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

[Northstandboy]

 

[JerryL]

Less than 24 hours later, and the talk reverts to players we need to "get rid" of.
Makes you relieved there are people with emotional intelligence, such as Craig Short, actually dealing with the players...

Get out of here with your nuanced sensible takes on things, go on
we dont want your kind around here, not with all the transfer window thread posting about to happen

 

[HillBilly]

There's a few players whose worth might be reassessed on the back of these interim games - in the eyes of the recruitment team, the fans, the new head coach, other clubs maybe.

Tyler stands out from yesterday, but seeing Brian as the single pivot, Nik leading the line, Filip in the middle, Stan on the left or Luke in a pair with Tyler, all that is useful, even if it doesn't always come off.

Dembele looked rusty for me, but I was definitely glad to see him brought back into the matchday squad.

Don't think any posters are seriously saying Craig Short should take the reins (at least not yet), but I think he knows as well as anyone how to play to our strengths and unlock a bit of untapped potential.

That feels pretty valuable right now. Hope he's getting a little bonus.

 

[Essexyellows]

Special note to whoever decided to put on Hey Jude at the end........... you really need to chop the long intro off to get to the the naaa nnaaa nnnaa nnnaaa naaaa singalong bit while people are still there.

Secondly if Dave C is reading this - its is Craigs third spell as caretaker.

 

[Vaulkswagon]

The only downer on a brilliant boxing day match for me.... hey jude coming on the speakers at full volume as soon as the final whistle blew. There was riotous bouncing and chanting from the Oxford fans and then it immediately went dead as soon as the music went on. Let the fans sing to celebrate for a few minutes at least!

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

I don’t think Prelec is as good as either a

Always interesting to see how others saw the game.

Overall I think Prelec had a good, game, won his fair share of headers, held the ball up well, won a few free kicks and generally lead the line well. But personally I don’t think he has the work rate of Harris, that isn’t his game especially when the opposition has the ball.

We initially set up to let Southampton have possession in their own half, there was no great press from Prelec
or the team, it looked tactical. What I think Prelec was trying to do was put himself in a position to cut out the forward passes from the centre backs into their midfield, not unlike the way Buckingham set us up with Harris at Wembley.

I do agree with you in that the press was a bit more intense after the break and more team coordinated, Lanksnear also upped the press tempo when he came on too.

It’s a pretty soulless task to ask of a centre forward but it part of the modern game, I also suspect Prelec knew he’d be on the pitch for an hour at least and needed to pace himself, he hasn’t had that much game time, whereas Lankshear could give really press hard for 15/20 mins when he came on.

For clarity I Don’t think Prelec has the strength or pace of either respectively , but I think he blends the balance of those qualities better. So in essence I agree with you.

Regards the pressing , if he was cutting off he was over exerting and choosing odd routes . It looked more like a press where he was getting picked off to no gain and he needs to work at the “force left” effect if so

 

[Nadi-]

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

It’s all about him.

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

The only downer on a brilliant boxing day match for me.... hey jude coming on the speakers at full volume as soon as the final whistle blew. There was riotous bouncing and chanting from the Oxford fans and then it immediately went dead as soon as the music went on. Let the fans sing to celebrate for a few minutes at least!

I meant to write this but forgot. It actually killed a buzzing vibe in the stadium, well intended though it was

 

[Nadi-]

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.)

You’re right, he did.
Gifted his brother possession, to kill our momentum.

 

[Wallop]

Special note to whoever decided to put on Hey Jude at the end........... you really need to chop the long intro off to get to the the naaa nnaaa nnnaa nnnaaa naaaa singalong bit while people are still there.

Secondly if Dave C is reading this - its is Craigs third spell as caretaker.

And can we have 30 seconds to celebrate with terrace singing rather than it just be played straightaway?

 

[Nadi-]

Dembele has loads of ability, but his lack of team play requires the other 10 being good enough to carry him.
His entry into and participation in the game yesterday, portrayed someone whose only interest is in himself. And distancing himself from a honest and principled team structure.

 

[Stranger]

Dembele has loads of ability, but his lack of team play requires the other 10 being good enough to carry him.
His entry into and participation in the game yesterday, portrayed someone whose only interest is in himself. And distancing himself from a honest and principled team structure.

Were you at the game?

 

[londonyellow]

Dembele has loads of ability, but his lack of team play requires the other 10 being good enough to carry him.
His entry into and participation in the game yesterday, portrayed someone whose only interest is in himself. And distancing himself from a honest and principled team structure.

First time on the pitch in months. Maybe cut him a little slack

 

[Bicester Yellow]

Dembele has loads of ability, but his lack of team play requires the other 10 being good enough to carry him.
His entry into and participation in the game yesterday, portrayed someone whose only interest is in himself. And distancing himself from a honest and principled team structure.

Players like him and krastev have the ability to drag us up the pitch. Which we need, he’s not perfect and I agree with some of what you say but he pulls the team with him but needs to be coached to release the ball quicker, that comes down to the manager and the coaching team.

 

[Marked Ox]

First time on the pitch in months. Maybe cut him a little slack

I'd argue that the attempted cut back on to his right foot, when he should have shot with his left, was nothing to do with lack of minutes as he generally does that.

 

[Oldman159]

For what it’s worth.

