So How's Critchley going to approach the first leg at Oxford?

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Junior_BentsPlatformShoes

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With a team that should be brimming with confidence, how are we going to be set up at Oxford? They clearly score a few but also let in goals too. With our away form being how it's been, will Critchley keep things tight and let Oxford come onto us? Or do we go there looking for goals ourselves? Which first 11? He has more options now with a few players back from injuries. Not sure if Kaikai will be fit to feature. Stewart looked good first half but tired, Embleton has done enough to start. For once in recent games, it's hard to think what the starting 11 will be.
 
I think we'll go 5-4-1 first leg. Win or draw the first leg and we'll do the same.

If we go behind in the first leg we'll go 5-3-2 or 4-2-3-1 for the second leg.

Love that we are so competent with so many different formations and game plans. Must make it incredibly difficult to plan for playing us.
 
Play our game and let them worry about us! They had a good final day result but it was against a team that had nothing to play for whereas Oxfords entire season rested on that result. We are getting players back and should be full of confidence ourselves, I hope we go and put them under pressure from the start.
 
5/2 available for Pool to keep a clean sheet in the first leg which is good odds considering our defensive record
 
Yarmouth Seasider said:
Play our game and let them worry about us! They had a good final day result but it was against a team that had nothing to play for whereas Oxfords entire season rested on that result. We are getting players back and should be full of confidence ourselves, I hope we go and put them under pressure from the start.
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and having seen their goals from that game....I think every one Chris Maxwell would have stopped comfortably!

#UTMP
 
My only fear is if we have to chase the game in the second leg were pretty good at not being beaten but if were behind after the first leg we dont seem to be the sort of team that can chase a lead down.
 
Just play our normal away game without fear. Let them come at us, contain them then start to put them under the cosh with our counter attacks.

It’s the home leg that concerns me too.
 
bfcfan 1960 said:
My only fear is if we have to chase the game in the second leg were pretty good at not being beaten but if were behind after the first leg we dont seem to be the sort of team that can chase a lead down.
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We've come from behind a few times to draw (Plymouth, Burton, Crewe etc.) but, slightly worryingly, I don't think we've come from behind to win a single game all season.
 
I expect we'll play possession football away, with the occasional counter-attack on their goal. The home leg then depends on the outcome of the first game.
 
Press high up, play at pace, go for a win. I wouldn't like to be chasing a result in the second leg if we have been too negative in the first.
 
The way he approaches every game thorough, professional, every one will know there jobs, the team will be very well drilled.
 
Walnut said:
Surely he got to go attack minded and get a couple of away goals .
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Don’t think the away goals count as in other competitions- not checked but a 0-2 would be nice- unless they are a Bradford in disguise... nah that won’t happen unless we print directions to Wembley in the programs for the home leg for there manager to pin on the dressing room wall for pre match inspiration- or unless Simon has a quiet word with critch to fix the game so he doesn’t have to pay the players championship wages - obviously none of that happened Owen I’m just saying some people have a misjudged opinion that it did- not me , you were a fan from the age of 2 months old prancing about in your tangerine nappies, anyway- moon landing/ princess Diana/ area 53 (or 52 or whatever?)
Elvis/ lord lucan/Kennedy etc etc are all bollocks & let’s face it big Sam is as straight as anything
 
I think we need to make sure that we control the midfield, in particular against a passing team like Oxford. So, for me, it has to be a fluid 3-5-2. This system gets the best out of our players and they look far more comfortable with it than any other in my mind, especially some of our key performers over recent games; Garbutt, KK (if fit), Simms, Gabriel...
 
dodgy_surname said:
In a professional manner, no billy big bollocks 🍊⚽️👍
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I noticed the Oxford players and staff celebrating and dancing on the pitch like they were already up (OK, we did in '10, and they probably didn't expect pompey to lose), but then you see our lads and Critch after the last game and it was just like another day at the office, pats on the back, hand shakes, job done. They are clearly focused, professional and know there is still work to be done, I quite like it
 
There's many things we do well like pressing and at times we can play some great football and have players who can run at opposition and cause real probelms. We have Garbutts deliveries and goals, Yates work and goals, Simms goals and play, Kaiaki creativity and goals etc.

We need to continue to be defensively solid. Be calm on th ball. Play a confident game.

However...

Things I want us to improve for the playoffs.

Cut out the kick offs hoofing it straight to them, it rarely works for us and usually gives the opponent possession straight away. In fact less general hoofing which can creep in at times, we are much better playing on the floor imo.

