Forward line

[Millman]

It's good to know that nobody wants a sustainable OUFC.

I think we all do and in many ways it is preferable to some alternatives. But it is not what owners and manager have been saying to expect.

Sorry to dig up history but Eales told us he sold to Tiger as it was what was best for the club. This is obviously bull. It was what was best for him. What really galls me is what we could have had what is now at Sunderland. A fraction of that investment would have set us up for life. Instead we have an owner who to be honest none of know if he can fund us sustainably or if given our current level without the stadium we can ever be long term stable.

 

[PottersRightBoot]

It’s a difficult market that’s affected by big money signings by the Prem of WC players who are back late for training,

We will obviously be bringing in more players before the deadline. It’s not ideal timing but Robinson clearly wants certain players. .


There is a lot going on here outside clubs control - cut them some slack.

Generally I read so much negative b*****s about our club on this forum. There is no evidence I’ve seen that our owner is potless . Point me to it please.

Please God can the season start soon.

 

[malcolmsmoustache]

I think we all do and in many ways it is preferable to some alternatives. But it is not what owners and manager have been saying to expect.

Sorry to dig up history but Eales told us he sold to Tiger as it was what was best for the club. This is obviously bull. It was what was best for him. What really galls me is what we could have had what is now at Sunderland. A fraction of that investment would have set us up for life. Instead we have an owner who to be honest none of know if he can fund us sustainably or if given our current level without the stadium we can ever be long term stable.

Correct. We have seen no evidence of a credible plan. And at the risk of repeating myself, renting a new training ground from the council, creating a 'new' u23 team (basically re badging what we already had) is not evidence of appropriate funding. We are obviously struggling to get good standard L1 players into the club on permanent deals. All very concerning.

 

[windmill]

I think we all do and in many ways it is preferable to some alternatives. But it is not what owners and manager have been saying to expect.

Sorry to dig up history but Eales told us he sold to Tiger as it was what was best for the club. This is obviously bull. It was what was best for him. What really galls me is what we could have had what is now at Sunderland. A fraction of that investment would have set us up for life. Instead we have an owner who to be honest none of know if he can fund us sustainably or if given our current level without the stadium we can ever be long term stable.

Why would any decent strikers be available so close to the new season. Surely they would all be signed up. KR must have some other irons in the fire. There is no other logical explanation. It beats me, it really does.

 

[Foley]

Correct. We have seen no evidence of a credible plan. And at the risk of repeating myself, renting a new training ground from the council, creating a 'new' u23 team (basically re badging what we already had) is not evidence of appropriate funding. We are obviously struggling to get good standard L1 players into the club on permanent deals. All very concerning.

Some of this is so disingenuous.
To suggest that we are rebadging what we have with the U23s is ridiculous. I wonder whether you read the club's news?
There is an U23 coach who is new (I assume that you don't think that this is free as Derry would have cost a fair amount for a coach at this level)
In the past we had the Youth Team and first team squad . We have kept in more of the young players the we used to and have taken on Little, Whyte, Norman, and others from other clubs. So there is no way that the U23s have simply been re badged. Out of interest do you think Chris Allen will have taken this role on if they said ',it is as it was before get on with it '
With regard to the first Team squad of course we are players short. KR I suspect will be the first to say that things have been more difficult than he thought.
But to diss the U23 progress and the training facilities is ridiculous

 

[Mellowyellow]

Why would any decent strikers be available so close to the new season. Surely they would all be signed up. KR must have some other irons in the fire. There is no other logical explanation. It beats me, it really does.

He very quickly talked himself into a situation the fans liked the sound of, back in April. We”re coming up to a time when they will expect him to deliver. Sartori and KR would seem to have been a better option than with Tiger. If therefore Eales had been genuine in his wish for the best for the club, things might have been so, so different

 

[beyondthefourth]

He very quickly talked himself into a situation the fans liked the sound of, back in April. We”re coming up to a time when they will expect him to deliver. Sartori and KR would seem to have been a better option than with Tiger. If therefore Eales had been genuine in his wish for the best for the club, things might have been so, so different

Shall we at least wait to see how Sunderland get on before we compare the two situations?

 

[m]

Correct. We have seen no evidence of a credible plan. And at the risk of repeating myself, renting a new training ground from the council, creating a 'new' u23 team (basically re badging what we already had) is not evidence of appropriate funding. We are obviously struggling to get good standard L1 players into the club on permanent deals. All very concerning.

We've never seen any evidence of a credible plan from anyone ever.

You can choose to ignore where the spend has been. Fine. Doesn't prove anything other than you have made your mind up already though.

Why do you feel that OUFC need to be bankrolled and can't be competitive on a sustainable budget?

 

[Millman]

Is it just me, but I am struggling identifying where the U23 stops and where the first team squad begins. I fully expect the U23 squad vying for places in the first team squad, but to me it is becoming very difficult to see just how big the first team squad is or who is recruited for what part of the setup (we currently have only 14 players born before 1995 and two are incoming loans and one of them is out on loan Pekalski). I fully support a U23 squad as an extension of the youth setup and an addition to the first team squad. But do we currently have a U23 squad or a large part of the first team squad that is mostly under 23?

 

[RyanioBirdio]

One striker and another wide player wanted, according to KR today. There are already seven players vying for three places behind the lone striker. Wonder if one of them could be on the way out?

 

[Morris Oxford]

One striker and another wide player wanted, according to KR today. There are already seven players vying for three places behind the lone striker. Wonder if one of them could be on the way out?

Possibly Napa on loan?

