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Post by dabigfella on Oct 22, 2017 8:39:00 GMT
We have now played 7 of the top teams in League One and the results do not make good reading. The sides are Shrewsbury at Home - Drew Bradford City at Home - Drew Charlton at Home - Drew Rotherham at Home - Drew Scunthorpe Away - Lost Blackpool Away - Lost Peterborough at Home - Won
That is a total of 7 Points out of a possible 21. And 5 of the games were at home with only one win.
Yes we have a side capable of playing really good football, but never for more than 25 to 30 minutes in a match. We seem unable to see a match out (as Yesterday).
Now things may improve (and I sure hope they do), but it has to be said that on these results top half of mid table is the likely result and not promotion in any form.
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Post by oufcyellows on Oct 22, 2017 8:56:42 GMT
I bet of those 7 most had a more settled squad and manager coming into the season. I think the signs are good and if we can take 7 points from teams in the top 7 as a starting point then we can only get better . Look at it another way, we’ve played the top 7 and still sit 7th in the league. After the last two game I’m fairly confident that when we come up against a weaker team we’re going to absolutely rip them a new one. (Hopefully Northampton) Worse case we will go through the season winning some and mistakes costing us some. Can’t see many teams slaughtering us. And we will finish mid table, playing nice football. I’ll take that in peps first season. And he will have jan and the summer to make the signings that make the real difference
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Post by Mark Sennett on Oct 22, 2017 9:02:14 GMT
Fair assessment and I'd take midtable. It's been a strange one this season I've left many games that we haven't lost saying that was a good game and I really enjoyed that. But equally that maybe because I wasn't expecting much from this season so can just enjoy the games for a change!
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Post by peterdev on Oct 22, 2017 9:09:14 GMT
Could always look at it differently. We have scored three goals four times at home this season and we are normally patchy at home. And we beat Peterborough 4-1 away....and a Rovers 1-0 away...after they won 6-0 the previous week. What isn't in doubt is our inconsistency....losing 0-3 at Bury and 1-2 to Walsall at home. U reckon we will win against Fleetwood and Northampton. Don't think we will finish half way, but think top two beyond us now. Wigan and Shrewsbury are the stand out teams. Charlton and Rotherham look good for play offs along with Bradford...question is can we sneak in
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Post by scotchegg on Oct 22, 2017 9:14:55 GMT
We have now played 7 of the top teams in League One and the results do not make good reading. The sides are Shrewsbury at Home - Drew Bradford City at Home - Drew Charlton at Home - Drew Rotherham at Home - Drew Scunthorpe Away - Lost Blackpool Away - Lost Peterborough at Home - Won That is a total of 7 Points out of a possible 21. And 5 of the games were at home with only one win. Yes we have a side capable of playing really good football, but never for more than 25 to 30 minutes in a match. We seem unable to see a match out (as Yesterday). Now things may improve (and I sure hope they do), but it has to be said that on these results top half of mid table is the likely result and not promotion in any form. Firstly, pretty sure that we beat Peterborough at their place. Secondly, success is built on accumulating more points than those around you. Where you get those points is often irrelevant. Better results against Wimbledon or Northampton last year would have seen us in the play-off spaces just as much as better results against the 'top' teams. We are a developing side that will hopefully improve in the way we have seen in recent weeks. Keep this up and we will be there or thereabouts come May regardless of what other teams do.
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Post by oufcyellows on Oct 22, 2017 9:19:07 GMT
It the results Don’t make good reading that don’t make sense to me. Read the table then, score the pen yesterday and we would be fifth. Cut out that last min equaliser at home and we would be sat 3rd on goal difference. All ifs and buts, but we really ain’t that far away. Just a few mistakes to cut out. And I’d rather see us where we are playing football that’s bloody enjoyable to watch, than sat top watching Atkins hoofball, or wilder shut up shop at 1-0
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Post by bigronaldo on Oct 22, 2017 9:22:24 GMT
Starting to feel that we are promotion contenders. The top two are not promoted yet. We are sitting rather nicely all things considered, playing quality football with room for improvement. Encouraging signs that we can build on. We are a decent team and anyone who plays us knows it.
