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Post by rickyotto on Sept 13, 2017 0:24:44 GMT
Why does everyone keep saying it doesn't feel like a defeat. You people baffle me sometimes
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Post by newyorkyellow on Sept 13, 2017 1:46:16 GMT
Blocked for stating that we threw away a lead by not concentrating very late in the game. A top team would see that game out. Credit on the comeback but its two points thrown away. Well, we are not a 'top team' and no-one sensible is saying that we are. We are a work in progress still trying to find the best 11, the best 16, the best formations etc. As are a lot of the other better teams in this league. But one cannot be gloomy about 8th place after seven games unless one had tipped OUFC to walk the league (which you very much did not). If we can be in touch with the top 6 after ten games then that is very much 'job done' for August and September, given the upheavals on all fronts. I said after Scunny that I thought we were a top 6 side, maybe even a top 2 side, just lacking a convincing frontman. I think I'd still stand by that. Neither Thomas not Obika are poor playets by any stretch if the imagination. But when you think about our promotions (almost any clubs promotions) they come with a really good focal point. Beano in the conference; Hylton and Roofs in League 2; Moods in League 1; Biggins in League 1; Aldo and Hamilton in the Championship. It's not just about goals, but an indefinable talismanic presence. And I don't quite see that in Wes or Obika. But.... still..... early days and you'd have to give it at least seven out of ten thus far. One other thing I would say is that this looks like being a very competitive top 10 this year. There must be at least that number of clubs spending north of 3 million quid on wages. And then there are a heap spending 2 million or less. It could end up being quite uneven, with well north of 70 points needed for play-off. Not saying I disagree with you Charlie but could Payne be that talismanic player? 2 goals 8 assists so far...? Does a talismanic player have to be a center forward? ..the game is different these days and goal come from a bigger spread of players. Rothwell and even Hall (4 goals) are pretty talismanic right now. Potentially Mowatt? Mehmeti? As I say l, I'm not saying you're wrong but I think it's early days and we may have players in the team that could fit that bill.
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Post by pottersrightboot on Sept 13, 2017 5:15:23 GMT
Blocked for stating that we threw away a lead by not concentrating very late in the game. A top team would see that game out. Credit on the comeback but its two points thrown away. Well, we are not a 'top team' and no-one sensible is saying that we are. We are a work in progress still trying to find the best 11, the best 16, the best formations etc. As are a lot of the other better teams in this league. But one cannot be gloomy about 8th place after seven games unless one had tipped OUFC to walk the league (which you very much did not). If we can be in touch with the top 6 after ten games then that is very much 'job done' for August and September, given the upheavals on all fronts. I said after Scunny that I thought we were a top 6 side, maybe even a top 2 side, just lacking a convincing frontman. I think I'd still stand by that. Neither Thomas not Obika are poor playets by any stretch if the imagination. But when you think about our promotions (almost any clubs promotions) they come with a really good focal point. Beano in the conference; Hylton and Roofs in League 2; Moods in League 1; Biggins in League 1; Aldo and Hamilton in the Championship. It's not just about goals, but an indefinable talismanic presence. And I don't quite see that in Wes or Obika. But.... still..... early days and you'd have to give it at least seven out of ten thus far. One other thing I would say is that this looks like being a very competitive top 10 this year. There must be at least that number of clubs spending north of 3 million quid on wages. And then there are a heap spending 2 million or less. It could end up being quite uneven, with well north of 70 points needed for play-off. 21 goals in 9 games and you witter on about lack of 'undefinable talismanic presence' up front.How many goals will satisfy you ? 40?
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Post by davox on Sept 13, 2017 5:57:46 GMT
Does anyone else think the referee should have blown against Vincelot for their equaliser? He had a massive chunk of Williamsons shirt as he challenged for the header. Admitedly weak defending though but overall a decent performance
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Post by CheltenhamYellow on Sept 13, 2017 5:58:00 GMT
Our play in the first thirty minutes worth the season ticket price alone. Great entertainment.
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Post by londonroader on Sept 13, 2017 6:12:22 GMT
Pretty frustrating that we shipped two against them, can't remember them having any decent chances. Two goals for us should easily have been enough to win it. Didn't they hit the bar at 1-0 up, that would of been game over. Disappointed we let the lead slip and the reaction of the players at the end said it all, they now need a bit better mentality in seeing out a game, not rushing free kicks and throw ins the game was won kill the clock. Good game of football from two decent sides.
