Away Match Day Thread 25/11/2025 - MDT: Norwich V OUFC

[Northstandboy]

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Lots of RowettOut tonight.
I’ll have a go at defending him.
He’s always been fairly consistent at laying down the challenge to the players: you have to earn the shirt and then you get to keep it. He gave Tyler another start today after a decent game v Boro, Tyler repaid him with a stinker. Well … I doubt we’ll see Tyler in an Oxford shirt again now.
Not one forward player is really nailing down their right to start. It’s one good game, three anonymous games atm (see Cheese, Dembele, Prelec, Harris (don’t even get the one good game from him).
CB used to be reliable. But Helik is out of form. Browny - fan favourite though he is - is still finding form.
Midfield has no depth.

Is this Rowett’s fault??
Or are the players just not good enough??

And if they’re not good enough, then keeping the opposition within one goal and looking to get a flukey one from a long throw might be the best (only) strategy we have.

So while you may be correct in much of your analysis, from tonight I still cannot understand:
A) the starting line up
B) the timing of the subs
C) the negative way we are playing
And before anyone chimes in with 'a point away is a good point' - that was probably one of our less daunting away trips this season. Does anyone seriously think that playing with that line up in that manner is going to gather anything like the number of points we need?

 

[Kris Grebis]

Time for people to stop defending Rowett, his tactics and brand of football are as bad as I have ever seen, at any level.

With the players we have, he's making things way more difficult than they need to be with his ridiculous approach to games.

It's becoming unwatchable now.

Tonight was the worst I've seen us play under Rowett. But he knows how to grind out results in this division and I trust him to do that. Be realistic - we don't have the quality in our squad to expect good football and results.

 

[Wallop]

I'm normally a bit of a Rowett defender, but that opening 20 minutes of the second half is the most furious I've been in a long time. If the gameplan was to keep things tight and you go into the break 1-0 down, you HAVE to change things. Given his starting XI and the options available on the bench, I'd say the changes had to be through personnel. And he doesn't do that, instead hoping some words will fix it.

At that point, a manager should be giving 10 minutes maximum before turning to his subs bench, and we played worse in those 10 minutes than we did in the first half. So does he make any changes? No, he doesn't. Instead he watches us being pummelled by a side that couldn't buy so much as a point at home this season and elects to do nothing until the 66th minute. In that time, not only have we wasted 20 minutes of the game being 1-0 down, but the momentum had completely shifted in Norwich's favour and they should have put the game to bed.

It's something like that which is inexcusable from a manager who has the experience and track record Rowett has, and also an indictment on Short and Hackett too for not being more vocal about this.

100% this

 

[90syeIlow]

I'm normally a bit of a Rowett defender, but that opening 20 minutes of the second half is the most furious I've been in a long time. If the gameplan was to keep things tight and you go into the break 1-0 down, you HAVE to change things. Given his starting XI and the options available on the bench, I'd say the changes had to be through personnel. And he doesn't do that, instead hoping some words will fix it.

At that point, a manager should be giving 10 minutes maximum before turning to his subs bench, and we played worse in those 10 minutes than we did in the first half. So does he make any changes? No, he doesn't. Instead he watches us being pummelled by a side that couldn't buy so much as a point at home this season and elects to do nothing until the 66th minute. In that time, not only have we wasted 20 minutes of the game being 1-0 down, but the momentum had completely shifted in Norwich's favour and they should have put the game to bed.

It's something like that which is inexcusable from a manager who has the experience and track record Rowett has, and also an indictment on Short and Hackett too for not being more vocal about this.

Do Short and Hackett actually do anything? They both always look completely unenthused on the bench.

 

[debbie692209]

Is he really that good ?

Agree BDK seems uninterested most of the time. Most have been all the reflecting he did back home during the first international break

 

[PottersRightBoot]

We got out of jail tonight. Rowett clearly managing the minutes because we have a game on Friday.

If you’re going to keep your best men on the bench for the first hour and your talisman is crocked you’re going to struggle.


I have no idea where Ter Avest was playing; he certainly didn’t know himself.

The defence were great though. Davies coming on even improved things.

Norwich got some confidence after the goal but they’re really flimsy. They’re going to flounder whoever is manager.

Great finish Krastev; he should be starting every week.

 

[Morris Oxford]

A point is a point, not ideal, but not a disaster either.

As a previous manager might say ‘we move on’.

Friday is interesting. Both teams will have played 3 games in 7 days, we’ll need some fresh legs for that one, as will Ipswich. Krastev, , Ter Avest, Davies, Mills all to start.

Having said that it’s a big ask that Vaulks will be needed for another 90 minutes in such a short space of time.

Beat Ipswich and suddenly the point tonight doesn’t look too bad.

