Reasons to be cheerful

[Baboo]

Sigh... one win and people go mad. A one goal win against a side doing rather badly. (Remember what happened after that Alty game last season, folks...

And Saturday brings to the Kasstad an unbeaten Kettering side featuring John Dempster. This game will tell us more. Can't wait.

After two away games I'll also be interested to see if we play the same system with three centre halves (a waste at home if you ask me) and two wing backs (well that's what some people are calling them). Did anyone call Carruthers anything other than a full back when we signed him? Admittedly he is better going forward than defending. And why didn't Darren start the season with the 3-5-2 (5-3-2 ?) if that is his preferred option. Seems to me he got players in to play 4-4-2 but went to plan B when we started badly. Not that going to plan B is a bad thing of course. It was something Jim mark II never did.

[Ascension Ox]

Well, the table does currently indicate we've lost 3 of out first 7 games, and won only two. Thus I'd conclude it's a bit arrogant to suppose we have by far the best first team squad.

Sigh... one win and people go mad. A one goal win against a side doing rather badly. (Remember what happened after that Alty game last season, folks...

I'm not saying we won't still do well. (It is indeed still early days.I just can't take the first seven games as evidence that we will.

'Sigh', read what I said. Did I say we had the 'best first team squad'??
No ones going mad.

[Jimski]

I was building on Pena's response to the fact that you said the other teams were not a 'main threat'.

[Pe├▒a Oxford United]

Did I say we had the 'best first team squad'??

Implicitly, yes. Otherwise it's hard to explain how the main threat is injuries and suspensions.

[Ascension Ox]

Did I say we had the 'best first team squad'??

Implicitly, yes. Otherwise it's hard to explain how the main threat is injuries and suspensions.

No. I said , on paper we had the best first team in the league.

Not the best squad. Its too thin. That's the gamble that's been taken. That's why injuries and suspensions are so critical to success this season.

[Pe├▒a Oxford United]

No. I said , on paper we had the best first team in the league.

OK, that seems fair. But is it reasonable? I mean what basis would we have for thinking we had the best first XI? I can imagine someone saying nobody's outstanding, but why would I think we had the best?

[GodalmingYellow]

No. I said , on paper we had the best first team in the league.

OK, that seems fair. But is it reasonable? I mean what basis would we have for thinking we had the best first XI? I can imagine someone saying nobody's outstanding, but why would I think we had the best?

Its the perennial subjective question of what is our best first XI and have we played that XI yet, because if have not managed to get our best first XI out yet, then results to date are a poor indicator of the first XI's ability.

Results are a reflection of the squad, given the circumstances and judgements in selecting the first XI that actually plays each week, not a reflection of the individual and subjective opinion as to what is our best first XI and are they the best in the league.

Perhaps an interesting line to this age old debate is to list what you regard as our best first XI assuming no injuries or suspensions.

Mine in a 4-4-2 would be:

GK Turley
LB Carruthers
LCB Foster
RCB Quinn
RB Clarke
LM Haldane
LCM Trainer
RCM Murray
RM Odubade
S Guy
S Constable

Is that the best first XI in the division? Hmm, it's not going to be far off, but it is weak at LB.

[Mally]

I doubt that we have the best team in the Conference but to be honest I don't really know. For a start we haven't seen most teams yet and unlike the premier league where every player movement is splashed across the TV, radio, papers and Internet you really have to go looking for information about Conference players and even then most information is based on second hand opinion.

I think we've got a good team for this level but when we first came down we clearly outspent everybody else but now with the removal of the wages cap and our financial situation we aren't the (relatively) big spenders we used to be. As the season unfolds we may be surprised by the quality of other teams and unfortunately, if that proves to be the case, we aren't in a position to respond when the transfer window opens in January.

[Baboo]

As the season unfolds we may be surprised by the quality of other teams and unfortunately, if that proves to be the case, we aren't in a position to respond when the transfer window opens in January.

No team on Setanta has been any great shakes from what I've seen. No Aldershot this year ? But we have not been very good either have we.
The odd player stands out for while (but not a whole team) but will trhey perform consitently well over a season?
Brittain for Kiddy tonight looked the best crosser of a ball at BSP level I've seen for a while. They're a committed side though and will give us a game a week Sat. Tourquay look pants at the moment. Matt Green - bit part sub. Glad we didn't sign him ??

[Snake]

Especially given our position in the table.

7 games in, the table means jack. Even the top team (Salisbury) to date has lost 2 of their games!

Jack?

We’re five points away from a place in the play-off lottery and it's only early September.

[Ascension Ox]

Especially given our position in the table.

7 games in, the table means jack. Even the top team (Salisbury) to date has lost 2 of their games!

Jack?

We’re five points away from a place in the play-off lottery and it's only early September.

Yes, jack. Where were Dagenham, Exeter , Morecambe sitting in the table at this stage of the season the years they got promoted? You're as bad as the TIU nihilists. PS I bet Stevenage improve.

On tonight's showing Torquay are going to be nowhere near.

[Pe├▒a Oxford United]

After seven games?

Well, Daggers were second with fourteen points - five points behind the runaways leaders, it's true. Morecambe were struggling though. Exeter I can't tell you exactly (though I know they were sixth until such time as the relevant Footymad page is available.

Clearly the tables are of limited use this early in the season (but not entirely irrelevant, I think) but you really don't have a lot of basis for claiming we have the best team in the Conference. You can say it, but you've not got much to back it up.

[Matt D]

You're as bad as the TIU nihilists.

there are nihilisits posting on TiU?! brilliant.

[Pe├▒a Oxford United]

Nothing will come of it.

[Mally]

You're as bad as the TIU nihilists.

there are nihilisits posting on TiU?! brilliant.

Are you sure they aren't just Denialists?(individuals who reject propositions on which a scientific or scholarly consensus exists).

i.e. Despite evidence to the contrary they believe that Oxford United aren't an average boring mid-table non-league team.