General Post Rowett - who next?

[Northstandboy]

 

[Teacher]

I would imagine there will be a shake up on the playing front again in January and think we may ‘go again’ to find a solution to staying in the league…..LW, CM, CF etc.

With that in mind, if we can find a couple of gems, then we still have a real chance of survival. I know things aren’t pretty right now but we have some big games to come at the Kassam and therefore the attitude of ‘it doesn’t matter anyway, we will be in league one’ is premature.

Lots of football to be played. Lots of twists and turns to come. I just hope none of them involve Matt Bloomfield.

 

[MJB]

Another factor, should we be relegated this season, is that whoever takes on the job will have that baggage come May.

It’s all very well saying that League One experience is a bonus, should we drop, but the circumstances for relegation are going to have to be very specific to not have the crowd on their back in the coming months should that happen.

Particularly as the genie is somewhat out of the bottle now for OUFC being a stable environment for Head Coaches given the amount of turnover in the last few years.

Fan expectation of, or calls for, stability in terms of the manager is likely to be different now I’d suggest.

And particularly if we suffer our first relegation for twenty years as many fans - particularly the younger ones who are more vocal in the stands and on social media - will have zero experience of that.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Anyone that takes it though has to be applauded in my opinion, almost certain relegation on your CV to contend with.

 

[Colin B]

Last night was extremely disappointing, with our own performance and then finding Portsmouth had scored a 98th minute winner.

But fuck me some of you need to grow a pair. There is nearly half a season to go, a new manager to come in, and a transfer window to come. Nobody is relegated in December and there are lots of twists and turns still to come.

Man up and show a bit of fight and pride for fucks sake!

 

[Eaststanding]

Anyone that takes it though has to be applauded in my opinion, almost certain relegation on your CV to contend with.

That’s the spirit.
Sounds like some of our fans have given up and it’s only half way through the season..

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Not long up, having got in shortly before 2am returning from a performance so lethargic I'd have had to pull over if I showed the same lack of energy driving my car.

So I haven't yet had my Double Espresso.

But are we seriously suggesting that our esteemed Head Of Football Operations - having had weeks and months to scour Europe for the best tacticians, motivators, and football brains - has 'spoken to' someone who took over a PL squad, at this level, sat in 16th - and got them relegated?

You have to be f*cking kidding me. It simply can't be true. Surely Waldron isn't that incompetent? Surely he isn't that, quite frankly, lazy?

Where is out Danny Röhl? Our Vítor Matos? Our David Wagner? Where are we actually thinking outside the box and trying to move the club forward?

I would of course back whoever comes in. But Matt Bloomfield screams 'tailspin'.

And more importantly, it would be a massive indication that Ed Waldron is miles out of his depth - and another nail in the coffin of the whole senior management team.

Waldron is a bloke off the street effectively, no professional games as a coach or player and is grossly unqualified for his role as we're seeing.

Broomfield would be a bang average appointment and very uninspiring. He'll need to have an immediate positive impact or things will go toxic.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Last night was extremely disappointing, with our own performance and then finding Portsmouth had scored a 98th minute winner.

But fuck me some of you need to grow a pair. There is nearly half a season to go, a new manager to come in, and a transfer window to come. Nobody is relegated in December and there are lots of twists and turns still to come.

Man up and show a bit of fight and pride for fucks sake!

Tell the board and owners that please.

 

[Bicester Yellow]

I think if you take Swansea as an example, they got the timing spot on. I personally think the start of December is the latest you want to leave it, allowing a month for progress to set in on your style, some forgotten players to get involved, before you go in to January with clarity on what you need. We did the Christmas thing last year and I would say it was in the nick of time, but were it not for a mental rebound under Rowett against teams around us, we’d have gone last year.

It was clear Rowett needed to go, not just from a results perspective but his whole demeanour was off and the football was never looking likely to give us a chance - it needed recognising sooner - and rather sums up the limp dick, c’est la vie attitude at the top. I know it’s expensive to get rid, but we’re now in a very precarious spot, lacking in direction and probably looking at February before we see any new manager’s football emerge. We could be gone by then.

That will divide opinions as I know many wanted to stick with Rowett but I just don’t see how you could look at or listen to Rowett as far back as October and not see there was a problem. Our decision making as a club from the moment we secured survival has been self destructive to say the least, and it has felt a bit like we’ve volunteered ourselves to go down rather than be chewed up and spat out by the rest being too good and financially powerful for us - that’s the way to go down if it’s going to happen.

