Oxford United (h) - 09/12/25

[Elrovers]

Just now, ... said:

Dennis 2.0

Dennis was worse imo. Had like 2 weeks to get to full fitness then got injured again. I think Moussa will start today. Could get 50mins in the belt. From the glimpses I’ve seen, seems a decent player. 

[booth]

I can't see the game being on tonight, it's none stop torrential rain.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Raining heavy now in Blackburn

[arbitro]

Having been in the same position several times in the past I feel the referee will have a really difficult decision to make at 2 pm (if that is true - there is still radio silence from Ewood).

He will base his decision on several factors. Firstly the condition of the pitch at the time of inspection. He will have an up to date weather forecast and potentially contact with the met office. Given the forecast isn't particularly bad it will be at the back of his mind that it could change very quickly. He should speak to the ground staff and insist that both managers are there to gauge their opinions.

The last thing he will want is to give the game the green light and subsequently postpone it when the Oxford fans are en route. If it was me that would be uppermost in my mind so he will have to be as sure as he can be that the game will go ahead if he gives it the thumbs up around 2 pm.

I don't envy him to be honest.

[aletheia]

More likely then to play safe and call off?

Had the usual email at around midday today re the match -no hint of cancellation.

Edited 1 hour ago by aletheia

[Penwortham Blue]

29 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

So as there is a 30% chance the game will go ahead and probably at least a 15% chance we might get the full 90mins in, back to the horrific news that we'll probably have to field Sidnei Taveres from the start, as Tronstad, Forshaw, Montgomery are all injured and Ismael confirmed that Bradji won't be starting anytime soon.

--------------------Pears

------Miller-----McLoughlin--Riberio

Alebiosu--------------------------De Neve

------------TGH--------Taveres

-------------Cantwell/Mori

-----------Ohashi----Gudjohnsen

Someone should probably get a rain dance going because we aren't winning this game with that lineup, I don't even know if Pratt is fit to play.

With everything going on at our club and the injury situation, I can’t see anything but an Oxford win. I am really hoping that the weather gives us a reprieve.

[Hasta]

6 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Having been in the same position several times in the past I feel the referee will have a really difficult decision to make at 2 pm (if that is true - there is still radio silence from Ewood).

He will base his decision on several factors. Firstly the condition of the pitch at the time of inspection. He will have an up to date weather forecast and potentially contact with the met office. Given the forecast isn't particularly bad it will be at the back of his mind that it could change very quickly. He should speak to the ground staff and insist that both managers are there to gauge their opinions.

The last thing he will want is to give the game the green light and subsequently postpone it when the Oxford fans are en route. If it was me that would be uppermost in my mind so he will have to be as sure as he can be that the game will go ahead if he gives it the thumbs up around 2 pm.

I don't envy him to be honest.

I said this earlier. Surely if there is an inspection and it's not playable at 2pm then it's called off. Otherwise what's the point if you are going to say "yeah but the forecast wasn't that bad".

[Herbie6590]

[wilsdenrover]

3 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Whether (geddit?) or not the match goes ahead, one thing is almost certain: that the uncertainty will mean the attendance is likely to be among the lowest in the modern era. Sub 8,000 is my prediction, though of course the official figure will be higher.

The resident statto wildesdenover will provide the relevant figures in due course. 

Could it be so bad the below thread would need reopening…

 

[wilsdenrover]

3 hours ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

The second to last thing this club want is this game not to go ahead

The last thing they want is for the game to be abandoned halfway through

I would not put it past the club to be eering on the side of postponement to save themselves the hassle of a pissed off fan base

Agree with all other posters - turnout is going to be shocking. If you were Oxford, why bother? If you're Rovers, stay in the warmth and throw a few beers in the fridge

This is what Venkys FC looks like chaps. A thoroughly unpleasant product with a careless board and a budget you couldn't run a doggy day care on properly. I'll say it again - £6m in infrastructure investment in 15 years. It is no surprise things are creaking. 400,000 a year on the Rovers estate is survival money only. It paints over the cracks, gets some filler in and throws some lovely foam into areas they want to patch up. It does not improve

I bet agents’ fees dwarf this figure.

[London blue]

30 minutes ago, Hasta said:

What an absolute waste of funds this lad has been. How can he still not be available to start.

