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Post by charliesghost on Jun 28, 2017 10:39:06 GMT
I don't think that anyone would question that the last two months have been a little - ah - tricky for OUFC. But there is limited benefit - potentially none, in fact - to continually raking over those coals. What is happening/ going to happen is as follows:
1. 15 or so professional players have started pre-season - yes we all know the squad is light, but there is ample room in the existing budget to recruit replacements for those that have left. In other words, I think we can be pretty sure that there will be 21/22 professional footballers at the club in a month's time. 2. Everyone knows that the timing is not good, and that we have already and will currently missing out on good potential recruits. So it is inevitable that our recruitment of the 7 or so players we need will not be as good as it might have been. We can moan and gripe about it all we like, but what's the point? 3. The new manager will be appointed in the next week or so and will fly out to join the squad in Portugal, or else meet them when they return. 4. Yes, this is not ideal, but what's the point in going on about it? It just is what it is.... 5. As with all new managers, he will "say all the right things" and we will be excited by that and will want to back him. 6. It will probably take him a while to settle down and I do not think that any of us would be surprised if we started the season a bit slowly. 7. It won't be until at least October that we will or won't start to form a picture of whether the new guy is the right pick or not. Even then, it may not be clear. 8. Season ticket sales seem to be holding up Ok, so crowds should be decent for the time being, and there may be some wider interest in what the new manager and team will look like.
And that, more or less, is that. No use in crying over spilt milk. Not much point in endlessly examining why things did or didn't happen. If we are successful on the pitch, then - as we all know - most everything else will be forgotten. If we are unsuccessful then people will get blamed. Such is football life. But rather as the country is constantly trying to talk itself into a post-Brexit meltdown, so OUFC fans are in danger of hysteria over some short-term tactical blips, of the kind that affect lots of clubs.
This is not to say that there not serious long-term strategic issues to worry about. There are, and we are all well aware of them, and I imagine that the Board will comment on them in coming weeks. But the loss of a manager after three years is not a strategic issue, and should not be blown out of proportion. Likewise needing to bring players in quickly. We are a League 1 club, not in the Conference - plenty of good players will want to sign for us in time for the start of the new season.
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Post by 1OUFC on Jun 28, 2017 10:53:50 GMT
I don't think that anyone would question that the last two months have been a little - ah - tricky for OUFC. But there is limited benefit - potentially none, in fact - to continually raking over those coals. What is happening/ going to happen is as follows: 1. 15 or so professional players have started pre-season - yes we all know the squad is light, but there is ample room in the existing budget to recruit replacements for those that have left. In other words, I think we can be pretty sure that there will be 21/22 professional footballers at the club in a month's time. 2. Everyone knows that the timing is not good, and that we have already and will currently missing out on good potential recruits. So it is inevitable that our recruitment of the 7 or so players we need will not be as good as it might have been. We can moan and gripe about it all we like, but what's the point? 3. The new manager will be appointed in the next week or so and will fly out to join the squad in Portugal, or else meet them when they return. 4. Yes, this is not ideal, but what's the point in going on about it? It just is what it is.... 5. As with all new managers, he will "say all the right things" and we will be excited by that and will want to back him. 6. It will probably take him a while to settle down and I do not think that any of us would be surprised if we started the season a bit slowly. 7. It won't be until at least October that we will or won't start to form a picture of whether the new guy is the right pick or not. Even then, it may not be clear. 8. Season ticket sales seem to be holding up Ok, so crowds should be decent for the time being, and there may be some wider interest in what the new manager and team will look like. And that, more or less, is that. No use in crying over spilt milk. Not much point in endlessly examining why things did or didn't happen. If we are successful on the pitch, then - as we all know - most everything else will be forgotten. If we are unsuccessful then people will get blamed. Such is football life. But rather as the country is constantly trying to talk itself into a post-Brexit meltdown, so OUFC fans are in danger of hysteria over some short-term tactical blips, of the kind that affect lots of clubs. This is not to say that there not serious long-term strategic issues to worry about. There are, and we are all well aware of them, and I imagine that the Board will comment on them in coming weeks. But the loss of a manager after three years is not a strategic issue, and should not be blown out of proportion. Likewise needing to bring players in quickly. We are a League 1 club, not in the Conference - plenty of good players will want to sign for us in time for the start of the new season. As supporters haven't we learned not to assume that is what will happen with eales in charge, over the last 6 months. Sorry Charlie but as the only permanent at the club, supporters, there are too many questions that are unanswered to simply sugar coat everything as you are sudgesting and move on. On a side, is there any chance that Mr. Sartori might return with another offer for the club?
