Playoffs 2020/21

[Marked Ox]

I haven't bothered to watch, however I do find myself rolling my eyes at this interviews on occasion. No idea what he has said follow the game on Sky however he definitely deserves some credit for two consecutive play-off campaigns.

In reality he's an above average League One manager. He won't likely ever see us relegated however against better sides we often find ourselves tactically outwitted and that is concerning. There will, as he displayed at MK Dons be the odd season where everything will fall into place and he will get a promotion on his CV, however he's not a Paul Cook who you'd back to build a side in 12 months for a promotion tilt. With KR you have to accept his flaws and I really don't think after all this time in management he will mellow anytime soon, it's just who he is. Yes, his take on negative aspects of games can be a little repetitive and occasionally as a supporter of the club he manages annoying, however equally at times he's great and does well to galvanize support. During his early tenure he was excellent and his remit was largely far greater than any football manager. That, I give him immense credit for.

Yesterday evening was a fine example of his flaws; It was fairly evident how Blackpool would play and we played into their hands. Considering our efforts to reach the play-offs, we really have needlessly chucked an opportunity to compete away naively. That is frustrating and we haven't helped ourselves.

The interview I heard on Radio Oxford, KR said Blackpool deserved to win for being far more clinical.

I would also add losing Sam Long injured for the play offs pretty much killed the threat we had on the right side. Elliot Lee wasn't at all as effective with Jamie Hanson who just can't pushed forward like Sam Long, hence him and Lee building a good partnership. I think this made it easier for Blackpool defensively. We really need a proper right back as cover for Sam Long, not a make do player with Jamie Hanson or Anthony Forde. It would be nice if that player was Kyran Lofthouse but we need somebody for next season.

I'd also say Ellis Simms was the difference. He led the line very well for Blackpool. I think they'd be half the threat without him playing as he did. That said I don't get why Simms did the goading goal celebrations though as there hadn't been anything aimed at him. I'm all for players giving it back when they receive it but there was nothing. Utterly unnecessary especially when you've got footballers complaining about abuse they get.

 

[Marked Ox]

Good luck to Blackpool and Lincoln in the final.

 

[Bartonyellow]

I haven’t followed League 1 at all this season but I’ve usually found when there is a massive club in the play offs they usually manage to find a way to win them so I sort of just expected it to happen with Sunderland.

They have form for choking it. And this season looks no different.
Another season for them having to slum it with minnows like us it seems.
As the Sunderland fan said to me 2 seasons ago in a pub near the ground ..”no offence but we should not be playing clubs like you ever”
And then we beat them 2-1 and sent them down.

 

[Davidimp]

1 win in 10 now for Sunderland, he's certainly living up to us nickname of streaky Johnson.
Once we got the second (fortunate) goal they gave up for me, did they run out of ideas or out of steam?

 

[Davidimp]

They have form for choking it. And this season looks no different.
Another season for them having to slum it with minnows like us it seems.
As the Sunderland fan said to me 2 seasons ago in a pub near the ground ..”no offence but we should not be playing clubs like you ever”
And then we beat them 2-1 and sent them down.

A sense of entitlement is a dangerous thing, think they see the likes of us two as non league/pub teams and underestimate us at their peril.
Bridcutt is the key for us if he's fit and firing we're so much better, he makes the whole way we play tick.
With so many gifted youngsters in the squad he holds together, great leader on the pitch and will make a good manager.

 

[Indian Dan]

I’d put a lid on any expectations. Still can’t clear my head of going 5-1 up on agg v Sheff Utd and very near blowing it.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

To keep a clean sheet after losing our GK at last minute, Walsh and then Jackson (out of the PO's now) early on was a good effort.

Didn't see the game live but I've seen snippets as I recorded it and didn't look like a really good performance from us but a fairly solid one.

We're far better away from home this season, both in terms of results and performance, and generally score at some point regardless of how good, bad or indifferent we're playing.

No disputing you have been good away from home but that has been in empty grounds.
There will be 10,000 fans for the second leg.
Having said that if they don’t score early that could be as much of a hinderance as a help.

