Current Staff Robinson. Stay or go?

[gofish2]

I say go. Extremely poor record, poor tactically and not media smart. Young manager that he may be he is clearly not what is required and I have no faith. A great shame because I have turned from wanting him to do well but am tired of his references to luck, injuries, referee decisions, and the sky not being the right shade of blue.
Yesterday he said 'there's nothing more I can do, I've tried everything', from the horses mouth, recognition that he can't do the job.
I do hope he does do well, but realistically that won't be Oxford.

 

[daveoufc]

I say go. Extremely poor record, poor tactically and not media smart. Young manager that he may be he is clearly not what is required and I have no faith. A great shame because I have turned from wanting him to do well but am tired of his references to luck, injuries, referee decisions, and the sky not being the right shade of blue.
Yesterday he said 'there's nothing more I can do, I've tried everything', from the horses mouth, recognition that he can't do the job.
I do hope he does do well, but realistically that won't be Oxford.

Well youve changed your tune when i suggested signing a 33 yr old Mackie on a 2yr deal was daft thing to do you said something like "thats why your not a manager" cheers pal

 

[unification]

The questions I'd pose.

1. If KR was sacked, do you trust Tiger to bring the right person in and do it in good time to not let the team slide further?

2. The new manager would face the same challenges that KR has now: long-term injuries, no chance of new signings until January and the same squad we have now. What would a new manager do differently with the hand they've been dealt?

3. There are options before issuing the P45. KR can change the system, shuffle players in and out of the team and hope on a few injured players coming back. He has got to do these though.

 

[gofish2]

Well youve changed your tune when i suggested signing a 33 yr old Mackie on a 2yr deal was daft thing to do you said something like "thats why your not a manager" cheers pal

You're right. I have changed my mind. And if you want to be a manager there may be a vacancy soon

 

[milburn]

Go. I do not enjoy having this bloke as the face of our football club.
He’s not a good manager, he never has been and probably never will be.
I think (hope) tiger will have his replacement lined up before he gives him his P45.

 

[Navegante]

Pep Clotet's OUFC win record (over 33 games) was 33.3% vs KR's (22 games) is 31.8%.

KR has managed slightly less games in total but allegedly "knows the league" and had time to assess the players before having a full pre-season to assemble a capable squad. The Catalan didn't have this luxury.

Not sure I would pull the trigger just yet but my chamber is loaded...

 

[The Hawk]

Stay
The injury to Eastwood is a hammer blow. Likewise Carruthers.
Few teams of our size can cope with losing such pivotal players.
You might also argue that the injury to Nelson robbed us of a stellar centre-half.
Far from Kr being stuck in his ways he’s actually made big decisions - bombing out McMahon, Playing Baptiste, dropping dickie.
I fail to see candidates available who are as good as Kr. I also suspect we’re not a particularly attractive proposition at the moment given the off-the-field issues.
That’s not to say Kr can not improve. I think he needs to go back to basics - and fast.
Defence and attack have to be drilled, drilled, drilled. It’s mind-numbing stuff. You stand there. This is our pattern of play when we go forward. Run the channels of necessary.
Kr is possibly guilty of seeing the quality of his ‘3’ behind the striker and think they’ll create enough doing what they want. Nope.
We don’t actually create gilt-edged chances. We rely on one of those 3 to bash one in from 15 yards or more or a bit of technical brilliance. It’s why the argument over the missing striker is pretty futile. Even if we’d have got one of his top targets we’d still be misfiring because zilch is created for the ‘1’
He has to go back to basics. Boring but essential. He has to create a Siege mentality. Above all he has to finally recognise we’re in the brown stuff. All of this he did last term. And we were ok. Repeat and we stay up

 

[Manorlounger]

I cannot recall ever being totally enamoured with KR but can remember thinking he spoke well in pre-season and sounded confident and confidence building. There was always the nagging sense that something was amiss as the predicted players arriving were nowhere to be seen.
It has become clear that KR cannot help himself from speaking out about things that are not set in stone and thus makes himself look foolish.
His post match interviews, given when he is clearly still flooded with adrenaline, are embarrassing and very poor man management, naming players as having made mistakes is not conducive to loyalty or productive.
What Tiger is striving to build, and I am still in the dubious camp, needs success on the pitch or at least the appearance of success to come. What we have now is a loud mouthed, uncouth yob shouting at all and sundry. He will have to go. To recall old quotes, he does not fit the DNA of OUFC or what OUFC may become if all the talk is to be believed.

