Transfer News Transfer window 2020/21

[Kamal]

Interesting opinion, why do you think that? We had won 5 or 6 on the bounce with ok fixtures ahead + were playing pretty well. Granted the squad was a bit thin but quite pessimistic to say we'd have missed the play offs

Quite simply because I didn't think we were good enough. I think our performance in the play offs and in the past couple of league games could help argue my point. I don't think we're good enough to go up this season either.

It was great that we had won 5 or 6 on the bounce, but I don't think we would have maintained our promotion push. Personally I think it was a 50/50 shot to even make play offs if the world hadn't ended due to Covid.

I also think there were lots of questions being asked about our players as well. The quality of our goalkeeper and full backs, the lack of wingers, key players not performing, injuries. Disappointingly it is now a new season and we find ourselves asking those exact same questions again.

But then again we were literally 1 shot away from being a Championship club so who knows.

 

[Foley]

That would have to be down to financial restraints

Some may have over spent based on the terrible pandemic.
We may have been a little more sensible financially.

 

[Twohats]

Sez oo newbie?

Been a member for a few years! ?
Maddison is training with us with a view to sign if we can get players out. Wage cap ect ect.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Been a member for a few years! ?
Maddison is training with us with a view to sign if we can get players out. Wage cap ect ect.

Really hope you’re right! He’s one of the best players I’ve seen at the Kassam

 

[Foley]

[QUOTE="SteMerritt, post: 304110, member: 150" ]


Really hope the time doesn't arrive when we have to take a colder look at this, but I fear it may be close. As I said, a romantic view.

The academy is run very well and has a number of talented prospects. Across the age groups they are pretty dominant at our level and compete well with cat 1 and 2 teams often winning. It takes time from restarting the academy and the 10-year journey of bringing boys through to see results and also to build a reputation that sees parents want their child to go there. Cat 1 clubs are a draw but not every parent wants to drive their 10-year old on a 3 hour round trip 4 times a week to Cobham. in the hope they might make it whilst screwing their education. The best example of a highly lucrative academy at our level is Exeter City where the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Ollie Watkins have bankrollled not just their academies but the clubs. A difference between Exeter and Oxford is that when they were relegated to non-league they kept their academy and as their chief exec said "It takes two minutes to close an academy but it will take 10 years to get it into a space where it's functioning again to support the club. It has taken us a decade and then maybe another five or six years to make it how we want it. For us, it is a vital part of our model. We would be in a very different place if it wasn't for our academy." We are only just approaching this timeframe and Dan Harris is making huge strides in recruitment, training and challenging development paths. We have talented young players and hopefully they will be given more chances. If done correctly there is no reason why we cannot have half a team of academy graduates in the future and ensure that we have players that love the club, are connected to the fans and that players like Matty Taylor stay and have their best professional years with Oxford
[/QUOTE]
I am with your comments.
But.. it would be good to see a player or two break through.
Jones, Lopes, Spasov are still young but were talked up a couple of years ago and do not appear to have made the strides hoped for.
A couple of players genuinely breaking through and doing well in the first team would make a real statement.

 

[Scotchegg]

Been a member for a few years! ?
Maddison is training with us with a view to sign if we can get players out. Wage cap ect ect.

Which senior players are we likely to lose? Hanson, if he can get fit? Hall? Forde? Both unlikely following their showings against Watford. Mous? Looks like he'll be back sooner than expected and if he gets back to anything like his form last season then he'll be a huge asset.

So chances are very few will be leaving, if any at all, and they will only free up the minimum wage bill regardless of what they actually earn.

So whilst Maddison may be a legitimate target, his arrival or otherwise will have nothing to do with other players leaving.

 

[pidge]

Which senior players are we likely to lose? Hanson, if he can get fit? Hall? Forde? Both unlikely following their showings against Watford. Mous? Looks like he'll be back sooner than expected and if he gets back to anything like his form last season then he'll be a huge asset.

So chances are very few will be leaving, if any at all, and they will only free up the minimum wage bill regardless of what they actually earn.

So whilst Maddison may be a legitimate target, his arrival or otherwise will have nothing to do with other players leaving.

Possible Agyei could leave on loan? Robinson made it clear a few times that this was due to happen.

more then likely Hall would be gone if Maddison was to come in. Similar position and throws him further down the pecking order.

 

[bazzer9461]

Which senior players are we likely to lose? Hanson, if he can get fit? Hall? Forde? Both unlikely following their showings against Watford. Mous? Looks like he'll be back sooner than expected and if he gets back to anything like his form last season then he'll be a huge asset.

So chances are very few will be leaving, if any at all, and they will only free up the minimum wage bill regardless of what they actually earn.

So whilst Maddison may be a legitimate target, his arrival or otherwise will have nothing to do with other players leaving.

Could take Mous of the playing staff Is one possibllity but Blackpool might jump in or that lot down the A420 plus are clubs going to offer a lot with the restrictions with the possibility of other players needed.

 

[bazzer9461]

Possible Agyei could leave on loan? Robinson made it clear a few times that this was due to happen.

more then likely Hall would be gone if Maddison was to come in. Similar position and throws him further down the pecking order.

We need to keep Agyei here possibly Osei Yaw who will get some fame time week in week out

 

[Mellowyellow]

Some may have over spent based on the terrible pandemic.
We may have been a little more sensible financially.

There's a fine line between sensible and not spending enough for a promotion challenge.

