Match Day Thread Oxford United v Sunderland - Saturday 19th September - KO 15:00

Great thread as usual RTB, that team you have up there looks spot on, and is what I think Parky will chose. Scowen is a must to start under the circumstances and should have played against Bristol. With your team I would play Grigg and Maguire up front and O'Brian in the midfield with both Power and Scowen slightly deeper. This team should win this one and needs to, to make up for disappointing start to the season. OaU.

 

Hate to say it but reckon he will play leadbitter tomorrow. Hope I'm wrong. Still though, I'm going to be positive and say 2-1 win.

 

Can't see beyond a draw with Parky's inspirational set-up. Ho hum

 

If only everything about the club was as clear and professionally done as this thread.

I can't think of a single aspect of SAFC that looks right.

Thankfully we have enough good players available to give me the hope of a win ...

... whether the manager picks them or can motivate them is anyone's guess.

 

I hope Scowen gets the nod for Dobsons place. If so I see a win.
If Grant gets it I see a draw.
Hope I'm wrong about Grant and he scores a 30 yarder screaming winner.

 

The way Parkinson spoke in his press conference I'm expecting Leadbitter to start in place of Dobson but after the preseason he had, it should be Scowen for me. He also had to find space in the squad for both Diamond and Neil with starting with one or having both on the bench. We should have enough to beat Oxford but I wouldn't be surprised with a draw. Plus if Parkinson is gonna play hoof ball, I'd start with Graham instead of Grigg. Don't think Grigg did much wrong last week but playing the ball up to his head isn't his game

 

Leadbitter has a place if Graham plays imo.

He can hit a decent long ball and his corners can be a threat if someone can head a ball.

Otherwise I'd want more e ergy in the middle of the park, Leadbitter doesn't have enough tbf.

 

I think Leadbitter and Graham together with O brien will improve the quality of our football, though Scowen takes a decent set play and would add zip and energy.

 

Don't know if it's right but it was said on the podcast that wee philly chairs (yes I know) that Scowen had been out of the area this week to attend a family funeral, might not be accurate info though or if it's true it puts his selection in doubt.

I would drop Grigg, yes he didn't get much service last week but it's almost as if the ball has to be on his toe 8 yards out. There were some dangerous balls crossed in but he was never there. Sometimes a striker has to make things for themselves as well and he isn't the man to do that. Grigg finished last season behind Wyke in the pecking order for a reason.

I would start Graham and I would consider Wyke before Grigg if needed, I think Wyke outscored Grigg in pre-season as well so the performance stats back that up. Gooch needs to come in, he was joint top league scorer with Maguire last season. I would play Scowen if available and also the Kosovan, yes Flanagan done ok but from what i've seen Arby will use the ball better than Flanagan and will potentially be more of a threat at set pieces as well.

 

If it's like the performance against Bristol then we'll win because we were unlucky not to give them a thorough spanking, hitting the post, shots cleared off the line etc. I can't see us having that same bad luck twice in a row.

Presumably Oxford will have us on the back foot more than Bristol did and we did look vulnerable when that happened so I can see them scoring too but I think we'll get more.

 

My only concern is we said the same after the Hull game in that we created chances that were missed and on another would score them, better teams take those chances. If it's Grigg and O'Brien again and they fail to score it has to be the end of that pairing as it would be 3 games of failure.

 

Would agree regarding the corners. Maguires last week were poor.

 

The problem is scoring goals...

A saying is that doing the same action and expecting a different outcome.. is madness/idiotic.... an example of this is picking Grigg as a striker?

 

Agreed about Grigg and O'Brien if they don't net then I would try something different, Graham and Gooch maybe. After how poor he was last season we can't afford to give Grigg unlimited chances to get going not when we've got other options.

 

I agree he can hit a long ball but does he have the legs to get back and tackle his man? I'm not too sure he can.

 

Scowen did go to a funeral, which limits the probabibility he will play even further.

As per all the various comments, he needs to sort the forward line with the style / pace of play which is the biggest concern.

If Grant goes into CM with Power, I'd put Gooch & Diamond up ahead for their speed and industry...with Graham at the tip for crosses + he can link up play with six players capable of scoring feeding off him (inc Hume & Onions)

Maguire, O'Brien & Grigg as options up front once Oxford are worn down.

 

Obviously we have not seen him for a while, but he is probably the best passer and free/corner kicker and has a decent shot... though he was never quick and now it looks as if his legs have gone...i suspect he is too slow even for L1

 

Im trying to work out how Grigg has gone from last choice striker to first?
Graham should have started last week, playing games if the best way for him to get fit. Wyke should then be ahead of Grigg, he at least has a little but more physical presence than Grigg who is as weak as a glass of water.

 

He is a bit of a problem is Will, its more the lack of alternatives at present, better finisher than Wyke imo, only just, and Graham should be first choice before long. Not adverse to giving Diamond a shot at it if Leadbetter plays. The bench will be more interesting than the team to-day for Parky watchers, and we might even see a substitution before 80 minutes if we are lucky.