Midson and Clist off?

[Hog]

Possibly, but examples please.

Futcher most obviously Wotton Grant Green F. Chalmers Kelly ...

Hargreaves?

[Ancient Colin]

The last two posters have it right: it might be true to say that Wilder's success rate might have been better, but it's crucial that he admits his mistakes. And to be fair, some of the 'failures' cited above were signed as short-term cover (Futcher) or to see out the season - I think that Wilder had very little expectation of signing Grant or Chalmers permanently.

It's also presumably true that a manager is more likely to find one of those real rough diamonds if he is prepared to take a risk on an odd-looking rock and chuck it back if it proves to be useless.

Grant and FGreen weren't just brought in as cover: they were bought in to replace Midson and MGreen and he kept playing them even though it was pretty bloody obvious they weren't as good. Futcher was bought in because Wilder didn't rate Creighton, it wasn't as cover, he started him.

I think the problem I have with Wilder is that when he sets himself against a player, his mind his made up and that's it ... Midson's return at first seemed to go against that but his treatment and now departure says otherwise. Clist seems a similar sort of decision, if the word on his departure is true. At this stage in the season, is it really the case that he is worse than Hall, Heslop and Payne? Is it really wise to let a genuine left footed player (who can cover at fullback in matches) go when we are only a few points off the playoffs?

As far as the keep searching and we'll find good 'uns argument: (a) if it is so uncertain a process, what does that say about Wilder's selection skills and scouting networks (b) that's a bloody expensive and unreliable way to build a team.

[OUFanatic]

Id say CW's transfer and loan policy has a success rate of 50% at best. .....but firstly you would need to define success...If its promotion from the conference and top half or League 2 then we are there.

Stevenage would be an interesting comparison because they are having a similar season to us, got promoted with us and spent the previous 3 seasons in the conference like us.

Yesterday they had 7 players who consistently featured last term in their side, we had 5 who played at Wembley.

What is interesting is that they have kept the same back four consistently that they had last term and have the best defensive record in the League, also like last BSP season. We will never have this if Wilder continues to tinker with his defence like he has done.

[Old Abingdonian]

Colin: sorry, I should have said 'stop-gap', not 'cover'. I agree, I get the impression that CW expected to keep Franny Green.

The Stevenage point is a good one, too. However, I would say that our squad has the potential to do better than theirs, it's just that Westley (to his credit) is getting every ounce out of the squad he has.

It's also worth pointing out that Stevenage beat us without Laird and Ashton, two of the first choice back four - so you could argue that it's the Stevenage (simple) system which is reliable, not the same personnel.

[witney dave]

Just heard through the powers of Twitter that Midson posted a goodbye to the fans today. He's off to Barnet. Also mentioned that Clist has gone too? And that there'd be more players leaving/arriving in the coming week.
Nothing official on this from the club.

Anyone else know any more about this? Gutted that Midson is off, genuinely thought he was a solid performer.

Heard he asked for a transfer on Wednesday. He was out of contract in May so I suppose he wants to put himself in the window now. I liked Jack, he was not the answer to our problems up fron this year, but he gave his all. Supprised to hear about Clist though

[Joey's Toe]

Letting Clist go is a big mistake, IMHO. We are a much better side when he plays, and I'd argue that he has infinitely more ability than Hall or Heslop. Genuinely stunned by this decision, especially given how consistent and hard-working he has been for us.

Sorry to see Midson go too, although it's less of a surprise.

[YF Dan]

Wilder tinkers again shock.

Everyone is saying top half is an amazing performance. I disagree. It was absolute bare minimum.

We came into this season with everything in our favour. A strong squad (who'd overcome the manager's months of madness to save our season) momentum and money (in relation to other league two teams).

Wilder has done alright. If I was being harsh, I'd say he's fucked up a bit. I reckon if he'd kept faith with the squad who'd taken us up, and added a couple of players, we'd probably be better off than we are now. Look at Stevenage.

I don't think Stevenage were a better team than us last year. I'd say they had a manager who, for all his personality defects, had faith in his team and vice versa.

