Our window business

[coppiceman]

Yep agree with most of that

Central midfield a major worry we really aren't strong enough in that position

Should have really pushed the boat out for Brannagan, he's quality and would have been a key player

All in all I'm a bit disappointed with the window

It's perfectly OK to be "a bit disappointed" I suppose, if you have a wider context to put it in. You don't.

In fact, I don't remember you expressing disappointment in the many Oyston-led transfer windows ,that were depressing and farcical by comparison. I can only think it didn't suit your agenda then, or that you just weren't around.

 

[voyeur]

Brannigan is under contract to Oxford for 2 years. They have some very, very rich board members, so they are not skint. If he does go it will be to an established championship club.

Like Blackpool.

 

[voyeur]

Bowler will score goals but I’m really not sure JJ will get many… he still looks lightweight but tbf is young enough to improve that part of his game… I don’t understand people thinking Madine will just walk back in… I think it will take him weeks to get fit and of all the signings we have made his makes the least sense given his injury and wages he is reputedly on… we still need two good loans a ball playing midfielder who can chip in with goals and a free scoring centre forward but I guess those are the loans everyone is looking for

I think TJJ will likely score more than Bowler tbh. I wouldn't call him lightweight either, he's pretty strong on the ball. Madine, I agree.

 

[GrumpyGit]

Like Blackpool.

Snort.

Established… having existed or done something for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted.

 

[Bob Hatton]

Snort.

Established… having existed or done something for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted.

List of EFL Championship clubs - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Blackpool are listed - strange cant seem to find Oxford - have you ever played in the championship - snort

 

[voyeur]

Snort.

Established… having existed or done something for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted.

Do think before you snort.

I hear your point, behind the hubris that makes you look a bit of a cocky dick tbh, but in many respects we are an established tier 2 side that has gone through a period of shock with the owners ripping us off and a period of several years when the fans boycotted and we fell into tier 3. We have come back stronger. We got promoted in our new manager's first season. We ended the season very strongly, too strong for the division, much too good for Robinson. Our coach was too good for league one, and is one of the best in the Championship. We will make strides this season as we did last season. Brannagan learnt his trade under this very coach, at Liverpool.

 

[BFC_BFC_BFC]

It's perfectly OK to be "a bit disappointed" I suppose, if you have a wider context to put it in. You don't.

In fact, I don't remember you expressing disappointment in the many Oyston-led transfer windows ,that were depressing and farcical by comparison. I can only think it didn't suit your agenda then, or that you just weren't around.

Another one who seemingly “can’t get them out of his head”.

Comparisons with the utter shyte that we had to deal with under the Oyston tenure are all a bit silly and pointless… Move On!!

If we continue to view everything through such a ridiculous prism (i.e. the World as it is vs the obscure World as it might have been under Oyston) then how are we ever going to be objective ?

It seems to me that being “a bit disappointed” in relation to the Oyston running of the club was pretty futile..

I’m not sure I see anything in Phil’s assessment that particularly needed digging out in the way you have…Why are you incapable of offering any kind of objective discussion / debate beyond the pettiness and personal attacks?

 

[1966_and_all_that]

All in all I'm a bit disappointed with the window

Do bears store loo roles in wooded areas?

 

[TangerineBayern]

Some on here seem to forget the quality ( sic) of transfer window signings under the Oystons ( that’s assuming of course we did anyin the first instance).
This was always going to be a tough season but I believe we have assembled a squad capable of getting enough points on the board and entertaining us at the same time.Fingers crossed that I turn out to be right.

They wanted £1.5M from what I hear, personally I think that is reasonable value for his age and form over the last 2 and a bit seasons. Wintle is a very similar type of player, box to box, high energy, if we can get Stewart and Dougall fully fit I'm not 100% sure who would drop out, given how Stewart and Dougall completely dominated Oxford's midfield in all 4 games last season?

And let’s not forget Sonny Carey, he’s box to box, skillful and bags of energy

 

[voyeur]

Do bears store loo roles in wooded areas?

No.

 

[GrumpyGit]

List of EFL Championship clubs - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Blackpool are listed - strange cant seem to find Oxford - have you ever played in the championship - snort

Yeovil are listed too

 

[voyeur]

Another one who seemingly “can’t get them out of his head”.

Comparisons with the utter shyte that we had to deal with under the Oyston tenure are all a bit silly and pointless… Move On!!

If we continue to view everything through such a ridiculous prism (i.e. the World as it is vs the obscure World as it might have been under Oyston) then how are we ever going to be objective ?

It seems to me that being “a bit disappointed” in relation to the Oyston running of the club was pretty futile..