The board will face intense scrutiny for this season, as they should. Williams can point to all the other metrics if he wants but the reality is for a club like ours, the men’s team is everything and has to be at the forefront of every decision to allow the women’s teams, the academy, the commercials to thrive in the slip stream. We got our priorities all wrong, made too many mistakes and face a pretty inevitable relegation without an absolutely miraculous managerial appointment to save their arses, yet again.

Yeah, you are spot on.

Decision making from above was awful in the summer and I think Rowett effectively throwing in the towel over the last 4 weeks has basically condemned us.

I hope I’m wrong and we somehow survive but I can’t see us getting anything out of the next 2 & the fact TW has basically said we are not going to be spending much in January then we are not getting out of it is this time.

 

[Benox]

Bloomfield doesn’t exactly get me buzzing. That said, trying to be fair, it didn’t work at Luton but he does have very recent experience of this exact situation. His stock was high not long ago, the Luton spell has knocked it, but maybe he’s learned a lot from it.

For me this appointment has to be about stability. Four managers in two years, all with different ideas and we look miles away from having any kind of identity. You hear about clubs where the manager fits the club’s way of playing. We’re nowhere near that.

What sort of team are we trying to be? If we do go down, are we setting ourselves up with a style and squad that can bounce straight back? Rowett always felt short term and in 12 months we seem to have lurched in a completely different direction stylistically. I’m not convinced that’s helping us long term.

So I’m staying open minded. I desperately want us to stay up, but just as important is that the next appointment actually shapes a clear identity and direction for the club.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

That’s the spirit.
Sounds like some of our fans have given up and it’s only half way through the season..

Yep, still go though. Just being realistic but hoping otherwise.

 

[tatabanya]

All this Bloomfield talk very premature. I don't think we're close to identifying our main target, let alone appointing them

 

[Manorlounger]

There is a lot of well informed and astute debate on here. I would hope the same applies to the senior management and board and owners.
I don't have the knowledge or skills to make an informed choice. However, what is clear to me is that whoever comes in is going to have to be a disciplined and motivational driven leader. They will have to deal with a defficient, demoralised and, to quite an extent, unfit squad. A squad laced with players who would struggle to get into any other Championship side (some would not even make League 1)
So, would I be looking to appoint anyone without experience? Probably not. Would I want a nice chap with a spreadsheet? Probably not. Would I want a former coach who had had mental health problems? Probably not.
Would I want to appoint someone who had already identified the issues, and could demonstrate that knowledge? Would I want someone with a proven track record at this level? Would I want someone who held their own in a financial discussion and could justify expenditure with pre-identified targets? Yes, yes to all of that.
Does that candidate exist?

 

[OX14]

Not long up, having got in shortly before 2am returning from a performance so lethargic I'd have had to pull over if I showed the same lack of energy driving my car.

So I haven't yet had my Double Espresso.

But are we seriously suggesting that our esteemed Head Of Football Operations - having had weeks and months to scour Europe for the best tacticians, motivators, and football brains - has 'spoken to' someone who took over a PL squad, at this level, sat in 16th - and got them relegated?

You have to be f*cking kidding me. It simply can't be true. Surely Waldron isn't that incompetent? Surely he isn't that, quite frankly, lazy?

Where is out Danny Röhl? Our Vítor Matos? Our David Wagner? Where are we actually thinking outside the box and trying to move the club forward?

I would of course back whoever comes in. But Matt Bloomfield screams 'tailspin'.

And more importantly, it would be a massive indication that Ed Waldron is miles out of his depth - and another nail in the coffin of the whole senior management team.

A bit of perspective needed I think.


Luton sacked Edwards on 8th January 2025 after 4 straight defeats and lost 8 away games in a row. They were in 20th not 16th. With a -17 goal difference.

Bloomfield had 20 games to save them and Won 6 , Drew 6 and lost 8. 24 points from 20 games would keep you up but unfortunately the damage had already been done especially the GD which they ended up going down on the last day from. Note in the 20 games in charge under Bloomfield they had a -7 GD from them 20 games. Where as Edwards had a -17 GD in 26 games.

Note the first 10 games in charge for Bloomfield that Luton team only won 1 and drew 3. He took time to get his point across but when he did Luton in their last 10 games won 5 , drew 3 and lost 2. 3 of those games were against Leeds , Bristol city and Coventry so no easy games.

This season Luton under Bloomfield is a bit hard to judge as I'm not sure how much they've spent as alot of their fans claim they are using the Premier league money to build their new stadium. 5 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses isn't a great return but looking at it 4 of those losses have come against teams in the promotion places or play off spots.