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Post by flean on Oct 22, 2017 9:42:09 GMT
First season since 2000 I've been able to watch every game (ok, online but still beats listening to Nick Harris attempt to describe games) and it's so enjoyable watching this team. They put in 100%, play some absolutely beautiful football and it's starting to look like they can beat anyone in this league.
That alone for me is enough to be proud. Maybe they could be more defensive and grind out more of these draws into wins, but purely in entertainment terms they are a joy to watch.
Give me this team over any in my lifetime (OK, maybe the last 3 Months of the 96 season would edge it simply through the momentum that team build up).
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Post by littlemore on Oct 22, 2017 9:54:03 GMT
I think we can make the play offs.
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Post by rickyotto on Oct 22, 2017 9:56:50 GMT
How many other clubs have already played seven of the top teams?
Suggests easier fuctures to come whilst handily placed in eighth
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Post by bigfella72 on Oct 22, 2017 10:20:48 GMT
Could always look at it differently. We have scored three goals four times at home this season and we are normally patchy at home. And we beat Peterborough 4-1 away....and a Rovers 1-0 away...after they won 6-0 the previous week. What isn't in doubt is our inconsistency....losing 0-3 at Bury and 1-2 to Walsall at home. U reckon we will win against Fleetwood and Northampton. Don't think we will finish half way, but think top two beyond us now. Wigan and Shrewsbury are the stand out teams. Charlton and Rotherham look good for play offs along with Bradford...question is can we sneak in Thought Rotherham looked poor yesterday, very one dimensional and wind & ref assisted! Can’t see Shrewsbury going the distance either.
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Post by berliner on Oct 22, 2017 10:28:57 GMT
Playing against the top teams has never been an issue for OUFC...it's the ones against the bottom teams that cause the problems.
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Post by foley on Oct 22, 2017 10:55:42 GMT
We have now played 7 of the top teams in League One and the results do not make good reading. The sides are Shrewsbury at Home - Drew Bradford City at Home - Drew Charlton at Home - Drew Rotherham at Home - Drew Scunthorpe Away - Lost Blackpool Away - Lost Peterborough at Home - Won That is a total of 7 Points out of a possible 21. And 5 of the games were at home with only one win. Yes we have a side capable of playing really good football, but never for more than 25 to 30 minutes in a match. We seem unable to see a match out (as Yesterday). Now things may improve (and I sure hope they do), but it has to be said that on these results top half of mid table is the likely result and not promotion in any form. As others have said we have played 4 of these at home and three away as Peterborough was away. I think that the most important thing is the table. That doesn't lie. I would settle for coming second having beaten none of the top 6!! It is early days and I think that most supporters would agree that it has been a tough start (new manager and a whole load of new players plus losing Johnson/ Lundstrom). I would say that it is a work in progress. We are getting better and without so many injuries upfront we would have had a far better bench in the past 2 games. I reckon had we had Hall on the bench against both Charlton and Rotherham, we would have had a far better chance of winning at the end. I am pretty OK with where we are so long as we get a little luck with injuries and keep improving.
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Post by dabigfella on Oct 22, 2017 12:30:29 GMT
We have now played 7 of the top teams in League One and the results do not make good reading. The sides are Shrewsbury at Home - Drew Bradford City at Home - Drew Charlton at Home - Drew Rotherham at Home - Drew Scunthorpe Away - Lost Blackpool Away - Lost Peterborough at Home - Won That is a total of 7 Points out of a possible 21. And 5 of the games were at home with only one win. Yes we have a side capable of playing really good football, but never for more than 25 to 30 minutes in a match. We seem unable to see a match out (as Yesterday). Now things may improve (and I sure hope they do), but it has to be said that on these results top half of mid table is the likely result and not promotion in any form. Firstly, pretty sure that we beat Peterborough at their place. Secondly, success is built on accumulating more points than those around you. Where you get those points is often irrelevant. Better results against Wimbledon or Northampton last year would have seen us in the play-off spaces just as much as better results against the 'top' teams. We are a developing side that will hopefully improve in the way we have seen in recent weeks. Keep this up and we will be there or thereabouts come May regardless of what other teams do. Correct it was away. extra is that we have played five of the bottom 10 sides and the record is won 3, drawn 1, and lost 1. Which suggests we are in no danger of a relegation fight!
