Fan's View Fan's View 24/25: No.4 - Coventry away

[Paul B]

Fan's View 24/25: No.4 - Coventry away

 

[Osleroad]

There was an issue with public transport which may have deterred some.

 

[Lost Marbles]

Thanks, good read as always. Might give Byatt's Brewery a try before the cup game, didn't even know it was there.

 

[NottsYellow]

Vaulk's back pass has an element of "Brock-esque" about it - Why did he do it and what was he thinking - It will be remembered for a very long time.

 

[Paul B]

Vaulk's back pass has an element of "Brock-esque" about it - Why did he do it and what was he thinking - It will be remembered for a very long time.

Some probably even more horrendous mistakes in the Championship yesterday. The Middlesbrough back pass v Derby that cost them the game. And what was Hladky in the Cardiff goal doing? The worst of the lot.

 

[NottsYellow]

For our second goal, some credit needs to go to Placheta even though he didn't touch the ball. As Tyler G & Cam were going down the left, Placheta running down the right of middle, moved across from the right to the left, causing the Coventry left centre half to also move across, leaving RR unmarked.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Some probably even more horrendous mistakes in the Championship yesterday. The Middlesbrough back pass v Derby that cost them the game. And what was Hladky in the Cardiff goal doing? The worst of the lot.

Hladky is the Burnley ‘keeper. USA ‘keeper Ethan Horvath between the sticks for Cardiff City.

 

[Paul B]

Hladky is the Burnley ‘keeper. USA ‘keeper Ethan Horvath between the sticks for Cardiff City.

whoops ... as bad an error as Horvarth made.

In my defence just realised where I picked this up from - Sky Sports website - "Cardiff City's goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky has a moment to forget as the ball slips under his foot and into the back of the net!"

 

[Northernyellow]

A pretty fair report, as ever. The big difference between L1 and Championship is pace and athleticism . They are generally bigger, quicker athletes at this level. That's why Sam Long won't make it in the Championship. Sorry everyone, I know he's local and loves the club etc etc, but he's just not quick enough. And I'm not sure that Rodriguez will make it either. Just needs a fraction too long on the ball. El Mizouni will come in for him soon. And Bennett will also be caught out for pace. Currie is defensively excellent, can tackle, is quick and will be in the starting XI by end September. Apart from that, we're looking pretty good. Much better than I thought we would tbh. We still need more back up for Scarlett & Harris. But pushing one of the better Championship teams to 90+6 is a great effort!

 

[TailsWeWin]

A pretty fair report, as ever. The big difference between L1 and Championship is pace and athleticism . They are generally bigger, quicker athletes at this level. That's why Sam Long won't make it in the Championship. Sorry everyone, I know he's local and loves the club etc etc, but he's just not quick enough. And I'm not sure that Rodriguez will make it either. Just needs a fraction too long on the ball. El Mizouni will come in for him soon. And Bennett will also be caught out for pace. Currie is defensively excellent, can tackle, is quick and will be in the starting XI by end September. Apart from that, we're looking pretty good. Much better than I thought we would tbh. We still need more back up for Scarlett & Harris. But pushing one of the better Championship teams to 90+6 is a great effort!

Excellent summary of the situation.
Yes, the biggest difference is PACE. Players in the Championship move more quickly, think more quickly and pass more sharply. It was particularly noticeable at Coventry and some changes will be necessary if we are to survive at this level. I’m sure Des knows this.

 

[Made-in-Jericho]

Good read as usual. Saw the first game v Norwich and left feeling confident of the season ahead at the end. Saw this on Sky and the feeling this was more indicative of the levels we will be up against.
The ball really didn't stick and Coventry managed to win the ball back at will, allied to their lightning press and high speed attack proud that we managed to push them so far. A total gut-wrencher to lose in the way we did but they clearly were better in most departments.
They celebrated like they'd just beaten Man U in the cup - this speaks volumes I guess.

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

I had a jolly good time in The Cherry Tree. Duke box, great music, Madri £3.70 a pint. No other Oxford apart from me so I stuck out like a spare prick at a wedding.

 

[Bitter]

I am amazed you managed to see the game after drinking 9 pints then getting a tenth free.

 

[BrockBuster]

There was an issue with public transport which may have deterred some.

And on the roads. And the 20 or so fans who travelled up but their tickets didn't make it from Oxford.

 

[NottsYellow]

I think the Safe-Standing made significant contribution to the good atmosphere. Bizarrely standing up, one is more likely to join in the chanting/singing.
About half the away end seems to be safe standing, and in the home end it was blocks 11,12,13,14 & 15. So possibly 3,000 - 4,000 seats were "safe-standing"
I hope 25% of our new stadium will be safe-standing, but with scope to increase it if demand is there.

