Back from the game (an armchair view)

[handbags_harris]

WHY the Oxf*rd didn't we throw evrything at the City goal?

You obviously didn't notice that we had 5 up front with about 25 minutes to go...

2 great crosses that won us the match which had he reproduced on sunday would of resulted in us being promoted

But he didn't did he? No point saying "if he'd done this" or "if he'd done that" because he didn't do "this" or "that", mainly because he reverted to type and played shit. Whenever he has a man-marking job done on him he does nothing because he doesn't know what to do to get the ball in effective areas. He's good enough to take men on, he has shown he can, but he rarely does. Almost the same can be said of Stephen Hunt, only he can't take a man on.

[CMRoyal]

Tabb - I'm not overlooking Tabbs previous history either. He has knocked around the lower Championship and lower leagues for a few years without ever really looking likely to push on. He's now mid 20's and has probably got as high as he's ever going to be.

And therein lies the problem? If he were a few inches taller he'd be a real force to reckon with in central midfield. Good, tidy, brave tier two player, but no more than that.

[Royal Rother]

Kitson had to go deep just to get the ball. He was the best player on the pitch.

Unless we score 3 or 4 up at Burnley then we don't have a chance I'm afraid.

and (not necessarily in that order)

[brendywendy]

Unless we score 3 or 4 up at Burnley then we don't have a chance I'm afraid.

not 100% true IMO

[Archie's penalty]

Unless we score 3 or 4 up at Burnley then we don't have a chance I'm afraid.

not 100% true IMO

Come on Brendy let's you and me get the positivity bus a-rolling again.

We ain't out of it yet!!!!

URRRZZZZ!!!!!

[brendywendy]

maybe tommorrow!
im still feeling sick after drinking way too much on sunday

once that goes ill be RTGd right up


uintil the football goes and ruins it all again

[Archie's penalty]

uintil the football goes and ruins it all again

Not on my watch.

Not in our name.

Premier league here we come baybee!

[Ian Royal]

you're fast approaching readingbedding levels of madness there Archie

[Archie's penalty]

you're fast approaching readingbedding levels of madness there Archie

I need something to perk me up on a rainy and grim Manchester day...

I will keep my madness in check though thanks for the concern

[Ian Royal]

you're fast approaching readingbedding levels of madness there Archie

I need something to perk me up on a rainy and grim Manchester day...

I will keep my madness in check though thanks for the concern

I wouldn't want to have to subconciously blame you for failure like I already do him.

I hope you're right, but prepared for you to be wrong. I'm expecting nothing in the play off "lottery".

[Archie's penalty]

Ah we probably won't go up but I want to believe we will.

I liked Coppell's interview on the BBC website today - finally he spoke out to the press about desire and other characteristics we need to get us up.

Whether the players will show them in the games is anyone's guess but here's hoping.

[Nick Shorey my Lord!]

Kitson had to go deep just to get the ball. He was the best player on the pitch.

Unless we score 3 or 4 up at Burnley then we don't have a chance I'm afraid.

and (not necessarily in that order)

What a surprise that we disagree. Can you really see us doing them at our place? Kitson was all over the place on Sunday, hunting for the ball. I'm not getting into the whole "he should stay up front" business because quite frankly, he's dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't. At least he showed some hunger unlike the majority of the team.

[Hoop Blah]

Kitson has always played like that though, it's his style and why he was such a key player for us in the past.

Yes he could probably do with getting into the box a little quicker at times but someone made a good point the other day that we miss a player of Sidwell's type who has the engine to get forward and support the front two more. When we were good Kitson could drop deep and create things but we had Sidwell willing and able to run past the ball and get in the box.

I'd never really thought of how well that combined with Kitson before, but we're now seeing a similar type of game from Kitson but without that midfield runner to replace him in the box.

[Royal Rother]

Kitson had to go deep just to get the ball. He was the best player on the pitch.

Unless we score 3 or 4 up at Burnley then we don't have a chance I'm afraid.

and (not necessarily in that order)

What a surprise that we disagree. Can you really see us doing them at our place? Kitson was all over the place on Sunday, hunting for the ball. I'm not getting into the whole "he should stay up front" business because quite frankly, he's dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't. At least he showed some hunger unlike the majority of the team.

I do agree with that bit...

[Sun Tzu]

Unless we score 3 or 4 up at Burnley then we don't have a chance I'm afraid.

not 100% true IMO

Given how many teams have scored 3 or more against us this season I think that's a bit pessimistic to think that....

