Summary
That score line still doesn't seem right to look at!
Oxford put in a gritty, determined performance coupled with some scintillating football at times to down The Foxes on their home ground for the second time this year. In one of the most deserved 4-0 score lines you'll ever find, a mix of raw youth and level-headed experience more than did the job to get an eye-catching result, sending warning signs to the rest of the league.
In the first half, an early lead for Aaron Ramsey's side courtesy of a somewhat controversial goal from Mark Harris, set the tempo for the rest of the afternoon. There was a short period of pressure from the hosts following the goal, in which veteran Simon Eastwood pulled off a couple of important saves, but that was really Leicester done on the attacking front for the game. This half was a real show of maturity: without creating too much going forward, we were incredibly disciplined out of possession, frustrating the home side and limiting them to a lot of the ball in unthreatening areas.
In the second period, we really turned it on! Without going too over the top, this may well be one of the best halves of football I've seen an Oxford side put in over recent years, taking into account the calibre of opposition. After his wonderfully weighted cross in the first half, it was Mo Missanga's turn to put the ball in the back of the net, when he was played through and showed composure well beyond his years, before slotting home beautifully to send the away end into pandemonium. At that point, you'd have been forgiven for thinking it was far from over, given this is of course Oxford we are talking about, but unbelievably, we didn't sit back and let the opposition onto us. Instead we kept carving Russell Martin's side open, adding another two goals, and keeping a much deserved clean sheet.
A simply brilliant performance and result.
Player ratings
Simon Eastwood - 8/10 - As mentioned, a couple of brilliant saves in the first half. Fairly comfortable with the ball at his feet as well; much deserved first clean sheet in over 3 years for him.
Peter Kioso - 9/10 - Absolutely nothing got past him. Really enjoying his revival in an Oxford shirt. Suspect there's some tough decisions to be made in the full back positions now.
Brodie Spencer - 9/10 - Just as good as PK on the other side. Had some good moments on the ball as well.
Ciaron Brown - 7/10 - Had pretty much nothing to do all afternoon; solid as ever.
Michal Helik - 7/10 - Exactly the same for him. Not a coincidence we look much better defensively with him in the side though.
Jamie McDonnell - 10/10 (MOTM) - Absolutely everywhere. Really thrives in these kind of games and much improved in possession here. Earned his first goal in Oxford colours.
Cam Brannagan - 8/10 - Had his passing boots back on with some lovely switches out to Missanga in the first half. Not much else to say.
Kai Andrews - 9/10 - Much needed physicality alongside Brannagan. Picked up two assists showing his creativity going forward; very exciting debut.
Siriki Dembele - 8/10 - Absolutely tore Leicester apart in the first half. As ever, struggled with the final action though.
Tyler Goodrham - 7/10 - Brilliant strength to set up the fourth goal. Can't give anyone below a 7 either.
Mo Missanga - 10/10 - Would put money on this being the only 10/10 that doesn't win MOTM this season. Lost for words with his performance, even outside of the goal and assist. We've got a serious player on our hands, so lets enjoy him whilst we can!
Luka Lynch - 8/10 - Some brilliant body work to get round the left back. Perfectly weighted cross to set up the fourth goal. Very exciting options out wide.
Mark Harris - 9/10 - Such a good striker when he's got that confidence. Pressing and work rate as impressive as ever and grabbed himself a couple of goals in light of O'Donkor's recent goal scoring form.
Gatlin O'Donkor - 7/10 - Not sure if he touched the ball, but again, no one is getting below a 7 after that.
Key talking points
#1: The kids are alright
With 6/8 goal contributions coming from players aged 22 or under, the future certainly looks exciting. Whilst, admittedly, a couple of those goal contributions were from loanees, should this season go right, they are players that we may well be able to attract on a permanent basis.
But the pick of the bunch, for the second game running, was 18 year old Mo Missanga. The way he beats his man on both the inside and the outside is a joy to watch. When was the last time we had a winger capable of putting in a cross of that calibre whilst also having such composure and finishing ability in front of goal?
With the way things have panned out, and the ripple effect that has come from it, I think we can all be pretty happy that Stan Mills dropped out of the squad for the first game of the season.
#2: Super Aaron Ramsey
Without being all doom and gloom, and without getting carried away, I suspect it may be a case of, as with Mo Missanga, enjoy it while it lasts.