 

[Scotchegg]

Stay
The injury to Eastwood is a hammer blow. Likewise Carruthers.
Few teams of our size can cope with losing such pivotal players.
You might also argue that the injury to Nelson robbed us of a stellar centre-half.
Far from Kr being stuck in his ways he’s actually made big decisions - bombing out McMahon, Playing Baptiste, dropping dickie.
I fail to see candidates available who are as good as Kr. I also suspect we’re not a particularly attractive proposition at the moment given the off-the-field issues.
That’s not to say Kr can not improve. I think he needs to go back to basics - and fast.
Defence and attack have to be drilled, drilled, drilled. It’s mind-numbing stuff. You stand there. This is our pattern of play when we go forward. Run the channels of necessary.
Kr is possibly guilty of seeing the quality of his ‘3’ behind the striker and think they’ll create enough doing what they want. Nope.
We don’t actually create gilt-edged chances. We rely on one of those 3 to bash one in from 15 yards or more or a bit of technical brilliance. It’s why the argument over the missing striker is pretty futile. Even if we’d have got one of his top targets we’d still be misfiring because zilch is created for the ‘1’
He has to go back to basics. Boring but essential. He has to create a Siege mentality. Above all he has to finally recognise we’re in the brown stuff. All of this he did last term. And we were ok. Repeat and we stay up

Off the field issues?!

 

[gofish2]

Stay
The injury to Eastwood is a hammer blow. Likewise Carruthers.
Few teams of our size can cope with losing such pivotal players.
You might also argue that the injury to Nelson robbed us of a stellar centre-half.
Far from Kr being stuck in his ways he’s actually made big decisions - bombing out McMahon, Playing Baptiste, dropping dickie.
I fail to see candidates available who are as good as Kr. I also suspect we’re not a particularly attractive proposition at the moment given the off-the-field issues.
That’s not to say Kr can not improve. I think he needs to go back to basics - and fast.
Defence and attack have to be drilled, drilled, drilled. It’s mind-numbing stuff. You stand there. This is our pattern of play when we go forward. Run the channels of necessary.
Kr is possibly guilty of seeing the quality of his ‘3’ behind the striker and think they’ll create enough doing what they want. Nope.
We don’t actually create gilt-edged chances. We rely on one of those 3 to bash one in from 15 yards or more or a bit of technical brilliance. It’s why the argument over the missing striker is pretty futile. Even if we’d have got one of his top targets we’d still be misfiring because zilch is created for the ‘1’
He has to go back to basics. Boring but essential. He has to create a Siege mentality. Above all he has to finally recognise we’re in the brown stuff. All of this he did last term. And we were ok. Repeat and we stay up

Sorry but although I cant disagree with some of what you say factually, we need to also remember he heads a 3 man management team with DF and SD alongside. If between them they can't sort this out something is very wrong, and it's Robinson's responsibility.
9 games, 1 win 2 draws 6 losses. GD-9, 5 points from a possible 27.
Sitting 23rd . He's coming close to Pep Clotet and David Kemp territory.

 

[Scotchegg]

Sorry but although I cant disagree with some of what you say factually, we need to also remember he heads a 3 man management team with DF and SD alongside. If between them they can't sort this out something is very wrong, and it's Robinson's responsibility.
9 games, 1 win 2 draws 6 losses. GD-9, 5 points from a possible 27.
Sitting 23rd . He's coming close to Pep Clotet and David Kemp territory.

KR does head up a 3 man management team, so would we look to get rid of all 3? If so, how much would that cost us and would that have a big impact on what we could spend in January?

As Hawky says, Eastwood and Carrathurs would be a big loss to most teams in this league. We have been beaten by Barnsley, Portsmouth, Fleetwood and Wallsall - all in the top few of the League. Yes, Accrington and Coventry were poor results, but a little luck could have seen us get something from both games and things would be much brighter.

We need to knuckle down and get through this poor period both on the pitch and on the terraces. Going into panic mode helps no one.

 

[Itsthehopethatkillsyou]

Rotten luck with injuries, a first pre season/proper transfer window with a new owner who is only in the country every so often leads me to give KR the benefit of the doubt. he is still young and talks a bit too much when he should keep schtum - but hopefully he will learn, let's give him time. Press the panic button of were still bottom 3 in November (which i don't think we will be) not now

 

[Millman]

Heck I have been hoping he was going to turn things around but it is looking pretty bad at the moment. If I was Tiger I would be saying to KR you have a month to get the club into mid table. Looking at the fixtures this is very doable. If we are still in trouble near the end of October I would hope Tiger shows him the door. I also hope that Tiger has a far better idea of who to appoint next as a new manager has to be in place well before the transfer window opens.

KR can still do it though. I hope he finally swallows his pride and changes the system to something more effective. Also with returning players we may be a little better placed to perform. There is no way he should be allowed any in before Jan, in all likelihood it would be an utter waste of cash. Plus in Jan if I was Tiger I would want a serious talk with KR regarding his targets.

