Wasn't a bad performance all in all, just beaten by a better side who were more clinical. Having said that both goals could have easily been avoidable and it could have been very different had we capitalised when we were on top at 1-0 in the second half. They were much faster than us and I didn't really feel comfortable with them running at Glennon and Mullarkey, similarly plenty of times when we broke we couldn't beat them for pace and/or muscle. Their lad (Murphy was it?), who broke for their corner was a constant problem and completely rinsed us for that first goal. Feel like Cartwright could have done better with the parry for that but otherwise he was excellent and probably our MOTM. Felt like Oxford had another gear or two they could have gone into.
Cracking support today, Last Christmas sounded class.
Two tough away matches for Artell to start with but plenty of positives to take from the two games.
Posted by: Maringer, December 2, 2023, 7:27pm; Reply: 1
Artell sounded pretty happy in the post-match interview which is worth listening to. Said their goal on the counter was due, in part, to the lack of time to work on set pieces since he arrived!
Gnahoua not injured, just a bit tired and sore so should be available next game, you'd expect.
Posted by: Mariner Timsky, December 2, 2023, 7:29pm; Reply: 2
Got Back to Northampton about 6:30 - can’t complain at that and again can’t complain too much with that performance- can defo see improvement already with the ball - just need to work that bit harder without it - but overall plenty of positives - a decent away day - fans were class as always - the Prospect Ale was good and although disappointed not to be in Round 3 - now we can focus on the league and moving up it - Oh yeh who was that in the BMW with reg X5 UTM that shot past us on the A43 towards Northampton??!!
Posted by: Son of Cod, December 2, 2023, 7:32pm; Reply: 3
Wasn't a bad performance all in all, just beaten by a better side who were more clinical. Having said that both goals could have easily been avoidable and it could have been very different had we capitalised when we were on top at 1-0 in the second half. They were much faster than us and I didn't really feel comfortable with them running at Glennon and Mullarkey, similarly plenty of times when we broke we couldn't beat them for pace and/or muscle. Their lad (Murphy was it?), who broke for their corner was a constant problem and completely rinsed us for that first goal. Feel like Cartwright could have done better with the parry for that but otherwise he was excellent and probably our MOTM. Felt like Oxford had another gear or two they could have gone into.
Cracking support today, Last Christmas sounded class.
Two tough away matches for Artell to start with but plenty of positives to take from the two games.
What was the last Christmas song? The radio oxford commentators loved it
Posted by: Son of Cod, December 2, 2023, 7:40pm; Reply: 5
Got Back to Northampton about 6:30 - can’t complain at that and again can’t complain too much with that performance- can defo see improvement already with the ball - just need to work that bit harder without it - but overall plenty of positives - a decent away day - fans were class as always - the Prospect Ale was good and although disappointed not to be in Round 3 - now we can focus on the league and moving up it - Oh yeh who was that in the BMW with reg X5 UTM that shot past us on the A43 towards Northampton??!!
He lives in Louth, pretty sure not a player or ex player.
Posted by: The Caterham Mariner, December 2, 2023, 7:59pm; Reply: 7
Worth being there today !!!! part of the away crowd (1497 - We could have 1500 another point) got carried away With a certain Christmas tune. But what did it for me when there was a lull a lone town fan Shouts " More atmosphere in Asda's!" referring to Oxford's turnout and stadium King Charles III would have ridiculed architecture and design. The result Ohh well there is always Next year FA Cup . Roll on Wimbledon away in Jan 24, looking forward to "That Mariner's" one liners. Yes I need to get out more at least more "Town " games IMO We keep that young goalkeeper He has alot to give come January. Love DA starting to make good northern sense. UTM
Posted by: barralad, December 2, 2023, 8:07pm; Reply: 8
O.P. sums it up very well. Glennon and Mullarkey both caught for pace but possibly indicative of the difference in class of the two teams. Cartwright a clear MOM for me with some really excellent saves particular one which he tipped over the bar in the second half. Best outfield player Conteh who rarely wasted a pass and made some very important tackles. Not fair to single out individual players so I'll confine my criticism to generally poor distribution into their box, too many balls too close to their keeper, and a corner "routine" that xhould never be tried again. Town fans were excellent, the Kassam is a soulless monument to modern architecture and both the ref and the lino operating in front of the town fans need to look at their respective performances in the first half at least.
