Oxford United happy to bide time (From Herald Series)
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Oxford United happy to bide time
9:30am Tuesday 12th June 2012 in Football
By Mark Edwards, Sports Editor. Call me on 01865 425451
Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas
Kelvin Thomas does not expect any imminent new faces at the Kassam Stadium.
Sean Rigg is the only player to sign for Oxford United so far this summer, a situation that the U’s chairman does not forsee changing in the short term.
And that, Thomas believes, can only be a good thing.
“It has definitely been different from the last few seasons,” he said of the lack of transfer activity.
“It’s not going to be as exciting and dynamic as in the past, but that’s because we have got a decent squad here.
“Everyone loves a signing and it does get people excited, but we have got time.”
He added: “We have been linked with every forward going, but the reality is that with Tyrone Marsh, we have seven forwards in our squad, so unless somebody goes out, we have got our numbers up front.
“I don’t think it will be a very hectic summer.
“If you look at the released list, there are a lot of players out there.
“And if you look at last season, Peter Leven came in a day before we went to America, Liam Davis came in late and they were two successful signings, so there’s no great rush.”
Thomas says that the lack of new faces mean that it will be a steadier build-up to next season, but knows that supporters – like the club – will be raring to go as the new campaign gets closer.
The draw for the Capital One Cup – formerly the Carling Cup – takes place on Thursday, with the npower League Two fixtures released on Monday, June 18.
“Season ticket numbers are good, so I think fans are excited about it all,” he said.
“We have got the Open Day, the new kit going on sale and obviously an exciting pre- season, against very good sides in West Ham and Cardiff, who are bringing their first teams here.”
Comments(57)
Open your eyes
says...
10:35am Tue 12 Jun 12
The squad isn't decent it failed in spectacular fashion last season. It needs serious strengthening in midfield and for the club to go out and do the right thing, bring in a striker who can score some goals.
I really couldn't care less Kelvin about Pre-Season games - the ones priced at Over The Top sums, £16 to watch Cardiff and WHU and then cash in on another new shirt.
You keep taking our money and not strengthening the squad suitably. The Chairman and Owner are beginning to be found out.
yellowhoods
says...
11:02am Tue 12 Jun 12
mandate
says...
12:37pm Tue 12 Jun 12
My advice to the chairman is this... get up out of your chair and start making things happen at this club. I'm tired of your smug complacency. Oxford fans pay good money to support the club, and that support is superb.
FANS PAY GOOD MONEY and WE NEED NEW PLAYERS. It doesn't take a genius to work it out. Use the some of the money that came through the turnstiles last season to get the type of playing staff that will get us where we want to be.
The fans want success and a return to higher leagues. What do you want Kelvin Thomas USE. It's time to start running this club by honouring some of the requests of the finacers of it (the fans).
dave from witney
says...
12:49pm Tue 12 Jun 12
yellowhoods
says...
2:08pm Tue 12 Jun 12
yellowhoods
says...
2:20pm Tue 12 Jun 12
davecuddoufc
says...
2:34pm Tue 12 Jun 12
yellowhoods wrote:Yellow 'playing with your hood just like you should'. You strike me as being some spotty-faced, skinny little twerp, who pulls the legs off spiders, just to show how tough you are (n't). Obviously you're not at school, so you must be unemployed. In one of your earlier boring posts, you squealed that I must be a 'fatty'. Yes, I AM a fat c*nt. But its c*nts like me who make pr*cks like you stand to attention. Mwa mwa.
Beano on twitter" thanks for all the support oxford, I had a special time at the club, the fans are great" he has signed a two year deal at rotherham united, 160, 000
horsham
says...
3:08pm Tue 12 Jun 12
davecuddoufc wrote:davecuddoufc:
yellowhoods wrote:Yellow 'playing with your hood just like you should'. You strike me as being some spotty-faced, skinny little twerp, who pulls the legs off spiders, just to show how tough you are (n't). Obviously you're not at school, so you must be unemployed. In one of your earlier boring posts, you squealed that I must be a 'fatty'. Yes, I AM a fat c*nt. But its c*nts like me who make pr*cks like you stand to attention. Mwa mwa.
Beano on twitter" thanks for all the support oxford, I had a special time at the club, the fans are great" he has signed a two year deal at rotherham united, 160, 000
Pity you don't have something constructive to say about the actual story rather than using thinly disguised swear words to rant at another poster. You may not agree with 'yellowhoods' point of view but why do these comments have to be so nasty.
The fact is Oxford have limited funds and I note some of the comments on here saying 'spend, spend, spend'. Getting out of this division is not all money on players. It is more about man management, tactics, fitness, motivation and the keyword for me 'momentum' as demonstrated by Crewe's fantastic unbeaten run in and promotion...on a limited budget and squad.
yellowhoods
says...
