The 2023/24 L1 Matchday Thread

JonnyBiscuits

Manning's system definitely highlights Long's limitations, which he's always had. He's not really the answer for this team I don't think. A real shame but there's no room for sentimentality here.

Agree with the point about having outperformed our squad talent so far. It was a mess when Manning took over and there's only so much you can do in one window.

I was thinking yesterday how a re-evaluation of expectations is probably in order. I keep checking the Pumpey scores but the likelihood of the title this season is, in reality, so far away that we probably ought to get used to it immediately.

While it might be a bit of a downer on this season, it's all ultimately positive - it's a testament to how well we've done already given the circumstances of last season and four years of squad mismanagement.that we could be approaching November worrying about the team at the top getting away.

I'm not getting too down - Brannagan's return will make a big difference, and I do actually think of the ref hadn't stopped play when we were through on goal 1 on 1, we'd have won that game quite comfortably.

JonnyBiscuits

We do need to handle in-game adversity a bit better though. We got quite rattled and our standards slipped.

Joe_Citrone

JonnyBiscuits

I fully agree with this. It's funny how 'never too high or too low' has become a bit of a Manning catchphrase because, on the pitch at least, I think we do that quite a lot.

I think I am much more positive about the performance than a lot of people. I actually think we played quite well on the whole, although absolutely need to be more clinical in front of goal. The need for another striker in January has been brought into sharp focus in the last seven days or so.

TrevorAylottsHeadband

Right, I'll get the referee out of the way first… The mark of a good referee is that you barely notice them. In this instance, you could do nothing but notice him! Woefully inconsistent all the way through, throwing cards around like confetti, and totally failing to manage the game. To say more would simply add more heat than light though.

However, as @LeftSider says, the furore around the ref masked what was another bang-average performance. Again we won the xG battle 1.72 v 1.19 which highlights both how little Wycombe offered as an attacking threat and how wasteful we were with our opportunities. There were two good chances for Harris - through with just the keeper to beat in the first half, and the free header in the second - where he has failed to hit the target which, to be blunt, simply isn't good enough. There were others on the park who had subpar performances too, particularly Rodrigues and McGuane both of whom seemed to think we were playing in blue. And Sam Long, oh dear…

As already touched on by @LeftSider and @JonnyBiscuits, there is a slight issue of expectations being raised irrationally high thanks to the good start we have made to the season. Realistically, a sixth-place finish would be an excellent turnaround from where we were at the end of last season, so we really shouldn't be that disheartened if we start to slip away from the automatic promotion slots. It's fairly clear that the owners are putting in a LOT of money to the squad this season too, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the obvious issues being addressed in January.

oxblogger

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Wycombe Wanderers 2

'We invited the referee’s erratic performance to influence the game. There were ‘learning points’ for him to take on board, but expecting consistency shouldn’t be part of any gameplan.'

https://oxblogger.co.uk/2023/10/29/match-wrap-oxford-united-2-wycombe-wanderers-2/

brinyhoof

oxblogger are sure it’s 30 years!? Wycombe being a league club is another one of those old things that can still seem new to me. The M40, those half-size shopping trolleys, pound coins, etc.

JonnyBiscuits

oxblogger

So we're all agreed that Seb Stockbridge likes having his testicles electrocuted and then posts videos of it on the internet.

oxblogger

Joe_Citrone the never too high philosophy seems to translate to ‘never too much, never too little’ but that doesn’t leave much of a margin of error for when things don’t go to plan.

Genuine modern football question, do clubs develop strikers in the Matty Taylor, James Constable, John Aldridge mould anymore? Players whose main purpose is to score bucket loads of goals. It seems to me the onus is on developing more rounded players who fit into a system. I guess the theory being you’d rather have eight players scoring five goals each than one scoring twenty. Of course I may not be paying attention and every team has an out and it striker.

oxblogger

brinyhoof sure is, and to put that into perspective we’d been in the league for only 24 when we won the Milk Cup. Presumably there was someone in the QPR end muttering about us being just being Southern League twats.

JonnyBiscuits

oxblogger Genuine modern football question, do clubs develop strikers in the Matty Taylor, James Constable, John Aldridge mould anymore? Players whose main purpose is to score bucket loads of goals. It seems to me the onus is on developing more rounded players who fit into a system. I guess the theory being you’d rather have eight players scoring five goals each than one scoring twenty. Of course I may not be paying attention and every team has an out and it striker.

I do think it's widely regarded to be less of a thing in the game now. Kane and Haaland are outliers.

