Oxford (A) | Sat 13-Sept | 12:30 KO | Sky

[CrazyKopCorner]

5 minutes ago, Bob Weasel Fox said:

Last went to Oxford away in the 90s when we beat them 2-1 I think with a Steve Thompson winner

I think that was 91 - I seem to remember we played in red socks? 

 

Tommy Wright and Thommo both got beauties - that was a cracking season - still probably in my top 6 

[Fox on the Rox]

10 minutes ago, jv1 said:

Didn’t see anything against Huddersfield to push him in to be the ‘epicentre’ of anything ric - he was distinctly average - should have given away 2 pens and gave the ball away across his own box numerous times - you aren’t getting in after that - audition was a bit pants - he is 4th choice 

Is that you Jannik? 😀 

[Ric Flair]

18 minutes ago, jv1 said:

Didn’t see anything against Huddersfield to push him in to be the ‘epicentre’ of anything ric - he was distinctly average - should have given away 2 pens and gave the ball away across his own box numerous times - you aren’t getting in after that - audition was a bit pants - he is 4th choice 

Such a blinkered view. 1st half against Sheffield Wednesday our defence were an absolute disgrace, by that metric Okoli and Vestergaard shouldn't be at the epicentre either. 

 

At the end of the day it comes down to strategy. Louis Page for example would come under your metric of failing his audition at Charlton but the manager is developing him on the pitch rather than a more gentler approach on the training pitch over time, which is brave and great to see.

 

Nelson is 21, he spent 3 years on the cusp of game time here without making a an appearance under Brendan yet it was clear as day he is a massive talent. Enzo used him sparingly but there was enough there to show he was already ready at this level. Last season cemented that pre and pist his injury at Oxford. Several MoTM performances and done his apprenticeship at this level if you like. There's simply no question marks over his credentials to build the team around him as we embark on a new era.

 

As i've said, it's easy for fans to dismiss this like they have in the past on players not being given a chance. The managers knows best, if they were ready they'd play blah blah blah. 

 

Also, he was absolutely fine 2nd half vs Huddersfield, but his nightmare first half overrules that seemingly.

 

Genuinely got minimal weakness as well. Both footed, fairly quick, good on the ball, good in the air, composed. It really is peculiar. Only two years left on his deal as well, on a talent thats got the potential to play for England and be worth £40m + million with a strong season at this level this year.

[Fox on the Rox]

11 minutes ago, jv1 said:

Didn’t see anything against Huddersfield to push him in to be the ‘epicentre’ of anything ric - he was distinctly average - should have given away 2 pens and gave the ball away across his own box numerous times - you aren’t getting in after that - audition was a bit pants - he is 4th choice 

But seriously, I just had a look on the Oxford fan forum and they're still talking about him, really positively. Would love to get him back and even crediting him with keeping them up last season. There's clearly more there than was on show against Huddersfield. Lee Carsley obviously thinks so too.

[DezFox]

25 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

Got to be careful with Monga though. Still needs easing in. 

Fair 

[Fox on the Rox]

3 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Such a blinkered view. 1st half against Sheffield Wednesday our defence were an absolute disgrace, by that metric Okoli and Vestergaard shouldn't be at the epicentre either. 

 

At the end of the day it comes down to strategy. Louis Page for example would come under your metric of failing his audition at Charlton but the manager is developing him on the pitch rather than a more gentler approach on the training pitch over time. 

 

Nelson is 21, he spent 3 years on the cusp of game time here without making a an appearance under Brendan yet it was clear as day he is a massive talent. Enzo used him sparingly but there was enough there to show he was already ready at this level. Last season cemented that pre and pist his injury at Oxford. Several MoTM performances and done his apprenticeship at this level if you like. There's simply no question marks over his credentials to build the team around him as we embark on a new era.

 

As i've said, it's easy for fans to dismiss this like they have in the past on players not being given a chance. The managers knows best, if they were ready they'd play blah blah blah. 

 

Also, he was absolutely fine 2nd half vs Huddersfield, but his nightmare first half overrules that seemingly.

 

Genuinely got minimal weakness as well. Both footed, fairly quick, good on the ball, good in the air, composed. It really is peculiar. Only two years left on his deal as well, on a talent thats got the potential to play for England and be worth £40m + million with a strong season at this level this year.

