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

[Northstandboy]

 

[OxRox]

Thought Currie was great yesterday
Spencer was a bit off the pace, you can tell he's had a long time out.
Brian playing in his preferred position and showed his quality.

We know a lot of teams we play will have the majority of possession but we still created multiple chances.

Always great to leave the ground with supporters smiling and laughing.
What a difference.

 

[sadoldsod1778]

With family in Essex so wasn't able to follow the game and have only seen the highlights on my phone. Did Mills use his arm to control Lankshear's flick? Can't tell.

NO

 

[londonyellow]

I am amazed that after 1 game, some are suggesting Short as permanent manager.
I remember after Ian Greaves left, Roy Barry was temporary manager for a few games
He did OK and some were suggesting he stayed on permanently
Fortunately the board didn't listen and brought in a certain Jim Smith.
Craig Short doesn't seem to want the job and I suspect that after a honeymoon period it would not work out.
Hopefully the board are close to appointing a permanent coach

People get carried away. I suspect Southampton will now be questioning whether they made the right decision with their interim appointment of Eckert

 

[Emilio]

Also:




(Oddly Rowett is in the thumbnail!)

Ah yes, top save that!

 

[Marked Ox]

With family in Essex so wasn't able to follow the game and have only seen the highlights on my phone. Did Mills use his arm to control Lankshear's flick? Can't tell.

His body onto arm is my take and the arm is by his side when it hits. If the Ref/Lino saw it then could easily (and correctly imo) view it as incidental and therefore not a handball.

If viewed as handball then the Ref missed a blatant one, or more accurately wussed out giving a foul for a push by Prelec which he had no trouble ignoring elsewhere, especially on Brown and Helik in the 2nd half.

 

[Osleroad]

I am amazed that after 1 game, some are suggesting Short as permanent manager.
I remember after Ian Greaves left, Roy Barry was temporary manager for a few games
He did OK and some were suggesting he stayed on permanently
Fortunately the board didn't listen and brought in a certain Jim Smith.
Craig Short doesn't seem to want the job and I suspect that after a honeymoon period it would not work out.
Hopefully the board are close to appointing a permanent coach

Shorty is the first person to know what his qualities are and that he needed a lot of help from the other coaches re tactics. He made some good calls re subs which with wingers as he said are physical condition led. Saints also subbed some of their best players as their support noted. But we played the game with heart and gusto.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I am amazed that after 1 game, some are suggesting Short as permanent manager.
I remember after Ian Greaves left, Roy Barry was temporary manager for a few games
He did OK and some were suggesting he stayed on permanently
Fortunately the board didn't listen and brought in a certain Jim Smith.
Craig Short doesn't seem to want the job and I suspect that after a honeymoon period it would not work out.
Hopefully the board are close to appointing a permanent coach

Good point.

I may well be wrong but was Barry not caretaker between Asprey and Greaves ?

 

[joeldemain]

 

[windmill]

It was from Armstrong, saved with his feet, about 10-15 minutes from time.

It was quite unbelievable.

 

[TailsWeWin]

His body onto arm is my take and the arm is by his side when it hits. If the Ref/Lino saw it then could easily (and correctly imo) view it as incidental and therefore not a handball.

If viewed as handball then the Ref missed a blatant one, or more accurately wussed out giving a foul for a push by Prelec which he had no trouble ignoring elsewhere, especially on Brown and Helik in the 2nd half.

The ball hit his left pec.

 

[QR]

Given the number of spectacular goals we've scored this season we're going to be unstoppable once we've mastered the 3 yard tap in.

 

[Nadi-]

Just thought I’d have a look at Dembele reaction to Stan Mills goal,. not the best effort in support of Lankshear and Mills.
The most unenthusiastic reaction of the whole team. Otherwise 9 ecstatic outfield players, coaches and supporters

 

[90syeIlow]

Just thought I’d have a look at Dembele reaction to Stan Mills goal,. not the best effort in support of Lankshear and Mills.
The most unenthusiastic reaction of the whole team. Otherwise 9 ecstatic outfield players, coaches and supporters

He's always had an attitude problem, it's just becoming even more evident now.

We need to get rid of him.

 

[Jster]

Less than 24 hours later, and the talk reverts to players we need to "get rid" of.

I seem to recall Prelec supposedly not celebrating sufficiently for somebody's liking a little while back. Get rid.

And Krastev supposedly asked to be subbed in the midst of a game. Get rid.

And Tyler he's no better than low end league one. Get rid.

Makes you relieved there are people with emotional intelligence, such as Craig Short, actually dealing with the players...

 

[bazzer9461]

Good to see at the end of the game and the not on Nick Prelec face and Stan mills.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

A bit late to the party, but bloody hell that was enjoyable yesterday!

I was not vociferously calling for Rowett to go, as I could see merits in his experience and record in this league. However, I’m utterly convinced that we do not try and win that game at 1-1, if he were in charge.

Mills for me was MOTM, but honorable mentions for Goodrham, BDK and Spencer, who I thought were all superb. Krastev and Lankshear were great from the bench, too.

I would add Michal Helik to your honourable mentions. He was superb too and I lost count of the blocks and interceptions he made yesterday.

