Wilder wants Oxford United to stick with plan of attack

10:10am Friday 26th October 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Full back Tony Capaldi (right) gets up field to cross against Rochdale Full back Tony Capaldi (right) gets up field to cross against Rochdale

CHRIS Wilder has no intention of changing his attacking philosophy at Oxford United despite admitting they were “mugged” by Rochdale on Tuesday.

The U’s enjoyed the best of the opening 75 minutes at Spotland, but were unable to find a breakthrough.

As the game entered the final stages, the visitors continued to press for a winner and were twice caught out on the counter-attack as Rochdale claimed a 2-0 victory.

United have won as many league games this season as eighth-placed Torquay United, but an inability to take a point from their other games sees Wilder’s side languising ten places below.

Last season, the team’s large number of draws was a source of criticism, but this term they have had just one stalemate – the lowest number in the division.

Wilder was disappointed the U’s could not convert their chances against Rochdale, but had no problems with the intent.

He said: “We went for a win and got mugged a little bit.

“If you’re under siege you have to say ‘a point here is a decent point’ if we’re not at our best.

“But when you’re on top and looking for a win I can’t be too critical or put the reins on the players to say ‘no’.

Related links

“They were in the fight and they know they just needed to land a knockout punch.

“We couldn’t land it, stuck our chin out and got hit by a sucker punch.

“When we’re on top I don’t ever want us to shut up shop.

“If we’re getting battered you look at it, but they weren’t on Tuesday, so I’ve got no problem with us trying to win the game.”

And the United manager believes the attitude is even more important given where the team are in the division.

He said: “With the position we’re in, we’ve gone for a win – that’s the name of the game.

“We went for it and got punished, but I’d much rather the players were positive and go for a win than just feebly seeing out the game.

“There’s no way we will change our philosophy, we haven’t in my time here and we won’t change it on Saturday.

“We will go to Wycombe looking to put them on the back foot and win the game.”

After clashing with some of the division’s leading sides in the last month, tomorrow’s trip to Wycombe marks the start of a run of league fixtures against teams in the bottom half.

Wilder views it as a vital opportunity to cash in and claw back some ground.

He said: “We have the capability of going anywhere and winning.

“I’m certain we’ll be in the mix, but we have to keep picking up points through this period, when we’re playing teams in and around us.

“While the race finishes in May, this is a crucial time for us.”

Comments (11)

10:55am Fri 26 Oct 12

jbowling says...

When we’re on top I don’t ever want us to shut up shop.

I’d much rather the players were positive and go for a win than just feebly seeing out the game.

“There’s no way we will change our philosophy, we haven’t in my time here.

Can anyone and I mean anyone believe these comments ?
When we’re on top I don’t ever want us to shut up shop. I’d much rather the players were positive and go for a win than just feebly seeing out the game. “There’s no way we will change our philosophy, we haven’t in my time here. Can anyone and I mean anyone believe these comments ? jbowling

11:58am Fri 26 Oct 12

RADIOFAN says...

The bank manager is going to give me twenty million pounds next week so i can have plastic surgery to look like Brad Pitt. The weather forecasters has predicted it will never rain in England ever again. Amanda Seyfied is going to fall madly in love with me. England are going to win the next world cup in Brazil. ITV are going to do away with commercial breaks. The Beckhams are going to hide from publicity. Jordon is going to win a oscar. Well if Wilder is going to live in a fantasy world. Why i ?
The bank manager is going to give me twenty million pounds next week so i can have plastic surgery to look like Brad Pitt. The weather forecasters has predicted it will never rain in England ever again. Amanda Seyfied is going to fall madly in love with me. England are going to win the next world cup in Brazil. ITV are going to do away with commercial breaks. The Beckhams are going to hide from publicity. Jordon is going to win a oscar. Well if Wilder is going to live in a fantasy world. Why i ? RADIOFAN

1:02pm Fri 26 Oct 12

dorsetbob says...

The two comments above sum it up,could not believe what i read its not April the first is it ?
The two comments above sum it up,could not believe what i read its not April the first is it ? dorsetbob

1:28pm Fri 26 Oct 12

oldun says...

442 - not heslop - forward passing rather than obsessive sideways passing
442 - not heslop - forward passing rather than obsessive sideways passing oldun

4:26pm Fri 26 Oct 12

RADIOFAN says...

