Match Day Thread Oxford United v Sunderland - Saturday 15th February - KO 15:00

We know

 

Our defence....

https://images.app.goo.gl/T37EHDPY1SGJjsfQA

 

Wimbledon getting that late equaliser hasn't half made the top of the table close. 4 points seperating the top 6 is class.

 

Cheers Janey, you're a shining star in my night sky x

 

What the hell has Parky done with this bunch of misfits from 6 weeks ago I said with Mc geady going and not him it would be the turning point but I never dreamed it would be this sort of turning point but good luck to the lad I also said to somebody else a couple of weeks back you can feel it now mate you can feel it so stop worrying about going up just enjoy it.

 

Dead right mate.

I have to say, despite what many may think, that was one of my favourite displays this season.

A real team effort and everyone totally committed despite their limitations.

Much better display than expected home wins against poor sides.

 

where did this footage come from lol the wind scored the goal by the way, but who cares superb win and 3 points off the top 23 points since that boxing day bolton draw ! It looks like coventry away is going to be the titanic game 2 weeks tomorrow, eh at Birmingham, i think we want 14,000 tickets for that one.

 

Roker Report - Player Ratings

Jon McLaughlin: 8/10
Solid enough and claimed the majority of crosses that found their way into the Sunderland penalty area, though naturally he struggled to kick accurately in the difficult conditions.
Jordan Willis: 9/10
Lovely headed goal to get the game going. His defensive work was great - made an important diving tackle to stop a cross that would have most certainly resulted in an Oxford goal not long after he scored.
Bailey Wright: 9/10
This fella lives to kick and head the ball. Some fantastic whole-hearted defending to ensure he did his job to the best of his ability, particularly when we were under the cosh for a lengthy spell in the first half of the game.
Tom Flanagan: 9/10
He’s definitely growing into his role on the left of the three. Bailey Wright certainly seems to be bringing out the best from him.
Luke O’Nien: 7/10
Worked tirelessly hard as always. Perhaps one slight criticism is that his end product could have been better in the final third, but all in all it was your typical Luke O’Nien performance.
George Dobson: 7/10
Perhaps he doesn’t get enough credit for his aerial work - his heading when under pressure seems to get us out of sticky situations often and, like O’Nien, he worked tirelessly. I’d like to see him offer more in the final third but in games like the one today, away from home, you need your central midfielders to graft hard - and he did that.
Max Power: 7/10
He’s really grown into the captaincy role and seems to thrive off keeping the rest of our players on their toes. Got stuck right in and did his utmost to keep Cameron Brannagan quiet.
Denver Hume: 6/10
Can’t say that he did a lot wrong but we’re starting to see something of a lull in productivity from Denver. His crossing needs to be better, and more of his great dribbles forward need to result in us creating chances. Otherwise, he was solid enough.
Lynden Gooch: 5/10
Through no real fault of his own he struggled to have an impact on proceedings, largely due to the fact we played so deep and, thus, didn’t attack Oxford as regularly as we did in the previous two games.
Chris Maguire: 7/10
Sunderland’s most productive attacker grabbed himself another assist - now there’s a shock! Great to see Maguire’s transformation from midfield maverick to a super-fit team player who plays knowing the importance of his off the ball work. Was often at right back producing tackles and clearances and won us free kicks. Very impressive.
Charlie Wyke: 3/10
Nothing really stuck and he struggled to compete in the air against the Oxford defenders. When Maguire got us into a dangerous position not long after the hour mark, Wyke’s run was poor and stopped and chance we had of scoring. Also missed a decent header which he should really have buried with about 15 to go. One of those performances which makes you scratch your head and wonder what it’s going to take for someone else to get a run of games up front.
(SUB) Josh Scowen: 6/10
Brought on the shore us up early in the second half after Oxford began to really pepper us with crosses. Played his part in tightening things up for us.
(SUB) Kyle Lafferty: 6/10
Came on in the 86th minute for Maguire in order to give ourselves a chance of reclaiming our long clearances, and to put the Oxford defence under a bit of pressure.
Man of the Match
Jordan Willis

 

I'm tempted to go back on Twitter and shove it right up them miserable sods who doubted Parky. I always said to give the bloke the chance to get his own players in and put his stamp on the team. His cv in these leagues should not have been doubted. Even b4 JR was sacked I said he was the man to get in.

 

Rotherham will have had their confidence shaken today, conceding two goals to a poor side.

They now have two away games, Accrington and Coventry, while we have two home games.

I believe we'll be level with them by the end of those games.

 

I commented on Jack Ross when he lost the crowd and said there was no coming back from it, but the stick that parkinson got was easily on par and fair play to the bloke, he stayed quiet, went about his work and he has turned it round. Tremendous stuff for him and his staff. 6 goals conceded in 13 games I think I've just heard. JR couldn't buy a clean sheet. Safe travels back to the 1800 MLF down there today.

It's Happening.

 

Not sure what's worse, people doubting a manager or people gloating about being right.

 

What a result this is.

Unrecognisable fitness and fight wise. Ok Parky, you’ve got me.

Has a gaffer ever had such a turnaround? Not at SAFC he hasn’t.

Fantastic.

I know I say it every week, but **** me we got lucky with Willis. He’s a beast.

 

Each to their own m8.

 

Great post mate.

My first thought, win lose or draw, is always for the people who've travelled to the game ...

... my second thought is 'beer or rum'

 

Great result today, he isn't the most charismatic bloke but listening to his press conferences you can tell they do their homework on the opposition, know what they demand of the players and the players know exactly what they need to do...... Rum btw

 

Or both.

 

Wrights suffered ankle ligament damage, so hes out for the foreseeable.
Funny how injuries happen when you literally play every game isnt it .

 

For various reasons I have a collection of bottles of Rum dating back over 200 years ...

... some of them are from naval campaigns and special issues to admirals etc

Any normal person would keep them and allow them to accrue in value.

I, on the other hand, open my cabinet and surveil them as a serial killer would regard their next victim.

I have my eye on a bottle of S&O gunpowder rum for tonight ....

... if I finish the bottle it would end up cheaper if I'd flown back for the match