Oxford thread

[Redraine]

Originally Posted by football19

Can't agree Redraine,did their keeper consistently roll the ball out from the back,play fluent football on the deck and cut us to pieces ?,answer is NO

Course he didn't, but you are missing the point. They had 2 huge strikers who got on the ball from his kicks and gave our centre backs a hard time, though they coped well in the main. Our relatively small forwards never did that so our clearances handed Oxford the initiative every time.

[Jeg Red]

Originally Posted by smobile

...Score just one more goal per game and it's a different story....

Yes that's exactly the point, but our goal threat is almost none existent. We've had 22 efforts on goal in 12 matches and scored 7. Our conversion rate is 1 in 3 on target, but averaging less than 2 shots on target is not good enough. Until we redress this, we're not going to move forward and I'm not seeing any real signs of improvement in this area.

[football19]

To be fair Redraine,their front four are quality,and the 6-3 kitson was playing prem football not long back and should be playing at an higher level.

[Redraine]

Originally Posted by football19

To be fair Redraine,their front four are quality,and the 6-3 kitson was playing prem football not long back and should be playing at an higher level.

I'm not quite sure what you are getting at, Football19. In the thread starter I acknowledged our heroic defending but had a moan about our lack of quality attacking play. You say we "worked hard to stop them playing"; OK, but we didn't actually stop them playing, especially in the second half when their excellent approach play on the deck cut us to pieces and could easily have resulted in a couple of goals at least. I don't know where your optimism for us to pull out of this position is coming from, but of course I always seem to be watching a different game to you! However, I was optimistic before the start when I saw the team sheet with Webber and Gray up front, but we left them feeding on scraps with our version of hoofing the ball up to Oxford's towering defenders. More of the same on Tuesday and I fear we'll be having another inquest afterwards. Let's hope I'm wrong.

[carpon]

To be honest, whilst we can debate till the cows come home, facing facts we operate on the lowest budget in the League.

I don't envy Beattie's task, working with such limited resources, but it isn't helped by the fact that some of the current crop, whilst lacking technical ability, seem to lack the cohunas for the fight.

By my last comment, I'm aiming it fair and square at a select few players.

Mainly Joyce and Murphy.

Whilst he had a better game today, Joyce still comes up short. I'll give the lad some credit....he tried today. But as skipper and the focal point of midfield, he's coming up short.

Whether he has it in his game to become one nasty, hard tackling midfield dynamo that can spot a good pass remains to be seen. I've seen very,very brief glimpses. but in the main part the lad disappoints.

I'm of the opinion, with the right motivation, Joyce can be a damn good player at this level.In my humble opinion, he lacks application, aggression, concentration and composure. Like I say....brief and fleeting glimpses of such qualities he has shown....but we're talking for very, very brief periods in games. The lad needs to strive to dominate for the lions share of games and impose himself on the opposition.

I'd love him to prove me and a lot of others wrong....but the clock is ticking....over 1/4 into the season and relegations don't look good on c.v's when you want to find another employer.

Murphy......whilst the lad tries.....his shortcomings are all too apparent.

Can't tackle....can't pass. no positional sense.....wanders round like the preverbial nomad.

Maybe no fault of his own, when he's asked to play in several different roles......but at this precise moment, he ain't a League 2 midfielder.

Can he improve.......Murph needs to ask himself that question.

We're restricted by who and what we can can bring in to remedy the problem....but the lad Richardson isn't any sort of answer. He's not good enough....what Newcastle ever saw in him....God only knows.

Silk purses and sows ears spring to mind......fact remains......47,48 or even 49 points from the remaining 34 games can be achieved.

But to achieve that we need to start dominating sides, making and converting chances.

Beatts has talked about trench warfare mentality.......high time some of the players he selects take that on board and start performing like gladiators.

[football19]

You having a moan Redraine ?,never !!! .The main difference between the first and second halves were that they went longer,picked up more of the second balls,which allowed them to get on the ball more in advanced positions.
I am optimistic because we didn't conceed against a good attacking team,indeed probably the best in the league.

[carpon]

Originally Posted by football19

I am optimistic because we didn't conceed against a good attacking team,indeed probably the best in the league.

To me....down to a rightly lauded and rewarded M.O.M. display by Bettenelli....Aldred was also immense.

All the back five....keeper and the four lads in defence played rock solid, but at times are exposed by the lack of a competative and combative midfield.

[Chewbacca]

Could not get in today due to being 15 mins late, it would be good to leave turnstiles open a bit longer for people who have tickets in certain stands.

[Alvin the chipmunk]

Dragged a Roverite to the game today. His assessment? "You could have played another ninety and still wouldn't have scored".

Hard to disagree. A lucky point garnered via a couple of shocking Oxford misses and Bettenelli wonder saves. Beattie will no doubt trot out the "unlucky" schtick but there is nothing unlucky about not shooting when we have the chance.

We created nothing...yet JB drags off the one proven finisher we have and replaces him with arguably our worst midfielder. Time wasting and hanging on for a point at home is not good enough.

I don't care how much of "a muppet" it makes me. The naysayers who slagged Rob because he was busy sorting out wages rather than their petty gripe and those who hate Coley because he'd been there longer than them can jog on.

Too many people who lived and breathed our little club have been replaced by users and well wishers who haven't the foggiest.

Bring back JC and battling to make the Crown a fortress. Bring back players who genuinely care!!!

[Div3North]

Originally Posted by football19

Didn't they put 8 goals past us home and away last year ?

Er, no

We beat them home and away last season (1-0 each time)

They did beat us at their place 4-0 in 2010/11 and 5-1 in 2011/12 which may be what you had in mind ........

Flukey!

[Redraine]

Originally Posted by football19

You having a moan Redraine ?,never !!!

Ha ha, very humorous! Your loyalty to the players is admirable, but perhaps you should declare your special interest when commenting on our games, for the benefit of those who do not know. They might then understand your curiously one-eyed reports, regular bigging up of the oppositions' forwards and your obsession with formations and clean sheets. For me, I don't care a toss about clean sheets so long as we score more goals than the opposition, which I always naively thought was the object of the game. Surely it hasn't escaped your notice that we haven't yet achieved this in any game this season in League2?

[Redraine]

Double post!

[DAV007]

Originally Posted by Redraine

Ha ha, very humorous! Your loyalty to the players is admirable, but perhaps you should declare your special interest when commenting on our games, for the benefit of those who do not know. They might then understand your curiously one-eyed reports, regular bigging up of the oppositions' forwards and your obsession with formations and clean sheets. For me, I don't care a toss about clean sheets so long as we score more goals than the opposition, which I always naively thought was the object of the game. Surely it hasn't escaped your notice that we haven't yet achieved this in any game this season in League2?

Please tell us, im all ears.

[Lost in Cornwall]

They beat us 5=0 away and 3-0 at home last season. In fact we've never beaten them. Looking on the bright side I like to split the season up into thirds and see where we are after 15 and 30 matches with an aim of 20 points in each third. Our best two starts to the season have seen us with 23 points after 15 matches including last season and both times we've ended up struggling against relegation. Our worst to date saw us getting 13 points from the first 15 games the season we reached the play offs. Win the next three and we've got 13 points from the first 15. Play offs here we come!

[Redash]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Could not get in today due to being 15 mins late, it would be good to leave turnstiles open a bit longer for people who have tickets in certain stands.

When you're late, you need to go through the turnstile next to the changing rooms. It has Late entrance written above the gate, the gate will usually be closed but there is always somebody behind it.
If you need to be on the clayton end, just show your ticket to the steward on the gate and he/she will let you through.

I was 20 minutes late yesterday, but still got in.