 

[Mellowyellow]

The academy is run very well and has a number of talented prospects. Across the age groups they are pretty dominant at our level and compete well with cat 1 and 2 teams often winning. It takes time from restarting the academy and the 10-year journey of bringing boys through to see results and also to build a reputation that sees parents want their child to go there. Cat 1 clubs are a draw but not every parent wants to drive their 10-year old on a 3 hour round trip 4 times a week to Cobham. in the hope they might make it whilst screwing their education. The best example of a highly lucrative academy at our level is Exeter City where the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Ollie Watkins have bankrollled not just their academies but the clubs. A difference between Exeter and Oxford is that when they were relegated to non-league they kept their academy and as their chief exec said "It takes two minutes to close an academy but it will take 10 years to get it into a space where it's functioning again to support the club. It has taken us a decade and then maybe another five or six years to make it how we want it. For us, it is a vital part of our model. We would be in a very different place if it wasn't for our academy." We are only just approaching this timeframe and Dan Harris is making huge strides in recruitment, training and challenging development paths. We have talented young players and hopefully they will be given more chances. If done correctly there is no reason why we cannot have half a team of academy graduates in the future and ensure that we have players that love the club, are connected to the fans and that players like Matty Taylor stay and have their best professional years with Oxford

I am with your comments.
But.. it would be good to see a player or two break through.
Marcus Maddison
A couple of players genuinely breaking through and doing well in the first team would make a real statement.
[/QUOTE]


But is it financially prudent to run the two systems side by side, do we need to spend a heap of money on an academy, that doesn't seem to produce the players for the first team it is meant to, whilst we also have a system of bringing young talented players develop them and then sell them on for a large profit. Even at the moment we have players there who we cant even get out on loan to non league teams. As you said yourself we have Spasov, Jones ect that haven't made the progress expected
Brentford don't have an academy, yet still produce and sell on quality players, that originate from Premiership clubs. Wycombe don't and they made it to the championship.

When we are losing so much money due to the virus, doesn't a thing like the academy become a luxury we can't afford, especially if it means that funds are diverted away from spending money on ready made first team players. It would be different if we had the success that a team like Crewe have had over the years developing academy players. We get the odd one that seems to make it, whilst the current crop don't seem to be producing certainties for the first team.

 

[bazzer9461]

Some may have over spent based on the terrible pandemic.
We may have been a little more sensible financially.

If they’ve over spent then with the same as breach of the FFP they will get disciplined surely

 

[ECYellow]

@ECYellow true or not?

Maddison remains of interest to us. Although, a winger with genuine pace, that gets in behind and stretches team is a more desirable prospect.

Never say never but if it’s Maddison I don’t think it will be for a couple of weeks yet.

 

[tonto]

Agyei has got to stay he has all the attributes to be a top player. He just needs a bit of nurturing .I would be very disappointed if KR had an issue with him and shipped him out. Hall has also showed that he could be a real asset assuming he can stay fit. We do need a Jonny Mullins type though asap.

 

[Mystery Yellow]

Agyei has got to stay he has all the attributes to be a top player. He just needs a bit of nurturing .I would be very disappointed if KR had an issue with him and shipped him out. Hall has also showed that he could be a real asset assuming he can stay fit. We do need a Jonny Mullins type though asap.

Unfortunately KR doesn’t seem to give him a chance, 1 league start since August 2019 & mini cameos we’ll never see what we’ve actually got

 

[Junior_1]

And that’s the issue. It’s personal between KR and DA. Why, who knows. But it’s a thing.

As for the young lads, there’s only so much they can and have done in the ‘18’s.

Not sure in the logistics of it all, but I’m not even sure they (Jones, Slavi and Lopez) can even play for the ‘18’s anymore due to them being to old? Same to with Elechi.

Mooro maybe able to help out with that?
So then you’re looking at ‘23 - ‘21 games or them going out on loan like Sole.

Either way, I’d personally rather they got a chance before we write them all off completely. As I think one or two of them could certainly make it.

Over to KR!!

 

[Shosho]

Especially now, while it’s still a straight forward process.

Only a few more week remaining until the EU market will be shut off to the EFL - will only be able to shop in the EFL and pay a premium (unless you find some Irish passports!)

 

[Front Post]

We have definitely spoken to Garbutt, Maddison and Winnall (or at least their representatives).

I'd doubt we have the salary cap wiggle room left to sign all 3 (without some departures).

Garbutt has talked to numerous clubs so is fishing for best deal.
I imagine Maddison might be seen as a risk due to his seemingly negative reputation.
Winnall has had some recent injury affected seasons (knee ligament injury killed a loan at Derby) but was prolific the last time he was in L1.

As of this morning, I don't think any were done deals with contracts inked. Not to say that they aren't close though.

So 1 in, one elsewhere, one still a possible.
Last updated I had on MM was that KR was very keen but the board were taking some convincing as across lower leagues he is seen as a bit of a d1ck. If we've got him in for training - not heard that we have - then perhaps it's closer. Would expect LB/CB cover alongside salary cap limits are now the main issues to be taken into account.

Hanson due back to full training on Monday, perhaps he'll be loanable before October deadline.

 

[brassmonkey]

Maddison yes please. Dont care if he is a dick he is a fantastic player. Maybe someone like henry can leave to make room for him.

 

[WuTang]

Maddison is simply a sensational player at League One level. Question marks over attitude and fitness but I think Robbo and Short would get him in line here. Would probably take him a few weeks to get to full fitness like Winnall though.

I think we will try and ship one or two out before we sign him though, would be the higher end of the wage scale and we could still do with an experienced centre back.