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Ex-Staff Matt Bloomfield

billyturleyscurlywurly said:
How do you know that the club had an eye on League One based on signing Roosken & McDonnell in January?

That’s just complete guesswork.
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No it’s not guess work, it’s from the people I have spoken to about that time.
 
Why on earth would you bring in players with an eye on league 1 Absolute rubbish, quite the opposite in my opinion,players brought in the try & keep you in the championship & more🤷🏻‍♂️
Head scratcher to think otherwise....
 
Steve Gilbert said:
No it’s not guess work, it’s from the people I have spoken to about that time.
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Like others, I find this a bit strange to say the least. So in January when survival was firmly in the sights of virtually every club bar Wednesday we chose not to sign players who could keep us in the Championship, instead signing players who would give us a chance to win promotion from L1 back to the Championship ??? Surely we were not planning for L1 with half a season to go, that would be unthinkable and, as someone else said, a complete head scratcher.
 
Playing devils advocate here, how many players did we sign in our from getting promoted who were championship quality and ready to go? Loans of varying quality, players coming up the league who were a mixed bag and a few players with championship experience on the way down, but oven ready for a championship relegation battle and to push us up the league.

Either we didn't go for that level of player because we thought they were unattainable or we did and they actually were unattainable, but January, which was probably one of our better windows, was no great change in signing policy.
 
dickwalton1964 said:
Like others, I find this a bit strange to say the least. So in January when survival was firmly in the sights of virtually every club bar Wednesday we chose not to sign players who could keep us in the Championship, instead signing players who would give us a chance to win promotion from L1 back to the Championship ??? Surely we were not planning for L1 with half a season to go, that would be unthinkable and, as someone else said, a complete head scratcher.
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It's a nonsense.

But it's very much in vogue among those who like to think of themselves as the sensible element of our support.

It's the latest in a long line of crap (later in window = better players, every crap signing is a 'development signing' etc).

All good opportunities to try and claim some perceived sensible highground. And all utter rubbish.
 
dickwalton1964 said:
Like others, I find this a bit strange to say the least. So in January when survival was firmly in the sights of virtually every club bar Wednesday we chose not to sign players who could keep us in the Championship, instead signing players who would give us a chance to win promotion from L1 back to the Championship ??? Surely we were not planning for L1 with half a season to go, that would be unthinkable and, as someone else said, a complete head scratcher.
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I think it’s more a case of learning that signing “proven” Championship players had actually done more harm than good. Phillips, Bradshaw, Vaulks to a degree. Expensive mistakes that took us away from what made us successful, while the likes of Mills, Spencer and Currie thrived despite being young and untried or at least unproven at the level. So the focus moved back to the long-term rather than the here and now.
 
It really says something about the state of this forum where people are now being criticised for being "sensible".

Posters can't possibly hold a view that is slightly nuanced, or even recognise that two things can be true at the same time. And heaven help those who try to explain their views and give a little context, or even worse, a little inside knowledge.

It's the social media world were irrational, screamy hyperbole holds more weight, especially when this turns into mob mentality with several posters turning on individuals who happen to have a different opinion.

Sadly thats why many "sensible" posters have left or no longer post.
 
Scotchegg said:
It really says something about the state of this forum where people are now being criticised for being "sensible".

Posters can't possibly hold a view that is slightly nuanced, or even recognise that two things can be true at the same time. And heaven help those who try to explain their views and give a little context, or even worse, a little inside knowledge.

It's the social media world were irrational, screamy hyperbole holds more weight, especially when this turns into mob mentality with several posters turning on individuals who happen to have a different opinion.

Sadly thats why many "sensible" posters have left or no longer post.
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LOL who do we hate? The 'sensible' ones!
 
As for bringing in development players with a view to the future, we've done this on several occasions. Jack Currie, Rob Atkinson. Luke McNally, all brought in with a long term plan in mind.

In January, bringing in Jamie McDonnell for the future and Yunus Konak for the run in, is perfectly "sensible" recruitment. That's not to say that McDonnell couldn't have stepped up immediately, and I thought that he looked good in some of his appearances. But that we're not putting pressure on him to play 20+ high pressure Championship games alone.

This transfer window, I hope that we're also looking to bring in players with one eye on the Championship for the following season. Not just players to get us up, but those who have the ability to grow into the kind of players that will keep you in the Championship. The next Brodie Spencer or, controversially, someone like Jamie Donley who looked unplayable in League One before but needs work to develop into a Championship ready player. But at 21, he could be a fantastic investment (not at the figures previously quoted).

And I know some will struggle with this, but we then need to be patient with these players. Introduce them gradually, have options for when they need time out to work on their own game. Don't immediately coat them off because of one dodgy first half of football (Konak). Properly invest in these players both financially, and personally, and we might just see the results that we all want.

But I guess that sensible is too boring for some!

Horton Out! And take that f*cking Matt Murphy with you!!!!!!!
 