Dorsetbob. I know you think im talking rubbish and sometimes i probably do but we have one thing in common. We really care a lot about Oxford United. You obviously think Chris Wilder will take us to promotion at the end of this season and i really pray you are right and i am wrong and i really mean that. I will support the team one hundred per cent while they are on the field but i have to admit im seriously worried that this season could end with the same feeling as the fateful day against the Orient. They say good teams play badly and win. Then if that is true then surely it works the opposite way. Bad teams play well and lose.
Dorsetbob. I know you think im talking rubbish and sometimes i probably do but we have one thing in common. We really care a lot about Oxford United. You obviously think Chris Wilder will take us to promotion at the end of this season and i really pray you are right and i am wrong and i really mean that. I will support the team one hundred per cent while they are on the field but i have to admit im seriously worried that this season could end with the same feeling as the fateful day against the Orient. They say good teams play badly and win. Then if that is true then surely it works the opposite way. Bad teams play well and lose. RADIOFAN

9:07pm Fri 26 Oct 12

philwhiteheadisgod says...

Taxi for Wilder! Time to do the decent thing and go now or Mr. Lenagan grow a pair and get rid. Get someone in with fresh ideas to come in and motivate this talanted squad we have. We pose no threat for corners especially, and never seem to select the right pass when in the penalty area, or take the shot when it's on. I will be there tomorrow but which Oxford will turn up? I have no idea. COYY!
Taxi for Wilder! Time to do the decent thing and go now or Mr. Lenagan grow a pair and get rid. Get someone in with fresh ideas to come in and motivate this talanted squad we have. We pose no threat for corners especially, and never seem to select the right pass when in the penalty area, or take the shot when it's on. I will be there tomorrow but which Oxford will turn up? I have no idea. COYY! philwhiteheadisgod

9:46am Sat 27 Oct 12

adlibber says...

I wonder if anyone takes wilder seriously anymore - his pre/post match ramblings are an embarrassment to the club. He just says whatever comes into his head and none of it makes any sense at all. Even if we beat Wycombe today I'll still expect us to lose the next game and until we go on a long unbeaten run I'll keep my cynicism. Sadly if wilder is here for rest of season I really do fear the worst. Wilder is out of his depth and has no idea how to change this depressing cycle of inconsistency. Lenagan should think about the fans and how such loyalty is undeserved on a team playing below average with a manager so inept. Fans are not stupid and if the club keeps taking the pee attendances will decline and Lenagan's investment will be shredded.

Wilder has to go.
I wonder if anyone takes wilder seriously anymore - his pre/post match ramblings are an embarrassment to the club. He just says whatever comes into his head and none of it makes any sense at all. Even if we beat Wycombe today I'll still expect us to lose the next game and until we go on a long unbeaten run I'll keep my cynicism. Sadly if wilder is here for rest of season I really do fear the worst. Wilder is out of his depth and has no idea how to change this depressing cycle of inconsistency. Lenagan should think about the fans and how such loyalty is undeserved on a team playing below average with a manager so inept. Fans are not stupid and if the club keeps taking the pee attendances will decline and Lenagan's investment will be shredded. Wilder has to go. adlibber

11:13am Sat 27 Oct 12

BigYellowScarf says...

adlibber wrote:
I wonder if anyone takes wilder seriously anymore - his pre/post match ramblings are an embarrassment to the club. He just says whatever comes into his head and none of it makes any sense at all. Even if we beat Wycombe today I'll still expect us to lose the next game and until we go on a long unbeaten run I'll keep my cynicism. Sadly if wilder is here for rest of season I really do fear the worst. Wilder is out of his depth and has no idea how to change this depressing cycle of inconsistency. Lenagan should think about the fans and how such loyalty is undeserved on a team playing below average with a manager so inept. Fans are not stupid and if the club keeps taking the pee attendances will decline and Lenagan's investment will be shredded.

