretch - the money we spent on BDK looks a bargain, the money we spent on Spencer looks a bargain, we found two Championship quality strikers (the hardest position to fill).

The counter argument is that the squad balance isn’t good enough, but I understand why we signed Phillips, Sibley and Bradshaw when we did, and understand why they have contracts that won’t reflect their value that might make them hard to shift.

We have to get rid of some of the deadwood and find a few more Championship quality players ready to hit the ground running in January, but regardless of how we assign responsibility for that, it’ll be the same situation for whoever comes in and Rowett’s shown for years with the right tools he’s perfectly capable of keeping teams in the league.