 

[Paul B]

I think the Safe-Standing made significant contribution to the good atmosphere. Bizarrely standing up, one is more likely to join in the chanting/singing.
About half the away end seems to be safe standing, and in the home end it was blocks 11,12,13,14 & 15. So possibly 3,000 - 4,000 seats were "safe-standing"
I hope 25% of our new stadium will be safe-standing, but with scope to increase it if demand is there.

Everyone seemed to be standing whether in the designated "safe standing" area or not.

 

[Paul B]

I am amazed you managed to see the game after drinking 9 pints then getting a tenth free.

If I'd had nine I certainly wouldn't have been able to see the game. Wouldn't have been able to stand.

 

[Foley]

Excellent summary of the situation.
Yes, the biggest difference is PACE. Players in the Championship move more quickly, think more quickly and pass more sharply. It was particularly noticeable at Coventry and some changes will be necessary if we are to survive at this level. I’m sure Des knows this.

We have seen 2 games.
One we outplayed a Top half of the Championship team.
Coventry will in all likelihood finish Top 6.
I think that it is a bit early to suggest what most Championship players are like.
I guess that we all expected to struggle away at Leeds, Coventry, Burnley.
We will know a lot more after Blackburn/ Preston I reckon.

 

[Paul B]

We have seen 2 games.
One we outplayed a Top half of the Championship team.
Coventry will in all likelihood finish Top 6.
I think that it is a bit early to suggest what most Championship players are like.
I guess that we all expected to struggle away at Leeds, Coventry, Burnley.
We will know a lot more after Blackburn/ Preston I reckon.

Blackburn looked very good attacking wise against Derby. Defence not so good.

 

[Common Villager]

A pretty fair report, as ever. The big difference between L1 and Championship is pace and athleticism . They are generally bigger, quicker athletes at this level. That's why Sam Long won't make it in the Championship. Sorry everyone, I know he's local and loves the club etc etc, but he's just not quick enough. And I'm not sure that Rodriguez will make it either. Just needs a fraction too long on the ball. El Mizouni will come in for him soon. And Bennett will also be caught out for pace. Currie is defensively excellent, can tackle, is quick and will be in the starting XI by end September. Apart from that, we're looking pretty good. Much better than I thought we would tbh. We still need more back up for Scarlett & Harris. But pushing one of the better Championship teams to 90+6 is a great effort!

My view is that we are going to need our full squad throughout the season. Sam Long will get game time at both RB and CB, the midfield will be rotated as they are being asked to work very hard every match, as is Harris.

I disagree about Bennett, he is a classy, intelligent footballer. I'm sure Currie will feature but he would do well to spend some time learning from Bennett, a player who has done it at the top of the game.

Des showed in his masterclass video that he considers matchups (which is why I was a little surprised Long started against Coventry). We are past the KR era of favourites.

 

[Browny]

Couple of grumbles about visiting Coventry which I think some will see as minor but I see as somewhat disrespectful

1. Away players not being afforded a warm up with their fans, I know some Cov fans are at that end too but a bit poor

2. Oxford team was announced (with errors) at 7.15pm, 45 mins before kick off and they said the Cov team would be announced just before the game started. They did this but not again read out the Oxford team

3. When a home player scores they rightly announce it with glee, when an away player scores the scorers name is not announced

This was of course no different from the Cup game last season but all seems a bit petty and disrespectful. Coventry have had their problems and when in trouble were keen for everyone to show support for them, which I think teams did. But now they are on the up then all this does not feel right

As I say some will say who cares but I am not sure there is another club in the 140 odd grounds I have been to that does not announce the team when the players come onto the field and does not announce the scorers name

 

[MarkG]

Couple of grumbles about visiting Coventry which I think some will see as minor but I see as somewhat disrespectful

1. Away players not being afforded a warm up with their fans, I know some Cov fans are at that end too but a bit poor

2. Oxford team was announced (with errors) at 7.15pm, 45 mins before kick off and they said the Cov team would be announced just before the game started. They did this but not again read out the Oxford team

3. When a home player scores they rightly announce it with glee, when an away player scores the scorers name is not announced

This was of course no different from the Cup game last season but all seems a bit petty and disrespectful. Coventry have had their problems and when in trouble were keen for everyone to show support for them, which I think teams did. But now they are on the up then all this does not feel right

As I say some will say who cares but I am not sure there is another club in the 140 odd grounds I have been to that does not announce the team when the players come onto the field and does not announce the scorers name

I didn't go, but I saw from twitter that the match day programme was full of mistakes.
players all listed as coming through the academy
players all listed as English
our top flight record was wrong