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Post by dabigfella on Oct 22, 2017 12:31:55 GMT
Playing against the top teams has never been an issue for OUFC...it's the ones against the bottom teams that cause the problems. We seem to be doing reasonably well against those so far. (see above)
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Post by ioualways on Oct 22, 2017 13:19:12 GMT
Another way of looking at this is to say that of the six teams above us we've played three and none of them have beaten us, and we really should have beaten two of them (Bradford in particular).
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Oct 22, 2017 13:32:48 GMT
I think we are seriously missing both pace and width. The wide attacking midfielders (yesterday Henry and Mowett) have little pace and go past a man once in a blue moon. Add that to the fact that they both drift inside all the time and you have no width either. (When Hall is playing you get a bit of pace on one side, and Ribeiro is also capable of and willing to get forward). That's why we are trying to tip-toe through the middle of defenses so much.
We play some lovely football at times, but at others seem intent on giving the ball away as quickly as we can! Sometimes in very bad areas where we are overplaying.
So at the moment, I can only see our current position (just in or just out of the playoffs) at best come the end of the season.
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Post by dabigfella on Oct 22, 2017 16:03:50 GMT
I think we are seriously missing both pace and width. The wide attacking midfielders (yesterday Henry and Mowett) have little pace and go past a man once in a blue moon. Add that to the fact that they both drift inside all the time and you have no width either. (When Hall is playing you get a bit of pace on one side, and Ribeiro is also capable of and willing to get forward). That's why we are trying to tip-toe through the middle of defenses so much. We play some lovely football at times, but at others seem intent on giving the ball away as quickly as we can! Sometimes in very bad areas where we are overplaying. So at the moment, I can only see our current position (just in or just out of the playoffs) at best come the end of the season. I understand what you mean but I have to question whether wingers are the answer with the current set up. The way the system is set up what is the point of wingers who cross the ball when there is never more than one forward in the box (usually covered by 2, 3 or even 4 defenders). The whole system seems to be to be a slow steady build up ending in an intricate passing movement in and around the box leading to an attempt at goal. It is supposed to a 4-4-1-1 system, but Payne plays so deep that in reality it is a 4-5-1 formation (with the occasional change to a 4-2-3-1 formation) with poor old Wes Thomas struggling on his own up front (it has to be said he does a more than reasonable job there). One of the reasons Clotet like Henry is that he suits this system well.
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Post by dabigfella on Oct 22, 2017 16:09:32 GMT
Another way of looking at this is to say that of the six teams above us we've played three and none of them have beaten us, and we really should have beaten two of them (Bradford in particular). If you mean Shrewsbury, Bradford, Charlton and Rotherham. All four games were at home and all four were draws. If we were really looking to gain promotion then at least a couple of those should have beeen wins
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Post by eraser on Oct 22, 2017 16:21:52 GMT
I think we are seriously missing both pace and width. The wide attacking midfielders (yesterday Henry and Mowett) have little pace and go past a man once in a blue moon. Add that to the fact that they both drift inside all the time and you have no width either. (When Hall is playing you get a bit of pace on one side, and Ribeiro is also capable of and willing to get forward). That's why we are trying to tip-toe through the middle of defenses so much. We play some lovely football at times, but at others seem intent on giving the ball away as quickly as we can! Sometimes in very bad areas where we are overplaying. So at the moment, I can only see our current position (just in or just out of the playoffs) at best come the end of the season. I understand what you mean but I have to question whether wingers are the answer with the current set up. The way the system is set up what is the point of wingers who cross the ball when there is never more than one forward in the box (usually covered by 2, 3 or even 4 defenders). The whole system seems to be to be a slow steady build up ending in an intricate passing movement in and around the box leading to an attempt at goal. It is supposed to a 4-4-1-1 system, but Payne plays so deep that in reality it is a 4-5-1 formation (with the occasional change to a 4-2-3-1 formation) with poor old Wes Thomas struggling on his own up front (it has to be said he does a more than reasonable job there). One of the reasons Clotet like Henry is that he suits this system well. Both comments are correct IMO - the good thing is that Pep recognises he doesn't have pacy wingers so sets the team up tactically to play to the strengths he does have. I'm confident that when Pep does find himself in the position of having pacy wingers then the tactics will change to get more receivers into the area.
