Current Player Thread Aidomo Emakhu

[Northstandboy]

10.Aidomo Emakhu

Position: Midfielder

Nationality: Ireland 🇮🇪

Signed: 2 Feb 2026

Departed: DATE

Previous Clubs: Shamrock Rovers, Milwall

Stats: TransferMarkt

Instagram: Instagram Profile

 

[tatabanya]

I’m sorry but they do. Take a look at other squads and see. Our recruitment is appalling. The club have done a fantastic job creating a narrative that we are underdogs this year. We have a competitive budget and it’s been pissed up the wall on players that haven’t started.

They really really don’t. Championship quality players are a valuable asset so generally don’t come up on free transfers, and the odd ones who do tend to have better or more lucrative offers than Oxford. The wage budget might be competitive, but we still either refuse or are unable to spend the necessary transfer fees to recruit at the necessary level. And plenty of that wage bill was wasted in an attempt to sign experienced Championship players on free transfers.

 

[Finlandia]

They really really don’t. Championship quality players are a valuable asset so generally don’t come up on free transfers, and the odd ones who do tend to have better or more lucrative offers than Oxford. The wage budget might be competitive, but we still either refuse or are unable to spend the necessary transfer fees to recruit at the necessary level. And plenty of that wage bill was wasted in an attempt to sign experienced Championship players on free transfers.

It all boils down to our recruitment team as being not fit for purpose and I have little confidence in us bouncing back next year if it’s the same personnel involved

 

[Jaboysmith]

Important to note also that Millwall fans, who have seen a lot more of him than us, think he will tear up league one

 

[Foley]

Millwall didn’t want to lose him, as Alex Neil said in the press at the time, and only cashed in when Emakhu informed them that he was walking away from the already in-progress contract talks as he was as ooc this summer.

He’s far more talented than Dale and is entitled to improve. He’s quick, direct, can spin out of tight spaces and has good close control when dribbling. He’s shown flashes of what he’s capable of and at a level below and consistent minutes he’s entitled to improve. Just look at how some of Cardiff’s young players have kicked on after relegation.

He also looks like someone who can struggle with confidence and has had some terrible moments, but that doesn’t mean the promise isn’t there. Even yesterday he did one run down the left wing in the first half that carried us up the pitch for a rare attacking moment which no other of our players apart from Mills has shown any capability of. That’s much more pertinent to his long-term prospects than the bizarre shanked pass infield to nobody, which was clearly woeful.

I just cannot understand why a section of our fanbase seem to take such pleasure in writing off our young players. Emakhu is contracted to us for another three seasons, will play a huge role for us next season and has the talent to be a very good player. Rather than bashing him and almost gleefully basking in his poor performances as a means of point scoring, let’s get behind the kid and help him fulfil his potential with us. You’d think after Murphy’s time at the club we’d be a bit more patient and forgiving with talented players who are lacking a bit of confidence.

Great post.
I would imagine that looking at the posts on Josh Murphy, quite a few were suggesting that he was one of our worst ever signings, a waste of space, not interested etc.
Back in the day some were slating the great Trevor Hebberd.
Some players take a little longer to settle and hopefully he will be very good in L1.

 

[tatabanya]

It all boils down to our recruitment team as being not fit for purpose and I have little confidence in us bouncing back next year if it’s the same personnel involved

It all boils down to you thinking they’re not fit for purpose because of your unrealistic expectations of what is acceptable

 

[tonyw]

They really really don’t. Championship quality players are a valuable asset so generally don’t come up on free transfers, and the odd ones who do tend to have better or more lucrative offers than Oxford. The wage budget might be competitive, but we still either refuse or are unable to spend the necessary transfer fees to recruit at the necessary level. And plenty of that wage bill was wasted in an attempt to sign experienced Championship players on free transfers.

Agree that signing ready-made Championship players is a pipe dream for a club with revenues as small as us; so the job of the recruitment team is to find quality in the loan market, overseas and the lower leagues that can play at Championship level. That's basically what we hire them for.

