Oxford United v Middlesbrough

The Kassam Stadium

Saturday 23rd November

Kick Off: 15:00

Not on Sky, boooooo

 

Firstly, get your lugholes round this:

https://whyp.it/tracks/227131/were-takin-all-three?token=dDlmH

Lyrics: Here

If that doesn't get the lads inspired to bring home all three points, nothing will.

Welcome back to another DZ authored matchday thread. You lucky, lucky people.

It's official. Boro play the BEST football in the Championship. Not my words Carol, the words of...well, these guys:

Look, I don't make the rules okay? Of course, playing lovely sexy football doesn't always win you games, and it looks like we'll be missing one of our key players after he picked up an injury while away on International duty.

...What? TWO of our midfielders? Uh, so yeah we might be without Morris AND Hackney for this. Get the cotton wool out for Old Man Howson and Dan Barlaser. Someone on fmttm suggested we play Dijksteel in midfield. That person is a very silly person and should not be listened to.

The last time we played Oxford at their ground was alllllllllllll the way back in 1997, a time where I wore Diadora tracksuits on the regular and listened to Happy Hardcore. It was a very weird time. Also, I had a season ticket for the Boro back then. North East corner, boom.

We've won our last 3 games against them, famously winning 4-1 in both games of the 97/98 season (clinching promotion at the Riverside) and the epic 3-2 win in the FA Cup back in 2017 (I was seriously impressed with Oxford Utd that day, they never gave up and played really well.)

The Oxford United of today are faring better than most pundits expected them to this season. They currently sit in 16th, which isn't bad for a team that came up from League 1 via the playoffs. They've beaten the likes of Norwich, Hull and Stoke and held WBA and Burnley to draws at home, so they're no pushovers. I haven't really watched them, so not sure if they'll set up the low block which as we all know by now, causes Boro problems.

My prediction is we'll win this 2-1 and you all have to put up with me for at least another match, but this is Boro so who knows?

Starting lineup?

Score Prediction?

Have you got your advent calendar yet?

Morse or Endeavour (Lewis fans sorry not sorry)

Okay, we're done here byeeeee

Dieng

Dijksteel Edmundson Clarke Ayling

Howson Barlaser

Doak Azaz McGree

Lathe

I liked it. Gonna be walking round singing "Can't win after a oooooooo" all day.

I'm predicting a 3-1 away win, hoping for an unchanged team except the injury enforced Barlaser in for Hackney and Howson in for Morris

We've made our own advent calendars this year and gifted them to each other, so I'm intrigued as to what I get

Never seen Endeavour so it's gonna be Morse

43 minutes ago, Humpty said:

Dieng

Dijksteel Edmundson Clarke Ayling

Howson Barlaser

Doak Azaz McGree

Lathe

Is borges not back for this? He was just ill for the last game I think. Or did you prefer ayling there? 

I don't know to be honest. I'm happy with Ayling there for the time being.

This will be interesting. Going on who seems to be injured and who is travelling long distances to get back in time I suspect

Dieng

Dijksteel - Edmundson - Clarke - Ayling

Barlaser - Howson

Doak - Azaz - Burgzorg

Latte Lath

i.e. same starting 11 as against Luton except for injuries. I think Borges and many of the travellers will come in for the game against Hull. Dijksteel has earned himself a start and Ayling has done well enough at LB.

Outside chance that Brynn gets a start in goal. Fry may start at CB depending on how well Edmundson has recovered. Might see Jones start instead of Doak if Carrick decides to save him for Wednesday and give him extra recovery time.

Score wise, we laid down a marker before the break. We need to build on it. Oxford started off well but have had a poor couple of months with just one win in 10 games. I suspect they'll come to defend and apply the usual kryptonite tactics against us so this really will test whether we can break down a low block(TM). I'll go for a 2-0 win and things looking rosy but I do worry about Howson taking a long time to get match sharp and Barlaser's tendency to curl up and die when pressed. With Clarke also seeming to struggle to recapture his best form and being prone to suicidal passes, it could be a very uncomfortable afternoon.

For some reason I thought we were playing them at home. They are still on a bad run so I reckon on balance we'll come out ahead. They tend to draw at home against the better teams but hopefully we have discovered our scoring boots just in time.

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by Bruce
Brainfade

Dieng

Dijksteel Edmundson Clarke Ayling

Howson Barlaser

Doak Azaz Burgzorg 

ELL

 

I think Ayling done OK at LB and in my opinion better than Borges. Not really bothered though, either or will do if Borges is available.

I suppose if Carrick does go with Borges it allows Ayling back at RB and gives Carrick options with Dijksteel from the bench in defence or in midfield considering the injury depleted squad.

Haven't a clue about the Morse question which I'm guessing probably answers it?

6-0 to the boro, in denzel we trust!

1 hour ago, Rob said:

6-0 to the boro, in denzel we trust!

He's been in a cracking run of form of late, that's for sure!

1 hour ago, KeithLambsFaxMachine said:

He's been in a cracking run of form of late, that's for sure!

his 2nd round of MDT's always have a great run, its the one at the start and the one promotion relies on when you need to worry 

Oxford have only lost once at home, and we always seem to struggle against the teams you'd "expect" us to beat.

Genuinely no idea how this one will go, but the injuries to Hackney and Morris aren't going to help.

how do they play at home? do they try park the bus or do they try play football? usually do well when teams try to play vs us

Dieng

Ayling Ed Clarke Borges

Barlaser Howson

Forss Azaz Burgzorg

LL

Steve Clarke said Doak was knackered in 2nd half so we need to manage him.

McGree also played both games and travelled and Burg deserves to keep his spot. 

Hopefully Hackney and Morris are okay

4 hours ago, Rob said:

how do they play at home? do they try park the bus or do they try play football? usually do well when teams try to play vs us

They have a total of 17pts this season and 15 of them have come at home. So at home I imagine they play more on the front foot but whatever they do at home works as they only lost one game at home all season.

Hackney could play. Morris around 4 weeks.