 

[Jackinthebox]

Its not about the numbers coming in it was about the quality KR was announcing we would be signing top players, all business done early, and an ever varying number of players. KR does indeed talk a lot, and does like to overstate things a bit which is all fine. If you took all of what he said on face value you would indeed be disappointed. Personally I always thought it was a bit of reach what he was claiming but what is disappointing is the lack of a decent striking options so close to the season, plus I do question just what our player budget is this year.

Ledson was always going. Rothwell was a disappointment (I understand we are lucky to keep them etc but we are doomed to mediocrity until we become a team that can keep more of its players for a bit longer). Richardino was a good player and a shame we didn't sign (but we may have replacements who offer better value for money). Unless we sign Karacan or a good replacement Doughty might be a miss. Plus maybe we should have kept one of the strikers we let go if we are struggling to find replacements (to be honest after last season I am amazed we kept Obika).

Loan players are a big risk as we have found. Play well and they run the risk of being taken back to their parent club in Jan (often to be re-loaned to another club who stumps up more money). Having some loans are fine as they often add quality beyond what we can afford, but to be reliant on them in key positions is a risk. In the past we have been able to sign some of the loans at the end of the season I do not see this with the players we currently have. Therefore we are doomed to a massive rebuild either in Jan or next year (especially so given that we know our best contracted players leave each year). I wonder just what future are we building other than season by season maintaining our position with a hope we get lucky (which is fine but is not a mark of big investment).

I agree with your assessment of the players we still need, and the fact it is not a disaster. I also understand this is part of the game at this level unless you are one of the bigger clubs with good financial backing. I suppose I am just a bit disappointed that it is beginning to look like while we are an improvement over last year's disaster we really aren't pushing onward. This all comes back to the question of just what Tiger can afford and what are his plans mid to long term.

Two things-we kept Obika because he was contracted for this season, Thomas wasn't. Also, he plays the lone striker role better.

 

[Millman]

Two things-we kept Obika because he was contracted for this season, Thomas wasn't. Also, he plays the lone striker role better.

I take your point. However even though he was contracted but that doesn't mean we should keep him (see Pekalski). As for the lone striker role I am not entirely convinced Obika will be particularly effective in that role (if he stays fit).

My point about keeping the others is all about tactical flexibility. What happens if this lone striker system does not work out (we have sen many systems fail at this level). If Obika can't hold the ball up and if the midfield can't break through fast enough it may well. Without other options we are very limited and this is a risk.

 

[Mystery Yellow]

Its not about the numbers coming in it was about the quality KR was announcing we would be signing top players, all business done early, and an ever varying number of players. KR does indeed talk a lot, and does like to overstate things a bit which is all fine. If you took all of what he said on face value you would indeed be disappointed. Personally I always thought it was a bit of reach what he was claiming but what is disappointing is the lack of a decent striking options so close to the season, plus I do question just what our player budget is this year.

Ledson was always going. Rothwell was a disappointment (I understand we are lucky to keep them etc but we are doomed to mediocrity until we become a team that can keep more of its players for a bit longer). Richardino was a good player and a shame we didn't sign (but we may have replacements who offer better value for money). Unless we sign Karacan or a good replacement Doughty might be a miss. Plus maybe we should have kept one of the strikers we let go if we are struggling to find replacements (to be honest after last season I am amazed we kept Obika).

Loan players are a big risk as we have found. Play well and they run the risk of being taken back to their parent club in Jan (often to be re-loaned to another club who stumps up more money). Having some loans are fine as they often add quality beyond what we can afford, but to be reliant on them in key positions is a risk. In the past we have been able to sign some of the loans at the end of the season I do not see this with the players we currently have. Therefore we are doomed to a massive rebuild either in Jan or next year (especially so given that we know our best contracted players leave each year). I wonder just what future are we building other than season by season maintaining our position with a hope we get lucky (which is fine but is not a mark of big investment).

I agree with your assessment of the players we still need, and the fact it is not a disaster. I also understand this is part of the game at this level unless you are one of the bigger clubs with good financial backing. I suppose I am just a bit disappointed that it is beginning to look like while we are an improvement over last year's disaster we really aren't pushing onward. This all comes back to the question of just what Tiger can afford and what are his plans mid to long term.

For me we have signed some quality I’m delighted with the likes of Garbutt Carruthers Browne sounds promising ok not our players but an improvements on what we had previously

Totally agree on the striking force both Okiba & Mackie are both injuries prone players over the past 3 season who don’t score enough which is a worrying fingers crossed Okiba shows his pre season form into the league campaign this season & with Smith (possibly signing) sounds a promising youngest but it’s unknown whether he’s capable of getting at least 15+ goals this season which is needed, think we needed to go for a proven goalscorer at this league in the likes of (Eoin Doyle, James Vaughan, Adam Armstrong) specially as it was a disaster in that department from our main 4 Centre Forwards only get 19 goals in the league between them

As for keeping any of our strikers on the books previously none were good enough & that includes Hemmings he couldn’t play with Thomas as a partnership when I watched them play together when they both here he also played the lone striker behind Maguire & never looked comfortable 6 league goals in 30+ appearance lacked any pace & looked slow of the mark, I think Obika would of been released if his contract was up during this summer but had another 2 years to go so kept one of the 4/5

Long term with Tiger is anyone’s guess but I think he does need serious investment from other parties (like Sunderland are doing) for us to move this club forward (in terms of getting to the championship & buying this current run down ground) otherwise we are no different now to what it was under Eales since getting into League 1

 

[Malc]

Forward line just got better. Sam Smith on season-long loan.