TRhoughts Arising From the Bradford Game

[oxontop]

1) McClaren was excellent - all over the pitch doing the simple stuff.
2) I thought Hall had a really good game too. His goal will come soon.
3) Beano was excellent when he came on. As with the Aldershot game, he came on and roughed up a tiring defence and made a big difference.
4) Maclean was fantastic. As Ferguson said of Cantona, he brings the can opener. He has the guile, at this level, to bring Craddock, Beano and Midson more into the game and open up tight defences. He also linked well with the midfield, encouraging them to press forward.
5) Batt and Tonkin were great on the overlap providing width, while Maclean played deeper with two strikers ahead of him. A great set up by the manager, and the right substitutions at the right time. 10 out of 10 to CW.
6) Overall a fantastic performance, but was it all down to us, or were Bradford poor?

[dabigfella]

Jan 15, 2011 18:52:37 GMT oxontop said:

1) McClaren was excellent - all over the pitch doing the simple stuff.
2) I thought Hall had a really good game too. His goal will come soon.
3) Beano was excellent when he came on. As with the Aldershot game, he came on and roughed up a tiring defence and made a big difference.
4) Maclean was fantastic. As Ferguson said of Cantona, he brings the can opener. He has the guile, at this level, to bring Craddock, Beano and Midson more into the game and open up tight defences. He also linked well with the midfield, encouraging them to press forward.
5) Batt and Tonkin were great on the overlap providing width, while Maclean played deeper with two strikers ahead of him. A great set up by the manager, and the right substitutions at the right time. 10 out of 10 to CW.
6) Overall a fantastic performance, but was it all down to us, or were Bradford poor?

A bit of both. Their defence worked miracles until its luck finally ran out. We were awsome at time and the pressure was non stop and finally paid dividends.

[eaststandboy]

Midson also played his socks off.

[ekon]

That team (incl. bench) today looks like one that can take us to the play-offs. Very impressed with McLaren.

I do hope that Maclean will stay...if he does leave it will be hard to find a player as clever.

[lordwilliam]

Jan 15, 2011 18:52:37 GMT oxontop said:

1) McClaren was excellent - all over the pitch doing the simple stuff.
2) I thought Hall had a really good game too. His goal will come soon.
3) Beano was excellent when he came on. As with the Aldershot game, he came on and roughed up a tiring defence and made a big difference.
4) Maclean was fantastic. As Ferguson said of Cantona, he brings the can opener. He has the guile, at this level, to bring Craddock, Beano and Midson more into the game and open up tight defences. He also linked well with the midfield, encouraging them to press forward.
5) Batt and Tonkin were great on the overlap providing width, while Maclean played deeper with two strikers ahead of him. A great set up by the manager, and the right substitutions at the right time. 10 out of 10 to CW.
6) Overall a fantastic performance, but was it all down to us, or were Bradford poor?

I do take your point about Bradford being poor, but can only beat/play who is put in front of you, whether it be a top team midweek such as Chesterfield, a poor side like Bradford today.

Very few Div 2 teams, maybe two tops, could have stayed on that field today with Oxford. The back line needs to play together consistently, apart from that we looking strong all over the park.

[oxontop]

[quote author=lordwilliam board=general2 thread=4734 post=92161 time=1295125007

Very few Div 2 teams, maybe two tops, could have stayed on that field today with Oxford. The back line needs to play together consistently, apart from that we looking strong all over the park.[/quote]

Not sure about that. They were very easily dispossessed. That was what allowed us to crank up the pressure on them.

[ConcreteBob]

BRILLIANT performance from the Yellows. It would have still been brilliant if we lost 1-0.

Bradford were shocking as was the a minority of their supporters behaviour after the game. Was hilarious seeing Big Kev restrained some northern urchin, mind.

[Cardiff Yellow]

Agree about Hall, apart from a couple of misplaced passes he had a good game. Doesn't quite have Heslops vision or attacking drive but doesn't shy away from a challenge and was a big reason why we won the midfield battle in the first half.

I don't actually think Batt overlapped enough today...Tonkin in the second half yes.

All in all 2-1 flattered them no end.

[Potters Right Boot]

My thoughts? Well not much to say really as my car broke down on the M40 on the way to the game. Curses..

