Press Conference...

[OUFC4eva]

Well I am personally happy with today's announcement.

It's easy to construct a case to terminate CW's contract but I feel IL
has taken a brave decision and set out clear parameters for our club
for the 2013/2014 campaign and CW must deliver promotion next season.

My wallet is £346 lighter tonight as I renewed my season ticket earlier.

I'm doing my bit (again).

[recordmeister]

Whatever the situation, I'd rather be on here discussing this, than be on a Luton Town forum talking about, well, tits probably.

[joepoolman]

What makes me happiest about all that's happened today is everyone seems to agree that we need to get behind the manager and players next season now, irrelevant of whether they would have stuck or twisted themselves. I just hope this reflects all of our support and we don't get any more &quotWilder Out&quot or sarcastic &quotChris Wilder my Lord&quot in the middle of the game because it's 0-0 30 mins in, or another pathetic excuse for a &quotprotest&quot.

[Snake]

Well, that’s one thing sorted out then – Wilder for a least some of next season and as Ian is fed up of losing a million a year we’re going to use the youth more who will cost considerably less. It’s always interesting when an owner has a say in team selection...

The poll on the OM website at the bottom of this link about whether it was the right decision is also interesting as it seems to have divided supporters, though it doesn’t state how many people have voted - http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/oxfor ... d_manager/

At the time of this posting the question “Are you happy to see Chris Wilder stay as Oxford United manager?

[Hog]

It certainly makes me feel less guilty about the £429 I’ve just spent on a season ticket.

Cardiff?

[Hog]

What makes me happiest about all that's happened today is everyone seems to agree that we need to get behind the manager and players next season now,

Have you seen the comments on the bottom of the Ox Fail report? Or on TiU?

[slappy]

[quote=&quotSnake&quot]Well, that’s one thing sorted out then – Wilder for a least some of next season and as Ian is fed up of losing a million a year we’re going to use the youth more who will cost considerably less. It’s always interesting when an owner has a say in team selection...

The poll on the OM website at the bottom of this link about whether it was the right decision is also interesting as it seems to have divided supporters, though it doesn’t state how many people have voted - http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/oxfor ... d_manager/

At the time of this posting the question “Are you happy to see Chris Wilder stay as Oxford United manager?

[Radley Rambler]

[quote=&quotslappy&quot][quote=&quotSnake&quot]Well, that’s one thing sorted out then – Wilder for a least some of next season and as Ian is fed up of losing a million a year we’re going to use the youth more who will cost considerably less. It’s always interesting when an owner has a say in team selection...

The poll on the OM website at the bottom of this link about whether it was the right decision is also interesting as it seems to have divided supporters, though it doesn’t state how many people have voted - http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/oxfor ... d_manager/

At the time of this posting the question “Are you happy to see Chris Wilder stay as Oxford United manager?

[Boogie]

Latest from Ebsfleet...

http&#58//www&#46bbc&#46co&#46uk/sport/ ... l/22263845

[Boogie]

Anyway, back to topic.

So, we embark on another season with the same manager but with a different squad policy.

It is going to be an interesting journey which in itself should make it more enjoyable so long as the youth do not stay on the bench.

Which senior players go and which stay will have a large bearing on how I feel by the start of the season.

A senior striker or attacking midfielder who can also coach would be a welcome addition - as it has been said before we have three coaches who were defensive as players.

I dont think for a moment that we wil get a precise 25% /75% ratio but if we do say that 5 youth players leaves space for 15 senior players how many would you keep in an ideal world and how many spaces would you fill?

Me:-

1.Clarke

2. New right back
3. Wright (fear we may get offers hard to refuse in the summer)
4. New centre back
5. Davis
6 O'Brien

7. Whing
8. New attacking midfielder (could be Potter if played in the hole and not wide)
9. New holding midfielder as cover for Whing
10. Rigg
11 New right winger

12. Constable (unless we can sell for good money)
13. Smalley
14. New senior striker who can coach
15. JPP

[GodalmingYellow]

I would keep:

Clarke (subject to injury assessment otherwise keep McCormick)
Crocombe
Batt (though he is rumoured to be leaving)
Wright
Davis (subject to injury assessment)
Davies
Whing
Potter
Rigg
Constable
Marsh

4 more from youth

Might keep Raynes at a push subject to cost.

Given the opportunity I would ditch everyone else (provided there is no cost involved) and rebuild the squad, as all the others are either too expensive, or to injury prone, too inconsistent, or simply not good enough.

[Dr Bob]

What IL said about the youth players' situation was &quotnext season will see almost 25% of the Oxford United first-team squad having come from the Academy ranks&quot. That is completely different to what has been widely reported in the media (and, it seems, interpreted on here), as meaning a quarter of the first team squad has to come from the youth ranks. Given the three professional contracts just given, plus Marsh and Crocombe, that suggests an indicative size for the squad of about 20. It does not say that, whatever the size of the squad, 25% must be youth team products.

I do not agree with IL that it was September and October that killed our season, but he has done what he has done (and the switch to a fixed term 1 year contract plus option for an extension on specified terms makes sense) so, having already renewed my ST, I shall be back and supporting the team next season...well, starting at Accy on Saturday.

[Radley Rambler]

I would keep:

Clarke (subject to injury assessment otherwise keep McCormick)
Crocombe
Batt (though he is rumoured to be leaving)
Wright
Davis (subject to injury assessment)
Davies
Whing
Potter
Rigg
Constable
Marsh

4 more from youth

Might keep Raynes at a push subject to cost.

Given the opportunity I would ditch everyone else (provided there is no cost involved) and rebuild the squad, as all the others are either too expensive, or to injury prone, too inconsistent, or simply not good enough.

Sadly I believe he has a further year left on his contract so it's not our choice......previous poster also overlooked this. Rigg also has a year left so again no choice in the matter there.

[Radley Rambler]

Godalming Yellow - IL suggests that we have the 7th largest salary budget in the division, I recall a lengthy debate on this subject recently on this Forum

And?

A number of IL's figures have previously, and very recently, been shown to be somewhat less than accurate, so whilst I would acknowledge that it may read that I'm not prepared to accept another view, I am very suspicious of IL's stats now.

Looking at those teams who will (or are very likely to) finish above us, I would think there are only 3 or maybe 4 at most, with higher budgets than us. The fact is that Wilder has not spent our budget at all well.

Easy GY, I was merely recalling that there had been a long debate on this matter (and that you had a particularly keen interest in it) and IL has now stated publicly the level of our resources in this area. Whether you choose to believe him or not is of course another matter.

[slappy]

IN CONTRACT
GK:
Clarke, Crocombe, (assume Brown now goalkeeping coach)
DEF:
Wright, Raynes, Lynn, Long
MID:
FWD:
Rigg, Constable, Marsh, O'Dowda
-------------------------------------------------
Assuming Chapman goes to Mansfield and discounting Brown, that is 10 of the first team squad, including five local / youth development lads. So between ten and twelve players needed in the Summer for a squad of 20-22.

The other players:
GK:
McCormick,
DEF:
Batt, Duberry, Whing, Worley, O'Brien, Davis,
MID:
Heslop, Capaldi, Montrose, Leven, Davies,
FWD:
Smalley, Pittman, Potter, Richards, Parker, Craddock.
-----------------------------------
I would keep Whing if at all possible, then Batt &amp Davis, then Potter. The rest I think have done their time, are either not good enough, not reliable enough to stay fit, or too expensive.

With Duberry, Smalley, Craddock, Leven presumably off, that would probably pay for the whole Accrington squad.

I am looking forward to some exciting signings in the Summer.