The third away match in a row for me, since I avoided the JPT fiasco. The other two had been a mixed bag - playing well at Southend but losing, playing badly at Sheffield and losing. To be honest the Sheffield trip had been a bit of a waste of time and money as far as the performance on the field was concerned with only the constant support of the large travelling support giving me something to smile about.
Before setting off, I knew that both Duberry and Potter would still be on the injured list and that Davis was recovered. Of course Robbie Hall is now back, so that was a definite plus.
Having given various rail companies more of my hard-earned than I felt comfortable with recently, I decided to drive. Down the M1, round the M25 (anti-clockwise this time - they say a change is as good as a rest!), down the M23 to Crawley and parked up in good time.
Crawley are doing well this season, with significant backing from somewhere or other, and have assembled a decent team. Results have generally gone their way and they are up at the business end of the table. A funny old club really. They have a couple of odious idiots as manager and assistant, and the whole atmosphere is resolutely non-league. But the Crawley supporters are a nice, friendly bunch and I have nothing against the club as a whole. It was good to see the Oxford and Crawley fans drinking together before the match. Doubtless we'd be taunting each other during the match, then drinking together again afterwards. As it should be really.
Anyway into the stadium (easy to find due to the giant red and white football on the nearby roundabout), this time with a ticket! Some previous trips to Crawley have been marked by 'pay-at-the-turnstiles' and suspiciously low 'official' away crowd numbers shenanigans. But now you buy a numbered ticket from a booth before going in. Much better.
The Broadfield Stadium (which ought to be named the Broadmoor Stadium if you look at the antics of Evans and his sidekick, Paul Raynor)is fairly basic. We were behind one goal in a roofed terrace. Fairly shallow front to back. To our left, there is an open unroofed terrace down one side, with netting above it probably to stop the ball going into people's gardens. Perhaps the locals got tired of Steve Evans knocking on the door asking for his ball back! The most vocal of the home support are behind the opposite goal in another smallish roofed stand (renamed the Bruce Winfield Stand this very day - applause from all, including the over 1000 yellows supporters). The main stand takes up the final side. It's neat, small and in need of substantial development if Crawley are to go much further. There was a crowd of only just over 4,000 and it looked fairly full. 'Where were you when you were shit?' we asked the Crawley supporters. 'In Sainsburys with the wife doing the shopping' they didn't answer. Which is a shame, because it would have been quite funny. There were certainly more of them than at any time I'd seen them.
In contrast to Southend and Sheffield, where the PA was inaudible, the Crawley sound system had been taken over by some bloke who had obviously spent too much time in his youth standing next to the speaker stacks at heavy metal gigs. To counteract the deafness and TinTin-itis (yes, I know) he turned it up to eleven. If was far too loud and completely killed any building atmosphere. They then played some horrible hackneyed Queen nonsense (not the National Anthem) as the teams ran out.
Ah, the teams. Right. First of all, we were wearing the blue and white second strip for some reason. Crawley (apparently the original 'Red Devils') were all in red, so why we weren't in Yellow and Blue I can't guess. And who was wearing this kit?
Clarke, Batt, Whing, Worley, Wright, Davis, Leven, McLaren, Philliskirk, Constable, Hall (R).
So that's 5-2-3, or 3-4-3, or 3-4-2-1? Or something. It was narrow, either at the back or in midfield. Why not 4-3-3 like we are used to? Heslop added into the middle, Whing or Wright taken out of defence. Oh well, something like it worked well at Southend (apart from in the striking department). Maybe it would be OK. It wasn't.
We started off with Clarkey in front of us. It was fairly obvious from the first moments that Crawley were much more up for the match than our lot. They looked more organised, sharper on and off the ball, more willing to put in a challenge. It took them all of three minutes to open their account. A shot was blocked by Wright, fell to a red-shirted attacker who put the ball past the floundering Clarke. Why (with three centre halves) there was nobody marking the Crawley player is only something that CW and his team can answer. A terrible start. Again.
The referee. Let's get this over with. I'm not sure what to say about him. One-eyed? A complete homer? I'm sure that blogs come under the laws of libel, so I'd better not say what I really think. Suffice to say, if he could give Crawley a free kick, he did. If he should have given us a free kick, he didn't. Offences that were to all intents and purposes the same (high feet for example) merited a talking to, a free kick and probably a booking if done by an Oxford player, but nothing if done by Crawley. At one point later in the match Whing saw a ball out for a goal kick. After the ball had gone out, he was tackled from behind and trodden on. He was then given a yellow card for getting riled about it. Shit ref. Worst this season by a mile, and we've had some stinkers. I won't go on about him much more, it makes me angry just thinking about him. Just take it as read that he didn't improve as the game went on. Actually as we are having a pop at the officials, let's have a go at the blonde female lineswoman who ran the line to our left.
I'm not sexist, and welcome women into football. Players, supporters, officials. It's all good. Except when its not. This woman was incompetent. She got decisions wrong that were about two feet away from her, made no decision at all numerous times. Poor.
Meanwhile back at the game. As at Sheffield, the early goal failed to spark us into life. Crawley hit the bar with Clarke beaten and then put another nail in the coffin on about a quarter of an hour. A(nother) free kick, swung over to the back post, markers doing god knows what, a suspicion of climbing, but a free header, past Clarke and two nil. Feeble defending. The idiot Crawley players then decided to try and incite some crowd trouble by celebrating in front of and gesticulating at the Oxford fans. This resulted in the plod filming the crowd and completely ignoring what had started it i.e. the Crawley players. Just looking for an excuse. Of course our friend the ref went and had a word with the Crawley players , telling them not to do it again. Didn't he? No, he didn't. Apparently that's OK then is it?
