Ben Nelson

[jimsmallman]

Did anyone watch him play much for Oxford? Was he expected to be a similar type of ball-playing defender as we seem to be asking him to do tonight? 

[STUHILL]

I think some posters get very defensive over our youth players. I am not seeing much joy in simply stating that Nelson is having a mare. 

Most would much prefer he was doing well. I think there is a counter reaction to the over hyping though, which seems a bit OTT as well.

Hope he stays with us this season and gets a handful of starts in the league whilst also starting all our cup games. 

Tonight will be an important lesson and experience for him. Hope he has a better 2nd half. 

[winteriscoming]

4 minutes ago, StinckleyFox said:

You can’t seriously be blaming Faes for Nelson’s game today??😂

I’m not. 
What I’m saying is he needs an experienced quality cb alongside him to develop and improve his game. 
Imo that’s not gonna happen with Faes alongside him. 

[Sly]

Just now, moore_94 said:

He will get plenty of gametime for us this season

Only if Faes and Vestergaard leave. 
 

He’s also got to get ahead of Okoli whilst he’s still here as well. 

[Stadt]

I don’t think a bad half in a heavily rotated side means much at all.

[HarryDee8]

Ring rust?

[bovril]

Definitely more Tenerife than Trafalgar tonight

[Sly]

1 minute ago, jimsmallman said:

Did anyone watch him play much for Oxford? Was he expected to be a similar type of ball-playing defender as we seem to be asking him to do tonight? 

Yes, he played that role quite well for Oxford. This is why they waited for him to be fit and come back to them.

 

He has the ability, maybe it’s just the occasion. 

[moore_94]

Just now, Sly said:

Only if Faes and Vestergaard leave. 
 

He’s also got to get ahead of Okoli whilst he’s still here as well. 

Faes and Vestergaard wont be playing every single game

 

And just because he has played poorly in this 45 minutes does not mean he can't play well and get into start for us in the season

[sdb]

Can tell he's got lots of potential. There have been a few good moments. 

 

But not at the level yet, clearly. Like them or loathe them, Faes and Vestergaard are several notches above. 

[Tielemans63]

He's had a dodgy 45 minutes. Simple as that

[Dan]

He's been very poor but refuse to write him off yet - don't think 45 minutes overshadows looking decent for Oxford.

[coolhandfox]

I think he's need minutes under his belt, hard to know how much his knock in pre-season has set him back.

 

Looks a little nervous.

[Lambert09]

Ahh sorry to hear this, I’m missing the game as I’m at work. 
 

I did say after the koln game that he looked very uncomfortable. Likely needs some time to settle into the system 

[coolhandfox]

3 minutes ago, Stadt said:

I don’t think a bad half in a heavily rotated side means much at all.

100% this.

[NJFox]

Delete

Edited 13 August 2025 by NJFox

[Ashley]

20 minutes ago, HarryDee8 said:

Ring rust?

Wrong website and forum. 

[Ric Flair]

Been better 2nd half but christ that 1st half was unnerving haha.

[dmayne7]

So he was quality in this league last year but a crap 45 mins (way better in this half), and now Faes and Vestergaard are miles better?

[Greg2607]

1 minute ago, dmayne7 said:

So he was quality in this league last year but a crap 45 mins (way better in this half), and now Faes and Vestergaard are miles better?

Vestergaard was like a rolls Royce in this league two years ago. 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

4 minutes ago, Greg2607 said:

Vestergaard was like a rolls Royce in this league two years ago. 

 

He got booked 14 times, he really wasn't that good

[dmayne7]

5 minutes ago, Greg2607 said:

Vestergaard was like a rolls Royce in this league two years ago. 

No he wasn't. He has a very good season but the second our form dipped or he got slightly exposed, he was poor. Not to mention his role was so ridiculously easy in that team. People sat off him and just let him pass it 

[Tommy Fresh]

Poor first half, decent second half

[Ric Flair]

14 minutes ago, Greg2607 said:

Vestergaard was like a rolls Royce in this league two years ago. 

He also had a few games where he was absolutely atrocious. Let's hope that 1st half was Nelson just easing back in to competitive football here. 

[coolhandfox]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

He also had a few games where he was absolutely atrocious. Let's hope that 1st half was Nelson just easing back in to competitive football here. 

Look undercooked to me, needs easing in.