So, will we make the play offs?

[Baboo]

Some interesting posts - but we don't choose how we feel do we? can't help what the heart and brain keeps telling us.
If it was as easy as , hey let's all be optimistic and we'll go up - then up we'd go. But so would every other club too.
The evidence before us in recent weeks has been a bit worrying but that does not mean that i have given up hope of winning this league by any means. I do however believe that the chances of doing so are somewhat less than they had been pre Christmas.
As for the fans doing their bit - they did their bit last night and we still lost. Luton fans did their bit too.

[STEVE F]

still sure we will win the league still loads of games to be played and if we hit form and i think we will we have the players at oxford now to see off anyone
wilder has done and is still doing a superb job at oxford
i am certain oxford will go up this season

[OUFC4eva]

I , too, thought the normally fair and objective ROL match report and comment was surprisingly negative and the clear implication is that the towel is just about to be thrown into the ring by the Oxford &quotcamp&quot.

The use of the word whimper was particularly harsh, Sometimes a period of calm reflection after the emotions die down is the best course of action before a critical piece like this is penned.

We all have to stay calm and measured during the next ten weeks - we know there will be more twists and turns before we know the final table.

[theox]

I think Swiss is spot on.

The manner of last night's defeat was made all the worse because of this club's recent history for bottling.

I disagree.

The manner of last night defeat of course hurt every Oxford fan in attendance and the thousands at home. However, in the cold light of day, it had been a professional performance which ended, as games do from time to time, in a freak manner. That happens.

People can claim it is bottling but even the average recent performances are littered with chances and plenty of hard luck. Tamworth we had chances to win, Kidderminster we had good chances to win and last night, we should have held on. It that is our 'blip' then it is actually not that bad.

The only people bottling it, is people who are giving up already. Pockets of fans who would rather side on the view that they 'expect' us to fail and that they can then sit smuggly in May and feel better about themselves.

As for the RO report, I was quite surprised. Even this site refers to it http://oxblogger.blogspot.com/2010/02/l ... ows-1.html and the similarities are completely different to that of a few years back.

Reading too much into my post there.

I simply meant that the large negative reaction is a result of this seeming all too similar to seasons where a decent position has been bottled.

Had the decline under Smith not happened then maybe the Luton game would be put down to a freak occurance. Sadly, we've all been burnt before and once bitten, twice shy.

Further, i can't see that any Oxford fan would be 'smug' if we fail to go up. If they are, then clearly they're actually Slumdon fans.

However, I agree with the sentiment on a lot of these posts that now is not the time to give up. Now is the time to get behind the team and show them that we won't give up so they can't either.

I'll be honest, on the way home from Luton I was ready to never go to another game again. I really couldn't stand the combination of severe anxiety following by abject misery BUT now is the time for a United front.

If we fail come May, there will be plenty of time to pick it apart and tear up season tickets but now is the time to get on the terraces and pull together.

[SmileyMan]

Nope, two mornings on and still fed up.

The lack of contrition from the players and management has that familiar ring to it as well.

&quotThere is a fight in our club and there is a fight in our players,&quot Wilder told BBC Oxford.

&quotThings are going against us at the moment but we are putting in the effort on the pitch and we are bang in this title race.&quot

Yeah, except you weren't putting in the effort on the pitch, were you? And there wasn't any fight, there was panic, cowardice, a lack of leadership and capitulation.

So don't tell us otherwise. We know what we saw, we're Oxford fans, and we just don't believe in what you say there's just way too much pain for that. Either come out and admit that you weren't good enough, or say nothing at all and turn it around on the pitch.

[Ascension Ox]

Nope, two mornings on and still fed up.

The lack of contrition from the players and management has that familiar ring to it as well.

&quotThere is a fight in our club and there is a fight in our players,&quot Wilder told BBC Oxford.

&quotThings are going against us at the moment but we are putting in the effort on the pitch and we are bang in this title race.&quot

Yeah, except you weren't putting in the effort on the pitch, were you? And there wasn't any fight, there was panic, cowardice, a lack of leadership and capitulation.

So don't tell us otherwise. We know what we saw, we're Oxford fans, and we just don't believe in what you say there's just way too much pain for that. Either come out and admit that you weren't good enough, or say nothing at all and turn it around on the pitch.

The team put plenty of effort in on Tuesday. I saw no panic or capitulation. Or lack of fight. Clarke certainly crumbled imo, no one else did.

This massive streak of OUFC supporter fatalism could really do for us.

'SmileyMan', is that an ironic handle?

[theox]

Nope, two mornings on and still fed up.

The lack of contrition from the players and management has that familiar ring to it as well.

&quotThere is a fight in our club and there is a fight in our players,&quot Wilder told BBC Oxford.

&quotThings are going against us at the moment but we are putting in the effort on the pitch and we are bang in this title race.&quot

Yeah, except you weren't putting in the effort on the pitch, were you? And there wasn't any fight, there was panic, cowardice, a lack of leadership and capitulation.

So don't tell us otherwise. We know what we saw, we're Oxford fans, and we just don't believe in what you say there's just way too much pain for that. Either come out and admit that you weren't good enough, or say nothing at all and turn it around on the pitch.

The team put plenty of effort in on Tuesday. I saw no panic or capitulation. Or lack of fight. Clarke certainly crumbled imo, no one else did.

This massive streak of OUFC supporter fatalism could really do for us.

