Manager/Coach Karl Robinson.

[Joey]

Not as a final placing, but we were damn good for most of the season.

We were good for spells of the season. The beginning and end costs us massively, the beginning usually does under Robbo and the end could have been improved had we shown some willingness to replace Gorrin, who got injured in November, and to add some numbers to our defence. Instead we played Kane in a role that didn't suit him and spent months using wingers as full backs due to a lack of cover. You didn't have to be Guardiola to see where the problems were likely to be and that ultimately cost us by turning what could have been a successful season into something underwhelming.

I've said before if Robbo stays we'll have a great spell (there's no better opportunity to start this than our next three games) but over the course of the season there will be too many poor decisions that cost us and mean we won't be in the shake up come May, which has to be the expectation with the budget we've got. I'd absolutely love to be proven wrong but based on the last few years I can't see it.

 

[SteMerritt]

Right, but we are allowed to beat the better teams as well. Also having a keeper who wins you points is a positive and not something that should be put down to bad luck, I'd imagine both our keepers cost us points over the course of last season.

The fact we had a tough run in, which we certainly did, means that our start was all the more underwhelming. It's all arbitrary where you draw the lines for amount of games etc but across our first 10 games we got 15 points which was far lower than we averaged over the season despite playing six of them at home and only a couple of opponents who finished in the top half. If you're going to start weakly then you need to finish strongly and you can't get away with putting it down to a tough run in.

I'm sure there are some posters who are well over the top (I've blocked one for example) but the majority I see are annoyed that it's the same mistakes being made again and again. Appreciate the fact that you recognise it's been a sh*t show so far and want to be positive which is all admirable but I don't think it's a witch hunt. The fault for our poor start lays squarely at his door baring in mind how we've approached the preparations, the discontentment isn't based solely on four pretty crap league games, it's also last season where we missed out by a mile and the last to transfer windows which have been shambolic

Fortunately we've got three of the worst teams in the league coming up, two at home. We really need and should be getting some points on the doors here and starting to claw things back. I'll be there and supporting the team for 90 minutes but that doesn't mean I won't be thoroughly pissed off if I see us struggling to break down a limited but well organised side, lumping long balls up to Taylor or one of our injury prone players gets injured.

Not much in your post which I'd disagree with. I was more arguing against the assertion that the results in the run-in last season correlated with relegation form, when looking past the raw figures shows that not to be the case (bar the Morecambe game which I noted) and I don't think it needed to be made.

And I'm certainly not going to criticise anyone for being pissed off with how things are going at the moment, none of us are enjoying it.

 

[werthersoriginal]

We were good for spells of the season. The beginning and end costs us massively, the beginning usually does under Robbo and the end could have been improved had we shown some willingness to replace Gorrin, who got injured in November, and to add some numbers to our defence. Instead we played Kane in a role that didn't suit him and spent months using wingers as full backs due to a lack of cover. You didn't have to be Guardiola to see where the problems were likely to be and that ultimately cost us by turning what could have been a successful season into something underwhelming.

I've said before if Robbo stays we'll have a great spell (there's no better opportunity to start this than our next three games) but over the course of the season there will be too many poor decisions that cost us and mean we won't be in the shake up come May, which has to be the expectation with the budget we've got. I'd absolutely love to be proven wrong but based on the last few years I can't see it.

I think this is basically right on a macro level - my point was just that Karl certainly has enough credit in the bank to weather a few bad games. If we lose the next three though things could be different.

 

[SteMerritt]

Playing whoever, whenever is a pointless (no pun) way to look at it. Over the full 46 games we were way off the play offs.

Yeah it is, and so is drawing arbitrary lines in the fixture list to make points, which is what has been happening on this thread.

I'd also argue that we were 'way off the play offs', we weren't Bolton, Portsmouth, or Ipswich, who spent the whole season meandering around mid-table. We were right in the mix until about 3/4 games to go before hitting the buffers at the wrong time. Yes it ended being 7 I think points in the end? But to dismiss the long time we were right in the mix is rewriting history a touch.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Yeah it is, and so is drawing arbitrary lines in the fixture list to make points, which is what has been happening on this thread.

I'd also argue that we were 'way off the play offs', we weren't Bolton, Portsmouth, or Ipswich, who spent the whole season meandering around mid-table. We were right in the mix until about 3/4 games to go before hitting the buffers at the wrong time. Yes it ended being 7 I think points in the end? But to dismiss the long time we were right in the mix is rewriting history a touch.

Yes if we'd won at Morecambe and held on a couple more minutes against Sunderland we'd only have had to beat Doncaster to be in the playoffs. Not miles off, but not good enough

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Yes if we'd won at Morecambe and held on a couple more minutes against Sunderland we'd only have had to beat Doncaster to be in the playoffs. Not miles off, but not good enough

And if my auntie...

 

[TailsWeWin]

I think this is basically right on a macro level - my point was just that Karl certainly has enough credit in the bank to weather a few bad games. If we lose the next three though things could be different.