 

[Guernica]

I’d put a lid on any expectations. Still can’t clear my head of going 5-1 up on agg v Sheff Utd and very near blowing it.

One of the best matches I've watched. Imps tie certainly not done. Lots of work to do. Peterborough away is a prime example where we struggles to stem the tide and momentum albeit that's an extreme example. Hopefully having experienced that will help us to combat it on Saturday.

 

[Imp in Branston]

I’d put a lid on any expectations. Still can’t clear my head of going 5-1 up on agg v Sheff Utd and very near blowing it.

There’s no expectations on us, we are already far ahead of where we expected to be.

 

[Davidimp]

No disputing you have been good away from home but that has been in empty grounds.
There will be 10,000 fans for the second leg.
Having said that if they don’t score early that could be as much of a hinderance as a help.

10,000 in a stadium that holds around 48,000, it could go either way really, depends whether their fans get behind the team like our fans did last night or react the way Oxford did Tuesday.
Going to be fascinating.
We've played each other 4 times now, 1 win a piece and 2 draws, not bad for the pub team against a premiership big boy

We actually won twice in grounds with fans back in during December, 4 0 at Northampton and 4 1 at Shrewsbury, Saturday will potentially be very different

 

[Indian Dan]

Anyone looked in on the Sunderland forum?

Jesus wept. Get rid of it their new owner, manager and every single player ‘the soft shites’

 

[Bartonyellow]

No disputing you have been good away from home but that has been in empty grounds.
There will be 10,000 fans for the second leg.
Having said that if they don’t score early that could be as much of a hinderance as a help.

They will come out and attack I’m sure, but as the time goes by they will start to Moan and get on the players back and you will then break away and score.
1-1 this and a final at Wembley for you.

 

[Marked Ox]

Anyone looked in on the Sunderland forum?

Jesus wept. Get rid of it their new owner, manager and every single player ‘the soft shites’

They've been entertaining on and off all season. Always guaranteed to cheer you up.

 

[eric read]

10,000 in a stadium that holds around 48,000, it could go either way really, depends whether their fans get behind the team like our fans did last night or react the way Oxford did Tuesday.
Going to be fascinating.
We've played each other 4 times now, 1 win a piece and 2 draws, not bad for the pub team against a premiership big boy

We actually won twice in grounds with fans back in during December, 4 0 at Northampton and 4 1 at Shrewsbury, Saturday will potentially be very different

Not sure what you mean by "react the way Oxford did on Tuesday?"

If you're implying that our fans turned on the team, in the way that Sunderland fans can, then you're very mistaken. The early atmosphere was very good, quite emotional even, but after we conceded the two quick goals it (understandably) took the wind out of the fans' sails, and went a bit flat. At no point did the fans barrack the team though.

That is a world away from the vitriol that Sunderland can expect from their whiny, moany, entitled fans on Saturday, if they don't turn it around.

 

[Indian Dan]

Tbf, it must be difficult to be a fan of a genuinely big club when your team is distinctly average. Most clubs from the recent PL have entered L1 and sprung back pretty quickly - Leeds, Norwich, Southampton. They’re looking at a 4th season. But, yeah, they do moan about everything. Wyke was getting pelters and even after clocking 30 goals this season he still isn’t good enough!

 

[Super_horns]

I know a Sunderland fan who said this was their best chance to go up.

Think they just get complacent and think the size of the club will get them through .

 

[eric read]

After three years, and probably a fourth on the horizon, you'd have thought they would have learnt a bit of humility Dan. But no, they still spout the same "this league is shite" mantra while not appreciating the irony of what that says about them.

I used to be indifferent towards them, we've played them a fair few times over the years, but I fucking can't stand them now. They're arrogant, patronising, entitled, whiny, moany, and mostly so fucking thick that they don't realise they've got nothing to be arrogant, patronising or entitled about.

