+++ 13/07/20 L1 Play Off FINAL - OUFC v Wycombe+++

[Northstandboy]

Here we go then, the big one!

One game away from being promoted to The Championship, one division behind the top League in English football and arguably the WORLD!

Match Thread: Opens just before Kick Off https://yellowsforum.co.uk/threads/13-07-20-l1-play-off-final-oufc-v-wycombe.4035/
Post Match Thread: Opens just after the final whistle https://yellowsforum.co.uk/threads/13-07-20-l1-play-off-final-oufc-v-wycombe.4036/
Ref Watch: After final whistle https://yellowsforum.co.uk/threads/...anderers-l1-play-off-final-robert-jones.4053/

 

[Northstandboy]

https://www.Oxfordm**l.co.uk/sport/...d-await-penultimate-coronavirus-test-results/ - let's hope they all come back negative

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

Positive tests for certain players would be a disaster, but whatever happens we’ve got a good squad of very together players who will give their all for 90+ minutes at Wembley. It’s been a successful season overall, now for one final game...

 

[yellowbow]

I havent really taken alot of notice of Wycombe’s squad, didn’t they lose some players before the play-offs began because they couldn't/wouldn’t extend their loans? Having said that, there were one or two players from the games against Fleetwood who impressed me. CB Anthony Stewart MF Nmandi Ofoborh and Forward Fred Onyedinma. I was gobsmacked to see that, including the two he scored on monday, hes only scored about 7 or 8 all season. Not sure how many games he’s played? They’ve got some dangerous players so we’ll need to be totally ‘at it’ from minute one. No slow starts as they will be in our faces as soon as the first whistle goes. Hopefully though, it’ll be about our players and what they can bring to the match. One last huge effort to get us over the line. COYYs!!

 

[bazzer9461]

It won’t be an easy game after what Wycombe did at Highbury so I am a tad cautious but I have faith in our players and Wembley is Wembley, As Jimmy Greaves used to say “ football is a funny old game “

 

[Pompeyyellows]

Again it will come down to who makes the least mistakes. If we score 1st, i can see us winning quite comfortably. If they score 1st i can see us scoring and they will just shut up shop and park the bus. Hoping its us that comes out smiling on Monday evening. COYY

 

[BigCrompy]

I was gobsmacked to see that, including the two he scored on monday, hes only scored about 7 or 8 all season.

Don't forget, that's still about 60% of Wycombe's goals for the season.

 

[Fourthstand]

I’ve hatched my plan to be at Wembley.

 

[Jason N]

Having watched all the playoff games, I hate to say it, but Wycombe have looked the strongest and fittest of the teams involved.

Goal keeping errors aside, Wycombe have scored some cracking goals. Onyedinma and Wheeler have been impressive.

I'm hoping our passing game will be much more evident on Monday. If, we have a fully fit squad, we should have enough to beat them.


3-1. Henry , Browne & Brannagan - Jacobson.

 

[yellowbow]

Having watched all the playoff games, I hate to say it, but Wycombe have looked the strongest and fittest of the teams involved.

Goal keeping errors aside, Wycombe have scored some cracking goals. Onyedinma and Wheeler have been impressive.

I'm hoping our passing game will be much more evident on Monday. If, we have a fully fit squad, we should have enough to beat them.


3-1. Henry , Browne & Brannagan - Jacobson.

I think it‘s a bit difficult to judge us on the games against Portsmouth. They were such tight, cagey games, nobody from either side really shone apart from Browne with is goal. Everyone seemed to cancel each other out. Key players like Henry were quiet, hopefully he’ll get his game going on Monday.

 

[Fourthstand]

Not withstanding niggles and injuries, If you can’t play your A game at Wembley in a play-off final then there is something wrong!

 

[Sarge]

Quietly confident the U's will triumph ... maybe aet

 

[Obstructed view]

I would consider playing Mousinho as the CDM as so much of the game revolves around an initial long ball need to also press high to stop their defenders getting their heads up. Apart from that the big pitch should allow for us to dominate possession and take their legs away. Going for us to win it in the last 20 with a Dan Aygei break

 

[OxfordYankee]

They're a very good, effective and efficient side that will cause us plenty of problems. Ainsworth has done a magnificent job and we all know they won't lack motivation.

