Isn't it interesting that....

[A-Ro]

The forum is REALLY quiet after a midweek 0 - 0 draw, all the talk is of pies (I'm guilty as well)

We should really be celebrating the fact that the draw equals the club record of undefeated games from the start of the season.

This forum would have been full of it if we'd have won against the Kiddies.

Are we so fickle?

[DLT]

Two naff mid week draws.

We are still four points clear.

Everything should be rosie.

But, a bit like I always knew in the Atkins days that our success wouldn't last, I think people have just suddenly realised that this season isn't going to stroll we thought it would be two weeks ago.

[Resurrection Ox]

Two naff mid week draws.

We are still four points clear.

Everything should be rosie.

But, a bit like I always knew in the Atkins days that our success wouldn't last, I think people have just suddenly realised that this season isn't going to stroll we thought it would be two weeks ago.

I have a different view. If you look at our season to date our most convincing performance have come after a significant break between matches ie Northwich, Morecambe and York.

This 15 games in 2 month malarkey would wear ANY side down. Now that we we are back to a more ordered fixture list (at least until postponements start) I see us pulling further clear.

I am not surprised that the majority of Oxford supporters are glass half-empty merchants considering the last 7 seasons however...
.

[A-Ro]

If you look at our season to date our most convincing performance have come after a significant break between matches ie Northwich, Morecambe and York.

This 15 games in 2 month malarkey would wear ANY side down.

I can't wait until March when we've got 8 games in 4 weeks. It comes at just the wrong time of the season.

[GodalmingYellow]

Two naff mid week draws.

We are still four points clear.

Everything should be rosie.

But, a bit like I always knew in the Atkins days that our success wouldn't last, I think people have just suddenly realised that this season isn't going to stroll we thought it would be two weeks ago.

I have a different view. If you look at our season to date our most convincing performance have come after a significant break between matches ie Northwich, Morecambe and York.

This 15 games in 2 month malarkey would wear ANY side down. Now that we we are back to a more ordered fixture list (at least until postponements start) I see us pulling further clear.

I am not surprised that the majority of Oxford supporters are glass half-empty merchants considering the last 7 seasons however...
.

Same for all the teams.

[SmileyMan]

It's not just us having a slight dip in form/fortune. What worries me more is that the competition, specifically the Daggers, who a few weeks ago were suffering their own lull, are now looking to have a bit of a surge on.

Whether they can maintain it, or whether we can get our own performances back on track is not certain - and you're right about the last seven seasons. Personally, I won't be anything other than nervous until we've mathematically nailed ourselves to the top of the table.

Also, we've seen a change in attitudes from the opponents from &quotLet's show these League boys how good the Conference is&quot to &quotA point against Oxford is a good result&quot. Fair play to the Kiddies boys for a gritty defensive game, but you can bet that they wouldn't have played like that if it had been the fist game of the season. Apart from the games against the genuine playoff/promotion contenders, we'll probably see that until the end of the season, and the strikers need to get a lot sharper about putting their chances away (2 shots on target out of 10, and both of them straight at the keeper) or else we're going to run out of points.

On the other hand, if we draw every away game and win every home game, we'd have 100 points by the end of the season, which will be easily enough to win it, so maybe there's room for a little bit of optimism in there.

[SteMerritt]

It's not just us having a slight dip in form/fortune. What worries me more is that the competition, specifically the Daggers, who a few weeks ago were suffering their own lull, are now looking to have a bit of a surge on.

Dag &amp Redbridge last 6 Results

St Albans - LP 21 (H) - W 4-2
Northwich - LP 16 (H) - W 5-0
Stafford - LP 17 (A) - W 2-1
Gravesend - LP 8 (A) - D 0-0
Weymouth - LP 3 (H) - W 4-1
Halifax - LP 18 (A) - L 1-3

The LP is current league position of the opposition. As you can see, they have had a lot of 'easier' games during this upturn, only the Weymouth victory really standing out. When they play more of the top sides, I think you will see them begin to drop back into the pack.

[DLT]

Steve

How do our performances against teams in top half compare with those against bottom half.

I get the feeling we still have that disease lingering where wemake hard going of beating poor sides.

[boris]

Dave, we've beaten four of the bottom five teams (inc. two 5-1 scorelines, one away), and we've won 4, drawn 1 against five of the teams from 2nd to 7th (yet to play against Woking).

Extrapolate from that anything you want.

[SteMerritt]

Based on current League Positions....

Top Half W=5 D=2
Bottom Half W=6 D=2

Pretty Even!! Breaking it down further....

Top 6 W=3 D=1
Mid Table W=4 D=2
Bottom 6 W=4 D=1

Now, of course, Crawley had a 10 point deduction. If you ignore this, it places them 12th (Top Half), and drops Kiddy to 18th (Bottom 6). It then changes to this...

Top Half W=6 D=2
Bottom Half W=5 D=2

Top 6 W=3 D=1
Mid Table W=5 D=1
Bottom 6 W=3 D=2

[GodalmingYellow]

Dave, we've beaten four of the bottom five teams (inc. two 5-1 scorelines, one away), and we've won 4, drawn 1 against five of the teams from 2nd to 7th (yet to play against Woking).

Extrapolate from that anything you want.

That may be true of the opposition positions at todays date Boris, but what was their respective position when we played them? I'm thinking of St Albands and Halifax for example who were both much higher in the table when we played them. And Crawley of course are only at the bottom because of the 10 point deduction.

I'm with DLT on this, I really think we struggle to come up with a game plan to break down stubborn defences, and any chances we do create we need about 10 goes to get a goal.

It may well be just an impression after 7 years of failure of course.

[SteMerritt]

I'm thinking of St Albans and Halifax for example who were both much higher in the table when we played them. And Crawley of course are only at the bottom because of the 10 point deduction.

Halifax, of course, was the first game of the season, so didn't have a league placing at the time!

[boris]

Depends how you want it to fit your argument. You could claim that Halifax were equal top if you want to support GY/DLT's view, or you could claim that they were equal bottom if you wanted to disprove that theory.

[Resurrection Ox]

Two naff mid week draws.

We are still four points clear.

Everything should be rosie.

But, a bit like I always knew in the Atkins days that our success wouldn't last, I think people have just suddenly realised that this season isn't going to stroll we thought it would be two weeks ago.

I have a different view. If you look at our season to date our most convincing performance have come after a significant break between matches ie Northwich, Morecambe and York.

This 15 games in 2 month malarkey would wear ANY side down. Now that we we are back to a more ordered fixture list (at least until postponements start) I see us pulling further clear.

I am not surprised that the majority of Oxford supporters are glass half-empty merchants considering the last 7 seasons however...
.

Same for all the teams.

Don't agree. Surely you must admit that when we have had a week gap between games we have played splendidly. Look at the evidence.

My rationale is that - of course - compared to other Conference sides - we are relatively talented. Rest therefore suits us better than the other teams.

Anyway bring the thread up again at Christmas and we'll see who's right.

[Matt D]

all good points, but the pies at kiddie were really good, weren't they?