MATCHWATCH : Swansea City (h)

[Zip]

I couldn’t give a toss about this Cup. It was all about making sure our first team was ready for Saturday. We simply could not afford to risk them given how thin the squad is. Two important home games coming up in the next seven days where we really need to pick up a win.

[SCIAG]

Yeah amazed by the negativity. Median age of that team was probably 18 and it was probably the smallest side we’ve ever fielded too. Tiny inexperienced side concedes two goals at set pieces and a third late on.

Puscas and McIntyre both looked as good as you would expect. Holmes made a couple of mistakes when he got shifted to the left.

Of the youngsters…

Pros:
Southwood - obviously much older than the others but looked very good, would probably have been 5 or 6 without him.

Osorio - very calm presence on the ball, very good at finding space. Could do with a little more ruthlessness.

Abbey - out of position but put some good tackles in and did OK going forward

Leavy - one good run when he came in off the wing and had a pop.

Sackey - clearly not a defender and not a polished player, but a good burst of pace and looked to stretch the play.

Don’t have much positive to say about Camara (although he was lively and worked hard) or Ehibhationham or the subs. But a difficult game for everyone. Overall we just didn’t get the ball to Puscas enough.

[Royality creeps In]

Just back. Puscas was useless. Apart from a decent free kick that went straight to the keeper he did sweet FA!
He looked totally disinterested.
Hard to fault the youngsters, who tried but were well beaten by what looked like a pretty strong Swansea side.

I know its well documented, but if we don't get any re-enforcements to back up the first team we are seriously oxf*rd!

[Royalwaster]

Just back. Puscas was useless. Apart from a decent free kick that went straight to the keeper he did sweet FA!
He looked totally disinterested.
Hard to fault the youngsters, who tried but were well beaten by what looked like a pretty strong Swansea side.

I know its well documented, but if we don't get any re-enforcements to back up the first team we are seriously oxf*rd!

You got to feel for Puscas ... from Inter to playing in a nonsense cup with the reserves in just a couple of years.

[Lower West]

That wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Last 24 minutes of play with only 10 on the field. During which the only goal conceded started with a bad clearance from Holmes. Couldn't fault their attitude. Was noticeable how Pauno applauded them when something was tried but didn't come off. A totally professional approach to a game we stood no chance of winning.

Puscas looked as he needed the game time.

[Zip]

Just back. Puscas was useless. Apart from a decent free kick that went straight to the keeper he did sweet FA!
He looked totally disinterested.
Hard to fault the youngsters, who tried but were well beaten by what looked like a pretty strong Swansea side.

I know its well documented, but if we don't get any re-enforcements to back up the first team we are seriously oxf*rd!

You got to feel for Puscas ... from Inter to playing in a nonsense cup with the reserves in just a couple of years.

Yes agreed plus rumours that we are happy to loan him out. Hardly conducive to motivating the player.
He’s done ok since he joined. No more than that but given Joao’s mindset and complete loss of form over a prolonged period Puscas may be our best bet.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Remember when people used to say "just play the U2(1/)3s it can't be any worse"? Yikes. Sure we've got some half decent players in there somewhere, but they were chasing shadows tonight.

[Elm Park Kid]

Remember when people used to say "just play the U2(1/)3s it can't be any worse"? Yikes. Sure we've got some half decent players in there somewhere, but they were chasing shadows tonight.

Isn't the point of that argument that they will inevitably start off poorly, but will eventually grow into a decent team? Like, you'd have to accept probably a season of us fighting relegation.

[CountryRoyal]

Just back. Puscas was useless. Apart from a decent free kick that went straight to the keeper he did sweet FA!
He looked totally disinterested.
Hard to fault the youngsters, who tried but were well beaten by what looked like a pretty strong Swansea side.

I know its well documented, but if we don't get any re-enforcements to back up the first team we are seriously oxf*rd!

Puscas really disappointed me. I know he needs game time but as the senior pro he should have been leading by example and he absolutely did not. He was shit and barely looked like he could give a oxf*rd.

[Jackson Corner]

The figures are stacking up against the manager tonight will be one win in 13 not to mention no preseason winners.

We won 2 in preseason and tonight's team is clearly trying to send a message.

With Strickland now on, average age tonight must be nearly under 19?

Please talk about clutching at straws! Two behind closed doors matches we won well yippee I feel so much better now, clearly those two games played in front three men and a dog have boosted the players confidence no end.

It’s like Dellor kept saying when he took our best player Swift off for Holmes. He has no options! Well those last eleven games at the end he had a full squad of options and couldn’t muster the two wins to get us to the playoffs. I have been saying right from the moment he walked through the door he is way out of his depth unless you consider a win ratio of 32% at Chicago Fire a good managerial record. I wasn’t carried away with the start last season like some of the clowns on here.

So he is good with young players we are told? Well we had a lot of young player’s tonight and they were not very good were they? Ok I wasn’t expecting to win but something a bit better than 15% possession and no shots on goal for the opening half hour of the game.

[Sutekh]

The figures are stacking up against the manager tonight will be one win in 13 not to mention no preseason winners.

We won 2 in preseason and tonight's team is clearly trying to send a message.

With Strickland now on, average age tonight must be nearly under 19?

Please talk about clutching at straws! Two behind closed doors matches we won well yippee I feel so much better now, clearly those two games played in front three men and a dog have boosted the players confidence no end.

It’s like Dellor kept saying when he took our best player Swift off for Holmes. He has no options! Well those last eleven games at the end he had a full squad of options and couldn’t muster the two wins to get us to the playoffs. I have been saying right from the moment he walked through the door he is way out of his depth unless you consider a win ratio of 32% at Chicago Fire a good managerial record. I wasn’t carried away with the start last season like some of the clowns on here.

