Friday 18th & Saturday 19th Feb

[Robie]

We don’t have any height up front it’s not like we thump it up top and head it down. We have quick wingers who can beat defences for pace. We have creative players like Kane and Cam who can spot a worldie cross field pass and play it to them but most of the time we play it patiently out of defence. McNally has dribbled it out of defence for the first goal and did so a couple more times in the first half winning a free kick and setting up the goal. I wouldn’t have called our game simple but then I wouldn’t have called us boring either. It is interesting how other teams perceive us. We certainly have more in our armoury this season than any other. James Henry, Marcus Browne and Alex Gorrin to come back from injury too. Nathan Holland warming the bench.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

RIP Joey Beauchamp.
Some things are so much important than football.
So very sad.
Condolences to his friends, family and all the Oxford fans.
We all have heroes. To us they are immortal.

 

[Bobbin']

We don’t have any height up front it’s not like we thump it up top and head it down. We have quick wingers who can beat defences for pace. We have creative players like Kane and Cam who can spot a worldie cross field pass and play it to them but most of the time we play it patiently out of defence. McNally has dribbled it out of defence for the first goal and did so a couple more times in the first half winning a free kick and setting up the goal. I wouldn’t have called our game simple but then I wouldn’t have called us boring either. It is interesting how other teams perceive us. We certainly have more in our armoury this season than any other. James Henry, Marcus Browne and Alex Gorrin to come back from injury too. Nathan Holland warming the bench.

I never said you were boring, I just said yesterday your tactics seemed to be fairly simple, and they worked. I’m sure you do have more in your armoury.

Think you’ve taken my comments the wrong way, I’m bemoaning our inability or desire to stop your tactics from working rather than what the tactics were.

After the first goal went in, you were so much better than us it was embarrassing.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Very sad to hear, remember him playing, condolences to his family

 

[Boletus Edulis]

It was seven at our place. Those Addicks don't even know how to be properly sh*t !!

The powder puff attack we have been left with were never going to score against Plymouth and their keeper ended up with gloves as clean as we had expected. Only needed one goal to settle it but at least Harris has us more organised now, Gifting possession in a bad place for the first goal and a badly mistimed tackle for the second was what ultimately did for us.

Tuesday will be another cup final for us and we have to find a way to score.

I don’t think we played that well, certainly in the first half. But then we did not really have to. I got the sense the purpose of the first half was to knacker you, and then we had a very strong bench to come on against tired legs. Once we got one I sensed Gills simply did not know how they would score.I guess you have to hope there are four teams worse than you (I actually think there are). Your first half suggested, a bit like Salop, that you have become harder to score against, which is a step in right direction.

 

[K-Win]

Plenty of unhappy people when the ref postponed our game at Crewe just over an hour before kick-off, despite the groundsman telling the ref that the surface water would be gone be kick-off and the rain was stopping according to the forecast. Our 1500 fans had to turn around and make the long journey back home. Artell was particularly pissed off by the sound of it. Was hunting around for the officials but they disappeared sharpish.

Surely there has to be some leeway when both clubs desperately want to play the game and fixtures are already stacking up? The Cowleys took the players 10 minutes down the road to the Crewe training pitches for a session. Conditions were fine for that, apparently.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Plenty of unhappy people when the ref postponed our game at Crewe just over an hour before kick-off, despite the groundsman telling the ref that the surface water would be gone be kick-off and the rain was stopping according to the forecast. Our 1500 fans had to turn around and make the long journey back home. Artell was particularly pissed off by the sound of it. Was hunting around for the officials but they disappeared sharpish.

Surely there has to be some leeway when both clubs desperately want to play the game and fixtures are already stacking up? The Cowleys took the players 10 minutes down the road to the Crewe training pitches for a session. Conditions were fine for that, apparently.

