Oxford v Carlisle - Sat 12th

[Sergei from IT]

Sorry about the very poor thread title - it is hard to think of something without appearing facetious.

This is going to be a very intriguing match. Will recent events galvanise Carlisle in their resolve or will the lack of time and place to train make them rusty. Will Oxford have sub-concscious empathy and take their foot off the gas or do what we need to do - tighten our grip at the top. Will the tightest defense in the league be overrun by the highest scorers in the league. So many imponderables.

Quick look at one or two of the players. Jabo doesn't frighten me - I believe our defense is more than capable of keeping him in check. But Asamoah does frighten me. He has a brilliant record in scoring against us, for several different clubs. Micheal Raynes of course spent many years at Oxford and we know all about his strengths and weaknesses. Brilliant header of the ball and for clearing crosses. But I can't see there being that many of them. None of our forwards are big and we tend to play to the feet mostly - very quickly. And therein lies his weakness. Agility.

 

[shoddycollins]

We have two training grounds and according to our fitness coach on Sky this morning, one of them isn't too bad, so it doesn't look like training will be affected too much, just might be a bit muddier than we're used to.

Events off the pitch aside, this would be one of our toughest matches of the season, but in terms of morale and goalscoring form, it's come at the good time for us... We are likely to struggle defensively, as we don't have the fastest or most agile back line in the division, but could look to players like Grainger, McQueen and Gillesphey if fit.

If Asamoah is capable of troubling your defence then so is Alex Gillead. If we play a 4-3-3 with two fast, tricky players up there and that causes your defence problems then space should open up for Jabo, or even Charlie Wyke given he's scored 6 goals in the last three games to apply some clinical finishing.

Not saying I expect anything out of this game, but I'll never say never, we could add to a growing list of impressive away results such as Plymouth (0-2), Orient (1-2), Luton (3-4), QPR (1-2) and Liverpool (1-1) if things fall into place for us. I'm just sure Oxford will put in a professional performance, you don't go top of the league by allowing things going on around the game to affect you.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I am interested in this match to see if we finally now have the bottle to play our normal way against a side at the top.

over recent months we've changed abit, gone slightly more cautious, gone for a 1 up front and hit them on the break style, but then be very willing to 'go for it' when behind.

I want to see us go to Oxford, 2 or 3 up front and just damn well go for it full throttle, go for the throat and show we can compete with these sides up there.

we can easily..............easily score 2 goals in this match if we go for it, maybe more and then just throw the gauntlet down at Oxford and let them have to score 3 plus goals to win the game and if they do then fair enough.....that will be them showing why they deserve top place in doing so.

attitude wise is going to be second to none, sunday proved that, the team wasn't distracted or hurt by the news they thrived on it and will do again this weekend, for me the questions will be can Oxford show this superb strength and bottle they have had all season and outfight our side.

should be on paper an excellent game, very entertaining, but can depend what we do....but 12 goals in the last week will tell Oxford they need more than one goal here.

 

[cufc17]

This'll be a tough game no doubt, though I feel we can get something out of it.

As previously stated, we can trouble Oxford on the attack but we'll need to cut out the individual mistakes in order to stop them scoring a handful.

Wyke and Jabo are beginning to form a decent partnership, though Asamoah may have more of an impact in this particular game.

 

[hellogregory]

Best defence in League 2 vs Best attack in League 2.


I'd take a point right now.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I had no idea we had caught up with Plymouth in the goals conceded. I think that's misleading on what you can expect from us.

From the sounds of it, this has all the makings of a bloody enjoyable game of football. We can match most teams in this league if they set out to entertain the crowd. Will many fans be making the trip, in light of recent events?

Having analysed the relevant facts and figures, I'll predict a 3-0 victory to Oxford.

 

[hellogregory]

I kind of think this is a game for Asamoah, but can we really drop Wyke, the form he's in? And surely we can't drop Ibehre!

I also want Dicker playing in this match, I think this is a match where we'll need possession and he's the best at the club in that respect.

Hopefully Gillespie, Miller, Atkinson and Hope will be back in the squad.

 

[Sergei from IT]

You all seem to praising the recent exploits of Charlie Wyke. Granted I have never seen him play - but from the highlights of your last game v Welling I was not overly impressed. You were playing a part time team placed over a league below you who had been reduced to 10 men.

Anything less than double figures was surely a failure.

 

[shoddycollins]

You all seem to praising the recent exploits of Charlie Wyke. Granted I have never seen him play - but from the highlights of your last game v Welling I was not overly impressed. You were playing a part time team placed over a league below you who had been reduced to 10 men.

Anything less than double figures was surely a failure.

He's been playing well for a few games now... Welling was just the icing on the cake. Yes his 2nd and 3rd may have come after the game was effectively over, and were tap-ins, but his finish for the 1st was superb. Scored a couple of excellent goals against Crawley too.

 

[Carver]

Having analysed the relevant facts and figures, I'll predict a 3-0 victory to Oxford.

Hmm, what relevant facts and figures did you read to predict Carlisle to score no goals? We're the leagues top scorers!

I must tell you that your username made me laugh, this sure is a tinpot league, especially as there is that club who have a car park right behind the goal instead of a stand.

 

[hellogregory]

You all seem to praising the recent exploits of Charlie Wyke. Granted I have never seen him play - but from the highlights of your last game v Welling I was not overly impressed. You were playing a part time team placed over a league below you who had been reduced to 10 men.

Anything less than double figures was surely a failure.