It had been a frantic opening period, with Crawley the better team by a mile. Every ball put into our box was leading to utter panic. The ball was being hit with pace, attackers running on to it. They were faster to the ball, quicker on the ball, more mobile off the ball. They were playing to a system and doing it well. It wasn't particularly pretty - balls down the channels, or hoofed through the middle - but it was effective. We were doing nothing. For a 'passing team' we had made precious few passes. Crawley were just closing the players down too quickly. So we went to plan B. Which was balls down the channels and hoofed through the middle. But we didn't do it anywhere near as well as Crawley.
Philliskirk went off and was replaced with the misfiring Smalley. A couple of minutes later (on the half hour mark) and it looked as if Constable might have thrown us a lifeline. He chased down a ball that he had no right to get to, the keeper and defender saw him coming and made a pig's ear of what should have been an easy clearance, Beano nicked the ball and walked it into the net. Back in it, somehow. Surely, surely, we could now settle down. Smalley had a chance but put it wide. If there was a turning point (although I'm not convinced we would have come out with anything anyway) that was it. He should have got it on target, it missed by a yard or two. It wasn't a simple chance, but the type the strikers should make a better fist of than that, really.
After that short spell of Oxford pressure, Crawley got into the ascendancy again. A goal in the last minute of injury time before half time, effectively ended the match. The generally ineffective but good at diving Mat Tubbs (my terrace neighbour amusingly referred to him as Tubbs (pen) !) hit the ball across the box, and it was picked up on the right by a Crawley player. What Clarke though he was doing, who knows. Maybe he was expecting a cross? Maybe it was supposed to be a cross? Whatever, he dived in a particularly eccentric direction, the ball bounced embarassingly off his waving legs and it was 3-1 and after a bit more crowd baiting from the Crawley players (again unpunished) it was halftime.
What a terrible half of football that had been from Oxford. Cringeworthy.
The ref made the half time 'Golden Ticket' draw. I wonder if he pulled out his own ticket. ;) It's a joke, yer honour!
No half time dancing girls. I'm starting to miss them. Bring back the Manorettes!
The second half started much as the first ended, with Crawley on top. It wasn't really a surprise when they scored a fourth. From a free kick wide on the Crawley right, the ball somehow went straight in. More dismal defending. The wall? The goalie? Rubbish. And the end of the match as far as the result was concerned.
CW made a couple of substitutions, Clarke made some decent saves and Crawley missed a couple. Good job, it could have been even worse. The time crawled past. The Oxford crowd did the pretend goal scoring thing, which at Sheffield had seemed quite amusing. Doing it away at Crawley seemed errm, tinpot in the extreme. The team surrendered without much fight, Beano blasting one over being just about the only shot of note.
It was a relief when the final whistle went, and we could go home. Some had left early, being jeered as 'loyal supporters' by our own crowd. Unfair. Travelling away to Crawley (and probably Sheffield) makes you a loyal supporter. Leaving five minutes from the end (not something I do myself) when three goals down and playing like a bunch of schoolgirls who've never met before actually seemed like a sensible thing to do as the fog started to come down. The players trudged off to a mixed reception.
Back in the car and a mostly fog free journey home. Good job I had some of that beer left that I bought after the Sheffield match!
Thoughts afterwards.
Bloody awful. That's two Saturdays (and a lot of money) wasted in a row. The worst performance since that drubbing away at Histon?
We seem to rely of the individual skills of players too much, rather than playing as a team. Which is fine when we are given the time and space in which to do so, but if a team closes us down quickly we are stuffed.
If we lose every match that Duberry doesn't play then we are too reliant on one player - the sign of a poor squad?
We made Crawley look like Brazil - no mean feat! They are energetic and efficient. We could take a leaf out of their book in fitness and closing down.
Bright spots? I'm struggling, but Constable's work rate and goal, having Robbie back, some of Davis' adventure maybe? No sendings off, no injuries? I'm clutching at straws really.
It's not the defeat (Crawley are doing well), it's the manner of the defeat that is worrying.
Next week's Cheltenham match suddenly becomes huge. If we are as poor at home as we have been in the last two away matches then I fear for what the rest of the season holds.
Never mind, it's only football. See you all next time...
Oxford United, Stereo Photography, Old Amusement Machines, Odd Musical Instruments and more.
Sunday 20 November 2011
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Just Call Me Mystic Meg
Robbie Hall left Oxford to go back to West Ham on the 31st October. Since then he has also appeared for a young England side, coming on as a sub and scoring the winning goal. On the 6th November, I posted the following on the Yellows forum:
--------------------------------
Well then, how about this for optimism...
Robbie joined us on the 12th September, and left on the 31st October - roughly 49 days. Emergency loans (which is what Robbie was) can last a maximum of 93 days. So, we can have him for another 44 days until the loan window opens on Jan 1st, when we could 'standard' loan him for the rest of the season. Counting back 44 days from the 1st January you get to the 17th November. So that's when he comes back. Misses the 2 cup matches which he wouldn't have featured in anyway and is back in time for our visit to Crawley on the 19th.
Wishful thinking maybe, but possible.
--------------------------------
Well then, how about this for optimism...
Robbie joined us on the 12th September, and left on the 31st October - roughly 49 days. Emergency loans (which is what Robbie was) can last a maximum of 93 days. So, we can have him for another 44 days until the loan window opens on Jan 1st, when we could 'standard' loan him for the rest of the season. Counting back 44 days from the 1st January you get to the 17th November. So that's when he comes back. Misses the 2 cup matches which he wouldn't have featured in anyway and is back in time for our visit to Crawley on the 19th.
Wishful thinking maybe, but possible.
Saturday 12 November 2011
A Cut Above (vs Sheffield Utd FA Cup)
Hi all,
After the ridiculous match in the much-derided JPT on Tuesday evening (which I didn't attend) it was time for a more serious cup match today. Away at Sheffield Utd, who are at the top end of League One. It was always going to be a stern test, but even more so with the roll call of Oxford's injured and suspended. Duberry was certainly out, Potter, Davis and Batt were doubtful. Craddock was suspended and will be for two matches after this one. Idiot.