Moving forwards irrespective of KR staying or leaving we need to look long and hard at our recruitment. The off season was an utter shambles. My guess was we were over ambitous with our targets and did not do enough due dilligence on the managers wish list. We have too many loans in key areas and have bought the odd old player on the way down which has just never worked for us. Next time we need more experienced not too old players from our level or below added to the great young talent which we sign. This is a genuine building for the future strategy rather than the destructive rebuild each season we have seen recently.

 

[Didox]

I really dont get the comments which are saying there is no point changing the manager as they cannot bring in players until January so it will not make a difference. How many clubs have changed manager and have seen an upturn in fortunes without bringing in players? If it is the right manager of course it’s worth it. It isn’t a huge gamble to change either as it’s not as if we could be doing any worse.

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

Is there any connection with the fact that the two teams lying 23rd and 24th in League One (against their own and most other expectations) are both teams with reasonably large fan bases and both have at their helm rather arrogant self-publicists who each think they can do no wrong

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

Oh in answer to the original post, much as I would like to say go as I think he is too stubborn to change, I cannot see the point unless we already have a sensible replacement lined up waiting in the wings

 

[Notaswindonfan]

Stay or go, twist or stick, in the absence of a fourth stand, I’m sitting on the fence.

 

[Scotchegg]

I really dont get the comments which are saying there is no point changing the manager as they cannot bring in players until January so it will not make a difference. How many clubs have changed manager and have seen an upturn in fortunes without bringing in players? If it is the right manager of course it’s worth it. It isn’t a huge gamble to change either as it’s not as if we could be doing any worse.

Equally, how many times have teams changed managers with zero effect? What if we got shot of KR, DF and SD at expense of being able to bring players in during January? And who would we bring in as the new manager? In the same way people argue that out of contract players are not good enough or they'd have been snapped up, who is currently available that would guarantee immediate results?

 

[Leysboy]

Michael Appleton would be the dream ticket here, and I don’t think it would be unrealistic in him coming back. With DF still here, and CA doing well with the Youth. If Tiger can offer him a lucrative deal, and a large January transfer Budget. Then I can see it happening.

You don’t miss what you’ve got, until it’s gone. We played some amazing football with him at the helm. Fast flowing counter attacking football, and with some great young players. There is some very good young players here that he can look at and work with, but he’s a builder rather than straight in and get results immediately type of manager.

I don’t give a s**t about who did better in terms of results, and there track records. That fact is football is an entertainment business. MR Appleton made me feel entertained, and everytime I turned up to the Kassam or at an away venue. I knew I was going to get value for money. The best football I’ve seen for a long time with his leadership.

Just hope Tiger gets rid of Gobbo Robbo, and Derry, and get the club moving upwards, because I don’t see this changing anytime soon.

 

[Ian]

It's perhaps unfair and unhelpful to have a thread like this. It's hardly getting everyone behind the team.

That said, unless things drastically improve, I'll be saying "WOW" if KR is the manager come the end of November.

 

[Ox4Eva]

I am against any kneejerk reaction but he needs to change the formation FFS!

The city plastics game means nothing but a defeat at Wimbledon will maybe change things....

 

[Thehorse777]

He has to go.

A few points.

1. He’s still young - but he has been a manager at this level for a number of years now so whilst he may be young in comparison to a number of managers, he isn’t young in terms of experience in the job, his age doesn’t wash with me as a reason for poor performance or his embarrassing interviews post game

2. He said there’s nothing more he can do - in this case he should be stepping down, let alone being sacked. If this is the best he can get out of this team then they should start preparing for league 2 now.

3. Over heard yesterday Robinson saying to someone on the bench that “there’s nothing wrong out there” - if he genuinely believed that to be true then he is deluded and should be told to clear his desk immediately. If he thinks yesterday was ok then he’s not going to do any of the things most people agree are needed to make things, or atleast try to make them, improve.

4. Do the players respect him given the way he goes on at pitch side and in interviews etc? - overheard yesterday some of the squad members laughing and joking about the way he was behaving in the changing rooms prior to the game.

5. His playing record - obviously it’s non existent, and his “career” is less illustrious than my own, now that’s fine when you are winning and players are being praised but as soon as things are going wrong and you are trying to give negative feedback, it’s all too easy for a player to say/think that they know better. “He’s never even played”

6. Is there anything in our games that suggests a turn in form is imminent and the losses will suddenly get turned into wins? Not that I’ve seen, there are glimpses of quality but these don’t win you games. We currently don’t really look like scoring and always look like conceding.

Everyone knows the hardest thing to do in football is score goals, so whilst we aren’t doing that it is imperative that we do not concede as easily as we do.

