Annual draw at home to Woking:

http://weareoxfordun
ited.blogspot.com/

(An afternoon spent trying to discern: 'In the shape of an Ox')

Darren Patterson said he felt sorry for Oxford United's supporters, who had again turned out in good numbers on a Bank Holiday, but weren't rewarded with a victory as the U's were held to a goalless draw by Woking.

"This happens too many times here ," claimed the U's boss. "At the end of the day, players have got to take responsibility when they go out there.

Oh, so he's noticed at last?! Yes the players have to take responsibility when on the pitch-
but who decides which players go onto the pitch, and who decides erm tactics?? YOU Mr Patterson, the buck stops at your door. You have to stop making lame excuses and being apologetic, and start getting some wins together pronto- or goodbye .

erm, sorry patto, i hope i have to eat my words one day, but YOU are supposed to take responsibility, does it look like the lads dont want to play for patto? discuss.

I agree the manager seems to have very little influence on the players. I really think he should stick to coaching the youngsters he seems to be good at that.

I can't think of many managers who have been a coach or assistant at the club they went on to manage and then be successful. He has just been the cheaper and easy option. Well I hope hes been cheap anyway I don't think anyone at the club deserves any better than minimum wage.

Players smell a dead man walking. It's no excuse, but they won't/can't play for someone who's on borrowed time. How can the manager motivate, when the players sense he's soon to be fired. It doesn't reflect well on the players - but it's a fact.

What a shambles of a game. We just are so low in confidence we are scared to hold the ball and pass it around. The ability to score in front of goal is so very poor.The manager needs to learn how to lift the teams spirits. We just don't have the time to wait for that.The owners need to react to the sad situation asap. It seems a general lack of spirit throughout the club. Do something positive, even if it means bringing in some new players. Save the club from this league.

Back end of last season Patto won 9 out of 10 so I can't agree with any of this.

True, with a set of players that he has either been unable to keep, or he has chosen to bin. To promt a response, if we win 3 out of the next 4, should we be grateful? But He has lost 3 from 4, not good enough? Discuss.

Fat Bloke wrote:
Back end of last season Patto won 9 out of 10 so I can't agree with any of this.

He can only win games when the season is dead we had no chance of the play offs so there was zero pressure on him or the players. When he is under pressure he simply does not perform!

Posted by: Fat Bloke, Didcot on 12:51pm today
Back end of last season Patto won 9 out of 10 so I can't agree with any of this.
Back end of last season Patto won 9 out of 10 so I can't agree with any of this

Appreciate that but at the end of the day, we had nothing to play for, no pressure and in the main poor sides.

We shouldn't even be talking about this five games into the season but we are because other than those 9 games at the end of last season, nothing has changed. His record is appalling.

Fat Bloke wrote:
Back end of last season Patto won 9 out of 10 so I can't agree with any of this.

It was actually 8 out of the last 10 not 9.

Darrens record is as follows - Last season 33 games, 14 wins, 13 losses and 6 draws. So if you include this season it reads 38 games, 15 wins, 16 losses and 7 draws.

Basically he has won about 40% of the games he has managed. So if you put that say over a season winning 40% of the games so say 19 games which is 57 points then say add on half a dozen draws your looking at about 62 points. Which is not good enough as the worst place team in the play offs in the last couple of seasons have been on about 80 points.
62 points would get us about 14th I would estimate.

DP is still suffering from the mess left by Jim. He is also not being helped at the moment by Trainer, Burnell and Turley being out, and Guy and Wilmott being unfit. Young players like Deering and Fisher are getting experience. I think we will be OK. No more management changes , please.

Mark wrote:
DP is still suffering from the mess left by Jim. He is also not being helped at the moment by Trainer, Burnell and Turley being out, and Guy and Wilmott being unfit. Young players like Deering and Fisher are getting experience. I think we will be OK. No more management changes , please.

Personally I think Burnell being injured is a blessing personally! 1 of many very poor players at this football club.

Enough is enough, this is Patto's team. He has been conned at the back end of last season by players only out for new contracts and conned again by new players in pre season.

I'm sorry to say this but he has taken us backwards and he needs to go. the Football world is a harsh one and there cannot be room for sentiment whilst the club is dying. We need a completely fresh management team to shake the Club out of it's 10 years of decline.