If we WIN the next three games we’ll only be mid-table, having played six of the weakest teams in the league. Of course we’ll then hear that it’s a good enough start and all will be forgiven. Cracks will be papered over and little will change. A few weeks ago most of us felt the fixture list gave us an ideal opportunity to start well. It hasn’t happened and unless KR drastically changes his philosophy we will continue to struggle.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Yes if we'd won at Morecambe and held on a couple more minutes against Sunderland we'd only have had to beat Doncaster to be in the playoffs.

 

[Joey]

I think this is basically right on a macro level - my point was just that Karl certainly has enough credit in the bank to weather a few bad games. If we lose the next three though things could be different.

Fair enough and I think that's where we disagree, I don't think he's got much credit in the bank and if he loses the next three he has to be gone, no two ways about it.

The frustrating thing is that even last season when we finished well short of where we needed to be that the solution looked so clear to everyone. We've had the same issues for years now and I don't see any progress, in fact it's pretty easy to argue we've gone backwards in this time. I'm not necessarily talking from finalist to knocked out in the semis to missing out completely either, I think it's a little harsh and boils everything down to how we performed, or didn't, against Blackpool. The first year we were flying when the season stopped and had a genuine chance of the top two if it hadn't been curtailed. We followed that up by securing our place on the last day, anything other than a win and Charlton would have finished about us, then last season where we missed out by seven points and were mathematically out of it before the final day but realistically a couple of weeks prior.

Coupled with his seeming inability to learn from his mistakes means he's already on incredibly thin ice for me, he's not a novice manager in his first couple of years, he's been in charge for over 650 games with almost 250 for us. If the penny hasn't dropped yet I'm very doubtful it ever will and it feels like we're getting left behind as other teams get stronger.

 

[bashamwonderland]

And obviously if we just beat our first opponent over two legs in the playoff semis, and then thrashed the following team in the final we'd be promoted.

Of course if we then maintained a 100% win rate thereafter, we'd be looking at Champions League football and a Premier League title within 2 seasons.

I like all this optimism stuff.

I like Holly Willoughby too.

 

[ljs]

Yes if we'd won at Morecambe and held on a couple more minutes against Sunderland we'd only have had to beat Doncaster to be in the playoffs. Not miles off, but not good enough

If we hadn't lost 3 of our first four matches and if KR had signed players that were actually required for a balanced squad, then this thread probably wouldn't exist.
But, we did and he hasn't.

 

[WuTang]

The time has come where, although faceless, we have a board of billionaire owners putting millions into the training ground, millions into a state of the art stadium if planning goes through, 500K just to keep Herbie Kane on loan for half a season which petered out to nothing, record wages to keep Brannagan at the club, a million punt on Murphy over 2 seasons, still bidding north of 500k on strikers, a budget around 4th-6th only behind clubs we can't match due to FFP.

All of the above is being managed by one man, the pressure is mounting if results don't start picking up fast. This board are not messing about, they want Championship football, they want OUFC to progress and to progress fast. If they feel their money and progress is being squandered by Robinson I can't see him staying for long, despite what people think of him. I've seen him looking a little flustered in interviews already and I think it's clear to see why.

 

[Brahma]

The time has come where, although faceless, we have a board of billionaire owners putting millions into the training ground, millions into a state of the art stadium if planning goes through, 500K just to keep Herbie Kane on loan for half a season which petered out to nothing, record wages to keep Brannagan at the club, a million punt on Murphy over 2 seasons, still bidding north of 500k on strikers, a budget around 4th-6th only behind clubs we can't match due to FFP.

All of the above is being managed by one man, the pressure is mounting if results don't start picking up fast. This board are not messing about, they want Championship football, they want OUFC to progress and to progress fast. If they feel their money and progress is being squandered by Robinson I can't see him staying for long, despite what people think of him. I've seen him looking a little flustered in interviews already and I think it's clear to see why.

The pressure was always on.

The real disappointment for me, was having listened to the de-brief at the end of the season via the media, an acceptance from KR about our faults, the club have done nothing at all, to address any of them. Chancing big bucks on the type of players we've gone after, is utterly ridiculous.

I simply cannot believe how much money we have been throwing around.

 

[battman]

Do you not feel the tiniest bit embarrassed when you read this back?

Not at all, I think it’s unhealthy how there are some fans (admittedly a small number now) for who he can do no wrong, regardless of the result, the performance or the way he conducts himself when things don’t go right.

 

[werthersoriginal]

The pressure was always on.

The real disappointment for me, was having listened to the de-brief at the end of the season via the media, an acceptance from KR about our faults, the club have done nothing at all, to address any of them. Chancing big bucks on the type of players we've gone after, is utterly ridiculous.

I simply cannot believe how much money we have been throwing around.

It's crazy we haven't snapped up a couple of decent if unspectacular full backs!

 

[Mellowyellow]

Those 4 defeats were...