Posted by: Maringer, December 2, 2023, 8:29pm; Reply: 9
In his post-match interview, Artell mentioned something about a red card which should have been, but wasn't given. What happened there?
Posted by: Lord Gadiform, December 2, 2023, 8:50pm; Reply: 10
Always interesting to hear the oppo perspective. Spent the last 3 hours with the barman at my local and four regulars, all Oxford season ticket holders and at the game today. They were shaken first ten minutes. Concerned it felt similar to Cheltenham last week where they lost, except we looked far superior to the Chelts. Totally confused by our league position. I think I’ve sold them Glennon for 275k plus add ons, also given them an option on Cartwright for 975k. Couldn’t agree to terms on Conteh. They thought those three were the standouts. Didn’t mention that Harvey is not ours to sell but seemed like a good deal so I agreed to it.
They liked Last Christmas. Thought it was kind of a twelve days of Christmas thing, starting with the keeper and working forward. Strangely all the names scan. That could be fun.
Posted by: WOZOFGRIMSBY, December 2, 2023, 9:03pm; Reply: 11
In his post-match interview, Artell mentioned something about a red card which should have been, but wasn't given. What happened there?
One of their lads should’ve had a second yellow and was walking a fine line. Even the bbc Oxford commentators said as much and I think he got the hook at half time
Posted by: NorthseaMariner, December 2, 2023, 9:06pm; Reply: 12
Rodrigues, pardon the spelling
Posted by: headingly_mariner, December 2, 2023, 9:28pm; Reply: 13
We needed to and should've scored at least 1. Played some nice stuff and think we might end up being a really good side.
Love seeing Alex Hunt back in the side.
Posted by: Chrisblor, December 2, 2023, 11:09pm; Reply: 14
Posted by: forza ivano, December 3, 2023, 1:01am; Reply: 15
O.P. n barra both gave good summings (is that even a word?) up Both teams tried to play footie , difference is they've been doing it for several years now, with better players, whilst we've only had 5 days with inferior players. Harvey made some great saves, but think he knew he should be palming the ball away ,rather than putting to the feet of the attacker for their first goal. Mullarkey was as bad today as he was good Tuesday. Glennon was good again, imho, and i understand the Oxford commentators were impressed. Conteh did really well ,n Clifton looked like something back to his best. Hunt , did some good stuff, but when he gives the ball away it always seems to lead to danger. I can sort of see why PH never trusted him; just hope Artell can find the right spot/system for him, coz he's the only player we've got (Ainley aside) who has got the creativity we need. 2nd goal looked like poor marking/defending, allowing Bodin a free header. be interesting to see what Artell does about our defensive side. Glennon seems to have had a new lease of life, Mullarkey blows hot n cold. Rodgers is classy n reads the game well but is prone to the odd bad mistake. I just wonder whether Maher might be the 1 most under threat - just that he's not 1 thing or the other; not rock solid, nor a real ball player, nor particularly quick Really good support - the Last Xmas song is an excellent addition to our repertoire. Artell now has a week to school them, and our 3rd game on the trot against a footballing team. Quite a strange start for him in that respect. Interesting times
Posted by: The Caterham Mariner, December 3, 2023, 7:48am; Reply: 16
871 of us at Oxford...Hhmmm you would have thought there was more of us by volume in the fog!! BP has its faults but no way would i want to go down that road and have a ground like that like the set from "Frozen" Eg= Colchester & Oxford. In the cold light of day on a Sunday morning cuppa tea in hand looking at " Our Dave:" to push us up away from the relegation zone for the rest of the season. UTM
Posted by: Maringer, December 3, 2023, 10:21am; Reply: 17
Conteh certainly looked a bit slow to get going for their first goal, but the winger showed what real pace can give you and that's something we're lacking at the moment. Two chances for Wilson, the first a really poor effort hit straight at the keeper, but the second forced a good save. Just a pity he couldn't do better with the first one.
Time to concentrate on the League...
