Home Match Day Thread 28/09/24 - Championship: OUFC v Burnley

[holdsteady]

"Oxford are an embarrassment to the Championship. We are not good enough to beat them. Awful apology of a football match."

This genuinely made me laugh. #teamslikeoxford

For balance, there were plenty of comments countering rubbish like the above.

You could say the same about Burnley in the prem last season, except they were much worse than we are (obviously relatively).

 

[BrockBuster]

First live game of the season and very much enjoyed it, despite being a low possession 0-0. Think Des got it spot on with Nelson in and the more defensively solid Brown at LB ahead of Leigh.

Burnley had some very good players on show (thought Egan-Riley looked to have real quality) and a few that were absolutely rapid.

Harris worked his tail off for little reward and RR again looks like he's got the quality for this level. Was almost a complete performance defensively, only a couple of real chances for them despite the stats saying they had a number of shots.

Another example of opposing fans expecting little Oxford to roll over and just be grateful to be on the same pitch as certain teams. Got a difficult run of games now but if the players keep playing for each other (and Des and us of course) we'll continue to pick up points. COYS!

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

 

[Foley]

Just a couple of observations about yesterday's game.

Our defending against dead balls/ corners has been outstanding ( not just yesterday). Burnley didn't seem to gave a clue of how to break us down yesterday.

Somebody near me screamed ' I don't like those substitutions Des', after Dale and Edwards came on. Des was proved to be right. No manager is right all of the time, but overall Des gets it right far more than he gets it wrong. Dale especially added lots of energy ( and he is always good st helping the right back). Tyler moving into the middle also seemed to give us more of a threat.

 

[JOHN BOY]

Just a couple of observations about yesterday's game.

Our defending against dead balls/ corners has been outstanding ( not just yesterday). Burnley didn't seem to gave a clue of how to break us down yesterday.

Somebody near me screamed ' I don't like those substitutions Des', after Dale and Edwards came on. Des was proved to be right. No manager is right all of the time, but overall Des gets it right far more than he gets it wrong. Dale especially added lots of energy ( and he is always good st helping the right back). Tyler moving into the middle also seemed to give us more of a threat.

I'm amazed how good Edwards looked considering how long he's been out.Thought Edwards and Dale really freshened things up.

 

[Eric Blair]

I'm amazed how good Edwards looked considering how long he's been out.Thought Edwards and Dale really freshened things up.

Yep. Lovely to see both again. As you say for Edwards to fit back so seamlessly into a championship side must have taken a lot of hard graft on his part.

 

[Marked Ox]

RR again looks like he's got the quality for this level. Was almost a complete performance defensively, only a couple of real chances for them despite the stats saying they had a number of shots.

Loved RR's calmness and composure when stopping and taking a look whilst seemingly under pressure in our box, in the 1st half, to play a beauty of a pass to Sparky which ended up with our free kick.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Just a couple of observations about yesterday's game.

Our defending against dead balls/ corners has been outstanding ( not just yesterday). Burnley didn't seem to gave a clue of how to break us down yesterday.

Somebody near me screamed ' I don't like those substitutions Des', after Dale and Edwards came on. Des was proved to be right. No manager is right all of the time, but overall Des gets it right far more than he gets it wrong. Dale especially added lots of energy ( and he is always good st helping the right back). Tyler moving into the middle also seemed to give us more of a threat.

I guess playing Tyler on the wing was a tactical thing, because he looks much more effective in the middle ( where he always heads anyway) and Dale caused problems when he came on.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

Brown is a vastly better centre back than he is left back, and I think it would be quite something to pretend otherwise. His work rate and application means he will never let you down, and that’s to his vast credit, but let’s not pretend that Buckingham playing him there yesterday is in any way the same as Robinson sticking him there for months on end. Buckingham has one fit left back in Greg Leigh who is mostly attacking, and wanted a more defensive player to sit in and not leave his post against probably the best team in the division. By comparison, Robinson absolutely refused to sign full backs and stuck him there week after week, because he didn’t believe in defenders. We nearly got relegated in the process.

But you know that.

So Brown isn’t good enough to play left back in League One, but he is good enough to do it in the Championship - but only because we’re playing the best side in the division.

Make it make sense!

Not only that, but he was selected ahead of Greg Leigh, a player who most would have had at left back every week in League One!

(I’m obviously playing Devil’s Advocate to a degree, and I think that Brown is a better centre back than he is left back, but I stand by the fact that exactly the same decision is treated differently on here because it’s made by different managers {and yes, Des is a much, much better manager than Karl and his squad building is far better} anyway it will be interesting to see if Des keeps playing Brown there…)

 

[Foley]

So Brown isn’t good enough to play left back in League One, but he is good enough to do it in the Championship - but only because we’re playing the best side in the division.