I’m not sure I see anything in Phil’s assessment that particularly needed digging out in the way you have…Why are you incapable of offering any kind of objective discussion / debate beyond the pettiness and personal attacks?

I do think Phil suffers from a lack of objectivity and people get tired of it and it provokes this kind of response, understandably. I agree that the Oystons are history and it's not objective to compare with them either, we should discuss the hear and now and what might or might not be possible.

 

[coppiceman]

Another one who seemingly “can’t get them out of his head”.

Comparisons with the utter shyte that we had to deal with under the Oyston tenure are all a bit silly and pointless… Move On!!

If we continue to view everything through such a ridiculous prism (i.e. the World as it is vs the obscure World as it might have been under Oyston) then how are we ever going to be objective ?

It seems to me that being “a bit disappointed” in relation to the Oyston running of the club was pretty futile..

I’m not sure I see anything in Phil’s assessment that particularly needed digging out in the way you have…Why are you incapable of offering any kind of objective discussion / debate beyond the pettiness and personal attacks?

I should have phrased it better, for which I apologise.

I agree with you that comparison with 'them" doesn't necessarily mean much. But reasonable adults do contextualise things when forming an opinion, don't they? I feel that most reasonable adults would view this as a very pro-active window - we have strengthened the squad, brought in some young and promising players and given the manager more options than he had before. I would therefore say it was an 8/10 effort, and I think more people would agree with me than not. Feel free to differ if you like.

As to personal attacks - well, he sets himself up for it and I suspect he enjoys it. There is a constant theme to what he says - he's very, very keen on investment when someone else (Sadler) is paying for it. And whatever is done is never enough, despite all the recent success.

 

[tangysider]

Snort?! FFS.

I hear your point, behind the hubris that makes you look a bit of a dick tbh, but in many respects we are an established tier 2 side that has gone through a period of shock with the owners ripping us off and a period of several years when the fans boycotted and we fell into tier 3. We have come back stronger. We got promoted in our new manager's first season. We ended the season very strongly, too strong for the division, much too good for Robinson. Our coach was too good for league one, and is one of the best in the Championship. We will make strides this season as we did last season. Brannagan learnt his trade under this very coach, at Liverpool.

I think it is 62 and counting second persona

 

[1966_and_all_that]

Must admit, I'm quite sanguine about our chances after this window. I've read all of the posts on this thread and, whilst I appreciate that some people really look quite deeply into the ifs, buts and maybes, I just want to see what happens. It's a fourteen man game nowadays and Critch has said that he wants quality cover across every position. Fulham will be a tester which will provide some idea as to how it's all going to work.

 

[Bob Hatton]

Yeovil are listed too

But no Oxford?? So even Yeovil are bigger than you PMSL

 

[BFC_BFC_BFC]

I should have phrased it better, for which I apologise.

I agree with you that comparison with 'them" doesn't necessarily mean much. But reasonable adults do contextualise things when forming an opinion, don't they? I feel that most reasonable adults would view this as a very pro-active window - we have strengthened the squad, brought in some young and promising players and given the manager more options than he had before. I would therefore say it was an 8/10 effort, and I think more people would agree with me than not. Feel free to differ if you like.

As to personal attacks - well, he sets himself up for it and I suspect he enjoys it. There is a constant theme to what he says - he's very, very keen on investment when someone else (Sadler) is paying for it. And whatever is done is never enough, despite all the recent success.

As far as I can see, Phil offers his opinion amd he backs that up with a valid and perfectly reasonable assessment of the squad, our style of play and an understanding of the game and our performances as he sees it.

I may not always agree with him, in fact I often don’t, but he’s consistent and offers up his rationale.

You, by comparison seem to be under some kind of weird delusion that anyone who doesn’t share your own view must have some kind of agenda.

Why not instead challenge Phil’s position with your own assessment of the squad, put forward your rationale and simply dispute the point as opposed to simply trying to invalidate what he says with stuff that has no particular relevance at all?

 

[coppiceman]

Why not instead challenge Phil’s position with your own assessment of the squad, put forward your rationale and simply dispute the point as opposed to simply trying to invalidate what he says with stuff that has no particular relevance at all?

I just did. I spoke about fluidity of formation yesterday arising out of Sterling and Gabriel coming in as well, for example.

You're very good at only seeing what you want to - aren't you? I'm sure I'm not the only person who has noticed that Phil criticises everything and everyone and has glib answers for all the complex problems there are in running a successful club.

I understand that your posting style is to provoke a reaction, and you're actually a lot more skilful at it than he is. I enjoy reading a lot of your stuff. But pretending black is white to start an argument is a bit silly.