Wilder has faith in only one person, himself. He's a typical bully of a boss. Happy to cover himself in whatever glory is floating about, quick to blame others if things aren't working out. He constantly looks for scapegoats: that's the reason we've been through so many players in the past 2 years.

His tinkering is beyond a joke. I can't think for a second that team morale is any good, with a squad that has new faces appearing every other week, players in and out of favour on an inexplicable whim, and a different line up every week no matter the result.

Despite the fact we're on the cusp of the play offs, this season hasn't got me excited at all. Teams are meant to evolve over time, not be hacked and chopped beyond recognition. We had a really decent squad coming into this season, a team who'd given me one of the greatest days of my life, a team who'd rescued our club (and the bloody big-headed Manager) from disaster, and yet Ginger Bullybollox has ripped the heart out of it.

I was no Midson lover, far from it, and the reaction to his departure on Facebook was frankly embarrassing. But, credit to the lad, he'd done everything he could this season and far exceeded my expectations of him, which is a lot more than could be said for the manager.

[GodalmingYellow]

The ratio quoted earlier of 2 successes from 10 is pretty unfair.

Wilder is still learning about managing at this level and we should expect some failures however experienced the manager is.

My only slight concern is that Wilder gives his own failing signings a little too long before being dropped.

Of those leaving, I'm most disappointed about Midson, because he is theonly one of our strikers that gives us aerial threat.

Clists are ten a penny at this level, and at this level he gives the ball away too much. Having said that I would lose Hall sooner than Clist every day of the week.

Colin highlighted a few Wilder failures, and he's right on all those. But we can't ignore that the trend remains very much upwards in the fortunes of our club, and for that Wilder has to be applauded.

[Sackcloth Ox]

Wilder tinkers again shock.

Everyone is saying top half is an amazing performance. I disagree. It was absolute bare minimum.

We came into this season with everything in our favour. A strong squad (who'd overcome the manager's months of madness to save our season) momentum and money (in relation to other league two teams).

Wilder has done alright. If I was being harsh, I'd say he's fucked up a bit. I reckon if he'd kept faith with the squad who'd taken us up, and added a couple of players, we'd probably be better off than we are now. Look at Stevenage.

I don't think Stevenage were a better team than us last year. I'd say they had a manager who, for all his personality defects, had faith in his team and vice versa.

Wilder has faith in only one person, himself. He's a typical bully of a boss. Happy to cover himself in whatever glory is floating about, quick to blame others if things aren't working out. He constantly looks for scapegoats: that's the reason we've been through so many players in the past 2 years.

His tinkering is beyond a joke. I can't think for a second that team morale is any good, with a squad that has new faces appearing every other week, players in and out of favour on an inexplicable whim, and a different line up every week no matter the result.

Despite the fact we're on the cusp of the play offs, this season hasn't got me excited at all. Teams are meant to evolve over time, not be hacked and chopped beyond recognition. We had a really decent squad coming into this season, a team who'd given me one of the greatest days of my life, a team who'd rescued our club (and the bloody big-headed Manager) from disaster, and yet Ginger Bullybollox has ripped the heart out of it.

I was no Midson lover, far from it, and the reaction to his departure on Facebook was frankly embarrassing. But, credit to the lad, he'd done everything he could this season and far exceeded my expectations of him, which is a lot more than could be said for the manager.

What total bonkers rubbish. Is your alter ego, 'Ken',the famous Radio Ox caller?

1 Without 'Ginger Bullybollox' (what?), we would
never have had the day out at Wembley.

2 'Absolute bare minimum' was keeping us up.

3 'Strong squad'?? Er. 2009/2010 vintage as a squad generally not good enough for consistent showing in FL. Tell me , in which leagues are Creighton, Bulman and hmmm Deering plying their trades now?

4 Stevenage were a better team than us last year. Look at the league table for last season. They still are. What's that got to do with Wilder?

5 He 'constantly looks for scapegoats'? You what? All the squad have had a fair chance , including Midson. Midson has never convinced this supporter that he has sufficient quality to cut it at this level.

6 'Poor team morale'? Do not see really any evidence at all to back this up.

7 It's been a good season with plenty of entertainment. As evidenced by our crowds. How many games have you actually watched this season? Not a pissing contest, genuinely interested.

