Home Match Thread 21/04/2026: Oxford United v Wrexham

[Carpy]

 

[Kernow Yellow]

Where’s the likes/thumbs up from the ‘everything’ is rosey fans? Don’t like to admit the truth, even though the opposition manager makes the comment?

Bet they’ll say it was good tactics by Bloomfield as it caught them off guard. Yeah right, rather looked like it bothered them, especially with them dominating the first half and essentially controlling a game that we needed to win!

What a strange post. No-one is saying these things, but you imagine they are and then get angry about it (even naming specific people in another post, who also aren't saying anything to get upset about). You seem to be upset because they aren't saying this and so you can't have an argument with them. So you have a hypothetical argument instead!

 

[Eric Blair]

Having seen it I don’t think it’s a penalty.

Nailed on penalty in my opinion. He almost undressed him.

 

[uptheus]

What a strange post. No-one is saying these things, but you imagine they are and then get angry about it (even naming specific people in another post, who also aren't saying anything to get upset about). You seem to be upset because they aren't saying this and so you can't have an argument with them. So you have a hypothetical argument instead!

Here they come!!

If you haven’t read over many months those who consistently ignore potential issues and then ultimately come around to the thoughts/thinking of others who raise legitimate concerns, then may be you’re one of them!

They say there’s always a rough family in many streets, but I don’t think there was one in ours!

 

[Boris]

Here they come!!

If you haven’t read over many months those who consistently ignore potential issues and then ultimately come around to the thoughts/thinking of others who raise legitimate concerns, then may be you’re one of them!

They say there’s always a rough family in many streets, but I don’t think there was one in ours!

You're doing it again. Making out that people are saying things that they're not in order for you to have a rant about things that you think they might be saying. I understand that people are hurting with the way things are, but try not to let emotion overtake reason

 

[Sarge]

Nailed on penalty in my opinion. He almost undressed him.

didnt buy him dinner first either

 

[Morris Oxford]

Not going to comment on the game, enough said already. However, post match conversation in the bar with an aquaintance (Season ticket holder) led to this snippet of information. Recently there was a visit to the training ground laid on for the Britannia club members. View the set up, watch traing and Q&A with players and Head Coach. Bloomfield, in response to a question about tactics and style of play, responded with the information that the squad lacked physicality and therefore he chose to play more without the ball, wait for set pieces and breakaway attempts.
Not a startling insight, I suppose but, all the same, a fairly damning indictment of the squad as he perceives it and, perhaps a veiled criticism of the recruitment to date.

I'll leave that to others to debate.

The squad did lack physicality from day one of this season, Rowett was working with players like Dembele, Krastev, Luke Harris, Goodrham. When you look at the team Rowett built at Millwall it was bizarre to think he would not want a squad of strong, robust, athletic players to replicate what he achieved there. Clearly summer recruitment and Rowet’s player preference didn’t align.

Of course there’s still room for players like Goodrham in a squad, but they becoming rarer and rarer, the Championship is a beast of a league in terms of how attritional it is week in week out but also size of the players, at the start of the season we looked weedy, physically it looked like men against boys at times.

There appeared to be some attempt to address this imbalance in January and I think it has helped a bit, it was noticeable in the recent Watford game that we looked bigger and stronger than they were, and physically we dominated them.

 

[Digby]

No foreplay just ripped his shirt off guess fed up with sharing Sheep with one another, wonder they all didn’t want a bit of his Shirt.

 

[Oufcrealist]

Fact is we are just not good enough, its not just certain aspects of the team who are not championship level, its right across the whole squad.

That's not digging anyone out or the usual knee perk reaction, its clearly a reality..

As for comments about the attitude of some of our fans, it's what pisses me off most at games. I honestly don't think some even understand football in basic terms, and i bet most of the mouthy ones will suddenly be missing next season in L1 and back to cheering on their plastic premiershit heroes on the telly.

Win or lose, up the U's!

Yep. I couldn't believe my ears when walking through the car park a bloke said to his mate that we didn't bring on anyone with pace to run at defenders but brought Emakhu on instead who was useless!!
I just turned and laughed and he nodded thinking I was agreeing with him .
Astonishing.

 

[Victor1986]

Dodds too?

