The Hotel End

It looks like we might be getting a few of them at our end completing the experience..


Click to view
 (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/15622078.Oxford_United_fans_encouraged_to_have_an_away_day___at_the_Kassam_Stadium/)

Oxford have declared this an away game for some bizarre reason !
That’s fine , we always smash them at home ....
Pity Appleton didn’t get sacked with Shakespeare this week .

You beat me to it!  ;D

They haven't have they...read it again!

£24 adults for this one  :o

Bit of a s*** idea isn't it?

We should try using the East Stand changing rooms?

My memory aint what it used to be, but Im sure that this was tried in the past. Atkins, maybe Johnson, I cannot recall. But someone definitely tried it. I dont think that it proved successful though.

It's a bit of a trek to the Kassam.

My reaction too.

Then realised that's our walk-up price isn't it? So probably close to what we charge away fans.

I am truly confused, as to what relevence this has to my original post?

It was Gary Johnson who tried that and I think we played Bury and get hammered 4-1. He got plenty of abuse on his long walk across the pitch to the East Stand. I'm sure before kick off the players had to walk across to the tunnel to walk out with the Bury players.

The Oxford game is being played at the Kassam so the players would have to get there after changing in the East Stand - or have I missed something?

Cheers Wadey. I could not recall who it was.

£4 cheaper than Posh  :o

Regan Poole misses this one due to International Duty, lets hope Moloney is fit so McWilliams can play in the middle.

No news on how many tickets we have sold.Surprised we haven't sold the initial allocation.

We don't take many Home.

Being played completely off the pitch by Vale at the moment! A sullen 396 Oxford United fans at Vale Park.

Oxford City to fly the flag in Colchester tomorrow!  :D

How did that go? ;-)

Brilliant tbf! Oxford City really putting in a fantastic 150% kinda performance. Rob Sinclair is the Ricky Holmes of non-league!  ;D
153 Hoops.

X90 to Marble Arch...Central Line to Newbury Park...coach to Ingatestone...Inter-City to Colchester for 10.45am!
Official coaches back!  ;)

Not sure I can motivate myself to go to this.

£24 a ticket and let's face it we won't become even remotely interesting to watch until January.

I wonder what the excuse will be this year? A dodgy penalty or foul on the goalkeeper?

Maybe the Manager by the sound of it!

Their usual excuse (whoever they lose to - perhaps bar Sheff Utd last season) is that they lost to a fouling, kick n hope bunch of cloggers not allowing them to play their beautiful game...though even that's wearing a little thin amongst their own ranks!

I don’t know if anybody feels the same but I couldn’t stand that Michael Crappleton. I deplore violence at football matches, but would have probably made an exception for him? However, now he’s gone I really miss him, work that out?

If you've seen his arms, your exception wouldn't get very far!  ;)

I couldn’t give a monkeys about his arms, when I said make an exception I didn’t at any point intend to involve myself. I was hoping for someone else to do it? I was the type at school who always had itching powder shoved down his pants by the bigger boys!

;D

Is it the same price on the day? Cheers

£24 in away end and no change in price on the day. It’s cash only. If before Sat there maybe an add on of £1 on phone bookings ..just check! Welcome back 8)

Well Coolie how are things shaping up with the best team  ::) for Sat?

Should be a good game. Its usually pretty close between us. They have lost their last 3 games and haven't won in 5. We are unbeaten in 5 so...

1-1

Thanks for resurrecting interest in this match. How people could spend all day on the R Thread or even on a match last Tuesday!

Headington Amateurs haven't won since we last lost (Bristol Rovers debacle) and are in general meltdown. The Checkatrade isn't any more important to them than us...but three defeats on the bounce and letting four in against a second string MK Dons is!
Defence a shambles, with tippy tappy playing sideways defence grating with them!

Nevertheless, Jack Payne sounds like a threat up top!

Anytime Cecil... :-*

Lost its spice this season.....even the Yellows forum is very quiet!! Its no fun now Appleton has gone!!  ;D

We lost to Wimbledon after Rovers...

Whats happened to their Forums, always a good read (or was) for delusional addicts.

