Transfer Window January 2024 Transfer Window Thread

[YellowsForLife]

So you want us to carry 4 senior goalkeepers plus a young pro on the wage bill until the end of the season?

*cough cough* whoosh

 

[ExclusiveOxnews]

Think we all know that a tackling, combative, fit DCM is not on the list and won't be coming in, despite one being desperately needed for a few years now.

It's so poor that successive managers have not seen it, and also realised what it might do to free up Cam and MM going forward....Smyth is the most likely player we have who could play there, maybe that is DB's plan?

Cam/MM/RR are all better further forward, and McEachran doesn't have the legs neither does Henry now unfortunately.

I do see what DB says about having numbers in there but the balance is not right and hasn't been for a number of seasons.

This. And all then other similar messages. I cannot fathom why we don’t want to play with a defensive midfielder. Seriously just can’t work it out it’s absolutely baffling and bordering on incompetence. Bristol rovers saw it, pretty much every team that’s been promoted in the last 4/5 years see it. We can’t. It’s beyond strange

 

[Horse]

This. And all then other similar messages. I cannot fathom why we don’t want to play with a defensive midfielder. Seriously just can’t work it out it’s absolutely baffling and bordering on incompetence. Bristol rovers saw it, pretty much every team that’s been promoted in the last 4/5 years see it. We can’t. It’s beyond strange

Defensive midfielders aren’t sexy like wingers. Karl knew this too

 

[MustardYellow]

Cumming hasn't impressed me at all since coming in. McEachran is slow and uninventive. Rodrigues and Goodrham aren't being used in a way which plays to their strengths. Harris is just... average.

There's so much work to do and it's concerning that almost none of it is being addressed.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Defensive midfielders aren’t sexy like wingers. Karl knew this too

It’s all about ‘number 10s’, whatever they are

 

[Beckdale16Bicester]

Cumming hasn't impressed me at all since coming in. McEachran is slow and uninventive. Rodrigues and Goodrham aren't being used in a way which plays to their strengths. Harris is just... average.

There's so much work to do and it's concerning that almost none of it is being addressed.

He was excellent at Carlisle.

 

[oufc1991]

It’s all about ‘number 10s’, whatever they are

I know what a number 1 is I also know what a number 2 is in fact there's a few of them floating around the club at the moment it's just a shame Des hasn't got one yet


Number 10 ent got a clue but sounds painful

 

[MustardYellow]

He was excellent at Carlisle.

Terrible on Saturday!

 

[Leysboy]

I’ve got a feeling this window is going to be a damp squib.

 

[MustardYellow]

I’ve got a feeling this window is going to be a damp squib.

A couple of days left and we still need a CM/CDM (even though we're being told we don't...), a couple of wingers and probably another striker.

Think we'll be lucky to get one of those.

 

[tatabanya]

A couple of days left and we still need a CM/CDM (even though we're being told we don't...), a couple of wingers and probably another striker.

Think we'll be lucky to get one of those.

You think we'll sign nobody else?

 

[YellowsForLife]

I’ve got a feeling this window is going to be a damp squib.

We spent an almost club record fee, we were massively over performing under Manning by any analytic under the sun, and while we have regressed since his departure, that is undeniable, we have had injury woes, plus clearly the players were hurt by the previous managers departure, but who wouldnt be. Just because we will be fighting for the playoffs instead of the automatics, DOES NOT make this season a failure. Other than DM we have brought player in, in every position previously asked for, those thinking we would be seeing 6/7 new starters of the caliber of a Goodwin were ALWAYS setting themselves up for disappointment.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I thought Cumming was poor v Barnsley. Didn't go to Bristol but sounds like another bad display there. Everything's pointing towards another difficult night tomorrow.

 

[greatunclekip]

Cumming hasn't impressed me at all since coming in. McEachran is slow and uninventive. Rodrigues and Goodrham aren't being used in a way which plays to their strengths. Harris is just... average.

There's so much work to do and it's concerning that almost none of it is being addressed.