I get what you say, and I suspect the ref may well have got this wrong. However, unless you have been in the ref’s boots it is difficult to criticise them. In the long and distant past I was involved at amateur and semi-pro level with such decisions. The pressure at that level is immense, it will be at a wholly different level at the pros. Imagine what the response will be if the game was played and your best player, slid and busted their knee and was out for a year? A lot of people ( and I am not saying you) would blame one person. Ultimately, it all falls on the ref, cautious decisions are the likely result. It’s an imperfect system, and the big question is what can it be replaced with?

 

[K-Win]

I get all that (I've been around a while). I do feel that there should have been more of an effort made to play this game in this instance. As I said, the rain was stopping, the forecast was for no more rain that afternoon, and the ball was rolling pretty well on the pitch. Even just knocking the KO back 30 minutes should have been on the table, knowing the forecast. Surely that's worth it after all the travelling and preparation that goes into a game?

 

[Super_horns]

I get all that (I've been around a while). I do feel that there should have been more of an effort made to play this game in this instance. As I said, the rain was stopping, the forecast was for no more rain that afternoon, and the ball was rolling pretty well on the pitch. Even just knocking the KO back 30 minutes should have been on the table, knowing the forecast. Surely that's worth it after all the travelling and preparation that goes into a game?

Seems like he made a decision and wasn't prepared to budge on it and wait to see if things improved.

Probably didn't want to leave it too late but ended up making the situation worse.

 

[eric read]

I never said you were boring, I just said yesterday your tactics seemed to be fairly simple, and they worked. I’m sure you do have more in your armoury.

Think you’ve taken my comments the wrong way, I’m bemoaning our inability or desire to stop your tactics from working rather than what the tactics were.

After the first goal went in, you were so much better than us it was embarrassing.

Our first goal was more than 20 passes, involving every one of our players, including the keeper, and some players having several touches in possession, the absolute opposite of what you're saying. The last goal was the same.

We also drew your defenders out on occasion, to create space to play into, which must be what you're referring to? But no way was our play "simple" as you imply. You pressed us high at the start of the game, while you had the energy in your legs, and this can cause a team to knock the ball out of the pressured area, but we changed formation and dealt with it after about 10/15 minutes. I actually think Robbo gave you a tactical masterclass.

As an aside, it was refreshing to see us start with two up front (something Karl has hardly ever done) and the addition of Baldock up top looks like a great signing, as it gives Matty Taylor more space and will help in our play off run in.

 

[longmover]

Said I'd be happy with a draw against Wycombe probably best not to talk about the defending but Alfie May's 3rd and 4th goals were something else, I expressed my doubts about AM when he signed his new contract as at the time there was a lot of huff and puff but not much else, but has since Etete has come into the squad he's found a new lease of life and the forward that was there has come to the fore. The four he scored is definitely going to put him on the radar so if you want him you're going to have to pay. But I'd like to think he's happy at CTFC scoring goals and playing the best football of his career.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I get all that (I've been around a while). I do feel that there should have been more of an effort made to play this game in this instance. As I said, the rain was stopping, the forecast was for no more rain that afternoon, and the ball was rolling pretty well on the pitch. Even just knocking the KO back 30 minutes should have been on the table, knowing the forecast. Surely that's worth it after all the travelling and preparation that goes into a game?

Bottom line is I do think you are right, and he could have delayed the KO. However, I am also trying to point out why I think such ‘cautious” decisions are made. We need a better, more collegiate decision making process before anything will change.

 

[Marked Ox]

Said I'd be happy with a draw against Wycombe probably best not to talk about the defending but Alfie May's 3rd and 4th goals were something else, I expressed my doubts about AM when he signed his new contract as at the time there was a lot of huff and puff but not much else, but has since Etete has come into the squad he's found a new lease of life and the forward that was there has come to the fore. The four he scored is definitely going to put him on the radar so if you want him you're going to have to pay. But I'd like to think he's happy at CTFC scoring goals and playing the best football of his career.

The one when he brought down the ball and lobbed the keeper was a special finish.