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Post by oufcgav on Sept 13, 2017 6:16:01 GMT
Pretty frustrating that we shipped two against them, can't remember them having any decent chances. Two goals for us should easily have been enough to win it. Didn't they hit the bar at 1-0 up, that would of been game over. Disappointed we let the lead slip and the reaction of the players at the end said it all, they now need a bit better mentality in seeing out a game, not rushing free kicks and throw ins the game was won kill the clock. Good game of football from two decent sides. Yes, was convinced it had gone in the top corner, but instead bounced back to Eastwood.
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Post by londonroader on Sept 13, 2017 6:23:21 GMT
Why did the stewards let them have a drum? Should stop this now as every song they sung was with that bloody noise, they were noisy though but it was that drum that was instrumental in that.
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Post by finlandia on Sept 13, 2017 6:29:56 GMT
Blocked for stating that we threw away a lead by not concentrating very late in the game. A top team would see that game out. Credit on the comeback but its two points thrown away. Well, we are not a 'top team' and no-one sensible is saying that we are. We are a work in progress still trying to find the best 11, the best 16, the best formations etc. As are a lot of the other better teams in this league. But one cannot be gloomy about 8th place after seven games unless one had tipped OUFC to walk the league (which you very much did not). If we can be in touch with the top 6 after ten games then that is very much 'job done' for August and September, given the upheavals on all fronts. I said after Scunny that I thought we were a top 6 side, maybe even a top 2 side, just lacking a convincing frontman. I think I'd still stand by that. Neither Thomas not Obika are poor playets by any stretch if the imagination. But when you think about our promotions (almost any clubs promotions) they come with a really good focal point. Beano in the conference; Hylton and Roofs in League 2; Moods in League 1; Biggins in League 1; Aldo and Hamilton in the Championship. It's not just about goals, but an indefinable talismanic presence. And I don't quite see that in Wes or Obika. But.... still..... early days and you'd have to give it at least seven out of ten thus far. One other thing I would say is that this looks like being a very competitive top 10 this year. There must be at least that number of clubs spending north of 3 million quid on wages. And then there are a heap spending 2 million or less. It could end up being quite uneven, with well north of 70 points needed for play-off. Garbage - we know our best team and formation, (although when Ribs is back, we may switch to three at the back). We do not play two up top, yet you keep going on about our successful past strikers that played as a two (you were pulled up about this by RyanBirdio - but didn't respond when challenged. We will never be set-up to play two up top - do you even understand how playing one up front works? Obika/Thomas will be the focal point, just not in a 20 goals a season way. They will lead the line, back to goal and link up play for the supporting midfielders wide players to join the attacks. Typical praiseworthy/critical post. Pretend to be positive, with a few digs thrown in as well. Yesterday was all positive for me - we outplayed for long periods one of the best teams in the league. Our players our starting to gel and the pace of our attacking play is fantastic. A few tweaks and we are set-up for a decent season - but then you wouldn't want that anyway.
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Post by shosho on Sept 13, 2017 6:35:28 GMT
One of the best matches I've seen us play in league 1.
Two wo very good teams playing some great football. We played with confidence, playing the ball around, taking players on.
Only downer being ring the last minute goal...I thought we were a bit naïve and should have been looking to shut the game down once ahead. We tried to play too much football. Slightly surprised as that back line of Mousinho, Williamson, Ricardinho and Nelson has enough experience to close.
All in all, was good fun.