Some of the football we played on Saturday, particularly in the second half, was some of the very best I've ever seen an Oxford side play; the press was spot on, there was clear structure out of possession, and once more, despite a few eyebrows being raised at 13:45, his team selection was absolutely spot on.
To drop Jack Currie, after what I said about him in the match preview, was an incredibly bold decision, but one that worked perfectly. By bringing the right-footed Brodie Spencer in at left back, against the right-footed Leicester winger Wes Burns, the positioning of Spencer forces Burns inside onto his weaker foot, as opposed to the left-footed Jack Currie, who would have been more inclined to show the Leicester number 7 down the outside, allowing him to have a bigger impact on the game.
The inclusion of Mark Harris from the start also proved the right one, despite much scepticism before kick off.
#3: Player revivals
In Peter Kioso and Siriki Dembele, we have two players that had there not been an embargo, I heavily suspect would be playing elsewhere and many would have been happy for them to do so.
Instead, with the opportunities that they are being given, we are (sort of) seeing two completely different players.
In Kioso's case, I almost feel I should delete my comments on him from the Summer squad preview. The player we are seeing, albeit at a lower level, is just a totally different one to the one that was brought in two years ago. There are now some really tough decisions for Ramsey to make in this position, but I'm sure it will be 'a good predicament to be in'.
With Dembele, whilst we are still seeing a player who struggles in the final third and with the final action, in the mid-phases of play, we are seeing a player who is almost unstoppable in this league. His trickery and dribbling ability in tight areas in such an asset to have in this side. He absolutely tore Leicester apart in that first period.
Finally, whilst I know myself, and I'm sure many others, are absolutely buzzing at the thought of the football next Saturday, and for many, for maybe the first time in a while, it's important not to take anything for granted. As we know from our time in the championship, teams underestimating 'smaller' sides and being complacent, never ends well, and this will be the same for us, unless we put in a performance like Saturday, which has now set the standard. Enjoy it, but let's not say anything that might come back to bite us in regards to Saturday's game!
As always, thanks for reading a report that was particularly fun to write this week, and let me know your thoughts!
That score line still doesn't seem right to look at!
Oxford put in a gritty, determined performance coupled with some scintillating football at times to down The Foxes on their home ground for the second time this year. In one of the most deserved 4-0 score lines you'll ever find, a mix of raw youth and level-headed experience more than did the job to get an eye-catching result, sending warning signs to the rest of the league.
In the first half, an early lead for Aaron Ramsey's side courtesy of a somewhat controversial goal from Mark Harris, set the tempo for the rest of the afternoon. There was a short period of pressure from the hosts following the goal, in which veteran Simon Eastwood pulled off a couple of important saves, but that was really Leicester done on the attacking front for the game. This half was a real show of maturity: without creating too much going forward, we were incredibly disciplined out of possession, frustrating the home side and limiting them to a lot of the ball in unthreatening areas.
In the second period, we really turned it on! Without going too over the top, this may well be one of the best halves of football I've seen an Oxford side put in over recent years, taking into account the calibre of opposition. After his wonderfully weighted cross in the first half, it was Mo Missanga's turn to put the ball in the back of the net, when he was played through and showed composure well beyond his years, before slotting home beautifully to send the away end into pandemonium. At that point, you'd have been forgiven for thinking it was far from over, given this is of course Oxford we are talking about, but unbelievably, we didn't sit back and let the opposition onto us. Instead we kept carving Russell Martin's side open, adding another two goals, and keeping a much deserved clean sheet.
A simply brilliant performance and result.
Player ratings
Simon Eastwood - 8/10 - As mentioned, a couple of brilliant saves in the first half. Fairly comfortable with the ball at his feet as well; much deserved first clean sheet in over 3 years for him.
Peter Kioso - 9/10 - Absolutely nothing got past him. Really enjoying his revival in an Oxford shirt. Suspect there's some tough decisions to be made in the full back positions now.
Brodie Spencer - 9/10 - Just as good as PK on the other side. Had some good moments on the ball as well.
Ciaron Brown - 7/10 - Had pretty much nothing to do all afternoon; solid as ever.
Michal Helik - 7/10 - Exactly the same for him. Not a coincidence we look much better defensively with him in the side though.
