Oxford United boss hits out at 'star-struck' officials (From The Oxford Times)
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Oxford United boss hits out at 'star-struck' officials
8:00am Wednesday 28th July 2010 in
Chris Wilder was fuming after his Oxford United side were denied a draw against a Manchester United XI.
The U’s produced a superb performance, especially in the second half when their young opponents were run ragged.
But after missing a number of good chances, the visitors snatched a 2-1 victory in injury-time – after a linesman changed his mind over an offside decision.
Magnus Eiksem put Man Utd ahead in the 44th minute, only for James Constable to level 30 seconds later.
But after Nicky Ajose’s goal at the death was allowed to stand, Wilder could not hide his frustration.
“I don’t care if it’s just pre-season, my team and everyone connected with the football club want to win every game,” he said.
“We deserved to win that game, and not to even get a draw out of it is unfair and cruel.
“The ball gets played into the box, the linesman puts his flag up, the boy scores, and then he takes it down again.
“We had a blatant penalty when Matt Green got fouled in the area – the officials were star-struck.
“We’re playing Manchester United and while my players delivered the goods, the opposition were too big for the officials.”
Despite the score, Wilder was full of praise for his side, who received a standing ovation by the 6,082 crowd.
“Players all over the park were real positives for me,” he said. “I thought Matt Green was exceptional, he just needed a goal, and Harry Worley was immense at the back.
“And in midfield, Simon Heslop and Asa Hall showed why we brought them here.”
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted his side were fortunate to win the match.
“We don’t come up against teams like that very often,” he said.
“Their energy and pace was too much at times and they really put us under pressure. Oxford are a very strong side.
“It was only a combination of brave defending, some good goalkeeping and then a good ball into the box at the end that we managed to win the game.”
Comments(30)
BigAlBiker
says...
10:10am Wed 28 Jul 10
bifocal bill
says...
10:32am Wed 28 Jul 10
Bicester Ryan
says...
10:34am Wed 28 Jul 10
Weve got 5 centre backs now for some reason and look very light up front. I know Midson did well at wembley but the guy is poor, he played well in 1 game out of alot and hes a good player apparently. We seem very strong in every position apart from up front. Goals win you games and I don't think we have many in us.
Flag Hippo
says...
10:42am Wed 28 Jul 10
Are you the new Mr Negative??
All you do is moan, moan, moan and post negativity.
We are in possibly the best position we have been for a long number of years and all you do is moan.
Mitchell Cole, Mattie Green and Jack Midson will all score goals.
Atomic
says...
11:37am Wed 28 Jul 10
I have just got my Burton ticket and look forward to seeing our new line up, as pre seasons are not my bag.
Come on you yellows.
GAVLA
says...
12:35pm Wed 28 Jul 10
I think we need to get in another striker. If something happened to Constable then I think our strike force would be light weight. Midson is hard working but not an out an out finisher, and Green can blow hot and cold.
I agree that, on the face of it, we have signed some excellent attacking midfielders but I still believe that if it is possible we need to add a proven goalscorer.( Easier said than done I know).
I am also hoping that Wilder is working hard on our corner kicks over pre season.
In my opinion over the last few seasons generally we have been very poor at converting our corner kicks into goals, and it would be good if, like the Moody and Elliott days , we could start to looking threatening at corners again.
Some good signings this pre season, although their seems to be an obsession with central defenders, and all in all I think we have a very good chance of being in amongst it.
A new striiker would be nice though please Mr Wilder and Mr Thomas..........
doddsyblues
says...
12:38pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Flag Hippo
says...
1:31pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Suprise, suprise, I agree with you that we are a little lightweight up front if Beano gets injured.
My point re Mr Negative of Bicester is that he moans about OUFC continually.
Including
(1) Not buying the stadium.
(2) The signing of Worley.
(3) The possible signing of Crockford.
to name but a few.
Bicester Ryan
says...