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Post by charliesghost on Jun 28, 2017 10:59:48 GMT
I'm not suggesting "sugar-coating", just some realism and perspective. We're in danger of talking the whole club into a tailspin, when in reality the only thing that has changed since April is that we have/ are about to change manager.
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Post by oldman159 on Jun 28, 2017 11:09:27 GMT
CG. A thoughtful post. Undoubtedly it will provoke all sorts of 'woe is me' responses and will probably become bogged down in vitriol. However, As with your Brexit analogy, people will hear what they want to hear and ignore what they don't. The mainstream meejah will put their own particular spin on things , of course, but in the end Que sera sera.....
I enjoyed reading it anyway!
😊👏
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Post by outsidethebox on Jun 28, 2017 11:11:47 GMT
What is the current figure for sales of season tickets?
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Post by shaunrice on Jun 28, 2017 11:23:54 GMT
Yes there have been over reactions. I think the main problem is a lack of clarity and information from the club and specifically DE. It was naive in the extreme to think player recruitment would continue as normal without a manager. Mapp left officially on 20th June. But speculation was a about a week before. Even so a week later and we still have no firm information. Have interviews taken place? Does DE have his own deadline? Has he a short list? Is an offer on the table?
Yes these things have to be done behind closed doors. But likewise fans want to know 'our' club is still heading in the right direction.
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Post by helsinkiyellow on Jun 28, 2017 11:29:48 GMT
FYI (as I'm sure that I'm not the only one) -> Febrile: having or showing a great deal of nervous excitement or energy. "a febrile imagination"
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Post by Bue Guado on Jun 28, 2017 11:33:09 GMT
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Post by manorlounger on Jun 28, 2017 11:33:34 GMT
There are a few more issues than can be safely ignored. Finance being one key driver of a football club. Another is key personnel. The third that springs to mind is the stadium and pitch. All these are subject to stringent review at this time and no sane person would push them aside just because we may (or may not) win a few games. I admire your optimism Charlie but I fancy you are struggling inside to keep a brave face given what you must be party to in your position.
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Post by charliesghost on Jun 28, 2017 11:33:50 GMT
Yes there have been over reactions. I think the main problem is a lack of clarity and information from the club and specifically DE. It was naive in the extreme to think player recruitment would continue as normal without a manager. Mapp left officially on 20th June. But speculation was a about a week before. Even so a week later and we still have no firm information. Have interviews taken place? Does DE have his own deadline? Has he a short list? Is an offer on the table? Yes these things have to be done behind closed doors. But likewise fans want to know 'our' club is still heading in the right direction. What does it matter whether we know whether a shortlist has or has not been formed? A new manager will be appointed shortly. We all know that. And that will not tell us whether or not our club is headed in "the right direction". It will be just like any other managerial appointment: a calculated gamble hoping for a successful outcome. That is as true of Man Utd as it is of us. And, in any case, what is the "right direction"? Does anyone have any clarity on that? And the major factors affecting that are not who happens to be first team coach, surely. It's bigger, more strategic stuff that has been apparent for months or even years.
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Post by charliesghost on Jun 28, 2017 11:35:04 GMT
What is the current figure for sales of season tickets? A bit short of last season, but not much. Another reason not to panic!
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Post by oldabingdonian on Jun 28, 2017 11:37:48 GMT
Spot on, Charlie.
As someone who has done their fair share of recruitment in my time, it must be done correctly. Far better the extra week to get the right person.
I would also hope the players are, in the true sense, professionals. Of course MApp leaving will be a significant event for them, but hardly a shock. They are paid to get on with it, and cooperate with the new manager.