Wiltshere has had 12 games in charge with the same squad and his record is won 5, drew 4 and lost 3. They also lost in the fa cup at league 2 Fleetwood so not much better.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

I will be very interested to see what the new guy does in the window. Not many people allude to it but we have so many players at the club including 8 out on loan, f*****g scary in my opinion.

 

[carefreeoufc]

All this Bloomfield talk very premature. I don't think we're close to identifying our main target, let alone appointing them

I find that somewhat concerning. I’d have thought they’d have pulled the trigger with a shortlist of targets to go after.

 

[Brahma]

All this Bloomfield talk very premature. I don't think we're close to identifying our main target, let alone appointing them

I hope that's the case but I always panic when I see some bizarre odds, which was Bloomfield coming in from nowhere to 1/4 on.

Now, much like @dickwalton1964 I was less than impressed by that link but he's done a pre-Christmas interview with SKY which is well worth a read/watch. He actually ended up doing really well at Luton, were the third best form side in that final quarter of the 2024/25 relegation season. He had a tough job remoulding that side in the summer for L1 football. He likes to stamp his authority and I assume he has gained some useful experiences from that relegation.

I have loads of faith in Erick and his managerial approach but Matt Bloomfield doesn't seem to be a Thohir kind of appointment.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

One thing's for sure, we need to get this appointment done sooner rather than later. If we wait for another week (two games) then we could be cut completely adrift.

Imagine what the table could look like after the away games at Ipswich and Sheffield Utd

 

[dickwalton1964]

All this Bloomfield talk very premature. I don't think we're close to identifying our main target, let alone appointing them

A week since Rowett went and we aren’t even close to identifying our main target ? Bloody hell.

 

[Brahma]

Imagine what the table could look like after the away games at Ipswich and Sheffield Utd

I'd rather not. We have a great guy in charge who alarmingly told the media after Southampton, he didn't much enjoy being the main man and made reference to his tactical nous. The longer the Board leave this, it's on them.

 

[Shaun Rice]

Last night was extremely disappointing, with our own performance and then finding Portsmouth had scored a 98th minute winner.

But fuck me some of you need to grow a pair. There is nearly half a season to go, a new manager to come in, and a transfer window to come. Nobody is relegated in December and there are lots of twists and turns still to come.

Man up and show a bit of fight and pride for fucks sake!

I don’t think it’s fair to say some people need to grow a pair. I think people are simply expressing their view based on what they’re seeing. Plus the reality of our finances and squad. One could argue growing a pair is accepting where we are and not blindly expecting a miracle. Don’t matter how much fight, pride or kahunas one has. If your opponent is much bigger, faster, stronger, skilful and tactically aware than you, you’re going to loose.
Fact is we have too many players who are simply not good enough for the Championship. Sad thing is, I think the current squad is about mid table league one at best.
Last night was one of our worst performances in the Championship. Awful!

 

[Daviddidcotexile]

What transfer news did we get during the summer? None until a signing. It will be the same with the manager recruitment. No news until deal virtually done

 

[dickwalton1964]

I don’t think it’s fair to say some people need to grow a pair. I think people are simply expressing their view based on what they’re seeing. Plus the reality of our finances and squad. One could argue growing a pair is accepting where we are and not blindly expecting a miracle. Don’t matter how much fight, pride or kahunas one has. If your opponent is much bigger, faster, stronger, skilful and tactically aware than you, you’re going to loose.
Fact is we have too many players who are simply not good enough for the Championship. Sad thing is, I think the current squad is about mid table league one at best.
Last night was one of our worst performances in the Championship. Awful!

It was bad but I’m not sure it was last seasons aways at QPR, Sunderland and Sheffield United bad - they were horrific.

 

[Bicester Yellow]

It was bad but I’m not sure it was last seasons aways at QPR, Sunderland and Sheffield United bad - they were horrific.

Probably the worst I’ve seen at home, on par with Stoke this season.

Away games you expect at this level we might get hammered but we had nothing last night, it was painstakingly bad.

 

[greatunclekip]

I find that somewhat concerning. I’d have thought they’d have pulled the trigger with a shortlist of targets to go after.

There is golf to play, podcasts to record and activations to activate. I’m sure they’ll get round to it eventually.

 

[SouthOxonOx]

Last night was extremely disappointing, with our own performance and then finding Portsmouth had scored a 98th minute winner.

