Home Match Build-Up 14/12/24: Championship - OUFC v Sheffield Wednesday

[Northstandboy]

Match Referee: Stephen Martin - STATS
Kassam Stadium
Saturday 14th Dec 2024 @ 15:00 - OUTV

 

[Northstandboy]

My only glimmer of hope, is our better home form..................................

 

[holdsteady]

It would be very OUFC to go from last night to a win on Saturday so hopefully we do, although it will be very us to follow that up with a tanking at Leeds but the three points from Sheff weds would be massive, need to try and get them however we can.

 

[Sarge]

weve beaten them before , well beat them on Saturday . 2-1

 

[Essexyellows]

Hope for a win.

Expect a draw.

Disappointed with (another) defeat.

A positive result will be something to build on.

 

[McVicar]

We surely need to see a reaction to the recent games.

Going for a positive 2-1 victory. It's also the Christmas Extravaganza with Reindeer etc at the stadium. I think I would rather see Rudolph starting than either Placheta or Phillips!

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Depends entirely on how we set up and try to play.

Side to side, slow and unthreatening? We will lose. Let's try to at least start off on the front foot - press properly, play with some sense of urgency ,get the midfield ten yards further up the pitch, tell whoever is playing wide to stay wide and run with the ball and tell the midfield players to play the ball in front of the attackers not at them or behind them. That will give us a chance.

 

[carefreeoufc]

I felt that QPR would be the easier of the two games. Given how poor they were in the first half last night, I still think they are the lesser of the two opponents. With that in mind... 1-3 Wednesday. I really do hope we do not see Placheta start.

 

[BicesterU]

Cumming
Kioso Long Moore Brown
Brannagan
El Mizouni Rodrigues
Goodrham Scarlett Dale

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Scarlett to start. Vaulks in for workrate, aerial duals and long throws. More importantly - Brown back to LB and Leigh pushed forward in place of Płacheta.

We've waited weeks for the prodigal wingers to return. And they've offered nothing.
Meanwhile Greg Leigh has two Championship goals and a Championship assist this season. He is quick, can beat a man, and can cross (see ter Avest goal v Hull). He works hard, and will get in the box if a cross comes in from the other side. He is excellent in the air. He gives us an 'out'.

We simply can't pass our way through teams. Let Brannagan (and Vaulks) try and find Leigh with a diagonal. Let's win some free kicks. And throw in's (and rather than no movement and losing the ball within 3 seconds - let Vaulks launch it into the area for Scarlett, Moore, Leigh et al).

Goodrham (and Brannagan) to find the pockets of space vacated by defenders who might have to, you know, do some defending?

Offer. A. Threat. It may not be pretty. But it may just get us three points.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Scarlett to start. Vaulks in for workrate, aerial duals and long throws. More importantly - Brown back to LB and Leigh pushed forward in place of Płacheta.

We've waited weeks for the prodigal wingers to return. And they've offered nothing.
Meanwhile Greg Leigh has two Championship goals and a Championship assist this season. He is quick, can beat a man, and can cross (see ter Avest goal v Hull). He works hard, and will get in the box if a cross comes in from the other side. He is excellent in the air. He gives us an 'out'.

We simply can't pass our way through teams. Let Brannagan (and Vaulks) try and find Leigh with a diagonal. Let's win some free kicks. And throw in's (and rather than no movement and losing the ball within 3 seconds - let Vaulks launch it into the area for Scarlett, Moore, Leigh et al).

Goodrham (and Brannagan) to find the pockets of space vacated by defenders who might have to, you know, do some defending?

Offer. A. Threat. It may not be pretty. But it may just get us three points.

Yes I agree with this. You’re putting Long at cb?

 

[Carpy]

We need to drop Leigh and Kioso in my opinion and be as solid defensively as possible, I'd also have us drop deeper as a rule to prevent our lack of pace at the back being exploited. Good old 4-4-2

Cumming
Long Moore Thorniley Brown
Edwards Brannagan El Miz Dale
Scarlett Goodwin

Alternatively I'd experiment with this, I like the graft shown by Dale but equally I'd accept Ter Avest in there. Leigh I'd love to replace, but we have nobody.

Cumming
Dale Moore Thorniley Brown Leigh
Brannagan El Miz
Goodrham
Scarlett Goodwin

In my opinion we need 2 up top at the moment, try and give us a focal point to bypass midfields, because ours just can't compete. Our forwards have also looked very isolated for quite some time.​

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Barry Bannan is the beating heart of Sheff Wed. An absolute wand of a left foot and everything good about Wednesday’s play revolves around him.

