Pre-Match View From Oxford

[GrayBlade]

"try and be positive we haven’t lost by two clear goals in a competitive match for a long time (Blackburn FA Cup?) so that is a tremendous."

Well, apart from losing by two clear goals in your last match on Tuesday night that is. Obviously the Oxford fans aren't university standard.

 

[sitwell]

What are they on about? Are they on crack? Can some of the older forum members enlighten me and explain any potential beef with Oxford from the past? I know there's the Wilder thing but bitter rivals? They're just a town full of cycle lanes. Unbelievable Jeff.

Cant remember any games at home at all ,quite a few at the Manor Ground ,few punch ups in the jennell behind the away end ,on the pitch one bonfire night when one of my mates got ambushed. Horrible open air away end it was but always a good drink in Oxford before the game ,remember a push bike getting thrown through a window for some reason and their awful kit, but that's about it

 

[Caseh]

See that's

the kind of post I hate ,I could never say that about my club in public.

You think I like saying it? I'm just honest. We are run horrendously, lied to at every chance the board gets (seemingly), the fans turn on each other at the drop of a hat, the players as we all know are a "bit" crap. At this moment in time, this club really is a joke.

Yet I will be there again on Saturday, and I'll even be one of those few cheering the players on!

 

[Kenilworth]

Hmmmmnnn. Just me detecting the obvs sarcasm in the rivalry jibes, then?

Only time I went to see the Blades at Oxford it was pissing it down and we got thumped 3-0. Could have been many more. Can't recall a meaningful attack from our lads at all.

Seem to remember Aldridge and Houghton played for them

 

[Bladepicker]

"Its Probably because we beat them through a Nicky Banger freekick, which was a rarity, at their place. Also notable for one of the best saves I ever seen live by Paul Gerrard. They’re from Yorkshire, long memories you see. "

“Are they still bitter from Nicky Banger scoring that free kick at Bramall Lane nigh on 20 years ago?”

I get where they are coming from. In between all the ITK stuff you can barely move on this forum for post about that Nicky Banger free kick and the Paul Gerrard save. In fact it's all I ever talk about.

 

[zablade]

I genuinely can't recall this Nicky Banger free kick at all. I usually have a good memory for games but i'm lost with this one. Anyone else recall it?

I think it was towards the end of Steve Bruces season we were looking a shoe in for the play offs and Oxford looking at relegation, they beat us in a live TV Friday game with that late free kick at the Lane.

The following day Charles Green sold David Holdsworth to Birmingham and I think we only won one more game to miss the play offs.

Don't recall anyone holding Oxford especially responsible though.

 

[Lane Ender]

All of a sudden we are relegation candidates.
What a load of bollocks

 

[Bladepicker]

I think it was towards the end of Steve Bruces season we were looking a shoe in for the play offs and Oxford looking at relegation, they beat us in a live TV Friday game with that late free kick at the Lane.

The following day Charles Green sold David Holdsworth to Birmingham and I think we only won one more game to miss the play offs.

Don't recall anyone holding Oxford especially responsible though.

I remember us losing to them on a Friday night TV game but cannot remember the goal at all? Seems bizarre they remember it so well and seem to think it's all we go on about.

The defeat to Oxford I remember was at the Manor Ground, when they totally bullied us senseless and we could not handle Matty Elliott from set pieces at all. 4 - 1 I think it was and, if I remember rightly, it absolutely chucked it down on the open terrace.

Also happier memries of the Manor Ground - we beat them 4 - 2 I think in blazing sunshine on the open end under Spackman. Thing I remember from that game is us defending a corner in from of us and fat pig Jemson was there pushing and pulling, someone shouted "Fjortoft, harpoon the fat bastard" and Jan Aage, the legend that he is, laughed.

 

[zablade]

I remember us losing to them on a Friday night TV game but cannot remember the goal at all? Seems bizarre they remember it so well and seem to think it's all we go on about.

The defeat to Oxford I remember was at the Manor Ground, when they totally bullied us senseless and we could not handle Matty Elliott from set pieces at all. 4 - 1 I think it was and, if I remember rightly, it absolutely chucked it down on the open terrace.