Wilder has to go.
I wonder if anyone takes adlibber seriously anymore - his pre/post match ramblings are embarrassingly tedious. He has only one obsessive thought in his head and it appears to be based on no experience of being involved in the game at all. Even if we beat Wycombe today he'll pounce on the next defeat and maunder on until we have a long unbeaten run because he has little grip on anything except scorelines. Sadly if he keeps posting here for the rest of the season I really do fear the worst. He's out of his depth and has no idea how to change his depressing tide of negativity. He should think about people who read this site and how such depressing tedium is undeserved. Fortunately most fans are not stupid and are aware that football is more complicated than adlibber imagines, and if he keeps droning miserably on, endlessly repeating himself, they'll just stop bothering to read him.
[quote][p][bold]adlibber[/bold] wrote: I wonder if anyone takes wilder seriously anymore - his pre/post match ramblings are an embarrassment to the club. He just says whatever comes into his head and none of it makes any sense at all. Even if we beat Wycombe today I'll still expect us to lose the next game and until we go on a long unbeaten run I'll keep my cynicism. Sadly if wilder is here for rest of season I really do fear the worst. Wilder is out of his depth and has no idea how to change this depressing cycle of inconsistency. Lenagan should think about the fans and how such loyalty is undeserved on a team playing below average with a manager so inept. Fans are not stupid and if the club keeps taking the pee attendances will decline and Lenagan's investment will be shredded. Wilder has to go.[/p][/quote]I wonder if anyone takes adlibber seriously anymore - his pre/post match ramblings are embarrassingly tedious. He has only one obsessive thought in his head and it appears to be based on no experience of being involved in the game at all. Even if we beat Wycombe today he'll pounce on the next defeat and maunder on until we have a long unbeaten run because he has little grip on anything except scorelines. Sadly if he keeps posting here for the rest of the season I really do fear the worst. He's out of his depth and has no idea how to change his depressing tide of negativity. He should think about people who read this site and how such depressing tedium is undeserved. Fortunately most fans are not stupid and are aware that football is more complicated than adlibber imagines, and if he keeps droning miserably on, endlessly repeating himself, they'll just stop bothering to read him. BigYellowScarf

11:39am Sat 27 Oct 12

oldun says...

We won't go up this season under Wilder - another season outside the third tier will be far far too many for our loyal fans. I don't judge CW on (just ) today's result - he has not done well - has he? Yep, it's the same old record from me too . How has CW done since we managed the dizzy heights of third place in the Conference , BYS?
We won't go up this season under Wilder - another season outside the third tier will be far far too many for our loyal fans. I don't judge CW on (just ) today's result - he has not done well - has he? Yep, it's the same old record from me too . How has CW done since we managed the dizzy heights of third place in the Conference , BYS? oldun

1:40pm Sun 28 Oct 12

RocketMan says...

Interesting and revealing comments from Wilder. Yes we should have quality in the final third, go for a win and not be sloppy in defence.
But how many times have we seen the team.try and hang on for a 1- 0 win and get done?
Great win this Sat! But the U's should be making mincemeat of theses lesser level teams. If not they will be the stewed! Still not convinced forwards are up to the job. Hope I am proved wrong. I don't see us having the money ro buy better. Unless improvement is long lasting, rather than a flash in the pan, I can see us having a very difficult season and a change of management.
Interesting and revealing comments from Wilder. Yes we should have quality in the final third, go for a win and not be sloppy in defence. But how many times have we seen the team.try and hang on for a 1- 0 win and get done? Great win this Sat! But the U's should be making mincemeat of theses lesser level teams. If not they will be the stewed! Still not convinced forwards are up to the job. Hope I am proved wrong. I don't see us having the money ro buy better. Unless improvement is long lasting, rather than a flash in the pan, I can see us having a very difficult season and a change of management. RocketMan

1:45pm Sun 28 Oct 12

oldun says...

RocketMan wrote:
Interesting and revealing comments from Wilder. Yes we should have quality in the final third, go for a win and not be sloppy in defence.
But how many times have we seen the team.try and hang on for a 1- 0 win and get done?
Great win this Sat! But the U's should be making mincemeat of theses lesser level teams. If not they will be the stewed! Still not convinced forwards are up to the job. Hope I am proved wrong. I don't see us having the money ro buy better. Unless improvement is long lasting, rather than a flash in the pan, I can see us having a very difficult season and a change of management.
Agreed . Our league position is poor - gotta make top three - unlikely at the moment - but we rose up the table brilliantly in 95-96 - where is D Smith (not David!!) - he sounds a big U's fan
[quote][p][bold]RocketMan[/bold] wrote: Interesting and revealing comments from Wilder. Yes we should have quality in the final third, go for a win and not be sloppy in defence. But how many times have we seen the team.try and hang on for a 1- 0 win and get done? Great win this Sat! But the U's should be making mincemeat of theses lesser level teams. If not they will be the stewed! Still not convinced forwards are up to the job. Hope I am proved wrong. I don't see us having the money ro buy better. Unless improvement is long lasting, rather than a flash in the pan, I can see us having a very difficult season and a change of management.[/p][/quote]Agreed . Our league position is poor - gotta make top three - unlikely at the moment - but we rose up the table brilliantly in 95-96 - where is D Smith (not David!!) - he sounds a big U's fan oldun

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

Get Adobe Flash player
About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree