Let's talk about the Oxford United game

[Metalmicky]

I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if the club didn't prefer (wherever possible) for them to travel straight back after games. Not ideal, but at least they would get back to their own homes/beds without unnecessary exposure in hotels...  Maybe SM can enlighten us

[selby]

  One problem is how many rooms are required now, and the number of Hotels that can provide the required number, because players cannot share rooms quite a few of the Hotels we used couldn't do it.
  I think the number of overnight stops have been cut to a minimum.

[roversdude]

Exactly Selby I was wondering if the bubble mitigated the room numbers. Even then most hotels are not offering meals where they are they are to be eaten back in the room

[drfchound]

You would think we were about to play Man City reading some of these posts.

Unbelievable Jeff.

Mmmmm, and some others might see that we are not playing too well and are about to play a very good Oxford side on a ground we don’t usually do too well on.
Perhaps some supporters are just wondering whether we can get something from the game.

Maybe hound but some are talking about us as if we are a lost cause. We are a long way from that.

Well, to be fair, they are entitled to have an opinion.

hound did i say they were not? 
.

No mate, of course not, but your first post (about Man City) kind of indicated that maybe it was a poor opinion to have.

[the vicar]

I guess the team is the best we can call on but the bench is the worst I have seen in a long time, but that is no one’s fault just injured players

[since-1969]

It’s going to be another game where if points are gained then it’s going to be through hard work and perhaps a little luck .
I’m sure also that  our end of seasons games against Peterborough will decide whether we have any say on who is the automatic places yet  it could be games like this against Oxford that has to be seen as any point gained will be welcome !!

[pib]

I can see 3-0 defeat

In that case we might as well not get on the Bus, give them the 3pts and let our lads have a mid week rest. 

As it turns out, this might have been the best option.

[drfchound]

Someone is missing with a half time summary.

[POD]

I guess the team is the best we can call on but the bench is the worst I have seen in a long time, but that is no one’s fault just injured players

Two weeks ago when we beat Portsmouth easily, we had Taylor, Bogle, James, Bostock, Robertson and Simms all playing.   None are available tonight and we haven’t got the strength in depth to replace so many being out at one time.   

[Campsall rover]

Fortunately I missed the 1st half.

2nd half we huffed and puffed but never really looked like scoring.

No one wants to get the ball into the box early. We always seem to take the extra pass and are too slow in our decision making.

Must admit it is looking very worrying now. We have lost our way, confidence is seeping away. We need injured bodies back quick.

[Chris Black come back]

It's pretty bad and is repeat of the problems that have dogged us all season.

First, this is a poor defensive unit that concedes goals too easily. Anderson carried them all for a long time but has dropped off in recent weeks. We are a very soft touch for a goal and we nearly almost lose when we concede first. As a unit, is it the least convincing since the Dickov and McKenzie era? Feels like it.

Second, it is absolutely pointless playing the ball to Okenbirhie with his back to goal. He always loses possession. Not sometimes, not most times, not almost always, not pretty much always. He always loses possession. Totally pointless yet we keep playing to him in this position.

Third, we are perennially way too ponderous. Passing out slowly from the back, passing slowly through midfield, slowly getting it wide, and what's this..? Lo and behold we are facing two banks of four at the edge of the box and we can't play through them, so lose possession. We almost never get behind sides. We almost never connect with crosses into the box. We almost never have more than one player in the box at the same time.

We may or may not make the play offs. I'd be happy if we could start correcting some of these persistent failures, wherever we end up.

[Chris Black come back]

In mitigation, I should say that Jones looks a decent bet longer term. If he can iron out some of his silly passes and step up to command his box more, we could have a good keeper on our hands.

[rich1471]

The only positive from tonight is I don't have to drive from Oxford to Donny with 4 drunk passengers , at least it only cost me £10 on ifollow and a 8 pack of beer

[pib]

It's pretty bad and is repeat of the problems that have dogged us all season.