That left boot could open a tin of beans.

Wednesday always try and get him on the ball and he can pick a pass for fun , he always tries to play to play forward and has an eye for the unexpected. He can play deep but
also is a major threat around the box. I’m not sure how we will deal with him but it we can nullify the wee man we stand a good chance of getting a positive result.

A good piece on BB from Alan Biggs

 

[Coffin Dodger]

Get Mark Harris doing the same as in the play-off final, and totally stop the supply to Bannan.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

PLAYED FOR BOTH

Many have featured for the U’s and the Owls over the years. The list includes James Beadle, Joe Bennett, Marvin Johnson, Will Vaulks, Jordan Thorniley, Jim Magilton, Chey Dunkley, Chris Maguire, Andy McCulloch, Paul McLaren, Gary Shelton, David Grant, Luke Foster, Imre Varadi, Gary Bannister, Steve Maclean, Robbie Mustoe and many more.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[West Oxon U’s]

REF WATCH

Staffordshire referee Steve Martin takes charge of Saturday’s clash with the Owls. His last fixture at OX4 was ten years ago as the U’s defeated Bury 2-1 on December 13th 2014.

His last Owls fixture was the 1-1 draw with Stoke at Hillsborough on the final day of last season.

 

[Yellowmania]

We need to drop Leigh and Kioso in my opinion and be as solid defensively as possible, I'd also have us drop deeper as a rule to prevent our lack of pace at the back being exploited. Good old 4-4-2

Cumming
Long Moore Thorniley Brown
Edwards Brannagan El Miz Dale
Scarlett Goodwin

Alternatively I'd experiment with this, I like the graft shown by Dale but equally I'd accept Ter Avest in there. Leigh I'd love to replace, but we have nobody.

Cumming
Dale Moore Thorniley Brown Leigh
Brannagan El Miz
Goodrham
Scarlett Goodwin

In my opinion we need 2 up top at the moment, try and give us a focal point to bypass midfields, because ours just can't compete. Our forwards have also looked very isolated for quite some time.​

I shudder when I think about Thorniley wearing an Oxford shirt again. I’ve not been a fan of his since his second spell and the last time I saw him was at the Coventry away FA Cup game where he got absolutely mullered. With everything that’s happened to him since, and zero competitive game time, I can’t think he’d add anything to us.

 

[tim lane]

I shudder when I think about Thorniley wearing an Oxford shirt again. I’ve not been a fan of his since his second spell and the last time I saw him was at the Coventry away FA Cup game where he got absolutely mullered. With everything that’s happened to him since, and zero competitive game time, I can’t think he’d add anything to us.

Why so dramatic? He didn't get 'mullered' at Coventry and has significant Championship experience. If he does come in - unlikely, I think - then I've no doubt he'll contribute a solid performance.

 

[Ewes]

Cumming
Kioso Long Moore Brown
Brannagan
El Mizouni Rodrigues
Goodrham Scarlett Dale

This is exactly the line-up I’d choose: move CB to full-back assuming the concussion protocols mean Sam Long can play.

But I think Des will play Vaulks, as a former Wednesday player he’ll have something to prove and I can see him hitting form for one game only and scoring the winning goal. So based on current form I might be tempted to bench CamBran and play Vaulks.

I think we’ll see a reaction and would suggest a 1-0 home win or 1-1 draw. A heavy defeat and we need to be seriously considering a change of manager and move Des into the coaching staff.

 

[Carpy]

I shudder when I think about Thorniley wearing an Oxford shirt again. I’ve not been a fan of his since his second spell and the last time I saw him was at the Coventry away FA Cup game where he got absolutely mullered. With everything that’s happened to him since, and zero competitive game time, I can’t think he’d add anything to us.

What other options have we got at the back to try and make us a bit more solid at the back, we ship far too many goals at the moment, Brown at the moment is a massive upgrade on Leigh at LB, Long the same for Kioso at RB, that doesn't leave us a great deal and Thorniley played a lot of games at CB in the Champ a few seasons back.

We desperately need the Jan transfer window, but until then, we need to somehow stop losing, winning would just be an added bonus in my opinion.