Burnley are no Charlton !

[Ian Royal]

Kitson has always played like that though, it's his style and why he was such a key player for us in the past.

Yes he could probably do with getting into the box a little quicker at times but someone made a good point the other day that we miss a player of Sidwell's type who has the engine to get forward and support the front two more. When we were good Kitson could drop deep and create things but we had Sidwell willing and able to run past the ball and get in the box.

I'd never really thought of how well that combined with Kitson before, but we're now seeing a similar type of game from Kitson but without that midfield runner to replace him in the box.

Excellent post.

Although I think Kitson is dropping deaper and wider and has less pace to get back into the box now.

But the last few games I've seen we've been screaming out for someone, anyone to join the one or maybe two players in the box so we have a bit of threat. Or at least get to the edge of the box to pick up the second ball. The runs are being timed badly. No one is losing their marker. And the crosses are not generally being played to anyone.

[RoyalBlue]

Kitson has always played like that though, it's his style and why he was such a key player for us in the past.

Yes he could probably do with getting into the box a little quicker at times but someone made a good point the other day that we miss a player of Sidwell's type who has the engine to get forward and support the front two more. When we were good Kitson could drop deep and create things but we had Sidwell willing and able to run past the ball and get in the box.

I'd never really thought of how well that combined with Kitson before, but we're now seeing a similar type of game from Kitson but without that midfield runner to replace him in the box.

Didn't we use to have a player who could make those sort of runs? I think his name was Harper!

[Dr Hfuhruhurr]

This thread has taken all sorts of interesting turns.

I dont see any evidence of why we should be looking to scapegoat any of Duberry, Karacan, Tabb or Kitson. None of then gave a 4/10 performance. They were all pretty average, but none of them were poor. Generally we played quite well, I thought, and Ill put this in with games such as Barnsley or Sheff United as games that we could have scored more in if we had played them at the start of the season. I think the worrying thing for the playoffs is that it is quite clear that Coppell doesnt have a lot of options in replacing his weak points.

The two glaring weak spots are Hunt and Rosenior - but what can Coppell do? He wont get three 90 minute games out of Little, and both Kelly and Murty are just not up to it. Given that we are getting veiled comments about Hunt and Rosenior in the press at the moment, it would seem that they will continue to play. It doesnt bode well. Hunt has left the club in his head. Rosenior is just not the type to bounce back to form.

I also didnt rate Harding or Hannehmann. Hannehmann has no replacement. Federici may be as good as Hannehmann, but he's not a match winner. We need Stretch back in the team. It seemed to me at the weekend that our biggest issue is the squad, and, sadly, that isnt going to change by the weekend. The performance wasnt great, but it wasnt bad, either. We can beat Burnley, but you get the feeling that there is a greater chance they will play with 11 men on Saturday.

[Royal Rother]

Kitson has always played like that though, it's his style and why he was such a key player for us in the past.

Yes he could probably do with getting into the box a little quicker at times but someone made a good point the other day that we miss a player of Sidwell's type who has the engine to get forward and support the front two more. When we were good Kitson could drop deep and create things but we had Sidwell willing and able to run past the ball and get in the box.

I'd never really thought of how well that combined with Kitson before, but we're now seeing a similar type of game from Kitson but without that midfield runner to replace him in the box.

That's all fair enough, but I recall at least a couple of times when the ball did go wide (in moves not involving Kitson from deep positions) he was nowhere near advanced enough to get on the end of crosses. Consequently the crosses had to be delayed and eventually were blocked.

If we don't have the runner from midfield he simply has to play in a more advanced position.

[Hoop Blah]

Kitson has always played like that though, it's his style and why he was such a key player for us in the past.

Yes he could probably do with getting into the box a little quicker at times but someone made a good point the other day that we miss a player of Sidwell's type who has the engine to get forward and support the front two more. When we were good Kitson could drop deep and create things but we had Sidwell willing and able to run past the ball and get in the box.

I'd never really thought of how well that combined with Kitson before, but we're now seeing a similar type of game from Kitson but without that midfield runner to replace him in the box.

Didn't we use to have a player who could make those sort of runs? I think his name was Harper!

He could yes, unfortunately he didn't very often because he was doing the more disciplined holding role he has done for the majority of his time here.

Being injured he can't really make any difference now can he?