Away Match Day Thread +++ 14/12/2019 Milton Keynes Dons v OUFC L1 +++

[Followtheox1]

I'm not sure what's gone on to be honest, yes we have had a lot of injuries and games. But we looked a completely different team to the one that beat Rochdale. There was a throw in to us in the second half and all of all players stood there being marked not moving, in the end the ref gave the throw the other way due to time wasting I'm guessing. Sums up the whole game for me.

Just some injuries? Some of our most Influential players have been injured that's what happened.

 

[Manorlounger]

First time for me at stadium MK I like modern stadia with good facilities toilets big screens etc.
One of the things I enjoy about away games is the atmosphere our support creates. I can understand MK do it to gain an edge and but to split our fans up today and keep the area behind the goal clear they very effectively closed down our vocals. Well done for some trying but we found it very difficult.
Why are we forced to sit in allocated seats at some away grounds, we can't choose where we are on purchase. I witnessed a couple of arguments re people standing and blocking the view of those who didn't want to and in one case could not. When we're allowed to choose the seats on entry people can judge where to sit/stand based on their own preference.
We were poor today and I'm afraid Robbie is just not on the money.

We've been a couple of times before and this allocated seating shite is just that, shite. Caused arguments with some who wanted to sit, some who wanted to stand and, some who had no choice due to age etc who needed to sit. As chap behind us said, if you are able to choose your seat at the time of purchase, fair enough. Splitting the support was just pathetic and reflects badly on the MK stadium management. It's petty and alienates visiting support. You want to stir up and aggravate your customers? That's how you can achieve your aim.

As to the catering facilities, how many returned pies that were still frozen? Disgraceful and contravenes all food hygiene regulations. try getting something at half time? Forget it. Inefficient and poorly trained staff ensured that queues, at both outlets, were ridiculously long.

MK Dons, you don't deserve that stadium. You have no support and no idea how to make it work for you. (mind you, with their creative accounting, yet again proven by the attendance figure, I expect they will work wonders with regard to their profit and loss figures)

As to the football. Disappointing. Too many off their game and too many errors. I'm sorry but, Rob Hall is just not good enough to start. Cadden was unsupported for most of the game and it showed. If Hall had been replaced by Agyei it might have provided both outlet and support for Cadden. Alternately, bring on Long and allow Cadden to move forward more.
Agree, Kettle is up is own backside and convinced that he alone is the star on the pitch but, even his ineptitude and far from impartial work couldn't hide that we were a long way off the side of just a few weeks ago. Next Saturday is now a huge game in terms of where we are and where we can go.

 

[Mellowyellow]

Kettle is a glorified Clive Thomas, for those that can remember. The difference is though is that Thomas could referee a good game.
We were very poor, but with players coming back we should bounce back. This is where KR will earn his money. The ref was very poor, but wasn't responsible for us losing.
The main worry is that we learnt no lessons from last week and made the same errors. We played too deep, didn't close them down and lacked support for each other.

 

[ljs]

There has to come a time soon (last week!), when KR realises Hall just hasn't got it anymore. He was a passenger again today.

Also, why have we stopped pressing and closing teams down, as we always play better when we do that.
It has been noticeable in the game today, and against Shrewsbury, that we haven't, but the opposition have, and have done it really well.

Have we become complacent and thinking we no longer need to against 'lesser' teams?

Also, what is the thinking on playing our goal poacher in a wide position and our best winger in the middle!
Some strange positions taken up by a few players today.

 

[greatunclekip]

There has to come a time soon (last week!), when KR realises Hall just hasn't got it anymore. He was a passenger again today.

Also, why have we stopped pressing and closing teams down, as we always play better when we do that.
It has been noticeable in the game today, and against Shrewsbury, that we haven't, but the opposition have, and have done it really well.

Have we become complacent and thinking we no longer need to against 'lesser' teams?

Also, what is the thinking on playing our goal poacher in a wide position and our best winger in the middle!
Some strange positions taken up by a few players today.

Robbos tactical mastery at work.

 

[NottsYellow]

Official Attendance 8,200. Home fans in the ground 4,000, oxford fans 2,500

Sorry, misjudged MK'idiosism (I know that is not a word but hey ho, you know what I mean!) here. So official attendance 10,000, Oxford 2,800 surely home fans in ground was no more than 3,200. Total 6,000. Missing people 4,000, just bizarre.

 

[Oufcrealist]

We were really poor until we conceded, why?
Things really have taken a turn for the worse. We no longer look like the team that rips the oppo apart. Some very below par performances today. Hall is not a starter anymore. Its a shame but for me he is now a final 20 minute player. It does appear that we have been worked out and we need to adapt. Wycombe will be in our faces as well for sure so we need to counter that. Hopefully Cam will get his form back, there were glimpses of it today and if Henry can come back asap fully fit we will have our best two creative players out there. No service for Taylor in the last two games is a concern. Maybe all the injuries have finally taken their toll. Lets get back to winning ways soon.

 

[Oxford Aesthete]

Anyone know the official line on why we were not allowed the two blocks behind the goal someone I was with asked a steward and they said it was because a flare was let off last time we played there and I've heard another answer which was we tried to 'rush the pitch' on the same occasion. Surely both of these acts could happen at any area of the ground. The restriction was obviously put in place to stop us gathering in one area and creating some atmosphere.

I will for one will not bother going to MK again unless it's for a crucial game.

 

[BeechRoadBokelberg]

Anyone know what the ruckus was about with the steward at the top of the steps as the game kicked off?

Saw him get escorted to the front of the stand where I was by a couple of supervisors, bit of a heated argument followed and then a chorus of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ ? and he was led out...