1:32pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Flag Hippo wrote:I wasnt moaning i was just saying that we havent improved the squad in attack.
Bicester Ryan. Are you the new Mr Negative?? All you do is moan, moan, moan and post negativity. We are in possibly the best position we have been for a long number of years and all you do is moan. Mitchell Cole, Mattie Green and Jack Midson will all score goals.
Goals win games don't they. Green will score 8 or 9 i think not sure about Cole but Midson be lucky to get to 5 for the season.
Bicester Ryan
says...
1:35pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Flag Hippo wrote:This is a forum about Oxford united not about me Flag hippo. So start writing about Oxford and not me.
GAVLA, Henley. Suprise, suprise, I agree with you that we are a little lightweight up front if Beano gets injured. My point re Mr Negative of Bicester is that he moans about OUFC continually. Including (1) Not buying the stadium. (2) The signing of Worley. (3) The possible signing of Crockford. to name but a few.
Why have you had a go at me when you actually agree with me that we are light up front. Its getting a bit childish!
Flag Hippo
says...
1:43pm Wed 28 Jul 10
OxfordEd
says...
1:45pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Bicester Ryan
says...
1:59pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Flag Hippo wrote:Again a post about me!
Whinge, whinge, moan, moan, get over yourself Mr Negativity of Bicester.
This is a oxford united site not a bicester ryan forum. Please comment on Oxford not me please its getting a bit boring now! Or even better just don't comment at all!
abijack
says...
2:00pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Got me Burton ticket to and me Carling cup and Season Ticket already for Bury.Chrissie Wilders Yellow Army.
Alfie and Sammy could have sewn the game up if they had come on 30 mins earlier.
doddsyblues
says...
2:10pm Wed 28 Jul 10
BenkiuGuasu
says...
2:50pm Wed 28 Jul 10
We're not short on numbers really. I expect Wilder and co. are looking at potential additions but "only if they're better than what we've got" as he always says. No point having 7 strikers just for the hell of it...
I like Midson but I bet an imaginary millions squids on the 3 prongs against Burton to be: Constable, Green, and Cole.
Cole and Asa Hall both seem to be players who fit perfectly into our system, having not fitted quite perfectly at their previous clubs.
Richard Wickson
says...
2:58pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Bicester Ryan wrote:Totally agree with you Ryan, tho as others say we have some scoring midfielders, they are more likely to score from flowing moves, we do need that Fox in the box and while Green does it occasionally Midson isnt the guy for me either. Last season proved the point, we got 26 clean sheets but Stevenage got an awful lot more points than us due to the simple fact that they scored a lot more goals, yes we got promoted (Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
We still have a problem that we need so many chances to score a goal tho. Constable is the only player who will score more than ten goals at this level. Weve got 5 centre backs now for some reason and look very light up front. I know Midson did well at wembley but the guy is poor, he played well in 1 game out of alot and hes a good player apparently. We seem very strong in every position apart from up front. Goals win you games and I don't think we have many in us.
e) but they did it the easy way and we did the hard way. Yes we look good for the coming season IN every department EXCEPT striking, we need another that can put the ball in the net every 3rd chance, not every 10. I know i will get stick for that but we are lightweight up front tho solid everywhere else and i am very optimistic we will hold our own this coming season.
dave from witney
says...
3:06pm Wed 28 Jul 10
doddsyblues
says...
3:20pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Bicester Ryan
says...
3:59pm Wed 28 Jul 10
doddsyblues wrote:Why is it being negative by saying we need a striker?
Okay then Bicester Ryan and the other negative prunes, who can we get on the cheap, who would want to come to the Kassam? We don't want to pay someone who has old legs and just wants to be here for the money, Chris Wilder hasn't said anything that transfer activity has finished so I reckon he is looking to strengthen who are the spanish guys? COME ON YOU YELLOWS!
jonny1976
says...
4:07pm Wed 28 Jul 10
hughcurran
says...