A few times we have had a slow start sometimes caused by the loss of possession at kick off, so we want to avoid a slow start.

Our finishing will need to be on point. Also outside of a few usual suspects quite a few rarely score goals. We need to be clinical, goals from midfield or defence to add to any the strikers may get would be a huge benefit. Weve had a few bad misses by some in recent games that you would have expected to be put away.

Let's hope the lads are clinical.
 
Whatever the game plan was when we won 2-0 away recently, rinse and repeat! Two goals from set pieces would be nice again.
 
Graham berrys plastic bag said:
Don’t think the away goals count as in other competitions- not checked but a 0-2 would be nice- unless they are a Bradford in disguise... nah that won’t happen unless we print directions to Wembley in the programs for the home leg for there manager to pin on the dressing room wall for pre match inspiration- or unless Simon has a quiet word with critch to fix the game so he doesn’t have to pay the players championship wages - obviously none of that happened Owen I’m just saying some people have a misjudged opinion that it did- not me , you were a fan from the age of 2 months old prancing about in your tangerine nappies, anyway- moon landing/ princess Diana/ area 53 (or 52 or whatever?)
Elvis/ lord lucan/Kennedy etc etc are all bollocks & let’s face it big Sam is as straight as anything
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I stand corrected!
 
Fingers crossed we can do what we've done away to a lot of better teams - let them try to attack and give us space to counter. We've struggles against teams that have sat back. What we don't want to do if have a 2 or more goal deficit for the home tie as then I think we'd struggle to score more.
It'll be interesting to see how having a crowd affects the players in an already high tension and nervy few games - they've not had that yet this season. i'd like to think our home crowd will make enough noise to inspire the team on to a win.
 
If Ward, Robson and KaiKai are still out, who is in Midfield?.
Does he play Stewart and Dougall together? Has he any choice?
Does he play Embleton and/ or Anderson?
My gut reaction is:
Maxwell
Turton Ballard Thorniley Husband Garbutt
Dougall Stewart Embleton
Simms Yates

Bench:
Moore
Ekpiteta
Gabriel
Mitchell
Anderson
Madine
Holmes?
 
southshorepool said:
If Ward, Robson and KaiKai are still out, who is in Midfield?.
Does he play Stewart and Dougall together? Has he any choice?
Does he play Embleton and/ or Anderson?
My gut reaction is:
Maxwell
Turton Ballard Thorniley Husband Garbutt
Dougall Stewart Embleton
Simms Yates

Bench:
Moore
Ekpiteta
Gabriel
Mitchell
Anderson
Madine
Holmes?
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I agree with all this, and I'd be tempted to play Anderson instead of Embleton, but it's a toss up. If Ward is fit then he comes into contention. I have that slight worry about red cards in play off games, they can wreck a whole season's endeavours in one daft moment. Which makes me wonder about Husband. But I love him as a player, he's had a great season after the wobbly start.

I wouldn't be leaving Simms out, as some people seem to be. He's really getting into his stride and is a major weapon now. He's the striker that Oxford will least want to have to deal with I suspect. And his presence helps Yates, as the opposition have a lot more to deal with. They are very different, Simms is quicker, taller and stronger. Yates more of a technician. Let's give Oxford both barrels.
 
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We won fairly comfortable there in March with Simms on the bench. We must contain their midfield so you would think that
despite him being in form Critchley will stick to the same formula.
 
FessParker said:
We won fairly comfortable there in March with Simms on the bench. We must contain their midfield so you would think that
despite him being in form Critchley will stick to the same formula.
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Yes, can't lose the midfield battle, it worked so well in March, also pressing the back, Oxford happy to pass it around the back two but as soon as they tried to get up the pitch they lost the ball. The same tactic should work again but I think it was so effective Oxford might be the ones considering switching things up.
 
Maybe play Simms instead of Yates then?! I think I might. Yates is top scorer with 20 league goals but Simms has 8 from far fewer games and without penalties, and has 3 in his last two games. And with his pace he forces them deeper.
 
FessParker said:
We won fairly comfortable there in March with Simms on the bench. We must contain their midfield so you would think that
despite him being in form Critchley will stick to the same formula.
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Simms has improved game on game, I would prefer them to be worried about our attack, rather than just try to nullify them.
 
voyeur said:
I agree with all this, and I'd be tempted to play Anderson instead of Embleton, but it's a toss up. If Ward is fit then he comes into contention. I have that slight worry about red cards in play off games, they can wreck a whole season's endeavours in one daft moment. Which makes me wonder about Husband. But I love him as a player, he's had a great season after the wobbly start.