Sorry Sarge, Waldron has to go as well.

 

[uptheus]

You're doing it again. Making out that people are saying things that they're not in order for you to have a rant about things that you think they might be saying. I understand that people are hurting with the way things are, but try not to let emotion overtake reason

Boris, a lot of fans questioned Rowett way before the club decided to move him on which was too late. A lot of fans have questioned the tactics both under Rowett and Bloomfield by being too negative etc.. A lot of fans have questioned our recruitment team. A lot of people questioned the summer player recruitment and even some in January. fans have questioned the senior management in lack of visibility, making decisions etc.

When these fans raised these questions/concerns on here, the normal few on here (with their tinted yellow & blue glasses on e.g. the club can do no wrong) continually talked them down making them question their own thoughts and beliefs.

If companies had all yes people in their ranks rather than some who challenge, then I believe they won’t be as successful or may be consider doing things differently etc.

You need people to challenge/raise concerns in order to get good healthy debate/other views that may not have been considered and will probably enhance the company, and the same can be said about a football club. But if you are continually shot down then those fans/people either don’t comment or go elsewhere

Of course there’s a balance, but it’s healthy to have these debates, but when you continually see the same people only ever supporting whatever, then I don’t believe that is conducive/healthy overall.

 

[38yearsofpain]

Yes but they took 3 points off us, first game of the season. Alongside the the draw at home.
Net contribution of 4 from 6. To our 1 from 6.
Take that from todays table.
Our home results have been at lot worse this season.
That and the long throw, and a Brannagan blockbuster kept us up last season.
Neither have been good enough to do it this.

Last season in the run in we took some of our limited scoring opportuniies and held on for vital wins, this season we didn't. The points lost in the last month alone has been the significant difference.

 

[Matt W]

I thought Josh Windass showed some class when he scored not celebrating in anyway, given his links to both club and county it was good to see

 

[Boris]

Of course there’s a balance, but it’s healthy to have these debates, but when you continually see the same people only ever supporting whatever, then I don’t believe that is conducive/healthy overall.

I totally agree that it's healthy to have the debates. What isn't healthy is having views so entrenched that any debate is rendered meaningless because views won't get changed (not referring to you, btw, just in general). The other thing to remember is, however aggrieved fans feel about perceived wrongs, we don't actually get to see what's going on behind the scenes and all the hot air is based on speculation. It may be speculation with logic, it may even be correct, but we don't actually know. No one here knows the truth behind the summer transfer budget; no one here knows the whys and wherefores of the Indonesia tour; and no one here knows what goes on with recruitment - players we weren't able to get over the line, etc. So while fans are fully entitled to have a rant and wallow in despair, the facts of the matter are that we might just be talking complete bollocks, which is why I find it hard to get worked up about some of the above, because I don't know all the facts (and neither does anyone else on here)

 

[werthersoriginal]

I totally agree that it's healthy to have the debates. What isn't healthy is having views so entrenched that any debate is rendered meaningless because views won't get changed (not referring to you, btw, just in general). The other thing to remember is, however aggrieved fans feel about perceived wrongs, we don't actually get to see what's going on behind the scenes and all the hot air is based on speculation. It may be speculation with logic, it may even be correct, but we don't actually know. No one here knows the truth behind the summer transfer budget; no one here knows the whys and wherefores of the Indonesia tour; and no one here knows what goes on with recruitment - players we weren't able to get over the line, etc. So while fans are fully entitled to have a rant and wallow in despair, the facts of the matter are that we might just be talking complete bollocks, which is why I find it hard to get worked up about some of the above, because I don't know all the facts (and neither does anyone else on here)

No one knows?? What about all those angry ITKs??

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

How is that not a penalty?

Certain referees are hotter on this sort of thing than others.

Which makes it even more astonishing to learn that this was the same referee that penalised Ciaron Brown against Charlton just a few weeks ago.

Same player involved (at the other end), same scenario (side losing 1-0 fouled for an obvious penalty and chance to equalise) and the same referee required to make the same decision.

Inexplicable inconsistency.

 

[Eric Blair]

Same player involved (at the other end), same scenario (side losing 1-0 fouled for an obvious penalty and chance to equalise) and the same referee required to make the same decision.