A real Captain’s performance and looks to be back to his best.

Great nod back across the box too from Mills’ deep centre from which Goodrham half-volleyed in the loose ball from 20 yards.

 

[Foley]

Just thought I’d have a look at Dembele reaction to Stan Mills goal,. not the best effort in support of Lankshear and Mills.
The most unenthusiastic reaction of the whole team. Otherwise 9 ecstatic outfield players, coaches and supporters

Very poor substitution in my view.
Disinterested and kept giving the ball away
The rest of the substitutions were good


Interesting to hear that Short and Dembele fell out which was why Dembele had been dropped from the squad

 

[90syeIlow]

Less than 24 hours later, and the talk reverts to players we need to "get rid" of.

I seem to recall Prelec supposedly not celebrating sufficiently for somebody's liking a little while back. Get rid.

And Krastev supposedly asked to be subbed in the midst of a game. Get rid.

And Tyler he's no better than low end league one. Get rid.

Makes you relieved there are people with emotional intelligence, such as Craig Short, actually dealing with the players...

I guess you missed the post that highlighted that Dembele refused to do something that Short asked of him in training and was subsequently dropped.

Would you want that type of personality in a relegation battle?

 

[Jster]

Yes, and Short has said it's a clean slate, or did you miss that bit? (And he played a crucial part in last season's relegation battle.)

 

[Foley]

Good point.

I may well be wrong but was Barry not caretaker between Asprey and Greaves ?

No
Greaves left in January 82. Barry was in charge for most of Feb then Jim Smith took over in March 82.

 

[Foley]

Yes, and Short has said it's a clean slate, or did you miss that bit? (And he played a crucial part in last season's relegation battle.)

Don't you think that he has massively underachieved since he has been here? Under Des and GR.
Maybe he will come good- he will get a chance it looks like.

 

[tonyw]

Credit to them, it was a nice set up and not quite as soft as I thought it was live. Timed perfectly just before the ball is played. Three players run forward in unison. It leaves Spencer and Brown marking thin air and an overload right where the ball is perfectly delivered. Perhaps Spencer and Brown should be more switched on.

Well worked, maybe......but that's still out 13th goal conceded from a set piece this season. Second most in the league behind only Wednesday.

Last season we conceded 9 all season - our massive positive balance on set piece goals was the reason we stayed up. If we're going to continue to be this bad at set piece situations, it's going to make staying up this year a lot, lot harder.

(sorry for the downer......doesn't fit the vibe after yesterday, but still think it needs saying.......)

 

[Jster]

I've been a little disappointed with him, for sure, but he has his moments. He's better when Cam is in the team, as he's very good at winning free kicks in those dangerous areas.

But mainly I hate the whole thing where supporters go on about "getting rid" of players, like a spoilt child who's bored with a toy.

 

[dickwalton1964]

No
Greaves left in January 82. Barry was in charge for most of Feb then Jim Smith took over in March 82.

I always remember that goal Paul Berry curled in v Charlton. I think it was Boxing Day and Greaves’ first game in charge. Again, I could be wrong.

 

[Jakeyboy13]

I always remember that goal Paul Berry curled in v Charlton. I think it was Boxing Day and Greaves’ first game in charge. Again, I could be wrong.

I remember that goal .. ended Charltons long undefeated run i believe

 

[werthersoriginal]

I've been a little disappointed with him, for sure, but he has his moments. He's better when Cam is in the team, as he's very good at winning free kicks in those dangerous areas.

But mainly I hate the whole thing where supporters go on about "getting rid" of players, like a spoilt child who's bored with a toy.

There’s a tendency in here for people to make up little stories and then get outraged about them. I think Dembele could still be a big player for us though equally we might be able to trade him for a winger who’s more direct.

 

[dickwalton1964]

There’s a tendency in here for people to make up little stories and then get outraged about them. I think Dembele could still be a big player for us though equally we might be able to trade him for a winger who’s more direct.

He definitely has something but we just haven't unlocked it yet. I think Krastev offers more, he was very good yesterday - unlike Dembele, his problem is he’s too unselfish and often makes the wrong final decision or pass.

 

[Stranger]

It shouldn't be forgotten that recently Dembele's had no game time and came on with 15 minutes remaining - hardly enough time to get up to speed in the game. Supporters can be incredibly harsh in the heat of the moment, but you'd have thought that after time for a bit of reflection they'd calm down and start to be a bit more sensible. Obviously not

 

[holdsteady]

There’s a tendency in here for people to make up little stories and then get outraged about them. I think Dembele could still be a big player for us though equally we might be able to trade him for a winger who’s more direct.

I think you are right in that he isn’t really the type of winger we need, we need fast, direct, up and down athletes. He isn’t really that so he suffers a bit. Tricky runs are more useful to break down a team who are sitting deep and you have numbers up yourself, we don’t get in that situation much at this level so that strength is a bit wasted with us.

 

[90syeIlow]

Yes, and Short has said it's a clean slate, or did you miss that bit? (And he played a crucial part in last season's relegation battle.)

I didn’t miss that bit, but after yesterday’s cameo I don’t expect he’s likely to get many more minutes.