I wouldn't be leaving Simms out, as some people seem to be. He's really getting into his stride and is a major weapon now. He's the striker that Oxford will least want to have to deal with I suspect. And his presence helps Yates, as the opposition have a lot more to deal with. They are very different, Simms is quicker, taller and stronger. Yates more of a technician. Let's give Oxford both barrels.
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If we play Simms and Yates then we have to go 3 5 2, 4 4 2 could see us dead and buried before the 2nd leg.
I'd go with
Maxwell
Ekpiteta Ballard Thornily
Gabriel Stewart Dougall Garbutt
Kaikai
Simms Yates
Moore Turton Husband Robson Anderson Embleton Madine
If Ward and Gretarrsson are fit they are definitely in the squad, probably the starting 11, so many options for the coach to pick from. Probably the strongest squad i think we have had in the last 40 years relative to the division we are in.
 
gjr69 said:
If we play Simms and Yates then we have to go 3 5 2, 4 4 2 could see us dead and buried before the 2nd leg.
I'd go with
Maxwell
Ekpiteta Ballard Thornily
Gabriel Stewart Dougall Garbutt
Kaikai
Simms Yates
Moore Turton Husband Robson Anderson Embleton Madine
If Ward and Gretarrsson are fit they are definitely in the squad, probably the starting 11, so many options for the coach to pick from. Probably the strongest squad i think we have had in the last 40 years relative to the division we are in.
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Fair dinkum. I'd probably prefer to start Anderson or Embleton than Kaikai myself, but it all depends on where KK is up to. It's such a big game that I wouldn't want to be wondering which Kaikai would weveal himself. Use him off the bench if we are not creating. It's a critch/calder call though.
 
voyeur said:
Fair dinkum. I'd probably prefer to start Anderson or Embleton than Kaikai myself, but it all depends on where KK is up to. It's such a big game that I wouldn't want to be wondering which Kaikai would weveal himself. Use him off the bench if we are not creating. It's a critch/calder call though.
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Anderson has looked really sharp since he came back so could possibly be the man to be playing behind the front 2 but I would always pick Kaikai over Embleton.
 
gjr69 said:
Anderson has looked really sharp since he came back so could possibly be the man to be playing behind the front 2 but I would always pick Kaikai over Embleton.
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I'm not sure I would. KK has games where he's totally awol. If that happens we'll be buggered. The flip side us that he can produce the moment that wins the game, of course.
 
voyeur said:
I'm not sure I would. KK has games where he's totally awol. If that happens we'll be buggered. The flip side us that he can produce the moment that wins the game, of course.
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I think his AWOL games were when he was being played wide in a 4 4 2, not his game. Play him behind Simms and Yates and you get the best out of him, he has much more end product than Embleton but Anderson is the man in form and looking sharp so maybe he is the player to start.
 
gjr69 said:
I think his AWOL games were when he was being played wide in a 4 4 2, not his game. Play him behind Simms and Yates and you get the best out of him, he has much more end product than Embleton but Anderson is the man in form and looking sharp so maybe he is the player to start.
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We haven't seen tons of KK playing behind the striker though, have we? Maybe age is catching up with me. Personally I think Embleton likes more like he know how to play that position, from what I've seen. He's not perfect, though, Embo. I like Anderson's energy and running. He looks more like he really wants it than KK. It's a tough call innit?
 
1
voyeur said:
We haven't seen tons of KK playing behind the striker though, have we? Maybe age is catching up with me. Personally I think Embleton likes more like he know how to play that position, from what I've seen. He's not perfect, though, Embo. I like Anderson's energy and running. He looks more like he really wants it than KK. It's a tough call innit?
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Good problem to have 3 candidates for one position in a formation that we may or may not play!
One of the things Grayson got right, and I haven't got a very long list, was playing Kaikai more centrally behind a striker or strikers.
 
voyeur said:
We haven't seen tons of KK playing behind the striker though, have we? Maybe age is catching up with me. Personally I think Embleton likes more like he know how to play that position, from what I've seen. He's not perfect, though, Embo. I like Anderson's energy and running. He looks more like he really wants it than KK. It's a tough call innit?
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Kaks more dangerous than Embleton I think. Embleton harder working, the age old conundrum for a manager
 
gjr69 said:
1
Good problem to have 3 candidates for one position in a formation that we may or may not play!
One of the things Grayson got right, and I haven't got a very long list, was playing Kaikai more centrally behind a striker or strikers.
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He got the 2007 side pretty spot on. 😉
 
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