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[Millman]

Manning is not the manager I would have picked (not in my top 5). He maybe isn't the manager we need right now. However if he has the job it's only fair to give him our full support and to see what happens.

The measure for him this season will be to get our players playing well and make bring the confidence and performances up to match at least the skills our squad pocesses. Its a pretty low bar as for me I'm not sure survival even for the best manager is a definite with this squad. By the end of the season we should look like a team that has turned it around all be it one with the known pieces missing. If that means survival then great. If not its up then a lot of blame goes on the owners and board who have shown abject neglect or incompetance regarding the playing side this season. That said if we reach the end of the season still with poor performances, ill fitting formations and styles of football, and relegation then I will have grave doubts over whether we have the manager we need or a KR mark 2.

The other concern is that regarding player recruitment Manning has little experience. We need one if not a series of good if not great transfer windows to undo the utter mess of the last 3. A ton of money will be needed to offload and buy new players and they have to be the right ones. We need a balanced squad. What is more if we are in league 2 we will need big phyiscal players. Nice attacking football will need to be tempered at that level by a degree of strength and resiliance. Is this something Manning is capable of or is he fixed in his nice attacking foorball mindset like KR? I would like to see the club appoint a director of football to work with him that is very experienced at this level someone to help him find is feet and fix our incredibly broken recruitment model.

Either Manning is a bright new manager, keen to play great football, but clever enough to know when to mix it up, and who can build the club up form the depths the board have let KR drag it down to. Or he may be more of the same as the early years of KR which in my mind would mark a failure, and cement my grave concerns over this board's ability to properly run a football club. Given Mannings scant history as a manager this is a glourous gamble on the club part. Its going to be interesting to see what happens next. Come on you Yellows.

 

[Oslernorth]

Are the bookies still giving odds on the next Oxford manager?

 

[Made-in-Jericho]

The silence from the club is absolutely deafening.

 

[Northernyellow]

I agree.

Our greatest ever player. I’ve watched Oxford for 51 years now and in my time he stands alone as the best ever to pull on the yellow shirt. What an outstanding footballer he was. He genuinely had the lot - skill, could run all day, could tackle, score, assist. I don’t know the man but he always seemed so humble for someone so brilliant at what he did. I always remember that interview he did a day or so after the cup final win, he was MOTM by a mile but looked genuinely embarrassed about all the praise he got.

Great memories, what a footballer.

Fantastic player. I did a lot of media work back then. Brian Glanville (Sunday Times) thought he should have been in the England 1986 World Cup squad. Considered him a far better player than Peter Reid of Everton. And Trevor would have caught Maradona!!!

 

[ThatSlopesATwelfthMan]

Yeah this is a good point.

I’d rather have KR in charge next season with all those players added to this squad, than Manning with just our current squad.

I wouldn't

 

[Joey]

But isn’t there an argument to say Manning not only got several of those in the door, he also got them playing some of their best football? Many of them have gone on to much better things so it’s not good fortune that they played well - he put them together to do so. I understand both sides of the argument but we’re almost arguing against ourselves. Didn’t he just do a really good job that season?

Not really, he was appointed the day before their second game of the season, I think most of their business had been done by then. Also the rumour seems to be that he had nothing to do with transfers, although this might just be something that's been repeated so many times it's taken as fact. If you say he was responsible for bringing in players then he has to take some responsibility for the squad he's put together this season, if you excuse what they've got now he can't get much credit for assembling the squad last year.

As far as I can see he struggles this season with a pretty poor squad but did well last season with an excellent squad (perhaps an argument that they had the talent to go up automatically?). I'd hope with our finances and appointing a head of recruitment and more scouts we'll be able to furnish him with a good squad and he'll have us competing at the top end while playing good football.

I know this comes across as negative but it's not a dog, merely keeping my expectations in check. I'd find it hard to say he's a good or bad manager based on his history with MK Dons, although he did well in Belgium before that. Overall I'm happy enough with him providing we get the support organised pdq, I just wish we'd made the move months ago.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Now I don’t know much about Manning but have witnessed his teams play us twice

At the end of last season they should have given us a drubbing

Away at MK a few weeks back they were all over us and missed two sitters and should have been 3/4 up
Then Manning made changes and took two players who were controlling the midfield for them off. Bate scores a goal that their keeper should save ( Eastwood would have been crucified on here) and then we are all over them.
The point being is he technically any good and can he manage games and crucially has he got a plan B

Oh Dear.

 

[Cotswolds Cowboy]

Loads of negative comments in the Oxford Mail. Loads on here, Loads on Twitter, loads on Facebook & other forums. Loads on the street. Mmmm it's not excatly United the fan base, which is not a good sign. Let's hope we stay up ,or I can see it going one way if we get relegated, & don't Push on ....

