Home Match Day Thread +++ 17/02/2018 OUFC v Plymouth Argyle match day thread +++

[BeardedOUFC]

We've not lost when I've made one of these, and we really need the boost. 1-0 to Oxford, Mous.

 

[ttg17]

Plymouth are probably the absolute worst team we could be playing right now. They've lost ONCE in the league since we last played them (in November), and that was to Wigan. They've beaten Blackburn and Shrewsbury already in February. One of the most in-form teams in the division if not the country. Contrast that with an Oxford team that hasn't been so out of sorts since about January 2015 and I unfortunately really can't see us getting anything here. But stranger things have happened I suppose.

Picking the team is a lottery at the minute but I think we should just concentrate on keeping it tight and playing for a clean sheet - since we haven't had one since Blackpool in January. Pack the midfield, put Riccy and Henry on the wings to provide cover to the fullbacks, and stick Napa on up top to hopefully help us spring a counterattack with a bit of pace. I also wonder if we should bring back Williamson (unless he's injured?) just to provide some experience and leadership to the back line:

Eastwood
Kane (pick two from Martin/Dickie/Mousinho/Williamson) ASB
Henry Ruffels Ledson Rothwell Ricardinho
Napa

I generally try to be optimistic and positive about OUFC, but being realistic, I don't think this is the game that our fortunes will change. 0-2 Plymouth.

 

[Manorlounger]

This is the match where the defense (and midfield) find their physical side and put a stop to anymore soft goals. If fouled, go down writhing, get the referee on our side. Protest every touch. No fancy stuff, just plain old keep 'em out. And use the wings/flanks, give Thomas a chance to score.

 

[Deleted member 462]

maybe ruffels for Henry for a bit more bite. Ledson to help protect the back 4. Use the pace down the lines. Balls in the box for a forward facing Thomas, and on rushing Henry and rothwell

 

[Manorlounger]

maybe ruffels for Henry for a bit more bite. Ledson to help protect the back 4. Use the pace down the lines. Balls in the box for a forward facing Thomas, and on rushing Henry and rothwell

That could work. Needs everybody alert to defensive duties. And leave Napa up top at corners, just in case we can break. Kane and Riccy are fine with running the wings so that ought to give Thomas a chance. Ledson doing everything except getting booked to stop any incursions! High press and give them no time on the ball. (just hope they are all fit)

 

[Peterdev]

All good runs and bad runs come to an end. We have beaten Plymouth so why not again? Expecting a close encounter with a 2-1 to us. Going 2-0 up and conceding with twenty minutes left. Any news on Brannagan?

 

[unification]

This has defeat all over it.

Lose and the questions won’t be on Faz and the players but on DE instead.

If sacking Pep was because promotion was looking unlikely, hiring someone to stave off relegation is the next step for our chairman.

 

[Concretebob]

I predict come 5pm greatunclekip will be absolutely loving life.

 

[yellowbow]

maybe ruffels for Henry for a bit more bite. Ledson to help protect the back 4. Use the pace down the lines. Balls in the box for a forward facing Thomas, and on rushing Henry and rothwell

You look at that team - particularly the midfield - and you wonder why we’re struggling. It’s apparent our problems lie at both ends of the pitch, error prone defence and not enough options up front. Maybe a sneaky win will get confidence going and things will improve..

As much as I’m frustrated with the situation - I think we really do need a new manager but Fazs comments about having all of next week to work on new formations indicate that’s not going to happen - it will be just like us to go against all expectation and pull off a big win. I’m going 3 - 0 Thomas, Henry and Dickie, and for a lie down in a dark room...

 

[gingerox]

Eastwood
Kane Dickie Mous Ricardinho
Napa Ledson Mowatt Rothwell
Henry
Mehmeti

1-0, Napa. COYY

 

[RATC]

All good runs and bad runs come to an end. We have beaten Plymouth so why not again? Expecting a close encounter with a 2-1 to us. Going 2-0 up and conceding with twenty minutes left. Any news on Brannagan?

Brannagan trained with team yesterday. Probably make the bench.

