Transfer Window January 2024 Transfer Window Thread

[Bornyellow]

Been told Elliot Watt from Salford is a option we are looking at

Was very good last season, seem to remeber him being linked with several clubs after their failed play off campaign.

 

[Eric Blair]

I may be in a minority but I really really like Mark Harris. His work rate and the way he stretches defences creating space for others was fantastic and maybe a bit under appreciated. Obviously there is the question of goal scoring and we of course need a striker or two. My question is if/when we do get a striker what role does Harris have (if any) in a starting 11. It would be a big loss to lose him from it but I don't see where he could fit in (assuming everyone is fit). That said I get that i) everyone being fit rarely happens and (ii) it's squads that win games not teams. I think we'd miss him not starting.

 

[holdsteady]

That's not really true, Murphy's shooting has been bad but he's put in some great balls. The goal he set up for McGuane in the cup is one of my favourite moments this season.

For 7K a week and being here a year and a half I would hope for a bit more myself.

 

[Eric Blair]

For 7K a week and being here a year and a half I would hope for a bit more myself.

It was a great moment if only for his celebration of the assist and the goal. I take your point though.

 

[Symp59]

Murphy too? He's been our most exciting player for some of the last few games (admittedly, that's not much to brag about), surprised he isn't worth thinking about keeping now we can actually get a tune out of him

Trouble is he never plays 90 minutes ,he doesn't really get stuck in for this division you need powerful players that you can get games out of sadly Murphy is not that player ,nor Browne we need a clear out at the end of the season

 

[Osei Yaw]

Harris' goal against Charlton was the sort of thing we have been desperate for all season. Credit to him as he saw it unfolding, made the run and gambled on the cross being good enough. These are all things he's been criticised for this season, so it's only right he's recognised when he's done it well.

With him now looking like he could be that 20 goal a season striker, I wouldn't be surprised if the club cooled their interest in other options and just backed Harris to come good.

 

[yellowbow]

Trouble is he never plays 90 minutes ,he doesn't really get stuck in for this division you need powerful players that you can get games out of sadly Murphy is not that player ,nor Browne we need a clear out at the end of the season

I watched Wes Burns playing for Ipswich the other day and thought that’s the type of wingers we need. He reminded me of Ryan Williams, a busy player who gets stuck in, puts decent crosses in and gets up and down the pitch with high energy and not afraid to mix it with the opposition fullback. That’s the sort of wingers you need to get out of this league, not a player who looks great in flashes and can’t last 90 mins.

Oh to have another Stuart Massey - or even an Alex Macdonald.

 

[chromeyellow]

does anyone else find the anti Murphy posters tediously repetitive? he didn't play for whatever reasons under Robinson, who had a record of taking against certain players even at the expense of the team. Under Manning he didn't play much, under Buckingham he's shown that he has a lot to contribute at League One level and possibly higher. Let's hope he remains an option either as a starter or off the bench - at least til the end of the season

 

[Older Shotts]

does anyone else find the anti Murphy posters tediously repetitive? he didn't play for whatever reasons under Robinson, who had a record of taking against certain players even at the expense of the team. Under Manning he didn't play much, under Buckingham he's shown that he has a lot to contribute at League One level and possibly higher. Let's hope he remains an option either as a starter or off the bench - at least til the end of the season

Well said. He's been very good since Des came in. If we had any sort of striker, they'd have scored a fair few from the balls he's put across the face of goal.

 

[n1]

I watched Wes Burns playing for Ipswich the other day and thought that’s the type of wingers we need. He reminded me of Ryan Williams, a busy player who gets stuck in, puts decent crosses in and gets up and down the pitch with high energy and not afraid to mix it with the opposition fullback. That’s the sort of wingers you need to get out of this league, not a player who looks great in flashes and can’t last 90 mins.

Oh to have another Stuart Massey - or even an Alex Macdonald.

We definitely miss that bite (terrier like style) in this team. Mark Sykes is another that gave us something like that. Ryan Williams would certainly add to this team. Kyle Joseph also did it in a way.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Harris' goal against Charlton was the sort of thing we have been desperate for all season. Credit to him as he saw it unfolding, made the run and gambled on the cross being good enough. These are all things he's been criticised for this season, so it's only right he's recognised when he's done it well.

With him now looking like he could be that 20 goal a season striker, I wouldn't be surprised if the club cooled their interest in other options and just backed Harris to come good.

No chance. One good near post run and finish cannot make up for 4 barren months, when even hitting a barn door has looked a step too far ! You must be the only Oxford fan on the planet thinking we don’t need more strikers ! Harris has had plenty of chances and he hasn’t taken any bar the one at Charlton.

What on gods earth has been your trigger point for thinking he is now looking like a 20 goal a season striker ? Please don’t tell me it’s finally taking a chance that came his way at Charlton. I‘ve seen absolutely nothing to suggest he can get anywhere near 20.

 

[Joey]

That's not really true, Murphy's shooting has been bad but he's put in some great balls. The goal he set up for McGuane in the cup is one of my favourite moments this season.

He's put in a few and looked dangerous in a couple of games, although not for the whole match. Without sounding like Roy Keane, isn't that his job? Fair play his performances have picked up a hell of a lot to the point where he now looks a threat but it does seem like the bar has been gradually lowered so much for him that his good games are overstated. Now he's injured, as he has been plenty since he's been here.