The players should not escape critisism though as pretty much all of them are overpayed dross who are up their own arses and dont care about anything else than themselves, they are a disgrace.

what aload of tosh is on this report, if any of you are true Oxford supporters you will get behind your team and support thae, it is no good knocking them after 5 games as there is a long way too go. i agree another 10 games down the line if there is no improvement then we should be asking serious questions. But please give them a chance to sort it out.

its boring now oufc

WE THE PEOPLE OF OXOFRD ARE BORED WITH IT

all oufc do is promise the earth and return the fans loyalty with tripe

year after year

weve heard the excuses match after match

theres nothing elses to say

OUFC ARE OFFICAILLY ONE OF THE WORST TEAMS IN NON LEAGUE
and that after rebuilding in the summer

there must be someone on this planet that cares enough to get oufc going again

its boring now oufc

WE THE PEOPLE OF OXOFRD ARE BORED WITH IT

all oufc do is promise the earth and return the fans loyalty with tripe

year after year

weve heard the excuses match after match

theres nothing elses to say

OUFC ARE OFFICAILLY ONE OF THE WORST TEAMS IN NON LEAGUE
and that after rebuilding in the summer

there must be someone on this planet that cares enough to get oufc going again

Nick wrote:
Enough is enough, this is Patto's team. He has been conned at the back end of last season by players only out for new contracts and conned again by new players in pre season. I'm sorry to say this but he has taken us backwards and he needs to go. the Football world is a harsh one and there cannot be room for sentiment whilst the club is dying. We need a completely fresh management team to shake the Club out of it's 10 years of decline. The players should not escape critisism though as pretty much all of them are overpayed dross who are up their own arses and dont care about anything else than themselves, they are a disgrace.

Spot on!

Statto wrote:

Nick wrote: Enough is enough, this is Patto's team. He has been conned at the back end of last season by players only out for new contracts and conned again by new players in pre season. I'm sorry to say this but he has taken us backwards and he needs to go. the Football world is a harsh one and there cannot be room for sentiment whilst the club is dying. We need a completely fresh management team to shake the Club out of it's 10 years of decline. The players should not escape critisism though as pretty much all of them are overpayed dross who are up their own arses and dont care about anything else than themselves, they are a disgrace.

Spot on!

Eloquently put, truth is as much as i wanted Patto to succeed it was because i am OUFC thru and thru and so much want to see this club of ours doing better than they have in recent years, we will never know what Ian Atkins might have achieved had Firoz stumped up but he was the best we got in recent times, maybe if some of these players at least moved and passed to each other instead of doing what they are best at and so often give the ball away we might just save ourselves from the Conference South., defending on the edge of their own box and making it easy for the opposition isnt the way to go up but an easy route down.

What I really cant understand is why, during the 3 PS games that I saw, they kept the ball on the deck, and looked a side full of confidence - even against teams from higher leagues - Wycombe, Cheltenham, Pompey..... and yet, come the league, we seem to panic and revert to the hoof upfield - not once on Monday did we look to play through the midfield.... I think DP deserves a proper run, but please Darren, get them playing how the did...... they CAN do it.... so get them organised and to calm it down - you can start by telling the otherwise excellent Cole that he cant punt it.... he has to throw it to a yellow shirt!!!
Come on yellows.

I have supported Oxford United since 1953 travelled many miles to home and away matches, been there for the good times seen some very poor times but never seen them as poor as they are now. Sad thing is that most of the fans can see the problem ( and see it last season) but the manager and board either dont see it or dont want to see it, firstly the team requires a genuine creative midfield player,
secondly the team needs another genuine stricker ( to assist a fit Guy) Thirdly they need an on the field leader add new tacticts
( something simply like learning to pass to your team mate: passing the ball out of defence rather than hoofing it back to the other team and finaly the team needs to play with pride and passion and remember what Oxford United stands for, too many players over the last three years have short changed the club and this lot are going the same way. Yes Mr Merry to get the team right will require investment but the penalty for not investing is too painful to consider 4000+ can soon become 900 on a good day. Finaly you have got to get a new manager (sorryDP) you have had pre season and five matches to get it right and either the players are not listening or they are frankly not interest in playing your way, you are the manager the buck stops with you for player selection, performance, tactics and pride and the current team lacks all four. --Comments---

I have never been a supporter of Darren Patterson as manager .I agree with all of of what Phillip from Brighton has said we need a manager who can lift this club and he must be experienced at lower/non league level. I beg the board to go all out for Martin Allen he would shake the place up and bring pride back to a club which at present has precious little.He must be given time but i belive this is one of are last chances to lift the club please board members Martin Allen NOW !!!.

I'm sad to say you've got 2 get through the bad times to get to the good times. I'm just glad that so many OUFC fans have stuck with their team... with regards to DP i dont think he's the man to get us back 2 the good times and back where we belong.