 

[Scotchegg]

Cumming
Long Moore Brown Leigh
Brannagan Vaulks
Phillips Goodrham Edwards
Scarlett​

 

[yellowbow]

Scarlett to start. Vaulks in for workrate, aerial duals and long throws. More importantly - Brown back to LB and Leigh pushed forward in place of Płacheta.

We've waited weeks for the prodigal wingers to return. And they've offered nothing.
Meanwhile Greg Leigh has two Championship goals and a Championship assist this season. He is quick, can beat a man, and can cross (see ter Avest goal v Hull). He works hard, and will get in the box if a cross comes in from the other side. He is excellent in the air. He gives us an 'out'.

We simply can't pass our way through teams. Let Brannagan (and Vaulks) try and find Leigh with a diagonal. Let's win some free kicks. And throw in's (and rather than no movement and losing the ball within 3 seconds - let Vaulks launch it into the area for Scarlett, Moore, Leigh et al).

Goodrham (and Brannagan) to find the pockets of space vacated by defenders who might have to, you know, do some defending?

Offer. A. Threat. It may not be pretty. But it may just get us three points.

I agree with getting the ball into dangerous areas quicker ( I find it so frustrating that we don’t utilise Vaulk’s long throw more) but I can’t see Des abandoning the Pep/Man City coaching manual. It’s all about trying to keep possession, even if it’s in areas that are no threat to the opposition. Also, if we’re going to start playing more direct we need a bigger presence up front and the closest we have to that doesn’t even make the subs bench let alone starts.

 

[Mojofilter]

What's the story with josh Mc? Curious he's not been more used lately

 

[oufc1991]

My team for Saturday would be something like this
Cumming
Kioso Long Moore Brown
McEachran
Brannagan Vaulks
Goodrham
Goodwin Scarlett

 

[WRox]

What other options have we got at the back to try and make us a bit more solid at the back, we ship far too many goals at the moment, Brown at the moment is a massive upgrade on Leigh at LB, Long the same for Kioso at RB, that doesn't leave us a great deal and Thorniley played a lot of games at CB in the Champ a few seasons back.

We desperately need the Jan transfer window, but until then, we need to somehow stop losing, winning would just be an added bonus in my opinion.

Long a massive upgrade on Kioso?! PK made a bad error on Tuesday night, but he’s no downgrade whatsoever.

I’d also go Kioso over Long because in possession, we can’t build through Leigh, Brown or Long. If Vaulks plays it’s far too easy to stop us playing through midfield as well. We were better building through the thirds on Tuesday with El Miz, and fed Placheta and Phillips on several occasions for them to run the ball out of play or launch crosses out for throw ins on the far side. Despite that, I think Vaulks will probably start against his old club, so having someone trying to get us up the pitch from full back will be critical or we’ll just end up with no way of keeping the ball again.

 

[Carpy]

Long a massive upgrade on Kioso?! PK made a bad error on Tuesday night, but he’s no downgrade whatsoever.

Not a massive upgrade no, you're taking that bit too literally, I feel more comfortable with Long at RB when trying to be solid at the back. Wouldn't be upset if Kioso played instead, but I would be seriously concerned if both Kioso and Leigh played at RB and LB respectively after recent performances, we desperately need to start keeping clean sheets.

 

[Yellowmania]

Why so dramatic? He didn't get 'mullered' at Coventry and has significant Championship experience. If he does come in - unlikely, I think - then I've no doubt he'll contribute a solid performance.

Not sure I can agree with you that “shudder” is that dramatic in the scheme of things but let’s see what Des thinks is best and if Thorniley plays and does well I’ll happily post on here I got it wrong.

 

[Morris Oxford]

If the tactic of stretching the game with wingers and at least one of them being pacy isn’t working , which at the moment it isn’t either through injury or loss of form then one of McEachran or Rodrigues needs to play.

Otherwise apart from Goodrham we’re devoid of quick thinking creativity.

 

[WRox]

Not a massive upgrade no, you're taking that bit too literally, I feel more comfortable with Long at RB when trying to be solid at the back. Wouldn't be upset if Kioso played instead, but I would be seriously concerned if both Kioso and Leigh played at RB and LB respectively after recent performances, we desperately need to start keeping clean sheets.

He’s played one game recently and made a big error, prior to that he was playing well before his injury.

Keeping clean sheets is about more than the back 5. Long and Leigh just invites pressure in my opinion, and I wouldn’t want to see a foot race between Marvin Johnson and Sam Long.