Having said all that, if we play in the fashion that got us to third when the league stopped, we have plenty going for ourselves, too.

This stat from Opta was tweeted out the other day shows how stark the difference in styles is between the teams:



If we can repeat that style at Wembley and the back four can marshall their attacking threat, I think we have an exceptional chance to win.

But that's a big ask. We didn't see much of it in the semi-final games and we seemed rushed when in possession. Rustiness? Effectiveness of the opposition to nullify? Adapted tactics in the face of the opposition? Who knows, but to me it's imperative that we make every attempt to play our own style and impose it upon Wycombe. Any thought that we could get drawn in to a battle on their terms leaves me very nervous.

I think they have much more about them than Northampton, but watching how Northampton suffocated and bulldozed Exeter (a far superior passing side) in the League 2 final should serve as a reminder to us all that an expansive style is not guaranteed to win the day.

All that said, man-for-man I think we have the better players and I have total faith that their talent, experience and formidable spirit can overcome the opposition in front of us.

COYY!

 

[Essexyellows]

Again I have no idea. ?

Nice expansive pitch, huge venue,no crowd, all a bit "odd".

Perfect world we use the ball well, play that exciting, slick football we get glimpses of and win it in 90 minutes.

Having a sports psychologist on board seems like a premeditated act of genius!

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

They are a dangerous side and seem the strongest of all the four playoff teams - they’re strong, pacy and direct. They could easily bulldoze us and brush us aside - having said that, we could get our passing game going and knock it around them.

We need to have confidence in our passing game and not just hit long balls forward or take long shots like we did at times against Portsmouth - when we instead had the confidence to trust our process and play our way it was much better. To me, that means Dickie bringing the ball forwards out of defence and committing midfielders, Brannigan dropping deep and pinging the ball about and Henry not just shooting long every time but playing short probing passes around the oppositions box. Get that going and not many teams can live with us...

 

[Manorlounger]

Against Fleetwood, Wycombe capitalised on mistakes made. Stray passes were quickly hoofed forward indeed, looking at how Pompey scored in the first leg, that goal came as a quickly hoofed forward ball with our defence still in attack mode and out of position. If we can play our passing game and make those passes stick, we will win. Equally, if we lose possession, players have got to cover from any position. Wycombe are not particularly inventive in their style but have the players to put a ball away, given the chance.
I would expect that Karl and the backroom boys have got plans.

 

[Manorlounger]

They are a dangerous side and seem the strongest of all the four playoff teams - they’re strong, pacy and direct. They could easily bulldoze us and brush us aside - having said that, we could get our passing game going and knock it around them.

We need to have confidence in our passing game and not just hit long balls forward or take long shots like we did at times against Portsmouth - when we instead had the confidence to trust our process and play our way it was much better. To me, that means Dickie bringing the ball forwards out of defence and committing midfielders, Brannigan dropping deep and pinging the ball about and Henry not just shooting long every time but playing short probing passes around the oppositions box. Get that going and not many teams can live with us...

And, can we please get Easty to play some balls out from the back, those hoof balls forward were coming back just as quickly. - Just not our game.

 

[Andy Stroud]

I would consider playing Mousinho as the CDM as so much of the game revolves around an initial long ball need to also press high to stop their defenders getting their heads up. Apart from that the big pitch should allow for us to dominate possession and take their legs away. Going for us to win it in the last 20 with a Dan Aygei break

Perhaps Mous could get Akinfenwa sent off again

 

[Andy Stroud]

A good interview with Karl on the Going Up Going Down podcast https://pca.st/episode/6af3b7eb-654d-419c-9e3e-533201d8131c?t=1884.0

 

[m]

They are a dangerous side and seem the strongest of all the four playoff teams - they’re strong, pacy and direct. They could easily bulldoze us and brush us aside - having said that, we could get our passing game going and knock it around them.

We need to have confidence in our passing game and not just hit long balls forward or take long shots like we did at times against Portsmouth - when we instead had the confidence to trust our process and play our way it was much better. To me, that means Dickie bringing the ball forwards out of defence and committing midfielders, Brannigan dropping deep and pinging the ball about and Henry not just shooting long every time but playing short probing passes around the oppositions box. Get that going and not many teams can live with us...

