Home Match Build-Up 11/04/2026 - Build-Up: Oxford United v Watford

[Carpy]

@Northstandboy hi when this goes to MDT rather than freeze it and start again can't you just change title so conversation continues

We actually spoke about this. It would be easier for us too if they lived together but we felt there would be push back against it.

 

[Gregortheox]

Will be minimal changes I think. I am slightly concerned about the wing-backs though. Long cannot stand off his man otherwise we are toast. Likewise who plays on the left? Currie but is he fully fit? Otherwise Spencer, but is he a red card waiting to happen. Ter Avest...most accomplished of all but similarly not great in the one on one.

Rest of the team picks itself. It's a shame we don't have much on the bench to change things up.

On the bench we have about 326 players!!!!

 

[Gregortheox]

The trouble with Placheta is that he never does beat his man and whip a cross in, he just seems to confuse himself, and can’t decide whether to cross, pull it back, cut inside or shoot, and often ends up doing nothing!

Except for the very, very rare occasion he spanks one from distance into the top corner, I’d happily take that version of Placheta tomorrow!

The thing is with Placheta…is if he just made a decision and stuck to it…there is very little the opposition can do.
If he decided to immediately come inside and then move quickly, it would create yards to work in. If he decided to go for a canter along the wing, similarly there is nothing man or beast can do about it. He just needs to decide, push it long and get on his f*****g bike and invariably his man is fucked. But it’s that decision making that leaves us all frustrated.

 

[Mad Dog]

A bit like MPH! And don’t get me started on Emakhu!!

Yes, on current evidence, Emakhu is gonna be a very costly mistake indeed!

Fingers crossed he comes good for us next season, whatever league we're in...

 

[yellowbow]

I wonder whether Will Vaulks and Cam Brannagan could work as a midfield two.

This is almost up there with ‘why can’t we stay at the Kassam’

 

[Mad Dog]

MPH is the newest scapegoat it seems.

Dropping him for Placheta to play out of position? Jeez....

I certainly wouldn't drop him for Placheta, I've never rated Placheta, but MPH has been pretty ineffective in recent games, and doesn't seem capable of beating the full back, I don't even think he's a wide player at all really, but he keeps getting lumped out wide, and he doesn't look very bothered in games, which annoys me.

It would be between MPH and Donely for the central number 10 role for me, start with one, then when they start to tire, replace with the other, keeping that position fresh with quality.

In his first and only start at The Kassam, Jin Woo looked pretty useful in the first half, before he faded after half time, and was rightly replaced, so if he could pop on a pair of football boots instead of ice skates, I'd like to see him start, and tell him to attack the full back every time he gets the ball.

Tomorrow is a MUST WIN game, so we need to get the crowd excited and on their feet, singing and cheering, so an exciting couple of wingers like Mills and Jin Woo, running at the defence, getting their crosses off and coming inside for shots is the best way to do that.

And with MPH and Donley sharing the number 10 role between them, and Lanks buzzing around getting on the end of all of theirs and the wingers good work, the crowd will be buzzing and that in turn will give the players a lift, and we will score goals, lots and lots of goals!

The time for caution is long gone, we simply have to start winning games, and the only way to do that is attack, attack, attack.

 

[Mad Dog]

The thing is with Placheta…is if he just made a decision and stuck to it…there is very little the opposition can do.
If he decided to immediately come inside and then move quickly, it would create yards to work in. If he decided to go for a canter along the wing, similarly there is nothing man or beast can do about it. He just needs to decide, push it long and get on his f*****g bike and invariably his man is fucked. But it’s that decision making that leaves us all frustrated.

Exactly.

The trouble is, I don't think his indecisiveness can be cured by anyone but himself, he's certainly not being coached to fanny around until he loses the ball, or simply has to pass it backwards!

He ends up tying himself up in knots instead of the f*****g defender!

 

[RgYellows]

This is almost up there with ‘why can’t we stay at the Kassam’

If we do find ourselves needing a goal with ten minutes left, I’d be tempted to give Mark Harris a chance up top.

 

[RgYellows]

I do understand why people don’t want Placheta in the team. He scores more goals than our other wingers, so that’s bad.

 

[JOHN BOY]

A bit like MPH! And don’t get me started on Emakhu!!

We've got him for 3 years yet.

 

[yellowbow]

A bit like MPH! And don’t get me started on Emakhu!!

Shall we just refer to MPH as ‘20’ from now on? Both equally frustrating

 

[Northstandboy]

Opps

 

[headingtonoldboy]

My team for Saturday
Cumming
Long. Brown. Helek. Currie/ Spencer
Konak Brannagan
Mills. Placheta.
MPH
Lankshear

 

[90syeIlow]

I don’t personally agree with the antagonism towards Emakhu. Sometimes players join a new club and have a bad spell of form for whatever reason - tactical, change of home etc.

He could be end up being a Josh Murphy for all we know. Just support the lad.