4:15pm Wed 28 Jul 10
g tho that we were 5th highest scorers last season & if we'd have been in div 2 we would have been 6th!....we let in 31 which was the 2nd best defensive record last year & if we had been in league 2 we would have been the 2nd best there too!...now maybe people would have said, ahh but hang on a minute!...thats a higher league!...but by all accounts the standard between the BSP and league 2 is minimal at most!....if it aint then why are all these ex league teams struggling to get out of the BSP?....maybe the old expectancy thing is on the up again!...im looking forward to a good season, anything more will be a bonus.....
amershamdave
says...
6:54pm Wed 28 Jul 10
hughcurran wrote:Well said Hughie boy
maybe we are a little light up front!....interestin g tho that we were 5th highest scorers last season & if we'd have been in div 2 we would have been 6th!....we let in 31 which was the 2nd best defensive record last year & if we had been in league 2 we would have been the 2nd best there too!...now maybe people would have said, ahh but hang on a minute!...thats a higher league!...but by all accounts the standard between the BSP and league 2 is minimal at most!....if it aint then why are all these ex league teams struggling to get out of the BSP?....maybe the old expectancy thing is on the up again!...im looking forward to a good season, anything more will be a bonus.....
Come on the U's!
MarstonYellow
says...
7:54pm Wed 28 Jul 10
doddsyblues wrote:Adebayo Akinfenwa, free transfer, scored 17 goals last season for Northampton. Had a decent scoring record in League 1 as well, so there are players out there. However, I do trust Wilder's judgement and if Chris hasn't looked at him, then he probably isn't worth it.
Okay then Bicester Ryan and the other negative prunes, who can we get on the cheap, who would want to come to the Kassam? We don't want to pay someone who has old legs and just wants to be here for the money, Chris Wilder hasn't said anything that transfer activity has finished so I reckon he is looking to strengthen who are the spanish guys? COME ON YOU YELLOWS!
tsiret
says...
10:31pm Wed 28 Jul 10
Sorry but as a ref I try & be objective. The 1st penalty appeal was never & the one on Greeny, again, sorrry but I wouldn't of given it. He tends to go down too easy!
Some of you guys ought to try reffing, it's a tough job. The best scenario, you'll end up upsetting one of the sides!!!
On a positive note I'm very happy with the side CW is building & can only feel confident. Yes another striker would be great but as said before, not an easy ask!!
Another positive, I have my ticket for Burton so two teams will certainly benefit from my dodgy reffing!!!
Silver cloud & all that!!!
Come on you Yellows, Blues, or whatever!!!!
Tim The Ref!
GAVLA
says...
10:39pm Wed 28 Jul 10
With a bit of luck Mr Green, Mr Midson and the rest of the boys will be reading these comments and, come the start of the season, will be shoving my opinion back down my throat.
I like many of you trust Wilder I think he and Kelvin have done a fab job, I dnot think we should fear anyone in this division, and even if he does not add anyone else then I think top 10 would be great and anything better than that would be a bonus.
Anyway up the yellows and to all you fab yellows fans out there good luck to you and enjoy the season.
badger86
says...
8:35am Thu 29 Jul 10
mandate
says...
7:44pm Sat 31 Jul 10
We have a strike force that is quite capable of taking on the best defences in League 2. A friend of mind who is a Northampton fan, and who has watched Oxford a couple of times last season, assures me that Oxford's attackers will get a good harvest of goals in League 2.
At this moment in time, why fix something that is'nt broken? I'm sure Chris wilder will be able to bring in more players should the need arise.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
says...
4:27am Sun 1 Aug 10
doddsyblues wrote:WE WUZ ROBBED.It was a friendly against a bunch of kids, get a life.
Quite frankly we were robbed. Well done Oxford United you played with passion we were just so cruelly beaten, can't wait until the new season starts, I hope we get a promotion after that performance. Outstanding at times
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doddsyblues says...
9:57am Wed 28 Jul 10