THANK YOU!. This is exactly the point I was making to my daugher. With your permission I will print out your post and nail it to her door (making you a modern day Martin Luther with his Ninety Five Theses).

 

[RgYellows]

Players can run and run, but if you’re not making the right runs then it can all be in vain and quite tiring.

There’s are certain bunch of fans on here who constantly stick their heads in the sand believing all is great e.g. all signings are great, all managers know what they’re doing etc, but the truth is, Rowett was shite, Robinson was okay for the first few years, but we kept him too long after the shinnanigans etc. The club management and a number of players have under-delivered this season with fundamental mistakes (that we don’t tend to learn from).

I will be absolutely staggered if we make a good fist of it next season in League One, but we should. The 3 teams that went down last season have made a good account of themselves eventually, with one getting automatic promotion (Cardiff) and the other 2 making a late push for the play offs after poor starts.

Reading who have gone through a lot in the last season or two off the field (managers leaving, transfer embargoes etc) have even made a good account of themselves under those circumstances e.g. nearly making the play offs, but I know if we were in that position we’d be fighting relegation, mainly because we have certain fans who talk us into these situations e.g. well, what do you expect in our situation, transfer embargoes, low budget, income, this player’s good when he clearly isn’t, saying manager’s are good when they’re making fundamental mistakes etc.

We’re too bloody accepting/nice. Even when you listen to Radio Oxford e.g. argh well, it was good whilst it lasted, and it was 2 seasons rather than one etc. And saying stuff throughout the season like, Rowett will turn it around when it was as clear as day is day and night is night he wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great service with Jerome and the team etc, but we need to be more real sometimes. It’s like when Nathan asks a question to the respective manager e.g. what do you think went wrong tonight Matt, was it just a bridge too far, players being tired after Saturday etc, so gives him an out/closed question which inevitably he just agrees. Yeah, Saturday took it out of us (even though we didn’t turn up in the first half in both games!). So instead of just saying, what went wrong tonight Matt? Wait for the response/answer. Do you think it worked playing Brannagan in the no.10 role etc. Just straight open ended questions which they truly have to answer rather than giving them an out!

I’m saying the above because we have to be more real with ourselves. Did we know it was going to be hard this season, yes. But did we truly give it a go, let the shackles off etc, no. I think there were games this season, whereby, if we had gone at teams, especially at home, then I think we would have picked up more points and survived.

I said at the start of this season that I hope we don’t suffer 2nd season syndrome, but unfortunately it looks like we have.

Await the responses from Foley, Jericho, Banbury, potentially SE/normal crew!! Sorry guys!

ps I hope I haven’t written/vented all this and we end up staying up, but I’d be pretty dam happy if we did!

You lost me when you said we’d do worse than Reading because of our fans.

 

[uptheus]

I thought Josh Windass showed some class when he scored not celebrating in anyway, given his links to both club and county it was good to see

Yeah, I thought that too. Also, when he was substituted he didn’t play games by walking off slowly/going over the other side of the pitch etc. In fact, he came off the pitch midway into their half by the touchline rather than walking to the halfway line!

Something Sam Smith could learn a lot from!

 

[uptheus]

I totally agree that it's healthy to have the debates. What isn't healthy is having views so entrenched that any debate is rendered meaningless because views won't get changed (not referring to you, btw, just in general). The other thing to remember is, however aggrieved fans feel about perceived wrongs, we don't actually get to see what's going on behind the scenes and all the hot air is based on speculation. It may be speculation with logic, it may even be correct, but we don't actually know. No one here knows the truth behind the summer transfer budget; no one here knows the whys and wherefores of the Indonesia tour; and no one here knows what goes on with recruitment - players we weren't able to get over the line, etc. So while fans are fully entitled to have a rant and wallow in despair, the facts of the matter are that we might just be talking complete bollocks, which is why I find it hard to get worked up about some of the above, because I don't know all the facts (and neither does anyone else on here)

We know that Rowett and Bloomfield seriously messed up re; tactics/systems/trying square pegs in round holes though.

