Home Match Build-Up 23/11/2024 - Championship: Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
- Thread starter Northstandboy
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Maybe leveller is not the right language.
But it's also true that - since maybe the first month of the season - we've generally not been passing the ball as well as most of our opponents. We have more trouble playing around other teams' high press than they do around ours (when we put it on).
So I suspect that conditions that make playing an intricate passing game more difficult for everyone, but are more likely to reward strength, tenacity and organization, are going to favour us more than Middlesborough.
(I wouldn't have said the same if we were playing, for instance, Derby - because their passing was crap but they were massive. But looking at their players, and their recent results, it seems as though Boro are going to be a very good footballing team)
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It's going to be quite the intense build up to the match day squad being announced on Saturday."Cameron Brannagan, Matt Phillips and Przemyslaw Placheta will all be in the squad for Saturday's Championship match at home to Middlesbrough."
Oxford United: Three players return to face Middlesbrough
Oxford United will have three players back from injury for their Championship match against Middlesbrough.www.bbc.co.uk
christenedinjericho
Level: Chris Maguire
(79 Apps, 22 Gls)
If the game got called off because of a partial frozen area of turf this would probably be a first for a championship game/club for a long while as most clubs have under soil heating. The club will get this game on/unless a Michael Fish type of fiasco happens and every match is waterlogged.
The club with a virtual sell out would I hope think a rearranged game on a Tuesday evening in January wouldn't be a winner for all concerned.
Let's get into them sideways on Saturday.
COYY'S.
Marselino Ferdinan: Buckingham says midfielder may soon make Oxford debut
Oxford United boss Des Buckingham says that Marselino Ferdinan's impact for his national team of Indonesia is "wonderful".
www.bbc.com
With fewer players out injured, it feels like Saturday would be the perfect time to give Marcelino his first minutes. He’ll be absolutely flying after that brace v Saudi and if ever there was a time to give him a crack of the whip it would surely be now.
But I think without more players back it doesn’t make sense to shift from our 3atb that looked really pretty good v Watford. Maybe late on if we’re chasing we switch formation and put on wingers to give him a go but feels like we won’t otherwise be playing a shape that’s worth putting him in for.
Seems a good time to be playing them with Doak (who looked unbelievable for Scotland) presumably being a bit fatigued after a heavy few days. Still think we’ll struggle here though. 2-1 Boro.
But I think without more players back it doesn’t make sense to shift from our 3atb that looked really pretty good v Watford. Maybe late on if we’re chasing we switch formation and put on wingers to give him a go but feels like we won’t otherwise be playing a shape that’s worth putting him in for.
Seems a good time to be playing them with Doak (who looked unbelievable for Scotland) presumably being a bit fatigued after a heavy few days. Still think we’ll struggle here though. 2-1 Boro.
Our latest newsletter has details of the Family Day we have worked on for this match with the club and The Catherine Wheel
Family Day Newsletter
Family Day Newsletter
Mojofilter
Level: Dave Langan
(136 Apps, 3 Gls)
How the hell is Goodwin still not even in the conversation?
The temp is going to be above freezing from 1am on Saturday according to my weather app.
So no chance of a frozen pitch.
uptheus
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
But winds of 50mph!
uptheus
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
It’s not going to be frozen
No chance of a frozen pitch, more chance of a waterlogged one looking at the forecast.
Can’t wait to get back to domestic football - I don’t know any fan, quite literally not one, who enjoys these international breaks at the expense of club football. Perhaps FIFA or whoever it is should organise the football calendar to suit their audience. I haven’t watched one international game these part two weeks - it’s just so boring and even the players are fed up with it judging by the amount who drop out.
Anyway, on to Middlesbrough and hoping for at least a point. They blow a bit hot and cold but when they’re good they’re very, very good. 1-1, Scarlett for us.
Mad Dog
Level: Dave Roberts
(176 Apps, 8 Gls)
- Year of First Game
- 1987
Couldn't agree more.
Common Villager
Level: Andy Crosby
(122 Apps, 13 Gls)
The anti-international football rhetoric really is getting boring. It's been peddled by Sky and 'fans' of the big premier league teams (most of whom never actually go to games anyway) cause they can't go a week without Fantasy Football and an ACCA. Echoes of 'Football's Back!!' a week after the season has actually started.
When the major tournaments come around everyone jumps on the bandwagon and then moans like hell when we get knocked out, but at the same time moan about these matches where the players have time to gel and the coaching staff have a bit of an opportunity to try things out.
There's Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Europa National League North, Club World United Nations All Stars matches seemingly every single day of the week throughout the year. The odd week off for an international match is actually a nice change of pace, imo, and by the time club football is back I'm usually looking forward to it again, rather than feeling a bit jaded by the constant stream of club football.
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Mad Dog
Level: Dave Roberts
(176 Apps, 8 Gls)
- Year of First Game
- 1987
You're right, international football is a change of pace, to a f*****g snails pace, and bores the f*****g pants off everyone!
