Transfer Window January 2024 Transfer Window Thread

[n1]

We've got so many panickers in this fan base. We have a crazy big injury crisis and are now struggling to maintain the amazing form the we saw at the start of the season which is hardly surprising!!!

The Ed Waldron appointment was basically the start of a journey toward building a new squad post KR. We are one window in and there are some cracks. Of course there is. The real judgement shouldn't come until next Winter (3 windows in).

Chill out everyone and enjoy the ride.

 

[Cass63]

He has already been blowing the trumpet on how OUFC has some of the best fan communication in the EFL, he based this solely on the supporters panel. Meanwhile OxVox and the rest of us unworthies are left scratching our heads with no answers to some hugely important questions.

Those on the supporters panel, are you here, can you shed any light, have you been asking these questions and what were the responses from Tim "best communication in the EFL" Williams?

No, and radio oxford are scared to ask questions in case they upset the club so we don’t actually get anywhere. Des says the same thing every interview, but what’s the name of the new analyst, what’s the chance of a new no 2 being in place by Carlisle, what’s the chance of someone actually signing by then? . They really are treating us as customers, they don’t think they are answerable to anyone.

 

[vapourtrailOX]

Been thinking about the backroom staff organisation a lot this week and what it might say about the operation of the non-playing side of the club (in the absence of hearing much from the board). A few brief thoughts:

• My guess about the analyst is that he's on gardening leave and can't be announced properly yet (fair enough)
• Assistant has taken a very long time, true. Sounds like Des tried to bring someone from overseas but that didn't work out, and then it sounds like he's spoken to a few guys already employed over here. As with analyst, everything takes longer when someone is already employed.
• Given that most of Des' coaching career has been abroad it makes sense that he doesn't have a Chris Hogg type here and, unlike last year, Oxford didn't have a player with coaching badges ready to be an assistant (Mous). The point is, let's have patience because why rush what will be quite a critical appointment for a rookie manager we've invested heavily in?
• Another thing, as the club has rebuilt over the last year there has been a lot of staff changes. As KR became more of a dictator it seemed like a few familiar faces moved on quite quietly (Allen, Harris - a few others too in recruitment and medical team). Manning brought in some guys but LBS and Brown moved on of course. The point being that there's been a lot of staff churn in the last year and I don't blame the club if we're taking time to find candidates who might be looking to lay roots here.
• I understand Baldock is still around the club doing things and it wouldn't surprise me if he ended up having a role announced at some point before the end of the season.

I felt frustrated about the backroom staff situation earlier this week, but when I put it in these terms I start to question less what the board are doing. Personally, I'm not fond of the way the club's intent is communicated to fans, but I do respect that what we have seen over the last 9 months is a rebuild way ahead of schedule that has given us something to be excited about for the second half of the season. It's human nature to feel frustrated and angry when a good thing unravels a bit (mostly through bad luck with injuries!), but that good thing was built over the summer and should earn our trust and patience for some further rebuilding this month.

 

[CCYellow]

But it goes back to the old, old point; ask the f***ing club?

You keep making this 'point' of yours without offering a solution to anyone of how to actually ask the club.
There is no promised in person fans' forum.
There is no RadOx Five Minute fans' forum.
There is no email address that can be contacted to ask where the assistant manager is.
There isn't a reception we can walk up to and be seen by Tim Williams within five minutes.
The club is not answering questions from OUSP and OxVox either.

So tell us, how do we contact the club? You keep making out that it's something super easy to do, so surely you can inform us?
Failing that, I'll ring the ticket office tomorrow. I'm sure they're up to date on the assistant manager progress.