Normally for this game the Marquis would be assembling a car load. Has he gone electric?

Oh it is!  ;D

Ok, they last won at Bristol Rovers on the day we last lost (v Wimbledon)!  ;)

Do we keep the same line up for this game (if you ignore Checkatrade)? I would be looking to go with:

                     Ingram

       Moloney Ash Pierre Buchs

                 McWilliams JJ

          Powell McGugan Grimes

                      Long

Crooks in for Powell if we think he can cope with a full 90 and tracking back to help out Moloney when needed. Otherwise summoned from the bench. We could swap JJ and McGugan if we are looking to go long, but I think JJ is better winning the ball from deep.

I'd go with this. Crooks on for McGugan if he tires. Hoskins can come on for Powell if he's useless... Start utilising our excessive squad options to full benefit.

My favoured line up for this would be

 Ingram

       McWilliams Ash Pierre Buchs

                 Crooks JJ

          Powell McGugan Grimes

                      Long

It’s interesting to see how everyone tries to combine Crooks , Grimes , McGugan and JJOT into a midfield together ( including me ) .
The reality is that one of them will probably miss out at Oxford because there is not enough pace amongst them. Also , I think you can only have one of them as a holding player ( JJOT is best suited ) and you need legs and energy alongside them in one of Poole , McWilliams or even Foley .
I think he will select Powell , and leave Crooks out for balance .
The other thing is that Rico has a great record at Oxford , but I suspect Long will quite rightly start .

It is a tough one, and I agree that one of them will miss out. With Poole missing it makes things a bit easier as McWilliams is an easy pick in the middle of the park for me then. Rico is set to come on and net the winner late again, would f***ing love this.  ;D

Has anyone got any advice on parking at this
Sh*t ground ?
Last time it took 2 hours to get out and ages to get in !
Can you park the other side in Blackbird Leys or do people steal your tax disc ?

Authorities seem pretty lax on tax discs these days. You should be alright  ;)

 ;D

I have parked in Blackbird in the past. Its OK, as long as you dont block anyones drive way. However, be prepared for obnoxious individuals on your way back, after the match, over the river.
Having said that, I can recall one pub, in a housing estate near the Manor Ground, typical estate pub, rough as fcuk, s*** beers, totally unwelcome, we went into "the lounge" by mistake. Only to find three people sitting there with some triangular sandwiches, and a bit of cake in front of them. Yep, it was a wedding reception,(no guests), and the best man wanted to take us all on. All five feet two of him. We smiled, and declined. I genuinely felt sorry for the bride, as she had no female friends with her.
The bar was no better, as I was immediately challenged by some scrote, as to wether or not I was selling drugs, as this was "his patch". Welcome to Poxford. What a s*** hole.

Powell def starter - would have 'fort.

Sounds like my old local, are you sure your not mistaking this incident for a Poxford at home match?

I have spent a lot of my early years in The Melbourne. Back when big Barry was the landlord, and the place was full of nurses, from St Crispin.
One time, back in the early eighties, after a pub jolly to Huntingdon races, we got jumped on by a load of Cambridge fans. It was no contest. Male psychiatric nurses, can certainly look after themselves!  ;D

Let’s hope u r here today to chase off the Blkbird boys!

Thank you for your wise words TK .
It sounds like a night in the Headlands .
How long have you worked for the Oxford Tourist Board ?

;D

Squad prediction, I'm assuming O'Toole and Hoskins are injured

................Ingram..............
Moloney.Taylor.Pierre.Buchs
..........McWilliams.Grimes.......
Crooks.....McGuggan.....Powell
.................Long..................

Subs
Cornell
McGiven
Foley (Hoskins if fit)
Kasim (O'Toole if fit)
Richards
Waters
Bowditch

Is this a hard game or easy game?

In between hahahahahaha

Just arrived here! Here's to 3 points

Its a game i'd be happy to take a point from.

Come on Evers, you're better than the majority on here, don't let them drag you down to their level.

Not sitting on the fence are we 78????? 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Not at all, i'd be happy with a point. Of the 46 league games we play, this would be nearer the end of hardest than it would easiest. If this is too complicate, this is one of the 23 harder games i'd say.