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Oct 22, 2017 16:22:48 GMT
I think we are seriously missing both pace and width. The wide attacking midfielders (yesterday Henry and Mowett) have little pace and go past a man once in a blue moon. Add that to the fact that they both drift inside all the time and you have no width either. (When Hall is playing you get a bit of pace on one side, and Ribeiro is also capable of and willing to get forward). That's why we are trying to tip-toe through the middle of defenses so much. We play some lovely football at times, but at others seem intent on giving the ball away as quickly as we can! Sometimes in very bad areas where we are overplaying. So at the moment, I can only see our current position (just in or just out of the playoffs) at best come the end of the season. I understand what you mean but I have to question whether wingers are the answer with the current set up. The way the system is set up what is the point of wingers who cross the ball when there is never more than one forward in the box (usually covered by 2, 3 or even 4 defenders). The whole system seems to be to be a slow steady build up ending in an intricate passing movement in and around the box leading to an attempt at goal. It is supposed to a 4-4-1-1 system, but Payne plays so deep that in reality it is a 4-5-1 formation (with the occasional change to a 4-2-3-1 formation) with poor old Wes Thomas struggling on his own up front (it has to be said he does a more than reasonable job there). One of the reasons Clotet like Henry is that he suits this system well. That might well be the thinking I suppose. But it makes us fairly one dimensional. I'm not even saying out and out wingers. For example, some of our more threatening moments are on the break - but the team in general is so slow that we often look like streaming up the field, but then end up holding the ball in midfield because the players are (or seem to be) struggling to keep up. It also means that we are forever playing in front of opposition defenders rather than getting round the sides of them. Hall and GvK DO have some pace of course (although it's still fairly rare to see either of them take on a man and beat him out wide). I thought the idea of our 4-4-1-1 formation was that it allowed two of the middle four to augment the attack when we were on the front foot? Neither Mowatt nor Henry are quick enough to get there when we are playing at any pace. That's not necessarily a criticism of either of them - they are what they are - but IMO explains to some degree why we looked very narrow yesterday.
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Post by chippsy on Oct 22, 2017 20:22:32 GMT
We have now played 7 of the top teams in League One and the results do not make good reading. The sides are Shrewsbury at Home - Drew Bradford City at Home - Drew Charlton at Home - Drew Rotherham at Home - Drew Scunthorpe Away - Lost Blackpool Away - Lost Peterborough at Home - Won That is a total of 7 Points out of a possible 21. And 5 of the games were at home with only one win. Yes we have a side capable of playing really good football, but never for more than 25 to 30 minutes in a match. We seem unable to see a match out (as Yesterday). Now things may improve (and I sure hope they do), but it has to be said that on these results top half of mid table is the likely result and not promotion in any form. Any analysis on how these teams have performed against each other? At the end of the day we all know football can be very random and results don’t always stack up to what one may expect, based on league position. We are a WIP, but the signs are good and it is how you finish a season that matters. Provided you are in touching distance of the top 8 when you find a rich vein of results, anything is possible. Apart from the top two, we are in the mix so I would say we are as good as most of those teams you have just listed. I’m sure many more of those teams will be dropping points against each other, so I don’t understand the logic of isolating our performances against only them as a point of reference. Many games to play and lots of points to win and or lose, for all teams.