Posted by: MuddyWaters, December 3, 2023, 11:18am; Reply: 18
O.P. n barra both gave good summings (is that even a word?) up Both teams tried to play footie , difference is they've been doing it for several years now, with better players, whilst we've only had 5 days with inferior players. Harvey made some great saves, but think he knew he should be palming the ball away ,rather than putting to the feet of the attacker for their first goal. Mullarkey was as bad today as he was good Tuesday. Glennon was good again, imho, and i understand the Oxford commentators were impressed. Conteh did really well ,n Clifton looked like something back to his best. Hunt , did some good stuff, but when he gives the ball away it always seems to lead to danger. I can sort of see why PH never trusted him; just hope Artell can find the right spot/system for him, coz he's the only player we've got (Ainley aside) who has got the creativity we need. 2nd goal looked like poor marking/defending, allowing Bodin a free header. be interesting to see what Artell does about our defensive side. Glennon seems to have had a new lease of life, Mullarkey blows hot n cold. Rodgers is classy n reads the game well but is prone to the odd bad mistake. I just wonder whether Maher might be the 1 most under threat - just that he's not 1 thing or the other; not rock solid, nor a real ball player, nor particularly quick Really good support - the Last Xmas song is an excellent addition to our repertoire. Artell now has a week to school them, and our 3rd game on the trot against a footballing team. Quite a strange start for him in that respect. Interesting times
So, do you have Hunt in your team?
Hurst’s last game at Donny, 5 goal attempts, 1 on target. MK, 19 attempts, League 1 Oxford, 13 attempts.
We were creating nothing in the games leading up to Hurst going, we now just need to take some chances, big difference in just a week.
Posted by: Chrisblor, December 3, 2023, 11:28am; Reply: 19
Hunt gave the ball away once all match and immediately won it back before anything dangerous happened. He was absolutely one of town's best players yesterday and his passing and movement is a step above that of any other player we have in the squad. Nearly all of our best pieces of play went through him and he's always looking to either beat a man or play a quick pass or through ball. I don't know why this 'he gives the ball away in dangerous positions' narrative has been allowed to build, because having watched pretty much every town game this season he's no worse than any other town midfielder when it comes to looking after the ball and retaining possession, while also offering far more of an attacking impetus than any of the rest of them.
Posted by: forza ivano, December 3, 2023, 12:30pm; Reply: 20
Surprised Conteh didn't foul their lad on the first, although he must be getting close to 10 and a 2 match ban so possibly why he didn't? Awful corner in the first place.
Looked like some nice stuff played by us.
Great Pacman advert.
Posted by: MuddyWaters, December 3, 2023, 12:45pm; Reply: 22
Hunt gave the ball away once all match and immediately won it back before anything dangerous happened. He was absolutely one of town's best players yesterday and his passing and movement is a step above that of any other player we have in the squad. Nearly all of our best pieces of play went through him and he's always looking to either beat a man or play a quick pass or through ball. I don't know why this 'he gives the ball away in dangerous positions' narrative has been allowed to build, because having watched pretty much every town game this season he's no worse than any other town midfielder when it comes to looking after the ball and retaining possession, while also offering far more of an attacking impetus than any of the rest of them.
It's surely no coincidence that Hunt suddenly looks a different player in a side where his team mates are seemingly prepared to move into areas of space. A good pass is not merely about technical execution; the player receiving the ball has a substantial role to play in its ultimate degree of success.
I think there's also the compound effect that being part of a team that is actively playing to his own strengths has seen his confidence come surging back. Long may it continue. In terms of playing style, he's the closest thing I can remember to Wayne Burnett since Wayne Burnett*, and what an enjoyable player he was to watch in his pomp (again, in a team that was all about off the ball movement).
* Curtis Woodhouse may have something to say about this
Posted by: chaos33, December 3, 2023, 4:09pm; Reply: 24
Conteh has 7 yellows
Posted by: MuddyWaters, December 4, 2023, 12:19pm; Reply: 25
Post match interview
Tweet 1731013348349682042 will appear here...
Posted by: Heisenberg, December 4, 2023, 2:14pm; Reply: 26
The youth of today don’t really know the word “yes”, as they insist on saying “100%” instead! A pet hate of mine, although I’ll forgive Alex for this abomination.
Give it a few years and “no” will become “zero percent” in the common lexicon, unfortunately. This WILL become a thing, I’m sure of it. 100% sure, in fact.