Trying to enforce allocated seating?

Team Announced:

...........Ingram............
Moloney.Taylor.Pierre.Buchs
.......McGugan.Grimes....
Waters.....JJOT......Powell
.............Long...............

Don’t think we’ll waste McGugan sitting. Either the tip of a three or up front.

McGugan sat deeper last home game with JJOT further forward to win the flick ons. Not idea for either of them I suggest, but Long is not going to win any balls in the air. Tricky one. 

Poor team selection
Waters is not a winger and shouldn’t be playing .
McGugan won’t be playing deep that’s for sure

He does like a good tinker doesn’t he? There doesn’t look to be a lot of balance to that team, why McWilliams isn’t the first name on the sheet is beyond me. If he wants to experiment and rotate the team I’d much rather he do it in the cup replay on Tuesday.

Can't say I'm impressed with McWilliams on the bench, would rather we play him wide instead of Waters if we have to. He needs to be on the pitch.

Can't say I'm impressed with no Revmeister again!

No Dr. Feelgood again then. Part timer!

Get in there!!!

Hi..YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS 0-1

God reading this you lot are so negative!!

Thanks mate.

We're playing very well

No Was again then. Probably still has man flu.

I hope so or I'll start worrying again..No defender, cj or razor..

No dedicated wide players now with Powell injured, surprised to see Bowditch instead of Crooks or McWilliams as we have a lead.

Come on Town!

Relax The Hassmeister has it all figured out..

We should be 2 up and had a clear penalty waved away..Looked like the Poxford defender was playing volleyball.

Lots of goals flying in from elsewhere..Currently 19th 3pts clear of the Zone

Sack 'em all!!!

Drat 1-1

Get The Revmeister on!!!

We're the greatest team in the world!

1-2 Long Get in!!!

LONG!  ;D

1-2 HT

Not on the bench again. I'm getting a horrible feeling about the Revmeister

Time to retire!

He's injured....

Second half kicks off..no changes

We're on the front foot again

Waters missed from 4 yrds out

Poxford look like a shambles at the back..

I've heard his brother's in charge. The Floydmeister.

Foley on for JJ.

Why?? He makes the team so much better.

If this is a tactical change and we lose this the Hassmeister will look like a doughnut

Still not 100% fit and took a knock last week, so probably tired/sore.

They're both Top Manager's make no mistake

I truly believe there's a 3rd goal in us..

I don't

Waters is pants today. Missed a gift then over hits every ball.

Afternoon

Stop moaning, we're winning!

Hope you're feeling better Was

The good doctor's been worried sick!

Yeah feeling better ta. Be right for golf tomorrow

Games gone a bit scrappy..

Do you and Was play golf together on a Sunday?

As soon as JJOT came off we just don't look the same..We lose that midfield grit..

He's way out of my league..

The Bowmeister rips one just wide..

McGugan and Grimes both booked

Top save from Ingram

This will be a nervy last few mins

Come on Town, see this out!

3 mins added

Reek on

1-2 FT Get in

What a team!

Great win but no surprise

We always beat them ;)

Result of the season so far. Brilliant.

I was wrong about McGugan, did well in the middle, though he does sometimes let people past him. Fantastic first 20, they really couldn’t cope with Powell so a shame he went off. I know this is unlikely but if the Chinese are monitoring any chance of Grimes on a perm please?

Agreed

Massive, massive win.

Up the Town.

Great win. Very solid performance and for once we created a fair few chances, even after Powell went off and we suddnly had no proper winger. McGugan's set pieces were excellent first half and in general he had a very good game. Classy goal from Long too. Solid performances all round and we look a much more confident side than a few weeks ago. The main worry now is that with Powell and Hoskins injured we are lacking a winger. Maybe play George Smith on the left to offer that option against Scunny? Bowditch doesn't really add much to the team gong forward from what  I can see.

Excellent win ,well done lads, sounded like we outplayed them.

How about Ingram too

That would be the big one for me - qpr have got smithies as their established first choice and decent cover in lumley, it would be nice if they deem Ingram as surplus to requirements.