If I'm evaluating how the recruitment team have done over the past two seasons, I think I'm probably going to score them as follows (and I'm leaving out Romeny and Marselino, because I'm accepting that neither of those transfers were their fault; I also think that, if anything, I'm being.a bit generous here):


HIT (8): Currie, Helik, Mills, Nelson, Spencer, BDK, Lankshear, Konak

MISS (10): Kioso, Knightbridge, Sibley, Phillips, Dembele, Bradshaw, Ebiowei, Larris, Krastev, Davies,

I guess they gave us something, so partial credit (12): El Miz, Placheta, Ingram, HTA, Scarlett, Matos, MPH, McDonnell, Prelec, Donley, Makosso, Vaulks

Jury's still out (3): Jeon, Emakhu, Roosken


A club of our size, with our resources, just isn't going to survive at Championship level if we're hitting on less than a quarter of our signings.
And this is not even taking into account the fact that they really didn't sign players that fit Rowett's footballing style this summer, and in both seasons we had huge squad imbalances (not enough strikers last season, nowhere near enough players in central midfield this year).

On balance, I think the recruitment team has underperformed, and as much a cause of our failure as anyone at the club. Yet they're still here, whilst two managers are not (and there's doubts over a third).

 

[Finlandia]

It all boils down to you thinking they’re not fit for purpose because of your unrealistic expectations of what is acceptable

Rubbish - it boils down to recruitment players that are ready to make an impact to the team, not sat on the bench and not playing. Millions wasted in fees and wages.

What’s unrealistic about wanting that?

 

[holdsteady]

Agree that signing ready-made Championship players is a pipe dream for a club with revenues as small as us; so the job of the recruitment team is to find quality in the loan market, overseas and the lower leagues that can play at Championship level. That's basically what we hire them for.

If I'm evaluating how the recruitment team have done over the past two seasons, I think I'm probably going to score them as follows (and I'm leaving out Romeny and Marselino, because I'm accepting that neither of those transfers were their fault; I also think that, if anything, I'm being.a bit generous here):


HIT (8): Currie, Helik, Mills, Nelson, Spencer, BDK, Lankshear, Konak

MISS (10): Kioso, Knightbridge, Sibley, Phillips, Dembele, Bradshaw, Ebiowei, Larris, Krastev, Davies,

I guess they gave us something, so partial credit (12): El Miz, Placheta, Ingram, HTA, Scarlett, Matos, MPH, McDonnell, Prelev, Donley, Makosso, Vaulks

Jury's still out (3): Jeon, Emakhu, Roosken


A club of our size, with our resources, just isn't going to survive at Championship level if we're hitting on less than a quarter of our signings.
And this is not even taking into account the fact that they really didn't sign players that fit Rowett's footballing style this summer, and in both seasons we had huge squad imbalances (not enough strikers last season, nowhere near enough players in central midfield this year).

On balance, I think the recruitment team has underperformed, and as much a cause of our failure as anyone at the club. Yet they're still here, whilst two managers are not (and there's doubts over a third).

For this season the Roosken signing was an absolute miss, he is 26 so I am not really sure we can dress him up as one for the future, had we stayed up we were saddled with him as well, so if we signed him with a plan for him to play in league one that’s a bit worrying.

Huddersfield fans didn’t rate his defending in league one, so unless we are so good next season that he doesn’t have to then it’s still a problem. If Currie stays he doesn’t get near the team, he can’t get in above an out of position Spencer at the moment.

Just a strange signing really.

 

[tatabanya]

Rubbish - it boils down to recruitment players that are ready to make an impact to the team, not sat on the bench and not playing. Millions wasted in fees and wages.

What’s unrealistic about wanting that?

That’s fine, and clearly a lot of the business in the last two years has fallen short of what is needed. But if you think every £1m signing is going to come into the Championship ready to impact games and that we should be able to build a competitive squad of free transfers at that level then you’re holding them to a ridiculous standard.

 

[JOHN BOY]

For this season the Roosken signing was an absolute miss, he is 26 so I am not really sure we can dress him up as one for the future, had we stayed up we were saddled with him as well, so if we signed him with a plan for him to play in league one that’s a bit worrying.