All fans have pathologically negative people among their fan base
And unfortunately they usually make the most noise
I expect us to turn things around now that the previous manager's toxity has been removed
It won't be easy because of the mess he left and loss of the good people he drove out
But I expect to lose my 80/1 bet that we will be relegated

 

[LS1985]

Wtf are the club playing at why are they dragging there feet in announcing the manager even if they said the new manager would be unveiled at the derby game surely that would get more people through the gates an hopefully get behind the team in what’s going to be a very tough game today. Part of me actually thinks they slightly worried that we could get beat badly today an wouldn’t be the best start for a new manager so giving manager easier but a more Crucial Game away at morecambe. Should not really be surprised there planning an organisation this season has been shocking to say the least

 

[Swaby39]

Not really, he was appointed the day before their second game of the season, I think most of their business had been done by then. Also the rumour seems to be that he had nothing to do with transfers, although this might just be something that's been repeated so many times it's taken as fact. If you say he was responsible for bringing in players then he has to take some responsibility for the squad he's put together this season, if you excuse what they've got now he can't get much credit for assembling the squad last year.

As far as I can see he struggles this season with a pretty poor squad but did well last season with an excellent squad (perhaps an argument that they had the talent to go up automatically?). I'd hope with our finances and appointing a head of recruitment and more scouts we'll be able to furnish him with a good squad and he'll have us competing at the top end while playing good football.

I know this comes across as negative but it's not a dog, merely keeping my expectations in check. I'd find it hard to say he's a good or bad manager based on his history with MK Dons, although he did well in Belgium before that. Overall I'm happy enough with him providing we get the support organised pdq, I just wish we'd made the move months ago.

Fair enough, I hadn’t fact-checked the dates in all honesty I just assumed he was there sooner.

But to put a more positive angle on that same point, he assembled a team he didn’t recruit pretty damn well. And I’m always cautious with the whole argument that talent/budget should automatically sail you to the top. It doesn’t. Look at Chelsea, currently. Of course you want and need good players but there is still a job to be done in getting them together with a winners mentality and this is a very competitive league. The standard was better last year than this as well; they were part of that.

You’re not being negative I wouldn’t say - just guarded. I am too but for other reasons. I admire what he did at MK, I think any team that finishes that close to the top 2 has done really well. But I’m very unconvinced he has enough games to put this right.

 

[souporsumfin]

Will Manning have a say on the players we bring in? Hopefully he will be asked this question by the press when he is finally unveiled.

If, as described in the Oxford Mail today, we're going down the MK route where players are basically provided for him (I dont know if Sweeting used a data driven approach) then the appointment we should all be worrying about and discussing is the new Head of Recruitment.

All we've heard so far is this appointment is being outsourced to 3rd parties with the appropriate expertise and the position is close to being filled, does anybody know any more than this?

 

[Cotswolds Cowboy]

Will Manning have a say on the players we bring in? Hopefully he will be asked this question by the press when he is finally unveiled.

If, as described in the Oxford Mail today, we're going down the MK route where players are basically provided for him (I dont know if Sweeting used a data driven approach) then the appointment we should all be worrying about and discussing is the new Head of Recruitment.

All we've heard so far is this appointment is being outsourced to 3rd parties with the appropriate expertise and the position is close to being filled, does anybody know any more than this?

I think Winkelman's son ie involved in MK recruitment

 

[Yellowmania]

The main issue I can’t get over is yes they played us off the park in those 2 games we played against them last season but KR still managed to turn the games to get us a result. Lots of comments on here about Karl not being a great tactician, which I sort of concur with by the way, so what does that say about Manning and his tactical nous?

 

[Oldman159]

No announcement? Perhaps there are ‘sticking points’ over potential use of social meejah? Maybe the Beebski have insisted that they vet every tweet, t**t or twit before they are posted?…. Or perhaps the ‘PM’ (potential manager) can’t be there today as he/she/it is fronting up MOTD tonight? - the pay would certainly be better for whoever (……insert own pronoun).

Meanwhile, in Ukraine….

 

[UTO]

Do you still feel the same way?

To be fair, they did come to a decision and agreement on Thursday.
I was expecting the announcement yesterday afternoon after introducing himself to everyone and training.
I guess BBC Oxford were also expecting that, as they did some manager special show last night apparently?

I’m not sure why it’s not been announced. It is done, the staff, players etc all know what’s happening. Manning wouldn’t have been involved in running the team obviously today anyway.
But hopefully the players have that ‘new manager motivation’ knowing the new gaffer will be at the game watching before starting properly on Monday.

 

[Toe knee]

All fans have pathologically negative people among their fan base
And unfortunately they usually make the most noise
I expect us to turn things around now that the previous manager's toxity has been removed
It won't be easy because of the mess he left and loss of the good people he drove out
But I expect to lose my 80/1 bet that we will be relegated

Fans also make a lot of noise when they're winning. It's relentless, man u fans , Liverpool fans It gets on your nerves how brilliant they are.people that's never even, stepped inside any of those stadiums..

