Oxford United 0 Rotherham United 4 (Noble 30, Arnason 33, Mullins 41, Pringle 44) (From Herald Series)

Wilder you clown f**k off !!!!

ok so now we need 8 wins and 2 draws...

thank god we have enough to stay up. drop a few more points and maybe we can have a look at some of the up and coming players CW is reluctant to let out.

Even I got a bit hopeful last week but this shows that the York game wasn't a blip, the 2 in between were and this evening we come crashing back to reality. The side appeared shell shocked and out of their depth and that was before a goal had been scored, Duberry and Whing obviously weren't fit so it was a massive gamble to start with them, I can understand that after Chapmans performance on Saturday he didn't want to play him but Heslop?, the days of the thunderbolt strikes are gone and he just doesn't contribute anything effective to the team effort. Sorry to sound negative but can anything positive be found in this, from OUs point of view I mean. Rotherham shouldn't be too delighted either as they beat no one of substance. Another season peters out. My worry is that this defeat will do more to shatter confidence than last weeks 2 wins did to rebuild it.

Lenagan keep your promise and sack Wilder now!

Disgrace.

Poor, poor display. We gave too much respect to Rotherham: changing our formation to counteract them rather than the other way around. They looked likely to score with every attack in the first half. Once again the phrase don't fix it if it isn't busted comes to mind. What a total let down. Top half at best.

Any wilder supporters want to defend him now?? Why change a winning team? Why completely change the formation? The man is an idiot and needs to go,now. Was good to hearthe fans chanting for him to go at full time.

Wilder, Lewis, Melville, and the majority of the squad out.

Oh dear.....the six fingered inbreds are not happy!

Such a shame!!

I have said before and will say again, Wlder is inept, tactically useless and has chosen a bunch of players who can't run or pass to another payer wearing yellow.

If he does nothing else this season he HAS to pay Crocombe in goal and bring back Tyrone Marsh and give them both experience in the first team, then he can walk away.

He can also take Capaldi, Raynes, Worley, Heslop, Parker, Davies, Pittman, O'Brien, Leven, Montrose and Richards, then with a decent manager we just might get some fit players in.

P45 time to ALL of the management team.

If we had got something out of this game and somehow had achieved the play offs there would have been calls from the usual suspects for CW to be given another year. This result proves the total inconsistancy of the team yet again and this time puts the final nail in cw coffin, but he will not be sacked as the owner said at the fans forum, 250,000 reasons why not in the summer hes contract will not be renewed simple, wasted year

It amazes me that even after the unlikely wins last week that some delusional people still think we are good enough to go up, let's get it right, that's exactly what they are because we are absolute rubbish. I'm glad we lost tonight because like others have said it means that we are not papering over the cracks of what has been a very disappointing season. And for those who actually think going up would be a good thing, spare a thought for what would actually happen if this squad did go upto league 1 this season! It would not be pleasant viewing, hammered on a weekly basis would be my prediction. I would rather we rebuilt and constructed a squad ready to hold their own at that level, the current lot are so far off that and anyone that thinks otherwise needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

The players simply didn't know what to do tonight, Davies and Batt didn't know whether they were defending or attacking, three centre halves just didn't work, Duberry looked overweight and unfit, Raynes looked confused, especially when he was pushed up into midfield after the third goal. How Potter got Man of the Match I don't know (it should have been Wright - the only player to come out with any credit) he kept losing the ball. Rotherham beat us to every 50/50 ball and their forwards looked lively and quick. Another match in which Heslop played and we lost, his record is so, so poor, after he went off (even if Rotherham had lost interest by then) we didn't concede. Why was Constable not brought on - was the plan not to go down by more than 4 rather than make a fight of it? I'm afraid that Wilder didn't have a clue and his confusion transferred to the players. 10 games to go, time for Westley to look at the squad and decide which of the 16 out of contract players he wants to keep - very few I suspect.