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Post by oufcyellows on Jun 28, 2017 11:46:07 GMT
Yes there have been over reactions. I think the main problem is a lack of clarity and information from the club and specifically DE. It was naive in the extreme to think player recruitment would continue as normal without a manager. Mapp left officially on 20th June. But speculation was a about a week before. Even so a week later and we still have no firm information. Have interviews taken place? Does DE have his own deadline? Has he a short list? Is an offer on the table? Yes these things have to be done behind closed doors. But likewise fans want to know 'our' club is still heading in the right direction. What does it matter whether we know whether a shortlist has or has not been formed? A new manager will be appointed shortly. We all know that. And that will not tell us whether or not our club is headed in "the right direction". It will be just like any other managerial appointment: a calculated gamble hoping for a successful outcome. That is as true of Man Utd as it is of us. And, in any case, what is the "right direction"? Does anyone have any clarity on that? And the major factors affecting that are not who happens to be first team coach, surely. It's bigger, more strategic stuff that has been apparent for months or even years. Mickey Adams ?
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Post by Paul Cannell on Jun 28, 2017 11:50:32 GMT
We're in danger of talking the whole club into a tailspin, when in reality the only thing that has changed since April is that we have/ are about to change manager. Who is this 'we' of which you speak? It's fairly plain that nothing we posters can do on here makes a difference while the club remains in the safe hands of 'He Who Has Its Best Interests At Heart", aka Mr Elmes. It's his tailspin, he made it and he'll have to lie in it, as my mother would say, relishing a pun, as she'd have done, when she was well. Now she's in hell; oh well. I might venture to suggest that the sense of excitement about the coming season has slipped from 'febrile anticipation' to 'sweaty concern', but I'm probably hysterical. No need to worry, we have a leader whose hands are sticky not slippery, a safe pair, of hands. Not mine, puns are fine: at the right time; not now somehow. Yes, you lot! Calm down and re-arrange the deckchairs, while there's still time.
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Post by oufcyellows on Jun 28, 2017 11:55:23 GMT
I'm probably reading massively between the lines here, but mr ghost is normally one of the first to question things going on at the club and to point out what we're lacking and the type of football we should be playing to go up a level. This post, while very interesting as per usual, is a little to laid back for me, added to his recent silence, It almost suggests that he knows something we don't, and all issues possibly won't need addressing, by the current board at least.
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Post by Paul Cannell on Jun 28, 2017 12:09:22 GMT
It almost suggests that he knows something we don't. What 'febrile# means, for a start.
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Jun 28, 2017 12:14:58 GMT
I don't think you are anywhere hitting the mark on this one Charlie.
As someone who is absolutely not ITK in any way whatsoever, all I can see at the moment is a club at which many things are seemingly not right and very little which seems to be running to plan (if indeed there is one!).
And this is a situation which is still developing with lots of unknown unknowns(!). So while it might not 'do any good' to worry about it on here, I am sure as hell worried - as are many other people.
Your list of points basically boils down to "it's all a bit shit at the moment, but everything will probably work out OK in the end" which is fine and dandy (and you may know some things many of us don't) if that's how it turn out. Not so clever if it doesn't. And discussing such things is what this forum is for.
I suspect the thing that underlies most of the angst is that it is obvious to all that DE has (at the very least) been receptive to offers for the club. If he is no longer committed (because it is costing too much, changes to his personal circumstances, whatever...) then we are looking at a very uncertain future in the medium term, unless there are major changes afoot pretty sharpish.
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Post by foley on Jun 28, 2017 12:35:52 GMT
Yes there have been over reactions. I think the main problem is a lack of clarity and information from the club and specifically DE. It was naive in the extreme to think player recruitment would continue as normal without a manager. Mapp left officially on 20th June. But speculation was a about a week before. Even so a week later and we still have no firm information. Have interviews taken place? Does DE have his own deadline? Has he a short list? Is an offer on the table? Yes these things have to be done behind closed doors. But likewise fans want to know 'our' club is still heading in the right direction. As somebody in recruitment suggested on another thread it appears that a comprehensive and pretty quick process is being gone through. Reading through the lines there have been interviews and there was a Board meeting yesterday. I would not be surprised if there is an offer shortly, but the recipient may well want to sleep on it and negotiate the terms. DE may well have a deadline but he would not be daft enough to advertise this. Going through a recruitment process things have to be confidential for obvious reasons. The key thing s to get the right manager. Rushing it would be counter productive and more to the point if this decision is wrong then we could go backwards again.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Jun 28, 2017 12:53:21 GMT
And importantly, a panel have done the interviewing, rather than DE having a chat and going with what he feels like at the time.