Tight game, form will switch at some point. Plymouth are currently punching above where they should be in this league.
2-1 Oxford
Obika and Henry

Eastwood
Dickie Mousinho Williamson
Kane Ledson Ruffels Ricardinho
Rothwell
Henry Obika

Try something different? Kane and Ricardinho as wing backs Rothwell as a 10 and then 3 atb for Cover for Mousinho and allows him to bring the ball out the back freely.

Their biggest threats are on the wing, so would bring in Ricardinho on the right and then make sure Kane stays tight to Carey. If Ryan Taylor scores I'll be p*ssed because he's the ginger donkey.

 

[Shosho]

Our worst nightmare. Haven't seen them play, but from above they put it on the penalty spot a chaos follows.

Our already shakey defence dealing with balls into the box will be put under some serious pressure. Could be a game for Williamson to try and control the box.

 

[RATC]

View attachment 209

Our worst nightmare. Haven't seen them play, but from above they put it on the penalty spot a chaos follows.

Our already shakey defence dealing with balls into the box will be put under some serious pressure. Could be a game for Williamson to try and control the box.

With them having Ryan Taylor upfront definitely needs to be in the line up. Taylor is exactly what Mousinho and Martin struggled with, the tall hold up striker. Get Mike Williamson in there for no nonsense defending and as a centre back who can challenge for headers.

 

[TailsWeWin]

0-2. Taylor 2. Has to happen. Some very strange misplaced optimism around. Sorry.

 

[RATC]

Plymouth like Charlton are a team we have a very good recent record against.

We've only lost 2 times to Plymouth since 1995.

 

[HeyMcAleny]

If we were playing them away I might give us a chance, but our home fragility coupled with their form point towards an away win, I'm afraid.

I would bring in Riccy at left back. Napa and Henry should start, I think those two coupled with Thomas can unlock defences. Subs bench for IBR.

Sadly I think ASB and IBR will start so two nil to Plymouth.

 

[Gary Baldi]

I predict come 5pm greatunclekip will be absolutely loving life.

Is that a double negative?

 

[PottersRightBoot]

We will win. We are their bogey team.

 

[Deleted member 291]

Positive, positive, positive.

2-0 yellows with Henry and a ledson penalty.

Whatever you think of our team or current state of affairs if you're going to the game get behind the team.

We need points and the team needs the support. A positive atmosphere will help the players get those points.

COYY

 

[windmill]

We must all give Faz 100% support on Saturday. He deserves it, thrown into the deep end with virtually no support from the daydreamers on the pitch. Will the "invisible man" be in attendance, or away on business? The latter, I would imagine.

 

[dabigfella]

1-3.

Wish it were otherwise but can't see it.

 

[OUFCwaffle]

Annoyingly will be expecting a loss, hope I can be proven wrong though

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

There really is some incredible arrogance on here at times - Plymouth are punching above their weight are they ???
How often have you seen them recently ?
I have family members who follow Argyle and am dreading tomorrow just as much as I enjoyed Saturday night in Plymouth in November !!!
They are a well organised team playing good quality League One football - by contrast we are the polar opposite at present
My family members are obviously biased but I have a friend follows Shrewsbury Town and went last weekend - told me plain and clear that they were the best outfit he had seen this season and "destroyed" (his word not mine) the Shrews in every area of the pitch - he accepted 100% that the best team won and should have done so more convincingly

Ryan Taylor is a "donkey" is he - well if he is then he is still better than bloody Obika by a country mile so what does that make Obika (and the rest of our forward line for that matter) - Taylor will never be a great player but he is hard working and a team player - far more than we currently have here - I would far rather have him on our team sheet than any of our current crop up front

I really hope we can do another Charlton and turn the form book over as it will help us all get a little bit closer to safety and relaxation as well as retain my bragging rights but why diss a team who have gone from bottom to play offs like this

 

[RATC]

There really is some incredible arrogance on here at times - Plymouth are punching above their weight are they ???
How often have you seen them recently ?
I have family members who follow Argyle and am dreading tomorrow just as much as I enjoyed Saturday night in Plymouth in November !!!
They are a well organised team playing good quality League One football - by contrast we are the polar opposite at present
My family members are obviously biased but I have a friend follows Shrewsbury Town and went last weekend - told me plain and clear that they were the best outfit he had seen this season and "destroyed" (his word not mine) the Shrews in every area of the pitch - he accepted 100% that the best team won and should have done so more convincingly

Ryan Taylor is a "donkey" is he - well if he is then he is still better than bloody Obika by a country mile so what does that make Obika (and the rest of our forward line for that matter) - Taylor will never be a great player but he is hard working and a team player - far more than we currently have here - I would far rather have him on our team sheet than any of our current crop up front

I really hope we can do another Charlton and turn the form book over as it will help us all get a little bit closer to safety and relaxation as well as retain my bragging rights but why diss a team who have gone from bottom to play offs like this

Why don't you just quote me as this is clearly aimed at me, after all this is a place of discussion.

