Transfer News Summer 2023 Transfer Window Thread

[ChamonixOx]

(Just seen your note to the other post)

Whilst I don’t disagree that the standard over there isn’t great, the pile-on for Findlay at times (not just now) is unjustified, particularly when there was so many poor performers last year.

I felt he very rarely had a genuinely bad game for us but obviously stood out as someone who looked uncertain on the ball. All the early signs were good, he was outstanding at Derby in the season opener but people will selectively remember the pass that leads to us conceding. He just wants to clear his lines and that’s not a weakness, it’s poor recruitment.

He gave everything while others didn’t, it just wasn’t a good fit for him or for us and quite obviously his issue with Robinson was the end of him because he looked a shadow of himself after that. He could’ve been problematic during that time but he wasn’t. He got on with it and then actually played pretty well for Manning. Going back to Killie couldn’t be a better move for him. I’m actually quite glad it’s a loan because there’s every chance he rediscovers himself over there and we can have him back.

Don’t think he embarrassed himself in the slightest here so hopefully it works out for him.

Agree with both posters. We were far better when he was playing last season, than when he wasn’t. Old fashioned centre half - so not great on the ball, but one who would happily put his body on the line. Good luck Stuart Findlay back up in Scotland and thanks for being one of the ones that contributed a great deal to us not getting relegated.

 

[Swaby39]

Eastwood and Long are a lot better at what they do than Findlay is at what he does, and were a lot better than Findlay last season.

All opinions but, even so, they've got off incredibly lightly and still very unworthy of suggestions they should keep their positions. Based on our transfer activity, I'd suggest Manning firmly agrees. To my mind if they were both out of contract this summer, I'm certain one would've gone, if not both. He's been ruthless towards poor performers. You make a lot of Findlay's contract and what he earns but it seems lost on people that Sam Long got given a 3+ year deal despite struggling to find a decent 90 minute performance for 6-12 months. It's the same mad thinking that got us tied to Findlay for 4 years. Yet, he can do no wrong. It's just a bit of a double standard.

 

[Scotchegg]

Don't understand all this waffle about Findlay. He was a solid pro? I should hope so too when he's on the money he is, that's the bare minimum I would expect from any professional footballer.

He wasn't league one standard, had terrible ball control, even worse passing, and was scatty as hell defensively, and for these reasons, we've got rid of him. Done.

It's ok to simply tell it how it is you know, people won't burst into flames if you do.

I can confirm that you don't burst into flames for saying something positive either.

It's OK to say how it is TO YOU. Other opinions vary.

 

[ChamonixOx]

And whilst only earning £4-5000 a week, my heart bleeds for them.

Envy is a terrible thing! Short career, elite by the nature that they are pros, not withstanding £200k is a good salary, but not an outstanding one (doesn’t go that far) when you need to stash quite a bit away for the end of your career.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Envy is a terrible thing! Short career, elite by the nature that they are pros, not withstanding £200k is a good salary, but not an outstanding one (doesn’t go that far) when you need to stash quite a bit away for the end of your career.

Especially when you take into account the cost of living in Oxfordshire as well.

It is a decent wage and would be a life changing wage for the average person in the street but as you say, it is a short career that could be over at any moment.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Hmmm. 7 clean sheets in 46 games last season, the second worst in the division.

The lack of clean sheets was more to do with the Keeper of course.

Whilst I'm very happy with the defensive upgrades we've made thus far, it's also worth pointing out that we were reasonably robust at the back last season - conceding few chances (admittedly because one goal was often enough to beat us).

If we'd had even an average Keeper for this level we'd have got another 4 or 5 clean sheets for sure.

 

[Oxford57]

I am sure that many footballers realise that they will have to find employment after football,they will just have some form of next egg to help them, the only shock will how much a employer is prepared to pay them!

 

[Leysboy]

It's easy for us as fans to see this as a binary decision, when in truth it's anything but. We actually have basically no idea what the plan is with GOD and why decisions are being made. Maybe he's a character that they think would struggle if sent out, or to bounce back from a bad loan. Maybe he's told the coaching staff that he has no interest in going out on loan. Maybe Manning and the coaching staff think that 20 mins here and there and leading the line in the EFL Trophy while working with them every day in training is best for his development. We just don't know.

One thing we do know is that Liam Manning has over a decade's worth of experience nuturing young talent at a very high level. As far as I know none of us have that experience. Now, that doesn't mean we can't criticise him or doubt him, but it should mean that we can assume that there will be method to his thinking way way beyond what we see and know.

