9th May Match Thread

[K-Win]

Final day of the season proper. The title, plus autos up and down already sorted. Three play-off spots already booked so the one thing remaining is the final play-off place between us, Oxford and Charlton.

We're in pole position, although there is a strong chance of a slip-up at home against highly motivated Accrington. Stanley can still finish as high as ninth, which will be another incredible achievement for them. It's a weird situation as we only just played at their place last Tuesday, so the crazy 3-3 is still fresh in everyone's mind. Our home record this season is pretty mediocre and Accrington's strikers caused us plenty of problems last time.

Oxford and Charlton also have tough games at home to Burton and Hull respectively. There could be plenty of shuffling about, position-wise before the final whistle.

 

[Luke Imp]

Can't be too many seasons where basically everything is sorted before the final day?!

No Jackson for us again but everyone else is back I think. Just a case of getting minutes into Bridcutt, Walsh and Hopper ahead of the PO's.

Appleton's said we'll go as strong as we can for this one because it's a 10(?) day break until the PO's start.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Last game thank goodness, new manager to be appointed next week then rebuild can start, as for the game against Peterborough who cares.

 

[Guernica]

Last game thank goodness, new manager to be appointed next week then rebuild can start, as for the game against Peterborough who cares.

Any rumours of the new boss?

 

[Davidimp]

Can't be too many seasons where basically everything is sorted before the final day?!

No Jackson for us again but everyone else is back I think. Just a case of getting minutes into Bridcutt, Walsh and Hopper ahead of the PO's.

Appleton's said we'll go as strong as we can for this one because it's a 10(?) day break until the PO's start.

Yeah the first leg is either 18th or 19th, second leg 21st or 22nd and the final is on the 30th.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Any rumours of the new boss?

Wellens and Boothroyd appear to have had money put on them but to be fair the club have kept it under wraps so I really don’t have a clue. Interviews had to be put back for 2 candidates due to other commitments so instead of today it will be next Tuesday before we know.

 

[Indian Dan]

Blackpool for PO winners I reckon.

 

[K-Win]

Blackpool for PO winners I reckon.

They're certainly the team in form. If we do scrape into the play-offs, Blackpool are the team I'd least want to face. They've already done the double over us and we've barely managed a shot against them.

 

[Indian Dan]

This isn’t a sly dig at our Oxford friends, but their form against the other top teams is very poor - only 8 points from a possible 42 from 7 of the other top 8 teams! Even ours is better than that!

 

[MatthewArgyle]

Gillingham away tomorrow 8 youth players will be in the squad which is good experience for them but can see Gillingham winning this one.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

James Coppinger’s final game tomorrow, it’s criminal that we can’t be there to send him off but it looks as if he’s taking on a new role at the club so we might be able to do something next season when we are allowed back in

 

[WhiteRussian]

James Coppinger’s final game tomorrow, it’s criminal that we can’t be there to send him off but it looks as if he’s taking on a new role at the club so we might be able to do something next season when we are allowed back in

I've got a feeling that was a major factor in us giving Dean Lewington a year extension, so at least he plays his final season in front of fans. Saying that he's still a spring chicken compared with Coppinger!

As for our game, Rochdale but who really cares. Lets just see the end of this season.

 

[eric read]

This isn’t a sly dig at our Oxford friends, but their form against the other top teams is very poor - only 8 points from a possible 42 from 7 of the other top 8 teams! Even ours is better than that!

If we make it tomorrow, we'll be up against Blackpool, Sunderland and Lincoln.

Only Sunderland beat us twice, at our place in the first home game of the season, in a force ten gale, when we were a shadow of the side we are now and full of injuries. At their place recently when we unjustly had a man sent off, after being ahead and outplaying them, they had a penalty and a last minute goal. I would really fancy us if we played Sunderland, nothing to fear, and we owe them one.

Lincoln, we lost away on the very first day of the season, again had a man sent off unjustly (we appealed it and it was overturned) and, as against Sunderland, were a shadow of the side we are now. In the return fixture we won comfortably.

Blackpool, we drew away and lost the home game, during our mad four days when we also lost away to a dreadful Northampton side. They beat us fair and square, but I'd be surprised if we put in that kind of performance if we played them again in the play-offs.