Plymouth are punching above expectations are they not? Everybody expected them to be lower mid table/relegation so from a fans perspective they are doing better then expected.

As for Taylor he maybe hardworking but he's nothing special and there is 0 way he is better then what we have now. He averages a goal every 296 minutes with 4 goals and 4 assits from 14 games in 1182 minutes league football.

Obika on the otherhand has 5 goals and 3 assists and a goal every 210 minutes from 1049 league football. 23 games played but evidently the majority of the bench.

So statically Obika is the better striker.

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

I am not clever enough to be able to work out how to put your direct quote in my piece but yeah fair enough i was referring to your comment and am of course happy enough to discuss - as you say that's the purpose of the forum

I am not sure they are punching above their expectations - as a club, maybe like ourselves, they tend to think they should be higher than they are so I suspect they did think they would be where they are now

They were also as a fan base seriously peed off when Curtis left them for us as they felt he was moving to a "smaller club" - to be fair, it is probably true of both clubs that we think we are better than we actually are - they also clearly have higher attendances than us

With regards to Taylor, I said myself he has limitations but he is hard working and is well liked at his current club for that reason - many here were sad when he left but conceded that it probably meant we were getting better players in to replace him - we now have Obika Thomas Mehmeti and Van Kessel - improvements seriously ?

Thomas would perhaps be if fit but the other 3 seriously ?

 

[Craig]

A year on and we’re discussing the merits of Ryan Taylor. Who was it on the old forum that used to be massively anti-Taylor? I’m sure he’ll be a pest tomorrow. Perhaps a little limited in ability for where we were hoping to go at the time, but always worked hard and gave his all.

Anyway, I would happily take a point if it was offered now. We will concede, so let’s say 2-2.

I am not clever enough to be able to work out how to put your direct quote in my piece but yeah fair enough i was referring to your comment and am of course happy enough to discuss - as you say that's the purpose of the forum.

Just press reply (bottom-right corner) on the post you want to quote.

And yeah, I would definitely prefer Taylor over Mehmeti and GvK. A fit Obika? Tough one. What’s the longest run of games Obika has been fit? Can’t be that many unfortunately. I hope we don’t take a load of punts on players with a history of injuries in the summer. It can pay dividends, sure, but as we’ve seen this season, it can also be costly.

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

Thanks for the help with that - I can do it next time now

Agree with the other sentiments expressed too

Yeah it has come to this that we are considering Ryan Taylor like this - it will be Macca next (to be fair another decent hard working lad who never let us down)

 

[TailsWeWin]

We must all give Faz 100% support on Saturday. He deserves it, thrown into the deep end with virtually no support from the daydreamers on the pitch. Will the "invisible man" be in attendance, or away on business? The latter, I would imagine.

If he’s not there, then he has very good reason not to be.

 

[StEbbesYellows]

A fit Obika? Tough one. What’s the longest run of games Obika has been fit? Can’t be that many unfortunately.

Interesting question. Between Boxing Day (Gillingham) and two weeks ago (Charlton) looks like Obika started every match, that's nine games in all competitions, scoring three goals. Thomas also started in the first six of those games, scoring twice, then didn't play again until last week. Seems our best run of results has been when they've started together, in a 4-4-2?

Earlier in the season of course, Thomas started as lone striker to be substituted by Obika, usually.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Thanks for the help with that - I can do it next time now

Agree with the other sentiments expressed too

Yeah it has come to this that we are considering Ryan Taylor like this - it will be Macca next (to be fair another decent hard working lad who never let us down)

Let’s bloody face it, Macdonald, Hoban, Skarxz, Edwards, Matt Green would all walk into our team right now