Transfer News Transfer targets summer 2019

[Mad Dog]

I keep hearing how we're not following the Lundstram/Ledson method of getting young players from PL academies.

Berkoe came through the Chelsea system, Elechie came from United.

We're following the same method, we're just starting earlier and saving a bit of money while doing so.

If I recall correctly, Berkoe is only on a one year contract, so there's a good chance, this season we'll turn him into a senior pro, then he'll b****r of to a bigger club.

It's one thing bringing in youth, nurturing them to become full senior pro's and then, eventually, selling them on for a profit, but another thing entirely, when they b****r off after one season, as Whyte looks likely to do, and if Berkoe decides to the same, then its simply not a system that works anymore, certainly not in the effective way it did under Mapp, when players came here, and committed to the club on long term contracts, and stayed for most of, if not all of that contract, but when they b****r off at the first opportunity, you have to ask yourself, why?

I've tried to be patient, and to not get too negative or worked up about things, but it's becoming clear that there's something fundamentally wrong with how this current regime approaches absolutely everything, be it scouting, identifying targets, transfers, contracts, wages, tax, general communication, I could go on...

As I've said before, there have been positives, but far too few and far between.

I also feel I should add, as much as I've tried to give KR the benefit of the doubt, and do feel sorry for the guy, as he does seem to be dealing with a board full of morons, he himself has to take responsibility for the fact that when money has been made available to him, he has then gone out and built the most unbalanced squad of players that I've ever known us have in all my 35 years supporting OUFC, and he's done it twice, 2 seasons running, and thats simply not good enough, and although he claims to be a very experienced manager, personally I think he's been pretty naive to build 2 squads, 2 seasons running, overloaded with midfielders and wingers, and barley any specialist defenders or strikers.

I hope to God he and the board prove me wrong, and if they do, I will HAPPILY eat a huge slice of humble pie, but I'm afraid with the way things have gone with this regime, from day one, I am not holding out much hope.

 

[Davox]

Or maybe it’s a good soundbite to say we matched the offer!
If we are able to match the wages offer by boro then the lack of players coming in is a mystery to me !

I don’t think our 3 sided ground helps!

 

[Deleted member 142]

Just watched the latest KR interview on iFollow.

The look Karl flashes at Chris Williams when Williams, during the segment where transfers are being discussed, tells him that he’s cutting it very fine. Ouch.

 

[Ctophe]

that is the look of a man who is seriously fed up and frustrated!

 

[FatOldSun]

But surely Marcus Browne is the type of player we should be going for and was someone we had a reasonable chance of getting (terms agreed with Hammers, the player amenable, etc.). What's the point of aiming for the Steve Smith type of player, even if it's more "realistic"?

A player like that would only sandpaper over the cracks.

 

[greatunclekip]

Just watched the latest KR interview on iFollow.

The look Karl flashes at Chris Williams when Williams, during the segment where transfers are being discussed, tells him that he’s cutting it very fine. Ouch.

All good! Scotchegg assures us!

 

[Deleted member 142]

Boro have announced Marcus Browne. Good luck to him.

 

[Oxford84]

Boro have announced Marcus Browne. Good luck to him.

Bet he sits on the bench all season!

 

[Big Ronaldo]

You know, I could accept us selling Gavin Whyte for a paltry 2 million pounds if I was told that the club desperately needed the money.
Despite the fact that we were told we didn’t need to sell, I would just be content that our club was doing its level best to try to get a grip on the burgeoning debt.
But we are told another story that is at odds with all that.
We have money to buy, not just loan quality and it has been said that we don’t need to sell.
We, by all accounts are trying to add quality to our talented group, so, if whyte is sold for a knockdown price, where is the truth about the finances? Are we paying off or acquiring more debt?

