+++ 18/12/2019 OUFC v Manchester City +++

[Left Wing Cross]

Terrified on that showing that we'll lose Brannagan, Fosu and Dickie in January. Where does that leave us? I guess we all have to believe in the transfer strategy and they will be well replaced. The track record has been amazing recently.

I know the feeling but I'd rather they were here, playing well and lose them than have them play poorly and keep them. It's not just an advert for the players, it's an advert for the club. Why wouldn't a player want to join us now?

Players come and go. Memories remain and so does OUFC!

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Exactly. The more players see that signing for us is a way of improving their chances of moving up the pyramid and enhancing their careers, the more players (and the better quality) will want to sign for us - the better the side gets, the more attractive the football gets. It would be nice to hold on to every diamond we discover, but that isn't going to happen (and probably wouldn't be fair on players to do so). As long as they give their all when they are with us and the club gets a decent return, that's what we should expect. After all, even the lower Prem clubs have their better players nicked by those above them! I would ask players to consider holding off any moves to the summer if possible though....

 

[Cass63]

I gave my ticket to a friend at work as I visited the wife in hospital instead. Sorry but my wife comes first.

Well that’s what she tells you.

 

[pooshooter]

Well that’s what she tells you.

She's got cancer. Not sure making a double entendre appropriate here.

 

[Village-Yellow]

Agyei showed some promise and reckon he would be useful off bench.
As for any of our team of fighters (and last nights performance) being slagged off against a starting team with a transfer value of £290 million words really do fail me.

Incredible isn’t it.

Just goes to show that no matter at what level we play, or who we play against, it will never ever be enough for some.

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Incredible isn’t it.

Just goes to show that no matter at what level we play, or who we play against, it will never ever be enough for some.

Just thought Ruffels had a poor first half and didn't track back as well as he could have. Other than that, I can't really complain. I am usually an over-optimist but when you push Man City as hard as that, you have to look at things critically because we could and (some may say) should have got something out of that game, based on the second half.

 

[Big Ronaldo]

Just as long as we can keep a lid on this boiling pot of talent we have brewed, we really can push on.
What with agents, and clubs hovering around, let’s hope we get through January without too much upheaval.
A couple of quality additions and I honestly believe that we will be right up there.

 

[Village-Yellow]

Just thought Ruffels had a poor first half and didn't track back as well as he could have. Other than that, I can't really complain. I am usually an over-optimist but when you push Man City as hard as that, you have to look at things critically because we could and (some may say) should have got something out of that game, based on the second half.

I was going into that game just hoping for a respectable loss and to avoid humiliation. Looking at what City have done to some teams this season, it was always a worry.

But I came away feeling so proud and also chuffed to bits that the performance did get TV coverage. I agree that there was that twinge of “if only”, but that is football.

The negative for me is that some of our players will be targeted, but if you want to put a positive spin on it, if we do need to recruit in January, maybe that performance will encourage some potential prospects struggling in higher divisions to drop down and come to us.

 

[DavidB]

If Man City payed 60 mil for Cancelo it makes 1mil for Cadden seem like nothin. Apart from not having the million of course. Very complimentary about us in general on their Blue Moon forum.

 

[SteMerritt]

 

[Marked Ox]

I rather enjoyed Mackie getting at him after that as he went on and on at Cancelo. Cancelo seemed to shrink after starting out a bit cocky in the face of it.

 

[Berliner]

I rather enjoyed Mackie getting at him after that as he went on and on at Cancelo. Cancelo seemed to shrink after starting out a bit cocky in the face of it.

And it all ended with a hug afterwards as well. A good introduction for Cancelo into the dark and much-maligned art of shithousery.

 

[Grumpy Git]

“Not quite sure why people were booing some of their players? Sterling (for example) can be a bit of a twonk, but no more than many other Prem luvvies and far less than some!”

What I didn’t get is why some of the Oxford fans, even some season ticket holders, applauded Sterling when he came off! He plays for an opposing team who happen to be 2 levels above us so did he do anything extraordinary to warrant that?

