Home Match Day Thread 26/12/2025 - MDT: Oxford United v Southampton

[Northstandboy]

 

[Northstandboy]

Kassam Stadium
Friday 26th Dec 2025 @ 1500

 

[Northstandboy]

Come on Shorty!

 

[Toe knee]

I didn't know where to put this , but I'm putting it on on here anyway.
Watch out for public transport today, I've just checked the bus time tables for today,& it's not very good.
Lots of routes not working today , park & rides don't have any busses running ,even the football special busses are not running.
If you do catch a bus ok ,watch out for returning.
For getting back to Kidlington for example , it's ten past six last bus from Town. You would be cutting it fine ,or lucky to catch that bus by the time the games finished. Otherwise that's a 30 / 40 quids taxi fare..
Unless I've read it wrong ,or there's a glitch in the bus app, I'd double check your selves just in case..
Anyhow Oxford home win COME ON YOU YELLOWS

 

[Northstandboy]

The football specials ARE running today.

 

[Toe knee]

The football specials ARE running today.

Mmmmm thanks ,the bus app says not . That's poor......

 

[Toe knee]

This is what I'm getting, if they are running this is very poor of the bus company...

 

[Northstandboy]

View attachment 32539This is what I'm getting, if they are running this is very poor of the bus company...

 

[Toe knee]

View attachment 32540

Yes good , Oxford bus company are useless......
What's the point of getting the app if it's wrong.

 

[Daviddidcotexile]

Well. I have high hopes for a more dynamic entertaining game and fingers crossed we come out on top. 2-1 Dembele brace.

 

[TobyDavis34]

So, what do.

Managerless and formless we stride unconfidently into a fixture against an ex-prem team.

Will we see a random lineup? Will we use an experimental formation?

Or is it back to the previously tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation with the hopes of rekindling some of the form that saw us stay up a year ago?

Or will it be like last year and we get beaten soundly.

Who knows. I’m coming today and I really cba with a shite performance.

1-0. Penalty scored by BDK.

 

[Manorlounger]

Turkey sarnie time is here! Hooray! Looking forward to a few surprises today, from the game. Pleasant ones in the vein of returning to a proper starting line-up. Even better ones with us scoring and, I have a dream! Yes, a dream. We will get a penalty!

Failing that, we have a surfeit of alcohol and even more turkey awaiting our return home and, new episodes of Stranger things landed on Netflix this morning. All will be well.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

I think we'll cause a shock today, a win, a clean sheet AND a penalty!

Should be a great atmosphere and a decent crowd.

 

[holdsteady]

Interested to see the team we put out and if Short brings anyone in from the cold.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Interested to see the team we put out and if Short brings anyone in from the cold.

That’s a certainty given how cold it is today.

 

[Stranger]

That’s a certainty given how cold it is today.

If they're playing then he'll be sending them out into the cold

 

[Oxford57]

Trying to follow the match from the middle of the new forest, did not fancy the journey back up the A34, I only hope that we get something out of the next 2 home games, just play attacking passionate football!

 

[mooro]

My guess is a return to 4231 under Short - with a more cautious version today (eg. Long and Marris) and shackles off a bit more against Swansea (Spencer and Lankshear).

Will be interesting to see who short prefers out of brown and Davies, and out of Leigh and Currie.

Not sure we'll see dembele return (depends what the issue there actually was)
or placheta (if the departure rumour is true)
but would like to think that mills gets the nod on the right for both (tends to do better starting than as a sub, as he sometimes struggles to settle when coming on).
Also have a feeling we might see one of u21s on the bench.

 

[Yellowecky]

The combination of the ‘Shorty effect’, sell out crowd and players trying to impress watching managers will result in a comprehensive win:

Oxford United 3 - Southampton 1.

(A clean sheet could be a bridge too far.)

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Mark Harris to chip the keeper from 25 yards.

Placheta to out-muscle a defender.

Dembele to pass the ball.

2-1 Oxford

 

[Osei Yaw]

Mark Harris to chip the keeper from 25 yards.

Placheta to out-muscle a defender.

Dembele to pass the ball.

2-1 Oxford

 

[basingstokeox]

Anyone know the times from Thor hill p and R sorry can’t see them

 

[dickwalton1964]

A worthy 1-1. Lankshear on the hour.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Back to the 4-2-3-1 I reckon. Placheta Goodrham and Mills to start behind Lankshear if they are fit of course. Brannigan to make a surprise appearance hopefully. Just be brave on the ball.

 

[Swaby39]

I’d love to see a proper reaction from the players today. Show everyone that they’re capable of more than Rowett was allowing them to do. We know it isn’t going to be perfect tactically but if we can at least look as though the monkey is off our backs a bit, I will feel a lot better about what the new man is picking up.

First and second balls, some bravery on the ball and some shots at goal in the first 15 mins and the crowd will be up.

I’d like to see Lankshear start and get him some supply. I think Short will pick Goodrham and hopefully Krastev as well. He’s nothing to lose so let’s have a go and see whether we can unsettle a patchy Southampton side.

 

[Mad Dog]

I’m afraid I indulged in too much Christmas splendour yesterday, and my old friend Mr Armitage Shanks is keeping me on a tight leash today, so I’m gonna have to try to find some way of watching online.

Hopefully Shorty and Co manage to steady the ship for whoever eventually comes in to take over.

Set the team up and play to the player’s strengths, and hopefully we’ll get the 3 points.

COYY

 

[outsidethebox]

3-0 with a brace from Leworthy ...... oops, sorry, wrong Christmas!

 

[Symp59]

Spencer ,Helk Davies ,Brown ,back 4 ,Dembele and Cam on the bench we need 4 points from the next 6 ,then 2 very tough and almost predictable defeats to come .If we don't get many points from the next 2 home games I can see a massive gap from safety opening up. Lets hope there's still some santa joy left. We love you oxford we do,oh Oxford we love you.

 

[jaybeachjump]

Two nil Oxford. Let's do this!

 

[Stanford yellow]

 

[BicesterU]