Sarge
God like member
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 54,812
2018/19 season is two games in... with the transfer window now closed, and the first round of a proper cup competition 2 days away..... yet Im feeling lower than whale s**t
Our manager has been talking a good job ever since his arrival late last season. He turned the lack of cohesion, passion, and positivity within the first team squad around by motivating a bunch of misfit journeymen assembled under Pep Clotet and the inclusion of some of our young assets to avoid getting sucked into a relegation dogfight, concluding the season a lower mid-table finish (16th place) with 56 points, and a goal difference of -5
Which wasn't an ideal, but ensured we secured L1 football for this campaign, and (for me at least), bought with it much more than blind hope for this season too.
During the close season, KRs interviews with the local media were full of upbeat positivity, a massive clearout of players in the first team squad was a necessity, as was rebuilding the squad. KRs managerial career before joining us was reasonably impressive, winning a promotion the Franchise, then steering Charlton to a playoff place, both his previous teams reaching those achievements by playing exciting, attacking football.
What I didnt expect was the heart of our midfield (Ledson & Rothwell) departing along with Clotets crocks, nor did I expect one of our promising younger, homegrown assets (Carroll) who was capable of covering a number of positions to be dispensed with. Personality clash with our manager I suspect being the main factor- some may cite CCs attitude could well be a contributory factor, yet isnt it part of a manager/ head coaches remit to be able to successfully handle different personalities ? Another of our young prospects, a midfielder who featured in a number of first team matches after Robinson's arrive, who contributed
to the latter part of last seasons up turn in form following the horrendous slump under Clotet, signed a new contract only to farmed out for the entire season.
At the end of last season Robinson assured that he was going to be bringing in his own players and OUFC would be mounting a serious challenge on promotion or at the least aiming to be in the mix for the playoffs. He informed he wanted incoming players in place BEFORE the pre season mini tour in Ireland. That didnt turn out as planned nor as Robinson asserted. In reality, instead of getting business done when he said it would be concluded, the bulk of Robinson's additions have either been one of 5 loanees, and it wasn't till the last day of the transfer window that some of HIS deals reached conclusion.
Cynic though I am, I, until the season kicked off, was filled with genuine hope, an abundance of real expectation and felt that dreaming of a promotion place or at least a playoff place were not a fanciful dream but a distinct possibility.Robinson does talk a very good job, and to me seems to be a master of PRspin. If Robinson ever quits football, maybe he should consider a job in politics as a spin doctor?
Sadly the stark reality of 2 consecutive defeats has battered those early hopes dreams and expectactions that I had for OUFC gong into this season for me, as in battered them so seriously they need to spend several months in ITC at the JR!
As much as it pains me to state, and as much as Id like to see OUFC win each and every match they play, fact is you can't/ won't win them all. While I don't like seeing the U's lose, ever, its the manner of defeat that is a crucial factor. Putting to one side that the referees contributions to both the Barnsley and Fleetwood defeats, were way below standard, its not a surprise at L1 level that match officials are generally pretty rubbish, our midfield was invisible at Barnsley , the defending was questionable and the firepower was akin to a damp squib being ignited in a torrential rainstorm. Yesterdays debacle was a similar horrorshow too.
Im not yet at the point of calling for Robinson to go, two swallows dont make a summer, nor do two defeats, no matter how powderpuff the players performances were, make or define a season. However an improvement in the first team squad performances is imperative, starting tuesday evening in the League cup, preferably. As far as my pre season hopes dreams and expactation have gone, in a very short time , is best illustrated by this ......
Our manager has been talking a good job ever since his arrival late last season. He turned the lack of cohesion, passion, and positivity within the first team squad around by motivating a bunch of misfit journeymen assembled under Pep Clotet and the inclusion of some of our young assets to avoid getting sucked into a relegation dogfight, concluding the season a lower mid-table finish (16th place) with 56 points, and a goal difference of -5
Which wasn't an ideal, but ensured we secured L1 football for this campaign, and (for me at least), bought with it much more than blind hope for this season too.
During the close season, KRs interviews with the local media were full of upbeat positivity, a massive clearout of players in the first team squad was a necessity, as was rebuilding the squad. KRs managerial career before joining us was reasonably impressive, winning a promotion the Franchise, then steering Charlton to a playoff place, both his previous teams reaching those achievements by playing exciting, attacking football.
What I didnt expect was the heart of our midfield (Ledson & Rothwell) departing along with Clotets crocks, nor did I expect one of our promising younger, homegrown assets (Carroll) who was capable of covering a number of positions to be dispensed with. Personality clash with our manager I suspect being the main factor- some may cite CCs attitude could well be a contributory factor, yet isnt it part of a manager/ head coaches remit to be able to successfully handle different personalities ? Another of our young prospects, a midfielder who featured in a number of first team matches after Robinson's arrive, who contributed
to the latter part of last seasons up turn in form following the horrendous slump under Clotet, signed a new contract only to farmed out for the entire season.
At the end of last season Robinson assured that he was going to be bringing in his own players and OUFC would be mounting a serious challenge on promotion or at the least aiming to be in the mix for the playoffs. He informed he wanted incoming players in place BEFORE the pre season mini tour in Ireland. That didnt turn out as planned nor as Robinson asserted. In reality, instead of getting business done when he said it would be concluded, the bulk of Robinson's additions have either been one of 5 loanees, and it wasn't till the last day of the transfer window that some of HIS deals reached conclusion.
Cynic though I am, I, until the season kicked off, was filled with genuine hope, an abundance of real expectation and felt that dreaming of a promotion place or at least a playoff place were not a fanciful dream but a distinct possibility.Robinson does talk a very good job, and to me seems to be a master of PRspin. If Robinson ever quits football, maybe he should consider a job in politics as a spin doctor?
Sadly the stark reality of 2 consecutive defeats has battered those early hopes dreams and expectactions that I had for OUFC gong into this season for me, as in battered them so seriously they need to spend several months in ITC at the JR!
As much as it pains me to state, and as much as Id like to see OUFC win each and every match they play, fact is you can't/ won't win them all. While I don't like seeing the U's lose, ever, its the manner of defeat that is a crucial factor. Putting to one side that the referees contributions to both the Barnsley and Fleetwood defeats, were way below standard, its not a surprise at L1 level that match officials are generally pretty rubbish, our midfield was invisible at Barnsley , the defending was questionable and the firepower was akin to a damp squib being ignited in a torrential rainstorm. Yesterdays debacle was a similar horrorshow too.
Im not yet at the point of calling for Robinson to go, two swallows dont make a summer, nor do two defeats, no matter how powderpuff the players performances were, make or define a season. However an improvement in the first team squad performances is imperative, starting tuesday evening in the League cup, preferably. As far as my pre season hopes dreams and expactation have gone, in a very short time , is best illustrated by this ......