Huddersfield fans didn’t rate his defending in league one, so unless we are so good next season that he doesn’t have to then it’s still a problem. If Currie stays he doesn’t get near the team, he can’t get in above an out of position Spencer at the moment.

Just a strange signing really.

Will Roosken be our player next season?

 

[holdsteady]

Will Roosken be our player next season?

He has signed hasn’t he?

 

[Being boiled]

Agree that signing ready-made Championship players is a pipe dream for a club with revenues as small as us; so the job of the recruitment team is to find quality in the loan market, overseas and the lower leagues that can play at Championship level. That's basically what we hire them for.

If I'm evaluating how the recruitment team have done over the past two seasons, I think I'm probably going to score them as follows (and I'm leaving out Romeny and Marselino, because I'm accepting that neither of those transfers were their fault; I also think that, if anything, I'm being.a bit generous here):


HIT (8): Currie, Helik, Mills, Nelson, Spencer, BDK, Lankshear, Konak

MISS (10): Kioso, Knightbridge, Sibley, Phillips, Dembele, Bradshaw, Ebiowei, Larris, Krastev, Davies,

I guess they gave us something, so partial credit (12): El Miz, Placheta, Ingram, HTA, Scarlett, Matos, MPH, McDonnell, Prelev, Donley, Makosso, Vaulks

Jury's still out (3): Jeon, Emakhu, Roosken


A club of our size, with our resources, just isn't going to survive at Championship level if we're hitting on less than a quarter of our signings.
And this is not even taking into account the fact that they really didn't sign players that fit Rowett's footballing style this summer, and in both seasons we had huge squad imbalances (not enough strikers last season, nowhere near enough players in central midfield this year).

On balance, I think the recruitment team has underperformed, and as much a cause of our failure as anyone at the club. Yet they're still here, whilst two managers are not (and there's doubts over a third).

What group is Romeny in ?

 

[Oufcrealist]

What group is Romeny in ?

He's explained that in his post!!

 

[JOHN BOY]

He has signed hasn’t he?

Not sure.

 

[Finlandia]

That’s fine, and clearly a lot of the business in the last two years has fallen short of what is needed. But if you think every £1m signing is going to come into the Championship ready to impact games and that we should be able to build a competitive squad of free transfers at that level then you’re holding them to a ridiculous standard.

I never said that

 

[Oufcrealist]

For this season the Roosken signing was an absolute miss, he is 26 so I am not really sure we can dress him up as one for the future, had we stayed up we were saddled with him as well, so if we signed him with a plan for him to play in league one that’s a bit worrying.

Huddersfield fans didn’t rate his defending in league one, so unless we are so good next season that he doesn’t have to then it’s still a problem. If Currie stays he doesn’t get near the team, he can’t get in above an out of position Spencer at the moment.

Just a strange signing really.

Absolutely baffling. Hard to see a defining footballing reason. As you say Huddersfield fans didn't really rate him as a defender and he wasn't even making their squad when we signed him . He started in only one of their 13 games before we signed him and he was 3rd or 4th choice after they signed Mumba and two other players returned to fitness, what does that tell us?

 

[Oufcrealist]

Not sure.

It was a mandatory that he signed after the loan expired according to Huddersfield.

 

[JOHN BOY]

It was a mandatory that he signed after the loan expired according to Huddersfield.

Another master stroke by the recruitment team.

 

[Swaby39]

I think he’s alright. Frankly I’m astounded at how much stick he’s getting while others who’ve been here longer and more established EFL players have been rancid for us. Vaulks, for example, is lucky he’s so spectacular off the field because on it he has been atrocious.

I look at Emakhu and see someone with raw materials to be very good for us but in the 4 months we’ve had him, he’s definitely emerged as someone that needs to go backwards (to L1) to come forward again. There is a player there for a manager to polish - is Bloomfield that guy or are we going to be sat here at Christmas looking at the same Emakhu? It shouldn’t take a lot to make him extremely effective.