4:01pm Tue 12 Jun 12
davecuddoufc wrote:Oh dear
yellowhoods wrote: Beano on twitter" thanks for all the support oxford, I had a special time at the club, the fans are great" he has signed a two year deal at rotherham united, 160, 000Yellow 'playing with your hood just like you should'. You strike me as being some spotty-faced, skinny little twerp, who pulls the legs off spiders, just to show how tough you are (n't). Obviously you're not at school, so you must be unemployed. In one of your earlier boring posts, you squealed that I must be a 'fatty'. Yes, I AM a fat c*nt. But its c*nts like me who make pr*cks like you stand to attention. Mwa mwa.
dave from witney
says...
4:08pm Tue 12 Jun 12
CamView
says...
4:20pm Tue 12 Jun 12
As a season ticket holder I think I have been short changed - I am not asking for foolish spending but I do expect at least three more good additions to the squad.
OxRoxBox
says...
4:25pm Tue 12 Jun 12
As they say if they are good enough they are old enough and for goodness sake lets try them out if we can't buy the success
Both ways need looking at - you snooze you lose!
oldun
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5:25pm Tue 12 Jun 12
Taffy Duck
says...
9:48pm Tue 12 Jun 12
Open your eyes
says...
10:08pm Tue 12 Jun 12
I am pleased you think the Chairman is doing a good job.
How do you actually know that?
Anyone running a football club at L2/BSP level which will run a loss of about £300k for the 2011/12 season and a debt to the owner which has increased from £2m to £5m isn't doing a great job.
karatavuk
says...
10:16pm Tue 12 Jun 12
Total lack of ambition at OUFC at the moment. Lenegan is only interested in getting his money back. He would happily walk away if he could.
We want a new manager NOW!
oldun
says...
10:35pm Tue 12 Jun 12
Sgt Oxford
says...
8:36am Wed 13 Jun 12
Carterton Sven
says...
8:58am Wed 13 Jun 12
I am happy with the stewardship of Ian Lenagan, Kelvin Thomas and Chris Wilder.
We have finished in our highest league position for a decade, and have improved year on year over the past four years.
Leave this club to the true supporters who can see the bigger picture.
yellowhoods
says...
9:15am Wed 13 Jun 12
Sgt Oxford wrote:Good post, after that we can move on as a club together. Wilder out demo needed at all pre season games!!!!!
Kelvin, Constable and Wilder OUT
Sgt Oxford
says...
9:34am Wed 13 Jun 12
Carterton Sven wrote:OMG you are as deluded as sven goran, Wilder out and a the owners need to take some risks you may be happy watching this S**te with you pucker pie each week but the rest of us arent we need players and good leadership,
Why don't all the negative moaners on this page stop supporting Oxford United, and follow a team like Chelsea or Manchester City. Then you can see your team win most weeks, and have unlimited budgets to spend. I am happy with the stewardship of Ian Lenagan, Kelvin Thomas and Chris Wilder. We have finished in our highest league position for a decade, and have improved year on year over the past four years. Leave this club to the true supporters who can see the bigger picture.
Taffy Duck
says...
1:50pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Open your eyes wrote:Finally we get somebody who is genuinely looking after the best interests of the football club and he gets hounded but people who live in some sort of fantasy world.
And how about the seasons where we made a loss, including the financial mess of last season? I am pleased you think the Chairman is doing a good job. How do you actually know that? Anyone running a football club at L2/BSP level which will run a loss of about £300k for the 2011/12 season and a debt to the owner which has increased from £2m to £5m isn't doing a great job.
Are you real, do you not realise how many times the club has gone close to going out of business? How many times we have had to sell someone just to pay wages? How many good chairman/owner combinations have we had in the past 30 years?
This is the most financially sound that we have ever been, with a very good businessman that actually understands how a football club runs, which is hard to find and you would rather risk that for someone else?
Well, going on the past 3 decades as guidance, it would end in tears. So well done, keep shouting, demonstrating, etc and all your efforts will pay off at some point. I am glad that progress and stability is not enough for you.
And everyone wonders why Joe Kinnear called Oxford fans muppets!
yellowhoods
says...