YellowLAD wrote:
It amazes me that even after the unlikely wins last week that some delusional people still think we are good enough to go up, let's get it right, that's exactly what they are because we are absolute rubbish. I'm glad we lost tonight because like others have said it means that we are not papering over the cracks of what has been a very disappointing season. And for those who actually think going up would be a good thing, spare a thought for what would actually happen if this squad did go upto league 1 this season! It would not be pleasant viewing, hammered on a weekly basis would be my prediction. I would rather we rebuilt and constructed a squad ready to hold their own at that level, the current lot are so far off that and anyone that thinks otherwise needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

You are glad we lost? No Oxford fan should ever be glad we lost no matter the circumstance. My assessment of tonight's match is: tactics - wrong. Player selection - wrong. By the time Wilder thought, ooooh, this isn't going to plan, I better change things a bit, the damage had been done and the game was lost. He then keeps Constable - the one player who does actually give a **** on the bench altough I imagine even Constable was glad not to be involved in that shambolic display. In the second half, Rotherham took their foot off the gas completely. The game was won, they could save their energy for more trying opponents. We huffed and we puffed and failed to produce one single decent opportunity.

I gave credit to Wilder for the Port Vale & Gillingham matches, he got his tactics spot on for them. I blame him entirely for that shambles we witnessed tonight. The problem is games like tonight (if not the result) have been all too often this season & Wilder needs to take responsibility for it. The excuses ran out a long time ago.

And please, not Westley. There are better managers out there who don't have to cheat to win matches. A man so gutless he informs players by text if they are in the side, being kept on or being let go instead of being man enough to tell them personally face-to-face.

I have no clue about footer - even less than CW (or Heslop) - my excuse - old age!!!

Manor Born, of course these people are glad we lost it gives them a chance to moan! That said I cannot defend CW after this display, why change formation after two great wins? it makes no sense. As for Westley, NO!

Didn't make it last night due to feeling unwell but glad I didn't go. CW changing a winning team...Why?
4 goals against us in 14 minutes...Discracefu
ll! Fan's will only be loosing interest until he has gone. You can already see it in attendances! Sort it out Lenegan..Not just for you but for all of the paying and loyal fans.

Wilder is a laughing stock - his inconsistency and inexperience has been his undoing. It's inexplicable that we can beat the top two teams within days of each other then for us to lose so emphatically to a team who's own performances this season have been slightly less iffy than ours.

Wilder has to go as does his coaching staff their mediocrity and lack of imagination,knowledg
e and ingenuity has given us a dreadfully average team.

For those who think fans are glad to see the team lose I'd suggest that they care more see more and know that under Wilder we will not go anywhere except backwards.

Westley can eff off BTW he's not good enough.

I keep saying it but if Wilder had any dignity he would walk but he hasn't so he won't. So many players in this squad that would struggle several leagues down from us.

Is Wilder still there?

Hope not.

Lunchtime deadline i reckon, clear your office, take your cup a soups and leave.

Manor Born wrote:
And please, not Westley. There are better managers out there who don't have to cheat to win matches. A man so gutless he informs players by text if they are in the side, being kept on or being let go instead of being man enough to tell them personally face-to-face.

I'm not necessarily pro or anti Westley, don't know enough about him, though his record at Stevenage speaks for itself. I'm aware that he attempted a 'root and branch' overhaul at Preston that didn't come off but most are suggesting that's exactly what is called for at United! I'd be interested to know where you got this information regarding Westley's 'management-style' from! And if you're saying there are better managers out there it would be interesting to see this backed up with a few names - not many spring to mind with me!

wayoutwest wrote:

Manor Born wrote:
And please, not Westley. There are better managers out there who don't have to cheat to win matches. A man so gutless he informs players by text if they are in the side, being kept on or being let go instead of being man enough to tell them personally face-to-face.

I'm not necessarily pro or anti Westley, don't know enough about him, though his record at Stevenage speaks for itself. I'm aware that he attempted a 'root and branch' overhaul at Preston that didn't come off but most are suggesting that's exactly what is called for at United! I'd be interested to know where you got this information regarding Westley's 'management-style' from! And if you're saying there are better managers out there it would be interesting to see this backed up with a few names - not many spring to mind with me!

We do need root and branch surgery and Westleys efforts at PNE suggest he shouldn't be invited to do the same here, not many names spring to my mind but I am not a Westleys fan, too much up his own backend, Paul Buckle is one who has a reasonable record but he never stays anywhere long so again wouldn't be my choice. I don't think we should look down to the BSP or even too high, we perhaps need someone with experience at this level but then again there are some very good young coaches at other clubs that may be a better option, it's a risk whether they can step up to full management or not, should IL take that risk and miss out on a good prospect or plump for a seasoned manager? Answers please on a postcard! It will be interesting to see Wilder up against his former tutor at Torquay on Saturday, I wonder how that will turn out, on last nights form could be a humiliation, Alan Knill was at the game last night and I wonder what he made of it? He did leave 15 minutes before the end perhaps keen to get back to Instill his players with the info to put another hatful past OU.