Make it make sense!

Not only that, but he was selected ahead of Greg Leigh, a player who most would have had at left back every week in League One!

(I’m obviously playing Devil’s Advocate to a degree, and I think that Brown is a better centre back than he is left back, but I stand by the fact that exactly the same decision is treated differently on here because it’s made by different managers {and yes, Des is a much, much better manager than Karl and his squad building is far better} anyway it will be interesting to see if Des keeps playing Brown there…)

It seems to me that Brown has proven to be a very good left back (a Des left back - responsibility first to defend), as well as a very good CB.
I think that he is a little better at CB, but having been our player of the season at left back a couple of years ago as well as being our best player yesterday, he seems to be very much underrated at LB.

 

[Chrisox]

Really enjoyed the match yesterday each and every game we are seeing Des twick his tactics he is are 12th player.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

I guess playing Tyler on the wing was a tactical thing, because he looks much more effective in the middle ( where he always heads anyway) and Dale caused problems when he came on.

I'm hoping moving Tyler into midfield effectively replacing Brannagan will see us moving and keeping the ball better. It wasn't possible yesterday due to Burnley making pretty pictures with it but at Bristol City our passing game was off without Brannagan. Tyler's good enough to boss games from midfield and with Dembele, Malcolm, Dale, and Edward's avaliable out wide we won't miss Tyler out wide.

 

[Joey]

So Brown isn’t good enough to play left back in League One, but he is good enough to do it in the Championship - but only because we’re playing the best side in the division.

Make it make sense!

Not only that, but he was selected ahead of Greg Leigh, a player who most would have had at left back every week in League One!

(I’m obviously playing Devil’s Advocate to a degree, and I think that Brown is a better centre back than he is left back, but I stand by the fact that exactly the same decision is treated differently on here because it’s made by different managers {and yes, Des is a much, much better manager than Karl and his squad building is far better} anyway it will be interesting to see if Des keeps playing Brown there…)

Brown had to play left back because Robinson, after 10 transfer windows, managed to leave us with no other options there, as well as only one right back. He was also asked to get forwards a bit, which isn't his game.

Des has had two transfer windows and we have three left backs. One injured, one on loan and the other doesn't quite fit how he wants us to play quite regularly so Brown is the better option as he will be asked to concentrate on defending, which is clearly his strength. We can also call on Nelson who I suspect will prove homs of to be a bit of a player too so we aren't weakened in the middle

There's a huge difference between asking him to play as a fairly forward thinking left back because you've neglected the position for years and asking him to play as a stay at home left back because you think that the next game suits that instead of a more forward thinking left back. I've said loads he's better at centre back than left back but if he just needs to concentrate on defending and it allows Nelson into the team then I'm happy enough to see it. I like Leigh but he doesn't suit how Des wants us to set up. I remember some people making the argument that if Leigh was out they'd rather play Thorniley there than move Brown and play Nelson, I would hope that's been dispelled now.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

So Brown isn’t good enough to play left back in League One, but he is good enough to do it in the Championship - but only because we’re playing the best side in the division.

Make it make sense!

Not only that, but he was selected ahead of Greg Leigh, a player who most would have had at left back every week in League One!

(I’m obviously playing Devil’s Advocate to a degree, and I think that Brown is a better centre back than he is left back, but I stand by the fact that exactly the same decision is treated differently on here because it’s made by different managers {and yes, Des is a much, much better manager than Karl and his squad building is far better} anyway it will be interesting to see if Des keeps playing Brown there…)

You’re being purposefully obtuse.

Ciaron Brown would never have played another game at left back had Joe Bennett not mangled his ankle the day after Jack Currie was loaned out. If either one of those two were available yesterday, let alone both, they would’ve played there instead. Brown played there because Buckingham wanted someone who would not attack or cross the halfway line what so ever, and Brown did him a job. Just as Brown always ‘did a job’ at League One, because that’s the kind of player he is, although it is not his best position by a million miles. I bet you’re right that Buckingham does play him there again, but as soon as one of the other two are back, I bet that stops just as quickly.

Take Brown out of the centre of defence last season, knocking both Bennett and Leigh out of the side as well as breaking up the most consistent centre back partnership we’ve had for nearly a decade, and we would have probably been playing Blackpool instead of Burnley yesterday. Presumably you think otherwise?

You’ve discarded all of the above while calling for “people” (don’t bottle it next time) to apologise to the manager of League Two Salford City, who nearly turned us into League Two Oxford United. Make that make sense.

 

[derek]

Odd that a nil nil can be so satisfying, I thought the same at the Derby home match last season, it was like a chess game.