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Post by gingerox on Sept 13, 2017 6:44:17 GMT
Their forum's hilarious, all saying how it's a great point, changed their tune completely. Think they underestimated us Evening. When you go 2-1 down in the 87th minute away from home then yes, it's a great point. This seems to happen with some of our fans though. A dodgy start to the season in terms of performances if not results, culminating in chucking away a 3-0 lead at Walsall and everything is doom and gloom, McCall clueless, owners to blame etc. Fast forward two games, following two excellent performances and 6 goals and things head towards the other extreme. There was certainly a fair degree of confidence on our forum ahead of this game, I agree. To be fair, ahead of these two away games the vast majority said 4 points would be a great return. I just think the nature of the win and performance at Posh perhaps took us a bit by surprise. Looks like Oxford are putting together a decent side and I'm fine with a point. We have to be pleased with our improved confidence going forward, just a shame that at the moment we can't seem to defend for shit! I suspect we'll see a Thompson come in at CB sooner rather than later. Good luck for the rest of the season. Apologies, may have been a tad rash but was more than half peeved after FT. I agree some of your fans are a bit pessimistic but I suppose every club has them. Wasn't there tonight but sounded like a great game, will be looking forward to the reverse fixture and hopefully we'll both be up there come end of the season
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Post by followtheox (the original) on Sept 13, 2017 6:46:16 GMT
Well, we are not a 'top team' and no-one sensible is saying that we are. We are a work in progress still trying to find the best 11, the best 16, the best formations etc. As are a lot of the other better teams in this league. But one cannot be gloomy about 8th place after seven games unless one had tipped OUFC to walk the league (which you very much did not). If we can be in touch with the top 6 after ten games then that is very much 'job done' for August and September, given the upheavals on all fronts. I said after Scunny that I thought we were a top 6 side, maybe even a top 2 side, just lacking a convincing frontman. I think I'd still stand by that. Neither Thomas not Obika are poor playets by any stretch if the imagination. But when you think about our promotions (almost any clubs promotions) they come with a really good focal point. Beano in the conference; Hylton and Roofs in League 2; Moods in League 1; Biggins in League 1; Aldo and Hamilton in the Championship. It's not just about goals, but an indefinable talismanic presence. And I don't quite see that in Wes or Obika. But.... still..... early days and you'd have to give it at least seven out of ten thus far. One other thing I would say is that this looks like being a very competitive top 10 this year. There must be at least that number of clubs spending north of 3 million quid on wages. And then there are a heap spending 2 million or less. It could end up being quite uneven, with well north of 70 points needed for play-off. Garbage - we know our best team and formation, (although when Ribs is back, we may switch to three at the back). We do not play two up top, yet you keep going on about our successful past strikers that played as a two (you were pulled up about this by RyanBirdio - but didn't respond when challenged. We will never be set-up to play two up top - do you even understand how playing one up front works? Obika/Thomas will be the focal point, just not in a 20 goals a season way. They will lead the line, back to goal and link up play for the supporting midfielders wide players to join the attacks. Typical praiseworthy/critical post. Pretend to be positive, with a few digs thrown in as well. Yesterday was all positive for me - we outplayed for long periods one of the best teams in the league. Our players our starting to gel and the pace of our attacking play is fantastic. A few tweaks and we are set-up for a decent season - but then you wouldn't want that anyway. Talking about lone strikers, I thought Thomas was excellent last night. Real handful. Held the ball up well, was physical, worked hard closing down and used his pace to stretch them out wide and create space for those behind to run into. If he plays like that every week i would have no issues. Of course i think injuries will impact him.
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Post by outsidethebox on Sept 13, 2017 6:49:35 GMT
Enjoyed the game. I understand why Rothwell was substituted but at that point in the game Thomas has run himself to a standstill. Ruffles for Thomas allowing Rothwell to hustle their back for was the move for me.
No first half Oxford goals in our four home league games. Very neglected fence end!
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Post by gingerox on Sept 13, 2017 6:50:09 GMT
Some primitive highlights here: youtu.be/yqpUC23V-hk?aAny able to identify the "SHIT!" just before they score (0:34)
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Post by johnf on Sept 13, 2017 7:03:04 GMT
Great game to watch last night good all round team performance again. It's a pity our first half dominance didn't produce at least one goal but a great come back to take the lead. Not a criticism but when Gino went through in injury time instead of going for goal he should have gone for the corner flag then maybe we wouldn't have heard that bloody drum at the end. COYY
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Post by Yellow River on Sept 13, 2017 7:12:36 GMT
For Div 3 that was a high quality football match. Both teams played their part and although it's gutting to concede so late in the game, a draw was a fair result
Bradford's first was a quality finish, I was sat directly behind in the. North Stand, Eastwood stood no chance. They have an attractive pattern of play, no hoofing or over reliance on set plays. Laws is their most instrumental player. They also smashed the underside of our bar, that goes in then we probably lose the match.
So many good things about our performance, although I was a fan of Appleton and his style of play Pep is beginning to win me over especially the way we move and pass the ball qickly. Rothwell is a much better player than I ever realised, Ledson the perfect foil.