Do I count as having some experience… after all I was a young coach that helped Ikechi Anya as a boy when at Garden City. Obviously there was a manager above me, but I did a lot of training drills with him. He went on to play for Scotland at National level.

 

[tatabanya]

Do I count as having some experience… after all I was a young coach that helped Ikechi Anya as a boy when at Garden City. Obviously there was a manager above me, but I did a lot of training drills with him. He went on to play for Scotland at National level.

Yeah of course, there will obviously be some on here with some coaching and youth development experience. But it’s not managing an academy for the City Group…

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Conversations footballers earning a quarter of a million pounds per year literally never have: Chapter One:

Player: “I’m sorry, kids, but we won’t be moving to Oxfordshire after all. I’ve been on RightMove and I’m afraid that it made for pretty bleak reading. It’s just… too expensive to live in Bicester.”

Kids: “Ohhhhhhhh ”

Wife: “What’s the difference in rent compared to living in (insert random hole north of Coventry)? Like, £500? £700? You’re going to be earning over £20,000 per month!”

Player: “That’s not the point, Carolyn. It’s the principle. This is exactly the sort of bullshit I really care about and that I base all of my decisions on. You know that.”

Wife: “But Oxford are offering you £500 a week more than (Random Shithole FC). You’re going to lose more in wages than you save on the cost of the house! This doesn’t even add up!”

Player: “I don’t want to discuss this any further! You know how much money scares me - I’m still reeling over the amount of money that the car dealership charged me for the massage seats!”

Wife: “But surely if worrying about house prices was a deal breaker then Oxford would pay the £100-200 per week needed to make up the difference? This is absolute nonsen-“

Player: “CAROLYN! IT’S TOO BLOODY EXPENSIVE! WE’RE MOVING TO BELPER!”

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Especially when you take into account the cost of living in Oxfordshire as well.

It is a decent wage and would be a life changing wage for the average person in the street but as you say, it is a short career that could be over at any moment.

They could always, you know, get another job after 'retiring' (at, what, 36, 37)?

In fact, an awful lot of them then go on to a coaching role or commentary or even a cushy commercial/sales role that they're completely ill-equipped for other than having once been a footballer themselves.

It's a real 'jobs for the boys' industry even after they've stopped playing at massively inflated wages. Not their fault of course, but absolutely no need to be so defensive of them either.

 

[Scotchegg]

Conversations footballers earning a quarter of a million pounds per year literally never have: Chapter One:

Player: “I’m sorry, kids, but we won’t be moving to Oxfordshire after all. I’ve been on RightMove and I’m afraid that it made for pretty bleak reading. It’s just… too expensive to live in Bicester.”

Kids: “Ohhhhhhhh ”

Wife: “What’s the difference in rent compared to living in (insert random hole north of Coventry)? Like, £500? £700? You’re going to be earning over £20,000 per month!”

Player: “That’s not the point, Carolyn. It’s the principle. This is exactly the sort of bullshit I really care about and that I base all of my decisions on. You know that.”

Wife: “But Oxford are offering you £500 a week more than (Random Shithole FC). You’re going to lose more in wages than you save on the cost of the house! This doesn’t even add up!”

Player: “I don’t want to discuss this any further! You know how much money scares me - I’m still reeling over the amount of money that the car dealership charged me for the massage seats!”

Wife: “But surely if worrying about house prices was a deal breaker then Oxford would pay the £100-200 per week needed to make up the difference? This is absolute nonsen-“

Player: “CAROLYN! IT’S TOO BLOODY EXPENSIVE! WE’RE MOVING TO BELPER!”

Seeing as it's been the theme of many of your posts recently, how much do you think we should be paying players at Oxford?

 

[Symp59]

They get payed well and Oxford is awesome we are 3 players short of a pretty decent squad .Certainly good enough to be top half hopefully top 6 .

 

[Steve Gilbert]

They could always, you know, get another job after 'retiring' (at, what, 36, 37)?

In fact, an awful lot of them then go on to a coaching role or commentary or even a cushy commercial/sales role that they're completely ill-equipped for other than having once been a footballer themselves.

It's a real 'jobs for the boys' industry even after they've stopped playing at massively inflated wages. Not their fault of course, but absolutely no need to be so defensive of them either.