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Post by shaunrice on Jun 28, 2017 13:08:00 GMT
Ha ha looks like DE read my post... Oxford Mail just added a new story with basically most of the information.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2017 13:26:43 GMT
There appear to be six on the short list now. Id imagine without speculating too much that must be Chris Allen, Andy Whing, Jimmy FH, Frank Lampard, Pep,and maybe Danny Cowley....I think most supporters will be happy with one of those
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Post by finlandia on Jun 28, 2017 13:35:26 GMT
I don't think that anyone would question that the last two months have been a little - ah - tricky for OUFC. But there is limited benefit - potentially none, in fact - to continually raking over those coals. What is happening/ going to happen is as follows: 1. 15 or so professional players have started pre-season - yes we all know the squad is light, but there is ample room in the existing budget to recruit replacements for those that have left. In other words, I think we can be pretty sure that there will be 21/22 professional footballers at the club in a month's time. 2. Everyone knows that the timing is not good, and that we have already and will currently missing out on good potential recruits. So it is inevitable that our recruitment of the 7 or so players we need will not be as good as it might have been. We can moan and gripe about it all we like, but what's the point? 3. The new manager will be appointed in the next week or so and will fly out to join the squad in Portugal, or else meet them when they return. 4. Yes, this is not ideal, but what's the point in going on about it? It just is what it is.... 5. As with all new managers, he will "say all the right things" and we will be excited by that and will want to back him. 6. It will probably take him a while to settle down and I do not think that any of us would be surprised if we started the season a bit slowly. 7. It won't be until at least October that we will or won't start to form a picture of whether the new guy is the right pick or not. Even then, it may not be clear. 8. Season ticket sales seem to be holding up Ok, so crowds should be decent for the time being, and there may be some wider interest in what the new manager and team will look like. And that, more or less, is that. No use in crying over spilt milk. Not much point in endlessly examining why things did or didn't happen. If we are successful on the pitch, then - as we all know - most everything else will be forgotten. If we are unsuccessful then people will get blamed. Such is football life. But rather as the country is constantly trying to talk itself into a post-Brexit meltdown, so OUFC fans are in danger of hysteria over some short-term tactical blips, of the kind that affect lots of clubs. This is not to say that there not serious long-term strategic issues to worry about. There are, and we are all well aware of them, and I imagine that the Board will comment on them in coming weeks. But the loss of a manager after three years is not a strategic issue, and should not be blown out of proportion. Likewise needing to bring players in quickly. We are a League 1 club, not in the Conference - plenty of good players will want to sign for us in time for the start of the new season. Couldn't agree more - supporting OUFC is a roller coaster - enjoy the good times while we can
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Post by 1OUFC on Jun 28, 2017 13:38:27 GMT
Grow up, idiot! Try commenting on the post not person.