Payne's enthusiasm is infectious, you can see he just loves playing football. Mowatt will start as soon as he's match fit though, he looks a very good player.
Mousinho should still be playing Championship football, but I'm very pleased he's with us. Ricardinho in just a few games is approaching cult status, a joy to watch. Are these two fullbacks the best we've had since Langan and MacDonald ? Taking into account Slater and Beardsley. Or am I getting over excited?🙂
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Post by eighteen93 on Sept 13, 2017 7:16:26 GMT
Some primitive highlights here: youtu.be/yqpUC23V-hk?aAny able to identify the "SHIT!" just before they score (0:34) I reckon that was a good header from Vincelot - got up early above Mike Williamson and no foul for me. The problem was allowing the cross to come in and what a cross it was! As I said last night it was superb entertainment and you can seewhy Bradford have done so well in the past two years. They lose very few games and went unbeaten at home for the whole of last season. Blackburn ended the run with their win at Valley Parade. Can see how they won so easily at the Posh last weekend though.
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Post by foley on Sept 13, 2017 7:16:33 GMT
It's not just about goals, but an indefinable talismanic presence. And I don't quite see that in Wes or Obika. But.... still..... early days and you'd have to give it at least seven out of ten thus far. One other thing I would say is that this looks like being a very competitive top 10 this year. There must be at least that number of clubs spending north of 3 million quid on wages. And then there are a heap spending 2 million or less. It could end up being quite uneven, with well north of 70 points needed for play-off. Garbage - we know our best team and formation, (although when Ribs is back, we may switch to three at the back). We do not play two up top, yet you keep going on about our successful past strikers that played as a two (you were pulled up about this by RyanBirdio - but didn't respond when challenged. We will never be set-up to play two up top - do you even understand how playing one up front works? Obika/Thomas will be the focal point, just not in a 20 goals a season way. They will lead the line, back to goal and link up play for the supporting midfielders wide players to join the attacks. Typical praiseworthy/critical post. Pretend to be positive, with a few digs thrown in as well. Yesterday was all positive for me - we outplayed for long periods one of the best teams in the league. Our players our starting to gel and the pace of our attacking play is fantastic. A few tweaks and we are set-up for a decent season - but then you wouldn't want that anyway. It was an excellent game of football played by two good sides and there are a lot of positives. But you can't claim that it was all positives. Whichever way you look at it we should have seen the game out and it was two points lost. So that is a negative. I am sure that Pep would see it that way. So going forwards if we can stop letting in goals near the end and start protecting leads we will be in pretty good shape. One thing to me seems pretty clear is that despite not having that 20 goal striker, we will still make plenty of chances and score goals. As Pep has said, the goals will come from throughout the side.
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Sept 13, 2017 7:51:26 GMT
As has been said, a thoroughly entertaining match between two sides who actually wanted to play football. At 0-1 and 1-1 I would have settled for a point, but blimey that was a frustrating end to the game!
Thomas looked to be limping a bit after he scored, and was never as mobile after that. Rothwell had a blinder again, and although Hall was probably the man of the match he did try to go through rather than round players too often, losing the ball many times. In fact if I had some constructive criticism of last night's performance it would be that for a team seemingly intent on playing the ball around, we didn't half give it away cheaply at times.
Oddly enough, there was only one corner in the match!
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Post by followtheox (the original) on Sept 13, 2017 8:05:13 GMT
As has been said, a thoroughly entertaining match between two sides who actually wanted to play football. At 0-1 and 1-1 I would have settled for a point, but blimey that was a frustrating end to the game! Thomas looked to be limping a bit after he scored, and was never as mobile after that. Rothwell had a blinder again, and although Hall was probably the man of the match he did try to go through rather than round players too often, losing the ball many times. In fact if I had some constructive criticism of last night's performance it would be that for a team seemingly intent on playing the ball around, we didn't half give it away cheaply at times. Oddly enough, there was only one corner in the match! Funny how people see different things. I thought man of the match was Thomas with Rothwell a close second. However, apart from a couple of moments i thought Hall was one of the poorer players. Struggled to beat his man and he lost the ball a lot. Maybe that is the player he is, someone who comes in and out of games.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Sept 13, 2017 8:26:41 GMT
There were times where I felt Wes got in the way of other players or wasn't all that switched on. By the time he's diagnosed what was going on, the ball was at his feet or the chance had gone. Obika seems more alive to the team structure. However, Thomas hasn't played much this season. Hall had 2 good periods, but struggled when he kept being taken out off of the ball.