Well you, at home, were playing a team placed over a league below you...and only won 1-0

Can only beat what's put in front of you and it is the FA cup which is always a leveller.

 

[hellogregory]

Hmm, what relevant facts and figures did you read to predict Carlisle to score no goals? We're the leagues top scorers!

I must tell you that your username made me laugh, this sure is a tinpot league, especially as there is that club who have a car park right behind the goal instead of a stand.

Remember we have a lake behind our goal at the moment

 

[Carver]

Remember we have a lake behind our goal at the moment

Well yeah, but at least a lake is more picturesque than a car park.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Hmm, what relevant facts and figures did you read to predict Carlisle to score no goals? We're the leagues top scorers!

And you couldn't score against Bristol Rovers. Last time I checked, we had the best defence in the league. Better than Bristol Rovers. You can throw your toys out of the pram, but my analysis was pretty conclusive.

 

[Sergei from IT]

Well you, at home, were playing a team placed over a league below you...and only won 1-0

Can only beat what's put in front of you and it is the FA cup which is always a leveller.

Aaaargh - hoisted by my own petard.. Drat.

 

[Carver]

And you couldn't score against Bristol Rovers. Last time I checked, we had the best defence in the league. Better than Bristol Rovers. You can throw your toys out of the pram, but my analysis was pretty conclusive.

I'm not throwing any toys out the pram but I've got to say that you are starting to piss me off a bit.

We had an injury crisis against Bristol Rovers with at least 6 of our key players out, if you had done your analysis properly then you would of picked up on that.

Oh and having the best attack in the league is much more exciting than having the best defence in the league!

 

[Oxon]

I'm not throwing any toys out the pram but I've got to say that you are starting to piss me off a bit.

We had an injury crisis against Bristol Rovers with at least 6 of our key players out, if you had done your analysis properly then you would of picked up on that.

Oh and having the best attack in the league is much more exciting than having the best defence in the league!

No way do we play defensively, even we do have a good defence. Our present team is the most exciting we have had to watch for 15 years plus, and with our play, and number of chances created, we have been unlucky not to score far more goals then we have.

Having said that, Saturday is going to be a tricky one .

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I'm not throwing any toys out the pram but I've got to say that you are starting to piss me off a bit.

We had an injury crisis against Bristol Rovers with at least 6 of our key players out, if you had done your analysis properly then you would of picked up on that.

Obviously my research picked up on that. I allowed for your key players, I allowed for us being better than Bristol, the two cancelled each other out and that's why I had you scoring as many goals against both teams.

No need to get angry until you're actually proved wrong on Saturday.

 

[hellogregory]

No way do we play defensively, even we do have a good defence. Our present team is the most exciting we have had to watch for 15 years plus, and with our play, and number of chances created, we have been unlucky not to score far more goals then we have.

Having said that, Saturday is going to be a tricky one .

May not be that tricky. You're up against one of the worst defences in the country.

 

[daviejones]

Yeah I think our plan will have to be to try and go more attacking than you've ever seen before and see how your defence copes. I won't pretend that it isn't likely that we'll concede a couple of goals but considering we've scored 12 goals in our last 3 games I would say one or two goals on our side isn't out of the question either. Basically, expect potentially the strangest game of your season as we surrender defence in favour of all out attack. Or a 0-0.

 

[hellogregory]

Unless we go for the ultra negative tactics against Pompey. But even then we still scored 2

 

[Vanni]

I know This Tinpot League always predicts a 3-0 win irrespective of whom they're playing, but this time there's no way he'll get it right. Carlisle ALWAYS score*

* The I-WAG's

 

[Carver]

No need to get angry until you're actually proved wrong on Saturday.

No, it is you who will be proved wrong.

 

[Sergei from IT]

Just been reading the match report from last time we met at the Kassam - 28th March earlier this year.

http://www.oufc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/index.aspx?matchid=3735831

Since then we have a pretty good record

Won 22
Drawn 11
Lost 3

Goals for: 59
Against 21(!)

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I know This Tinpot League always predicts a 3-0 win irrespective of whom they're playing, but this time there's no way he'll get it right. Carlisle ALWAYS score*

* The I-WAG's

Rumbled!

We haven't won 3-0 all year. If anything, that proves we're due?

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

it'll be a good mental test this one for both sides.

Oxford clearly have that winning mentality, all that crap about 'lets be out of cup runs early as we cannot do well in league otherwise' b*llocks..........Oxford top of league, in area final, in 3rd round of cup.

If you have a winning team/squad with a winning mentality, it can lead to success, you do not need to concentrate on one thing and winning breeds winning.

at same time its going to be testing here against a side which will suddenly up its game due to last weeks events, what we may lack in training we'll gain in mental strength and togetherness, so that should test Oxfords strong winning mentality.

at same time can we break that strong resolve they have, not easy vs a side having a fantastic season.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Ahh, family emergencies now mean I'll be on the motorway instead of watching this. Fourth home game missed this year, and we've not lost yet. Come on you yellows. Hope the halftime draw raises a bit of cash for Carlisle.

 

[cufc17]

I'd be happy with a point just to keep us in the mix, but Oxford are one of the best sides in the league and they'll be looking to get the 3pts this afternoon.

 

[shoddycollins]

A point in this game would be an excellent result given we have a couple of 'winnable' 'home' games to round off December... And away to Accrington which I fear will be another Bristol Rovers.

 

[hellogregory]

A point today would be as good as a win. So a win today would be as good as sex.