Ex-Staff Gary Rowett

[Carpy]

1.Gary Rowett

Position: Head Coach

Nationality: England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Signed: 20th December 2024

Departed: 23rd December 2025 | Departed Posts: 1st Post

Previous Clubs: Birmingham City (Interim), Millwall, Stoke City, Derby County, Birmingham City, Burton Albion

Stats: TransferMarkt

Instagram: garyrowett1

 

[trainingcone]

I put it down to us preparing for L1

Well I must admit, when I attended the fans forum a few months ago, I'm not sure if it was tim or grant had said that they were not too worried if Oxford get relegated this season if my memory served me well????.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Sorry but staying in the Championship is the highest priority and I can’t see us doing that with Rowett. Sentiment goes out the window.

 

[samstudd]

Well I must admit, when I attended the fans forum a few months ago, I'm not sure if it was tim or grant had said that they were not too worried if Oxford get relegated this season if my memory served me well????.

It was along them lines i believe as we went up a season early according to the plan.

 

[PottersRightBoot]

Today has tipped me over into the 'Rowett out' camp. The overly defensive formation with no real speed or width? At home? Replacing one left back with another? Bringing Marris and Bradshaw on, while taking off Prelec and Lankshear? Making another sub in the 90th minute? Terrible, terrible, terrible.

The team played OK for parts of the second half, but that was too little, too late. The setup and subs hamstrung them.

There would obviously be the 'who' question if he left (and a couple of very very dodgy names were mentioned to me today!), but blimey this is tough to take. And before anyone says it, no I am not expecting miracles, and no, it is not because we have lost one game. Playing like this we are going down with a whimper.

There was no one quick enough fit enough to play. So you can’t pin that one on the manager.

 

[Obstructed view]

Personally think what we do in January to provide a starting CDM, a winger and maybe a ball playing centre back is more important than change of manager. If we had those I am confident GR would lead the team to safety, if not then not sure he or anyone can defy gravity this season

 

[werthersoriginal]

There was no one quick enough fit enough to play. So you can’t pin that one on the manager.

Apart from Mills and Dembele?

 

[samstudd]

Thorup
Tomasson
Carrick (I’d assume out of budget)

Just a few names who i’d like us to be sniffing around if we do get rid of Rowett.

 

[PottersRightBoot]

Apart from Mills and Dembele?

Mills came on at half time. Dembele not that quick!

 

[samstudd]

Basically any manager who lets the players have a bit of freedom and not remind them of that when we’re 1-0 down every week. Or someone who knows his best team and doesn’t chop and change players/formation every week. And someone who can inspire the group as we are in a dog fight to put it lightly.

 

[tatabanya]

He’s gone from a member of staff to COO basically in the space of a handful of years. With the added element of going from L1 to the Championship.

Completely get what you’re saying, but I don’t think it’s unfair to suggest the shoes may be a bit too big.

Do you make the rapid progress we’ve made as a club if such a pivotal figure is so out of his depth?

As others have said, I think our issues this season come down to Rowett, Waldron, Mitchell and whoever else having to try and pick up the pieces from others’ incompetence.

 

[OX14]

Mills came on at half time. Dembele not that quick!

The main problem is we were playing with two wing backs with no pace. Currie should of played left wing back not Leigh.

 

[Vancouver Yellow]

Idk how I feel personally. I think the issue lies beyond the remit of Rowett, but equally he isn’t doing what’s expected of him, Rowett teams are known for defensively assured performances.. we saw this last season, yet week after week we are letting in CHEAP goals. Again and again, and that’s really disappointing.

But the main issues lie beyond Rowett ie summer recruitment cut, and the dire preparation. I think this has utterly blighted the first half of our season.

Alas - I don’t see Rowett being here on the first of January.

 

[TailsWeWin]

based on his interview today, I think Rowett would vote to be relieved of this particular duty.

Yup - I got that impression too.