So he is good with young players we are told? Well we had a lot of young player’s tonight and they were not very good were they? Ok I wasn’t expecting to win but something a bit better than 15% possession and no shots on goal for the opening half hour of the game.

Don’t have to change that much. First team is usually no shots on goal but 50-60% possession in the first half hour.

[Stranded]

The figures are stacking up against the manager tonight will be one win in 13 not to mention no preseason winners.

We won 2 in preseason and tonight's team is clearly trying to send a message.

With Strickland now on, average age tonight must be nearly under 19?

Please talk about clutching at straws! Two behind closed doors matches we won well yippee I feel so much better now, clearly those two games played in front three men and a dog have boosted the players confidence no end.

It’s like Dellor kept saying when he took our best player Swift off for Holmes. He has no options! Well those last eleven games at the end he had a full squad of options and couldn’t muster the two wins to get us to the playoffs. I have been saying right from the moment he walked through the door he is way out of his depth unless you consider a win ratio of 32% at Chicago Fire a good managerial record. I wasn’t carried away with the start last season like some of the clowns on here.

So he is good with young players we are told? Well we had a lot of young player’s tonight and they were not very good were they? Ok I wasn’t expecting to win but something a bit better than 15% possession and no shots on goal for the opening half hour of the game.

Mate, happy for you to be unhappy but don't use wrong stats and not expect to get picked up on it. You discounted 2 behind closed doors wins but kept in the draw behind closed doors to suit your narrative.

Our current run of 4 wins in 18 actual games is bad enough to use as a stick if you really want to have a go.

He is pretty good with kids and last night he will have seen that a couple are more ready that expected whilst others need time. A side mostly containing 18/19 year olds is always going to struggle and the fact it took them 30mins to settle is hardly a shock.

Could VP do better, yeah probably but how many managers have had to deal with not being able to sign a single player permanently, 12 months into a job whilst seeing that squad weaken over time? Hardly any I would say. On Saturday the 1st XI were the better side until Swift had to come off, if we can get some bodies in results will improve, if not it will be very hard for anyone to improve them.

[Simmops]

The figures are stacking up against the manager tonight will be one win in 13 not to mention no preseason winners.

We won 2 in preseason and tonight's team is clearly trying to send a message.

With Strickland now on, average age tonight must be nearly under 19?

What's the oxf*rd point in sending a message?

[Simmops]

This is quite pathetic. A thumping tonight. Loss last Saturday. Dreadful end of last season. No new players. Shed loads of players departed. Not able to bring quality in.

These are bad times. I don't care what anyone says, these are tough bad times.

Where is Ejaria ? still injured ? Puscas showing he cba. Meite out for the season.

I wonder what the season ticket sales have been ?

Fair play to those with the rose-tinted specs....but be prepared for a long nasty season.

+1

We're going down. People are just too arrogant to see that.

[Simmops]

This is quite pathetic. A thumping tonight. Loss last Saturday. Dreadful end of last season. No new players. Shed loads of players departed. Not able to bring quality in.

These are bad times. I don't care what anyone says, these are tough bad times.

Where is Ejaria ? still injured ? Puscas showing he cba. Meite out for the season.

I wonder what the season ticket sales have been ?

Fair play to those with the rose-tinted specs....but be prepared for a long nasty season.

[Snowflake Royal]

Remember when people used to say "just play the U2(1/)3s it can't be any worse"? Yikes. Sure we've got some half decent players in there somewhere, but they were chasing shadows tonight.

Isn't the point of that argument that they will inevitably start off poorly, but will eventually grow into a decent team? Like, you'd have to accept probably a season of us fighting relegation.

Yes. And that if they do get relegated you've just given them a season of experience at a higher level so they should be well placed to perform at the lower one.

And your finances are in an infinitely better place.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

Realistically - who actually cared about last nights result. Best thing was VP got to see the academy lads play against more experienced pros and how they would fit in his team.
Everyone on here was in agreement of playing the kids - the kids got beat. Now typically I see posts that VP should go? wtf give your head a wobble.

[NathStPaul]

Realistically - who actually cared about last nights result. Best thing was VP got to see the academy lads play against more experienced pros and how they would fit in his team.
Everyone on here was in agreement of playing the kids - the kids got beat. Now typically I see posts that VP should go? wtf give your head a wobble.

There are some people here who are being deliberately thick and controversial. Best to just ignore them.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

I'm just plain confused.

How can it be 'good experience' to throw raw youngsters into a first team game with a crowd?

Surely it's more likely to have a negative effect and stunt their confidence and mindset?

But beyond that, why set the team up in a way that doesn't allow Puscas to express himself?

Surely, this would have been an ideal opportunity to set the team up to play to his strengths (I know, we can debate what they are, but he's a full Romanian International...) and at least show some flexibility and ambition.

Instead of which, the team shape just made the youngsters chase shadows all night.

Also, given the run at the end of last season and now 2 defeats on the bounce puts undue pressure on Saturday.

As I said at the start, I'm confused

[Sanguine]

Just back. Puscas was useless. Apart from a decent free kick that went straight to the keeper he did sweet FA!
He looked totally disinterested.
Hard to fault the youngsters, who tried but were well beaten by what looked like a pretty strong Swansea side.

I know its well documented, but if we don't get any re-enforcements to back up the first team we are seriously oxf*rd!

Puscas really disappointed me. I know he needs game time but as the senior pro he should have been leading by example and he absolutely did not. He was shit and barely looked like he could give a oxf*rd.

I've never really bought into the view that 'x needs game time'. It isn't like he's been sitting on his arse playing Playstation. If you're not first choice, you need to force the issue. Train hard, train harder, extra sessions, and then when you get a game, smash it out of the park, leave nothing out there. I don't think his head is in it.