 

[OX14]

Been thinking about the backroom staff organisation a lot this week and what it might say about the operation of the non-playing side of the club (in the absence of hearing much from the board). A few brief thoughts:

• My guess about the analyst is that he's on gardening leave and can't be announced properly yet (fair enough)
• Assistant has taken a very long time, true. Sounds like Des tried to bring someone from overseas but that didn't work out, and then it sounds like he's spoken to a few guys already employed over here. As with analyst, everything takes longer when someone is already employed.
• Given that most of Des' coaching career has been abroad it makes sense that he doesn't have a Chris Hogg type here and, unlike last year, Oxford didn't have a player with coaching badges ready to be an assistant (Mous). The point is, let's have patience because why rush what will be quite a critical appointment for a rookie manager we've invested heavily in?
• Another thing, as the club has rebuilt over the last year there has been a lot of staff changes. As KR became more of a dictator it seemed like a few familiar faces moved on quite quietly (Allen, Harris - a few others too in recruitment and medical team). Manning brought in some guys but LBS and Brown moved on of course. The point being that there's been a lot of staff churn in the last year and I don't blame the club if we're taking time to find candidates who might be looking to lay roots here.
• I understand Baldock is still around the club doing things and it wouldn't surprise me if he ended up having a role announced at some point before the end of the season.

I felt frustrated about the backroom staff situation earlier this week, but when I put it in these terms I start to question less what the board are doing. Personally, I'm not fond of the way the club's intent is communicated to fans, but I do respect that what we have seen over the last 9 months is a rebuild way ahead of schedule that has given us something to be excited about for the second half of the season. It's human nature to feel frustrated and angry when a good thing unravels a bit (mostly through bad luck with injuries!), but that good thing was built over the summer and should earn our trust and patience for some further rebuilding this month.

I just see Reading have just let their assistant manager go due to financial reasons. Maybe worth a look for Des.

 

[LeftSideLarry]

You keep making this 'point' of yours without offering a solution to anyone of how to actually ask the club.
There is no promised in person fans' forum.
There is no RadOx Five Minute fans' forum.
There is no email address that can be contacted to ask where the assistant manager is.
There isn't a reception we can walk up to and be seen by Tim Williams within five minutes.
The club is not answering questions from OUSP and OxVox either.

So tell us, how do we contact the club? You keep making out that it's something super easy to do, so surely you can inform us?
Failing that, I'll ring the ticket office tomorrow. I'm sure they're up to date on the assistant manager progress.

Here’s Chris Williams’ email. I’m sure he’ll pass your note onto the person you wish to contact.

cwilliams@oufc.co.uk

 

[trickyricky]

There are some great amateur dramatics on show on this forum tonight!

Yes it has taken a while to get an assistant in and Des really needs help. However, it is better to get the right person. One person took another job. We are in contract discussions with another. What do people expect the club to say? " We have offered a contract to x worth £200,000 per annum and are awaiting his decision."

This does not happen! We have been told a contract has been offered. They will not give us a blow by blow account of the negotiations.

The Beadle situation is out of our hands. We are probably contractually obliged to follow Brighton's lead on announcements. The club cannot announce anything without consent or we would be in breach of contract.

On to the transfer window, we now desperately need a goalkeeper, 2 wingers and a goal scorer. It would also be nice to add one more midfielder, and another forward who can play across the line. With 4 loan spaces now available, this should be achievable!

 

[Mad Dog]

And you know that it’s only one of those two reasons for sure do you?!

And you know it's not?

 

[Manorlounger]

Doubt that very much. I emailed him about the lack of communication regarding the food vans not being available for the FA Cup game against Maidenhead (OUSP said it would be included in the preview). He also had a 'dismissive, don't really care' response. He didn't reply further to this. Quite poor from a communications manager, really.

View attachment 17275

I have a great deal of sympathy towards Chris Williams. He has worked tirelessly throughout the KR era and before. He has laboured under the lack of proper funding for his area of expertise and, it appears, is now working under a regime that disapproves of keeping the "customer" informed.
I can well believe that he was not informed of the absence of Farr's burger vans for the P**s pot trophy. Such an occurrence was probably considered inconsequential by those further up the food chain.
It is, however, yet another indication of how little attention, or consideration, is given to us, the lowly consumer. But then again, why would the chuckle brothers have any notion of what is required by us "footy fans". A decent plate of food and a glass of something in the directors box is all that is required, isn't it?

 

[Mad Dog]

Is it them making a pigs ear of it? Surely it’s up to Des to appoint his assistants…

Just like with identifying players he would like to sign, it's up to the manager to identify who he wants as his assistant, yes, but it's then up to those above him to make it happen.