The player's aren't good enough, the team's aren't good enough, the standard at "international level" isn't good enough. The tournaments aren't good enough.
I've had more interesting shits.
ECYellow
Level: Yemi Odubade
(158 Apps, 31 Gls)
One of the worst modern day inventions is the naming of a bit of bad weather. Why has that become a thing?
American tosh!
Common Villager
Level: Andy Crosby
(122 Apps, 13 Gls)
Fair enough
Morris Oxford
Level: Dave Roberts
(176 Apps, 8 Gls)
Good news with Brannagan, Phillips and Placheta all in the squad for Saturday, However I’d be surprised if any of them started. Brannagan will of course be champing at the bit.
Ferdinan is an interesting one especially after his two goals for Indonesia midweek. now is probably the ideal time to give him some minutes.
Potentially our most difficult home game to date, on paper a draw wouldn’t be the worse result but we’re going to need to turn some of these home draws into wins.
The forecast is awful, however it’s looking like a southerly wind, so not straight down the wind tunnel from the west as per usual.
Prediction 1-1.
Ferdinan is an interesting one especially after his two goals for Indonesia midweek. now is probably the ideal time to give him some minutes.
Potentially our most difficult home game to date, on paper a draw wouldn’t be the worse result but we’re going to need to turn some of these home draws into wins.
The forecast is awful, however it’s looking like a southerly wind, so not straight down the wind tunnel from the west as per usual.
Prediction 1-1.
it sure is, not only wind , rain is forecast all afternoon as well
How many breaks from club football do you want though ? You’ve had three months ‘off’ in the summer and then a further three fortnights off and we are only in November ! I agree, take a short break maybe post Christmas for a fortnight to refresh and reset but that should be it. I find it so frustrating that we get back into that swing of football every weekend and then it grinds to a halt just as it starts to hot up. Domestic football is the staple diet, international football is just a top up and should be treated that way when it comes to scheduling. Let’s be honest there are only about a dozen matches - for an England fan - every four years that are of any remote importance. The rest are just highly boring, uncompetitive processions.
Mad Dog
Level: Dave Roberts
(176 Apps, 8 Gls)
- Year of First Game
- 1987
I was saying the exact same thing to someone yesterday!
It's ridiculous
He hasn’t really put himself in the conversation through fitness issues. He’s still such an unknown quantity even in L1 let alone the championship but if we’re going to shape up the way we have recently I think he could and should be in the hat for a start, as well as Scarlett has done.
I thought he actually caused problems at Watford for the few mins he was on and he’s a big old unit. He will almost certainly get chances before Christmas as the fixtures really ramp up now. The rest is down to him as he could be looking at a January loan at this rate.
Foley
Level: Colin Harrington
(260 Apps, 30 Gls)
And there is still L1/ L2 and loads of non league football that gets some coverage.
Mad Dog
Level: Dave Roberts
(176 Apps, 8 Gls)
- Year of First Game
- 1987
Well with Harris beaten up and clearly in need of a rest for a few games, Goodwin should finally get his chance to show what he's about, because up to now, all he's seemed to be about, is injuries.
But he's been training for a while now, and eased back into games in recent weeks, and has had another international break to continue building his strength and fitness in training, so let's hope he kicks on now, and puts his injury nightmare behind him...
Pointless internationals, that no one's interested in.
Boring & meaningless . Euros & World cup finals that's about all I watch really.
Then there's nothing to cheer about with England.
Lucky I'm a 2 team w**Ker, & support another team that wins something..
Before anyone has a go I'm duel nationality...
Boring & meaningless . Euros & World cup finals that's about all I watch really.
Then there's nothing to cheer about with England.
Lucky I'm a 2 team w**Ker, & support another team that wins something..
Before anyone has a go I'm duel nationality...
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Anyhow can't wait for tomorrow,apart from weather..
carefreeoufc
Level: Callum O'Dowda
(106 Apps, 14 Gls)
We had a match last season in similar conditions, midweek game where Tyler Burey made his debut. It was bloody awful and so was he if I remember correctly, sliding all over the place, losing the ball and so on. I remember before the game thinking it would be a bit of a shambles (and it was).
I suspect it will be fairly similar tomorrow given the wind and rain! I wouldn't be adverse to seeing Goodwin start in all honesty. If it's going to be a bit of a war of attrition out there then it might be the match to suit him. Who knows... either way, a point and no more injuries would be good! Although I've got a nagging feeling one of our returning wingers is going to be back in the medical room before Christmas.
I suspect it will be fairly similar tomorrow given the wind and rain! I wouldn't be adverse to seeing Goodwin start in all honesty. If it's going to be a bit of a war of attrition out there then it might be the match to suit him. Who knows... either way, a point and no more injuries would be good! Although I've got a nagging feeling one of our returning wingers is going to be back in the medical room before Christmas.
The Voice Of Reason
Level: Ricardinho
(39 Apps, 3 Gls)
Ter avest 20-1 to score
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