It didn't feel like a defeat for me and doesn't now. Highly frustrating, but we rode our luck at times. The first half was good, but how many chances did we make and more importantly, make the keeper work on? Not many. But I am very positive for this season. We are hard to break down, we pass the ball well and work hard. This after signing a new team.
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Sept 13, 2017 8:26:53 GMT
As has been said, a thoroughly entertaining match between two sides who actually wanted to play football. At 0-1 and 1-1 I would have settled for a point, but blimey that was a frustrating end to the game! Thomas looked to be limping a bit after he scored, and was never as mobile after that. Rothwell had a blinder again, and although Hall was probably the man of the match he did try to go through rather than round players too often, losing the ball many times. In fact if I had some constructive criticism of last night's performance it would be that for a team seemingly intent on playing the ball around, we didn't half give it away cheaply at times. Oddly enough, there was only one corner in the match! Funny how people see different things. I thought man of the match was Thomas with Rothwell a close second. However, apart from a couple of moments i thought Hall was one of the poorer players. Struggled to beat his man and he lost the ball a lot. Maybe that is the player he is, someone who comes in and out of games. I think with a player like Hall then you have to accept the bad with the good - for me there was much more good than bad last night. He put in a couple of lovely crosses that I thought Thomas should have been in a position to attack (especially since that's the most effective aspect of his game) but was on his heels - but as you say it's all subjective!
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 13, 2017 8:28:59 GMT
Garbage - we know our best team and formation, (although when Ribs is back, we may switch to three at the back). We do not play two up top, yet you keep going on about our successful past strikers that played as a two (you were pulled up about this by RyanBirdio - but didn't respond when challenged. We will never be set-up to play two up top - do you even understand how playing one up front works? Obika/Thomas will be the focal point, just not in a 20 goals a season way. They will lead the line, back to goal and link up play for the supporting midfielders wide players to join the attacks. Typical praiseworthy/critical post. Pretend to be positive, with a few digs thrown in as well. Yesterday was all positive for me - we outplayed for long periods one of the best teams in the league. Our players our starting to gel and the pace of our attacking play is fantastic. A few tweaks and we are set-up for a decent season - but then you wouldn't want that anyway. It was an excellent game of football played by two good sides and there are a lot of positives. But you can't claim that it was all positives. Whichever way you look at it we should have seen the game out and it was two points lost. So that is a negative. I am sure that Pep would see it that way. So going forwards if we can stop letting in goals near the end and start protecting leads we will be in pretty good shape. One thing to me seems pretty clear is that despite not having that 20 goal striker, we will still make plenty of chances and score goals. As Pep has said, the goals will come from throughout the side. He CAN claim it's all positives because he knows very little about football and has very limited aspirations for the club. I have given our start to the season a 7 out of 10. Pretty generous given that we are already seven points off the top spots! There is a strong argument that a couple of draws (one very fortunate) and a defeat against the only good sides we have played show that we have a long way to go. Furthermore, we are shipping goals and chances at a fair old rate. Shrewsbury might only have scored 1 but they could easily have had five on another day, our defence was that shaky. Bradford scored two last night and hit the bar. If WE go away and do that we tend to think we've done pretty well creatively. But..... But.. ... overall I think we are doing well and giving ourselves a chance (of promotion). If, after a quarter of the season, we are within six points of second place then that is the first 'job done'. But this looks a strong league this year at the top end so the kind of airy complacency that idiots like finlandia demonstrate is unhelpful. As for the statement that we know our best team, even my 10 year-old son knows better than that. Mowatt is going to be a sub all season, is he? Mousinho will continue at right back if we keep shipping headers? Thomas will start every game even if Obika looks better at hold-up play? It's a GOOD thing that we are doing as well as we are despite Pep still working things out. Final point on the striker situation. People with poor textual analysis skills have (wrongly) claimed that i am bemoaning a lack of goals. I am not. What I have is a sense that at the very top of the pitch we are just a smidgen short of game-changing quality. When Millwall played us at the Kassam last season, Steve Morison bullied us. He won everything, he brought players into play, he was a menace at set piece and he scored a worldy from 30 yards. Billy Sharp likewise. And when we went up from league 2 Hylton had many such games when he himself (sometimes alone) took the game to the opposition even when the rest of the side was a bit meh. All I'm saying is that I don't quite see that menace from Wes or Obika. And, as I said after Scunthorpe (where Paddy Madden did provide that sort of focal point for them), my fear is that that might deny a very good football side automatic promotion. But, then, if you don't really aspire to proper success, what do such concerns matter?