Other clubs don't seem to have these kinds of problems when bringing in a new manager, an assistant is identified and brought in pretty quickly, and whether it's those above him causing this to drag on so long, or whether Des is part of the problem, and taking too long to identify who he wants, it's a f*****g mess.

 

[Eaststanding]

And you know it's not?

No, I don‘t, but then I don’t rush to fear the worst and jump down the throat of the club at any given opportunity.

 

[Eaststanding]

You keep making this 'point' of yours without offering a solution to anyone of how to actually ask the club.
There is no promised in person fans' forum.
There is no RadOx Five Minute fans' forum.
There is no email address that can be contacted to ask where the assistant manager is.
There isn't a reception we can walk up to and be seen by Tim Williams within five minutes.
The club is not answering questions from OUSP and OxVox either.

So tell us, how do we contact the club? You keep making out that it's something super easy to do, so surely you can inform us?
Failing that, I'll ring the ticket office tomorrow. I'm sure they're up to date on the assistant manager progress.

Seriously?
There’s a whole f***king list of contact names and email addresses on the club website, use a bit of nous eh?

 

[Paul Cannell]

Seriously?
There’s a whole f***king list of contact names and email addresses on the club website, use a bit of nous eh?

[Sound of one hand clapping.] Big man.

 

[Mad Dog]

No, I don‘t, but then I don’t rush to fear the worst and jump down the throat of the club at any given opportunity.

Neither do I, this is the first time I've commented on any of this stuff, as I know how easy it can be to jump the gun at times, so I've been waiting quietly for things to play out first.

But after losing our manager and assistant manager, we're now about to lose our No 1 goalkeeper, there's also rumours our captain may be leaving, and members of staff want to leave, and we've had a new manager here for 2 months, and STILL don't have an assistant manager in place, and there's been ABSOLUTELY ZERO communication from the club at any point.

So forgive me if I've decided to weigh in with an opinion or two, I didn't realise I had to get your permission to do so.

Get off your high horse

 

[tatabanya]

Seriously?
There’s a whole f***king list of contact names and email addresses on the club website, use a bit of nous eh?

Do you genuinely think nobody’s asked?

 

[Brahma]

The assistant manager is interesting.

The name I was given has been out of work since leaving his previous role, so should it be that person then the delay for me, is negotiation. I think anyone we're talking to, are in a strong position.

Or that person is no longer in the frame and we're onto option three or four.

As for Elliot Moore, as well as he's done this season, if we got any reasonable offer, I'd be selling him. He's never a championship defender.

 

[Paul Cannell]

As for Elliot Moore, as well as he's done this season, if we got any reasonable offer, I'd be selling him. He's never a championship defender.

At least you can deep-fry a goldfish.

 

[CCYellow]

Seriously?
There’s a whole f***king list of contact names and email addresses on the club website, use a bit of nous eh?

Hardest decision of the day.


I've tried about other things. It didn't work. Maybe try reading what you're replying to?
And anyway, the club should be communicating with us. They should be seeking feedback from us. This discussion on this forum shouldn't be happening, because all of this should have been nipped in the bud by those in charge.

 

[Eaststanding]

Do you genuinely think nobody’s asked?

I’m told they have but have never had answers but nothing after that. It’s a rabbit hole I’ve been down before so I’ll leave it there.

 

[Swaby39]

The assistant manager is interesting.

The name I was given has been out of work since leaving his previous role, so should it be that person then the delay for me, is negotiation. I think anyone we're talking to, are in a strong position.

Or that person is no longer in the frame and we're onto option three or four.

As for Elliot Moore, as well as he's done this season, if we got any reasonable offer, I'd be selling him. He's never a championship defender.

I think we’ve seen through absence that Elliott Moore is a very important player for us at the moment.

I think he has certain strengths which would serve him well in the championship but in the main I agree with you, I’d be surprised if he flourished at a higher level. Nonetheless, it’s really a non-negotiable for me that he stays for now. We’re unsettled enough, we could really do with hanging on to a constant. He’s got a good partnership with Brown, Negru is injured and Thorniley has been disastrous at times, then there’s a new goalkeeper to integrate soon. I have no confidence that we could replace him competently in January.

Sometimes cashing in is the play but only when all the other pillars are in place. It would be a really disruptive exit IMO.