'SmileyMan', is that an ironic handle?

Hmmmmm, you must have been at a different game because there was definitely panic. For the last ten minutes, we sat deeper and deeper. No-one wanted the ball and if it came near one of our players it was treated like a hot potato. Lumping it aimlessly forward and forgetting that attack is the best form of defence equal panic!!

However, panic in one game does not equal disaster but it needs to be stopped in its tracks now.

[SmileyMan]

This massive streak of OUFC supporter fatalism could really do for us.

Really? Well, I can't help how I feel, and right now I feel fatalistic. If the club doesn't like it, maybe they should start winning. Why should my optimism come before their performance? I've been down that path for an awful lot of the past few seasons, and it doesn't seem to be working.

'SmileyMan', is that an ironic handle?

It's a loooooong story, that isn't worth telling.

However, I'm normally very jovial, willing to ride out the rough patches with a bit of humour. Tuesdays result was just complete bollocks though, sorry that I feel that way, and sorry that you feel that me feeling that way will somehow ruin the team's chances this season. I'll probably be back to happy after we tonk Histon 7-0

[A-Ro]

I saw no panic or capitulation. Or lack of fight. Clarke certainly crumbled imo, no one else did.

This massive streak of OUFC supporter fatalism could really do for us.

Panic was very evident in the pathetic chip straight to their player from the restart and again for the corner that led to the second goal. Capitulation was again evident when the team as a whole fell further and further back into defence instead of doing what they should have been doing which was going for a second goal to put the game beyond doubt.

There's an old saying in football that goes &quotthe opposition can't score if you've got the ball in their half&quot the team could do well to learn that.

[Ascension Ox]

I saw no panic or capitulation. Or lack of fight. Clarke certainly crumbled imo, no one else did.

This massive streak of OUFC supporter fatalism could really do for us.

Panic was very evident in the pathetic chip straight to their player from the restart and again for the corner that led to the second goal. Capitulation was again evident when the team as a whole fell further and further back into defence instead of doing what they should have been doing which was going for a second goal to put the game beyond doubt.

There's an old saying in football that goes &quotthe opposition can't score if you've got the ball in their half&quot the team could do well to learn that.

Being forced into conceding a corner is not 'panic' ffs!

Green looked dangerous on the break in the last 10 minutes, do not agree with your assessment !.

S**t happens in football, it happened on Tuesday night. We were pushed back because Luton were playing well, they were a decent side with a passionate crowd behind them.

'Panic','capitulation', what rot!



If we had produced a timid performance , (which I had feared before the game then fair enough.

It was not a timid performance. Not in the slightest.

[SmileyMan]

It was not a timid performance. Not in the slightest.

Tuesday was exactly the sort of game that champions win and also-rans lose. We lost.

[GodalmingYellow]

This massive streak of OUFC supporter fatalism could really do for us.

Err no. Matches are won on the grass, not in the stands. If the players have the mettle that you attribute them with, and for the record I think we will win this league comfortably, then whatever panic may be in the supporters minds, will not translate to the on pitch performances.

[slappy]

It was not a timid performance. Not in the slightest.

Tuesday was exactly the sort of game that champions win and also-rans lose. We lost.

Like the York home game (= York not champions), the Luton home game (= Luton not champions), or the Mansfield away game (= Us not champions)?

[theox]

I saw no panic or capitulation. Or lack of fight. Clarke certainly crumbled imo, no one else did.

This massive streak of OUFC supporter fatalism could really do for us.

Panic was very evident in the pathetic chip straight to their player from the restart and again for the corner that led to the second goal. Capitulation was again evident when the team as a whole fell further and further back into defence instead of doing what they should have been doing which was going for a second goal to put the game beyond doubt.

There's an old saying in football that goes &quotthe opposition can't score if you've got the ball in their half&quot the team could do well to learn that.

Being forced into conceding a corner is not 'panic' ffs!

Green looked dangerous on the break in the last 10 minutes, do not agree with your assessment !.

S**t happens in football, it happened on Tuesday night. We were pushed back because Luton were playing well, they were a decent side with a passionate crowd behind them.

'Panic','capitulation', what rot!



If we had produced a timid performance , (which I had feared before the game then fair enough.

It was not a timid performance. Not in the slightest.

errr no, Green scored in the 75 min (ish) and then had a couple of decent breaks in the couple of minutes following that. The last ten minutes started at 85 mins because, as you should be well aware, we played until at least 95 mins.

We weren't forced into conceding 'a' corner. We conceded corner after corner. Why? because instead of anyone getting hold of the ball, it was simply hoofed away if it came near any of our players. This wouldn't be a problem if anyone was left playing up front but, sadly, as everyone had dropped back to defend a line somewhere near the edge of our penalty area then the ball kept coming back. Hence why we were under heaps of unnecessary pressure.

If you want one excellent example of the panic, look at our kick-off after the first goal. Instead of trying to run down the clock by keeping possession it was hoofed straight into touch thus handing the initiative back to the opposition.

Yes, it was still freakish and a terrible end to what had been a decent all-round performance worthy of a draw, but to say there was no panic in the last few minutes is laughable.

[theox]

It was not a timid performance. Not in the slightest.

Tuesday was exactly the sort of game that champions win and also-rans lose. We lost.

Like the York home game (= York not champions), the Luton home game (= Luton not champions), or the Mansfield away game (= Us not champions)?

Your vote is with Stevenage then?!