Good point re only two years left on his contract. If we don't play him I can see him leaving. We'd normally be expecting him to re-sign this season. There's no way he's doing that if we don't give him proper minutes. I'm sure there was plenty of interest in loaning him this season after his performance at Oxford and there would be plenty of interest in signing him permanently. He's with Wasserman too I think, they're not likely to leave him languishing.

[Reg Vardy]

Ben Nelson (one season at Oxford United) isn’t a better centre half than Vesty……he might be in time, but right now he isn’t……

[coolhandfox]

40 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Such a blinkered view. 1st half against Sheffield Wednesday our defence were an absolute disgrace, by that metric Okoli and Vestergaard shouldn't be at the epicentre either. 

 

At the end of the day it comes down to strategy. Louis Page for example would come under your metric of failing his audition at Charlton but the manager is developing him on the pitch rather than a more gentler approach on the training pitch over time, which is brave and great to see.

 

Nelson is 21, he spent 3 years on the cusp of game time here without making a an appearance under Brendan yet it was clear as day he is a massive talent. Enzo used him sparingly but there was enough there to show he was already ready at this level. Last season cemented that pre and pist his injury at Oxford. Several MoTM performances and done his apprenticeship at this level if you like. There's simply no question marks over his credentials to build the team around him as we embark on a new era.

 

As i've said, it's easy for fans to dismiss this like they have in the past on players not being given a chance. The managers knows best, if they were ready they'd play blah blah blah. 

 

Also, he was absolutely fine 2nd half vs Huddersfield, but his nightmare first half overrules that seemingly.

 

Genuinely got minimal weakness as well. Both footed, fairly quick, good on the ball, good in the air, composed. It really is peculiar. Only two years left on his deal as well, on a talent thats got the potential to play for England and be worth £40m + million with a strong season at this level this year.

I think Nelson will force he's way in, shame he had a bit of a limited pre-season.

 

I also think Marti late arrival has helped, when you are under prepare you go with experience.

 

Still think Faes could leave before the close of the window.

 

We need him involved and a new contract under his nose.

 

[Fox on the Rox]

8 minutes ago, Reg Vardy said:

Ben Nelson (one season at Oxford United) isn’t a better centre half than Vesty……he might be in time, but right now he isn’t……

And how does he become that? By watching and learning from the bench?

[Noahfence]

I feel like people forget Nelson has already played for us a few times in the championship and was absolutely fine. 
 

A poor first half in a game where everyone was a disgrace doesn’t suddenly make him not good enough.

 

Was brilliant for Oxford at this level too. 

[Lineker's Left Foot]

1 hour ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

I think that was 91 - I seem to remember we played in red socks? 

 

Tommy Wright and Thommo both got beauties - that was a cracking season - still probably in my top 6 

2-2 I think at The Manor Ground and a 2-1 win at Filbo.  Chris Allen with their goal who went onto flop at F*rest!  Weird things you remember! 

[Free Falling Foxes]

2 hours ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

I think that was 91 - I

 

Tommy Wright and Thommo both got beauties - that was a cracking season - still probably in my top 6 

Strewth! I thought 9-0 against Southampton was good.

[Foxes96]

Don’t think James will come straight in due to International Duty, and hasn’t trained with the squad at all yet. So imagine the Skippmaré combo gets a stay of execution for now.
 

Also hopefully going to dominate the ball a bit more against Oxford, so would go with Nelson & Ricardo who offer a bit more quality on the ball at the back. Ayew has played every minute so far, so think he will stay in for now. 
 

 

                       Stolarczyk 

Ricardo - Nelson - Vestergaard - Thomas

                 Soumaré - Skipp 

    Fatawu   -   Ramsey   -   Mavididi 

                          Ayew 

Begovic / Hamza / Okoli / Faes / Winks / James / Monga / Daka / Carranza 

 

[Dandy king]

11 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

It's just unthinkable to have a player of his talents not playing. It will be a major blot on Cifuentes' copy book if Nelson isn't at the epicentre of this team this season.

I very much hope he does as well, but he did have an absolute howler against huddersfield in the league cup. Did his chances a bit of harm really, looked out of his depth and made a lot of mistakes. Unfortunate but I can see why he's not had a chance since. 