I hear what you're saying but would argue that shooting from range has been a tactic all season and it's served us well at times.

 

[AbbeyOx]

was going to have day off on monday cos my back is fecked but think i’ll go in to take my mind off it. bloody nervous about this one.
we’re definitely the better footballing side but Wycombe have been doing well this season.
hopefully an early goal for us will settle the team down and see us playing something like we have been before lockdown.
drove past the stadium the other night and to think we could be playing championship football there next season is unbelievable when you think where we were 10 years ago

 

[Berliner]

I think the game will start at 100 miles an hour and we will have to keep our heads and weather the storm a bit, but the longer it goes the better chance we have.
Won't be a classic, single goal decides it...hope it's from us.
COYY

 

[yellowbow]

They're a very good, effective and efficient side that will cause us plenty of problems. Ainsworth has done a magnificent job and we all know they won't lack motivation.

Having said all that, if we play in the fashion that got us to third when the league stopped, we have plenty going for ourselves, too.

This stat from Opta was tweeted out the other day shows how stark the difference in styles is between the teams:

View attachment 4060

If we can repeat that style at Wembley and the back four can marshall their attacking threat, I think we have an exceptional chance to win.

But that's a big ask. We didn't see much of it in the semi-final games and we seemed rushed when in possession. Rustiness? Effectiveness of the opposition to nullify? Adapted tactics in the face of the opposition? Who knows, but to me it's imperative that we make every attempt to play our own style and impose it upon Wycombe. Any thought that we could get drawn in to a battle on their terms leaves me very nervous.

I think they have much more about them than Northampton, but watching how Northampton suffocated and bulldozed Exeter (a far superior passing side) in the League 2 final should serve as a reminder to us all that an expansive style is not guaranteed to win the day.

All that said, man-for-man I think we have the better players and I have total faith that their talent, experience and formidable spirit can overcome the opposition in front of us.

COYY!

Great post.

 

[yellowbow]

Against Fleetwood, Wycombe capitalised on mistakes made. Stray passes were quickly hoofed forward indeed, looking at how Pompey scored in the first leg, that goal came as a quickly hoofed forward ball with our defence still in attack mode and out of position. If we can play our passing game and make those passes stick, we will win. Equally, if we lose possession, players have got to cover from any position. Wycombe are not particularly inventive in their style but have the players to put a ball away, given the chance.
I would expect that Karl and the backroom boys have got plans.

Worryingly both Pompey goals came from route one football..

 

[outsidethebox]

I'm not at all superstitious but lucky shorts, pants and 1996 OUFC t-shirt stored after the pens ready for the final. Not risking a haircut either. Cut the lawn and did a bit of housework last weekend so wife insists I keep build-up the same ready for Monday - really taking one for the team here.

 

[TL@69]

A good interview with Karl on the Going Up Going Down podcast https://pca.st/episode/6af3b7eb-654d-419c-9e3e-533201d8131c?t=1884.0

Excellent interview with Karl. In the early days of Karl when I heard him being interviewed after the game I sometimes wondered if we had been at the same game but I’ve warmed to this guy now.
We must Not be drawn into a local derby sort of game by Wycombe. I’m sure that will be their plan. We will, I hope play our own open expansive type of game, build from the back, be prepared to wait and take our opportunities when they come. COYY.

 

[m]

Worryingly both Pompey goals came from route one football..

Yeah, and it's no secret that we struggle against the more 'combative' teams at times.

 

[Oxford57]

We must play our natural game , and ignore Wycombe as much as possible, they will relish all this M40 rubbish and how hard life is for them, just impose our ability and go for it, none of the players should need motivation for this game.promotion would be a fitting end to this season ️️️️️️️

 

[Gregortheox]

I reckon we will have to play very well to beat Wycombe and I'm surprised that we are strong favourites. I think they are in the right place mentally after reaching the playoffs in the manor (see what I did there) they did and they look very strong physically.
It will be about our quality in possession, how quickly we can move the ball around the Wembley turf, and being clinical when the chances present themselves.