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Post by diagocostapacket on Sept 13, 2017 8:32:38 GMT
Funny how we all see games differently and through Yellow tinted spectacles most of the time.
I didn't think Henry was that bad and I don't think Mous was that good at RB, to say he's quicker than Ribs is laughable. He would slot better into the right of a three man backline allowing Ribs or Carroll and Ric do play their attacking game.
Mous was steady but he wasn't put under much pressure to be honest. and if he is good enough to still be playing championship football he would be doing so, so lets not get carried away.. I don't dislike him in fact I think he's a consummate professional and an excellent cover signing, but would much prefer to see Carroll be given a run in that berth while Ribs is out. Carroll will be disappointed after his showing Saturday where he was better than Mous was tonight.
As for GVK well the jury is still out for me... could he be just a 20 minute impact player.? although he still looks a bit rusty
I thought Hall and Rothwell were both excellent.
Fair play to Bradford they certainly came with a plan and it almost bore fruit. They will be delighted with a point, and although its disappointing to concede in the last minute its no different to doing so in the first. Defensively to a man we should have done much better in the final 10, especially when being 2 -1 down an away team travelling from up t'north have nowt to lose.
I might be one of the few but wasn't a penalty clear cut for me if it had been given against us I would be very disappointed, and although its a much used cliché a share of the spoils was probably a fair result.
All in all a great game and advertisement for lower league football. If I had to watch that each week I would be delighted.
Bradford were a strong well organised side, as are the majority of sides in this division.. Top 6 material ? we shall see but I think you could perm any one from about 15. However the top 10 of the table is sorting its self out now even after only 7 games and its important not to let home points slip away so easily at any stage of the season, because there are one or two very good teams below us we have yet to play.
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Post by finlandia on Sept 13, 2017 8:36:44 GMT
It was an excellent game of football played by two good sides and there are a lot of positives. But you can't claim that it was all positives. Whichever way you look at it we should have seen the game out and it was two points lost. So that is a negative. I am sure that Pep would see it that way. So going forwards if we can stop letting in goals near the end and start protecting leads we will be in pretty good shape. One thing to me seems pretty clear is that despite not having that 20 goal striker, we will still make plenty of chances and score goals. As Pep has said, the goals will come from throughout the side. He CAN claim it's all positives because he knows very little about football and has very limited aspirations for the club. I have given our start to the season a 7 out of 10. Pretty generous given that we are already seven points off the top spots! There is a strong argument that a couple of draws (one very fortunate) and a defeat against the only good sides we have played show that we have a long way to go. Furthermore, we are shipping goals and chances at a fair old rate. Shrewsbury might only have scored 1 but they could easily have had five on another day, our defence was that shaky. Bradford scored two last night and hit the bar. If WE go away and do that we tend to think we've done pretty well creatively. But..... But.. ... overall I think we are doing well and giving ourselves a chance (of promotion). If, after a quarter of the season, we are within six points of second place then that is the first 'job done'. But this looks a strong league this year at the top end so the kind of airy complacency that idiots like finlandia demonstrate is unhelpful. As for the statement that we know our best team, even my 10 year-old son knows better than that. Mowatt is going to be a sub all season, is he? Mousinho will continue at right back if we keep shipping headers? Thomas will start every game even if Obika looks better at hold-up play? It's a GOOD thing that we are doing as well as we are despite Pep still working things out. Final point on the striker situation. People with poor textual analysis skills have (wrongly) claimed that i am bemoaning a lack of goals. I am not. What I have is a sense that at the very top of the pitch we are just a smidgen short of game-changing quality. When Millwall played us at the Kassam last season, Steve Morison bullied us. He won everything, he brought players into play, he was a menace at set piece and he scored a worldy from 30 yards. Billy Sharp likewise. And when we went up from league 2 Hylton had many such games when he himself (sometimes alone) took the game to the opposition even when the rest of the side was a bit meh. All I'm saying is that I don't quite see that menace from Wes or Obika. And, as I said after Scunthorpe (where Paddy Madden did provide that sort of focal point for them), my fear is that that might deny a very good football side automatic promotion. But, then, if you don't really aspire to proper success, what do such concerns matter? Haha that made me laugh out loud old boy. You have been challenged by professionals in football on your views, been pulled up many times yet still seem to think you are some football messiah. All I can say is fair play to being so blinkered in your judgement and your inability to move away from that. I don't need to back up my Football knowledge to you. My aspirations are as they have always been. For the club to be successfull as they can. Cue posts from your covern..........