But fuck me some of you need to grow a pair. There is nearly half a season to go, a new manager to come in, and a transfer window to come. Nobody is relegated in December and there are lots of twists and turns still to come.

Man up and show a bit of fight and pride for fucks sake!

100 percent correct. For as bad as last night was it's one game. We have people on here who go from one extreme to the other based on the latest result.
There will be good performances and bad performances for the rest of the season. The new manager hopefully hits the ground running and gets us more consistent. I haven't given up on the season yet. Over twenty games left to go and plenty of points to play for.

 

[Village-Yellow]

There is a lot of well informed and astute debate on here. I would hope the same applies to the senior management and board and owners.
I don't have the knowledge or skills to make an informed choice. However, what is clear to me is that whoever comes in is going to have to be a disciplined and motivational driven leader. They will have to deal with a defficient, demoralised and, to quite an extent, unfit squad. A squad laced with players who would struggle to get into any other Championship side (some would not even make League 1)
So, would I be looking to appoint anyone without experience? Probably not. Would I want a nice chap with a spreadsheet? Probably not. Would I want a former coach who had had mental health problems? Probably not.
Would I want to appoint someone who had already identified the issues, and could demonstrate that knowledge? Would I want someone with a proven track record at this level? Would I want someone who held their own in a financial discussion and could justify expenditure with pre-identified targets? Yes, yes to all of that.
Does that candidate exist?

Might as well try to find that pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Whoever comes in will have pros and cons… nothing is perfect.

The test is do the board have the ability to select the right candidate with the attributes to push us on in 2026 with pretty much the squad we already have.

 

[OX14]

A week since Rowett went and we aren’t even close to identifying our main target ? Bloody hell.

The timing was all wrong with the sacking of Rowett, I can only think the board were happy for him to continue for the rest of the season and either two of these happened.

Mr Thohir got involved and made the decision and the delay of doing this was caused by time difference in Indonesia and also Erick having other business to attend to first.

Or

The board and the owner were happy for Rowett to remain but it became apparent on Monday at the training ground that he wasn't happy here anymore and they couldn't promise him what he wanted in January so they mutually agreed to end his contract. Obviously we heard on Radio Ox he wasn't happy after the Charlton game and was coming out with either there needs to be a change or the squad needs huge improvement in January but maybe Tim nice but dim and Tiger Woods don't listen to Radio Oxford or read social media so they wouldn't have the foggiest.

I believe the board should of been looking at a replacement after the Norwich game as the writing was on the wall back then with a crazy starting line up and a very poor performance hidden by a last minute Krastev snatch and grab.

They cleanly haven't.

 

[Shosho]

The timing was all wrong with the sacking of Rowett, I can only think the board were happy for him to continue for the rest of the season and either two of these happened.

Mr Thohir got involved and made the decision and the delay of doing this was caused by time difference in Indonesia and also Erick having other business to attend to first.

Or

The board and the owner were happy for Rowett to remain but it became apparent on Monday at the training ground that he wasn't happy here anymore and they couldn't promise him what he wanted in January so they mutually agreed to end his contract. Obviously we heard on Radio Ox he wasn't happy after the Charlton game and was coming out with either there needs to be a change or the squad needs huge improvement in January but maybe Tim nice but dim and Tiger Woods don't listen to Radio Oxford or read social media so they wouldn't have the foggiest.

I believe the board should of been looking at a replacement after the Norwich game as the writing was on the wall back then with a crazy starting line up and a very poor performance hidden by a last minute Krastev snatch and grab.

They cleanly haven't.

Any smart recruitment team will have an ongoing list of replacements for all prominent roles at the club.

If we have suddenly had to compile a list of people to approach after the sacking of Rowett then we have problems.

 

[OX14]

Any smart recruitment team will have an ongoing list of replacements for all prominent roles at the club.

If we have suddenly had to compile a list of people to approach after the sacking of Rowett then we have problems.

Does seem that way sadly. The urgency from the board matches the urgency shown from the players on the pitch last night.

 

[Oxford84]

My other team is Colchester United. Yes only League 2, but Bloomfield took on a team headed for relegation and transformed them in half a season. He showed no loyalty and skipped off back to Wycombe when he had the chance , but, if the players roll up their sleeves and buy into him, he could pull off a miracle. He would then b****r off, most likely, but frankly I would take that. If we structure his contract with the right bonuses and break clauses he could be worth a go. He is intelligent and will work his plums off and he will be desperate to prove himself at this level. Yes he is a risk, but we don't have any better options right now.

Other team !?