Now as far as I am concerned, Duberry, Batt, Davis and Potter have been some of the better performers this season. Without them, it looked like a 'big ask'. But ever hopeful, I set out. This time by train (Bedford > Leicester > Sheffield). As far as I can remember, I haven't been to Sheffield before and certainly not to Bramall Lane. So it was a new experience. The trains were remarkable for two things. For being punctual (take a bow East Midland Trains) and for having no other obvious football supporters on them. I guess that's a result of there being no Prem or Championship games today due to the international matches and friendlies. Unusual to see no other shirts though.
Bramall Lane isn't too far from the train station, and is an easy walk. I got there fairly early, in time to see the players warming up. Uh-oh. No Duberry (expected), no Potter, no Davis. Batt at least had made it though. There were hundreds of Oxford fans already there and seemigly hundreds of players on the pitch. Then I remembered that it was seven subs on the bench for FA Cup matches.
Bramall Lane itself is an impressive stadium, a relic of the Blades foray into the higher leagues. Appparently they get good crowds there normally, but it didn't look like they were expecting a bumper attendance today. We were housed in the bottom tier of the stand behind one goal, the steeply banked kop stand opposite us was completely empty, closed for the match. Our stand filled up impressively, the two remaining home stands didn't. I realise that for them, it wasn't a glamour tie - but at only £10 to get in I'm surprised that more hadn't made the effort. There was a big monitor showing replays, team news etc but unfortunately it was in the corner next to us and was obsured by a load of netting, the overhang of the top tier and the inability of Oxford supporters to twist their necks around like Meercats.
But the teams ran out to a rousing welcome from us, followed by a well observed Remembrance Day minutes silence. There was a bit of a stunned silence from the Yellow hordes as the team became obvious.
Clarke , Batt - Whing - Wright - Kinniburgh at the back, with McLaren in front.
Franks, Asa Hall, Heslop and Leven in the middle with Smalley up front. No Constable, no Worley.
Agruably either a 4-4-2 if Franks was up front and McLaren was in midfield, or a 4-1-4-1 if not. Very defensive. A striker or pair of strikers with one goal between them this season. Hmm. Never mind. Smalley might surpise me, although playing as the lone striker isn't what he supposed to be good at. Other worries were Kinniburgh (arguably our fourth choice left back) and a lack of heading ability in central defence. The bench was noteworthy as well with both Tonkin and James (who were I thought injured) on it as well as Constable, Worley, Payne and youth teamers Tyrone Marsh and Max Crocombe (gk). I think we could count Tonkin, James and Crocombe as bench warmers. Marsh might get a run out I suppose, but unlikely.
The half kicked off with us kicking away from the supporters towards the vacant stand. It was oddly like playing at home, with nobody behind the far goal. As usual, the travelling fans were getting behond the team. The home fans were quiet.
It has to be said that I would prefer to draw a bit of a veil over the first half, but in the pursuit of accuracy, here goes.
We were awful. On the back foot from the kick off, we took that back foot and added two left feet to it. Passes were overhit, underhit, not hit at all. The ball was hoofed into the air whenever we got it. Which wasn't often. Sheffield just had to wait for us to make a mistake, which we did all too often. They closed us down quickly, we dithered on the ball. Off the ball movement is obviously an old fashioned concept, although Sheffield were still doing it. Get with the times, Blades. Standing still is the new running.
Sheffield looked threatening every time they went forward, we didn't go forward. It was absolutely no surprise when we went one down after about 10 minutes. The ball was crossed into our penalty area, bobbled about a bit, our defenders stood on too much ceremony and a Sheffield player banged it past Clarke from reasonably close range. All over the pitch, yellow shoulders went down. They were bring given a bit of a footballing lesson and having been set up very defensively to start with it was going to be hard to get back into it. The goal spurred Sheffield on (as if they needed it) and didn't give our players a boot up the arse they needed. After about 20 minutes Clarke made a good save, but then Whing pushed a Sheffield player rather unneccessarily close to the penalty area. The ball seemed to go through the wall from the free kick and we were two down.
It's a good job there was nobody in the far stand, they wouldn't have had anything to watch. The prospect of an embarrassing scoreline was now staring us in the face. Clarke made another good stop, and the Blades had another goal ruled out for offside a couple of minutes later. Looked OK to me actually, but thanks lino. Talking of the officials, the ref was having a good match - letting the game flow without being to picky. It wasn't a dirty game though, so I guess he had an easier job than sometimes. Nice to see a decent official - we've had some stinkers recently. Clarke saved us again, but Sheffield had taken their foot off the gas. Up the other end? Nothing. I'm not Smalley's biggest fan, but he was dealt a difficult hand today. The ball was hoofed up to him head high. Nobody near him most of the time, except for a host of decent defenders. We were still doing the basics badly. Passing wildly or too hard. Backing off and off and off at the back, not getting tight enough in midfield, moving the ball backwards (and across the face of our own goal all too often). It wasn't pretty.
Half time came (I'm glad that's over). We hadn't looked like winning the match from the very first kick, had made no chances, zero, zip, zilch. We were lucky not to be four or five down if we are honest. For me, it showed CW as being a bit inflexible - I'd have done something after the second goal. What? Well I'd have taken Franks off (he was doing little in his hybrid midfield/striker role) and brought Constable on up front to partner Smalley. At the very least he would have made a nuisance of himself, something that neither Smalley or Franks were. You could also have put Franks up front with Constable I guess. I would also have taken Kinniburgh off. Moved Wright to left back and put Worley in central defence. He'd played well against Southend and I was surprised he hadn't started. Alternatively I'd have strengthened the defence by adding Worley to make a back five (like at Southend) but allowed Whing to play in front of the defence with Mclaren to try and get hold of the ball in midfield. That might all be rubbish - but I think CW should have done something rather than nothing after the second goal went in. Although we were 'only' two down at half time I couldn't really see us getting back into it now.