I shudder at the thought of us ending up like Bury and Bolton, but year on year, our losses grow.
There is a point where serious decisions will need to be made, but, as a fan, I wish that the club were a little more transparent in their aims and plans going forward.
Dreams of promotion and championship football are great and I am as keen as anyone on here for us to plug the gaps in our talented side, but only if it can be viably achieved.
if we really don’t have a pot to P**s in, then I would rather that the club didn’t pretend that we are able to spend out of pocket to bring in expensive players and just act accordingly and sensibly.
I realise of course that this may mean another tough season, but better that than runaway debt.
However you look at it, we are obviously not financially sound, so we have to deal with the consequences, whatever that may bring.?

 

[bazzer9461]

Also ensures the club survives year after year.

That’s true but unless we have a couple of decent seasons where we gain promotion to the championship we will by selling every year to survive to the level that has been spoken off, in which case that will mean we will always linger in L1/2 and if that is what owners want then that’s a poor showing.
Then also why will we be ? my for
Our own ground yes that means more
Revenue but not
Much cop if you are in the depths of the football league then we will not attract the players that can help us get to the Championship.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

So if you say you’re getting a bit worried / fed up by us not signing anybody when we’ve got a thin squad, you’re told to shut up because you don’t know what other people know. Then when what other people say they know doesn’t happen, meaning we are still exactly where we were before we wasted all that time, you’re supposed to say nothing while the people who told you to shut up clap their hands and go “Oooooohhh, unlucky!” Despite the fact they’ve got nothing right and you’re still sat there sweating.

Okay.

 

[Deleted member 142]

So if you say you’re getting a bit worried / fed up by us not signing anybody when we’ve got a thin squad, you’re told to shut up because you don’t know what other people know. Then when what other people say they know doesn’t happen, meaning we are still exactly where we were before we wasted all that time, you’re supposed to say nothing while the people who told you to shut up clap their hands and go “Oooooohhh, unlucky!” Despite the fact they’ve got nothing right and you’re still sat there sweating.

Okay.

Gotcha!

 

[werthersoriginal]

So if you say you’re getting a bit worried / fed up by us not signing anybody when we’ve got a thin squad, you’re told to shut up because you don’t know what other people know. Then when what other people say they know doesn’t happen, meaning we are still exactly where we were before we wasted all that time, you’re supposed to say nothing while the people who told you to shut up clap their hands and go “Oooooohhh, unlucky!” Despite the fact they’ve got nothing right and you’re still sat there sweating.

Okay.

Actually I’m confused. I wish some of the itk people would know something good.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Actually I’m confused. I wish some of the itk people would know something good.

You mean you wish they were better at guesswork ?

 

[yellowbow]

Boro have announced Marcus Browne. Good luck to him.

Announced on loan to us tomorrow..?

 

[Mad Dog]

Announced on loan to us tomorrow..?

yeah, probably until January?

 

[West Oxon U’s]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1154499404113567744

Thanks for the memories Marcus.

 

[horseman]

Announced on loan to us tomorrow..?

Yeah let's just make a list each year then let any other club buy them and we'll kiss their a*s and help pay for the wages, help train them and then let the fuc*ers reap the benefit by taking em back when they want.

I keep saying it but it's stuff like that was a major factor in us struggling for 2 seasons and if you're happy to keep watching our club being used and just a glorified feeder club then keep buying them tickets and the Owners whoever they are will never change anything

 

[beyondthefourth]

I have to say, despite my protestations, today has been a bit of a turning point for me, optimism wise.

However, I still feel there are more than enough playoff-quality targets out there for us to add to the squad.

 

[Shosho]

I have to say, despite my protestations, today has been a bit of a turning point for me, optimism wise.

However, I still feel there are more than enough playoff-quality targets out there for us to add to the squad.

Have to agree...however would you be confident of us getting those players over the line? We should be an attractive club to join
- close to london
- play youth
- have a history of giving young players minutes and them moving up the leagues
- KR is a well regarded coach
- play decent football in front of some reasonable crowds

I could withstand a slow trickle of signings coming in if we held on to our assets...being close to Browne joining and now news of Whyte on the way out has left us with 6/7 players to bring in