What I don’t get is the booing of Sterling. He’d not done anything to us before scoring 2.

 

[tonyw]

Terrified on that showing that we'll lose Brannagan, Fosu and Dickie in January. Where does that leave us? I guess we all have to believe in the transfer strategy and they will be well replaced. The track record has been amazing recently.

Honestly, based on last night's showing - if we sold Dickie, Brannagan & Baptiste in January, we'd make enough money to buy the Kasstad!
And while it would kill our chances of promotion this season.....that would make a hell of a difference to the long term future of the club.

Honestly, financially we're in the best position now that we've been in for a long time - because our recruitment strategy has been so good that we now have assets in our playing squad that are suddenly worth more than our debt!

The point about Ruffels is that he, like Long was trying to stop creating a hole between him and his centre-back (Moore) for Sterling to exploit. That is why it was very difficult to pick up their wingers out so wide. City exploited the width stretching us this way.

Think this is spot on. Playing a team like Man City, we were always going to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The 'full backs tucking in' strategy was probably smart because it minimized Stirling's opportunities to get in behind, but it did give Mahrez space on the right to get on the ball and run at Ruffels (although that didn't end up costing us, he always looked dangerous) and gave Angelino more space on the left as well (and he did make us pay, with one of the most sublime crosses we've seen in a long time - seriously, Steve Anthrobus could have scored their second and third goals, and I can't think of a bigger compliment to pay a final ball.....)

 

[dickwalton1964]

How ridiculous is it that some are judging Agyei in a one off game against the PL champions ? The kid has barely played for us let alone start in our biggest cup game for over 30 years !

He looked a bit lost but showed glimpses and I’d at least persevere with him from now on in the match day squads. Hall has had plenty of chances and hasn’t properly convinced so let’s see what Agyei can do against much lesser quality opposition than City.

 

[Sarge]

How ridiculous is it that some are judging Agyei in a one off game against the PL champions ? The kid has barely played for us let alone start in our biggest cup game for over 30 years !

He looked a bit lost but showed glimpses and I’d at least persevere with him from now on in the match day squads. Hall has had plenty of chances and hasn’t properly convinced so let’s see what Agyei can do against much lesser quality opposition than City.

Agyei looked strong, and quick, and I thought he contributed reasonably well V Citeh

 

[Foley]

How ridiculous is it that some are judging Agyei in a one off game against the PL champions ? The kid has barely played for us let alone start in our biggest cup game for over 30 years !

He looked a bit lost but showed glimpses and I’d at least persevere with him from now on in the match day squads. Hall has had plenty of chances and hasn’t properly convinced so let’s see what Agyei can do against much lesser quality opposition than City.

Agyei is one of the future and the club seem to be easing him into the first team.

 

[Marked Ox]

Just had a quick read of the City Blue Moon forum and they aren't impressed with Cancelo's antics in the incident with Jamie Mackie.

 

[Oxfordpete]

I haven’t read all the pages as yet, but have just watched the game, and my thoughts are the same as last night
I thought we were magnificent but being petty
Sam Longs crosses were poor
Josh Ruffles was often out of position
Some not so great finishing, and at least 2 excellent saves and about 3 great defensive blocks, stopped us getting a well deserved draw if not a win
Proud of the whole team, they all worked their socks off, it can’t be easy playing against City, so mistakes will be forgotten, heads held high Oxford

 

[OX18]

We were chasing shadows a bit in the first half, but gave it a really good go after the interval.

Sykes made a Brannigan and

Won't lose Fosu on that showing. Brannagan, well... Yesterday was just like watching the Oxford before, well before Brannagan got injured...

agree, I think Fosu was off the boil a bit. Just shows what Brannagan brings to the side.

