The 2023/24 L1 Matchday Thread

oxblogger

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Cambridge United 1

‘If the first half-time was a pantomime, then it would have been a harrowing exploration of Buttons’ backstory. Thankfully, Ciaron Brown swooped like a hawk to save Christmas.'

https://oxblogger.co.uk/2023/12/27/match-wrap-oxford-united-2-cambridge-united-1/

brinyhoof

Good to see CB got the marketing memo. ‘If you score, please celebrate in front of people who are not usually at the match’.

Rachhfost

Looks like we will be short of options tomorrow night as Murphy and Bodin both likely to miss out again.

I think I’d probably swap McEachran for Maguane but otherwise start with the same team. Going to be some tired legs out there.

Dishy Des also looking like he’s aged a few years in a matter of weeks so hope he’s got those support staff in finally.

Joe_Citrone

I came out of that game just absolutely seething.

A squad decimated with injuries and zero help in the way of support staff and people already turning on Des?

I’m astounded.

He’s not immune to criticism, but can people seriously not see the reasons behind why he’s making the decisions he’s making?

He’s hardly been dealt a good hand, has he?

(Sorry, in rant mode tonight)

JonnyBiscuits

Joe_Citrone It’s because (and I’ve had grief for pointing it out in the past) a higher than average proportion of football supporters aren’t very bright.

TrevorAylottsHeadband

Joe_Citrone I agree, and I remain a committed Desbian. That was, however, the first game I have left early in many, many years, and I went just after the Derby 3rd. It was partly because that was clearly game over, but also because our fans are utter shit. For the last fifteen minutes or so, the East Stand was like a morgue; several of us started to get chants going, but only a handful of people joined in. Yes, the Derby fans were quiet at 2-0, but as soon as they got one back, they came alive and were pretty much non-stop throughout the second half, and absolutely lifted their team. What did we do? Shuffled our feet and grumbled. Pathetic stuff.

brinyhoof

At least RadOx got to do a sort-of cash converters pun.

JonnyBiscuits

Heard the highlights at the end and Jerome did the Cashin cashes in gag. You don’t do gags under those circumstances, that’s basic, that’s rule one.

Gingermoods

I find the expectations of many of our fans baffling and infuriating. We were absolute garbage last season and nearly relegated, we’ve had just one transfer window and had to replace our manager and backroom staff (which we haven’t actually done yet) in the 8 months since last season, plus we have several key players injured yet they seem to think we have some kind of right to an automatic promotion slot. Something none of us would have considered before the season started.

We were exhausted and outplayed by a stronger team last night and it’s going to take a few more weeks to get back on track. I thought every one of those players gave it their all, it just wasn’t enough. Nothing to do with tactics, I fail to see what else Des could really do with the players available to him. The trend in modern football is to over analyse the data and the stats but sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and accept that you were battered by a stronger team. Nothing deeper than that.

oxblogger

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Derby County 3

’The two goals felt like a contingency against their inevitable comeback rather than an unassailable lead. But with injuries hampering us, these games aren’t a fair assessment of Des Buckingham.'

https://oxblogger.co.uk/2023/12/30/match-wrap-oxford-united-2-derby-county-3-2/

brinyhoof

oxblogger I accidentally left some Sonny Perkins in the fridge before we went on holiday. The house now stinks of mouldy Perkins and I’m going to dump the fridge in Leeds asap.

TrevorAylottsHeadband

Oh, and one more thing… the people turning on Beadle can get in the bin.

Gingermoods

TrevorAylottsHeadband as can the people booing the team at the end.

oxblogger

Thankfully, I don’t think the negatives around DBux are as strong as the noise suggests (although the brief booing in the SSU at half-time when we were leading was particularly impressive). Most are broadly on side and recognise he’s been given a difficult task. The frustration is probably that we’re on the brink of this becoming another transitional season and people are clutching for simple solutions to a complex (and slow resolving) set of problems. Beadle was always going to have a tough night when 60% of the game was played eight yards from his goal with seventeen players standing in front of him.

LeftSider

I think the booing was aimed at the referee for playing over two-minutes of time-added-on-for-stoppages.

Perhaps, I’m just trying to see the best in people.

Bspittles

LeftSider I’m surprised I haven’t seen more about that. Wasn’t it 2:20 when they scored?

Gingermoods

But the injury time given is always the minimum amount, Nathan even says it every week, a minimum of 2 minutes. Of course that might change depending on what happens in those 2 minutes, that’s just basic stuff.

I was more annoyed about the blatant handball in the lead up to their 2nd or 3rd goal (I forget which one).

Bspittles

Indeed, I wasn’t criticising the ref in any way. I was just a little surprised more people hadn’t (that I’m aware of).

Lars

Blenheim, Bannister .. Brannagan. Could almost have been the story

Penalty kicks are important and I am glad for Harris, who is a hard worker.

As long as Brannagan is still running United have a chance of top six

JonnyBiscuits

WALLOP!

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