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Post by ryaniobirdio on Sept 13, 2017 8:45:31 GMT
Yeah Paddy Madden is decent. Always easier playing up front in a two.
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Post by grenobleroad on Sept 13, 2017 8:54:01 GMT
It was an excellent game of football played by two good sides and there are a lot of positives. But you can't claim that it was all positives. Whichever way you look at it we should have seen the game out and it was two points lost. So that is a negative. I am sure that Pep would see it that way. So going forwards if we can stop letting in goals near the end and start protecting leads we will be in pretty good shape. One thing to me seems pretty clear is that despite not having that 20 goal striker, we will still make plenty of chances and score goals. As Pep has said, the goals will come from throughout the side. He CAN claim it's all positives because he knows very little about football and has very limited aspirations for the club. I have given our start to the season a 7 out of 10. Pretty generous given that we are already seven points off the top spots! There is a strong argument that a couple of draws (one very fortunate) and a defeat against the only good sides we have played show that we have a long way to go. Furthermore, we are shipping goals and chances at a fair old rate. Shrewsbury might only have scored 1 but they could easily have had five on another day, our defence was that shaky. Bradford scored two last night and hit the bar. If WE go away and do that we tend to think we've done pretty well creatively. But..... But.. ... overall I think we are doing well and giving ourselves a chance (of promotion). If, after a quarter of the season, we are within six points of second place then that is the first 'job done'. But this looks a strong league this year at the top end so the kind of airy complacency that idiots like finlandia demonstrate is unhelpful. As for the statement that we know our best team, even my 10 year-old son knows better than that. Mowatt is going to be a sub all season, is he? Mousinho will continue at right back if we keep shipping headers? Thomas will start every game even if Obika looks better at hold-up play? It's a GOOD thing that we are doing as well as we are despite Pep still working things out. Final point on the striker situation. People with poor textual analysis skills have (wrongly) claimed that i am bemoaning a lack of goals. I am not. What I have is a sense that at the very top of the pitch we are just a smidgen short of game-changing quality. When Millwall played us at the Kassam last season, Steve Morison bullied us. He won everything, he brought players into play, he was a menace at set piece and he scored a worldy from 30 yards. Billy Sharp likewise. And when we went up from league 2 Hylton had many such games when he himself (sometimes alone) took the game to the opposition even when the rest of the side was a bit meh. All I'm saying is that I don't quite see that menace from Wes or Obika. And, as I said after Scunthorpe (where Paddy Madden did provide that sort of focal point for them), my fear is that that might deny a very good football side automatic promotion. But, then, if you don't really aspire to proper success, what do such concerns matter? We've only conceded 4 in the league? That defence last night is not going to concede goals at a alarming rate.