My moments of magic yesterday……

Tyler’s strike, as befits him as a leader, Wat? (If you know, you know!)
Half time Turkey sammiches
Mills goal - from start to finish
Cumming’s shot stopping acrobatics
The final whistle

“But the ‘most enjoyable’ award goes to………




………..WILL LANKSHEARS sublime assist!


COYYs

 

[Nadi-]

Were you at the game?

Never said I was.
But have previously seen enough of someone,. Who thinks his ability carries more weight in a team identity, than others who give everything out there.
Rewatch the games he’s involved in.
Yesterday and QPR at home last season. Were more than enough to say he just doesn’t care.

 

[Nadi-]

Players like him and krastev have the ability to drag us up the pitch. Which we need, he’s not perfect and I agree with some of what you say but he pulls the team with him but needs to be coached to release the ball quicker, that comes down to the manager and the coaching team.

Krastev showed more in the time he was on the pitch, than Dembeles shown in a season and a half.
There must be a point, where you just have to say. Cut your cloth
As someone who always went against the grain, and backed Josh Murphy. Should be pretty evident by now to everyone, the difference between the two.

 

[Stranger]

Never said I was.
But have previously seen enough of someone,. Who thinks his ability carries more weight in a team identity, than others who give everything out there.
Rewatch the games he’s involved in.
Yesterday and QPR at home last season. Were more than enough to say he just doesn’t care.

You were talking about his contribution to the game yesterday. If you weren't there how can you comment? You wouldn't see from the stream his runs off the ball that take defenders out the equation, or the way he shows for the ball when he doesn't receive it.

I get it, you've made your mind up about him and no objectivity will get you to change it, but you shouldn't judge players off games you don't attend

 

[Jster]

Yesterday he actually did one crucial defensive intervention on the edge of the box too. Not the act of someone who just doesn't care.

 

[Marked Ox]

Is there any highlights of when Adam Armstrong tried to smash the ball in at the back post but only managed to slice it straight up a few feet in the air?

 

[Cass63]

Yesterday he actually did one crucial defensive intervention on the edge of the box too. Not the act of someone who just doesn't care.

Yes he did, really good job of putting his body in the way when they were pushing for a goal.

 

[Bicester Yellow]

Krastev showed more in the time he was on the pitch, than Dembeles shown in a season and a half.
There must be a point, where you just have to say. Cut your cloth
As someone who always went against the grain, and backed Josh Murphy. Should now be pretty evident by now to everyone, the difference between the two.

I wouldn’t lose any sleep if we lost dembele or moved him on but what I’m saying is that while he is here, he has the ability to drag us up the pitch with him from deep areas.

He’s infuriating but if managed and coached correctly there’s a player in there, not every player can be a robot like rowett wanted, you do need some attacking flair & I have seen dembele track back before as well so it’s not as if he can’t do it

 

[Nadi-]

You were talking about his contribution to the game yesterday. If you weren't there how can you comment? You wouldn't see from the stream his runs off the ball that take defenders out the equation, or the way he shows for the ball when he doesn't receive it.

I get it, you've made your mind up about him and no objectivity will get you to change it, but you shouldn't judge players off games you don't attend

You may surprise you, how many games I get to. Mainly away from home.
As I’ve acknowledged to a previous post, he had an input into a passage of play around our box. So don’t miss to much, even on tv.
Also revisited his input in Stan Mills goal, and found myself being proved correct about his input and attitude .
In a season and a half his contribution has been minimal at most.

 

[Bicester Yellow]

I'd argue that the attempted cut back on to his right foot, when he should have shot with his left, was nothing to do with lack of minutes as he generally does that.

See this point I would agree, he didn’t need to do the chop back, he just needed to hit it like mills did.

It’s not the fist time either like you say as he always does it.

He’s got the ability to drag us up the pitch in games so for me while he’s here we should utilise him in short bursts if needed, him and Krastev are similar players but perhaps Krastev is slightly more robust.

 

[Nadi-]

I wouldn’t lose any sleep if we lost dembele or moved him on but what I’m saying is that while he is here, he has the ability to drag us up the pitch with him from deep areas.

He’s infuriating but if managed and coached correctly there’s a player in there, not every player can be a robot like rowett wanted, you do need some attacking flair & I have seen dembele track back before as well so it’s not as if he can’t do it

Have said he has ability, but at this standard we can’t afford carry him.if we’re happy heading to division 1. Keep him.
Yesterday also said, he takes onboard and registers whatever his coaches ask of him.

 

[Bicester Yellow]

Have said he has ability, but at this standard we can’t afford carry him.if we’re happy heading to division 1. Keep him.
Yesterday also said, he takes onboard and registers whatever his coaches ask of him.

Going to be lots of players like that at this level tbh.

 

[uptheus]

The only downer on a brilliant boxing day match for me.... hey jude coming on the speakers at full volume as soon as the final whistle blew. There was riotous bouncing and chanting from the Oxford fans and then it immediately went dead as soon as the music went on. Let the fans sing to celebrate for a few minutes at least!

And the timing of it was shite too. By the time it got to the bit where the fans join in, the players etc had left the pitch!!

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

 

[Yellowarmy]

Not sure how anybody could find a negative about yesterday's game. What a great day for everyone