No half time dancing girls, cross-bar challenges or anything. Can't say I missed it.
For the second half, CW made some changes. Constable on, Franks off. Worley on, McLaren off. To be honest, both McLaren and the usually reliable Leven had not been having the best of games. Immediately we looked better. No particularly threatening, but certainly better. Constable had what was really our first chance of the match within five minutes of the restart, but got no power on his header and the goalie had no problems with it. It hadn't really improved that much really, Clarke called upon again to keep the score down at the other end. For the first quarter of an hour we had some impetus, and for the first time looked like a half decent side though. Another weak header was all we had to show for it though and Sheffield ended the contest with twenty minutes to go. A weak punch by Clarke lead to all sorts of mayhem in the Oxford box, and despite some gallant attempts to block the ball by Jake Wright, it was eventually hit home. Three nil. Didn't really flatter Sheffield if we're telling the truth. Payne came on for Leven, made no difference.
As a contest the match fizzled out. In the Oxford stand though, the match was still well alive. "Let's pretend we've scored a goal!" Three - One! We were back in it. A couple of minutes later, blimey! It happened again. Three - Two and we were in with a chance. The crowd equaliser came just before full time - Three all. 'Four three, we're gonna win four three'. But the final whistle went before we could score the winner - guess it will have to be a replay then! :)
The final whistle went, and the 2,000 or so yellows gave the players a rousing send off. It hadn't been the best performance really, but the second half had been better and the players had worked hard. Although that is the minimum we should expect. My man of the match? Well surprisingly, Asa Hall. I thought he popped up everywhere on the pitch, had a decent far post header, made some tackles, ran about off the ball.
A quick walk back to the station, spent much of the journey back to Leicester talking to a couple of Leicester Yellows and a friendly Blade, who makes the trip to Sheffield from Telford for home matches. Hello to any of you who are reading this - made for an enjoyable journey home. Felt I had to drop into the supermarket for some alcohol supplies before I went home, got back to be greeted by Mrs ZtH with 'You got my text then.' 'What text?' ' The once where I asked you to buy milk, butter and cat litter on the way home.' 'Errm...' 'What's in this supermarket bag then?' 'Beer, cider and crisps.' Ooops.
Thoughts on the match...
Take three or four of the best players out of a league two side and ask them to play a top four league one side and it's too much.
Start in too defensive a mind-set and you can't just turn the attack on.
Oxford players - sometimes the simple ball is the best one.
A pity we didn't make more of a go at this - I wonder how much the lost revenue from no cup run will effect us be able to bring (back?) in loan players to help the faltering attack?
Next - another toughie, this time at Crawley. Hopefully we'll have some more players to choose from. See you there!
After the ridiculous match in the much-derided JPT on Tuesday evening (which I didn't attend) it was time for a more serious cup match today. Away at Sheffield Utd, who are at the top end of League One. It was always going to be a stern test, but even more so with the roll call of Oxford's injured and suspended. Duberry was certainly out, Potter, Davis and Batt were doubtful. Craddock was suspended and will be for two matches after this one. Idiot.
Now as far as I am concerned, Duberry, Batt, Davis and Potter have been some of the better performers this season. Without them, it looked like a 'big ask'. But ever hopeful, I set out. This time by train (Bedford > Leicester > Sheffield). As far as I can remember, I haven't been to Sheffield before and certainly not to Bramall Lane. So it was a new experience. The trains were remarkable for two things. For being punctual (take a bow East Midland Trains) and for having no other obvious football supporters on them. I guess that's a result of there being no Prem or Championship games today due to the international matches and friendlies. Unusual to see no other shirts though.
Bramall Lane isn't too far from the train station, and is an easy walk. I got there fairly early, in time to see the players warming up. Uh-oh. No Duberry (expected), no Potter, no Davis. Batt at least had made it though. There were hundreds of Oxford fans already there and seemigly hundreds of players on the pitch. Then I remembered that it was seven subs on the bench for FA Cup matches.
Bramall Lane itself is an impressive stadium, a relic of the Blades foray into the higher leagues. Appparently they get good crowds there normally, but it didn't look like they were expecting a bumper attendance today. We were housed in the bottom tier of the stand behind one goal, the steeply banked kop stand opposite us was completely empty, closed for the match. Our stand filled up impressively, the two remaining home stands didn't. I realise that for them, it wasn't a glamour tie - but at only £10 to get in I'm surprised that more hadn't made the effort. There was a big monitor showing replays, team news etc but unfortunately it was in the corner next to us and was obsured by a load of netting, the overhang of the top tier and the inability of Oxford supporters to twist their necks around like Meercats.
But the teams ran out to a rousing welcome from us, followed by a well observed Remembrance Day minutes silence. There was a bit of a stunned silence from the Yellow hordes as the team became obvious.
Clarke , Batt - Whing - Wright - Kinniburgh at the back, with McLaren in front.
Franks, Asa Hall, Heslop and Leven in the middle with Smalley up front. No Constable, no Worley.
Agruably either a 4-4-2 if Franks was up front and McLaren was in midfield, or a 4-1-4-1 if not. Very defensive. A striker or pair of strikers with one goal between them this season. Hmm. Never mind. Smalley might surpise me, although playing as the lone striker isn't what he supposed to be good at. Other worries were Kinniburgh (arguably our fourth choice left back) and a lack of heading ability in central defence. The bench was noteworthy as well with both Tonkin and James (who were I thought injured) on it as well as Constable, Worley, Payne and youth teamers Tyrone Marsh and Max Crocombe (gk). I think we could count Tonkin, James and Crocombe as bench warmers. Marsh might get a run out I suppose, but unlikely.
The half kicked off with us kicking away from the supporters towards the vacant stand. It was oddly like playing at home, with nobody behind the far goal. As usual, the travelling fans were getting behond the team. The home fans were quiet.
