Manager/Coach Karl Robinson - Will he walk

When you say the 'timing of it' I don't really get that. It's not an open transfer window all year round, there are essentially two or three months out of 12 when you can do business so any successful, right minded manager must know that there's a risk his players are going to be sought after. Add to the fact that the very vast majority of transfers are done late in a window too why has KR got such a massive beef about this ? He's said numerous times about the model we are, I just do not get it.

He should take his frustration out on Brentford if it's about timing. What's Tiger meant to do, phone around every club in the country on January 1st and say if you want our players then hurry up ? How the hell can he control an incoming bid at the eleventh hour ? Acceptable bid comes in, it fits the model we all know about, so where has Tiger f***** up ? You can't say we haven't reinvested or, at the very least, tried hard to. The Cadden, O'Donnell and Grigg bids appear to be open knowledge. We are three players heavier in terms of numbers and Woodburn due to return.

A club owner cannot control a bid for his player and if he turns that acceptable bid away, and in doing so risks scuppering it altogether with loss of form or injury, then the model that has brought us success to date isn't worth the paper it's written on. You either have the model - and deal with it - or you don't.

Timing = not only near the end of the window but was done whilst promotion was calling and the feel good factor was back at the club and could have waited a few short months..The Owner cannot control the bid but he can reject it at such a time and think of the bigger picture..the injury example is folly because if it happened then he would just as easily sold Dickie or Brannagan if we failed to go up. it is also dumb of the club to then see we did not have to sell we chose too yet we had unbudgeted for income from the cup runs. What was the 3m against potential income from the Championship? also why sell to a club in the very league you aspire to be in thus strengthening them and weakening yourself.
Tranmere did not just accept they would be relegated they did something about it, Ipswich made it clear that 7m wouldn't get a player others were after Sunderland made it clear they would not sell to a promotion rival.
no stiff upper lip from our board grab the money and now have to come out with more rhetoric and spin.
 
Being positive KR stays tiger hands him a hatfull of money in the summer to stave off relegation from the championship next season haha..
 
Being positive KR stays tiger hands him a hatfull of money in the summer to stave off relegation from the championship next season haha..

Does anyone remember when we went up in 96 and there were photos of Denis Smith wearing a t-shirt saying “We’re going for the Premiership”? That’s the kind of investment I expect to see - the Oxford branded merchandise must always come first!
 
Woah, woah, woah. Are we implying is Tonkin a bad player here, mister?

He was a good Conference player when we signed him and was OK in League 2.

Plus he was in the Wembley Play-Off Final so should have pints bought for him from any self-respecting Oxford fan!
Also, never forget 'that' game vs the scum when he turned into Paolo Maldini! Him and Andy Whing were immense that day!
 
Superficially, there's lots to agree with above, which is ironic when the point I wanted to make is that once again we are micro-analysing every statement, looking for hidden meanings and cryptic comments that mean this or that, depending on the nuance.

Perhaps we should take it at face value and get on with enjoying the ride - then see where we are in May.......
 
Even Raynes wasn’t that bad really

Well I was going to say that too, but didn’t want to push my luck. Who knew that Raynes would turn into such a silver fox later in his career too? He has a university degree now too, ladies (and gents).
 
Also, never forget 'that' game vs the scum when he turned into Paolo Maldini! Him and Andy Whing were immense that day!

The sight of the generously sized George Thorne on Tuesday night led to a conversation about a rotund footballers of yesterday.

I mentioned Andy Whing to my non-Oxford supporting companion and attempted to explain the miraculous beauty of his overhead kick in front of the Jim Smith Stand.

I don’t think I managed to convey its majesty, but we did have a good giggle at this photo.

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#Athlete
 
Superficially, there's lots to agree with above, which is ironic when the point I wanted to make is that once again we are micro-analysing every statement, looking for hidden meanings and cryptic comments that mean this or that, depending on the nuance.

Perhaps we should take it at face value and get on with enjoying the ride - then see where we are in May.......

My thoughts exactly.
 
However, given our results over the past few games, it's difficult to argue that the club got the January window wrong. Have we really missed Fosu and Baptiste? Would Grigg have added greatly to the performances of say, Browne; Henry and Taylor? Our earlier malaise was with injuries, notably Brannigan, who's now back to his best. In Holland and Kelly, we've added talent which if we can hang on to are clearly massive assets for the near future. Sykes has improved beyond measure and crucially we didn't lose anyone irreplaceable. I would say that, given how we are currently performing, the January window was fine. As to the Blackpool spat, neither the manager or the owner has dealt with it well. They both now need to buckle down and get us to the best place we can in the games remaining. Tiger says he wants promotion, so let's go for it. What happens next season, for the present at least, is for the birds.
Good post, summed it up nicely.
 
Tranmere did not just accept they would be relegated they did something about it, Ipswich made it clear that 7m wouldn't get a player others were after Sunderland made it clear they would not sell to a promotion rival.

Tranmere spent money, but may well still get relegated. Ipswich didn't sell but may well miss the playoffs and see the value in players reduced. Sunderland wouldn't sell to a promotion rival but could still miss out. And we "sold the family silver" but could still get promotion.

Absolutely no reason why January's business will make any difference to how the season plays out.
 
Tranmere spent money, but may well still get relegated. Ipswich didn't sell but may well miss the playoffs and see the value in players reduced. Sunderland wouldn't sell to a promotion rival but could still miss out. And we "sold the family silver" but could still get promotion.

Absolutely no reason why January's business will make any difference to how the season plays out.
Would you not agree though Scotchers that what WILL impact promotion is if Taylor/Ruffels/Brannagan get injured and we have zero cover for them.

That was the ask in January.
 
Does anyone remember when we went up in 96 and there were photos of Denis Smith wearing a t-shirt saying “We’re going for the Premiership”? That’s the kind of investment I expect to see - the Oxford branded merchandise must always come first!

Did we sell a lot of those wigs he wore for his Central South interview?
 
I suspect a lot of people on here do that, just not the same ones, hence we are 31 pages into this thread with just as many different versions of clarity about what is happening/going to happen.
Four pages further on and I am convinced there is far more plotting, manoeuvring, and frankly more perceived certainty about the intentions and ulterior motives of kr and the board on here, than the protagonists themselves.
Why is it so implausible that all is fine, nothing has changed, and now that all sides have caught up with each other after a poorly timed punt from Blackpool, everything is rosy?
 
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Four pages further on and I am convinced there is far more plotting, manoeuvring, and frankly more perceived certainty about the intentions and ulterior motives of kr and the board on here, than the protagonists themselves.
Why is it so implausible that all is fine, nothing has changed, and now that all sides have spoken to each other after a poorly timed punt from Blackpool, everything is rosy?

Because you know the score, usual suspects on here have to somehow try and drive a wedge between club and fans
 
Because you know the score, usual suspects on here have to somehow try and drive a wedge between club and fans
Blackpool fan here. First of all I wish you boys all the best this year and hope you get promotion. Best team we’ve seen this year. On the Robinson front. I don’t think it’s as dead in the water as has been made out. I understand talks have been going on for a couple of weeks now. And him wanting to move to the north west? I’m not to sure anyway
 
My take is that KR knew from the start of January that Fosu (never gave him a rest, burnt him out) and Baptiste were going and that the board wouldn't throw money at players just because there's a chance of promotion. I understand people are worried about asset stripping but think the signing of Atkinson, investing in youth shows that sustainability is important to them, whether they want to sell up or not.

Karl is ambitious and thinks he can go to the top. Punted himself to Maliga, knowing he wouldn't get it. Blackpool have new owners and are probably in a better position to get to the top league than we are, he went for it.
 
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