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

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

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...

Agree. Plus he's only contracted until the end of the season. Will he have a part to play?

 

[chuckbert]

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

I didn’t know they were different things.

 

[Upthecowboys]

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

Think it would be a bigger risk not playing Currie..

Bennett had had a serious injury and surely won’t be match for Jan.

We all love Greg Leigh but from a defensive perspective I don’t think he’s quite good enough in the Championship.

Currie has been a stand out player in Div 1 and he’s not a kid. I’m pretty sure he’ll be recalled and will be given a chance.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Leaning towards this now:

View attachment 23780

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 ennit?

I'd go for

Cumming

Ter Avest Moore Brown Leigh
El Mizouni
Goodrham Brannagan
Placheta Scarlett Phillips

Leigh's aerial ability will be key against a direct Millwall side

 

[Swaby39]

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

We’ll never know unless it’s tried but I don’t think Greg Leigh has done much wrong, it just doesn’t work between him and Brown anywhere near as well as it has with Bennett. Sometimes these combinations just don’t find stride and Boro in particular found endless joy down that side and they aren’t the first. We know what Leigh is about and it isn’t staying in his lane marking wingers out of the game like Kioso for example.

If Currie has had a good run at Orient he will arrive fully match fit and having had pre season with us will know what he’s got to do.

I think we will shuffle the pack in January which will allow for Currie anyway. I think it’s a bit of a no-brainer. The back 4 needs settling down asap, it’s seen far too much change this season but availability records for Cumming, Moore, Brown, Currie and Kioso are especially good so perhaps from January onwards we can get some consistency.

 

[Mad Dog]

I'd go for

Cumming

Ter Avest Moore Brown Leigh
El Mizouni
Goodrham Brannagan
Placheta Scarlett Phillips

Leigh's aerial ability Will be key against a direct Millwall side

From what I've seen of Placheta so far, for me he's an impact sub.

He doesn't offer enough defensive support (if any) to play from the start, and would probably be better coming on against tiring legs, when he can attack with a bit more freedom. But pace is useless without an end product, which up to now he's lacked. I'm hoping he'll come good though.

I also think Phillips, at 33 and with a few injuries under his belt now, could struggle as an out and out wide player, playing from the start, as he could struggle with the early pace and having to keep tracking back. I think he'd be better starting a bit more centrally as a deep lying striker, an old fashioned number 10, drifting into wide positions at times. Henry style!

I think Tyler would be best playing more freely, in the pockets of space between midfield and attack, linking up, drifting wide, and creating chances for himself and others.

It's important our midfield three become more stable, solid and dominant in games, as for me, that's where our main problems lie. We keep getting totally outplayed in midfield, and at times the opposition are having so much time and space on the ball in the middle of the pitch, it's frightening, they just stroll through our midfield, and it leaves our defence completely exposed and overrun.

Get our back four and midfield three solid, strong and stable, get more of a foothold in the game and control of the ball, and get the ball forward more quickly to our more advanced creative players, with Cam drifting forwards in support.

Easy ennit? I think Guardiola will be calling me soon, to help put a stop to Man City's poor form....sorry Pep, but I'm not interested.

 

[MarkG]

https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/thames-valley/news/2024/november/25-11-2024/policing-operation-for-oxford-united-versus-millwall-football-club--oxford/

 

[Foley]

We’ll never know unless it’s tried but I don’t think Greg Leigh has done much wrong

Not sure that I agree with that.
I think that without Bennett, we have been very exposed.
I like Greg Leigh, but I am sure that not many people are surprised that we look far weaker defensively with Greg in the side, with the system Des plays.
We need 2 good defensive full backs to make the system work with a 4 at the back.
Even with 3 at the back, we are too exposed wide.

 

[Mad Dog]

Not sure that I agree with that.
I think that without Bennett, we have been very exposed.
I like Greg Leigh, but I am sure that not many people are surprised that we look far weaker defensively with Greg in the side, with the system Des plays.
We need 2 good defensive full backs to make the system work with a 4 at the back.
Even with 3 at the back, we are too exposed wide.

I agree. Bennett has been a devastating loss, and the sooner he returns, the better.

 

[Swaby39]

Not sure that I agree with that.
I think that without Bennett, we have been very exposed.
I like Greg Leigh, but I am sure that not many people are surprised that we look far weaker defensively with Greg in the side, with the system Des plays.
We need 2 good defensive full backs to make the system work with a 4 at the back.
Even with 3 at the back, we are too exposed wide.

That’s really what I was getting at with the rest of the post. It hasn’t been the same with Leigh and Brown has looked very out of sorts the longer they’ve played together.

I think Leigh is good for a certain purpose and a great character but there’s no doubt we’re not the same side when Bennett is missing.

