Relive every moment of every first team game since the beginning of the 2005/06 season. Our archive of matchday threads originally posted in the General Discussion Forum.
goa127 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:02 pm
It's noticeable how attitudes have changed since our last league cup game. Then the call was to play our strongest team to make sure we gave it a go, now almost everyone is picking a second string! I don't disagree at all, we just don't want to pick up injuries to key players in an early round tie like this. Our fringe players also need the game time Players like Snodgrass are likely to be very important to us as the season goes on, they need to be kept match fit, plus the youngsters need a chance to shine COYI
I'm more for game time for fringe players than resting first teamers.
It's giving opportunities to others to get some minutes and push themselves into contention.
goa127 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:02 pm
It's noticeable how attitudes have changed since our last league cup game. Then the call was to play our strongest team to make sure we gave it a go, now almost everyone is picking a second string! I don't disagree at all, we just don't want to pick up injuries to key players in an early round tie like this. Our fringe players also need the game time Players like Snodgrass are likely to be very important to us as the season goes on, they need to be kept match fit, plus the youngsters need a chance to shine COYI
I said both before the Newport game we should play squad players who havent started many PL games and repeated that in reference to the injury to Antonio and got slaughtered for it "hindsight" etc etc. I still maintain you don't over play players with a history of repetitive injuries, and you give the non PL playing squad a go along with a promising young player.
No disrespect to Oxford but we should expect to go through with the side Billy has listed as long as we match their work rate.
Got some good memories of travelling to the old Manor Ground....not so much on the results, but a good place to have a beer and we used to pack the terrace behind that goal...
Think Anderson needs some time out and to bench Noble, Diop and Haller. Lets see how Johnson does. Would like Cresswell to continue, but maybe replace him with Cardosa, once we have gone 2 up (lets hope)....or bring Cardosa on for Oggy and let Balbuena talk him through the game. Rice with Snodders running about, causing mayhem....Wilshere to pull the strings and support Fornals and Yarmo....Yarmo is fit now and needs game time...give Ajeti another go, but if we are struggling, then bring on Haller or maybe Arthur as a midfielder/winger to give some pace?....Noble only to come on if we are level or 1 up with 15 mins to go, to pull the team together and calm it down?
I think we need fewer changes because if (IF) we were to go out, I don't think it would go down well.
in theory that team's good enough to win on paper. don't think we need to win on paper, we need to win on the field.
get a couple of goals (maybe 3) to the good, dominate the match and get Holland on.
start Fornals, get the Swiss lad on for 30 minutes.
Roberto
Zab, either Oggie or Diop Balbuena Cresswell
Rice Noble
Yarmo (maybe Snoddy who needs minutes) Fornals Anderson
Haller
subs: get Holland and Ajeti on after the break Sanchez on later
no point in going "all in" with the subs and then finding ourselves chasing the game.
imvho of course
For me you rest as many as you can and give fringe players ago with your key men on the bench ready to go.
I would half consider starting Haller to see if he can kickstart his goal scoring again. Get some chances and much needed match practice at converting them.
Oxford Fan wrote: ↑Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:37 pm
Follow the A329 through Little Milton (mind speed camera) to Stadhampton (mind speed camera). Continue on road through Stadhampton which will bear right and continue as the B480. Follow B480 for a few miles until you reach the roundabout at the top of Grenoble Road. Turn left into Grenoble Road and follow through roundabouts until you reach ground on the right. Going this way you will not touch Oxford at all and should be free of any traffic.
All the best.
Oxford Fan.
Good on ya, Oxford.
We're hopefully not underestimating you. It could be a real battle. In a way, it's a shame that it's not at our place because then you could have seen what some of us are moaning about!
Hope you enjoy the game, but not too much!
I don't understand why we feel the need to change the keeper for tonight's game. Given our track record when it comes to losing against lower league opposition, i would feel a lot more confident with Fabianski between the sticks tonight. About time we took this competition seriously for a change. Yes I understand some players will need to be rested ahead of Saturday but surely our keeper didn't exert himself too much last Sunday.
I'd really like to say sod it, all in, why change a winning team but we do actually have a chance of getting somewhere in the league so maybe more caution required. In the FA Cup we should risk it all this year.
Really want to see a strong squad out tonight. Sod resting players, if we genuinely want to win this competition we need to take it seriously.
An underprepared Spurs team were dumped out last night by lower league Colchester. We have to avoid making the same mistake.
Go with the best team and worry about Bournemouth afterwards. If we play a strong side and are winning 3-0 at halftime, then make changes to rest players.
Anyone know if that is Oxford's strongest lineup? Shouldn't matter too much either way I guess considering our lineup. Just interested to see if they are bang up for it.