It has to be said that I would prefer to draw a bit of a veil over the first half, but in the pursuit of accuracy, here goes.
We were awful. On the back foot from the kick off, we took that back foot and added two left feet to it. Passes were overhit, underhit, not hit at all. The ball was hoofed into the air whenever we got it. Which wasn't often. Sheffield just had to wait for us to make a mistake, which we did all too often. They closed us down quickly, we dithered on the ball. Off the ball movement is obviously an old fashioned concept, although Sheffield were still doing it. Get with the times, Blades. Standing still is the new running.
Sheffield looked threatening every time they went forward, we didn't go forward. It was absolutely no surprise when we went one down after about 10 minutes. The ball was crossed into our penalty area, bobbled about a bit, our defenders stood on too much ceremony and a Sheffield player banged it past Clarke from reasonably close range. All over the pitch, yellow shoulders went down. They were bring given a bit of a footballing lesson and having been set up very defensively to start with it was going to be hard to get back into it. The goal spurred Sheffield on (as if they needed it) and didn't give our players a boot up the arse they needed. After about 20 minutes Clarke made a good save, but then Whing pushed a Sheffield player rather unneccessarily close to the penalty area. The ball seemed to go through the wall from the free kick and we were two down.
It's a good job there was nobody in the far stand, they wouldn't have had anything to watch. The prospect of an embarrassing scoreline was now staring us in the face. Clarke made another good stop, and the Blades had another goal ruled out for offside a couple of minutes later. Looked OK to me actually, but thanks lino. Talking of the officials, the ref was having a good match - letting the game flow without being to picky. It wasn't a dirty game though, so I guess he had an easier job than sometimes. Nice to see a decent official - we've had some stinkers recently. Clarke saved us again, but Sheffield had taken their foot off the gas. Up the other end? Nothing. I'm not Smalley's biggest fan, but he was dealt a difficult hand today. The ball was hoofed up to him head high. Nobody near him most of the time, except for a host of decent defenders. We were still doing the basics badly. Passing wildly or too hard. Backing off and off and off at the back, not getting tight enough in midfield, moving the ball backwards (and across the face of our own goal all too often). It wasn't pretty.
Half time came (I'm glad that's over). We hadn't looked like winning the match from the very first kick, had made no chances, zero, zip, zilch. We were lucky not to be four or five down if we are honest. For me, it showed CW as being a bit inflexible - I'd have done something after the second goal. What? Well I'd have taken Franks off (he was doing little in his hybrid midfield/striker role) and brought Constable on up front to partner Smalley. At the very least he would have made a nuisance of himself, something that neither Smalley or Franks were. You could also have put Franks up front with Constable I guess. I would also have taken Kinniburgh off. Moved Wright to left back and put Worley in central defence. He'd played well against Southend and I was surprised he hadn't started. Alternatively I'd have strengthened the defence by adding Worley to make a back five (like at Southend) but allowed Whing to play in front of the defence with Mclaren to try and get hold of the ball in midfield. That might all be rubbish - but I think CW should have done something rather than nothing after the second goal went in. Although we were 'only' two down at half time I couldn't really see us getting back into it now.
No half time dancing girls, cross-bar challenges or anything. Can't say I missed it.
For the second half, CW made some changes. Constable on, Franks off. Worley on, McLaren off. To be honest, both McLaren and the usually reliable Leven had not been having the best of games. Immediately we looked better. No particularly threatening, but certainly better. Constable had what was really our first chance of the match within five minutes of the restart, but got no power on his header and the goalie had no problems with it. It hadn't really improved that much really, Clarke called upon again to keep the score down at the other end. For the first quarter of an hour we had some impetus, and for the first time looked like a half decent side though. Another weak header was all we had to show for it though and Sheffield ended the contest with twenty minutes to go. A weak punch by Clarke lead to all sorts of mayhem in the Oxford box, and despite some gallant attempts to block the ball by Jake Wright, it was eventually hit home. Three nil. Didn't really flatter Sheffield if we're telling the truth. Payne came on for Leven, made no difference.
As a contest the match fizzled out. In the Oxford stand though, the match was still well alive. "Let's pretend we've scored a goal!" Three - One! We were back in it. A couple of minutes later, blimey! It happened again. Three - Two and we were in with a chance. The crowd equaliser came just before full time - Three all. 'Four three, we're gonna win four three'. But the final whistle went before we could score the winner - guess it will have to be a replay then! :)
The final whistle went, and the 2,000 or so yellows gave the players a rousing send off. It hadn't been the best performance really, but the second half had been better and the players had worked hard. Although that is the minimum we should expect. My man of the match? Well surprisingly, Asa Hall. I thought he popped up everywhere on the pitch, had a decent far post header, made some tackles, ran about off the ball.
A quick walk back to the station, spent much of the journey back to Leicester talking to a couple of Leicester Yellows and a friendly Blade, who makes the trip to Sheffield from Telford for home matches. Hello to any of you who are reading this - made for an enjoyable journey home. Felt I had to drop into the supermarket for some alcohol supplies before I went home, got back to be greeted by Mrs ZtH with 'You got my text then.' 'What text?' ' The once where I asked you to buy milk, butter and cat litter on the way home.' 'Errm...' 'What's in this supermarket bag then?' 'Beer, cider and crisps.' Ooops.
Thoughts on the match...
Take three or four of the best players out of a league two side and ask them to play a top four league one side and it's too much.
Start in too defensive a mind-set and you can't just turn the attack on.
Oxford players - sometimes the simple ball is the best one.
A pity we didn't make more of a go at this - I wonder how much the lost revenue from no cup run will effect us be able to bring (back?) in loan players to help the faltering attack?
Next - another toughie, this time at Crawley. Hopefully we'll have some more players to choose from. See you there!
