Rival Watch

[Hound]

Yeah, looked OK. Missed a chance and fell apart. Did ok in Scotland.
Got played as a RW in preseason last year and unsurprisingly looked poor as he isn't a RWer and we've made it abundantly clear we don't want him.

Basically made a rod for our own back. Gave him a long contract. Treated him like shit and made it clear he's not wanted. Not a surprise he hasn't really performed.

Obvs shouldn’t have got 4 years. He has done ‘ok’ on a very poor Scots prem; not pulled up any trees

He has had a clean slate under 3 managers and failed to impress any of them. That’s plenty of opportunity, he just isn’t up to it. No excuses.

Has he had a clean slate?

Or has his card been marked since Clement?

Sent out on loan by Gomes. Bowen sticks him at RW in pre-season. Didn't he go on loan before Pauno took over? Not featured in any friendlies for him this summer has he?

Not exactly what I'd call a clean slate. He hasn't performed and he's not great. But maybe if we hadn't treated him shit he'd be more motivated and be able to at least contribute a little off the bench, given we're stuck with him.

He had a game last night. Don’t you think Pauno wouldn’t absolutely love to have another (probably cheap) option available to him at the moment? I’m sure he doesn’t give a monkeys what he has done or not done before. Gomes watched him and didn’t rate him, same as Bowen.

[NathStPaul]

Don't forget its not just about matches, its about training and general attitude too. There is a reason why every manager we've had in the last few years hasn't rated him.

My assessment of him is he is a decent League 1 or 2 striker providing he plays up top with someone. He's not a workhorse, he's a poacher who can put away chances in and around the box. We've played one up top for as long as I can remember so system wise he's got no hope.

I don't wish him any ill but he does need to go.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Played in midfield for U23's last night....strange

[Snowflake Royal]

Played in midfield for U23's last night....strange

Excellent way to assess his ability.

Hey Marc, we don't want you, we don't rate you. We've been trying to get rid of you for years. Now go play in midfield for the U23s to make up the numbers.

Sorry, you didn't impress.



As for seeing him in training, he's been out on loan most of the last few seasons, so has only trained with the team in preseason

[NathStPaul]

Or the player asked for the opportunity to impress in a new role? Who knows?

Well done to him for turning up, could easily refuse to play and down tools. He's at least got a determination to play and not just pick up a cheque which he could easily do.

[Hound]

Played in midfield for U23's last night....strange

Excellent way to assess his ability.

Hey Marc, we don't want you, we don't rate you. We've been trying to get rid of you for years. Now go play in midfield for the U23s to make up the numbers.

Sorry, you didn't impress.



As for seeing him in training, he's been out on loan most of the last few seasons, so has only trained with the team in preseason

who is 'we?'. its a totally different coaching set up to the one under Gomes and Bowen. Like I said, if Pauno rated him at all he'd be in the mix. Its a pretty damning assessment that they don't want him involved in the first team despite us having about 14 fit first team pros (and thats inc Tetek and Azeez). And even you Ian would struggle to argue against that*

* well you wouldn't obviously

[Snowflake Royal]

Eddie N has only recently left and the money men haven't really changed.

You're missing the point that the way we have treated him before now will affect his current motivation and performance. And ignoring that playing him out of position isn't giving him a decent chance, it's using him to make up numbers.

[Hound]

Not missing any point - the fact that previous regimes didn’t rate him should give him even more motivation to prove his worth

The money men? Dai? Other than that they have changed

[NathStPaul]

No point in having a discussion with someone who won't listen and is deliberately aggressive from the get go.

[Snowflake Royal]

Not missing any point - the fact that previous regimes didn’t rate him should give him even more motivation to prove his worth

The money men? Dai? Other than that they have changed

Not in the last year they haven't.

[Hound]

Not missing any point - the fact that previous regimes didn’t rate him should give him even more motivation to prove his worth

The money men? Dai? Other than that they have changed

Not in the last year they haven't.