Great to hear us dig out a win from behind though.


Think we have some real momentum for a bit of a promotion push now; the squad are looking comfortable at this standard now.

[yellowg]

Jan 15, 2011 21:03:22 GMT oxontop said:

[quote author=lordwilliam board=general2 thread=4734 post=92161 time=1295125007

Very few Div 2 teams, maybe two tops, could have stayed on that field today with Oxford. The back line needs to play together consistently, apart from that we looking strong all over the park.

Not sure about that. They were very easily dispossessed. That was what allowed us to crank up the pressure on them. [/quote]

The reason why we were able to dispossess them at will was because WE KEPT THE BALL so well for long periods which meant they were blowing out of their butts!!!...whilst we had energy in abundance. It was a football lesson for them today.

We have finally got it!...and another thing, whatever Maclean and Maclaren are after bunce wise...the 12th man needs to help and quick!!!!

My overall thoughts are that we were fu.cking amazing today. More please!!!

[Cardiff Yellow]

McLaren is here til the end of the season...and he's not on loan.

[yellowg]

Jan 15, 2011 21:18:00 GMT Potters Right Boot said:

My thoughts? Well not much to say really as my car broke down on the M40 on the way to the game. Curses..

Great to hear us dig out a win from behind though.


Think we have some real momentum for a bit of a promotion push now; the squad are looking comfortable at this standard now.

"dig out a win"......pfffft - it was a slaughtering in all honesty.

[Paul Cannell]

Jan 15, 2011 21:11:08 GMT ConcreteBob said:

BRILLIANT performance from the Yellows. It would have still been brilliant if we lost 1-0.

Mm'hm. Coming up to 15 minutes to go I was preparing myself to applaud them off when they lost 1-0.

MacLaren made a huge difference, Worsley played very well and MacLean was wonderful, held it up superbly. Both FBs looked good.

Ah, shit, it was a bloody good afternoon. And more to come, I think.

[yellowabingdon]

A lot of positives today.

Maclaren is perfect for us. Exactly what Wilders been looking for.

Batt and Tonks possibly put in their best performances for us.

Wright & Worley are getting better and better.

Beano seems to be reacting well to not starting.

Hall in the first half was very good. Didnt quite arrive in the second but very encouraged with the first half.

Craddock is loving playing alongside Maclean.

Clarke didnt have much to do but was great when called upon.

The best thing though is that we are starting to develop a winning mentality. Thats probably more important than anything else. We are pushing for the 90mins in the belief that eventually it will come. How many times, even last season, have we gotten so frustrated with not scoring that we eventually gave up. You dont see the likes of Man Utd do that and today you didnt see it from us.

[headlesspnub]

Jan 15, 2011 21:18:00 GMT Potters Right Boot said:

My thoughts? Well not much to say really as my car broke down on the M40 on the way to the game. Curses..

Great to hear us dig out a win from behind though.


Think we have some real momentum for a bit of a promotion push now; the squad are looking comfortable at this standard now.

That was as far from "Digging out a win" as it can get. We played them off the park and bar some excellent defending it could have been a lot worse (for them).

Nice to see us batter someone and actually get the win we deserve though.

[chippy]

Jan 15, 2011 20:56:47 GMT lordwilliam said:

Jan 15, 2011 18:52:37 GMT oxontop said:

1) McClaren was excellent - all over the pitch doing the simple stuff.
2) I thought Hall had a really good game too. His goal will come soon.
3) Beano was excellent when he came on. As with the Aldershot game, he came on and roughed up a tiring defence and made a big difference.
4) Maclean was fantastic. As Ferguson said of Cantona, he brings the can opener. He has the guile, at this level, to bring Craddock, Beano and Midson more into the game and open up tight defences. He also linked well with the midfield, encouraging them to press forward.
5) Batt and Tonkin were great on the overlap providing width, while Maclean played deeper with two strikers ahead of him. A great set up by the manager, and the right substitutions at the right time. 10 out of 10 to CW.
6) Overall a fantastic performance, but was it all down to us, or were Bradford poor?

I do take your point about Bradford being poor, but can only beat/play who is put in front of you, whether it be a top team midweek such as Chesterfield, a poor side like Bradford today.