 

[Mad Dog]

I don’t personally agree with the antagonism towards Emakhu. Sometimes players join a new club and have a bad spell of form for whatever reason - tactical, change of home etc.

He could be end up being a Josh Murphy for all we know. Just support the lad.

As usual you're getting on your high horse!

Nobody is laying into Emakhu, and we all hope he comes good, as I said in my recent post about him.

However, he's been shite so far, real shite, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with people acknowledging that.

Wind your neck in.

 

[holdsteady]

As usual you're getting on your high horse!

Nobody is laying into Emakhu, and we all hope he comes good, as I said in my recent post about him.

However, he's been shite so far, real shite, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with people acknowledging that.

Wind your neck in.

Nobody is getting on his back, however he has been really shite so far .

 

[90syeIlow]

As usual you're getting on your high horse!

Nobody is laying into Emakhu, and we all hope he comes good, as I said in my recent post about him.

However, he's been shite so far, real shite, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with people acknowledging that.

Wind your neck in.

As usual you're missing the point and getting ultra defensive when the post wasn't directly targeted at you. I didn't say anyone was laying into him, I used the word 'antagonism' as it seems some are happy to do anything but support him.

 

[OUFCGav]

Great work

not that great...couldn't be arsed actually counting the SSL...

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

 

[ECYellow]

Let’s hope the stray tickers are now filled.

It would be disappointing to see the players walk out to empty seats.

 

[Mad Dog]

As usual you're missing the point and getting ultra defensive when the post wasn't directly targeted at you. I didn't say anyone was laying into him, I used the word 'antagonism' as it seems some are happy to do anything but support him.

I assumed you were referring to me, as I have been pretty vocal with my dissatisfaction with regards to Emakhu so far, and had mentioned it again in some very recent posts.
But as long as he's an Oxford player, we'll always support him, but he needs to improve, a lot, and fast.

 

[uptheus]

West Brom draw 0-0 at home to Millwall!

 

[Mad Dog]

Nobody is getting on his back, however he has been really shite so far .

It's hardly getting on his back though is it, just stating a fact. It's not like I or anyone is relentlessly going after him.

You can't be as shite as he's been, and not expect criticism, but he's not being persecuted....yet....

 

[holdsteady]

It's hardly getting on his back though is it, just stating a fact. It's not like I or anyone is relentlessly going after him.

You can't be as shite as he's been, and not expect criticism, but he's not being persecuted....yet....

I mean I am not going to argue with your rating of his performances, don’t think anyone could, but I suppose the non getting on his back way of saying it is to say he hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet. Posh way of saying he has been s**t basically.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

It's hardly getting on his back though is it, just stating a fact. It's not like I or anyone is relentlessly going after him.

You can't be as shite as he's been, and not expect criticism, but he's not being persecuted....yet....

The irony is that this post is about Emakhu.

But it could just as easily be about Jin Woo.

The same Jin Woo that you are clamouring to be given a start tomorrow (a footballing 'Hail Mary' rarely pays off).

And for what it's worth, Shemmy (another you've dismissed on this thread) has shown far more than either of the above.

You either want to go on the evidence of your own eyes, or you don't.

And your inconsistency is probably what leads people to think you're being knee jerk (that, and being the only person on this forum to consistently increase font size mid-post).

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

View attachment 34729

Huge game!

MPH hasn’t looked bothered, and hasn’t contributed much at all in recent weeks, and we know what we’re gonna get from Placheta, which ain’t much, so unleash Jin Woo from the start, with actual football boots and not ice skates please!

f*****g go for it!

On that logic Donley shouldn't be starting either.

 

[90syeIlow]

The irony is that this post is about Emakhu.

But it could just as easily be about Jin Woo.

The same Jin Woo that you are clamouring to be given a start tomorrow (a footballing 'Hail Mary' rarely pays off).

And for what it's worth, Shemmy (another you've dismissed on this thread) has shown far more than either of the above.

You either want to go on the evidence of your own eyes, or you don't.

And your inconsistency is probably what leads people to think you're being knee jerk (that, and being the only person on this forum to consistently increase font size mid-post).

touché

 

[Joey]

Ter Avest...most accomplished of all but similarly not great in the one on one.

I'm a bit of a broken record with ter Avest but where has the theory that's he not good one on one come from? He doesn't get beaten any more than Long and Spencer whenever I've seen him.

 

[Mad Dog]

The irony is that this post is about Emakhu.

But it could just as easily be about Jin Woo.

The same Jin Woo that you are clamouring to be given a start tomorrow (a footballing 'Hail Mary' rarely pays off).

And for what it's worth, Shemmy (another you've dismissed on this thread) has shown far more than either of the above.

You either want to go on the evidence of your own eyes, or you don't.

And your inconsistency is probably what leads people to think you're being knee jerk (that, and being the only person on this forum to consistently increase font size mid-post).

I’m SO sorry. Maybe I should KEEP my opinions to myself in future.