Plymouth 1 Oxford 0, in a game we played really well, against a team who were flying and only just missed out on the play-offs.
Morecambe 2 Oxford 1, a shocker of a result, and a game where we had countless chances but came up against a keeper having a worldie.
Oxford 1 Sunderland 2, a last-minute goal conceded to a team who were promoted.
Rotherham 2 Oxford 1, an away defeat to a team who went up automatically.

We came up short because we hit a run of difficult fixtures at a crunch time of the season, and weren't good enough against the top sides. The only one of those results that could be considered a result to get you relegated was the Morecambe one.

It's so easy to simply look at the numbers and make statements without context (not directed at you @The mighty Aldo , a general observation). The hysteria on here is now becoming epic. Of course the start to the season has been shambolic, with glaring deficiencies remaining in the squad and a whole legion of foreseeable bodies on the treatment table. KR needs to step up and earn his corn PDQ, but the current witch-hunt isn't helping anyone.

I believe its been very calm, with a slow build up of people seemingly coming to the conclusion that kr is not the man to take us up. This is fuelled directly by robinson not understanding the need for players in obvious positions, his arrogance, alongside his strange mantras during interviews.

 

[WuTang]

The pressure was always on.

The real disappointment for me, was having listened to the de-brief at the end of the season via the media, an acceptance from KR about our faults, the club have done nothing at all, to address any of them. Chancing big bucks on the type of players we've gone after, is utterly ridiculous.

I simply cannot believe how much money we have been throwing around.

My biggest worry is that this kind of money doesn't come up for a club like ours very often, even more so in our unique situation. I'd be gutted if the money was misused to an extent that they tighten the purse strings in the future. I'm not a KR hater at all, I'm fairly balanced but was hoping he would learn from previous mistakes and develop as a manager and recruiter, even more so when he's highlighted his errors in recruitment before (post Blackpool interview springs to mind).

Someone mentioned this is his 9th transfer window now, and the signings this summer do not appear to show he has learnt from his past mistakes, but I'll wait until the window is completely over before passing full judgement. That doesn't take away that certain positions should have been prioritised and filled before the opener though.

 

[Mellowyellow]

I can’t see him going anywhere. He’s woven himself into the fabric of the club so much he practically IS the club. Especially with the owners being so remote and aloof. He’ll get this season and, barring any relegation threat disaster, probably next season as well. Let’s face it, it’s not the first time things have looked a bit chaotic since he’s been here and he seems to have an ability to ride his way through it so I think everybody - including me - needs to take a breath and try to support the club in it’s hour if need as best we can with positivity. I’ve come firmly down on the Robinson out side of the fence in the last couple of weeks but it’s just wasted energy and not really beneficial or helpful. It’s certainly not going to change anything.

Knowing KR we’ll probably thump Morecambe 6-0 on Saturday!I believe everyone does support the club, but not all kr.

I can see your point totally regarding weaving his way into the fabric, an extremely clever thing to do, but every manager is judged on games won, regardless of how much of a nice guy we keep being reminded he is by his followers.

It seems to be unthinkable to some that Oxford United could ever survive without robinson, but with each loss, poor performance, lack of urgent signings, that prospect grows ever more real.

 

[chuckbert]

No. Schrodinger's manager.

I reckon it’s more Heisenberg than Schroedinger. And he needs a much larger component of Pauli.

 

[The mighty Aldo]

Those 4 defeats were...

Plymouth 1 Oxford 0, in a game we played really well, against a team who were flying and only just missed out on the play-offs.
Morecambe 2 Oxford 1, a shocker of a result, and a game where we had countless chances but came up against a keeper having a worldie.
Oxford 1 Sunderland 2, a last-minute goal conceded to a team who were promoted.
Rotherham 2 Oxford 1, an away defeat to a team who went up automatically.

We came up short because we hit a run of difficult fixtures at a crunch time of the season, and weren't good enough against the top sides. The only one of those results that could be considered a result to get you relegated was the Morecambe one.

It's so easy to simply look at the numbers and make statements without context (not directed at you @The mighty Aldo , a general observation). The hysteria on here is now becoming epic. Of course the start to the season has been shambolic, with glaring deficiencies remaining in the squad and a whole legion of foreseeable bodies on the treatment table. KR needs to step up and earn his corn PDQ, but the current witch-hunt isn't helping anyone.

The point I should have made to go along with those stats were that our defensive frailties that hadn’t been addressed all season finally caught up with us. Indeed because Plymouth, Sunderland and Rotherham were good teams they were likely to put us under pressure.
Now the first thing the manager should do is address the positions we need improving. Mc Nally was a big loss and fair enough we get Findlay and Brown is a good cover but we need much more than that.
Losing Sykes Williams Whyte and Kane was massive and we‘ve not replaced these
Taking a risk on so many players with injury problems is poor
I have been appreciative of what KR has done and indeed in April I was prepared for him to have another crack at promotion but said if by December we are bottom half it is time for him to go and I stand by that