[LCFCJohn]

God, Nelson is really never going to live down that first 45 minutes against Huddersfield is he! He could move on and be playing in the Champions League and for England and there’ll be some on here who will be patting themselves on the back and convincing themselves it was right to move him on as he had ‘that first half against Huddersfield’ 

[Ric Flair]

12 minutes ago, Dandy king said:

I very much hope he does as well, but he did have an absolute howler against huddersfield in the league cup. Did his chances a bit of harm really, looked out of his depth and made a lot of mistakes. Unfortunate but I can see why he's not had a chance since. 

Which is ridiculous as a) he proved himself at this level for us two years ago and even more so at Oxford last season and b) 2nd half he was absolutely fine. 1st half he was abysmal but no worse than Okoli's performance at Charlton or Vestergaard at Preston. 1st half vs Sheffield Wednesday they were both muck an'all.

[Noahfence]

We’ve seen most of this squad be absolutely shite for ages but a poor 45 minutes against Huddersfield in the cup is where people draw the line haha. 
 

[Claridge]

Two clean sheets in a row and foxes talk demands a new centre back pairing👀

[Noahfence]

3 minutes ago, Claridge said:

Two clean sheets in a row and foxes talk demands a new centre back pairing👀

Na im happy with the current two. 
 

Just find it odd people being so desperate to say how crap they think Nelson was. 

[LCFCJohn]

8 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Such a blinkered view. 1st half against Sheffield Wednesday our defence were an absolute disgrace, by that metric Okoli and Vestergaard shouldn't be at the epicentre either. 

 

At the end of the day it comes down to strategy. Louis Page for example would come under your metric of failing his audition at Charlton but the manager is developing him on the pitch rather than a more gentler approach on the training pitch over time, which is brave and great to see.

 

Nelson is 21, he spent 3 years on the cusp of game time here without making a an appearance under Brendan yet it was clear as day he is a massive talent. Enzo used him sparingly but there was enough there to show he was already ready at this level. Last season cemented that pre and pist his injury at Oxford. Several MoTM performances and done his apprenticeship at this level if you like. There's simply no question marks over his credentials to build the team around him as we embark on a new era.

 

As i've said, it's easy for fans to dismiss this like they have in the past on players not being given a chance. The managers knows best, if they were ready they'd play blah blah blah. 

 

Also, he was absolutely fine 2nd half vs Huddersfield, but his nightmare first half overrules that seemingly.

 

Genuinely got minimal weakness as well. Both footed, fairly quick, good on the ball, good in the air, composed. It really is peculiar. Only two years left on his deal as well, on a talent thats got the potential to play for England and be worth £40m + million with a strong season at this level this year.

I said this before about him being in the last two years now of his contract. This is the time to get players on a new contract or sell.

 

From his point of view, why would he sign a new contract? In the next 10 years or so as he reaches and goes through his peak and into his 30’s, I’d back him all day long to be consistently be operating at a higher level than the club (when he moves on).

 

The only way to keep him is to build the defence around him and show him he has a future here. As he is fourth choice, I think it would be bad sense from him to commit his medium term future here. I’d love to see him at the heart of the defence but I just think the business sense is to sell in January or the summer. He deserves to play and if that’s not here, he needs to think of his career and move on.

Edited 6 September 2025 by LCFCJohn

[Ric Flair]

16 minutes ago, Claridge said:

Two clean sheets in a row and foxes talk demands a new centre back pairing👀

Would just like to see him get some minutes off thr bench. Faes comes on every game. Thr longer term point about the team being built around Nelson is absolutely valid. Stupid if we don't.

[Dandy king]

38 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

God, Nelson is really never going to live down that first 45 minutes against Huddersfield is he! He could move on and be playing in the Champions League and for England and there’ll be some on here who will be patting themselves on the back and convincing themselves it was right to move him on as he had ‘that first half against Huddersfield’ 

It was three games ago and the last time he played for us.  Hardly ancient history is it 

[LCFCJohn]

5 minutes ago, Dandy king said:

It was three games ago and the last time he played for us.  Hardly ancient history is it 

Given he settled down and played well after that, it should have been moved past immediately. 
 

We have watched the same players be poor week after week and still get in the side. Yet an academy player has one poor 45 half and that’s their ‘audition failed’. We don’t deserve to keep hold of these talents.

[Reg Vardy]

8 hours ago, Fox on the Rox said:

And how does he become that? By watching and learning from the bench?

Always play your best team…..

[Reg Vardy]

Is it me or does Bryan Adams strike a similar look to Jamie Vardy…..