 

[WE Yellow]

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...

To his credit, Bennett came in last season without a pre season, having played 20 games in 2 years and slotted in at left back and looked a class above so I wouldn't write him off just yet.

 

[JOHN BOY]

Ok, that’s fine if he does that. I wouldn’t agree, but it would make more sense than playing him in a box to box role or out wide.

The best we’ve seen of Ruben is arriving late in the box or going beyond the striker. He moves well, links play and can finish. Personally I think if he were played in a role he was a natural fit for, he might get the measure of the league a bit quicker.

I thought he's been playing in his best roll.

 

[PottersRightBoot]

It's a conundrum. In my view, despite having six fit defenders it's hard to identify a solid back four. I like the Moore/Brown CB pairing and Kioso at RB but I'm flummoxed for a good choice at LB. Love Leigh but he tends to go AWOL. Long at LB doesn't sound plausible. Ter Avest? Not sure whether he's 100% right footed.

I’d play Brown at left back and Long at centre back, Trev. Leigh could maybe do a job on left side further up the pitch. I don’t think he’s positionally switched on enough at this level as a LB.

 

[Nadi-]

Cumming
Kioso Moore Brown Leigh
El Mizouni Mceachran
Goodrham Brannagan Placheta
Scarlett or Phillips

 

[tonyw]

To his credit, Bennett came in last season without a pre season, having played 20 games in 2 years and slotted in at left back and looked a class above so I wouldn't write him off just yet.

We shouldn't write him off.- but at the same time, we shouldn't expect him to come in and cure all our ills either.

His legs aren't the youngest, and against quick, direct classy wingers, he may struggle (as he did, for example, against Coventry and Sakamoto)

 

[OX18]

Alterations to the football specials drop off and pickup, seems we now have quite a walk to get a pre match pint in Bowlplex / F&B’s

Due to the increasing popularity of the Oxford United football special buses, and the increased matchday use of Oxford Bus Company services between Oxford city centre and the Kassam Stadium, some amendments have been made to the drop off and pick up areas for buses to enhance the service and improve public safety

With effect from the Saturday 30 November football special buses will no longer drop and pick up passengers on Grenoble Road. Instead, these will enter the Kassam Stadium Car Park via Guelder Road and drop passengers in the East Car Park. These buses will then turn around and be repositioned in Guelder Road ready to collect passengers when the match is finished.

In addition, the bus stops opposite the stadium on Grenoble Road will be suspended post-match. After the match has finished, all service buses to Oxford City Centre will now go around the roundabout and pick up passengers on the stadium side of Grenoble Road in the designated bus layby where there will be plenty of space for queuing passengers. These buses will then go to the next roundabout and return along Grenoble Road towards the city centre.

 

[Carpy]

These buses will then turn around and be repositioned in Guelder Road ready to collect passengers when the match is finished.

Should make getting out of the East Stand car park absolute hell.

 

[CCYellow]

Should make getting out of the East Stand car park absolute hell.

Alternatively, a good incentive for those who can to use public transport.

 

[LeftSideBoy]

Good evening all!

Just a quick one. Tomorrow, as we know, is massive for us! It’s going to be a difficult game, and after the last few results, our backs are against the wall. As always, the YD lads, are going to be in full song in the East Stand, but we need each and every voice behind the lads tomorrow!

We need to come together, raise the roof, and create an atmosphere that spans the full 90 minutes. This isn’t easy, but we have shown that we can do it! So much work went into the end of last season and the YellowDivision lads have done everything they can to help, but now is the time to unite the fanbase and bring it all together to make our voices heard! The club, and the players, need each and every one of us!

A United Oxford. Together!

Think back to the home leg of the play off semi final against Peterborough and the impact that we all had! As a fanbase, collectively, we played a massive part in helping the players over the line…

Together, we are stronger…

Let’s do this!

Up the f*****g Ox!

See you all tomorrow

 

[ttg17]

Tomorrow feels like a very big game. The first in a while, since Hull really, where you feel we should probably get a result. To be honest, I’d be happy with even a draw, given the number of losses we’ve had recently. We need points on the board.

I’m feeling tentatively confident. With the likes of Bran and Phillips getting minutes in legs, it feels like we’re beginning to get the nub of our good team from the beginning of the season back. I do worry about how damaging the last week will have been for morale though.

Love Harris but Scarlett should start. Brown and Moore in at CB should do something to nullify their direct approach. Would love to see Cam and TG ahead of Vaulks/McE in the midfield with Phillips and PP out wide but suspect we’ll see TG wide with El Miz central.

Not going to predict a win, as whenever I do we lose, but feel like we won’t lose. 1-1.