Spot on, Adman. Most worrying re CW and co is that when it goes wrong they stand in the dugout like rabbits in the headlights, and seem clueless as to what to do. Change is not wrong in itself - but only when it is needed (which was not last night!) and there has to be a Plan B when you take risky decisions. Last night was as depressing as it gets, and that's saying something after all these years.

Off the pitch I hear worrying stories around the loss of Bridle sponsorship - high-handed attitudes from IL that would appear to be borne out by all the departures. It is your money, IL, but people still want to have to work for you
and with you..... This must be a nightmare for you too - but keep the fans on-side or the game's up

It might be just timing but Bridle pulled out of the deal when McCormick joined, literally within 12 hours, and this was confirmed by a mate who knows, same as Heslop telling him he hated it at Oxford and wanted to go.

shocking result last night lack of punch up front and very poor at the back. inexplicable to leave your two top scorers on the bench when four nil down. team selection was obviously wrong three centrebacks did not work for us when we tried it before., and no mention of midfielders chapman and montrose instead bringing in davies who is short of match practice. much has been made about the poor pitch but it did not seem hamper rotherham. barring a minor miracle the season looks dead now.

adlibber wrote:
Wilder is a laughing stock - his inconsistency and inexperience has been his undoing. It's inexplicable that we can beat the top two teams within days of each other then for us to lose so emphatically to a team who's own performances this season have been slightly less iffy than ours.

Wilder has to go as does his coaching staff their mediocrity and lack of imagination,knowledg

e and ingenuity has given us a dreadfully average team.

For those who think fans are glad to see the team lose I'd suggest that they care more see more and know that under Wilder we will not go anywhere except backwards.

Westley can eff off BTW he's not good enough.

I keep saying it but if Wilder had any dignity he would walk but he hasn't so he won't. So many players in this squad that would struggle several leagues down from us.

Spot on adlibber. My biggest fear is that we finish the season strongly duly papering over the cracks and IL renews Wilder's contract. We are not good enough. The players he has brought in are not good enough. The decisions he makes the vast majority of the time are not good enough. The lack of consideration for just some of the youth team players who are currently flying and who IMO could do a better job than some of our first team players is not good enough. So it's all very well Manor Born sitting on his high horse and saying we shouldn't be wanting us to lose but I would not be surprised if a decent finish to the season gets Wilder a new deal.

YellowLAD wrote:

adlibber wrote:
Wilder is a laughing stock - his inconsistency and inexperience has been his undoing. It's inexplicable that we can beat the top two teams within days of each other then for us to lose so emphatically to a team who's own performances this season have been slightly less iffy than ours.

Wilder has to go as does his coaching staff their mediocrity and lack of imagination,knowledg


e and ingenuity has given us a dreadfully average team.

For those who think fans are glad to see the team lose I'd suggest that they care more see more and know that under Wilder we will not go anywhere except backwards.

Westley can eff off BTW he's not good enough.

I keep saying it but if Wilder had any dignity he would walk but he hasn't so he won't. So many players in this squad that would struggle several leagues down from us.

Spot on adlibber. My biggest fear is that we finish the season strongly duly papering over the cracks and IL renews Wilder's contract. We are not good enough. The players he has brought in are not good enough. The decisions he makes the vast majority of the time are not good enough. The lack of consideration for just some of the youth team players who are currently flying and who IMO could do a better job than some of our first team players is not good enough. So it's all very well Manor Born sitting on his high horse and saying we shouldn't be wanting us to lose but I would not be surprised if a decent finish to the season gets Wilder a new deal.

I agree with your view entirely YellowLad but I seriously hope Lenagan is of the opinion that promotion this season is the only thing that will keep Wilder in his job and I'll be amazed if we do go up so I'm guessing Wilder will be off. The worry is Lenagan will look for cheap replacement although I hope it isn't in house as the coaching staff have to take a share of the blame for this miserable existence we currently have.

Agree with you re youth players and we should be blooding them asap to see who's good enough for a full season. wilder doesn't have the nous or the courage to change his stifling ideology. I suspect we may limp away towards end of season just we like we did last year. Wilder simply not good enough for me.

If I were Ian Lenagan then I'd be on the phone to potential managers this very morning. I doubt Lenagan will have the time though.