2:16pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Taffy Duck wrote:Getting out of the bottom tier is hardly fantasy world, open your eyes, we are being sold down the river again
Open your eyes wrote: And how about the seasons where we made a loss, including the financial mess of last season? I am pleased you think the Chairman is doing a good job. How do you actually know that? Anyone running a football club at L2/BSP level which will run a loss of about £300k for the 2011/12 season and a debt to the owner which has increased from £2m to £5m isn't doing a great job.Finally we get somebody who is genuinely looking after the best interests of the football club and he gets hounded but people who live in some sort of fantasy world. Are you real, do you not realise how many times the club has gone close to going out of business? How many times we have had to sell someone just to pay wages? How many good chairman/owner combinations have we had in the past 30 years? This is the most financially sound that we have ever been, with a very good businessman that actually understands how a football club runs, which is hard to find and you would rather risk that for someone else? Well, going on the past 3 decades as guidance, it would end in tears. So well done, keep shouting, demonstrating, etc and all your efforts will pay off at some point. I am glad that progress and stability is not enough for you. And everyone wonders why Joe Kinnear called Oxford fans muppets!
oldun
says...
2:17pm Wed 13 Jun 12
OxRoxBox
says...
4:15pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Completely agree with you and for those like us who can remember when Oxford were in the 1st Division and feeding players to the likes of Liverpool FC these years are mighty frustrating. There is no harm with having ambition and like all teams, armies, Companies, even flocks of Geese . . . you can only follow ambition by leading from the front! And just like flocks of geese or even Chairmen of companies when one gets warn out, tired or fails then he is replaced. You then have a better chance of getting to where you want to go.
Natural progression over 30 years has got us to the verge of the playoffs in the bottom tier. I, like many of us on here, will be 6 foot under before we get back to the likes of Aldridge, Houghton etc . . . fading memories as Stevenage and Crawley sweep past us!
adlibber
says...
5:09pm Wed 13 Jun 12
oldun
says...
5:15pm Wed 13 Jun 12
We must not be satisfied with a postion below about tenth in the division above the division we are in now - the Third Division. Sort it out Mr L
bigchet
says...
5:40pm Wed 13 Jun 12
oldun
says...
7:00pm Wed 13 Jun 12
karatavuk
says...
7:21pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Wilder alienates his best players who then want to go elsewhere. Some players are on good money while others are offered derisory pay deals.
Pay Chapman what he deserves. He is one of the best prospects in league 2 and could easily play at a higher level.
Why don't the players want to play for Wilder?
jimbomcmucka
says...
10:54pm Wed 13 Jun 12
I understand that heritage is important, but we have to remember. OUFC is now a relatively young club after being stripped of almost everything by Kassam. Kassam almost acted as a reset button for the club, and since his departure we have progressed. Granted not promotion year on year, but still progression (especially considering injuries this season).
I would much rather knowing that there will be a club that I can take my grandchildren to go see, the same way I started going to see the u's, than some false success from spending above our means and going out of business, or getting relegated for going into administration and getting points deducted.
People seem to complain that we dont have much money, and complain that we arent buying players but also complain when the club tries to make money from shirts, ticket sales etc. the only other way forward would be to owe our owners huge amounts of money. Look how that ends up.
The reason we made a loss this year was because of the fees of loan players (im not gong to comment on the performance of these players) but the fact is most of these had to come in to cover a season of freak injuries. We haven't yet seen what this squad can truly do when fit. And I for one feel we have a much better squad than got promoted from bsp, and in fact the best squad we have had at the Kassam stadium for many many years.
I feel some improved additions to coaching staff to help improve winning mentality and a couple of players added to the squad could make a promotion winning team.
oldun
says...
5:35am Thu 14 Jun 12
oldun
says...
5:35am Thu 14 Jun 12
Yellow Hoods
says...
9:13am Thu 14 Jun 12
yellowhoods wrote:Dear reader.
Decent squad??? Cant even get a play off spot in the bottom tier. That squad will never get out of that poor league, 6 of those players are conference standard at best. Poor, poor, season ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!staying up will be hard
Please discount any views published on this site by "yellow hoods". He / she is a troublemaking troll using my sign on for the Yellows OUFC fans' forum to make ignorant statements about the club many of us love.
I am the real YellowHoods. This fool does not represent my views, nor the views of the majority of OUFC supporters.
I, personally, am a strong supporter of Kelvin Thomas, recognise the steady hand he has brought to bear on the running of OUFC and would thank him for bringing us league football again.
I would also thank Chris Wilder for the progress he has overseen at the club since our dark days in the BSP. Things did, however, go horribly wrong towards the end of last season and I understand the frustrations of some fans towards his continuing management. Many of us will be looking for a good, promotion hunting start to next season.
That said, any sensible OUFC fan is not looking for us to spend beyond our means to gain promotion, as this would likely to damage the club in the longer term.
Finally, any OUFC regular knows Dave Cudd - by name and reputation at least - and has utmost respect for the good work she has been involved in.
Yellow Hoods
says...
9:15am Thu 14 Jun 12
badger86
says...
9:49am Thu 14 Jun 12
oldun
says...
10:12am Thu 14 Jun 12
Yellow Hoods
says...