 

[Ping Pong]

Can we not push Kenny further forward as our creative midfielder??

 

[seasiderjohn]

Couple of things to add.
Sterling is being seen by us as a RB but has played at CB in pre-season for Chelsea. I wonder if Critch might play him there.
We've got 3 LBS with Hubby.
I think we have enough in defensive mid-field, don't forget Wintle.
Attacking mid-field is the weakness in my mind but Dale' if he's signed might add something.
I would have liked Brannagan though.

thought jerry did a great job when dropping back into midfield agaist millwall

 

[seasiderjohn]

think carey could flourish given a little time

 

[Rektseasider]

I’m not being contrary for the sake of it, but it seems to me we’re loaded in midfield.

Realistically and across both central and wide areas we have Anderson, Dougall, Mitchell, Bowler, Wintle, Hamilton, Stewart and now Dale. That’s 8 players for 4 positions on the pitch - the ideal formula of two players for every position. Plus a couple of young guns in Carey and Antwi with Ward and Virtue to come back at some point

It seemed to me to be an either or between Brannagan or Dale and we managed to get Dale over the line.

Not sure I follow the line that we’ve not particularly strengthened in midfield or we’re still a little lacking. We’ve got options, many of which were brought in during this window. it’s now up to the management to get the best out of them, find a formation which fits best and get us playing some decent stuff.

In answer to the OP, it’s been a pretty successful window in addressing most needs - ideally I’d have liked a new striker in over giving Madine a new contract now I think about it, but generally we seem to have what we need. Whether the players are actually any good remains to be seen and we’ll only fully know that in about a years time.

 

[ste]

Sterling has played CB in pre-season.

Maybe this could allow Sterling and Gabriel to play together?

 

[Wizaard]

Four games in which the

We certainly didn't dominate the Oxford midfield

Brannagan didn't play in the first league game as he was injured

Without checking i think they had more possession than us in all 4 games

Slightly more possession, but we had more shots, and more crucially, won 2 away and drew 2 at home.

 

[BFC_BFC_BFC]

I just did. I spoke about fluidity of formation yesterday arising out of Sterling and Gabriel coming in as well, for example.

You're very good at only seeing what you want to - aren't you? I'm sure I'm not the only person who has noticed that Phil criticises everything and everyone and has glib answers for all the complex problems there are in running a successful club.

I understand that your posting style is to provoke a reaction, and you're actually a lot more skilful at it than he is. I enjoy reading a lot of your stuff. But pretending black is white to start an argument is a bit silly.

I think you are totally misrepresenting where Phil is coming from. Like myself, he’s done with the Oystons and he’s focused on how we can move on and be as successful as we possibly can be.

We’re all well aware that there are limitations and that transfer dealings are nor straightforward and that Mr Sadler is committed and a great owner, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t strive for more…

On this, I tend to agree with Phil that I’d have liked to have seen one or two more additions, but I can still be a bit disappointed and remain pragmatic.

 

[coppiceman]

I think you are totally misrepresenting where Phil is coming from. Like myself, he’s done with the Oystons and he’s focused on how we can move on and be as successful as we possibly can be.

We’re all well aware that there are limitations and that transfer dealings are nor straightforward and that Mr Sadler is committed and a great owner, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t strive for more…

On this, I tend to agree with Phil that I’d have liked to have seen one or two more additions, but I can still be a bit disappointed and remain pragmatic.

OK, maybe we should agree to differ on some things.

I agree with you to the extent that I'm disappointed we missed out on the lad from Oxford. But we still maybe have one spot left for someone who is out of contract and I expect that is the way we will go. We did it last season to very good effect, didn't we?

I think the odds are stacked against us in lots of ways, we saw how the teams who came up from L1 last year fared and I don't expect we will have it any easier. This window has given us a decent chance to compete and I don't think it was realistic to expect much more.

 

[Abel]

I think it's been a decent window. Could have been better, could have been worse.

We got a lot of business done early, adding depth to the squad without necessarily improving the first XI. As such, we started the season with a few weak links (caused, in part, by injuries too). Certainly not ideal and I can understand the frustration with that, even if some flapped about it far too much.

The two right backs signed yesterday suddenly transform the position from a real weakness to a strength and it will be interesting to see who gets the nod there going forward. Crucially, both are attacking players and have bags of pace; this is key to how we seem to want to set up tactically.

The Dale signing is intriguing. He really kicked on last season and ticks a lot of boxes; will he come in straight away and if so, where does that leave CJ Hamilton going forward? He was a big player for us out of the traps last season but is clearly low on confidence at the moment and seemingly slipping down the pecking order.