 

[JOHN BOY]

Lose at Charlton and I think he will be gone.

He'll be gone tomorrow.

 

[TailsWeWin]

I found the extension for Mark Harris baffling

I find everything about Mark Harris baffling.

 

[Toe knee]

Is he still here????

 

[Manorlounger]

He'll be gone tomorrow.

Source?

 

[Carpy]

Do you make the rapid progress we’ve made as a club if such a pivotal figure is so out of his depth?

As others have said, I think our issues this season come down to Rowett, Waldron, Mitchell and whoever else having to try and pick up the pieces from others’ incompetence.

Question for you, do you still think we’re on the cusp of being a winning team?

 

[Essexyellows]

A good workman can only work with the tools he is given.

Poor kit can make the best look average.

He`s not been here 12 months yet ffs.

People should remember its a marathon not a sprint.............

 

[headingtonoldboy]

I noticed for the first time this season fans were getting restless in the East Stand concerned at today's performance. I'm also really beginning to doubt if GR is the right man for the job.

 

[JOHN BOY]

Source?

Just a hunch

 

[Manorlounger]

Just a hunch

Ah, ok. Tomorrow will come soon enough!

 

[McXal]

Today has tipped me over into the 'Rowett out' camp. The overly defensive formation with no real speed or width? At home? Replacing one left back with another? Bringing Marris and Bradshaw on, while taking off Prelec and Lankshear? Making another sub in the 90th minute? Terrible, terrible, terrible.

Not trying to convince you to change your mind on anything. And for transparency I am very much Rowett in, but will concede he got it way wrong today (as he admitted himself). HTA over Mills at RWB at home. The inexplicable, indefensible, momentum-killing decision to hook Lankshear and Prelec to be replaced by Harris and Bradshaw.

BUT to make a minor defence on the Currie substitution. It was attacking in that we removed Leigh, put Helik up front and had Currie deeper than Greg to provide a modicum of cover on the turnover. I’d actually have done it sooner to give us more time pumping the ball into the area at Helik personally. At least then Bradshaw/Harris might’ve had something to feed off

 

[tatabanya]

Question for you, do you still think we’re on the cusp of being a winning team?

That isn’t what I said? I said without much changing we’d likely win a game or two by the odd goal rather than staying winless, and we then beat Ipswich. The approach today seemed different, and I think if we continue to pick more attacking personnel and play a more fluid system under Rowett then we’re probably in more trouble than the more pragmatic approach.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I’m still backing Rowett, partly perhaps because there appears no obvious candidate to replace him with but more so that you have to back a good manager - and he unquestionably is - through a sticky patch. I don’t want us to become a club that panics and fires managers at a whim, that will see us in L1.

The players have to take more accountability here. The constant chopping and changing of the team - especially in attacking areas - isn’t helping but you sense Rowett is giving players every opportunity to show some consistency and stake a claim. Placheta, Krastev, Mills, Goodrham, Dembele, the Harris’s, Prelec, Romeny - all these seem incapable of stringing two halves together, never mind two matches.

He’s tinkering with selection and formation in an attempt to find personnel and a system that works and although today’s starting eleven looked quite exciting on paper it is probably the first time I sensed a bit of rolling the dice with Rowett, with a not yet match sharp Romeny and an under used Prelec in from the off. It didn’t really work and yet again we will no doubt see wholesale changes in attack at Charlton. None of the bit part players today have given Rowett any sort of selection headache and that’s what he’s battled against since the opening day defeat to Pompey - his fault or those he’s entrusting ?

We are missing Brannagan and Spencer too, both shoe ins when fit. Perhaps we’ve just got so accustomed to seeing Cam in there but it just doesn’t feel right without him - he’s a huge miss. Spencer too, he’s a superb athlete and gives the team some real thrust and urgency, both these I feel would immediately up the intensity.