If he continues to perform as he has been under Buckingham then maybe there's a conversation to be had but a handful of decent halves of football isn't enough to keep him here for me and I hope the club are also asking for more. It would also rely on him taking a pretty hefty pay cut, not just based on his performances so far but also his injury record. I'm a bit more open to having an injury risk than some if their talent justifies it but it needs to be in addition to a robust squad, not forming part of one. We can't keep signing the like of Murphy, Browne and Edwards and then acting shocked when they get injured.

 

[Grumpy Git]

It’s been patently obvious that we’ve needed strikers for years. Harris will be a great partner for an out and out striker, he harries and gets into the thick of it and could produce assists for someone who knows where the net is.

 

[tatabanya]

Surely it’s obvious to anyone watching that the goal involvements will come if Murphy were to maintain his recent level of form?

 

[Jster]

May I say that I for one enjoy Osei Yaw's bits of satirical humour, especially when others take them seriously!

 

[Chippy]

Harris' goal against Charlton was the sort of thing we have been desperate for all season. Credit to him as he saw it unfolding, made the run and gambled on the cross being good enough. These are all things he's been criticised for this season, so it's only right he's recognised when he's done it well.

With him now looking like he could be that 20 goal a Decade striker, I wouldn't be surprised if the club cooled their interest in other options and just backed Harris to come good.

Corrected that for you. I assumed your post was in Jest?

I’d have Harris as part of a front three, but boy do we need at least 2 “proper” number 9 type strikers in, if we are serious about a promotion push

 

[Followtheox1]

I may be in a minority but I really really like Mark Harris. His work rate and the way he stretches defences creating space for others was fantastic and maybe a bit under appreciated. Obviously there is the question of goal scoring and we of course need a striker or two. My question is if/when we do get a striker what role does Harris have (if any) in a starting 11. It would be a big loss to lose him from it but I don't see where he could fit in (assuming everyone is fit). That said I get that i) everyone being fit rarely happens and (ii) it's squads that win games not teams. I think we'd miss him not starting.

I think you have hit the nail on the head about it being a squad game and one that involves injuries! However, also take into account that Harris might improve by having other strikers in the building. He may learn from them but some players also blossom when there is competition. It kicks them on to better things.

 

[Jason N]

A threadbare squad is really a problem of your own making if you continue to hand deals out to people like Gorrin. I appreciate a lot of it is luck but you are dicing with it a bit if you keep players like that around and we have loads of them, our squad carries far more than is necessary. I'm not saying have none, I'm saying have less. Much less. I understood why Manning added him to the group (again, to cover a shortage of bodies) but I can't see any sense in a renewal now that we have January to move things around. You won't convince me that Gorrin will make a 'vital difference' for anybody but especially ahead of, say, a non-league holding midfielder in his early 20's with a bright future in the EFL. The scenario you mention is fine, but why does it need to be the ever-unreliable Gorrin? Is he sharp enough to trust with such precious minutes as what you describe? There's as much chance he's injured for the game against Portsmouth as he is to be the hero. We should be trying to lower our risk tolerance, not extend it.

Henry was praised against expectation. If he was a new signing people would wonder what on Earth he was doing here. He was praised because we're desperate for players and after months of absence he managed to come on in our time of need and waddle around for us for 15 minutes. He's a likable chap but for God's sake, he was stiff as a post. He's done. Time to move on. We're trying to get to the Championship, are we really applauding and encouraging the inclusion of stalwarts that can hardly bend at the knee because it balances things? Crazy.

I have to agree with most of this. I've always been a big fan of Gorrin and was happy that he was given another opportunity. But what is the point of keeping Gorrin when he doesn't have a longer term future at the club, I'd much prefer to see Smyth given an opportunity now. Every game I've seen him play, he's not put a foot wrong, more or less like Negru when he's had a chance to play.

On a separate note, adding to the Murphy debate. Yes, Murphy has been impressive in his last 2 or 3 matches played. I've been very excited by the impact that he made, but then again when we really needed him over the Xmas and New Year he's broken down again. If we cannot depend on him, then his extortionate wage could be put to a more reliable player(s) that we can really depend on.

 

[Oxy]

Perfect window for me looks something like this, exciting times.

Defensive cover - Remeao Hutton or CJ Egan-Riley (Loan)

Midfield cover - Tommy Leigh or Jensen Weir (Loan)

Attacking cover - Joe Taylor (Loan) or Callum Marshall (Loan)

New ST - Ladapo or Afolabi

 

[werthersoriginal]

I have to agree with most of this. I've always been a big fan of Gorrin and was happy that he was given another opportunity. But what is the point of keeping Gorrin when he doesn't have a longer term future at the club, I'd much prefer to see Smyth given an opportunity now. Every game I've seen him play, he's not put a foot wrong, more or less like Negru when he's had a chance to play.

On a separate note, adding to the Murphy debate. Yes, Murphy has been impressive in his last 2 or 3 matches played. I've been very excited by the impact that he made, but then again when we really needed him over the Xmas and New Year he's broken down again. If we cannot depend on him, then his extortionate wage could be put to a more reliable player(s) that we can really depend on.

Well, the fellow got injured, in common with half the team, after being available most of the season. We’ll have to see if it’s just a routine injury or another protracted layoff