It is all about the dominoes my friend. All about them dominoes.

 

[Andy1505]

If I was DB I'd be making every effort to sign a CDM rather than another winger, but he's said he won't.

I think that's a huge mistake, and it will be something he and we will live to regret. If he can't see where our problems are then I would be seriously concerned (more than I am at the moment!)

Tomorrow night could be a horrible watch for all concerned with OUFC

 

[n1]

I’ve got a feeling this window is going to be a damp squib.

That’s despite having got most of the business they planned to do early. Something the club has failed to do in the past.

Clearly the signings they want might not come off, but the signs are more favourable than not. We have a functioning, active, and well resourced recruitment team. They have a 1.5 window track record now that demonstrates they can get deals done. Their success rate is good. They appear to have a plan.

I don’t get where your negative perspective comes from. If I were do guess I’d say it’s an overly emotional response to two defeats on the pitch and a desire to wallow in a state of misery.

 

[ThatSlopesATwelfthMan]

This. And all then other similar messages. I cannot fathom why we don’t want to play with a defensive midfielder. Seriously just can’t work it out it’s absolutely baffling and bordering on incompetence. Bristol rovers saw it, pretty much every team that’s been promoted in the last 4/5 years see it. We can’t. It’s beyond strange

To be fair we have played with two (nominally) defensive midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 quite often this season and since Des arrived. Its sort of worked from time to time, mainly thanks to Brannagan heroics if the opposition allow it. But without physicality or pace and guile out wide its mainly just left us battered in the centre, constantly on the back foot and with two of our best players wasted. The switch to a version of 3-5-2 was presumably an effort to be more competitive in midfield but actually left us even worse off and completely toothless. The 4-1-4-1 we played in the second half at Bristol looks the most balanced option available until we have more bodies but was also influenced by Gas sitting deep. Everything we do right now is a compromise until we get the wide attack sorted - Des knows it and has said so in numerous interviews.

FWIW I'm actually agreeing with you here, would love us to get a specialist CDM in but can understand why that's not on the cards given the astronomical wage bill of our current central midfielders. A trade off. Burey looks like he might have something. Harris may be a good option on the right when Goodwin's fit. Browne/Murphy is in the lap of the physio gods and won't hold my breath. For me the bare minimum this week to stay in contention is another winger + extra cover at #9. A right back would be very handy too but might be able to just about get away with Stevens/Long if the rest of the team is ticking.

Will be an important week. This is the most open and weakest L1 in years.

 

[MustardYellow]

You think we'll sign nobody else?

I think maybe one more. Nowhere near what we need though.

 

[dickwalton1964]

To be fair we have played with two (nominally) defensive midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 quite often this season and since Des arrived. Its sort of worked from time to time, mainly thanks to Brannagan heroics if the opposition allow it. But without physicality or pace and guile out wide its mainly just left us battered in the centre, constantly on the back foot and with two of our best players wasted. The switch to a version of 3-5-2 was presumably an effort to be more competitive in midfield but actually left us even worse off and completely toothless. The 4-1-4-1 we played in the second half at Bristol looks the most balanced option available until we have more bodies but was also influenced by Gas sitting deep. Everything we do right now is a compromise until we get the wide attack sorted - Des knows it and has said so in numerous interviews.

FWIW I'm actually agreeing with you here, would love us to get a specialist CDM in but can understand why that's not on the cards given the astronomical wage bill of our current central midfielders. A trade off. Burey looks like he might have something. Harris may be a good option on the right when Goodwin's fit. Browne/Murphy is in the lap of the physio gods and won't hold my breath. For me the bare minimum this week to stay in contention is another winger + extra cover at #9. A right back would be very handy too but might be able to just about get away with Stevens/Long if the rest of the team is ticking.

Will be an important week. This is the most open and weakest L1 in years.

An important week for Des Buckingham personally. For the club ? I don't think it matters too much, we aren't going up or down. This seasons race is run.

 

[MustardYellow]

It is all about the dominoes my friend. All about them dominoes.

Apparently so...