 

[OX14]

Anyone know what the ruckus was about with the steward at the top of the steps as the game kicked off?

Saw him get escorted to the front of the stanf where I was by a couple of supervisors, bit of a heated argument followed and then a chorus of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ ? and he was led out...

On Facebook it has been mentioned a steward threw a punch towards one of are fans as he wouldn't sit in their allocated seat. This is why a couple of other stewards escorted him away and it started the singing off you're getting sacked in the morning.

As for the not being able to group the fans behind the goal incase they rush on. Surely it's easier to enter the pitch either side of the goal. So I don't get that argument.

It's a shame, it's a nice stadium, nice comfy seats plenty of leg room. Would be better if it was in Oxford though as we would atleast create an atmosphere and fill it more.

 

[BeechRoadBokelberg]

On Facebook it has been mentioned a steward threw a punch towards one of are fans as he wouldn't sit in their allocated seat. This is why a couple of other stewards escorted him away and it started the singing off you're getting sacked in the morning.

As for the not being able to group the fans behind the goal incase they rush on. Surely it's easier to enter the pitch either side of the goal. So I don't get that argument.

It's a shame, it's a nice stadium, nice comfy seats plenty of leg room. Would be better if it was in Oxford though as we would atleast create an atmosphere and fill it more.

P45 Monday morning then if that’s true...

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

Robbos tactical mastery at work.

You are all over this all of a sudden ...funny that

 

[Kiewhite]

I’m not worried expected a bad little run or 2 with below par performances some where down the line. Still only lost once in like 18 games so still not concerned especially when we are still missing influential players and the ones that have returned ain’t match fit

 

[TailsWeWin]

We were really poor until we conceded, why?
Things really have taken a turn for the worse. We no longer look like the team that rips the oppo apart. Some very below par performances today. Hall is not a starter anymore. Its a shame but for me he is now a final 20 minute player. It does appear that we have been worked out and we need to adapt. Wycombe will be in our faces as well for sure so we need to counter that. Hopefully Cam will get his form back, there were glimpses of it today and if Henry can come back asap fully fit we will have our best two creative players out there. No service for Taylor in the last two games is a concern. Maybe all the injuries have finally taken their toll. Lets get back to winning ways soon.

The answer to your question is that Hall and Sykes were replaced. I’ll ask again: please can someone tell me what Hall lends to the team? No effort, no defence, very very limited threat in attack.

 

[The mighty Aldo]

Thought yesterday was a repeat of Pompey away.When we went behind we started pressing and got our reward.
However we have not looked good for the past 5/6 games .(Southend apart and even then not that good until last 15 mins)I know we have injuries but generally Branagan apart we have most of the players who have been in the team most weeks.
The answer is other sides have worked us out and stop us playing. This will continue ,it means that KR needs to mix up the system and get someone really pacey to give us an outlet.
Rob Hall has given great service but now is a bit part player.’Mackie would be better starting the game.
Fosu is a worry he just doesn’t seem to get much of the ball and when he does he seems to have 2 players around him.
I’m sure KR will know all this and hopefully get us back on track but other teams aren’t going to let us play that free flowing style any more so I hope all those extra thousands coming to the next three games don’t expect too much

 

[Grumpy Git]

As much as I like Hall, I think he needs loaning out to a L2 club. We’re carrying him at the moment.

 

[Shosho]

The answer to your question is that Hall and Sykes were replaced. I’ll ask again: please can someone tell me what Hall lends to the team? No effort, no defence, very very limited threat in attack.

Fosu/Ruffels/Cadden/Henry are playing big minutes with little break. Add in a half fit Brannagan/Baptiste and that’s a reasonable chunk of the team not fully on it....as such, players like Sykes and Hall need to contribute.

In an hour Hall touched the ball 18 times - it was similar vs Shrewsbury

 

[West Oxon U’s]

I thought cadden put in some decent crosses in the last 30 minutes but mackie never seems to attack the 6 yard box. Wish we had someone who could head a ball, we are powderpuff from free kicks and corners.

Thought Cadds only delivered one , possibly two decent crosses in the entire 96 mins.

 

[Foley]

Thought Cadds only delivered one , possibly two decent crosses in the entire 96 mins.

He was in a really good position a few times.
There was a moment after they scored that Cadden was round the back on his own. Taylor was totally free in the middle and Cadden blazed the cross into touch.
A couple of people round me suggested that the pitch was pretty bubbly, but regardless there were a few poor crosses when in a very good position.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

It was a very poor display (disclaimer: I didn't see the last five minutes of injury time, as I had to drive down to the far end of Cornwall straight from the game and didn't want to start the trip with a half hour wait in the car park to get on my way - we may have been brilliant in that five minutes!).

The first half especially was so lethargic and slow. I thought Baptiste made a positive difference when he came on (despite some rustiness) because his first thought was to carry the ball forwards rather than to give it straight back to the person who passed it to him or go sideways. Fosu didn't have a brilliant game and that just made Hall's inclusion from the start even less effective - having two 'touch' players on the pitch neither of whom are getting hold of the ball or keeping it if they do is a recipe for trouble - their lack of effective support for Taylor meant (as the shots / on target stats show) we had virtually no effective attack . The back four were solid enough, and Cam being back (although also not at 100%) was heartening. The crossing was poor.

What was most worrying was the fact that it was a continuation of the Shrewsbury game. It's a rut we have to get out of - and quickly.

I hate that stadium, and hope if/when we get a new one that it is much better designed for purpose and more suited to the size of the crowds we will get. There was so little atmosphere I am surprised we didn't need oxygen at half time...