Be careful what you wish for Dan. 'Supporters' like you tend to cause instability and halt progress. The club is progressing on all fronts. Much of this progress is down to'Ginger Bullybollox'...

[neilw]

Kin hell, Dan. I can only assume that Wilder hasn't been very receptive to you in the past?

[Sackcloth Ox]

Id say CW's transfer and loan policy has a success rate of 50% at best. .....but firstly you would need to define success...If its promotion from the conference and top half or League 2 then we are there.

Stevenage would be an interesting comparison because they are having a similar season to us, got promoted with us and spent the previous 3 seasons in the conference like us.

Yesterday they had 7 players who consistently featured last term in their side, we had 5 who played at Wembley.

What is interesting is that they have kept the same back four consistently that they had last term and have the best defensive record in the League, also like last BSP season. We will never have this if Wilder continues to tinker with his defence like he has done.

Ah, but the defence has not really been tinkered with has it? Take Saturday. 4 of the back 5 played at Wembley! Your point?

[Kernow Yellow]

Hmm, I'd say the fact that you have to resort to using Wilder's hair colour as a way of criticising him exposes the shallowness of your argument.

His tinkering is beyond a joke [...] a different line up every week no matter the result.

Eh? And to think a couple of weeks people were criticising Wilder for sticking with players when we'd lost a couple of games. I just don't see the scenario you paint at all, Dan.

If I was being harsh, I'd say he's fucked up a bit

Good thing you're not being harsh then As Neil says, you obviously have issues with Wilder for whatever reason, but you're way off the mark here.

And I'm no Wilder apologist at all - I really don't like the formation we play most weeks, and certainly don't always agree with his individual selections. But he's got us back into the football league, and in a position that 99% of fans are happy (if not delighted) with. To say that what he has achieved at OUFC is 'absolute bare minimum' is ludicrous. In mid-March we're playing a home game in front of 6,700 paying spectators, and still in with a shout of promotion into League One. The club's in the best shape it's been for years. But there's no pleasing some people, eh?

[Paul Cooper]

Goodness YF Dan- a total slating of the manager- what would you be saying if we were near the bottom!

My view is that CW is constantly trying to improve the squad/ side. Much like Jim Smith in the glory years (Aldridge, Hamilton, Langan for Biggins, Whatmore, Hinshelwood etc).

He has for sure made mistakes, but he has got a hell of a lot right over the past couple of years and maybe finishing just out of the play offs is a pretty creditable performance.

Progress has been made every year under CW in my view and if this continues then the vast majority of supporters won't complain.

So far as the players leaving are concerned, to get promotion which has to be the aim in the next couple of years, I think that we need better than Midson definitely and probably Clist. Getting better players in will be the difficult bit, but here's hoping.

[Kernow Yellow]

I should add that I'm disappointed if it's true that Clist's leaving. He's rarely let us down.

As to Midson, I think he'd score a fair few goals if we played a proper 4-4-2 with genuine wingers getting the ball into him. But since that's not how we play, is he better than our other options up front? I wouldn't say so. Let's face it, when we signed Midson I think we expected more from him than he's delivered, certainly in terms of goals. And as others have said, players do come and go a lot in modern football. If he (and others that won't be around for long) are being given a chance to earn themselves new contracts at other clubs before the season ends, then that's a good thing at least.

[SmileyMan]

There does at the very least appear to be a &quotthrow mud at wall and see what sticks&quot. In that if he signs 10 then maybe 2 may be up to it.

There's a saying in business - if you want to double your success rate, you have to be prepared to double your failure rate.

Without wishing to be labelled an &quotapologist&quot (although I think we're damn lucky to have Chris Wilder as a manager) I think he has to churn the playing staff a lot if we want to push up the leagues (most people I speak to think that Oxford should be in the Championship based on support and catchment area)

As we go up the Leagues, we need better players, but we can't attract those players until we're up the League. Also, a proven performer at a particular level is always going to cost more than a potential performer. So with a tight budget it makes sense to throw a lot of &quotmud&quot and be hard-nosed and unsentimental about getting rid of the non-sticky.

Perhaps an investment in scouting might be in order?