 

[greatunclekip]

I take it you weren’t watching us under Kemp, Rix, Mark Wright and Atkins then (all at a lower level btw)?

Atkins is a really interesting comparison! Had us 2nd in the league to huge spending Hull, with a squad built from buttons (think all free transfers except Bound at 50k) and batting well above its weight, some odd selection decisions (Townsley over Whitehead?!) wanted investment in the window to strengthen to maintain our position, board refused, fans moaning about the football and convinced it could only get better if only we had a manager who could get more from these players. Limited League 2 players could flourish with the right coaching. Dinosaur. Boring. In came Rix on a promise of attacking beautiful football. Went well.

Funny old game.

 

[tonyw]

Atkins is a really interesting comparison! Had us 2nd in the league to huge spending Hull, with a squad built from buttons (think all free transfers except Bound at 50k) and batting well above its weight, some odd selection decisions (Townsley over Whitehead?!) wanted investment in the window to strengthen to maintain our position, board refused, fans moaning about the football and convinced it could only get better if only we had a manager who could get more from these players. Limited League 2 players could flourish with the right coaching. Dinosaur. Boring. In came Rix on a promise of attacking beautiful football. Went well.

Funny old game.

Under Atkins, we were incredibly boring. Seriously mind-numbingly boring. But we were at least defensively solid.

We weren’t defensively solid tonight at all - the 23rd best side in the league ripped holes in us left and right, and it was only their woeful play in our box that allowed us a point.

If you leave all of your best attacking players on the bench and still aren’t hard to break down……you kind of need to accept that you’ve made a rickets with your team selection…….

 

[greatunclekip]

Under Atkins, we were incredibly boring. Seriously mind-numbingly boring. But we were at least defensively solid.

We weren’t defensively solid tonight at all - the 23rd best side in the league ripped holes in us left and right, and it was only their woeful play in our box that allowed us a point.

If you leave all of your best attacking players on the bench and still aren’t hard to break down……you kind of need to accept that you’ve made a rickets with your team selection…….

Oh don’t get me wrong, Rowett had an absolute horror show tonight.

I’m just drawing comparisons with another manager where fans thought we were too boring and the very limited players were just a bit of coaching away from France 98.

Sometimes you have to play the hand you are dealt. Sadly for Rowett, he isn’t even doing that at present.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

POST MATCH REACTION from Gary Rowett and Philippe Clement:

 

[dickwalton1964]

I honestly don’t know what some fans are watching or expecting. To me, this season is no different to last - staying up will be a great achievement, 21st is the holy grail and that’s where we currently are, point a game or thereabouts is the target and we aren’t far off. Saturday was a terrific result, a point against second place - exactly as that home point against second place Burnley last season was.

Last night was a decent enough point, just as that away point at bottom place Plymouth last season wasn’t the worst point in the world on reflection. You’ve got to be a bit clueless to just look at a Championship league table and expect a victory based on placings, I’m never going to be unhappy with an away point anywhere in this league.

Last night I thought we were excellent in the opening 15 minutes, playing with confidence and purpose and missing a tap in inside 20 seconds. If that goes in then Norwich are on the floor and we’d have likely built on it. Clement is one of the most demanding and intense managers around and I always felt they were going to come out all guns blazing in that second half but we did well to hold firm and stay in it. A bit disappointing that we didn’t really create much ourselves but it was an excellently worked goal by us and these last two goals from open play have been great to see.

I thought ter Avest was the big plus from the night - really tidy in that first half in an unfamiliar role. We do miss Brannagan though but take the talisman out of any side and that’s a gaping hole to fill. Brown and Helik looked a strong pair again, another plus. Harris didn’t take his chance and while I thought Tyler was a tad better last night than he was on Saturday he’s not really staking a claim for a place. Bit disappointed with Vaulks throw ins last night - a bit loopy and lacking the fizz and distance he normally generates.

All in all, two unbeaten and while we do need wins of course these draws can be invaluable. Where would we now be without those unexciting 0-0’s at places like Derby and Stoke last season. On to Friday in fairly good shape.

 

[holdsteady]

No idea why brown has to get injured for gary to stop playing him and actually play ben davies

He is one of our best players? Alongside Ter Avest he was man of the match yesterday for me.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Thought Helik was superb again last night.

 

[Mad Dog]

I take it you weren’t watching us under Kemp, Rix, Mark Wright and Atkins then (all at a lower level btw)?

I’ve been watching us a lot longer than you have my boy.

I bet you defended those managers to the hilt as well

 

[Steve Gilbert]

I’ve been watching us a lot longer than you have my boy.

I bet you defended those managers to the hilt as well

In that case then you will understand your original statement is a bit OTT as I would suggest it was a lot worse watching us under those managers, especially Kemp and Rix.