He has to stop the goals going in and stop us losing games, that is more important than how “attractive” the display is.

 

[Didox]

Equally, how many times have teams changed managers with zero effect? What if we got shot of KR, DF and SD at expense of being able to bring players in during January? And who would we bring in as the new manager? In the same way people argue that out of contract players are not good enough or they'd have been snapped up, who is currently available that would guarantee immediate results?

Come on you know his name. He likes tattoos and working out

 

[Scotchegg]

Michael Appleton would be the dream ticket here, and I don’t think it would be unrealistic in him coming back. With DF still here, and CA doing well with the Youth. If Tiger can offer him a lucrative deal, and a large January transfer Budget. Then I can see it happening.

You don’t miss what you’ve got, until it’s gone. We played some amazing football with him at the helm. Fast flowing counter attacking football, and with some great young players. There is some very good young players here that he can look at and work with, but he’s a builder rather than straight in and get results immediately type of manager.

I don’t give a s**t about who did better in terms of results, and there track records. That fact is football is an entertainment business. MR Appleton made me feel entertained, and everytime I turned up to the Kassam or at an away venue. I knew I was going to get value for money. The best football I’ve seen for a long time with his leadership.

Just hope Tiger gets rid of Gobbo Robbo, and Derry, and get the club moving upwards, because I don’t see this changing anytime soon.

Let's be honest, there was a bit of a mixed bag with Appleton (and this is coming from one of the few who argued for him to stay when others were calling for his head. His first 6 months were fairly ordinary, and if it wasn't for Hylton's goals we could have dropped out of the league. Once he got a settled team (with one of the highest budgets in the league) we played some great football. However, first season in league 1 and we were a bit hit and miss again and it was only a few wins at the end of the season that gave us a better than expected final position.

So yes, MApp was good. But he was given time and a budget to succeed. KR could do the same if given the same.

 

[Thehorse777]

Yes, Robinson could still succeed if given time, but he also may not.

All anyone can do at this stage is make a calculated decision on whether they see enough to suggest that things will get better, I haven’t.

I was also someone who argued for Appleton to be given more time so I’m not someone who’s first thought is to sack the manager, I’m a big believer in the players being accountable too, but I can’t see things improving enough to get enough points to be safe under the current management.

Of course we could make a change and not get any better but surely it makes sense to try and get things right and give yourselves a chance of staying up rather than meekly dropping out of the division with the current level of performance

 

[Witney Wag]

KRs league record to date makes dismal reading P18 W4 D4 L10. He has to improve very quickly or he will be out.

 

[guyellow]

I really dont get the comments which are saying there is no point changing the manager as they cannot bring in players until January so it will not make a difference. How many clubs have changed manager and have seen an upturn in fortunes without bringing in players? If it is the right manager of course it’s worth it. It isn’t a huge gamble to change either as it’s not as if we could be doing any worse.

Whilst I don't think it is time to sack KR yet, I do agree with your point. We should be getting much better results with the players we have. The gaffer needs to motivate and strategise to do this. Teams that do well perform better than the sum of the individuals, we are performing well below the individuals abilities. Good management changes this.

 

[Didox]

Whilst I don't think it is time to sack KR yet, I do agree with your point. We should be getting much better results with the players we have. The gaffer needs to motivate and strategise to do this. Teams that do well perform better than the sum of the individuals, we are performing well below the individuals abilities. Good management changes this.

Out of the 5 Home league games we have played we have lost 4 and for 3 of those we have been 1 or 2 goals behind for long periods without looking like getting back into it. That’s is what is so demoralising.

 

[Northstandboy]

Pep Clotet's OUFC win record (over 33 games) was 33.3% vs KR's (22 games) is 31.8%.

KR has managed slightly less games in total but allegedly "knows the league" and had time to assess the players before having a full pre-season to assemble a capable squad. The Catalan didn't have this luxury.

Not sure I would pull the trigger just yet but my chamber is loaded...

What was Peps record for his first 22 game?

 

[yellowbow]

I don’t like to see any manager getting sacked and it can’t be denied that KR is working extremely hard and does seem to have genuine affection for the club (if not the stadium) but we really are getting to a time when I feel we’re in real danger of relegation trouble. Sliding back down to league 2 would be gut wrenching and something I don’t even want to think about. Add to that the fact that Robinson seems to genuinely believe there’s nothing wrong that a touch of ‘change of luck’ won’t solve and I’m really beginning to lean towards a change of leader. Someone with fresh ideas who can give the existing players a boost with a different approach and different tactics. I want to be wrong but sometimes things just don’t work out for a manager at a club.

As I’ve said before though, I believe Robinson has the safest job in football in a roll of ‘football adivisor to the chairman’ as much as anything else.