Most liked posts in thread: Oxford United ( Away )

That was quite possibly one of the worst performances I've ever seen, from any side. It was literally that bad.

I was baffled by the lineup, and it took all of 10 minutes to realise, that yes, this isn't going to work. Clarke and Butterfield as wingers. Not drifting inside like you'd expect, they were actually on the wings, and in Butterfield's case he was completely ignored as our one tactic all first half was to lump it down the right via Caddis' boot towards Ball. But we couldn't win any seconds because in Akpan and Anderson we had two centre mids who wouldn't push on. Neither did they do much holding or defending either, but that's a separate point.

The couple of times Butterfield did get involved centrally led to our better moments but little to note in reality.

Chicksen and Anderson were in a competition it seemed to win a 'worst player' on the pitch award. The latter looked like someone pulled out of the crowd, who'd never played any kind of sport, who had no energy, or brain. Struggling to recall a worse display.

I assumed (stupidly) that we'd move Butterfield (a central, attacking midfielder) inside, take Anderson off and put Miller or Payne on, play them wide. I was wrong to assume, and the second half was going the same way as the first. Miller did arrive and was an improvement on Ball. But we were still garbage and still refusing to try and play football. Caddis, Chicksen, the entire back four preferred to fire long balls into channels.

A double change came, and I couldn't disagree with it, we needed to change something and I fully expected (stupidly) to finally see the back of Anderson.

But no. Butterfield was hooked, as was Clarke. So O'Brien and Payne (like Clarke and Butterfield before them) got the opportunity to be completely bypassed out wide. We then became even worse, as O'Brien didn't cover Chicksen and our deep holding players retreated even further. How Oxford didn't score at least one in that last 10 mins of normal I'll never know.

Then, we break well, Miller and Doyle link superbly and it's a decent looking low pass to O'Brien at the far post who only has to tap it home. He doesn't. It's wide. Oxford take a quick goal kick, and I swear I saw the goal coming a mile off. Our efforts to defend that attack were appalling, white flag was raised. Great finish by Mackie in fairness.

The officials then gave us some bizarre hope by signalling for a penalty. Can only assume O'Brien was fouled? I didn't see it like that myself, but happy days. No. No happy days at all. Ref changed his mind again. Despite the decision going against us, I enjoyed that last six or seven mins of nonsense more than the other 90+.

In essence, we were a shambles and looked like the worst side in the division. Deserved to lose.



The worst part? I know he's got no proper wide players, I know he's new to the job and so on. But the worst part is that I've left that match disappointed with Bowyer, as well as the team. I can't believe he left Anderson on. I believe he wasted Butterfield today. Conditions were irrelevant because Oxford with an extra centre mid were able to play through midfield. So we could have also. But no, two holding players, and launching it all afternoon.

Also, pissed off at our lack of urgency. Keeper was wasting time all afternoon. It looked like we'd come for a point, or to defend and maybe nick summat. Against Oxford. When we're second bottom. And it's only because of Oxford's horrific shooting that we nearly pulled it off.

Feel sorry for the fans who travelled and backed the team in shocking conditions having to watch that attempt at football.


O'Donnell - 6
Caddis - 5
NKP - 4
O'Connor - 5
Chicksen - 5
Akpan - 5
Anderson - 1
Clarke - 5
Butterfield - 5
Ball - 5
Doyle - 6

I'm being kind.



I'm getting drunk.

 