On your last point, no I couldn’t stand Wright, Kemp and Rix.

 

[Mad Dog]

How many of our players are Championship standard?

This isn’t the holy grail of football, it’s the bloody championship.
While it’s a huge step up from league one, and highly competitive, I’ve seen plenty of sides in the championship this season and last season, whose players don’t look any better than some of ours.

But regardless of recruitment, which obviously needs to improve, our current players are better than they’re being set up to play.

That’s on the manager.

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

I have no problem with the post match interview, that is still one of GR's strengths IMO.

 

[Frustrated Yellow]

I felt Currie was very good, again, but if he was struggling it might have something to do with how good Makama was and Stacey going around him who has a ridiculous engine. Far from an easy task especially with Goodrham in front of you.

The Goodram in front of you offering little support was key to Curries woes IMO

 

[Bicester Yellow]

The Goodram in front of you offering little support was key to Curries woes IMO

As it was on Saturday, but people gave goodrham the excuse he hadn’t played for ages.

That didn’t seem to stop Ter Avest getting up and down last night.

Any excuse for the golden boy.

 

[m]

No idea why brown has to get injured for gary to stop playing him and actually play ben davies

It's because Brown is our best defender, I'd say.

 

[Billyox]

As it was on Saturday, but people gave goodrham the excuse he hadn’t played for ages.

That didn’t seem to stop Ter Avest getting up and down last night.

Any excuse for the golden boy.

Goodrham wouldn't get half as much praise if we had signed him as a 19 year old from Gillingham

He only get it because he has sort of come through the ranks

 

[isibuko]

Long was shocking! Shouldn’t be anywhere near a starting player in the Championship.

He’s not a starting player though? He’s in because of injuries. Fwiw I think he’s been far from our worst player this season.

 

[Yellowoptimist]

Rowett is usually quite honest in his after match interviews but he’s talking absolute b*****s tonight

Yep probably the first time I’ve listened to his interview and questioned whether he was watching the same game

 

[Berliner]

He’s not a starting player though? He’s in because of injuries. Fwiw I think he’s been far from our worst player this season.

Given central midfield is being held together with sticky tape, with the prospect of Sibley taking over if there's another injury or loss of form (and we may be already there, with Vaulks who couldn't play much worse than last night and BDK once again flattering to deceive), then I'm really, really grateful for Sam Long this season at the back.

 

[OohJonnyLager]

Long was shocking! Shouldn’t be anywhere near a starting player in the Championship.

He put it on a plate in crowded box to set up the equaliser when the pressure was on but don’t let that spoil a nice dig at the most loyal player the club has ever had will you.

 

[dickwalton1964]

This isn’t the holy grail of football, it’s the bloody championship.
While it’s a huge step up from league one, and highly competitive, I’ve seen plenty of sides in the championship this season and last season, whose players don’t look any better than some of ours.

But regardless of recruitment, which obviously needs to improve, our current players are better than they’re being set up to play.

That’s on the manager.

Point at home to second place Middlesbrough and a point on the road against a team under a new manager for the first time at home. . What’s wrong with that return ? Us and Norwich are both down there, yes by definition it should be one of our easier away challenges but likewise one of Norwich’s easiest home games too - so a draw about right. Our football in that first quarter of the game was really good, on the front foot and getting into great areas - Rowett can’t tap them in from the bench, the best he can do is exactly what he did do, put a team out there that pinned Norwich back and got balls into goal scoring areas.

You seem to be expecting us to keep at it for 95 minutes with relentless attacking football! It’s such an unrealistic expectation. If we adopted that toe to toe approach then we are getting battered nine times out of ten. Our squad has improved from last year but so have others and the league is unquestionably stronger this time around. Sheffield United are below us but man for man they’re streets ahead and I’d argue Norwich are too. We will have moments in games that we have to seize upon - first 20 minutes and last 10 minutes last night for example - but backs to the wall scrapping away has to be our way and Rowett is one of the best around at masterminding that approach.

 

[Foley]

No idea why brown has to get injured for gary to stop playing him and actually play ben davies

Brown was very good last night in my view.
Gary was spot on not dropping Brown.

 

[dabigfella]

The usual cry for Rowatt to be sacked. But looking at the current squad I can't see a new manager doing any better. A defense that can't consistently defend. A midfield that lacks anything even vaguely approaching creativity, and forwards that can't score. Without a massive influx of quality players soon I can only see relegation on the horizon.

 

[Matty Greens Left Boot]

Under Atkins, we were incredibly boring. Seriously mind-numbingly boring. But we were at least defensively solid.

Atkins was seriouly underrated dour football is fine if it brings results. Unfortunately we arent getting results.