First, this is a poor defensive unit that concedes goals too easily. Anderson carried them all for a long time but has dropped off in recent weeks. We are a very soft touch for a goal and we nearly almost lose when we concede first. As a unit, is it the least convincing since the Dickov and McKenzie era? Feels like it.

Second, it is absolutely pointless playing the ball to Okenbirhie with his back to goal. He always loses possession. Not sometimes, not most times, not almost always, not pretty much always. He always loses possession. Totally pointless yet we keep playing to him in this position.

Third, we are perennially way too ponderous. Passing out slowly from the back, passing slowly through midfield, slowly getting it wide, and what's this..? Lo and behold we are facing two banks of four at the edge of the box and we can't play through them, so lose possession. We almost never get behind sides. We almost never connect with crosses into the box. We almost never have more than one player in the box at the same time.

We may or may not make the play offs. I'd be happy if we could start correcting some of these persistent failures, wherever we end up.

Yep. And what is our “identity” as a team this season? We pass it out short from goal kicks and then... what else? Wait for a moment of brilliance from Richards or James?

Whoever the manager is next season, I hope they can bring some substance because I am struggling to see what we are all about as a team this season, especially since Whiteman went.

[Chris Black come back]

We seem to specialise in wide players that can't deliver. They are all too lightweight and easily bullied. Just never pose a threat.

[bobbymax]

This is a general thought and not an excuse for yet another performance lacking any kind of spark but this schedule could potentially ruin some of these players. It looked like Greaves has picked up an injury tonight and we've already lost half of our best XI.
I'm convinced the authorities really haven't thought out the long-term implications of two games every week, especially as the players barely had a pre-season after a six-month lay-off.
Look at Lincoln, they are falling apart and their only out-and-out striker Hopper has apparently done a hamstring tonight. They are as knackered as we are and making Portsmouth play on that mud patch that Peterborough call a pitch 72 hours after 120 minutes at Wembley is just plain cruel.

[Chris Black come back]

It's definitely an odd season, but our problem was as apparent in the first couple of games of the season as it has been for the last 20. Defensively way too weak, far too slow and ponderous going forward, no razor edge in attack.

[Grouchy_Git]

Donny were out played by Oxford at home and won 3-2. Cracks were being papered over then.  Promotion won’t happen.

[adamtherover]

Did aj throw a strop after realising he was being subbed, or was he injured do we know?

[Metalmicky]

I guess the team is the best we can call on but the bench is the worst I have seen in a long time, but that is no one’s fault just injured players

Two weeks ago when we beat Portsmouth easily, we had Taylor, Bogle, James, Bostock, Robertson and Simms all playing.   None are available tonight and we haven’t got the strength in depth to replace so many being out at one time.   

Sometimes folk wont accept any mitigation when our team loses a game......... injuries don't count.

However the point you make is having the same effect at Lincoln City.  They have had major players out also and their form has been on the slide as a result... their last 7 games have resulted in 4 losses, 2 draws and one win.  Our last seven have resulted in 3 losses, 2 draws and 2 wins
 

[DonnyOsmond]

Did aj throw a strop after realising he was being subbed, or was he injured do we know?

He was limping then went down, the physio came on to look at him for about a min then walked off the pitch with him. Pretty standard really.

[Pancho Regan]

Third, we are perennially way too ponderous. Passing out slowly from the back, passing slowly through midfield, slowly getting it wide, and what's this..? Lo and behold we are facing two banks of four at the edge of the box and we can't play through them, so lose possession. We almost never get behind sides. We almost never connect with crosses into the box. We almost never have more than one player in the box at the same time.

We may or may not make the play offs. I'd be happy if we could start correcting some of these persistent failures, wherever we end up.

All three of your points are valid CBCB, but this one hits the nail on the head for me.
This frustrates the life out of me.

[i_ateallthepies]

We get to the half-way line, sometimes beyond it then turn around and pass it back to our back line - sometimes keeper, so we then have their whole team to try to play through.  And some on here think that's smart football.