That was a comprehensive win from us today .
They like to pass the ball and we kept our shape incredibly well. That’s the most disciplined I have seen us for a long while .
Special mention goes to Grimes who seemed to be everywhere.
McGugon has an excellent game and at times looks a class above anyone else .
Buchanan had his best game this season and Taylor was his usual faultless self .
MOM was Ingram though . Fantastic handling and one top class save .
Powell was also a teal handful for the first 20 minutes before he went off and we lost momentum.
Hard to criticise anyone , but JJOT is playing in the wrong position off the front man and isn’t effective . Waters tried hard but is a fish out of water on the right .
Awful away ground - terrible parking , no pubs and rubbish food choice - but let’s hope they stay up - it’s a guaranteed three points every season .

Great win and great performance from all the players. Waters full of running but his final ball needs to improve and Bowditch I thought did well after replacing Powell. The midfield two of Grimes and McGugan with JJOT just in front caused Oxford plenty of problems. Defenders were all excellent and Long took his goal superbly. We are starting to look a proper team again, well done JFH and DA.

Yesssssssss.  :D
Play offs by Xmas.

According to the official site Grimes picked up his 5th booking today so he will be suspended for , I assume, the Scunny cup match.

First and foremost, massive congratulations to the players today for an excellent away win and an all important 3 points. I really think this team is starting to gel now and they’re fighting for one another and the team spirit seems much improved from that of the Edinburgh era.

I thought today’s game was really entertaining, particularly first half where both sides were going for it, end to end stuff with us looking dangerous with each attack. Our goalless streak seems a distant memory now and we really do look like a side that has goals in it. I was particularly please for Long getting his goal as more often than not, the service to him is non existent, he is left feeding on scraps and is visibly frustrated as a result.

I think the return of O’Toole has been all important. It’s given us that outlet on midfield of someone who can slow down a game, show a bit of composure on the ball and help build a decent attack. McGugan looks to be getting back to fitness and although not quite there, shows class beyond this level of football. His range of pain is decent and his shot on the run from outside the box in the first half was sheer quality, forcing a great save from their keeper.

I am not Powell’s biggest fan but until he went off today, I thought he was having a great game. He was a constant attacking threat and had the beating of their right back. It’s no coincidence that when he went off and bowditch came on that we looked less of a threat down that side. Having said that, I did feel that he grew into the game and had a solid second half, moreso towards the end.

Grimes was quality today, he really has come in n in recent weeks and is clearly playing with confidence that was lacking in the early part of the season. The pairing of Grimes and McGugan would be a match for most teams in this division...if we can keep a fully fit McGugan at the club beyond January.

My only concern from this game, and it is an opinion formed over recent months rather than just off of the back of today is maloney. Over the past few seasons, he has been immense but I am not sure if injuries have taken their toll on him as I really feel he is a shadow of his former self. He doesn’t take on his man very often anymore like he used to and defensively he looks suspect (apart from one fantastic saving tackle in the first half today. I think that when Phillips comes back, he could be the preferred option in that position. It’s a shame as I think maloney has been a fantastic servant to this club but I wouldn’t be surprised if this was his last in a Cobblers shirt.

Overall, a very important win today, some good football played by the Cobblers, attacking with intent and a solid central defensive pairing that let little past them. The spine of this team is looking stronger now and if we can keep Ingram for the season, we could easily push on from recent results and achieve a solid mid table position with no danger of relegation. UTC

Great overall team performance from the word go, McGugan outstanding, we played a passing game for a change, this game reminded me of the Wilder promotion season, this was the best overall team performance of the season by a long way.

Great to see the reports flooding in!

Was that why he intentionally kicked the ball away, to get his suspension out of the way in a less important game?
Thai

We looked a fitter and more determined side than I've seen so far this season...we backed each other up well in all departments, won the ball decisively, and did a lot of good with it. No hoof and hope today!

You’re right we did lose momentum when Powell went off - he was heading for a MOM performance until then (couldn’t have imagined that a month or so ago).

