Where do we go from here?

Given the horror stories recently reported from Birmingham, Bolton and Blackburn, it is hard to see how a club like Oxford could compete in the Championship. These clubs each spent £30 - £50M a year on wages and transfers. Now it is clear that some of this was just a case of paying inflated prices for ordinary players, but the fact remains that it is hard to see how we could responsibly afford a 'competitive' playing budget in these circumstances. The impact of inflated parachute payments and a few clubs which have seen enormous investment to secure a PL place (e.g. Wolves) means that it is very hard to see a current L1 club with a 6 - 10k fan base thriving in the Championship. Is the best we could hope for a couple of seasons battling against relegation, like Burton, or even Rotherham?
 
oldabingdonian said:
Given the horror stories recently reported from Birmingham, Bolton and Blackburn, it is hard to see how a club like Oxford could compete in the Championship. These clubs each spent £30 - £50M a year on wages and transfers. Now it is clear that some of this was just a case of paying inflated prices for ordinary players, but the fact remains that it is hard to see how we could responsibly afford a 'competitive' playing budget in these circumstances. The impact of inflated parachute payments and a few clubs which have seen enormous investment to secure a PL place (e.g. Wolves) means that it is very hard to see a current L1 club with a 6 - 10k fan base thriving in the Championship. Is the best we could hope for a couple of seasons battling against relegation, like Burton, or even Rotherham?
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.... alternatively another option than chucking away money is to have a productive academy that is nurturing young local talent and brings the players on through U18 & U23 squads to the first team? ;)
 
But what are we suggesting here?
Are we saying that we should not attempt to play our way to the top? Be the best?
Because if you are saying that then the only way is down.
We have to push as hard as we can without losing sight of the finances.
It can be done but you need the right structure put in place. To shy away from promotion will see us ultimately slither back to god knows where.
No, promotion to the Championship HAS to be our aim. Otherwise what’s the point?
 
PC said:
Incredibly fortunate that neither CB has been injured or carded out. Miraculous that the whole back 4 has been together unscathed (although it's not that long that Acting Manager found Long down the back of the sofa).
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spoke too soon. Dickie maybe out for Saturday
 
This game VS Wycombe is our cup final we win we stay up we are going up say we are going up
 
Big Ronaldo said:
But what are we suggesting here?
Are we saying that we should not attempt to play our way to the top? Be the best?
Click to expand...
I am not saying this, because as a fan, there is no point if we don't try to get to the top. I would love to believe that a young team, with a good complement of home-grown players, could succeed, but I'm sure others have thought similarly. However, the depressing financial backdrop does make one think about how far a sense of a fair sporting ethos has been lost, and how skilful the board (as well as the players!) need to be.
 
Sarge said:
.... alternatively another option than chucking away money is to have a productive academy that is nurturing young local talent and brings the players on through U18 & U23 squads to the first team? ;)
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Brentford is the model we should be closely looking at. They’re proving that you don’t necessarily have to throw multi-millions at it to hold your own in the championship. (Unless I’ve missed something and they’re also a ticking time bomb)
 
oldabingdonian said:
However, the depressing financial backdrop does make one think about how far a sense of a fair sporting ethos has been lost, and how skilful the board (as well as the players!) need to be.
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Wonder if The Tigster will make use of Erick's hologrammic capabilities - Indonesia’s president has started beaming a hologram of himself to reach voters in key battleground provinces as he shuttles around the south-east Asian archipelago ahead of national polls.

The whole Indonesia thing could just be a dry-run for OUFC!
 
oldabingdonian said:
Given the horror stories recently reported from Birmingham, Bolton and Blackburn, it is hard to see how a club like Oxford could compete in the Championship. These clubs each spent £30 - £50M a year on wages and transfers. Now it is clear that some of this was just a case of paying inflated prices for ordinary players, but the fact remains that it is hard to see how we could responsibly afford a 'competitive' playing budget in these circumstances. The impact of inflated parachute payments and a few clubs which have seen enormous investment to secure a PL place (e.g. Wolves) means that it is very hard to see a current L1 club with a 6 - 10k fan base thriving in the Championship. Is the best we could hope for a couple of seasons battling against relegation, like Burton, or even Rotherham?
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Fair point. Perhaps we could do what responsible newly-promoted Premiership clubs do and see a first season in the championship as a lucrative 'gimme'. Keep the bulk of the squad, not splash out on new players with high wages, all with the acknowledgement / expectation that relegation at the end of the season is essentially guaranteed. It wouldn't be much fun for us as fans, but the revenue generated from the greater crowds, TV revenue and prize money come season's end could put us in a strong financial position going forward. It is obviously a mistake to think we could compete in our current state, and shelling out a ton of money (see Fulham this year) to try and stay up would cripple us.
 
PC said:
B*****s, sorry. "Wycombe have the highest number of balls into the opposition boxes from crosses and set pieces and are in the top three for challenges won so we know what we are up against." - Acting Manager. @Shosho - is this correct?
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Well Mr PC.

Im not entirely sure the package Oxford use however crossing wise oxford and Wycombe are similar, I only know if these crosses are into the 6 yard box, Oxford rank 9th, Wycombe 21st (they do however cross mostly from the right with McCarthy). They're 5th in the league for headed attempts (89), scoring 7...so whilst they chuck the ball in the box a lot they aren't particularly effective (Oxford have scored 10!). Overall Wycombe rank 5th for aerial duels and have the lowest amount of possession in the league...so that probably tells us all we need about their style of play.

In Curtis Thompson they have someone who gets through a lot of defensive work.
Im am unsure about the challenges won...however we all know how Wycombe teams traditionally play. After seeing some Wycombe highlights they wont enjoy players carrying the ball (Oxford one of the best in the league) so expect plenty of cynical fouls.
 
I would agree that Brentford are a good model to try to emulate. Bournemouth even more so of course. They even have only three permanent stands!
 
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