Very few Div 2 teams, maybe two tops, could have stayed on that field today with Oxford. The back line needs to play together consistently, apart from that we looking strong all over the park.

Hello my old friend. Still want Wilder out? Thought you said he was taking us back to the conferenec and KT didn't have the balls to sack him and his clueless assistant manager? Good job you're not our chairman.

I agree, not many Div 1 teams would have lived with us today too, let alone Div 2. Bradford were very ordinary. Their front two were very limited. Clarkey won us the game again. Another vital save, 5 mins in to the second half.

I came with an ex-54rrrttplayer today, very good friend of the said Assistant Manager. He's a Stoke City follower (work it out if you have knowledge of our team in 1990/91). He was really impressed with our football. Said he wished Stoke played like that!

This is a fantastic time to be an OUFC fan. Lets make the most of it folks.

[Yellow River]

Jan 15, 2011 23:08:36 GMT chippy said:

Jan 15, 2011 20:56:47 GMT lordwilliam said:

I do take your point about Bradford being poor, but can only beat/play who is put in front of you, whether it be a top team midweek such as Chesterfield, a poor side like Bradford today.

Very few Div 2 teams, maybe two tops, could have stayed on that field today with Oxford. The back line needs to play together consistently, apart from that we looking strong all over the park.

Hello my old friend. Still want Wilder out? Thought you said he was taking us back to the conferenec and KT didn't have the balls to sack him and his clueless assistant manager? Good job you're not our chairman.

I agree, not many Div 1 teams would have lived with us today too, let alone Div 2. Bradford were very ordinary. Their front two were very limited. Clarkey won us the game again. Another vital save, 5 mins in to the second half.

I came with an ex-54rrrttplayer today, very good friend of the said Assistant Manager. He's a Stoke City follower (work it out if you have knowledge of our team in 1990/91). He was really impressed with our football. Said he wished Stoke played like that! This is a fantastic time to be an OUFC fan. Lets make the most of it folks.

Phil Heath?

[Long Live Clarkey]

Jan 15, 2011 18:52:37 GMT oxontop said:

1) McClaren was excellent - all over the pitch doing the simple stuff.
2) I thought Hall had a really good game too. His goal will come soon.
3) Beano was excellent when he came on. As with the Aldershot game, he came on and roughed up a tiring defence and made a big difference.
4) Maclean was fantastic. As Ferguson said of Cantona, he brings the can opener. He has the guile, at this level, to bring Craddock, Beano and Midson more into the game and open up tight defences. He also linked well with the midfield, encouraging them to press forward.
5) Batt and Tonkin were great on the overlap providing width, while Maclean played deeper with two strikers ahead of him. A great set up by the manager, and the right substitutions at the right time. 10 out of 10 to CW.
6) Overall a fantastic performance, but was it all down to us, or were Bradford poor?

This really gets me. At this level in particular, when one team plays very well, they MAKE the other team play badly, as happened today, the second match against Chesterfield, our good parts at Torquay. This last game in particular shows this. It wasn't a case of two good teams going out there and playing as well as they good, they took it in turns to play well. We just did it more of the time.

[dabigfella]

Jan 16, 2011 14:51:57 GMT Long Live Clarkey said:

Jan 15, 2011 18:52:37 GMT oxontop said:

1) McClaren was excellent - all over the pitch doing the simple stuff.
2) I thought Hall had a really good game too. His goal will come soon.
3) Beano was excellent when he came on. As with the Aldershot game, he came on and roughed up a tiring defence and made a big difference.
4) Maclean was fantastic. As Ferguson said of Cantona, he brings the can opener. He has the guile, at this level, to bring Craddock, Beano and Midson more into the game and open up tight defences. He also linked well with the midfield, encouraging them to press forward.
5) Batt and Tonkin were great on the overlap providing width, while Maclean played deeper with two strikers ahead of him. A great set up by the manager, and the right substitutions at the right time. 10 out of 10 to CW.
6) Overall a fantastic performance, but was it all down to us, or were Bradford poor?

This really gets me. At this level in particular, when one team plays very well, they MAKE the other team play badly, as happened today, the second match against Chesterfield, our good parts at Torquay. This last game in particular shows this. It wasn't a case of two good teams going out there and playing as well as they good, they took it in turns to play well. We just did it more of the time.

A LOT more of the time! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D