I don’t share your concern about Moloney however.  His seasons been a bit stop start and it can a game or two to regain that sharpness. Besides, I wouldn’t say he had a bad game yesterday.

Some interesting ratings in the football league paper - Ingram got 6 and Powell got 4!

A very complete away performance. Only criticism is that our finishing wasnt up to scratch expectially first half and we should've scored a couple more.

Ingram was superb yesterday .
Only one spectacular save , but he held everything and his positioning was spot on .
I would have this guy over Adam Smith every day if the week .

I agree entirely - it’s critical that he stays with us for the season at least, if we can use some of the Chinese money to bring him in permanently all the better.  When you think about it the standard of the loans we’ve got this year is so much higher than last and if we were to be able to bring any of them in it would be a massive statement.

I think that that game was as good a performance as I've seen from a Cobblers team since Wilder left. Only criticism is that we should have put the game to bed in the first half. I thought Oxford were very poor, but was it that we were very good ?

Quite a fair summary I thought.http://d3d4football.com/d3d4-match-reports-game-week-17/

Just about summarizes most peoples feelings on the day. Its been a long time since I have seen genuine smiles;not from relief, but from sheer enjoyment at the performance and of course the result. Every player did his part and that included Bowditch especially in the 2nd half where he played his part. JFH selection of the side went well proving once and for all that some of his critiques with their selection fantasies are just that armchair/keyboard fantasies. Powell really gave their full back a hard time and every time he got the ball anticipation rose a notch or two. How could so many of us cast damaging aspersions on him (me incl.)? I sincerely hope he is not out for long - any news on his injury? The defence played very well even better as a unit with Taylor the pick of 'em; although Pierre in the latter stages ran him close.
Midfield were good too although still not certain of JJOT's role as I prefer him more as a combative rock in midfield. Grimes played well and for some MOM; probably not wrong either. It was McCugan who caught my eye, beating one or two players in a single movement. This type of performance has not been seen since the halcyon days of Graham Moore and Joe Kiernan. Was willing JcC to power one from half way line!!. To me best player on the field, but he did tire a little in the closing stages; so not quite match fit. Another maligned player Waters played well and it was interesting to note that some thought he was MOM. He always provided an outlet and to do that you have to be in the right place at the right time! Long led the line well and his goal was splendidly taken and worked tirelessly to the whistle.
Crowd was up for the game too and I enjoyed the endless jibes at Oxford especially the one about CW. There was some minor disturbances probably caused by some over enthusiastic Cobbs supporters near the supporter divide!
I was on Bus no2 ably marshaled by Roger of Trust fame with a big tin of Quality Street! No car parking to worry about and decent company if slightly inebriated!

At the time I thought that was a pretty stupid thing to do, from a player who usually comes across as very intelligent on the pitch. I shouldn't have doubted him!

I agree this is the main downside at the moment. The best spurned chances were in the first half (apart from the Waters sitter in the 2nd). We should have buried the game and not had to suffer the possibiliy of an equaliser in the last few minutes. I sensed that once we were ahead we didn't have the same intensity in the final third and were more interested in keepball even when there were really good openings than showing a bit of killer instinct. Happy with the overall performance and obviously the result but this is something to work on IMO.

I don't remember a Waters sitter 2nd half? There was a cross from our left which would have been a tap in had the Oxelona defender not toe-poked it an inch past his own post?

on the highlights it very much looks like the defender got a touch, and then waters poked it wide.

Their goal was a good finish.
Thought that it was a good all round team performance, very easy on the eye.
Special mention for Bowditch who came on for the unlucky Powell and did a good solid job down the left providing some good opportunities.  Probably his best performance for us?
Only concern for me was Moloney who unusually struggled with his positioning, passing and also looked a couple of times as if he was running through treacle.  Hopefully it is a match fitness and sharpness issue and he will improve over the next couple of games.

We had a decent away following as well, I was expecting a disappointing turn out but recent results must have had an effect.  This performance should add to that.

It's a game of opinions, but I thought Bowditch was poor

It was part good defending and part missed chance!!

I think it was game over as soon as I saw Oxford come out in the tracksuit tops. It was quite a mild afternoon and we looked much more up for it then they did.