Massive mistakes were made in January with the recruitment. Discarding Dembele and Leigh for the likes of Donley and Roosken were off the scale mad. Dembele, given the run in the team Donley had, would have delivered more in my opinion and Roosken for Leigh is just unfathomable given Leigh’s ability to pop up with crucial goals. Donley was possibly the most underwhelming signing - given the hype when he signed - that we made in our foray into the Championship. How he played game in, game out, was beyond me.
 
dickwalton1964 said:
Massive mistakes were made in January with the recruitment. Discarding Dembele and Leigh for the likes of Donley and Roosken were off the scale mad. Dembele, given the run in the team Donley had, would have delivered more in my opinion and Roosken for Leigh is just unfathomable given Leigh’s ability to pop up with crucial goals. Donley was possibly the most underwhelming signing - given the hype when he signed - that we made in our foray into the Championship. How he played game in, game out, was beyond me.
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Why would Dembele have delivered more in those games when he had done so little previously?
 
dickwalton1964 said:
Massive mistakes were made in January with the recruitment. Discarding Dembele and Leigh for the likes of Donley and Roosken were off the scale mad. Dembele, given the run in the team Donley had, would have delivered more in my opinion and Roosken for Leigh is just unfathomable given Leigh’s ability to pop up with crucial goals. Donley was possibly the most underwhelming signing - given the hype when he signed - that we made in our foray into the Championship. How he played game in, game out, was beyond me.
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Really? Donley had some good games and then some underwhelming games. But 'off the scale mad'? People don't half love to exaggerate on this forum.
 
dickwalton1964 said:
Massive mistakes were made in January with the recruitment. Discarding Dembele and Leigh for the likes of Donley and Roosken were off the scale mad. Dembele, given the run in the team Donley had, would have delivered more in my opinion and Roosken for Leigh is just unfathomable given Leigh’s ability to pop up with crucial goals. Donley was possibly the most underwhelming signing - given the hype when he signed - that we made in our foray into the Championship. How he played game in, game out, was beyond me.
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It’s worth pointing out again that our record in games when Donley started was excellent, and when he came out of the side was when we dipped, with the exception of Derby away where he was poor and that seemed to be the moment many chose to forget the good that had come before and decide he wasn’t good enough as someone had to be blamed.
 
tatabanya said:
It’s worth pointing out again that our record in games when Donley started was excellent, and when he came out of the side was when we dipped, with the exception of Derby away where he was poor and that seemed to be the moment many chose to forget the good that had come before and decide he wasn’t good enough as someone had to be blamed.
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He dipped when he was burned out, both through playing a lot for us and nothing games for Northern Ireland.
 
SirAndyOfCrosby said:
In January Oxford United were an established Championship club with the managerial market at their disposal, with money to spend and the very real and attainable prospect of staying up with a bit of backbone and belief on and off the pitch if only everyone could pull in the same direction and believed in, and expected more of, this fantastic football club.

Also (large numbers of) Oxford United 'supporters'...
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On what planet?!
 
I was not so fussed about Dembele nor appearing, but I spent quite a lot of the season pondering Leigh's absence. I am not sure that he is good enough defensively to play in the Championship, but always wondered if he could have been used on the left wing (when at times we were a bit short there). His heading ability and and habit of scoring the odd goal or two might have come in very handy. I would be happy to see him in the L1 squad.
 
Briggsy said:
He's only been in management four seasons. Give the bloke a chance, I say.
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I agree, but for people to say they would prefer Challinor over Bloomfield is what puzzles me.

They are on the same level in the same division, he’s now failed in 2 playoff campaigns with a very good budget.

So I don’t see Challinor as an upgrade
 
billyturleyscurlywurly said:
Can you compare the last 15 seasons of management between Bloomfield & Challinor please..

Think that’s a fair way to compare the two..

Go on. I will wait.
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Challinor has not got a team promoted twice in two seasons at league 1 level, what exactly qualifies him more than Bloomfield?

Literally nothing, it just comes down to you don’t like Bloomfield.
 
Yet another example of the less you play the better you become!

Donley was a big part in our upturn in form, and really complimented Lankshear's game. Yes, he tailed off at the end and was probably burnt out with the additional International fixtures. But I honestly believe that had he not been injured when he first arrived then we could have got enough points to have stayed up.

And then there's Dembele. Two important goals 15 months ago, but really ineffective otherwise, under three different managers and numerous coaches.

I'll always look to give anyone a way back, and if he works hard and gets a bit of hunger back into his game, then Dembele could be very successful for us in League One. But if you offered me the swap, I'll take Donley every time.
 
dickwalton1964 said:
Two crucial goals that kept us up the previous season and I just think he’s a far better player than Donley at keeping possession and making things happen. He was never given a run in the team like Donley had.
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Ah, those 2 goals are brought forward again as exhibit A. If Dembele had done something in his other games that season then the 'crucial' part might not have been needed.

Dembele was given a chance, he made 47 appearances, scored only those 2 goals and had 1 assist.

Donley on the other hand, played in 15 games and had 1 goal and 1 assist

I'd have Donley every time out of the 2 as he at least looked to link play rather than running down dead ends to then lose it. Donley was also better defensively.
 
Scotchegg said:
Yet another example of the less you play the better you become!

Donley was a big part in our upturn in form, and really complimented Lankshear's game. Yes, he tailed off at the end and was probably burnt out with the additional International fixtures. But I honestly believe that had he not been injured when he first arrived then we could have got enough points to have stayed up.

And then there's Dembele. Two important goals 15 months ago, but really ineffective otherwise, under three different managers and numerous coaches.

I'll always look to give anyone a way back, and if he works hard and gets a bit of hunger back into his game, then Dembele could be very successful for us in League One. But if you offered me the swap, I'll take Donley every time.
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Yes we were very unlucky with both Donely and BDK injuries - I agree that Dembele did nothing much to assuage what Rowett might have already thought of him at Birmingham.
 
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