 

[Up The U's]

Underwhelmed & confused if it's Manning.

I'm struggling to see how a manger that has failed to get a team that finished higher last season, but after poor recruitment, is now in the same relagation battle we are, is going to be unable to turn it around here, when he couldn't already in the exact scenario?

He must have had one hell of an answer when dimmy Timmy asked as much (he did ask that question, right ?).

He has one season of league 1 managerial experience and by the reports from MK journo's has one style of play with no back up when plan A doesn't work .

I pray to all gods I'm wrong, but I feel this is further proof with Timmy should have no decision in footballing matters and a DoF should have been brought in already and allowed him to pick his candidate.

 

[WokinghamYellow]

I’m not understanding all the hysteria on here about ‘where is the announcement???’ People need to chill, it’s clearly done, we will be told when the club are ready to tell, calm the F down!

 

[Cotswolds Cowboy]

Fans also make a lot of noise when they're winning. It's relentless, man u fans , Liverpool fans It gets on your nerves how brilliant they are.people that's never even, stepped inside any of those stadiums..

I don't consider clowns like that to be proper fans
I try to change the subject from football asap when talking to such idiots

 

[LS1985]

I’m not understanding all the hysteria on here about ‘where is the announcement???’ People need to chill, it’s clearly done, we will be told when the club are ready to tell, calm the F down!

If it’s done why not announce it lol
As I said in previous post surely it will only help get more people at the game and hopefully get right behind the team an the team need as much help as they can atm…. Only makes sense I think

 

[Toe knee]

I don't consider clowns like that to be proper fans
I try to change the subject from football asap when talking to such idiots

Haha true

 

[yellowbow]

I pray to all gods I'm wrong, but I feel this is further proof with Timmy should have no decision in footballing matters and a DoF should have been brought in already and allowed him to pick his candidate.

This is a very good point.

I too have concerns about Manning, if however, as people in the know have said, he is a part of the jigsaw in a plan to restructure the club and move it away from a culture of a big personality and a mobile phone running the whole show, then I’m happy to get behind him.

 

[battman]

A lot is being made about this business of Manning being sacked for underperforming after a season of unexpected success, but that's exactly what happened to MApp at Lincoln. So you can take snapshots of a manager's career to make all sorts of points, without looking at the bigger, long term picture.

The picture that saw him progress from the obscurities of non-league football to become head coach of West Ham's U23s, Academy Director of New York City FC (owned by the City Football Group), and having a combined win percentage of over 47% after his spells at Lommel and MK Dons.

The truth is that there isn't much long-term managerial data to go off to judge whether or not he'll be a success, but that's the same for any young manager we would've got in! I think people need to put their concerns at the door for a bit, give the new manager a chance before writing him off, and back the team for the rest of the season.

 

[Ricey]

I’d hardly call it hysteria… Communication with the fans is imperative for success. It builds unity and togetherness - yes people will have differences of opinion with the appointment, but all everyone wants is up to date info from those at the top. Drawing out the announcement is just another example of the lack of clarity the Baird have with the fans. I totally get some things cannnot and shouldn’t be shared but a press release saying “interviews have taken place and announcement will follow in the next few days.” Followed by the said announcement - people will be much happier…

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Heard there may be issues with the assistant and the future roles of LBS, Short and Brown?

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

Manning was sacked last year

My mistake, sorry,but I still hope he is tactically aware and has a plan B, apologies also to @OxfordYankee

 

[Nadi-]

As I’ve said previously, Manning was watching St pats before signing Burns, so must of had input in transfer dealings.

 

[yellowbow]

A lot is being made about this business of Manning being sacked for underperforming after a season of unexpected success, but that's exactly what happened to MApp at Lincoln. So you can take snapshots of a manager's career to make all sorts of points, without looking at the bigger, long term picture.

The picture that saw him progress from the obscurities of non-league football to become head coach of West Ham's U23s, Academy Director of New York City FC (owned by the City Football Group), and having a combined win percentage of over 47% after his spells at Lommel and MK Dons.

The truth is that there isn't much long-term managerial data to go off to judge whether or not he'll be a success, but that's the same for any young manager we would've got in! I think people need to put their concerns at the door for a bit, give the new manager a chance before writing him off, and back the team for the rest of the season.

He will probably have learnt a heck of a lot more from the last 6 months than from all of his previous successes. Hopefully the difficult experience will have made him an even better coach and we will be the ones to benefit.

 

[bazzer9461]

Heard there may be issues with the assistant and the future roles of LBS, Short and Brown?

Radox reported that Graham Hogg was coming in with Manning so that would mean Shorty and co redundant apart from maybe Brown.

 

[Swaby39]

A proper assistant manager. We are being spoilt