Saturday 5 November 2011
It's all gone Sarf (vs Southend L2)
Hi all,
The first match in a difficult run for us today. Southend, Sheffield Utd and Crawley away, followed by Cheltenham at home and then Morcambe away. Yes, I am ignoring Southend again in the JPT. And sorry Northampton, I can't extend that difficult run to include you.
So down the M1 and round the M25 again, turning off before the Dartford Crossing/Tunnel this time (as opposed to the Gillingham trip) and heading towards Sarfend. Good job I'd set off early as there was a blockage on the quaintly named Southend Arterial Road. It runs between Basildon and Southend, and is as dull as it's name implies. Anyway, I got to Southend in time to do a bit of driving about looking for a parking place before finally biting the bullet and paying a fiver to park in some school or something.
Paid an extortionate £21 to get in (maybe OUFC ought to raise it's prices for away fans?) and went for a wee. All that sitting in traffic can have that effect on a man of a certain age. The loos were fetid, rank, smelly, too small and generally disgusting. And this was before kickoff. Not good enough, Southend. Managed not to breath to much in - I was beginning to realise why the Victorians believed that disease was caused by foul miasma - and staggered, retching, to a free seat in the converted Dutch Barn that Southend call an away stand. Which has a roof, putting them one up on the scum and Gillingham I suppose. The general tin-pottedness was confirmed by two further things.
Firstly, the PA. Totally inaudible. I mean, you couldn't even hear that an announcement was being made, never mind what it was. Surely there are 'elf and safety concerns there? Let's hope they don't have to evacuate the stadium if there's a fire or something.
Secondly the mascots. Now mascots are fairly naff at the best of times (sorry Olly) but the Southend ones take the biscuit. Probably the whole packet. There are two of them, for double the embarassment. One is called 'Elvis the Eel' and is a blue thing with an Elvis wig and all too human legs. The other is (I think) supposed to be a shrimp, but he didn't come close enough to us to see what he's called. 'Pillock the Prawn' maybe. Laughable. Probably not really aimed at 50-something blokes, but laughable. I bet the people inside them lie about what they do on a Saturday afternoon.
Anyway enough taking the piss out of the unfortunates, the team was a bit of a shock. Of course I couldn't hear it announced, but it turned out to be:
Clarke
Batt Whing Wright Worley Davis
Heslop Leven
Potter Constable Philliskirk.
Where on earth did that one come from! Five at the back, two in the middle. Obviously no Robert Hall (please come back Robbie!), but apparently Duberry was injured (rumours at the ground said a shoulder, out for several weeks) and no McLaren. Well, a selection that was obviously partly forced on CW and partly not. Given that Hall, Duberry and McLaren have been among our best players this season it was going to be a stretch to get something from the match.
We started off kicking away from the 750-800 yellows supporters. I needn't really have worried about the side in general. We took immediate and total control of the game. Southend had the first half chance after five minutes or so, but a weak shot was easily save by Clarke. Leven and Potter went close in the first 15 minutes. Leven making the goalkeeper work, Potter not. The yellows fans were having fun at the portly Southend drum banger's expense. The 25 people round the incompetent percussionist tried to make some noise, the rest of the Southend crowd obviously had their minds on which bonfire party they were going to after the match. They made no sound. The yellows fans on the other hand were showing the home crowd how it should be done and making a terrific racket!
Leven and Constable tested the goalie, Philliskirk had one deflected over the goal by a covering (and lucky) defender. Corners were going into the penalty area, shots were hitting the target - the ball wasn't going in the net. The longer this went on, the more there was the feeling in the Oxford end that it might just not be our day.
Last week's ref was (mostly) determined not to give fouls. By that measure, this weeks was 50% better as he gave half of the possible offences. Unfortunately it was all the Oxford misdemeanours (real or imaginary) that he punished, the Southend offences were ignored. Including one particularly nasty two footed sliding challenge that should have been a yellow card, but wasn't apparently even a foul. I won't even mention the two decent penalty shouts we had. This bloke wouldn't have given a a cold. Towards the end of the half, he gave yet another in a succession of free kicks just outside the Oxford box. Most of them had been wasted by Southend, with none even making Clarke make a save. Unfortunately practice makes perfect. The Southend player swung the dead ball to the far post and the nearly unmarked Blues player lurking there simply headed the ball into the net. Clarke didn't realy have much chance with it. And half time came. The yellows were applauded off the pitch.
I have to say that the reaction around me was in two flavours. The first was 'How the bloody hell are we not winning, never mind behind?'. The second, "If we don't take our chances, we won't win matches". Both were undoubtedly correct.
The Southend cheerleaders jumped about a bit, but since the PA was so shite I couldn't hear the music they were supposed to be dancing about to. It probably wasn't 'China Pig' by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band or 'ManErg' by Van der Graaf Generator. But I can say that their shorts fitted better than the Gillingham jailbait of a couple of weeks ago, so plus marks for that, girls. And I'm sure the jiggling about was perfectly in time as well.
Second half.
Both teams started well, Southend looking to capitalise on their good fortune, us looking to put things right. Leven had the first chance, but the Southend keeper saved it again. He was looking pretty good for a L2 keeper this bloke. I mentioned this to a chap next to me. 'On loan from West Brom' he replied. Ah, that explains it. Southend decided to try and help us out by making a complete Horlicks of clearing a Us corner. Again it looped over the bar somehow.
Jake Wright then made one of his now traditional two potentially fatal mistakes in a game (edit - no he didn't, it was Batt apparently. Sorry Jake!!), giving a Southend player a free run at the goal by gifting him the ball with only Clarke to beat. His shooting typified much of Southend's 'finishing'. One on one with the keeper, not only did he not hit the goal, he didn't hit the goal line. The ball skewed horribly wide (much to our relief) and ended up by the far touchline.