Obviously the club made multiple bids for Brannagan and others, with a technical central midfielder who can either play behind the front man or deeper seemingly becoming a priority after Ward's injury (and even after Wintle arrived). I suspect this will be revisited in January, especially with us having one free squad spot. The fact that the club were willing to spend good money on this position at short notice should reassure people that the money is there to spend if the price is right.

We missed out on others too, and whilst I've no doubt NC will be happy with yesterday's business, he'll probably be ruing the ones that got away - particularly in the attacking third. Hopefully the club will reflect on what they've done well in a tough window, but also reflect on where they need to improve going into January.

One area of concern is the inability to shift our 'dead wood'. We're not going to get every deal right (who does?), but we do have a number of players who are, for want of a better word, useless to us: we don't want them and they won't be playing for us, and seemingly no one else wants them either. They are a drain on resource at a time when so many areas of the club require investment. From what I understand there's a lot more due diligence going into signings now, but we can't keep churning through players like Peterborough do.

 

[Wizaard]

Lukaku, Messi and Ronaldo all moved in this window and we were never linked at any point. You've got to be disappointed with the lack of ambition.

 

[Phil_bfc deux]

It's perfectly OK to be "a bit disappointed" I suppose, if you have a wider context to put it in. You don't.

In fact, I don't remember you expressing disappointment in the many Oyston-led transfer windows ,that were depressing and farcical by comparison. I can only think it didn't suit your agenda then, or that you just weren't around.

Is that some of joke or were you not paying attention?

 

[BFC_BFC_BFC]

OK, maybe we should agree to differ on some things.

I agree with you to the extent that I'm disappointed we missed out on the lad from Oxford. But we still maybe have one spot left for someone who is out of contract and I expect that is the way we will go. We did it last season to very good effect, didn't we?

I think the odds are stacked against us in lots of ways, we saw how the teams who came up from L1 last year fared and I don't expect we will have it any easier. This window has given us a decent chance to compete and I don't think it was realistic to expect much more.

I said on another thread that I thought it would take a couple of windows (at least) before we get to where we feel we have a squad that can genuinely compete at this level.

I think we’ve done enough in this window to give us a fighting chance.

 

[coppiceman]

Is that some of joke or were you not paying attention?

I know you weren't fond of them. But I do think you've got more vocal in the last couple of years and it seems a bit odd. Most people cut the new owner some slack, and you don't seem to want to. Just an impression.

 

[clappers]

we do have a number of players who are, for want of a better word, useless to us: we don't want them and they won't be playing for us, and seemingly no one else wants them either. They are a drain on resource at a time when so many areas of the club require investment. From what I understand there's a lot more due diligence going into signings now, but we can't keep churning through players like Peterborough do.

We got a bit carried away with the youth prospects stuff offering out longer term deals…always a risk that if they don’t come good you are totally lumbered with them. Don’t think their wages will be a massive drain but a drain none the less.

we’ve actually doubled down with that offering four year deals how, so we have to hope things turn out good.

 

[tangysider]

Can we not push Kenny further forward as our creative midfielder??

Keshi and Carey already options

 

[FLATBACKFOR]

The only area I see we could be vulnerable is the front positions, an injury to Yates or Lavery shows we
have no replacement, this has been pointed out on here many times.

 

[BFC_BFC_BFC]

I know you weren't fond of them. But I do think you've got more vocal in the last couple of years and it seems a bit odd. Most people cut the new owner some slack, and you don't seem to want to. Just an impression.

Just to counter that, I read posts on here yesterday talking about statues in honour of the new owner, because we had brought in a couple of loan signings and Gabriel….so this idea of perspective definitely works both ways….

Personally I like the fact that Phil don’t s just focused on the football and doesn’t feel the need to frame or temper his opinions with the context of the whole ‘new owner’ thing.

 

[Phil_bfc deux]

I know you weren't fond of them. But I do think you've got more vocal in the last couple of years and it seems a bit odd. Most people cut the new owner some slack, and you don't seem to want to. Just an impression.

I certainly haven't become 'more vocal'

I just want the club to be the best that it can be and on the whole I'm pleased with the job the new owner is doing

However that doesn't mean i can't still be critical if i feel the need to be and has nothing to go with cutting people slack in what's a results business

As for the Oystons i really don't get why they are brought up all the time when discussing Simon Sadler especially as very few people were critical of the Oystons during the Premier league season

I could probably name the posters who still post on this site on one hand

 

[Towerpower99]

Decent window.....improved the squad....hopefully should be a competitive championship team..... think that covers it.