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Post by ioualways on Oct 23, 2017 0:03:47 GMT
Another way of looking at this is to say that of the six teams above us we've played three and none of them have beaten us, and we really should have beaten two of them (Bradford in particular). If you mean Shrewsbury, Bradford, Charlton and Rotherham. All four games were at home and all four were draws. If we were really looking to gain promotion then at least a couple of those should have beeen wins Oh right, four, not three! Yes, it would have been good to have won a couple of those games, and should have won one of them. But it also means that we're at least as good as these four. Yes, fair enough, we were playing at home. But playing the way we have been in the last few games I'd back us (were I a betting man, which I'm not) to win whether we're playing home or away.
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Post by dabigfella on Oct 28, 2017 16:11:20 GMT
I am becoming more and more convinced that mid table is our true position. Far too good to go down, but not quite good enough to go up.
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Post by fishpaste on Oct 29, 2017 12:34:08 GMT
We have now played 7 of the top teams in League One and the results do not make good reading. The sides are Shrewsbury at Home - Drew Bradford City at Home - Drew Charlton at Home - Drew Rotherham at Home - Drew Scunthorpe Away - Lost Blackpool Away - Lost Peterborough at Home - Won That is a total of 7 Points out of a possible 21. And 5 of the games were at home with only one win. Yes we have a side capable of playing really good football, but never for more than 25 to 30 minutes in a match. We seem unable to see a match out (as Yesterday). Now things may improve (and I sure hope they do), but it has to be said that on these results top half of mid table is the likely result and not promotion in any form. Firstly, pretty sure that we beat Peterborough at their place. Secondly, success is built on accumulating more points than those around you. Where you get those points is often irrelevant. Better results against Wimbledon or Northampton last year would have seen us in the play-off spaces just as much as better results against the 'top' teams. We are a developing side that will hopefully improve in the way we have seen in recent weeks. Keep this up and we will be there or thereabouts come May regardless of what other teams do. If we had beaten Millwall at home we would have had 3 more points and they would have had 3 less, putting us above them in 6th. A win against Wimbledon would have kept us in 8th. It can be very relevant where you get the points.
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Post by essexyellows on Oct 29, 2017 14:43:47 GMT
Long old way to go yet. We will win games we don`t expect to & lose some we should win. The real question is would you rather that combined with exciting football .....or grind out 1-0`s "because results are all that matter" ? Or a bit of both? Scoring the penalty then locking up shop....or going for the win and losing 2-0 ..... and so it has always been.
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Post by mcf86 on Oct 29, 2017 15:04:30 GMT
I tend not to look too deeply into statistics, they do my head in. It's about confidence in the manager for me, and Pep has impressed in many ways during his tenure so far. And he's done far better than we might have hoped considering the ins and outs of players, especially the players not only new to OUFC but to playing in the EFL. Therefore a mid-table finish would probably please most, but I wouldn't rule out a later surge in the New year after the players will have had more time to 'gel' and hopefully there will have been an influx of 2/3 new signings in the transfer window.
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Post by CheltenhamYellow on Oct 29, 2017 15:35:54 GMT
I tend not to look too deeply into statistics, they do my head in. It's about confidence in the manager for me, and Pep has impressed in many ways during his tenure so far. And he's done far better than we might have hoped considering the ins and outs of players, especially the players not only new to OUFC but to playing in the EFL. Therefore a mid-table finish would probably please most, but I wouldn't rule out a later surge in the New year after the players will have had more time to 'gel' and hopefully there will have been an influx of 2/3 new signings in the transfer window. And a few returning from injury....
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Post by diagocostapacket on Oct 29, 2017 17:18:05 GMT
All we are missing is what every successful team in every league in every country in the word has and that's a striker who can net 20 - 25 goals a season and convert the half chances as well as the whole ones.
Problem is they are like rocking horse shit.
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Post by Paul Cannell on Oct 29, 2017 20:28:37 GMT
Pace, width and possibly backbone as well. Otherwise you are spot on.
Nailed on bottom half unless we get new blood in January.
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