So, not as black and white as you might think. We're bang at it at the moment, if we make it we'll be that team who has got there with a late run that nobody wants to play. It's cup football, and we're pretty good at that. We also have the experience of last year's play-off disappointment to draw on. We've got to get there first, but if we do, we're very confident.

 

[Luke Imp]

We're a mixed bag against the confirmed/potential PO sides.

4 points off Blackpool, 1 off Sunderland, 3 off Oxford, 3 off Charlton, 3 off Portsmouth although in our losses against Portsmouth and Oxford we were way understrength.

Didn't fare too well against Hull (1 point) or Posh (1 point).

 

[Indian Dan]

There was some stat on Twitter that had Blackpool way at the top of the head to head games

 

[K-Win]

At least there is some form to look at this season. Last year was a complete lottery really. Zero football, and then suddenly your most important games of the season.

I'm getting more and more nervous about tomorrow. Our record in win-or-bust games hasn't been great in recent years.

 

[Luke Imp]

At least there is some form to look at this season. Last year was a complete lottery really. Zero football, and then suddenly your most important games of the season.

I'm getting more and more nervous about tomorrow. Our record in win-or-bust games hasn't been great in recent years.

It's not his squad at Pompey so it might pan out slightly different but he was excellent in 99% of the big games we had here. Not just the Cup games but the big 1st vs 2nd, lots riding on the game etc kinda ones.

 

[Luke Imp]

Can't be too many seasons where basically everything is sorted before the final day?!

No Jackson for us again but everyone else is back I think. Just a case of getting minutes into Bridcutt, Walsh and Hopper ahead of the PO's.

Appleton's said we'll go as strong as we can for this one because it's a 10(?) day break until the PO's start.

Seems that Jackson will be making some sort of appearance.

Eyoma and Scully unlikely to be risked tomorrow with niggles, but should be fine for the PO's.

 

[Luke Imp]

Strongest squad we've been able to name for a while, with Jones and Anderson not even making it.

The starting XI is probably our play-off side bar at CB where you could argue a case for Jackson or Montsma for Eyoma.

 

[Guernica]

Strongest squad we've been able to name for a while, with Jones and Anderson not even making it.

The starting XI is probably our play-off side bar at CB where you could argue a case for Jackson or Montsma for Eyoma.

I'd go as far to say that it's the strongest squad of the season just a shame it has taken us 46 games to get a fully fit squad.

 

[Super_horns]

Ipswich managing to find some goals!

Oxford in the play offs atm.

 

[K-Win]

The table doesn't lie. 8th place is about right. Didn't deserve a play-off spot this year. I reckon the squad will look very different next season. Hopefully they still give the Cowley's a contract.

 

[Super_horns]

Charlton pipped by an ex manager on GD.

That will hurt .

As ever play offs seem hard to call.

 

[PuB]

Second season in a row we’ve finished 10th. Not bad, but I think a lack of depth to the squad seriously cost us from pushing on and getting in the playoffs. Onwards and hopefully upwards next season.

 

[Guernica]

‘I promise you this: over my dead body are we not getting in the play-offs.’
Danny Cowley 17/04/21

That quote didn't end well!

Sunderland for us in the play offs - the team I wanted, hopefully 2 crackers and fingers crossed I get a ticket.

 

[K-Win]

‘I promise you this: over my dead body are we not getting in the play-offs.’
Danny Cowley 17/04/21

Yes, and he'd been working with the squad for long enough by then to know how deficient it was.

 

[GeneralLee]

Wow, what a brilliant Sunday for Oxford United. We did our job and played with freedom.

A big ‘thank you’ to Accrington for playing their part. Outstanding effort.

 

[Bobbin']

Never deserved play-offs, never expected play-offs but to miss out on goal difference to a side we missed a last minute penalty against is bit of a stinger.

8 months ago we wasn’t sure we’d even have a club to support so to finish 7th is more than we ever expected from this season.

Looking forward to a complete overhaul now and seeing what Adkins can do with his own squad.

Would like to see the back of Sunderland for next season so hope they win the play-offs.

 

[Marked Ox]

Fantastic day. Lots of work still to do if we are to be succesful but I'm just enjoying today for now.

Thank you Accy.

 

[Fedora Dale]

A collective extraction of digits in the second half at MK raises (probably false, but my glass is half-full) hopes of a speedy return to L1...

Sayonara.