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Post by myles on Jun 28, 2017 13:44:38 GMT
I don't think you are anywhere hitting the mark on this one Charlie. As someone who is absolutely not ITK in any way whatsoever, all I can see at the moment is a club at which many things are seemingly not right and very little which seems to be running to plan (if indeed there is one!). And this is a situation which is still developing with lots of unknown unknowns(!). So while it might not 'do any good' to worry about it on here, I am sure as hell worried - as are many other people. Your list of points basically boils down to "it's all a bit shit at the moment, but everything will probably work out OK in the end" which is fine and dandy (and you may know some things many of us don't) if that's how it turn out. Not so clever if it doesn't. And discussing such things is what this forum is for. I suspect the thing that underlies most of the angst is that it is obvious to all that DE has (at the very least) been receptive to offers for the club. If he is no longer committed (because it is costing too much, changes to his personal circumstances, whatever...) then we are looking at a very uncertain future in the medium term, unless there are major changes afoot pretty sharpish. Have to agree with this. I think Charlie had been indulging in a notoriously liquid 3-hour PR lunch session before hitting the keyboard - that opening post is veering dangerously close to one of "arthurturner"'s 'Put up or shut up" rants! Let's just deconstruct his points: 1) 15 players? 15?! So, a first XI and half a bench then.... And this is for a club which is supposed to be building on the past couple of seasons progress and challenge for promotion this term. Sorry, but that is looking less like an evolution and more like a revolution. 2) The timing is dreadful. Player recruitment tends to go in stages dependent on contract status, demand for the player etc etc. You have the out-of-contract in demand players; the contracted players clubs want to offload (so will let go "cheap); the out-of-contract players who aren't in demand; and contracted players clubs want to hang on to. At this level, players tend to be taken roughly in that order. So, we've seen Mcaleny got to Fleetwood. We've seen Sercombe got to Bristol Rovers. And there's lots of other examples from those first two groups. Remember, player contracts run out at the end of June, so the vast majority will want to have new deals tied up by then to keep the pennies coming in. Once you are into July, most of the deals tend to be from the latter two groups - the out-of-contracts nobody really wants, or the contracted players you need to spend over the odds to get hold of. Hardly ideal. 3-7) With the apparent front runners being Clotet and Lampard, the "finding their feet" bit is almost inevitable. I can easily see this as being a repeat of Appleton's season one, where there is a lot of finding out just what the hell League One is all about. Again, for a club looking to make progress, this could be very much a case of a large backwards step. Of course we will back them (although I would draw the line at Evans or Westley!), and of course we will want them to be successful, it's just the fact we find ourselves in this situation at such a critical time which is frustrating ( to put it mildly!). 8) Yeah, the thing with season tickets is that they get money into the club at a time where there is very little other income. And from what I'm hearing, there have been significant numbers of people who have renewed their season tickets but in a different, cheaper part of the ground. So whilst the numbers may be holding up, I'd be interested to see if the income from those sales is also so buoyant. And then there is this nugget: Er, yeah it is. Especially when a number of individuals have indicated that the departure has less to do with an opportunity to work in the Premiership, and more to do with the ability to carry on with a to-date successful "project" here.(And yes, I know there will be plenty pointing to Appleton's post-departure comments, screaming "nothing to see here!") Failure to have a proper commercial and marketing operation impacts directly on the manager's ability to deliver a competitive squad. Trying to brush it under the carpet and separate issues like that from the mess we currently find ourselves in is something I find really surprising coming from you Charlie. Of course nobody wants to panic, and certainly nobody wants to "send the club into a tailspin", but we also need to be alive to the issues at the club and properly question what is actually going on. Fans forum anybody?!
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Post by tatabanya on Jun 28, 2017 13:55:28 GMT
There appear to be six on the short list now. Id imagine without speculating too much that must be Chris Allen, Andy Whing, Jimmy FH, Frank Lampard, Pep,and maybe Danny Cowley....I think most supporters will be happy with one of those "Without speculating too much" ----> speculates wildly
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Post by holdsteady on Jun 28, 2017 14:12:42 GMT
FYI (as I'm sure that I'm not the only one) -> Febrile: having or showing a great deal of nervous excitement or energy. "a febrile imagination" I thought it was something to do with the best time to impregnate livestock, did wonder how that was relevant.
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Post by holdsteady on Jun 28, 2017 14:14:49 GMT
There appear to be six on the short list now. Id imagine without speculating too much that must be Chris Allen, Andy Whing, Jimmy FH, Frank Lampard, Pep,and maybe Danny Cowley....I think most supporters will be happy with one of those If you think most supporters will be happy with Whing or Allen, especially after all this, then you may be in for a surprise. The reaction to those two or D Faz getting the job will be very febrile.
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Post by Bue Guado on Jun 28, 2017 14:20:47 GMT
Grow up, idiot! Try commenting on the post not person.