There's one of your lot who posts on their forum, under the handle Swindon on Tour. It's hard for me to say it Dan, but for a Swindon fan, you seem a decent enough bloke, but this Swindon on Tour cretin is a right wanker, blowing smoke up their arses all the time, bloke's a total c***. If you know him, have a word, as I have no desire to register for the Sunderland message board just to tell him what a fucking twat he is.

 

[Indian Dan]

Know who you mean. Got to agree that having a ‘tame’ fan on another teams forum is weird alright. We’ve got an Oxford fan who posts on our forum fairly regularly and he’s seems OK. Posts mostly on non football related topics, tbf. He gets no abuse.

 

[eric read]

Know who you mean. Got to agree that having a ‘tame’ fan on another teams forum is weird alright. We’ve got an Oxford fan who posts on our forum fairly regularly and he’s seems OK. Posts mostly on non football related topics, tbf. He gets no abuse.

There seems to be a pattern with opposition fans who post on our forum. They start off OK, and as that means they get no abuse, they then get cocky and think they can take the piss. Then it all gets out of hand and they end up being abusive and get banned. Don't see the point of it myself, it's like going round someone's house for tea and saying the tea is shit and the cups are the wrong colour!

While we're at it, I currently feel like a Swindon fan during the Sheradactyl era, in that I've got zero expectation from tonight's match!!!

 

[Indian Dan]

At least he’s gone - never to be seen at a club again, hopefully. Just needs Power out but he seems to be dragging it out for some reason. He’s even threatened to not sell and carry on!

Anyone know a sniper!

 

[Imp in Branston]

It’s advantage to us going into the second leg at the SOL tomorrow. However, Blackpool (should they win as expected) won’t be too worried about who they have to face out of us or Sunderland.

 

[Marked Ox]

At least he’s gone - never to be seen at a club again, hopefully. Just needs Power out but he seems to be dragging it out for some reason. He’s even threatened to not sell and carry on!

Anyone know a sniper!

That last sentence about Power continuing sounds like a wonderful idea.

 

[eric read]

At least he’s gone - never to be seen at a club again, hopefully. Just needs Power out but he seems to be dragging it out for some reason. He’s even threatened to not sell and carry on!

Anyone know a sniper!

I saw that (about Power now carrying on), it's a weird situation, that from a business perspective I can't quite get my head around..

Hopefully when the sniper does his thing he can catch Kassam in the crossfire!

 

[Indian Dan]

Don’t think he means it. Another court appearance mid June where the judge may force him to sell to Axis. At least Admin is not on the table as there are 2 bids to buy the club. If it can’t get settled between them by then there’s a full blown civil trial in September to determine once and for all who owns what.

I reckon him and Kassam are 2 peas in a pod.

 

[Marked Ox]

Don’t think he means it. Another court appearance mid June where the judge may force him to sell to Axis. At least Admin is not on the table as there are 2 bids to buy the club. If it can’t get settled between them by then there’s a full blown civil trial in September to determine once and for all who owns what.

I reckon him and Kassam are 2 peas in a pod.

Yes. Both awful owners. The one thing Kassam has done well is enrich himself to the tune of £ms from us. This would have been ok if he hadn't shafted us in the process.

 

[Indian Dan]

I suppose, but naively I think all owners should have some kind of duty of care. I can accept just having a useless owner who makes bad decisions but those that obviously have little, if any, feelings for their club need weeding out.

 

[Atavistic]

Maybe not quite over yet for Oxford here. One goal pulled back already in the first ten minutes, just two more to go.

Well, never mind that. Immediate response from Blackpool with a wonderful finish, and that's surely them going to Wembley now. How did Oxford manage to get into the play-offs? The difference between them and Blackpool is nothing short of astonishing considering both teams finished in the top six.

 

[Super_horns]

Impressive from Blackpool - very clinical.

 

[Davidimp]

Favourites big time to go up now , very impressive from Blackpool

 

[Bartonyellow]

Karl Robinson’s pre match huff and puff has not lasted, sadly for him and the team.
At least they are giving it a go, just up against a team bang in form.