Even though some manager on sky a few weeks later kept referring to that match as one where Derby "schooled" Oxford (think it was Danny Cowley, maybe Darren Ferguson?).

One specific point - I loved the way Tyler anticipated the Burnley pass to nick the ball and shoot towards the end - fabulous. Shame they couldn't squeeze the ball into the net.

Onward and upwards!

 

[Stranger]

Odd that a nil nil can be so satisfying, I thought the same at the Derby home match last season, it was like a chess game.

Even though some manager on sky a few weeks later kept referring to that match as one where Derby "schooled" Oxford (think it was Danny Cowley, maybe Darren Ferguson?).

One specific point - I loved the way Tyler anticipated the Burnley pass to nick the ball and shoot towards the end - fabulous. Shame they couldn't squeeze the ball into the net.

Onward and upwards!

Have you ever played chess?

 

[ttg17]

Odd that a nil nil can be so satisfying, I thought the same at the Derby home match last season, it was like a chess game.

Even though some manager on sky a few weeks later kept referring to that match as one where Derby "schooled" Oxford (think it was Danny Cowley, maybe Darren Ferguson?).

One specific point - I loved the way Tyler anticipated the Burnley pass to nick the ball and shoot towards the end - fabulous. Shame they couldn't squeeze the ball into the net.

Onward and upwards!

Not to nitpick but I presume you mean the Bolton 0-0? That was a great game, a really compelling goalless draw. The derby home game was genuinely one of the most one-sided I’ve ever seen - the ball was barely in their half!

 

[Steve Gilbert]

The Chequers is a cracking pub! One me and my mates used to go to a lot after a game.

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

You’re being purposefully obtuse.

Ciaron Brown would never have played another game at left back had Joe Bennett not mangled his ankle the day after Jack Currie was loaned out. If either one of those two were available yesterday, let alone both, they would’ve played there instead. Brown played there because Buckingham wanted someone who would not attack or cross the halfway line what so ever, and Brown did him a job. Just as Brown always ‘did a job’ at League One, because that’s the kind of player he is, although it is not his best position by a million miles. I bet you’re right that Buckingham does play him there again, but as soon as one of the other two are back, I bet that stops just as quickly.

Take Brown out of the centre of defence last season, knocking both Bennett and Leigh out of the side as well as breaking up the most consistent centre back partnership we’ve had for nearly a decade, and we would have probably been playing Blackpool instead of Burnley yesterday. Presumably you think otherwise?

You’ve discarded all of the above while calling for “people” (don’t bottle it next time) to apologise to the manager of League Two Salford City, who nearly turned us into League Two Oxford United. Make that make sense.

Firstly I genuinely didn’t mean ‘Karl Robinson might be demanding a few apologies from RyanBirdio’, I just remembered that a few different people had ripped him for playing Brown at left back, saying he’s not one at all, so I thought it was funny that Des did it and he was MOTM, so you might want to turn down the main character syndrome a bit.

Secondly I agree Brown is a better centre back than left back. I agree that Bennett would have played there if fit. I wasn’t genuinely demanding an apology for a manager who I overall dislike. I was just making the point that Brown clearly can play left back just fine, because he just got voted MOTM playing there in a draw against one of the best sides in the Championship, and so Robinson playing there wasn’t, in my opinion, that crazy or ridiculous as SOME people have previously made out (but not having a balanced squad was, I agree)

 

[Eric Blair]

You’re being purposefully obtuse.

Ciaron Brown would never have played another game at left back had Joe Bennett not mangled his ankle the day after Jack Currie was loaned out. If either one of those two were available yesterday, let alone both, they would’ve played there instead. Brown played there because Buckingham wanted someone who would not attack or cross the halfway line what so ever, and Brown did him a job. Just as Brown always ‘did a job’ at League One, because that’s the kind of player he is, although it is not his best position by a million miles. I bet you’re right that Buckingham does play him there again, but as soon as one of the other two are back, I bet that stops just as quickly.

Take Brown out of the centre of defence last season, knocking both Bennett and Leigh out of the side as well as breaking up the most consistent centre back partnership we’ve had for nearly a decade, and we would have probably been playing Blackpool instead of Burnley yesterday. Presumably you think otherwise?

You’ve discarded all of the above while calling for “people” (don’t bottle it next time) to apologise to the manager of League Two Salford City, who nearly turned us into League Two Oxford United. Make that make sense.

As good as Ben Nelson was on Saturday (and not easy making your debut for us against Burnley) I will always prefer Brown with Moore at centre back when w have a fully fit squad. The two of them seem to have made the step up to the Championship with ease (which is just incredible)