CCR3: Oxford Utd 4-0 West Ham Utd (25/09/19)

[e17]

every time we make that many changes, we struggle

As someone going to the game I want to see as few changes as possible

I’m going too, and I quite like these games for seeing what else we have in the squad and what they can do.

Hoping Fornals gets 90 and is central to our game. I ain’t sure about the fella yet.

[hammer1975]

I see cup games against this level of opposition a bit like the mentality for penalty shoot outs. You need to select the players who are ‘up for it’ more than the players who are perceived as the better quality.

That’s where we went wrong against Wimbledon last season imo, the team we played was as good as a number already listed on this thread - but 3 or 4 of them simply didn’t fancy it.

[the pink palermo]

The most important game is always the next one you're playing, and every game should be taken seriously, otherwise, why bother ?

The manager though will see things differently, not surproising really since he will have access to all of the players physiological data, he will know emperically which players are likely to run the risk of an injury if they give him a full on 90 miniutes, and he will adjust the team accordingly.

I doubt for example he will play our best player, Noble, from the start, he will be kept back in reserve for either the last 20 minutes or maybe even purely for Bournemouth.

Diop too will be given a rest, and whatever knock Fredricks picked up on Sunday will see Zabaletta or Johnson start.

Ajeti will come in for Haller.

The starters will be probably something like Fabinaski, Johnson, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Rice, Fornals, Wilshere, Snoddy, Ajeti,Sanchez. Although a reserve keeper may get a run out.

[Patito]

Johnson is injured.

[Knighter10WHU]

Looking forward to this, feel like it will have a lot more "spice" to it than Newport the other week, Oxford are a much better and bigger club and will provide a challenge, especially at their gaff. I would setup like this:

Roberto
Zabaleta Balbuena Ogbonna Cresswell
Rice Wilshere
Snodgrass Fornals Anderson
Haller

Couple of changes but nothing wholesale, mainly only bringing in fringe players if they are good enough to play. For example Ajeti, jury is out on him, hasn't proven himself yet for me so Haller should start, same for Sanchez. One thing I would be tempted to do is give Masuaku a go on the left of midfield to let Anderson have a rest.

I would rather we win this game than Bournemouth personally.

[Turns to Stone]

I think they should bring in the first-choice reserves:-

Roberto, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Masuaku, Sanchez, Wilshere, Snodgrass, Ajeti.

We're going to need these players in the coming weeks so it's good to keep them match-fit and in touch with the squad.

I can see those 8 players starting and the rest should be made up either of kids (if he wants to see what they can do) or first-teamers (if he wants to win the competition, which is what I would prefer him to do).

I'd go with:-

--------------------Roberto

------------Balbuena---Ogbonna
Zabaleta----------------------------Masuaku

-------------Sanchez---Wilshere

Yarmolenko------Snodgrass-------Fornals

----------------------Ajeti

Noble, Anderson and Haller on bench with Coventry and Holland as well. If we're struggling, chuck on Noble and Anderson, if we're comfortable, give Fornals and Yarmolenko a rest and give the kids 30 mins.

[thejackhammer]

Oxford are 12th in League 1. Anything but a win would be embarrassing.

[rigoberts song]

Us long suffering fans know we can beat anybody on our day but also lose to anybody on our day.
Probably more concerned than most as my life's going to be hell living in Oxford if we play our reserves and lose !

[arlhe]

If we approach it with the attitude we showed v Wimbledon (when we put a reasonable team out), we will lose. Competing and getting stuck in is a minimum of we are to get a result.

[rigoberts song]

They've got some ballsy gritty midfielders incl a scouse lad who I'd like to see us make a cheeky 500k offer for in Jan. we need to match them for work rate early on then impose our class.

[El brooko79]

Hope the ref is strong as we dont need more injuries.
All to often "plucky underdogs" get away with gbh on the field as a "leveller".

[iLoveLasagne]

With our past cup performances in mind, I am generally wary of fielding reserves. 11 individuals who don't blend well stylistically means that even a League 1 team who play as a team could pose serious problems. But we managed alright against Newport so maybe it is worth another spin on the roulette wheel to see if we can do it again.

[OxfordRobbo]

Us long suffering fans know we can beat anybody on our day but also lose to anybody on our day.
Probably more concerned than most as my life's going to be hell living in Oxford if we play our reserves and lose !

You and me both mate!

[Bramwell]

You and me both mate!

Make that 3 (from the Witney chapter of the Claret and Blue Army).

[Aceface]

Roberto
Zabaleta – Balbuena – Ogbonna – Arthur
Sanchez
Snodgrass – Fornals – Wilshere – Holland
Ajeti

...would seem to be a good mix of creativity (Fornals/Wilshere), grunt (Sanchez, Snodgrass, Balbuena, Zabaleta), and experimentation (Ajeti, Holland) without risking anyone utterly crucial 'doing an Antonio against Newport'.

Anderson and Haller on the bench as an insurance policy. Anderson pretty much always gets dragged on at halftime in these fixtures.

[rigoberts song]

Hi Bramwell hope you're well ? I'm obviously Witney too are you going tomorrow ? plenty of Oxford tickets left in their areas if you haven't got one !

[Duff]

The groundsmen better have their pitchforks out!

What are the chances of it being called of I wonder?

(Just realised it's tomorrow!)

[rigoberts song]

We are currently constructing an Ark Here in Rural Oxfordshire its rained so much !

[englebert]

is Cardoso not ready yet for a league cup game against league 1 opposition?
I would like to give him a run alongside Balbuena. Apart from that I agree with the team Aceface has

[OxfordRobbo]

The groundsmen better have their pitchforks out!

What are the chances of it being called of I wonder?

(Just realised it's tomorrow!)

None mate, their pitch is really good