An Oxford view on yesterday:

George Elek, Oxford fan and co-host of the NTT20 Podcast:



"Cardiff were the better side by miles.

In possession, out of possession, chance creation, chance prevention - they dominated it all.

I was really impressed by them. It's hard to know how much of an impact from a tactical view that Ramsey, Gunter and Ralls had - they only had two days or so to prepare.

But they were set up very well.

O'Dowda was very good with Willock tucking in, partnership we hadn't seen that much recently.

Robertson was good in the ten.

Mannsverk and Rinomhota were very solid and dominated the midfield battle.

They didn't create loads. It's that chance creation which has been an issue for them in most parts of this season. But they were always on top.

It felt like they were going to get enough chances to put one away and they did eventually with Salech.

Oxford never looked like getting back into the game until Brannagan decided to shoot from 40 yards and nailed it into the top corner.

It was an incredibly undeserved point for Oxford.

Had Cardiff won this game, the league table would have been looking so different for both Cardiff and Oxford.

You've got to feel for Ramsey and his team for putting in a great display and not winning.

But if they play like that for the last couple of games of the season, they've got every chance against West Brom and Norwich - two sides who have also sacked their managers and replaced them with James Morrison and Jack Wilshere.

Although they'll still be relying on results elsewhere even if they do win both to stay up."

This is a refreshing review of the game from the opposing side

Well written and with some great points made. In ‘day after’ mode, it gives some (small) hope that ‘something’ could be salvaged from a truly sh1t position we have put ourselves in

We are tonnes better than Oxford on paper and on the day; bit sadly, not in the result or over the season!

We were much the better team. Far more energetic and controlled. BUT we didn't kill the game. Notice how Derby, Luton and Plymouth all won 3 v 1. They killed the game. At one nil anything can happen. Did we deserve to win, yes, do we deserve to go down absolutely yes too.

100% we wouldn’t have been in this position if Tan had fired Riza a lot earlier. Madness!

I thought Oxford were terrible barely strung a pass together lumped it forward at every opportunity dirty niggly and shows just how poor a side we are that we can't put teams like that away

100% we wouldn’t have been in this position if Tan had fired Riza a lot earlier. Madness!

100% , look at the fixtures , qpr , Stoke , Sheffield Wednesday, all there for the taking . This mess is down to Tan and his utterly crap Board .

That’s been the story all season our inability to beat very average teams even after taking the lead against many of them

Apart from 2 teams maybe only 1 this is such a poor division this season and we should not be getting relegated but unfortunately it looks looks like we will

That was not a usual Oxford performance.

Cardiff are not better than Oxford on paper or on grass.

A combined team would have more Oxford players. Deliberately leaving out loan players.

Cumming

Ter Avest
Fish
Brown
Leigh

Brannagan
Rinomoto
Robertson

O’Dowda
Goodrham

Salech

Horvath
Helik
Chambers
Vaulks
Dembele
Robinson
Harris

That was not a usual Oxford performance.

Cardiff are not better than Oxford on paper or on grass.

A combined team would have more Oxford players. Deliberately leaving out loan players.

Cumming

Ter Avest
Fish
Brown
Leigh

Brannagan
Rinomoto
Robertson

O’Dowda
Goodrham

Salech

Horvath
Helik
Chambers
Vaulks
Dembele
Robinson
Harris

Apart from the absolute wonder goal I thought Brannigan was poor. Did nothing at all. In fact, I think our midfield was much better than theirs. Our problem was that our two wide players didn’t give the service required (quick balls into the box). As I’ve said in other threads, I thought Mannsverk ran the show in the middle of the park.
All opinions though.

That was not a usual Oxford performance.

Cardiff are not better than Oxford on paper or on grass.

A combined team would have more Oxford players. Deliberately leaving out loan players.

Cumming

Ter Avest
Fish
Brown
Leigh

Brannagan
Rinomoto
Robertson

O’Dowda
Goodrham

Salech

Horvath
Helik
Chambers
Vaulks
Dembele
Robinson
Harris

Apart from the absolute wonder goal I thought Brannigan was poor. Did nothing at all. In fact, I think our midfield was much better than theirs. Our problem was that our two wide players didn’t give the service required (quick balls into the box). As I’ve said in other threads, I thought Mannsverk ran the show in the middle of the park.
All opinions though.

Brannagan is playing with an injury. Has been for a while.

The chap on the not the top 20 podcast was saying that every team that plays Leeds struggles massively the game after especially if only a few days break.

That was not a usual Oxford performance.

Cardiff are not better than Oxford on paper or on grass.

A combined team would have more Oxford players. Deliberately leaving out loan players.

Cumming

Ter Avest
Fish
Brown
Leigh

Brannagan
Rinomoto
Robertson

O’Dowda
Goodrham

Salech

Horvath
Helik
Chambers
Vaulks
Dembele
Robinson
Harris

Apart from the absolute wonder goal I thought Brannigan was poor. Did nothing at all. In fact, I think our midfield was much better than theirs. Our problem was that our two wide players didn’t give the service required (quick balls into the box). As I’ve said in other threads, I thought Mannsverk ran the show in the middle of the park.
All opinions though.

Brannagan is playing with an injury. Has been for a while.

The chap on the not the top 20 podcast was saying that every team that plays Leeds struggles massively the game after especially if only a few days break.

That’s interesting. Also explains a lot (Leeds)

That was not a usual Oxford performance.

Cardiff are not better than Oxford on paper or on grass.

A combined team would have more Oxford players. Deliberately leaving out loan players.

Cumming

Ter Avest
Fish
Brown
Leigh

Brannagan
Rinomoto
Robertson

O’Dowda
Goodrham

Salech

Horvath
Helik
Chambers
Vaulks
Dembele
Robinson
Harris

Apart from the absolute wonder goal I thought Brannigan was poor. Did nothing at all. In fact, I think our midfield was much better than theirs. Our problem was that our two wide players didn’t give the service required (quick balls into the box). As I’ve said in other threads, I thought Mannsverk ran the show in the middle of the park.
All opinions though.

I 100% agree. All our attacking problems stem from the coaching and tactics of the wide players.

Ashford isn't a wide forward like a Isaac Davies, he has closer control, a few moves, quick over a few yards as he has always been seen as a central striker.
Willock is slow for a skinny kid, so he can't barge you out of the way like a Meite or Tanner, again like Ashord he needs the inside channels as he has close control a few moves but isn't a winger
Tanner isn't good enough, he'll always have moments, but he can't go outside because he right foot is for standing on.
O'Dowda isn't a forward he is an old school 442 left midfielder, but that was last played when Malky left. He isn't deadly enough to be a forward in a 4231.
Alves was overfaced coming to a struggling championship side. I am still insure wherther he can cross the ball yet, but when he goes on his boys holiday, he'll be world champion at running around the pole five times after downing three shots of oozo.
Leicester were mad sending him here to sink or swim, we may have put him back 3 years.