Jamie McDonnell - 10/10 (MOTM) - Absolutely everywhere. Really thrives in these kind of games and much improved in possession here. Earned his first goal in Oxford colours.
Cam Brannagan - 8/10 - Had his passing boots back on with some lovely switches out to Missanga in the first half. Not much else to say.
Kai Andrews - 9/10 - Much needed physicality alongside Brannagan. Picked up two assists showing his creativity going forward; very exciting debut.
Siriki Dembele - 8/10 - Absolutely tore Leicester apart in the first half. As ever, struggled with the final action though.
Tyler Goodrham - 7/10 - Brilliant strength to set up the fourth goal. Can't give anyone below a 7 either.
Mo Missanga - 10/10 - Would put money on this being the only 10/10 that doesn't win MOTM this season. Lost for words with his performance, even outside of the goal and assist. We've got a serious player on our hands, so lets enjoy him whilst we can!
Luka Lynch - 8/10 - Some brilliant body work to get round the left back. Perfectly weighted cross to set up the fourth goal. Very exciting options out wide.
Mark Harris - 9/10 - Such a good striker when he's got that confidence. Pressing and work rate as impressive as ever and grabbed himself a couple of goals in light of O'Donkor's recent goal scoring form.
Gatlin O'Donkor - 7/10 - Not sure if he touched the ball, but again, no one is getting below a 7 after that.
Key talking points
#1: The kids are alright
With 6/8 goal contributions coming from players aged 22 or under, the future certainly looks exciting. Whilst, admittedly, a couple of those goal contributions were from loanees, should this season go right, they are players that we may well be able to attract on a permanent basis.
But the pick of the bunch, for the second game running, was 18 year old Mo Missanga. The way he beats his man on both the inside and the outside is a joy to watch. When was the last time we had a winger capable of putting in a cross of that calibre whilst also having such composure and finishing ability in front of goal?
With the way things have panned out, and the ripple effect that has come from it, I think we can all be pretty happy that Stan Mills dropped out of the squad for the first game of the season.
#2: Super Aaron Ramsey
Without being all doom and gloom, and without getting carried away, I suspect it may be a case of, as with Mo Missanga, enjoy it while it lasts.
Some of the football we played on Saturday, particularly in the second half, was some of the very best I've ever seen an Oxford side play; the press was spot on, there was clear structure out of possession, and once more, despite a few eyebrows being raised at 13:45, his team selection was absolutely spot on.
To drop Jack Currie, after what I said about him in the match preview, was an incredibly bold decision, but one that worked perfectly. By bringing the right-footed Brodie Spencer in at left back, against the right-footed Leicester winger Wes Burns, the positioning of Spencer forces Burns inside onto his weaker foot, as opposed to the left-footed Jack Currie, who would have been more inclined to show the Leicester number 7 down the outside, allowing him to have a bigger impact on the game.
The inclusion of Mark Harris from the start also proved the right one, despite much scepticism before kick off.
#3: Player revivals
In Peter Kioso and Siriki Dembele, we have two players that had there not been an embargo, I heavily suspect would be playing elsewhere and many would have been happy for them to do so.
Instead, with the opportunities that they are being given, we are (sort of) seeing two completely different players.
In Kioso's case, I almost feel I should delete my comments on him from the Summer squad preview. The player we are seeing, albeit at a lower level, is just a totally different one to the one that was brought in two years ago. There are now some really tough decisions for Ramsey to make in this position, but I'm sure it will be 'a good predicament to be in'.
With Dembele, whilst we are still seeing a player who struggles in the final third and with the final action, in the mid-phases of play, we are seeing a player who is almost unstoppable in this league. His trickery and dribbling ability in tight areas in such an asset to have in this side. He absolutely tore Leicester apart in that first period.
Finally, whilst I know myself, and I'm sure many others, are absolutely buzzing at the thought of the football next Saturday, and for many, for maybe the first time in a while, it's important not to take anything for granted. As we know from our time in the championship, teams underestimating 'smaller' sides and being complacent, never ends well, and this will be the same for us, unless we put in a performance like Saturday, which has now set the standard. Enjoy it, but let's not say anything that might come back to bite us in regards to Saturday's game!
As always, thanks for reading a report that was particularly fun to write this week, and let me know your thoughts!