Westley would be a great appointment. He doesn't cheat, he bends the rules. There is a significant difference. Our club morals went out the window when we signed Chapman and McCormick back on.

Open your eyes wrote:
If I were Ian Lenagan then I'd be on the phone to potential managers this very morning. I doubt Lenagan will have the time though.

Westley would be a great appointment. He doesn't cheat, he bends the rules. There is a significant difference. Our club morals went out the window when we signed Chapman and McCormick back on.

Disagree on Westley he was found out at Preston and Stevenage was his peak. We need to look beyond the scope of one horse wonders. Having said that until Lenagan decides on whether or not he has a future with the club I guess we'll just drift along until we disappear into non league again. Lenagan in an impossible position with Kassam and I don't blame him for not pouring millions into owning a ground long before there's a team and manager to do the place justice.

adlibber wrote:

YellowLAD wrote:

adlibber wrote:
Wilder is a laughing stock - his inconsistency and inexperience has been his undoing. It's inexplicable that we can beat the top two teams within days of each other then for us to lose so emphatically to a team who's own performances this season have been slightly less iffy than ours.

Wilder has to go as does his coaching staff their mediocrity and lack of imagination,knowledg



e and ingenuity has given us a dreadfully average team.

For those who think fans are glad to see the team lose I'd suggest that they care more see more and know that under Wilder we will not go anywhere except backwards.

Westley can eff off BTW he's not good enough.

I keep saying it but if Wilder had any dignity he would walk but he hasn't so he won't. So many players in this squad that would struggle several leagues down from us.

Spot on adlibber. My biggest fear is that we finish the season strongly duly papering over the cracks and IL renews Wilder's contract. We are not good enough. The players he has brought in are not good enough. The decisions he makes the vast majority of the time are not good enough. The lack of consideration for just some of the youth team players who are currently flying and who IMO could do a better job than some of our first team players is not good enough. So it's all very well Manor Born sitting on his high horse and saying we shouldn't be wanting us to lose but I would not be surprised if a decent finish to the season gets Wilder a new deal.

I agree with your view entirely YellowLad but I seriously hope Lenagan is of the opinion that promotion this season is the only thing that will keep Wilder in his job and I'll be amazed if we do go up so I'm guessing Wilder will be off. The worry is Lenagan will look for cheap replacement although I hope it isn't in house as the coaching staff have to take a share of the blame for this miserable existence we currently have.

Agree with you re youth players and we should be blooding them asap to see who's good enough for a full season. wilder doesn't have the nous or the courage to change his stifling ideology. I suspect we may limp away towards end of season just we like we did last year. Wilder simply not good enough for me.

That's exactly what it takes courage and trust in these young players to go and show what they can do. One thing I know is they can't do any worse than what we are seeing from the more senior pro's currently. When you say you are sceptical of in house appointments, I'd be interested to know your thoughts on Chrissy Allen being our new man? Maybe I should put my tin hat on at this point but I don't think it's the worst shout ever. I know we've had our fingers burnt previously with Patto but I know CA commands great respect from even the most senior players in the dressing room and he has worked wonders with the youth team.

Always excuses with that idiot Wilder isn’t it?! They have championship players! They are better than us! Boo hoo!
Nothing to do with the shocking tactics and line up eh? Why change a winning side? Why change formation? Why leave it till 4 down to make substitutions?

Why are Rotherham better than us? Is it because their manager can attract a decent player? Is it because their manager picks the right players in correct positions? Is it because their manager actually manages the team?

Watching the game last night, at 0-4, Steve Evans was out on the touchline, barking orders. Where was Chris wilder and his bunch of merry men?...stood next to the dug-out hand in pockets with not an f****** clue between them.

Last night was an absolute embarrassment, and the fact that Wilder cannot say ‘Look, I got it wrong, sorry’ adds insult to injury. We spend a lot of money, and give up a lot of time to be served up with that.

Go now Wilder, no one wants you at Oxford anymore. If you had of done the decent thing and walked earlier in the season you would have kept some credibility, now your time here is tainted.

Wilder out.

wayoutwest wrote:

Manor Born wrote:
And please, not Westley. There are better managers out there who don't have to cheat to win matches. A man so gutless he informs players by text if they are in the side, being kept on or being let go instead of being man enough to tell them personally face-to-face.