 

[East Stand Fan]

We got everything spot on against Ipswich from our line-up to the approach and substitutions. It then defies belief how much of a calamity the last 3 games have been. Swansea we offered nothing, Blackburn we blew 3pts after failing to kill the game off and today we got it wrong from the get-go, got back into the game and then self-imploded with negative and completely unworkable substitutions. Harris and Bradshaw killed our attack and then he takes off Greg Leigh who is a viable threat late on in the air and at the back post.

The players have a lot to answer for with their lacklustre first half but it’s clear Rowett cannot motivate them and who can blame the team when you can be dropped after having a good game.

I can’t see where the points are going to come from but one thing is for sure, we need 6 out of the next 9 and even that may not be enough. We certainly won’t replicate what we achieved this time last year.

The recruitment has also been a shambles and we are in dire need to a CM plus extensive cover and strengthening.

 

[Carpy]

That isn’t what I said? I said without much changing we’d likely win a game or two by the odd goal rather than staying winless, and we then beat Ipswich. The approach today seemed different, and I think if we continue to pick more attacking personnel and play a more fluid system under Rowett then we’re probably in more trouble than the more pragmatic approach.

Does it not concern you that even he doesn’t seem to know how to fix our form then?

 

[carefreeoufc]

We got everything spot on against Ipswich from our line-up to the approach and substitutions. It then defies belief how much of a calamity the last 3 games have been. Swansea we offered nothing, Blackburn we blew 3pts after failing to kill the game off and today we got it wrong from the get-go, got back into the game and then self-imploded with negative and completely unworkable substitutions. Harris and Bradshaw killed our attack and then he takes off Greg Leigh who is a viable threat late on in the air and at the back post.

The players have a lot to answer for with their lacklustre first half but it’s clear Rowett cannot motivate them and who can blame the team when you can be dropped after having a good game.

I can’t see where the points are going to come from but one thing is for sure, we need 6 out of the next 9 and even that may not be enough. We certainly won’t replicate what we achieved this time last year.

The recruitment has also been a shambles and we are in dire need to a CM plus extensive cover and strengthening.

We could have conceded at least two goals on any other day during the Ipswich game. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great game. But a hell of a lot went our way that doesn’t usually! They hit the post at least once, also had one a whisker away from going in.

Like today, we could quite easily have had the ball in the back of the net in the first half from one of the corners/crosses into the box.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Do you make the rapid progress we’ve made as a club if such a pivotal figure is so out of his depth?

As others have said, I think our issues this season come down to Rowett, Waldron, Mitchell and whoever else having to try and pick up the pieces from others’ incompetence.

True. Although, he moved into Head of Football Operations in July 2024.

Agree that he has done well in his recruitment roles in general. Also agree that there are a couple of other, more serious weak links.

 

[dickwalton1964]

We got everything spot on against Ipswich from our line-up to the approach and substitutions. It then defies belief how much of a calamity the last 3 games have been. Swansea we offered nothing, Blackburn we blew 3pts after failing to kill the game off and today we got it wrong from the get-go, got back into the game and then self-imploded with negative and completely unworkable substitutions. Harris and Bradshaw killed our attack and then he takes off Greg Leigh who is a viable threat late on in the air and at the back post.

The players have a lot to answer for with their lacklustre first half but it’s clear Rowett cannot motivate them and who can blame the team when you can be dropped after having a good game.

I can’t see where the points are going to come from but one thing is for sure, we need 6 out of the next 9 and even that may not be enough. We certainly won’t replicate what we achieved this time last year.

The recruitment has also been a shambles and we are in dire need to a CM plus extensive cover and strengthening.

I’m always perplexed when people say the manager cannot motivate them ? Really ? Funny that he can motivate the likes of Brown and Brannagan, they look fully motivated every time they put on the shirt. Why’s that do you think ? If these players are so demotivated that they need Rowett to fire them up then basically they’re at the wrong club and in the wrong f****** profession.