 

[WE Yellow]

I thought Josh Windass showed some class when he scored not celebrating in anyway, given his links to both club and county it was good to see

He doesn't celebrate any of his goals

 

[OxfordYankee]

Surely too early to write-off Jeon Jin-Woo (to give him his actual name)? He's only made two league starts and four sub appearances. Not long enough to form any kind of true opinion

I maintain an optimistic and open-mind about Jeon, however, one does have to ask why he's failed to break into the team on more occasions, even if only from the bench.

 

[uptheus]

You lost me when you said we’d do worse than Reading because of our fans.

Not because of our fans, because of the club’s mentality at times which some fans accept, but others would challenge/query.

It’s a bit like the government/banks can talk us into a recession which I think they’ve learnt that’s not the best way to avoid it e.g. you don’t tend to hear that nowadays!

e.g. if we keep saying/hearing that the Championship is hard and we cannot attract the right level of player for a #teamlikeoxford which we kept hearing from Rowett, then guess what, it’s like a self fulfilling prophecy.

We deserved the right to be in the Championship. We had a good budget, supposedly higher than 6 or 7 clubs and not far off others, but having said that, you can still spend poorly e.g. Dembele, Romeny (to a certain extent), so you have to work smarter, not harder.

 

[uptheus]

I maintain an optimistic and open-mind about Jeon, however, one does have to ask why he's failed to break into the team on more occasions, even if only from the bench.

And when he does, why is he wearing his flip-flops!

 

[Boris]

I maintain an optimistic and open-mind about Jeon, however, one does have to ask why he's failed to break into the team on more occasions, even if only from the bench.

A question to be directed at the coaching staff

 

[uptheus]

Nailed on penalty in my opinion. He almost undressed him.

I think Brown finally undressed himself, but that was after their defender had started the process by grabbing his shirt, but it happens all the time, our defenders do it.

 

[Eric Blair]

I think Brown finally undressed himself, but that was after their defender had started the process by grabbing his shirt, but it happens all the time, our defenders do it.

It does but Ciaron conceded a penalty against Charlton (was it) for a similar shirt pull with the same ref and this was an absolute egregious example - the guy had was pulling Brown’s shirt over his head. I normally meet people half way when I can but you won’t see a clearer penalty.

 

[tonyw]

I thought Josh Windass showed some class when he scored not celebrating in anyway, given his links to both club and county it was good to see

Thought Windass was head and shoulders above every other player on the pitch in terms of quality as well (though Hyam was outstanding for them defensively).

For the most part, Wrexham are just a bunch of well-organized, disciplined journeyman but Windass single-handedly gives them some top class cutting edge.

 

[Jakeyboy13]

The squad did lack physicality from day one of this season, Rowett was working with players like Dembele, Krastev, Luke Harris, Goodrham. When you look at the team Rowett built at Millwall it was bizarre to think he would not want a squad of strong, robust, athletic players to replicate what he achieved there. Clearly summer recruitment and Rowet’s player preference didn’t align.

Of course there’s still room for players like Goodrham in a squad, but they becoming rarer and rarer, the Championship is a beast of a league in terms of how attritional it is week in week out but also size of the players, at the start of the season we looked weedy, physically it looked like men against boys at times.

There appeared to be some attempt to address this imbalance in January and I think it has helped a bit, it was noticeable in the recent Watford game that we looked bigger and stronger than they were, and physically we dominated them.

We especially look a small weedy team when playing in Yellow....i don't know why but when we play in our 2nd or 3rd kit we don't look so weedy

 

[Mad Dog]

Wrong! Emakhu is a decent player and was certainly miles better than MPH. Ha can and beat his man take the ball to the byline and get a cross in which is far better the man what we have in the left wing position.

I agree Baz, after an awful first few performances, I was pleasantly surprised by Emakhu last night, like you say, he looked to attack the full back and cross the ball at every opportunity, and I have a feeling he'll be very useful in league one next season.

As for that waste of space MPH, I hope we've seen the last of him in an Oxford United shirt.

 

[Matt W]

Thought Windass was head and shoulders above every other player on the pitch in terms of quality as well (though Hyam was outstanding for them defensively).

For the most part, Wrexham are just a bunch of well-organized, disciplined journeyman but Windass single-handedly gives them some top class cutting edge.

I thought the winger Longman who was going to sign for us last season was decent too ( down their right) but mills better