I think we still need them at our level - I'm not entirely convinced L1 is ready for False 9s, whatever they actually are.

brinyhoof

Did anyone go to Lincoln or watch the match? Back to our old (new?) selves?

TrevorAylottsHeadband

brinyhoof I was there. A solid, if unspectacular, performance. The injury to Sam Long meant that we shifted very early on to a back four, and Finn Stevens looked pretty decent as an attacking RB. Stan Mills was a lively outlet down the right, and we seemed so much more composed in midfield with Brannagan back. Harris desperately needs a goal though - as always, does a lot of work, but doesn't provide much of a real goal threat.

Overall it was the performance and result that we needed.

LeftSider

I didn’t travel to Lincoln.

While I would never wish any of our players to be injured, the loss of Long forced a move to a back four, which helped us greatly, and I hope that LM maintains that formation as the rule rather than the exception.

I thought it allowed us to be a far more effective offensive unit, with Mills in particular showing what a good player he is becoming. Also, Harris, who gave his best performance since Derby away. Great energy, clever runs and his hold up play was decent. Hopefully, the elusive goal will come soon.

I thought McGuane wasn’t at the level we have come to expect, but given the number of minutes he’s played, perhaps that’s not unexpected. I think I’d rest him for the cup games. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our form has dipped while Brannagan has been unavailable and similarly his return saw us improve massively last night. A slightly worrying statement on our squad depth, perhaps, but there aren’t many players of his calibre in League One.

The full backs were excellent, too. Leigh had their right winger totally under control and Stevens gave his best performance for Oxford so far.

All in all, a confidence boosting, professional and controlled showing and it was nice to see us play well for 90 minutes.

I think the cup games have come at a good time. Some rest for the ever presents and minutes for those who need them.

Bspittles

I think LM wants to play 5 at the back but understands that he doesn’t yet have the personnel to do so. Rather than have 4 as a temporary line up, he’s sticking with 5 so the rest of the squad get used to it, ready for after the next transfer window (or the one after that).

LeftSider

Bspittles I hope you’re wrong. Mills, Edwards and Browne are wasted in a 5.

JonnyBiscuits

Watched on iFollow. Broadly agree with the reactions above. It feels harsh, but I said the Sam Long thing when it happened... apart from it leaving us a little on the threadbare side in terms of cover, it might prove an opportunity.

I thought McGuane was fine last night - much better than he was on Saturday, which I think is the worst he's played for us in the games I've seen this season. Taking the Brannagan factor out of the equation for moment, I think there's a direct link between McGuane's performance in a given game and our team performance.

I kind of don't mind if Harris doesn't score too many if he's frequently getting in behind centre-halves like he was last night, and making them constantly second guess their positioning, as that opens things up for our other attacking players.

Love Tyler, but somebody needs a quiet word with him on when and where to try the fancy stuff and where not to.

JonnyBiscuits

Little nod for the Lincoln fans jeering Sam Long as he gets on the crutches. Stay classy, lads.

And pretty poor effort from the relevant authorities at the ground leaving Sam Long sat on the side of the pitch waiting for support for well over five minutes.

TrevorAylottsHeadband

JonnyBiscuits That was really bizarre. Long was down for a long time as Amy treated him and had to be helped from the pitch before waiting for a VERY long time pitchside until Jonny Edmunds eventually rustled up a pair of crutches from somewhere. Considering how early it was in the game and the subsequent need for crutches, it was obvious that it was a serious injury and not timewasting, so the response from their fans was ridiculous. And that's a real shame because overall they seemed to be a decent bunch, happy to chat and mingle in the fan zone before the game.

brinyhoof

Lots of positives which is great to hear. Fine tuning clearly still a work in progress so it will be interesting to see who plays Saturday. Perhaps Smyth and McEachran in midfield, Steph at the back, Murphy starting? Wouldn’t be surprised to see Harris start given the likelihood he can score against lower opposition to give him a conference boost. But will the likes of Woltman, Perkins, etc get a look in?

Joe_Citrone

brinyhoof Personally, I would go fairly strong on Saturday - maybe starts for Thorniley, McEachran and Murphy - and then rotate more for the Pizza Trophy match.

TrevorAylottsHeadband

Joe_Citrone Tend to agree with this. Getting to the 3rd round and a potentially lucrative tie should be a high priority.

brinyhoof

Joe_Citrone yeah, thats kind-of what I was getting at. Keep the fine tuning going by including the core of the team. But also about resting a few I guess - McGuane definitely, Leigh maybe?

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