But it’s not exclusive to him. I think most of our January recruitment was better suited to a L1 promotion push than a championship dog fight. Perhaps that was the underlying objective with hope that one or two would excel and keep us up. Unfortunately we’ve learned nothing about most of them as they’ve hardly got out of their tracksuits.

 

[Morris Oxford]

Absolutely baffling. Hard to see a defining footballing reason. As you say Huddersfield fans didn't really rate him as a defender and he wasn't even making their squad when we signed him . He started in only one of their 13 games before we signed him and he was 3rd or 4th choice after they signed Mumba and two other players returned to fitness, what does that tell us?

From the little we’ve seen of Roosken he looks much more like a wingback rather than a left back, so the decision by Bloomfield to start him at left back in a hugely important winnable home game against Hull was a worrying decision, his poor positional play led to their opening goal.

It’s going to be interesting to see what preferred formation we recruit for this summer. Do we actually know what the recruitment team or Bloomfield’s preferred formation is even? Are they aligned?

 

[holdsteady]

From the little we’ve seen of Roosken he looks much more like a wingback rather than a left back, so the decision by Bloomfield to start him at left back in a hugely important winnable home game against Hull was a worrying decision, his poor positional play led to their opening goal.

It’s going to be interesting to see what preferred formation we recruit for this summer. Do we actually know what the recruitment team or Bloomfield’s preferred formation is even? Are they aligned?

Seems to have played half his games for Huddersfield at left midfield this season, well according to transfer market, so not really a specialist left back.

The oddest signing we have made for a while, a 25 year old from the division below who wasn’t tearing up trees, to be a cover left back, when that wasn’t priority in January.

 

[HillBilly]

When it comes to Roosken, I really hope he's going to be competing with Emakhu (at LM/LW,) rather than Currie/Leigh.

That's where he played mostly for Huddersfield (despite being a LB in Holland).

He did have a few really good games for them, especially the demolition of Crawley, where he had a big hand in every one of their 5 goals,

 

[38yearsofpain]

Honestly no pleasure in bashing him. I just think he’s a very poor signing that was made at a time when getting new energy to the team was vital. I really want to see more than glimpses of potential.
I guess it’s all right for you to be critical of Dale though? Dale was excellent in our promotion run to the playoffs. That’s certainly more than a lot of our current squad have achieved.
I really suspect it’s more than confidence that’s the issue. Its ability.
Let’s face it, some of the signings are so curious and haven’t added to the team.

The real issue was we needed championship ready players who would fight and scrap for everything. That is not Emakhu, and most likely never will be. Yes he has pace and skill but at Millwall was unable to use it on a concistent basis. You could equal argue the same about MPH. They were both huge gambles to retain our Championship status, unfortunately neither really worked. I equally accept Konak did.
I hope he finds Oxford a stable environment where he can feel at home and utilise the skill sets he has. But a £1m+ for a League 1 unproven wide man looks another huge gamble.

 

[Coffin Dodger]

You pay £1m you expect a pitch ready player, not one that has potential. Another very poor signing

Premiership teams pay 10's ofmillions for youth team players who've never played a professional game, some of whom never will.

 

[holdsteady]

Premiership teams pay 10's ofmillions for youth team players who've never played a professional game, some of whom never will.

Is that relevant to us though?

 

[Foxy]

Have we really paid 1 million for Roosken?

 

[tatabanya]

Have we really paid 1 million for Roosken?

No

 

[Foxy]

No

Have we spent any money on Roosken? Is he still our player?

 

[werthersoriginal]

When it comes to Roosken, I really hope he's going to be competing with Emakhu (at LM/LW,) rather than Currie/Leigh.

That's where he played mostly for Huddersfield (despite being a LB in Holland).

He did have a few really good games for them, especially the demolition of Crawley, where he had a big hand in every one of their 5 goals,

He did make one great run and cross against Hull, he is actually fast.

 

[Finlandia]

Premiership teams pay 10's ofmillions for youth team players who've never played a professional game, some of whom never will.

And?