Remember though we're not allowed to pass comment on him yet.

[Hasta]

Oxford Forum

 

[arbitro]

1 minute ago, Hasta said:

I said this earlier. Surely if there is an inspection and it's not playable at 2pm then it's called off. Otherwise what's the point if you are going to say "yeah but the forecast wasn't that bad".

It's a pretty much no win situation for the referee as anything could happen in the hours before kick off. I hated having to make a decision so early but I had to base it on actual facts at the time rather that a forecast.i

the referee is only travelling from the other side of Preston, the Oxford team will be here so if it was me my prime consideration would the Oxford fans.

[Hasta]

Just now, London blue said:

Remember though we're not allowed to pass comment on him yet.

He hasn't looked terrible in the 10 minutes we've seen him. I just don;t get how he has been training for 4 weeks, on the bench and featured briefly but can't be ready to start yet. He's had about a full pre-season back in training.

 

[London blue]

3 minutes ago, Hasta said:

He hasn't looked terrible in the 10 minutes we've seen him. I just don;t get how he has been training for 4 weeks, on the bench and featured briefly but can't be ready to start yet. He's had about a full pre-season back in training.

 

I agree he's looked alright.

The amount of time he's been available definitely has to factor in to how useful he's been to the team, which as it stands, is minimally.

[roversfan99]

The fact that theres a chance of a 3rd game not finishing as planned is embarassing.

The fact that presumably in the hope that the game is passed fit to play and finished, then they can pretend there was never any jeopardy. That they havent said a word about potential inspections is absolutely pathetic. No care for people travelling especially a long way from Oxford.

[Tom]

I’m more annoyed that they do a preview and remind folk to behave when they park and other such logistics but not a single mention of the pitch or any inspection.

They try and take the fanbase for absolute idiots and the owners deserve the fanbase deserting them.

Just be gone already. We hear about how important respect is in Indian culture now show some decency and let us start again.

[TheKitGuy]

4 minutes ago, Tom said:

I’m more annoyed that they do a preview and remind folk to behave when they park and other such logistics but not a single mention of the pitch or any inspection.

They try and take the fanbase for absolute idiots and the owners deserve the fanbase deserting them.

Just be gone already. We hear about how important respect is in Indian culture now show some decency and let us start again.

Snowball. our world turned upside down Once that made the sweet connection. 

[wilsdenrover]

51 minutes ago, DE. said:

Was there any statement from the EFL about our second abandonment for rain in a matter of months, or have they been silent on the matter as well? If they aren't taking any action then I consider them just as complicit as the club at this point. A template statement about replaying the match doesn't address any of the obvious concerns. 

I wonder if they are waiting to hear from Rovers as to why this shouldn’t be considered misconduct before they comment.

 

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Seen it mentioned on many a Football Forum of late....Football Fans dont matter anymore.

[wilsdenrover]

7 minutes ago, Tom said:

I’m more annoyed that they do a preview and remind folk to behave when they park and other such logistics but not a single mention of the pitch or any inspection.

They try and take the fanbase for absolute idiots and the owners deserve the fanbase deserting them.

Just be gone already. We hear about how important respect is in Indian culture now show some decency and let us start again.

But only if you’re in the ‘right’ caste.
 

 

 

 

[...]

52 minutes ago, Elrovers said:

Dennis was worse imo. Had like 2 weeks to get to full fitness then got injured again. I think Moussa will start today. Could get 50mins in the belt. From the glimpses I’ve seen, seems a decent player. 

I guess so. I mean Dennis missed two absolute sitters at Sheffield last season that could of put us into playoffs. I hope Moussa kicks on and shows some quality. I just think more game time will see him improve. Perhaps starting him now Forshaw is out

Edited 1 hour ago by ...

[JHRover]

Won't somebody think about poor old BwDBC. They need to know what is happening so they can make arrangements for their army of parking wardens to get on patrol. If the game is called off late they might incur additional wages and won't be able to fine anyone to cover it. 

[aletheia]

32 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Oxford Forum

 

3pm and 5pm. If so, then more likelihood of going ahead. But 5 is late for Oxford fans.

[MarkBRFC]

28 minutes ago, TheKitGuy said:

Snowball. our world turned upside down Once that made the sweet connection. 

It had already been turned upside down, and flipped about a few more times before that snowball connected!