You’re right, it is a job for the boys industry and it is all about who you know and who you get on with in the game at the job opportunities but at the same time how many players that leave the game end up working in the sport rather than having to retrain in a new profession?
It has changed a lot more these days with the courses they get offered to them during their career but just read the various bits about how Beano struggled with normal life after football.

If you make it to the premier league and have a couple of years in that league, even as a bang average premier league player, you are set for life if sensible. Lower down though it is a lot more difficult.

That’s not defending the players, it is down to them to manage their money wisely but it’s too simplistic to just say a player gets paid 5-6k a week so they are all set up for the rest of their career.

 

[Cass63]

Do I count as having some experience… after all I was a young coach that helped Ikechi Anya as a boy when at Garden City. Obviously there was a manager above me, but I did a lot of training drills with him. He went on to play for Scotland at National level.

Did I get any credit for fixing his dads car, did I f**k, join the back of the queue.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Seeing as it's been the theme of many of your posts recently, how much do you think we should be paying players at Oxford?

Don’t ultimately care in isolation, if they prove to be moderately worth the outlay in their ability and their returns. If someone costs the club a fortune and provides nothing I might say that’s less than satisfactory given the money spent on them. Equally, if people say anybody earning 5k a week (or more) can’t afford to live near Oxford I might also have a view on that.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Conversations footballers earning a quarter of a million pounds per year literally never have: Chapter One:

Player: “I’m sorry, kids, but we won’t be moving to Oxfordshire after all. I’ve been on RightMove and I’m afraid that it made for pretty bleak reading. It’s just… too expensive to live in Bicester.”

Kids: “Ohhhhhhhh ”

Wife: “What’s the difference in rent compared to living in (insert random hole north of Coventry)? Like, £500? £700? You’re going to be earning over £20,000 per month!”

Player: “That’s not the point, Carolyn. It’s the principle. This is exactly the sort of bullshit I really care about and that I base all of my decisions on. You know that.”

Wife: “But Oxford are offering you £500 a week more than (Random Shithole FC). You’re going to lose more in wages than you save on the cost of the house! This doesn’t even add up!”

Player: “I don’t want to discuss this any further! You know how much money scares me - I’m still reeling over the amount of money that the car dealership charged me for the massage seats!”

Wife: “But surely if worrying about house prices was a deal breaker then Oxford would pay the £100-200 per week needed to make up the difference? This is absolute nonsen-“

Player: “CAROLYN! IT’S TOO BLOODY EXPENSIVE! WE’RE MOVING TO BELPER!”

And then factor in that footballers aren't exactly after a period cottage in a delightful village in The Cotswolds, they just want garish new builds on horrible estates in s**t parts of town.

As an aside, I once inadvertently viewed a professional footballers home when looking for my first house. We weren't really interested, but it was well priced and no chain, so we had a look. It transpired it was said footballers because I recognised him from the goudy 6 foot picture on the wall of him, the WAG and kids. The whole property was devoid of charisma or charm. It was a Premier Inn with cream carpets. I couldn't believe that someone earning £3k a week would choose to live like that.

The car in the drive was worth almost as much as the house, obviously. Different priorities these people.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

As an aside, I once inadvertently viewed a professional footballers home when looking for my first house. We weren't really interested, but it was well priced and no chain, so we had a look. It transpired it was said footballers because I recognised him from the goudy 6 foot picture on the wall of him, the WAG and kids. The whole property was devoid of charisma or charm. It was a Premier Inn with cream carpets. I couldn't believe that someone earning £3k a week would choose to live like that.

They were probably moving to Darlington because the council tax is £40 a month cheaper.

 

[Scotchegg]

Don’t ultimately care in isolation, if they prove to be moderately worth the outlay in their ability and their returns. If someone costs the club a fortune and provides nothing I might say that’s less than satisfactory given the money spent on them. Equally, if people say anybody earning 5k a week (or more) can’t afford to live near Oxford I might also have a view on that.

Has anyone said that £5k a week won't get you a house in Oxford/Heyford?

 

[RyanioBirdio]

Has anyone said that £5k a week won't get you a house in Oxford/Heyford?

I’ve seen people suggesting that the cost of living in Oxfordshire will be a factor in the decisions that footballers make in terms of living here and therefore playing for Oxford, yes.

“£200k is a good salary, but not an outstanding one (doesn’t go that far) when you need to stash quite a bit away for the end of your career.”

“Especially when you take into account the cost of living in Oxfordshire as well.”

“Geographically we're not in a good place in the current financial climate, expensive housing etc. Accrington or Grimsby would be a lot cheaper”

Etc.