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Post by shosho on Sept 13, 2017 9:23:38 GMT
He CAN claim it's all positives because he knows very little about football and has very limited aspirations for the club. I have given our start to the season a 7 out of 10. Pretty generous given that we are already seven points off the top spots! There is a strong argument that a couple of draws (one very fortunate) and a defeat against the only good sides we have played show that we have a long way to go. Furthermore, we are shipping goals and chances at a fair old rate. Shrewsbury might only have scored 1 but they could easily have had five on another day, our defence was that shaky. Bradford scored two last night and hit the bar. If WE go away and do that we tend to think we've done pretty well creatively. But..... But.. ... overall I think we are doing well and giving ourselves a chance (of promotion). If, after a quarter of the season, we are within six points of second place then that is the first 'job done'. But this looks a strong league this year at the top end so the kind of airy complacency that idiots like finlandia demonstrate is unhelpful. As for the statement that we know our best team, even my 10 year-old son knows better than that. Mowatt is going to be a sub all season, is he? Mousinho will continue at right back if we keep shipping headers? Thomas will start every game even if Obika looks better at hold-up play? It's a GOOD thing that we are doing as well as we are despite Pep still working things out. Final point on the striker situation. People with poor textual analysis skills have (wrongly) claimed that i am bemoaning a lack of goals. I am not. What I have is a sense that at the very top of the pitch we are just a smidgen short of game-changing quality. When Millwall played us at the Kassam last season, Steve Morison bullied us. He won everything, he brought players into play, he was a menace at set piece and he scored a worldy from 30 yards. Billy Sharp likewise. And when we went up from league 2 Hylton had many such games when he himself (sometimes alone) took the game to the opposition even when the rest of the side was a bit meh. All I'm saying is that I don't quite see that menace from Wes or Obika. And, as I said after Scunthorpe (where Paddy Madden did provide that sort of focal point for them), my fear is that that might deny a very good football side automatic promotion. But, then, if you don't really aspire to proper success, what do such concerns matter? We've only conceded 4 in the league? That defence last night is not going to concede goals at a alarming rate. Up until the weekend we were the 4th best club in the division for quality of chances conceded (about 1.1 xG...behind fleetwood, Wigan and Doncaster). On the reverse, we were the 3rd best team in the division with the quality of chances we are creating (1.9 xG...behind Southend and Wigan). Add to that, Obika is receiving around the 5th best chances in the football league...he is receiving high quality chances but not converting I would say say based on the above we are in pretty good shape. Obviously only a small amount of data and things will settle come October, but with the turn around over the summer in players and coach, I would suggest we have a decent, solid base to build on with more cause for optimism than criticism.
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Post by followtheox (the original) on Sept 13, 2017 9:51:14 GMT
Some primitive highlights here: youtu.be/yqpUC23V-hk?aAny able to identify the "SHIT!" just before they score (0:34) I reckon that was a good header from Vincelot - got up early above Mike Williamson and no foul for me. The problem was allowing the cross to come in and what a cross it was! As I said last night it was superb entertainment and you can seewhy Bradford have done so well in the past two years. They lose very few games and went unbeaten at home for the whole of last season. Blackburn ended the run with their win at Valley Parade. Can see how they won so easily at the Posh last weekend though. I think you make a good point about allowing the cross to come in. Gino clearly does not like tracking back and if had of done there would have been more pressure on the person crossing the ball.
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Post by charliesghost on Sept 13, 2017 10:01:06 GMT
Yeah Paddy Madden is decent. Always easier playing up front in a two. Ryan, with the respect due to an intelligent poster, I feel that you are over-simplifying this issue and not keeping your analysis fact-focussed. Playing in a 2 brings its advantages to strikers. But so does playing in a '1'. Let us look at the Premier League for elucidation as that is a league most of us know something about. Last season, the top three strikers were Romelo Lukaku, Harry Kane and Ibrahimovic. All three played mostly upfront on their own and scored shedloads of goals against the best defences in the land. How So? Surely impossible according to your theory. Or, if true, they are true Supermen who would score 40 goals plus if only they had a traditional strike partner. The reason is that if their movement is good they have three attacking players all fundamentally looking to service them. You see this when watching Kane play in front of Alli, Eriksen, Son etc. Their primary aim is to set him up because he is the top finisher. If he is over-marked then they will take it on themselves or recycle. Many times already this season we have seen Payne scurry forward with the ball, looking for a smart little run from Wes or Obika. And - in my view - their speed of thought and sharpness of movement is midtable League 1, not top of the table League 1. That is not surprising, as they are mature players and that is what their careers indicate. Nor is playing in a 2 all sweetness and light. You have another striker looking for the same chances; you can get very isolated as a pair, especially away from home. These reasons are why the top scorers in the league 30 years ago were scoring 25 to 30 goals a season. And the top scorers now likewise. There is a secondary, interesting debate about the quality of defending, but let's leave that for another day. One final point, and I say this not for your benefit but for those who struggle with concentration spans and English comprehension. I think that Wes and Obika are the best 9s we have had since Mooney. I don't think Hylton would do any better. Nor Judson or Beano! But would I take Paul Moody over both of them? Absolutely, and he could play on his own upfront or in a 2. Moods was the difference when we last got promoted from this league. He was teak tough, mobile (remember the hat trick against Cardiff) and produced at critical moments.
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