thoughts on today

[basilrobbie]

Mixed feelings about that really. On the one hand it was a vast improvement on Tuesday ; on the other, we still come away with nothing to show for it.

It was a bit difficult to play a lot of football today ; there was quite a gale blowing from right to left as we looked which meant we were on the wrong end of things in the first half. The goal came in our first meaningful attack ; the thing I took away from it was how calm Madine was when the moment came. It augurs well.

We were still having trouble maintaining balance to our shape down the left and nearly got caught out a couple of times before they equalised from just such a move. It was disappointing.

After that I thought they had a lot of ball without being able to do enough where it really counted - until they did. From our point of view it was soft, but he took a really good first touch, and a deadly second one. 2-1 was about fair at the break.

In the second half, we had a lot of possession but I felt did not play the conditions as well as we might. In addition, our better players (Madine, Dewsbury-Hall) faded out of the game somewhat, having been good in the first half. Oxford had to keep the ball down in the teeth of the gale, and it suited them. Maxwell had to make a couple of smart saves to keep them out. Our best chance came right at the death, and I guess Madine will be dwelling upon it all the way home. He took his time, curled the ball round the 'keeper - and missed by a smidge. It summed up the afternoon, really.

I've mentioned the best two players, but no-one played badly today. I thought Ronan was not as good as on Tuesday, although he did OK. All the substitutions made sense and I thought Nuttall showed a couple of very nice touches (and a couple not so good) in his cameo.

Overall, though disappointing, this was reassuring after Tuesday. They haven't become a bad team overnight.

 

[the_dog]

Where is Husband these days? Is that why we are so exposed down there? Always thought of Bola as more of an attack minded player.

 

[basilrobbie]

He's injured, I believe, as is Kaikai.

 

[Wizaard]

I thought Dewsbury Hall got a second wind towards the end when joined by Virtue. I'd like to see those two with Ronan. We'd be a lot more creative, and bring the forwards more into the game. Madine really had to score at the death.

For all their possession, I wasn't unduly worried in the second half apart from once when Maxwell made a decent block. All the rest I would have been disappointed if he'd let them in.

 

[22abus]

Agree It was less worse than Tuesday night,but there just isn’t enough work put in for me.
Thought feeney was poor and agree dewsbury hall looked quality. Keeper didn’t inspire confidence either.
It just seems so flat all round at the moment.
Two freezing cold away trips and two poor performances for me.

 

[NAPMer]

Our best chance came right at the death, and I guess Madine will be dwelling upon it all the way home. He took his time, curled the ball round the 'keeper - and missed by a smidge. It summed up the afternoon, really.

Don’t you think that sums up everything about us at the moment. Someone wrote recently that we are not a ’lucky’ team and missing by a smidge basically sums us up as a side!

 

[no-more-lies]

Makes a change to read a more balanced view of yesterdays performance. While agreeing we are on a horrendous run ,we have just come through 2 difficult away games with a team in massive transition.

Hopefully with another full weeks training ,back on home soil against a struggling side we could start to turn the corner.
One thing i can guarantee is this mass hysteria,blaming anyone and anything will do nothing to help.