Smalley and (very surprisingly) Steve Kinniborough came on for Davis and Philliskirk. Both Davis and Philiskirk had done OK, and a cynical part of me wondered how much CW had an eye on the team that was going to have to playon Tuesday's JPT match (six of the team - I think - have to have played in the previous league match). Just a thought...
It looked like we had made them pay for the recent miss when a couple of minutes later Leven chipped a ball to the far post and in a very similar manner to the Southend goal, a lovely header from Damien Batt beat the keeper to level the scores. Pandemonium in the away end. Surely we could now go on to win this? Southend had been better in the second half than they had been in the first, but we were still the better side. And we now had the wind in our sails! That's a boaty saying because we were on the coast. I bet you can almost taste the brine...
Except, we were about to be holed below the waterline. (I'm on a roll now!)
Five minutes after we scored Southend went back in front. Ryan Hall (not Asa, or Robbie) the Blues winger hit a glorious shot from the right of the penalty area and beat Clarke. It would have beaten any goalkeeper. Probably any goalkeeper, an Elvis Eel and a Plonker Prawn all added together. It was probably the best bit of skill in the match.
There was still over twenty minutes to go. But oddly, the match then fizzled out. We got the ball into the penalty area a few times, but didn't look dangerous. That wasn't helped by Smalley. He really annoys me. When a high ball is hit towards him, he has the habit of getting the wrong side of the defender (just behind him) and not even challenging him for the ball. He pulls out of (or never even makes) challenges and looks about as dangerous as a fart on a battlefield. Why Franks wasn't brought on I have no idea. The last throw of the dice was to take Worley off and bring McLaren on. Hmm, a defensive midfielder when we are chasing the game? It made no difference. Southend were content to hold what they had, and without the speed or trickery that Robbie Hall gave us, we had no key to unlock their defence. The game died, and the ref put us out of our misery after four minutes of added time.
Southend then completed the tin-potted hattrick by letting off fireworks because they'd won.
Out of the stadium and walking back to the car I overheard a couple of Southend fans. Fan 1 'I don't know how on earth we managed to win that!'. Fan 2 'Yeah we were bloody lucky'. Just about summed it up.
A decent drive home, watching fireworks in the sky (but keeping my eyes on the road).
Thoughts afterwards:
I am proud to be an Oxford fan. The support was magnificent today, keeping the team going when they were behind, applauding the team off at half and full times, despite losing.
We didn't miss Duberry or McLaren quite as much as I thought we might, but we need need need a forward who is prepared to take defenders on and go past them (not sideways, Alfie). That was the difference up front today. Could that be Franks?
Southend won't win the league. Too much long ball stuff, not enough skill. The man of the match was their (on loan) keeper.
I don't 'get' Deane Smalley at all. Can someone tell me what he brings to the team, because I must have sone sort of blind spot where he is concerned.
I am giving Tuesday night a miss, so I'll see you all at Sheffield Utd. It'll be nice to have a match where there is no real pressure. A draw would be good, we can have a great night at out place for the return! A win would be better of course ;)
Cheers and COME ON YOU YELLOWS!
The first match in a difficult run for us today. Southend, Sheffield Utd and Crawley away, followed by Cheltenham at home and then Morcambe away. Yes, I am ignoring Southend again in the JPT. And sorry Northampton, I can't extend that difficult run to include you.
So down the M1 and round the M25 again, turning off before the Dartford Crossing/Tunnel this time (as opposed to the Gillingham trip) and heading towards Sarfend. Good job I'd set off early as there was a blockage on the quaintly named Southend Arterial Road. It runs between Basildon and Southend, and is as dull as it's name implies. Anyway, I got to Southend in time to do a bit of driving about looking for a parking place before finally biting the bullet and paying a fiver to park in some school or something.
Paid an extortionate £21 to get in (maybe OUFC ought to raise it's prices for away fans?) and went for a wee. All that sitting in traffic can have that effect on a man of a certain age. The loos were fetid, rank, smelly, too small and generally disgusting. And this was before kickoff. Not good enough, Southend. Managed not to breath to much in - I was beginning to realise why the Victorians believed that disease was caused by foul miasma - and staggered, retching, to a free seat in the converted Dutch Barn that Southend call an away stand. Which has a roof, putting them one up on the scum and Gillingham I suppose. The general tin-pottedness was confirmed by two further things.
Firstly, the PA. Totally inaudible. I mean, you couldn't even hear that an announcement was being made, never mind what it was. Surely there are 'elf and safety concerns there? Let's hope they don't have to evacuate the stadium if there's a fire or something.
Secondly the mascots. Now mascots are fairly naff at the best of times (sorry Olly) but the Southend ones take the biscuit. Probably the whole packet. There are two of them, for double the embarassment. One is called 'Elvis the Eel' and is a blue thing with an Elvis wig and all too human legs. The other is (I think) supposed to be a shrimp, but he didn't come close enough to us to see what he's called. 'Pillock the Prawn' maybe. Laughable. Probably not really aimed at 50-something blokes, but laughable. I bet the people inside them lie about what they do on a Saturday afternoon.
Anyway enough taking the piss out of the unfortunates, the team was a bit of a shock. Of course I couldn't hear it announced, but it turned out to be:
Clarke
Batt Whing Wright Worley Davis
Heslop Leven
Potter Constable Philliskirk.
Where on earth did that one come from! Five at the back, two in the middle. Obviously no Robert Hall (please come back Robbie!), but apparently Duberry was injured (rumours at the ground said a shoulder, out for several weeks) and no McLaren. Well, a selection that was obviously partly forced on CW and partly not. Given that Hall, Duberry and McLaren have been among our best players this season it was going to be a stretch to get something from the match.