Also happier memries of the Manor Ground - we beat them 4 - 2 I think in blazing sunshine on the open end under Spackman. Thing I remember from that game is us defending a corner in from of us and fat pig Jemson was there pushing and pulling, someone shouted "Fjortoft, harpoon the fat bastard" and Jan Aage, the legend that he is, laughed.

I only remember it as Holdsworth came to applaud the Kop at the end crying, he didn't want to go but was told he had to or it was reserve team football and Training with the kids.

Charles Green was a bastard, no wonder Steve Bruce resigned that summer.

 

[Silent Blade]

I genuinely can't recall this Nicky Banger free kick at all. I usually have a good memory for games but i'm lost with this one. Anyone else recall it?

It was a Friday night match shown live on Sky in March 1999. There was a BIFA protest before the match which didn't help the atmosphere in the ground. The free kick was taken at the Lane End with the score 1-1. Banger took the free kick. Dellas was in the defensive wall but he ducked to avoid the ball hitting his face and the ball went into the net

 

[Dec]

Hmmmmnnn. Just me detecting the obvs sarcasm in the rivalry jibes, then?

Only time I went to see the Blades at Oxford it was pissing it down and we got thumped 3-0. Could have been many more. Can't recall a meaningful attack from our lads at all.

Seem to remember Aldridge and Houghton played for them

It's quite clearly sarcasm, directed at the comment above it.

That's where there's a bit of a problem with taking quotes and slapping them on without the context of what's been said prior to it - it can look like a completely different point of view.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Referee for the game he is a new one for us NICHOLAS KINSELEY been doing Conference and Lge 2 games for last two seasons.

Last game of Oxfords he reffed was Crawley away end of last season Crawley 1-5 Oxford

My memories of Oxford are the last two games both in the FA Cup both 3-0 wins for us,Ched Evans brace i remember that.

Oh and he likes dishing RED cards out,safe to say we will get one given then,O'Connell to be the unlucky player,that will make a treble of f/ups for him.

 

[Dnblade]

I think a lot of the comments were after a poster put up some views of United fans.....

Some comments from the Sheff utd forum-

'10 years ago would never have imagined I would be hoping beyond hope that we might overcome Oxford United at home, a pub team at best in the scheme of things and worrying about slipping into the forth division again. If we go down this time there no way back in my lifetime '

'I f*cking hate Oxford United .

Only one team in Oxford ..... Oxford City

Come on Blades , beat these p*ss poor Oxford wannabes !'

Read more: http://yellowsforum.co.uk/thread/24335/sheffield-united-travel#ixzz4IRH6iHLZ

 

[Marcus Tullius Cicero]

This bit made me laugh.

“why do Sheffield United fans have such a dislike for Oxford? Very strange.”

“Jealousy mate, pure and simple.

We live in Oxford, they live in Sheffield.

Who in their right minds would want to live in Oxford, it’s a dump. On a recent visit I walked 500 yards up the Cowley road and was asked for money from beggars about eight times. Ask them about Rose Hill or Blackbird Leys or, well any bit that’s not that special bit of north Oxford that’s posh.

They have a bigger club as their main rivals, we don’t.

They speak wit’ northern accent, we speak the queens English.

The Oxford accent is the Queens English is it, never heard the Queen speaking like a yokel.

And they’ve got Wilder, we haven’t”

 

[Kev Gee]

Rivals....

Eh?

 

[UnitedBlade]

What are they on about? Are they on crack? Can some of the older forum members enlighten me and explain any potential beef with Oxford from the past? I know there's the Wilder thing but bitter rivals? They're just a town full of cycle lanes. Unbelievable Jeff.

I remember Big Fat Ron in obscenely short shorts but hardly the basis for any rivalry. Obviously we hated him at the Pigs although very much admired him taking the Pigs down on the same day we ascended at Leicester.

Absolutely no clue what they are referring to.

 

[Whiston Blade]

“Win away at Sheffield...”

“Without a doubt they are our bitter rivals, so much has happened between us and them..."

“Jealousy mate, pure and simple.
We live in Oxford, they live in Sheffield..."

“They’re just a small Sheffield Wednesday!”

Fucking smash em', Blades !!!

COYRAWW

 

[Blade56]

Don't remember calling them a pub team. Team of Village Morris dancers I own up to though.