Where to bloody start?? Felt like topping myself, or the players, or the ref a bit earlier on but a few pints in me and a ruby on the way and sod it.
We were shit today, we defended bravely for most of the game but we were crap - no messing. Bowyer might have got a few things wrong but slagging him off is totally missing the point - this is on the whole a gutless team and today was just another lousy performance, the like of which we have seen MANY times this season. The end was a total farce in SO MANY ways and we are right to feel totally aggrieved at the shambles that ensued, but it must not hide the fact that when we should be fighting for our lives (as AFC Wimbledon) we were mostly shrinking violets. Gutless.
What makes it so embarrassing and frustrating is that as footballers this is far from the worst team we have had but as a team, as characters who have pride in what they do - wow, there are very few bravehearts in this lot.
I have seen there is another post titled Affinity and it hits the nail on the head - one way I can try to describe it is I used to have a great collection of Subbuteo but when me and my brothers left home my lovely mum (bless her) gave it all to charity without us knowing but kept the big box it was all in. A few years later when I went into my parents attic to see what was up there I found the box, I was really excited to find it again but inside it was some old china and other tittle tattle. The box itself was full of memories, happiness and something I loved but what was inside it now meant nothing to me - I had no affinity with it and it was such a disappointment. The box and what used to be in it is my club, my memories (both ups and downs) and my hopes, dreams and heros. What was in it now is what is now inside my club - nothing I love, nothing I have an affinity with and nothing that really means anything to me. I still love the box and I always will as that is part of my life.
Shit, how many beers did I say I have had?! There is just so much to sort at our club and tonight it just feels a bit overwhelming so sorry if this message is a little oddball but I am sure many of you are feeling the same way. Cheers for now

 

when a teams looked shit under 3 managers, it might just be the team that's shit.

 

Sorry no can do We are in Malaga celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary, going well so far, just off out for a few

Will it be on iFollow?

 

Well I land at MAN around 6:30, probably drive straight down and get a ticket on the day.

 

The Walsall away game was the last straw for me, spent way too much money this season watching dross. Even then i thought about going today but i'm so glad we didn't. I love this club but not at the moment, there's too many things wrong from the top down. Worst thing is i don't think we have bottomed out yet, i think we are in for a struggle again next season. I've no enthusiasm left as it stands.

 

I love the club. But we’ve deserved to go down all season. We’ve been a shambles - it’s the most needless, self inflicted relegation I can ever recall a club bringing on itself.

 

Morning all safe trip down to a very wet and windy Oxfordshire for all who travel. Right the game well it's pretty simple you score you win,our inept idiot of a manager persists with 1 up front every effing week doesn't believe in 442 has an exusee for everything typical scousers it's never his fault. We are awful we have a very good squad just a shame that fat Twit can't manage them. Could be a very hostile environment for Robtoday should things not go our way,fans have had enough and protests are planned against the ownership and the worst manager we've had in years,he makes David Kemp look good. Safe travels away win

 

Unfortunately everyone will focus on that and forget the other 95 minutes where we contributed nothing and never looked like scoring.

 

Wow....amazing. Congratulations. Have a great night, you both deserve it.

 

These are shocking stats :

 

I’ve never felt so sad about what has happened to my club in over 50+ years. By god I’ve seen some crap but this lot takes the biscuit. The club is in an absolute mess/shambles. Never seen such weekly gutless performances for so long a time. Can’t believe it!

 

I'll be going this season and I'll go next.

But Christ, things could barely be worse.

 

The big difference was that Mr Lawn & Mr Rhodes were football fans and more importantly Bradford City fans.
Most fans would back the club if it published a long term plan something sadly lacking, we are and have been kept in the dark far too long now and it's a big factor why season ticket sales will be well down An open and honest plan as to how we will get out of this mess would go a long way to restoring fan confidence

 

Let’s not blame anything on the officials. We have been shite since January 2018 and deserve to be where we are.

I hope we finish bottom now and it’s signal to clear the decks and start again in league two. This squad is a joke

 

Drivel mate, sorry.

Forward thinking, under Lawn, Rhodes, and Parky involved retaining the manager, backing him, and allowing him to build.

That we didn't find a sustainable financial model in a completely financially unsustainable football league system is totally irrelevant to the fact we WERE forward thinking.

Now we're not.

Nobody knows who will be here at the start of next season at any level.

Except players so dire we can't shift them.

 

I agree to a point but there's no way on earth that we can blame poor refereeing for this sorry mess we find ourselves in.

 

Going to channel my inner @Fordy117 here but everyone please get your arses down to oxford and support the lads - our support could be the difference in what is a make or break game and they need all the help they can get.

 

might put a lump on us

 

Sounds familiar!