I'm not necessarily pro or anti Westley, don't know enough about him, though his record at Stevenage speaks for itself. I'm aware that he attempted a 'root and branch' overhaul at Preston that didn't come off but most are suggesting that's exactly what is called for at United! I'd be interested to know where you got this information regarding Westley's 'management-style' from! And if you're saying there are better managers out there it would be interesting to see this backed up with a few names - not many spring to mind with me!

I suspect that each one of us could come up with dozens of names of possible managers who are better than CW (I could - both think of dozens of names and do better than CW did last night) . For many many years we have not been a club which has been over ambitious in terms of our managers!! I might be panned for suggesting a great rookie manager - as were Saunders (with us) and O'Neill (with Wyscum) . It is too much to expect IL to go for an experienced recently sacked man - like Jim Smith, Ian Greaves or Arthur Turner - brilliant all of them. I would settle for a latter day Denis Smith - or even a Brian Horton - or even an Ian Atkins (hatred his footer - but a very good man). Managers much better than CW exist in their droves - many , many would apply for the United job (if it paid good rates by liitle 4th div standards!! Even you could name many 'wayoutwest' - couldn't you - we are not asking for a Jim Smith or an Arthur Turner

YellowLAD wrote:

adlibber wrote:

YellowLAD wrote:

adlibber wrote:
Wilder is a laughing stock - his inconsistency and inexperience has been his undoing. It's inexplicable that we can beat the top two teams within days of each other then for us to lose so emphatically to a team who's own performances this season have been slightly less iffy than ours.

Wilder has to go as does his coaching staff their mediocrity and lack of imagination,knowledg




e and ingenuity has given us a dreadfully average team.

For those who think fans are glad to see the team lose I'd suggest that they care more see more and know that under Wilder we will not go anywhere except backwards.

Westley can eff off BTW he's not good enough.

I keep saying it but if Wilder had any dignity he would walk but he hasn't so he won't. So many players in this squad that would struggle several leagues down from us.

Spot on adlibber. My biggest fear is that we finish the season strongly duly papering over the cracks and IL renews Wilder's contract. We are not good enough. The players he has brought in are not good enough. The decisions he makes the vast majority of the time are not good enough. The lack of consideration for just some of the youth team players who are currently flying and who IMO could do a better job than some of our first team players is not good enough. So it's all very well Manor Born sitting on his high horse and saying we shouldn't be wanting us to lose but I would not be surprised if a decent finish to the season gets Wilder a new deal.

I agree with your view entirely YellowLad but I seriously hope Lenagan is of the opinion that promotion this season is the only thing that will keep Wilder in his job and I'll be amazed if we do go up so I'm guessing Wilder will be off. The worry is Lenagan will look for cheap replacement although I hope it isn't in house as the coaching staff have to take a share of the blame for this miserable existence we currently have.

Agree with you re youth players and we should be blooding them asap to see who's good enough for a full season. wilder doesn't have the nous or the courage to change his stifling ideology. I suspect we may limp away towards end of season just we like we did last year. Wilder simply not good enough for me.

That's exactly what it takes courage and trust in these young players to go and show what they can do. One thing I know is they can't do any worse than what we are seeing from the more senior pro's currently. When you say you are sceptical of in house appointments, I'd be interested to know your thoughts on Chrissy Allen being our new man? Maybe I should put my tin hat on at this point but I don't think it's the worst shout ever. I know we've had our fingers burnt previously with Patto but I know CA commands great respect from even the most senior players in the dressing room and he has worked wonders with the youth team.

Chris Allen has potential but not sure whether the step up so quickly would work for him. Maybe promotion to assistant might be a good starting point? I guess a new manager will be selected on cost as well as ability but given Wilder has clearly run his course Lenagan will have to make a decision for the good of the club.

Wilders excuses are an embarrassment to himself,club and fans. He really can't accept his own failings and that's why he can't move upwards. I don't like to see anyone lose their job but fans turn up in numbers to watch the club and we've now had 3 years of dross and no sign of moving on.

Adam Chapman out on loan to Mansfield for the rest of the season, so that's him creating more chances for Matt Green, oh we let him go as well.

Wilder, your mental.

YellowLAD, the only issue I have with your post is that you said you were glad we lost. You only need to look at the majority of my posts on here to see I am one of the most vehemently opposed to Wilder's continuation as manager. He should have gone before Christmas, he sure as hell shouldn't be in charge of our football team.

It looks like we're stuck with him until the end of the season. Am I happy with that? No. Still doesn't mean I am pleased to see the football club I support & have supported for as long as I can remember get so easily hammered & embarrassed.