Posted by: Poojah, December 4, 2023, 2:30pm; Reply: 27
The youth of today don’t really know the word “yes”, as they insist on saying “100%” instead! A pet hate of mine, although I’ll forgive Alex for this abomination.
Give it a few years and “no” will become “zero percent” in the common lexicon, unfortunately. This WILL become a thing, I’m sure of it. 100% sure, in fact.
You’re right, it’s crept in, but I find its general use in modern parlance is as a strong, enthusiastic affirmative, as in “yes, very much so”.
“John, did you send that report to Bob?”, requires a simple “yes”. Whereas…
“John, are you still coming for that pint after work?, a “100%”, works just fine for me.
Languages evolve, hence why we don’t all speak like this anymore:
At least the most contentious thing about Alex Hunt at the minute is his choice of vocabulary. Suggests he’s doing something right.
Posted by: arryarryarry, December 4, 2023, 3:32pm; Reply: 28
The youth of today don’t really know the word “yes”, as they insist on saying “100%” instead! A pet hate of mine, although I’ll forgive Alex for this abomination.
Give it a few years and “no” will become “zero percent” in the common lexicon, unfortunately. This WILL become a thing, I’m sure of it. 100% sure, in fact.
Is that better or worse than Harry Kane saying "yeah, no, yeah..."? Undecided, personally.
Posted by: TownSNAFU5, December 4, 2023, 4:08pm; Reply: 30
My dad (a big Town fan) used to say “correct” instead of “yes” and he was aged 95 at the time.
Posted by: MuddyWaters, December 4, 2023, 4:09pm; Reply: 31
The take out line has to be “thanks to Shaun and Benj for bringing me back into the fold “ . Suggests that he was a long way off the starting XI prior to that.
Posted by: BobbyCummingsTackle, December 4, 2023, 4:39pm; Reply: 32
The youth of today don’t really know the word “yes”, as they insist on saying “100%” instead! A pet hate of mine, although I’ll forgive Alex for this abomination.
Give it a few years and “no” will become “zero percent” in the common lexicon, unfortunately. This WILL become a thing, I’m sure of it. 100% sure, in fact.
Ah the irony of a person bemoaning one aspect of yoof speak and then going on to say 'this WILL become a thing'.
Becoming 'a thing' is probably the most Millennial, US media derived term that has crept into regular use in the English language. Cleethorpes via California.
Posted by: Gaffer58, December 4, 2023, 4:46pm; Reply: 33
Don’t worry about how language is going because we’re all “ on a journey” with it.
Posted by: Abdul19, December 4, 2023, 5:51pm; Reply: 34
If you need any help on your journey, don't hesitate to reach out.
Posted by: Poojah, December 4, 2023, 6:25pm; Reply: 35
Going back to Hunt. He had a lot of talent than has not been used. Hoddle and Le Tessier had similar issues playing for England.
Shef Wed brought him on as a sub against Man City in an FAC quarterfinal (2020). He was assessed as Wed’s best player
He has the quality and just needs a manager to believe in him/ Good enough to play against Man City but not Div 2 teams 3 years later.
The best way I could describe Hunt’s style is that he plays in 3D, whereas Hurst built a team operating only in two dimensions.
Posted by: ginnywings, December 4, 2023, 8:45pm; Reply: 43
I think that it didn't go unnoticed by the owners that having chased Hunt and given him a 3 year deal, PH then chose not to play him, even suggesting in one interview that he was too quick thinking for the players around him, to his detriment.
I think it's things like the Hunt situation that made up the minds of the owners to bring in someone who will get the best out of a player like Hunt, and he will definitely get more game time now.
It wasn't just the results that did for PH, rather the style of play, or lack of it.
Posted by: moosey_club, December 4, 2023, 9:27pm; Reply: 44
I think that it didn't go unnoticed by the owners that having chased Hunt and given him a 3 year deal, PH then chose not to play him, even suggesting in one interview that he was too quick thinking for the players around him, to his detriment.
I think it's things like the Hunt situation that made up the minds of the owners to bring in someone who will get the best out of a player like Hunt, and he will definitely get more game time now.
It wasn't just the results that did for PH, rather the style of play, or lack of it.
In the case of Hurst I think you will find...it was data, in the boardroom, by 21st Group.