Home Match Build-Up 30/11/2024 - Championship: Oxford United vs Millwall

[IsleofWightYellow]

Oh dear, someone's upset. You been thinking about Josh Murphy again? Don't think you've posted about him for at least 20 minutes (imagine him with 5 at the back - phwoar).

I'll be there Saturday lunchtime pal. More than can be said for you I imagine (I reckon the only time you'd get on that ferry is to have a nosh on Josh).

Meanwhile, you be sure to let me know if Football Focus is any good this week, won't you?

I’ve never watched football focus once in my life, can’t stand it. So we agree on that much at least!

I won’t be there on Saturday but I’ll be sure to look out for you next time I am, we can share a drink (you’re not getting a ‘nosh’ though however much it very clearly thrills you to think about that)

Anyway I’m truly sorry for saying 3 at the back sometimes works. If I’d know it would trigger you so much I wouldn’t have done it

(Just a bit of fun from my end, no offence taken)

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Rodrigues should be nowhere near the starting XI.

Same as Harris.

Agree. Goodrham should be in the middle with Vaulks (or El Mizouni) and Brannagan.

Scarlett to start up front.

 

[yellowbow]

I hope I’m wrong but I have a feeling that Des will start with Harris.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I hope I’m wrong but I have a feeling that Des will start with Harris.

If he does he’s just working on the theory that his form and drought can’t go on and on and must end at some point. On form Harris shouldn’t be in the 18, never mind starting. If Des is playing the percentages then I can sort of see the logic in that. Scarlett to start for me though.

 

[SteMerritt]

I’ve never watched football focus once in my life, can’t stand it.

If you've never watched it, how do you know?

 

[IsleofWightYellow]

If you've never watched it, how do you know?

Do you personally partake in everything before you decide that you don’t like it?!

If so, that raises some worrying questions…

 

[werthersoriginal]

Do you personally partake in everything before you decide that you don’t like it?!

If so, that raises some worrying questions…

"You should try everything once, except incest and morris dancing"

 

[Yellowmania]

"You should try everything once, except incest and morris dancing"

Got to add beetroot to the exception list.

 

[oufc1991]

"You should try everything once, except incest and morris dancing"

Well this thread took a strange turn .. what’s incest got to do with playing Millwall we’re not playing Swindon

 

[Foley]

If he does he’s just working on the theory that his form and drought can’t go on and on and must end at some point. On form Harris shouldn’t be in the 18, never mind starting. If Des is playing the percentages then I can sort of see the logic in that. Scarlett to start for me though.

Agree.
We have seen Harris go through a really bad patch and come back into form.
The good thing about Harris, is that even when he is out of form, he puts in 100% effort and so if the press is working, he causes the defence problems.
I would start Scarlett, but wouldn't be amazed if Harris did start.

 

[Mad Dog]

Leaning towards this now:



We keep winding up with our central striker isolated against two Championship CB, which yields nothing, so get some players around him to unsettle them.

Tyler, we all know, is so much better centrally, he can drop in the hole and pockets of space, linking midfield and attack, and can also drift into wider areas at times, but should never be made to stay wide, he's totally wasted out there.

Similar for Phillips, a very good player with experience of this level, but he won't have the legs to play exclusively out wide all game, so get him upfront, supporting Scarlett, dropping off into pockets, and drifting wide at times.

Leigh and Kioso can provide the width, without necessarily needing to keep getting to the byeline, and leaving us too exposed behind them, but high enough to support the attack, and get early balls into the box. And with Tyler and Phillips being more central, they can make sure they and Scarlett flood the box, for the crosses, with Cam ghosting in as well.

With El Miz, Josh and Cam providing a stronger, more stable midfield base, the interlinking and movement of Goodrham and Phillips, and supporting width coming from Leigh and Kioso, it's gonna cause more problems than the static, slow and predictable approach play we've seemingly settled into.

Sounds so simple doesn't it, but we've gotta try something a bit different surely?

 

[dickwalton1964]

Agree.
We have seen Harris go through a really bad patch and come back into form.
The good thing about Harris, is that even when he is out of form, he puts in 100% effort and so if the press is working, he causes the defence problems.
I would start Scarlett, but wouldn't be amazed if Harris did start.

True. It might just be me, clouded by his form, but I don’t feel he’s hassling defenders the way he did last year. They are obviously better defenders this season and perhaps that mutes his effectiveness off the ball. I also think his touch has been heavy at times and he’s not bringing others into play like he can. Scarlett’s holding up of the ball on Tuesday was exceptional at times, even if it didn’t lead to much.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

 

[m]

"You should try everything once, except incest and morris dancing"

Asking for a friend, but, is that the combination of the two, or each individually?

 

[pommy80]

Greg Leigh is not a Championship level full back. Love the bloke, but when you look at our right hand side, he's miles off Kioso and Ter Avest. I would not be surprised to see Currie recalled in Jan and starting by the end of the January window.

Bennett should be back by January I think. Doubt Currie would start ahead of him...

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Bennett should be back by January I think. Doubt Currie would start ahead of him...

I don't know, how well will Bennett recover from this serious injury at this stage of his career? Currie is a bright young prospect and playing very well by all accounts.

 

[Northstandboy]

Greg Leigh is not a Championship level full back. Love the bloke, but when you look at our right hand side, he's miles off Kioso and Ter Avest. I would not be surprised to see Currie recalled in Jan and starting by the end of the January window.

Currie would be a massive risk, a big step up at his age.

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Bennett should be back by January I think. Doubt Currie would start ahead of him...

Currie has been one of the best left-backs in League One this season. I really like Bennett as a player, but judging from the stats I have seen this season, Currie has a LOT more to his game and will only get better as he continues to develop! When we recall Currie, he will start.

Bennett is nearly 35, suffered a bad injury, and hasn't played for months. Is he up to the demands of Championship football? I'm not so sure...

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Currie would be a massive risk, a big step up at his age.

If you're good enough, you're old enough..

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Currie would be a massive risk, a big step up at his age.

He's 23 in a few weeks?

That's almost two years older than Tyler.
And only 3 months younger than relative journeyman Louie Sibley.

Who knows if he's good enough for The Championship in terms of quality - but with 86 Football League starts under his belt, he's certainly not a kid.