Fair enough. As supporters haven't we learned not to assume that is what will happen with eales in charge, over the last 6 months. Sorry Charlie but as the only permanent at the club, supporters, there are too many questions that are unanswered to simply sugar coat everything as you are sudgesting and move on. On a side, is there any chance that Mr. Sartori might return with another offer for the club? Other than the misplaced letter d, suggesting you'd only recently raised your head from the pillow, I'd say your post seemed an attempt at immediately rejecting what had been quite a sensible and calculated original post by Charlie. As he mentioned, we're all aware of the issues going on at the club, and there's no use panicking, squabbling, and regurgitating the same ideas and concerns that have been hurled about ad nauseam. Claiming "as supporter we've learned not to assume this will happen with Eales" is just another tedious attack on the man, and in no way beneficial, thus directly contradicting Charlie's suggestion, as if you hadn't actually read his post. Yes, we supporters are the only permanent element of the club, and ought to be given at least some form of answer to queries regarding departing staff, finances, and the club's longterm structure - but this is also something Charlie addressed in his original post "This is not to say that there not serious long-term strategic issues to worry about. There are, and we are all well aware of them, and I imagine that the Board will comment on them in coming weeks." I can't quite see in what way you believe Charlie's sugarcoated the situation, when he's merely laid it out as it is, suggesting we don't lose our heads. He's hardly telling us to sing and dance and worship the ground Eales walks on. You're new to this forum (unless you are a reincarnation of an excommunicated odious character), so you may not know of Charlie's background or history regarding the club and Eales, but whether or not you agree with him, I'd say his professional experience warrants at least a bit of consideration when reading such a long thread-starter, as opposed to a quick skim with the immediate intention of contradicting him. As for Sartori, can't we let this lie? He's said he's moving on to look for another club. If he were to reconsider us I'm sure we'll find out in good time, but why bother derailing threads within the first reply by resurrecting speculation of a ship that has, by the captain's very own admittance, already set sail?
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Post by malcolmnl on Jun 28, 2017 14:27:33 GMT
Grow up, idiot! Try commenting on the post not person.
Name calling will get you banned. Be warned.
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Post by foweyox on Jun 28, 2017 14:30:55 GMT
I don't think that anyone would question that the last two months have been a little - ah - tricky for OUFC. But there is limited benefit - potentially none, in fact - to continually raking over those coals. What is happening/ going to happen is as follows: 1. 15 or so professional players have started pre-season - yes we all know the squad is light, but there is ample room in the existing budget to recruit replacements for those that have left. In other words, I think we can be pretty sure that there will be 21/22 professional footballers at the club in a month's time. 2. Everyone knows that the timing is not good, and that we have already and will currently missing out on good potential recruits. So it is inevitable that our recruitment of the 7 or so players we need will not be as good as it might have been. We can moan and gripe about it all we like, but what's the point? 3. The new manager will be appointed in the next week or so and will fly out to join the squad in Portugal, or else meet them when they return. 4. Yes, this is not ideal, but what's the point in going on about it? It just is what it is.... 5. As with all new managers, he will "say all the right things" and we will be excited by that and will want to back him. 6. It will probably take him a while to settle down and I do not think that any of us would be surprised if we started the season a bit slowly. 7. It won't be until at least October that we will or won't start to form a picture of whether the new guy is the right pick or not. Even then, it may not be clear. 8. Season ticket sales seem to be holding up Ok, so crowds should be decent for the time being, and there may be some wider interest in what the new manager and team will look like. And that, more or less, is that. No use in crying over spilt milk. Not much point in endlessly examining why things did or didn't happen. If we are successful on the pitch, then - as we all know - most everything else will be forgotten. If we are unsuccessful then people will get blamed. Such is football life. But rather as the country is constantly trying to talk itself into a post-Brexit meltdown, so OUFC fans are in danger of hysteria over some short-term tactical blips, of the kind that affect lots of clubs. This is not to say that there not serious long-term strategic issues to worry about. There are, and we are all well aware of them, and I imagine that the Board will comment on them in coming weeks. But the loss of a manager after three years is not a strategic issue, and should not be blown out of proportion. Likewise needing to bring players in quickly. We are a League 1 club, not in the Conference - plenty of good players will want to sign for us in time for the start of the new season. chill out ffs
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