Oxford V Torquay United 28th February 2009

Merse said that Green went off as he was not doing what Bucks wanted and that was to get up the field more. Sorry but Green is not a winger and it looked to me as if he was doing the job Dsane normally does. Green is at his very best playing in the middle and not out wide and during the game he proved that when he picked up the ball in the middle and made runs forward.

Yes Green went deep at times, but surely he was expected to track back with his man and help to provide some cover for Nico, that was one thing that did not happen in the FGR game due to playing three upfront and having only three in the midfield.

Even having Green just in the middle and getting him to run out to win the balls pumped up by Nico, is far better than having him just stuck out wide as was the case against Oxford. Once again a case for playing a player where he is best suited and making the best of his strengths.

Yes merse I watched the whole game and took no phone calls during the game. I also heard what Leroy said, but I stand to be corrected here, but I thought when Bucks was stood by the board, he said we were playing 4-4-2, so that would have suggested to me that Green was playing the role that Dsane plays.

To try and then make out Green was not picked after the Coventry game and for the reasons you said and said only to try and back up your argument is a bit of a joke. Green was the best player out on the pitch for the Coventry game, he was took off, got upset and did not shake Buckles hand on leaving the pitch. There is a bit more to the story, its all on the forum, maybe you have been taking phone calls while trying to read the forum, as you seem to have missed what really happened and the reason Green was not picked for a few games afterward.

Dave, I've a feeling we were watching a different game mate

For starters, Nicky Wroe was the best player in a white shirt last night. He was in the midst of every single move involving our front line. And whenever the Oxford midfield had possession, who was there to break it down? You guessed it; our marvelous number 11.

I'll start my player round-up with the defence, because they were simply outstanding. Having played what people were calling his "worst game in a yellow shirt" against Forest Green on Tuesday night, Woods responded with one of his finest. Hodges was magnificent in the first half and his more-than-able replacement Robertson impresses me the more I see him.

Nicholson's dead-balls and long throws caused the home defence problems all night and Lee Mansell put in a typical solid Lee Mansell performance. If he's not in the running for Player of the Season, I'll be shocked.

Hargreaves played like a man desperate to get one over on his former employers and showed exactly why it is so costly when he is suspended.

On the wings were two completely contrasting games. Muzzy looks like a man possessed when he has the ball and I make no secret of my love of this type of wing play and his Liam Rosenior-like exploits make for a great showpiece. His final ball can be a little disappointing but he's still young and has the potential to go far in this sport.

On the other side however, was a rather stale performance by Matt Green. Whereas I agree that he is at his best through the middle, he has the pace to beat defenders and get a good cross in but he wasn't at the races tonight. I suspect it was the reason he was substituted.

Up top, Sills put in the kind of solid performance that we come to expect from him. Christie attempted a couple of ambitious passes that if they'd come off would have been spectacular. And if his first touch was a little better, he could have had the Gulls one up inside two minutes. Other than that, he misplaced passes and spent far too much time on the floor. He will get better as his fitness improves, but I sincerely hope we're not paying him the ridiculous amount of wages that were mooted around here when he signed.

Benyon's two finishes were class. The first a typical poacher's strike; the second a cool finish after being generously gifted by Turley in the Oxford goal.

Like everyone else, I had initially thought the first had been ruled out as I saw the linesman furiously waving his flag. I've a feeling he was flagging to indicate that our first effort had crossed the line. This would obviously mean it wasn't Benyon's goal, but you try taking it away from him! Did the camera's prove anything on this?

As for the two talking points of the game...

I didn't get a great view of the first red card, and I haven't seen it again since, but it did look like Nelthorpe jumped in dangerously. I was surprised to see a red card because the referee chatted to him for a few seconds before the dismissal when normally in this kind of situation they whip the red out straight away.

Similarly, with Dsane's challenge, I did have a decent view but again I haven't seen a replay. But as soon as you go in aggressively, you run the risk of being sent off. The second the tackle was made, I turned to my brother and said: "He's off." From where I was standing, it looked like a fine decision. Incidentally, between the two red cards, we didn't look at all like we were the team with the extra player and Dsane's dismissal certainly seemed to spark us into life.

There should have been more however, as Constable's kick that ended Hodges' night should have seen the Sunday League thug taking an early bath.

The most pleasing aspect of this performance is that Oxford actually played very well. They just never at any point looked like breaking through our defence.

All in all, a great game of football played by two decent teams. This was the kind of match that shows why Setanta spent all that money to get the rights to this division.

Some quick player ratings (out of 10):

Bevan: 7 - Did his job well when called upon.
Mansell: 8 - Intelligent and dependable.
Hodges: 7 - Assured.
Robertson: - 7.5 Solid.
Nicholson: - 8 Dangerous
Woods: 9.4 - Superb. Not one foot wrong.
Wroe: 9.5 - Just pips Woods to MOTM.
Carayol: 7.5 - Great to watch, final ball lacking.
Hargreaves: 7.5 - Mr. Reliable.
Green: 6 - Disappointing.
Sills: 7 - Great in the air, looked knackered after about 60 minutes.
Christie: 6 - Looked up for it but fitness severely lacking.
Benyon: 8 - Two great finishes and got himself involved a lot.
Dsane: 0 - How do you score someone that didn't touch the ball?

If at the start of the season Woodsie had left I would have wished him all the best. This season (bar the odd game including FGR) he has been a revalation - one of the first names on the team sheet.

On a different note, if we have two out on loan and one in (Christie) please Mr Buckle make a move for Ryan Williams of Weymouth!!

Not to worry who wants a left footed winger anyway?