10:31am Thu 14 Jun 12
Sgt Oxford wrote:Yeh, go on IL. Cut your losses and sell the club back to some millionaire hotelier. He can then force the club into oblivion.
Kelvin, Constable and Wilder OUT
Do you actually have a fully functioning brain ?
marston old boy
says...
11:06am Thu 14 Jun 12
marston old boy
says...
11:06am Thu 14 Jun 12
oldun
says...
12:26pm Thu 14 Jun 12
Sgt Oxford
says...
12:52pm Thu 14 Jun 12
oldun
says...
1:04pm Thu 14 Jun 12
marathon2012
says...
1:42am Fri 15 Jun 12
Decent Manager, Decent Scout , Decent Pundit all have good connections with players of a higher caliber. lets get this club ware it should be div 1 or championship.
T Chandler
says...
8:08am Fri 15 Jun 12
mattyproper77
says...
1:38pm Fri 15 Jun 12
but still, i can see OUFC should almost certainly dispose of the current regime in favour of...actually haven't read any better ideas on here. it's not as if the country is in financial meltdown and there's not ££££ for a jolly, right?
tickets cost way too much, i feel sad for younger oxford fans who will never have experienced the 'us against the world' we had in past times when it was £2-5 to stand and we weren't all obese and wearing replica shirts...but that's progress.
I blame it all on the gypsy curse, yeah.
davecuddoufc
says...
5:00pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Yellow Hoods wrote:Apologies accepted, yellow H! I am in fact, a Scroton, from the planet B*llocks!
EDIT - Dave Cudd is, of course, a "he"! Apologies Cuddy.
HopefulOx
says...
5:09pm Fri 15 Jun 12
We need to all take a step back and remember where we were before Wilder and Thomas.
I think KT has done a fantastic job he's kept us from sorts of financial trouble, A few of us seem to have forgotten how bad it was!
As for Wilder ....well I dont fully agree with the tactics and SOME of his signings are a bit duff .....but he has also done some good things at the end of the day we just missed out on the play offs , we wouldve been happy with the play offs in the conference not so long back.
I dont however agree with KT's comment of playing a waiting game, The are alot of good players out there , does he believe waiting is a good thing? - we'll be left with the players that noone else wanted to pick from ...how can that be good? The thing that has worked so well for KT and CW is that some how they manage to convince some GOOD players to come to us.
We need to try and bring some youth through the system , I'd like to see this Marsh be more involved
Something does seem wrong in the background though CW does seem to struggle keeping the players head up.
jimbomcmucka
says...
5:16pm Fri 15 Jun 12
HopefulOx wrote:I agree with the issue of keeping players heads up.. i think this has been an issue at the club for a long time now, even before wilder.
This is what is so frustrating being an oxford fan.
We need to all take a step back and remember where we were before Wilder and Thomas.
I think KT has done a fantastic job he's kept us from sorts of financial trouble, A few of us seem to have forgotten how bad it was!
As for Wilder ....well I dont fully agree with the tactics and SOME of his signings are a bit duff .....but he has also done some good things at the end of the day we just missed out on the play offs , we wouldve been happy with the play offs in the conference not so long back.
I dont however agree with KT's comment of playing a waiting game, The are alot of good players out there , does he believe waiting is a good thing? - we'll be left with the players that noone else wanted to pick from ...how can that be good? The thing that has worked so well for KT and CW is that some how they manage to convince some GOOD players to come to us.
We need to try and bring some youth through the system , I'd like to see this Marsh be more involved
Something does seem wrong in the background though CW does seem to struggle keeping the players head up.
Unfortunately players do seem to get worse under us after time, and we seem to have been clutching defeats and draws from the jaws of victory for some time. Maybe its a coaching issue also?
I truely believe some signings in the coaching dept would benefit the club as much as signing additional players.
davecuddoufc
says...
6:33pm Fri 15 Jun 12
davecuddoufc
says...
6:37pm Fri 15 Jun 12
davecuddoufc
says...
6:38pm Fri 15 Jun 12
oldun
says...
7:37pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Yellow Hoods
says...
4:07pm Sat 16 Jun 12
OxRoxBox
says...
6:58am Sun 17 Jun 12
Let's get up and at them this coming season and fill the players and Manager with confidence to go for it in each and every game - winning is a habit and last season we were like rabbits stuck in headlights too often. Snatching a defeat or a draw from the jaws of success became a habit and it cost us dear.
The victories over Swindon proved we had the heart but the Manager needs to instill that feeling every game and then just maybe we will ge the promotion that we the fans deserve.
RocketMan
says...
9:38pm Thu 21 Jun 12
yellowhoods says...
9:50am Tue 12 Jun 12
!staying up will be hard