Some impressive performances all round particularly from Grimes and McGugan.

I was nursing a bit of a hangover yesterday after quite a lengthy pre/post match session in Oxford but the days out seem so much better when your team wins.

I have criticised Bowditch as much as anyone but thought that was the best he has played by far.Never going to be able to out pace there full back but thought he used his experience superbly and work rate was excellent.Also agree with comments about Matt Ingram.Would be a  massive signing if we could get him at some stage and a far better keeper than Adam Smith.

Just to add, the crafty sod didn't play in the first game either because his parent club wouldn't allow him. Obviously they were going to allow him to play on Tuesday though, so its a real shame he's suspended!  ;D ;D

A very very decent performance, and not a weak link in site.

Strangely, I did feel very confident pre-match they we'd pick up a win, and fancied us to win by 2 or 3 clear goals. Our performance warranted such a margin as well. The team has started to click all of a sudden and dare I say it, some team soon is going to be on the end of a pasting.

Yesterday, I looked back at the team selection for the Bristol Rovers game; Rico, Richards, Hanley, Bowdith all started. Poole came on for BM whilst it was 0-1. It was such a disjointed looking team that day, a million miles away from the nicely balanced X1 that started on Saturday.

I loved JFH's analogy about McGugan still coming out of hibernation. Brilliantly put. If he's here after January I will be very very surprised, but you never know…we live in hope. Grimes I thought was outstanding throughout, best single display I've seen from any Cobblers player this season. Taylor was immense again and DB stuck to the task brilliantly of *trying to contain Hall (their number 7) whom was easily their best player and the only one at any time I was concerned with. It was clear in the first 10 minutes that Oxford's tactic was to give him the ball at any opportunity, in a way that played into our hands because it made the job of keeping our shape far far easily than it would have been if they'd mixed things up more.

All in all a very enjoyable Saturday afternoon and one that gives us some hope that this season could 'still be rescued'!

^^^

I think by playing Mcgugan next to Grimes, it takes some pressure of Grimes as not everything has to go through him. He can also get himself in a bit more space to play.

When Poole (who i really rate on a defensive level) plays, he plays as enforcer who wins the ball back and gives it to Grimes or gives it away.

Exactly, which was why a goal kick was given. Nothing against Waters. He worked his socks off the whole match, but I still say that was a sitter. It only needed a half solid prod and he was no more than 3 yards out.

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/opposition-view-boss-clotet-believes-oxford-deserved-more-from-cobblers-defeat-1-8242859

I thought it was a Appleton thing, turns out its just an Oxford thing.

Is it just me or is everyone at OU slightly delusional? They seem to have not only convinced themselves that they are a huge club unfairly languishing in the lower divisions, but every loss is part of a larger conspiracy against them. They must sell gallons of Kool-Aid.

To be fair, the Kool Aid evaporated several games back (six to be exact!  ;D)...Pep (Clotet) is just a clueless, seemingly spineless, one dimensional, one game plan, excuse ridden guy from Spain!

Days numbered in South Oxford!  ;)

He just needs to FOCUS.

;D ;D ;D

I've always thought winning games would be easier if there wasn't an opposition. When I was training and we had passing drills I wasn't tackled once!

Which team/club was that?

I know it’s not cobblers related but I see that Oxford’s captain Curtis Nelson is out for the season after injuring his Achilles against us and now arguably their best player rob Hall is out for 4 months with a knee injury.

Shame. :-X

Oh dear. What a shame. Never mind.
 

I'd say it's very much Cobblers related...especially Horatio!  :)

"Kiss me Vardy"?

Surprised that you amongst others have to resort crowing over a rivals misfortune - could easily have been us!

And if it had, I expect the Yellow's Forum would have had a whip round for flowers?

Or just ignored us

Like the ones still wanting HMRC to wind us up?

Great response Einstein  ::)
Not a thought to players livelihood with serious injuries then?

You're right I'm sorry. I had forgotten all their well wishes for Sam Hoskins last season. Try watching Children in Need this evening for folks that really deserve our compassion.

No doubt , but not a saint!