Why bad blood? Have they forgot Bobby Ford?

 

[Snowman]

They seem too confident to me, not the usual views from where they think theyl get beaten by us. Defo a win for us tomorrow and the start of the climb up the table

Oh shut it TD. That's just the sort of over confident twaddle that brings down the retribution of the footballing Gods on the Blades. There' s some bloody poster on here, maybe it's Derf, who confidently predicts 2-0. Blades every time. He's a bloody jinx that bloke. Bring back posts of fear and foreboding.That should bring us luck.

 

[Silent Blade]

I remember Big Fat Ron in obscenely short shorts but hardly the basis for any rivalry. Obviously we hated him at the Pigs although very much admired him taking the Pigs down on the same day we ascended at Leicester.

Absolutely no clue what they are referring to.

I remember early in the 3-0 win against Oxford in November 1970, Oxford's Mick Way got stretchered off after a strong tackle by TC and the Oxford players were upset with the tackle. My dad told me "watch their number 11, he is trying to injure TC when he has the ball". The fat and balding number 11 failed to get near as TC was too quick and too clever for him. That Oxford's number 11 was Ron Atkinson!

 

[UnitedBlade]

I remember early in the 3-0 win against Oxford in November 1970, Oxford's Mick Way got stretchered off after a strong tackle by TC and the Oxford players were upset with the tackle. My dad told me "watch their number 11, he is trying to injure TC when he has the ball". The fat and balding number 11 failed to get near as TC was too quick and too clever for him. That Oxford's number 11 was Ron Atkinson!

I think Ron's brother Graham probably played in that game. They were both useless as far as I remember.

 

[Silent Blade]

I think Ron's brother Graham probably played in that game. They were both useless as far as I remember.

Yes he did. Mick Kearns was the keeper, Ron Atkinson is on the far left in the below photo. John Tudor had just handled a cross into the net and the ref disallowed the goal

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Yes he did. Mick Kearns was the keeper, Ron Atkinson is on the far left in the below photo. John Tudor had just handled a cross into the net and the ref disallowed the goal

To be fair that looks to be a better volleyball shot by Tudor than O'Connell last week.

 

[derfblade]

36 years ago this week my daughter was born at the Northern gen. Our lass went into labour at 1 pm , 2 hours before kick off on 23rd August 1980. We were home to Oxford United that day. My girl was born at 1.45 but as you know lads i had to do the right thing . so i rang our kid and we made the kick-off. We won 1-0 with old Bob Hatton getting the winner. Lucky omen eh?

By the way, our lass forgave me .........yonks later!

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Been to some great gigs in Oxford, I'll give them that.

 

[Lane Ender]

Yes he did. Mick Kearns was the keeper, Ron Atkinson is on the far left in the below photo. John Tudor had just handled a cross into the net and the ref disallowed the goal

John Tudor what a finisher
Starting to well up thinking of those days

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Oxford will come and help themselves to three easy points.

Their fans have every right to be confident.

 

[Silent Blade]

36 years ago this week my daughter was born at the Northern gen. Our lass went into labour at 1 pm , 2 hours before kick off on 23rd August 1980. We were home to Oxford United that day. My girl was born at 1.45 but as you know lads i had to do the right thing . so i rang our kid and we made the kick-off. We won 1-0 with old Bob Hatton getting the winner. Lucky omen eh?

By the way, our lass forgave me .........yonks later!

It was a late winner. I was sat in the old John Street stand near the director's box and having a close view of Harry Haslam nervously having a ciggy after the other! Hatton headed in a good cross by Martin Peters at the Kop End

 

[1973Blade]

I can't believe we're calling anyone in League One a pub league side after six years in this league.
An opportunity to ask my favourite old pub quiz question: of the 92 league sides in the 1980s (before promotion from the non league) name the five league clubs with an 'X' in their name?

 

[Silent Blade]

I can't believe we're calling anyone in League One a pub league side after six years in this league.
An opportunity to ask my favourite old pub quiz question: of the 92 league sides in the 1980s (before promotion from the non league) name the five league clubs with an 'X' in their name?

Halifax, Crewe Alexandria, Wrexham, Exeter and Oxford