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DPL v Oxford U

Oxford: All the stats, apart from the final score at Hull last Saturday, point to Oxford’s superiority, yet they lost. Hull can win even when they are second best, but Rovers will be a different proposition, and sadly, on recent showings, a rather feeble one.

I find it difficult to say anything to encourage expectations of anything apart from a continuation of mediocrity.

In the dark days of our longtime residence in Division 4, I went to matches looking forward to seeing Albert Broadbent and his protégées, two young wingers whose names I have forgotten playing some good football and Peter Kitchen and Brendan O’Callaghan scoring some goals. Winning was a bonus, but there was usually some entertainment.

What we have witnessed recently has not been fun and what is worse, there has been little to encourage hope.

Without Bogle there seems no ability to build on possession in dangerous areas. It’s is almost as though they are looking for a barrier to stop them because they seem to head straight for the defensive wall. We have Anderson and Smith perhaps and - if they have a good day, James, Wright, Copps, Robertson, Richards and possibly Halliday. But who else? There are the home-grown players who very occasionally get a few minutes as subs; what about them? Too many of the others seem to have lost their way.

These are more or less the the same group who swept all before them a few months ago and although they began to fade under Moore, Butler must surely recognise that he wIll be expected to start to do better pretty soon if he wants the job long term. He recognised that Saturday’s show was well below par, but to suggest “tiredness" as a possible excuse is not going to be accepted by anyone; it is the same for every regular first teamer at every club and the DRFC average age is probably much lower than most of the teams they play.

So, with a heavy heart I cannot rationalise anything but an Oxford win. I’ll say 3-1 and name Wright as the scorer.

This will be one of the most difficult matches left and we really need to make a contest of it. Lose badly and it will be a long way back.

posted on 15/3/21

Can't fault your match preview this week. I'm wondering what's gone wrong? Is it the new contract issues! We do seem prone to injuries but nevertheless not many of the squad are consistently playing to their ability. Can't see us scoring at the moment so I'll go for no scorer. Oxford are a good team and I expect them to win 2-0.

posted on 16/3/21

I just can't see us getting anything from this game unless playing a couple of "our own" in Amos and Greaves provides the spark needed. Donaldo sums up the situation, as we all see it, very well.
Hopefully it will not be as bad as at the Kassam last season, and I do not want my cousin to gloat. However, I think I'll agree with Donaldo with a 3-1 defeat, but with Copps scoring.
I'll pray we are all too pessimistic!

posted on 16/3/21

Oxford 1-1 Rovers
Okenabirhie to score.
C'mon Rovers ⚽

posted on 16/3/21

Good to see AJ and Amos included.

posted on 16/3/21

1-2 to oxford - Anderson with goal

posted on 16/3/21

Halliday and Smith were courageous enough to at least try to mount some attacks, running forwards, as did Horton whose ability outshone Amos, who like so many were worryingly out of their depth. Simoes plays without any obvious objective and the one-footed Richards seems easily marked out of the action. Okenabirhie hardly ever controlled the ball when he got it. Copps was not as bad as some, but no game changer tonight. Gomes and Williams were an improvement on several of those who started and Jones let the first goal in through his legs and spectated for the other two, out of position, and made no effort towards two long-range shots which only narrowly missed the target as well as misguiding a couple of attempted passes out from the back which might have been costly.

Although it was 11 vs 11 Oxford defended and attacked in numbers, whereas Rovers, well, there was just no organisation.

You could put the blame on a consistent lack of effort to move to the ball up the field instead of just standing still and watching the opposition intercept the pass. There was no running into space and no plan. I am sure there will be talk of an improved second half, but Oxford just sat back against a very poor team.

posted on 16/3/21

Though its early days for AB signs are its not looking good. I wonder how may poor results the board will tolerate before they have a word in ABs ear and set in motion the search for a more experienced manager? Time for Balcome to return. Difficult to see what else is needed to steady the ship. In some ways it woukd be no bad thing if we didnt make the playoffs , though its only a few weeks ago we were looking at a probable automatic promotion place. Given the player options AB had tonight the set up and tactics were completely wrong.

posted on 17/3/21

Credit to Liam Hoden for his match report which is very accurate except he exempts Jones from an adverse comment. Football reporters chide refs for protecting goalkeepers, but there is a great reluctance to blame them in press reporting too. If their positioning and decision-making is wrong it is very often ignored.

posted on 20/3/21

Gills 2-0 Rovers
Hope that I'm soooooooo wrong

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