The ACN Match Review 24/25 – Oxford United (a)

How did we play?

Where I was stood, from about 20 minutes into the game until past the final whistle, there was an overwhelming odour of sewage wafting in from the works over the road. It was not pleasant but it did at least give me a big clunking metaphor to open the review with.

We were not good. Slow build up, tired legs, sloppy passes (even from Kenny McLean), and a feeling that we needed a few more friendlies under our belts to be close to ready. But it was less that we didn’t play well and more that the players seemed a bit disinterested in playing well.

Oxford seem like a decent side, although judging them against Norwich at the moment maybe doesn’t give the full picture. They had some huge chances in the first 30 minutes and 3-0 at half time wouldn’t have been unfair. Their biggest chances, and the first goal, came from howlers from Norwich defenders.

Norwich’s attacking threat was so minimal that Oxford’s second goal felt like game over, which of course it was.

What was the best bit about the day?

The third kit is pretty isn’t it? And the walk around Oxford after the game was nice.

What was the worst bit about the day?

It’s gone from have a go Jonny Rowe to have a go at Jonny Rowe. The pre-match revelation that Rowe had effectively pulled a sickie and declined to turn up to work for the wages we pay him was an ominous start to the season. The opening minutes of the game saw the away end ring out with “fuck Jonny Rowe”. Grim but he can hardly complain. Thorup’s notably unvarnished comments after the game about the culture in the dressing room suggest that things may be more fiery than Farke’s first season.

Special mention here for the absolute weapons who left Norwich branded ‘stop the boats’ stickers in the away end. You’re the worst of us.

Hero of the match

Amankwah Forson seems tidy. Every time he got the ball he looked to move forward, quickly. And his speedy feet and nice turns gave some light relief from the rest of the dross on offer. He did have an Onel-esque inability to make anything meaningful of his opportunities, but it was an encouraging start for someone who has only been in the building for a few days.

How do you rate the Kassam as an away day?

Oxford is a 15 minute city, in the sense that it takes 15 minutes for the bus to even leave the train station to head all the way out to where the ground is situated. It’s a mission to get to it, but when you’re there is it a good stadium? No. It’s not a good stadium, and wouldn’t be even if they’d actually finished building it. In fairness, the home fans were decent given there were only 9,000 of them. And the beers in the city post match were glorious.

Sum the game up in five words

It’ll be a long season.