Let's talk about the Oxford United game

[selby]

  After what must have been a war of attrition v Northampton according to reports, a game I have yet to catch up with confidence in our ability to get into the playoffs seems to be slipping away from some of our supporters quickly.
  This game might be a distinct pointer, always a hard place to go and get a result, and a rearranged game that should have been played when we were in something of much better form at the time.
 Looking on the bright side we didn't actually lose on Saturday, and many a little unbeaten run has been started by a somewhat inglorious draw somewhere, I live in hope.
  Oxford also ended on the wrong end of a 2-0 result at Hull although dominating the game possession wise with stats very similar to ours in our game, the difference being the popular opinion being they played well while we were awful, we gained a point they got none the only stat that counts.
  Comparing the seasons results of both sides, and the expectations at the start of the season  I would argue that Oxford have been the more disappointing being well fancied by many to be one of the top two at the start of the season.
  Form is the hardest thing in football to pin down, as Liverpool's fall off from grace  has proven, Can we regain ours?
  This little run of away games could prove pivotal to our hopes for the season, can we get back on track?
  Every team in the division apart from one or two are now picking up injuries or showing indifferent form because of the number of games being played over a short period, can we regain our form?
  Do you consider us capable of getting a result at Oxford?
  Some have been quick (very quick) to question Butlers ability to lead us on to better things, Why?
  Lots of things to discuss about this game,Please have your say. 

[Alan Southstand]

I can only see a defeat.

[Bailey Vickerage]

I’m not confident going into Tuesday as we always struggle at Oxford. Hopefully the clean sheet will give confidence to the defence and we can go onto keep more towards the end of the season because with all the injuries piling up I can’t see us scoring 3+ goals in many games. According to AB Bogle, Sims and Bostock will all miss Tuesday and probably Saturday aswell and also Robertson is gonna be a doubt which leaves our squad at a bare minimum so gonna have to rely on Butler pulling something out of his magic hat.

The team I would go for:

Jones

Halliday Wright Anderson Amos

Smith James

Lokilo Richards Copps

Fej

Think it will be a 1-0 defeat unfortunately but like I said above hopefully Butler can use his magic hat to good effect.

[EasyforDennis]

I would go with


Jones

Halliday Wright Anderson Amos

Greaves James

Smith Richards Copps

Fej

[ForsolongaRover]

Looking at what was expected of them which was Top 2/Play-offs, they are behind Rovers who no pundits really rated, but until about a month ago they were the team with momentum. Until November they struggled and were in the bottom 4, but after winning at Peterborough in the FA Cup they had quite a surge.

The question is how much their current dip in form is related to a real drop in quality? As you imply though they must have done a lot of things right at Hull. I think this game would be a test even if we were doing well because we only won the home game narrowly when our confidence was high.

So we need to rise higher over current form than Oxford. The individuals available who have featured recently will have to up their games or, dare I suggest giving AJ Greaves, Amos, Hasani and Ravenhill opportunities? Quite a few of Saturday’s team could hardly grumble if they got dropped. The rather weak “tiredness” excuse could not be used again.

[roversdude]

I’d settle for a draw if offered it now, can’t see us getting anything there, it’s a horrible trip in the week and we are missing too many players

[bobbymax]

I'd give Greaves and Amos a run out. Put James in midfield and give Smith a rest for an hour at least.
I can't see how John or Lokilo could keep their place after Saturday, both seem better off the bench. Gomes just seems better out the team, don't know what's happened with him but probably looked better than he is playing alongside Whiteman.
A point would be a good return given our record there and the way they played at the Keepmoat.

[mjg]

I can see 3-0 defeat

[eastender]

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. 

[selby]

  If we play well we have every chance of getting a result, the players are more than capable of doing so as they have shown in previous games.
  It will take organisation, total effort, and crucially confidence in their own ability to pull it off and probably a little bit of stardust luck,but to write anyone off in a game of football before a ball has been kicked can be foolish.

[graingrover]

I hope the team has not suffered as much of a drop in confidence than some fans .I think it is the right time to give Amos a chance to show on the left flank and I would keep both James and Cameron in the side too.None of that trio lacks in belief nor in self confidence .

[Campsall rover]

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

Unbelievable Jeff. 

[drfc1951]

According to IFollow on DROS the next match available to buy video match pass is Gillingham on Saturday.

Now changed to Oxford game

[Move DRFC]

Is it 4 away defeats in a row now? Next 3 games are away, we seriously need to pick up form now.

[godlike1]

I’m not confident going into Tuesday as we always struggle at Oxford. Hopefully the clean sheet will give confidence to the defence and we can go onto keep more towards the end of the season because with all the injuries piling up I can’t see us scoring 3+ goals in many games. According to AB Bogle, Sims and Bostock will all miss Tuesday and probably Saturday aswell and also Robertson is gonna be a doubt which leaves our squad at a bare minimum so gonna have to rely on Butler pulling something out of his magic hat.

The team I would go for:

Jones

Halliday Wright Anderson Amos

Smith James

Lokilo Richards Copps

Fej

Think it will be a 1-0 defeat unfortunately but like I said above hopefully Butler can use his magic hat to good effect.

That team would give me some hope that Oxford won't have it their own way. Given simoes supposedly did ok on sat and better than lokilo I'd swop them around.

In a nutshell need to be much better and stronger with and without the ball including passing. More energy as well to create that spark that's been missing

[eastender]

I see that their Talisman James Henry didn't play against Hull , he always runs the show against us and either scores or assists .
I can't be bothered to look if he was injured , because you just know he will be available on Tuesday to torment us.
Hope i'm wrong. 

[RugbyRover]

I see that everyone's sticking to the tried and trusted 4 2 3 1 formation when picking the team.

As its not working why don't we change it.

4 4 2 ?

As we're struggling up front why not make us hard to beat?

If we stop Oxford getting 3 points its a great result for us.

[Campsall rover]

I see that everyone's sticking to the tried and trusted 4 2 3 1 formation when picking the team.

As its not working why don't we change it.

4 4 2 ?

As we're struggling up front why not make us hard to beat?

If we stop Oxford getting 3 points its a great result for us.

Agree a draw isn’t a bad result on a ground we have had limited success. But stopping Oxford from getting 1 point is even better.
What makes you think 4-4-2 would make us more solid than our present system of 4-2-3-1 which is designed to be flexible enough to have numbers defending when we don’t have the ball and numbers attacking when we do.
If you play 4-4-2 where would you play Copps or TR, just a question as i am not sure they would fit into that system.

[RoversAlias]

We don't have the players for 4-4-2 tomorrow either, do we? Without Bogle, Okenabirhie is the only striker and realistically we haven't got the wingers who can do the most damage in a conventional 4-4-2 - that would be Sims and Taylor.

4-2-3-1 is a much more protective set-up, particularly when you're likely to have both Richards and Coppinger on the pitch.

[RugbyRover]

I see that everyone's sticking to the tried and trusted 4 2 3 1 formation when picking the team.

As its not working why don't we change it.

4 4 2 ?

As we're struggling up front why not make us hard to beat?

If we stop Oxford getting 3 points its a great result for us.

Agree a draw isn’t a bad result on a ground we have had limited success. But stopping Oxford from getting 1 point is even better.
What makes you think 4-4-2 would make us more solid than our present system of 4-2-3-1 which is designed to be flexible enough to have numbers defending when we don’t have the ball and numbers attacking when we do.
If you play 4-4-2 where would you play Copps or TR, just a question as i am not sure they would fit into that system.

2 banks of 4 is the traditional way of keeping teams out. Filling up the spaces and not letting teams play through us.

I'd play all our fit defenders (Cam John  ) even Danny Amos, even the lad from Maidstone or wherever he's been, and just shut up shop. Plenty of teams have done it to us. We don't always have to play football. 95 minutes of clearing it into the stand will suit us just fine tomorrow night.

(Copps and Richards on the bench, to come on after 5 mins when we concede from their first corner.)
 

[Chris Black come back]

I cannot remember last time we ‘shut up shop’ or played for a draw. Under Ferguson?

[selby]

CBcb yep against Crewe, we needed to win.

[RugbyRover]

I cannot remember last time we ‘shut up shop’ or played for a draw. Under Ferguson?

Blackburn, this year in the Cup. Halliday & James in midfield.

[sha66y]

We are looking like a group of players at the end of their luck.....
If the defenders stop defending .......we will lose
If the midfield is overrun by much better players ......we will lose
If Smith gives the ball away more than he succeeds to deliver...we will lose
If the support act to Fej just goes through the motions.... we will lose
If Fej can’t score a goal or two...we will lose!

This team has to go out with a game plan, whether it be attack or defend they need a plan...
They need everyone to be playing to that plan....... the defenders need support when we are under the cosh, the striker needs support when we are attacking...

Yes...I know this is all very obvious............................yet we don’t implement it !

Oxford 4-0

Could be wrong tho!

[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.

[Campsall rover]

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.

[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.

[selby]

  Bang on Hound, these threads are for people to express their opinions whatever they are and to discuss the up coming game, it wouldn't do for us all to think the same things, have the same favourite line ups and players.
  Keep the discussions going the more the merrier.













































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00. opinions of 

[Campsall rover]

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? 
.

[roversdude]

Just a thought does anyone have knowledge of how travel to away games works currently for the team.
I’m thinking of things like pre match meals etc can’t imagine the coach being welcome at a drive through
If staying over do we need twice as many rooms are because of the bubble is it possible to share (twin room not Eric and Ernie style)