 

[chuckbert]

thought his goal celebration was pretty OTT as well, obviously celebrate but not sure the gesturing to the Oxford fans in that corner was warranted

I loved it just after the game where cancelo went over to mackie to try and “make up”. Mackie just started up at him again and cancelo tried to give him a hug. He wasn’t having any of it - looked like a 15 year old boy getting a hug from his auntie

 

[Finlandia]

I honestly don't know what Sam Long has to do to get credit from some on here. He was defensively very strong and linked up brilliantly with Sykes going forward, and put in some great crosses too. Prior to Sykes coming on he was having to cover for Ageyi who was a little erratic and less defensively disciplined than Hall, if that is possible!

I'm struggling to think of a time where he's had a bad game?

But two of the their goals came from unopposed crosses from Sams side ?

 

[Scotchegg]

But two of the their goals came from unopposed crosses from Sams side ?

I'm not sure that they reflect the entire game. Both full backs were set up to play narrower than they would normally play. This gave the space for the 2nd goal. The 3rd goal came at a time when we were looking to press higher. Dickie came to clear and didn't get enough on the ball which allowed the quick break behind him and Long, who was positioned in anticipation of Dickie winning the first ball.

Both of these goals also came from unopposed tap ins in the middle, but no one is criticising the cb's. It was Man City and any tiny error was going to be exploited. But that doesn't take away from a very good defensive display, particularly from Sam Long, and some really exciting link up play between him and Sykes on the right.

 

[oxfordfan1]

sick of Mackie and his pantomime performances week in week out can he actually play football?hes a striker who doesn't score goals and is hell bent on winding opposing players up oh and me.

 

[m]

I'm not sure that they reflect the entire game. Both full backs were set up to play narrower than they would normally play. This gave the space for the 2nd goal. The 3rd goal came at a time when we were looking to press higher. Dickie came to clear and didn't get enough on the ball which allowed the quick break behind him and Long, who was positioned in anticipation of Dickie winning the first ball.

That's how I saw the 3rd goal, and judging by Dickie's body language and reaction so did he!

 

[horseman]

I'm not sure that they reflect the entire game. Both full backs were set up to play narrower than they would normally play. This gave the space for the 2nd goal. The 3rd goal came at a time when we were looking to press higher. Dickie came to clear and didn't get enough on the ball which allowed the quick break behind him and Long, who was positioned in anticipation of Dickie winning the first ball.

Both of these goals also came from unopposed tap ins in the middle, but no one is criticising the cb's. It was Man City and any tiny error was going to be exploited. But that doesn't take away from a very good defensive display, particularly from Sam Long, and some really exciting link up play between him and Sykes on the right.

Which were brought about by Top quality attacking passing and movement. it really beggars belief that some don't appear to have noticed this so i feel you're wasting your time Scotchers

 

[Essexyellows]

sick of Mackie and his pantomime performances week in week out can he actually play football?hes a striker who doesn't score goals and is hell bent on winding opposing players up oh and me.

Nothing wrong with shithousery...

 

[Shropshire U]

sick of Mackie and his pantomime performances week in week out can he actually play football?hes a striker who doesn't score goals and is hell bent on winding opposing players up oh and me.

Yep, if Mackie is still a regular starter or regular sub after January there's something wrong.
He was woeful in his first half-season, then he reinvented himself as a chippy shithouser and that was actually good to see during a time when we needed some oomph and some more aggressive presence.
But his lack of pace and lack of touch are increasingly out of place in the team that KR has built. Having got to like him a bit I realised just how poor he is in the game at Fleetwood. In that game he seemed to have decided to refrain from winding anyone up, and in the absence of that his lack of footballing presence was cruelly exposed.
It's noticeable that he seems to get on well with KR, they have lots of banter. He could well fit into the coaching staff, and could do well in that role.

 

[Blox21]

Nothing wrong with shithousery...

There be plenty on show this Saturday!!!
Always a place for Mackie in the squad

 

[McVicar]

I actually think Mackie still has something to offer, yes he is slow but technically still pretty decent. I even thought he might start v Wycombe tomorrow to give Taylor a bit of a breather. And Mackie v Wycombe could be ideal.