We started off kicking away from the 750-800 yellows supporters. I needn't really have worried about the side in general. We took immediate and total control of the game. Southend had the first half chance after five minutes or so, but a weak shot was easily save by Clarke. Leven and Potter went close in the first 15 minutes. Leven making the goalkeeper work, Potter not. The yellows fans were having fun at the portly Southend drum banger's expense. The 25 people round the incompetent percussionist tried to make some noise, the rest of the Southend crowd obviously had their minds on which bonfire party they were going to after the match. They made no sound. The yellows fans on the other hand were showing the home crowd how it should be done and making a terrific racket!
Leven and Constable tested the goalie, Philliskirk had one deflected over the goal by a covering (and lucky) defender. Corners were going into the penalty area, shots were hitting the target - the ball wasn't going in the net. The longer this went on, the more there was the feeling in the Oxford end that it might just not be our day.
Last week's ref was (mostly) determined not to give fouls. By that measure, this weeks was 50% better as he gave half of the possible offences. Unfortunately it was all the Oxford misdemeanours (real or imaginary) that he punished, the Southend offences were ignored. Including one particularly nasty two footed sliding challenge that should have been a yellow card, but wasn't apparently even a foul. I won't even mention the two decent penalty shouts we had. This bloke wouldn't have given a a cold. Towards the end of the half, he gave yet another in a succession of free kicks just outside the Oxford box. Most of them had been wasted by Southend, with none even making Clarke make a save. Unfortunately practice makes perfect. The Southend player swung the dead ball to the far post and the nearly unmarked Blues player lurking there simply headed the ball into the net. Clarke didn't realy have much chance with it. And half time came. The yellows were applauded off the pitch.
I have to say that the reaction around me was in two flavours. The first was 'How the bloody hell are we not winning, never mind behind?'. The second, "If we don't take our chances, we won't win matches". Both were undoubtedly correct.
The Southend cheerleaders jumped about a bit, but since the PA was so shite I couldn't hear the music they were supposed to be dancing about to. It probably wasn't 'China Pig' by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band or 'ManErg' by Van der Graaf Generator. But I can say that their shorts fitted better than the Gillingham jailbait of a couple of weeks ago, so plus marks for that, girls. And I'm sure the jiggling about was perfectly in time as well.
Second half.
Both teams started well, Southend looking to capitalise on their good fortune, us looking to put things right. Leven had the first chance, but the Southend keeper saved it again. He was looking pretty good for a L2 keeper this bloke. I mentioned this to a chap next to me. 'On loan from West Brom' he replied. Ah, that explains it. Southend decided to try and help us out by making a complete Horlicks of clearing a Us corner. Again it looped over the bar somehow.
Jake Wright then made one of his now traditional two potentially fatal mistakes in a game (edit - no he didn't, it was Batt apparently. Sorry Jake!!), giving a Southend player a free run at the goal by gifting him the ball with only Clarke to beat. His shooting typified much of Southend's 'finishing'. One on one with the keeper, not only did he not hit the goal, he didn't hit the goal line. The ball skewed horribly wide (much to our relief) and ended up by the far touchline.
Smalley and (very surprisingly) Steve Kinniborough came on for Davis and Philliskirk. Both Davis and Philiskirk had done OK, and a cynical part of me wondered how much CW had an eye on the team that was going to have to playon Tuesday's JPT match (six of the team - I think - have to have played in the previous league match). Just a thought...
It looked like we had made them pay for the recent miss when a couple of minutes later Leven chipped a ball to the far post and in a very similar manner to the Southend goal, a lovely header from Damien Batt beat the keeper to level the scores. Pandemonium in the away end. Surely we could now go on to win this? Southend had been better in the second half than they had been in the first, but we were still the better side. And we now had the wind in our sails! That's a boaty saying because we were on the coast. I bet you can almost taste the brine...
Except, we were about to be holed below the waterline. (I'm on a roll now!)
Five minutes after we scored Southend went back in front. Ryan Hall (not Asa, or Robbie) the Blues winger hit a glorious shot from the right of the penalty area and beat Clarke. It would have beaten any goalkeeper. Probably any goalkeeper, an Elvis Eel and a Plonker Prawn all added together. It was probably the best bit of skill in the match.
There was still over twenty minutes to go. But oddly, the match then fizzled out. We got the ball into the penalty area a few times, but didn't look dangerous. That wasn't helped by Smalley. He really annoys me. When a high ball is hit towards him, he has the habit of getting the wrong side of the defender (just behind him) and not even challenging him for the ball. He pulls out of (or never even makes) challenges and looks about as dangerous as a fart on a battlefield. Why Franks wasn't brought on I have no idea. The last throw of the dice was to take Worley off and bring McLaren on. Hmm, a defensive midfielder when we are chasing the game? It made no difference. Southend were content to hold what they had, and without the speed or trickery that Robbie Hall gave us, we had no key to unlock their defence. The game died, and the ref put us out of our misery after four minutes of added time.
Southend then completed the tin-potted hattrick by letting off fireworks because they'd won.
Out of the stadium and walking back to the car I overheard a couple of Southend fans. Fan 1 'I don't know how on earth we managed to win that!'. Fan 2 'Yeah we were bloody lucky'. Just about summed it up.
A decent drive home, watching fireworks in the sky (but keeping my eyes on the road).
Thoughts afterwards:
I am proud to be an Oxford fan. The support was magnificent today, keeping the team going when they were behind, applauding the team off at half and full times, despite losing.
We didn't miss Duberry or McLaren quite as much as I thought we might, but we need need need a forward who is prepared to take defenders on and go past them (not sideways, Alfie). That was the difference up front today. Could that be Franks?
Southend won't win the league. Too much long ball stuff, not enough skill. The man of the match was their (on loan) keeper.
I don't 'get' Deane Smalley at all. Can someone tell me what he brings to the team, because I must have sone sort of blind spot where he is concerned.
I am giving Tuesday night a miss, so I'll see you all at Sheffield Utd. It'll be nice to have a match where there is no real pressure. A draw would be good, we can have a great night at out place for the return! A win would be better of course ;)
Cheers and COME ON YOU YELLOWS!
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