Who we taking about? The chief Exec? Ie Dayong Pang who joined 24th August 2020. Not sure who else you are referring to. Not that I doubt he has much opinion on him or any sway on whether he plays or not

[Simmops]

Eddie N has only recently left and the money men haven't really changed.

You're missing the point that the way we have treated him before now will affect his current motivation and performance. And ignoring that playing him out of position isn't giving him a decent chance, it's using him to make up numbers.

I think you are missing the point because he would want to try harder and better to get into the first team

[Simmops]

hearing from my mate who is a newcastle fan (so neutral) that he is watching blackburn vs swansea and he said swansea are looking genuinely oxf*rd atrocious, and made about 7 mistakes at the back to let blackburn in

[The Cube]

Have heard direct from EFL that the definition is FIVE matches (maybe starts, not sure) not one, as mistakenly reported on BBC and elsewhere.

You are making that up. If you read the official EFL statement regarding the Derby Chorley game which was issued on 20 July in the notes it categorically gives the definition of a player of professional standing to be when they have played one game. It also says if a player goes out on loan they still count in the 23. So we have 24 current players who have been involved in at least one game as I said earlier. I imagine we are trying to get special dispensation to give us some scope to sign a few - perhaps one out on loan one in.

Head of legal at EFL said otherwise in response to a direct question, suggesting that it was wrong for just one app to count you in as one of the 23 allowed players. Five he said. Maybe we'd better get in touch with the club to make sure they know!

There are 2 different things:

Player of Professional Standing (23 allowed) - A Player who has made one first team appearance (including as a sub) for any Club in any first team competition (EFL Trophy appearances do not count).

Established Player (24 allowed) - A player aged 21 or over as at the 30 June immediately prior to the commencement of the season in which the Club is subject to the Embargo and who has been named in the starting XI on a total of at least five occasions.

We have more players in the first category than would allow us to make signings, but we do have scope in the second category.The published version of the rules does not make it clear whether it is "both" or "either/or" that go into decisions.

[linkenholtroyal]

Would be interesting how they fit into positions in our squad.
Who are the 24 that have made an appearance?
I have
Rafael
Southwood
Yiadom
McIntyre
Holmes
Moore
Morrison
Tetek
Meite
Rinhomota
Aruruna
Laurent
Puscas
Joao
Mcnulty
Aruruna
Swift
Ejaria
Melvin-Lambert
Bristow
Samuels
Abbey
Azeez
Dorsett
Sackey

If Azeez has not started a game yet I think he will start on the right tomorrow so will qualify as another one.

I have updated after today so we have 24 players with at least 1 first team appearance. So officially we can’t sign anyone unless someone leaves.

[Stranded]

Rather silly rule that could see clubs not loan academy players out or give them 10 mins if one appearance makes them count towards your numbers. But if it's the rule then we have, what we have - unless we sell or loan out a few.

[Stranded]

Would be interesting how they fit into positions in our squad.
Who are the 24 that have made an appearance?
I have
Rafael
Southwood
Yiadom
McIntyre
Holmes
Moore
Morrison
Tetek
Meite
Rinhomota
Aruruna
Laurent
Puscas
Joao
Mcnulty
Aruruna
Swift
Ejaria
Melvin-Lambert
Bristow
Samuels
Abbey
Azeez
Dorsett
Sackey

If Azeez has not started a game yet I think he will start on the right tomorrow so will qualify as another one.

I have updated after today so we have 24 players with at least 1 first team appearance. So officially we can’t sign anyone unless someone leaves.

M-L is on loan currently so won't count to our numbers. So realistically we need to shift McNulty and a couple like Dorsett and Sackey on loan to improve the first team squad.

[Hound]

Didn’t someone in the thread say that if we loan someone it doesn’t make any difference? Otherwise pretty sure we’d have shipped a load of u23 to our friendly non league mates like Bath and Maidenhead

Surprised we haven’t also paid McNulty off if that would make a difference

[Fezza]

Would be interesting how they fit into positions in our squad.
Who are the 24 that have made an appearance?
I have
Rafael
Southwood
Yiadom
McIntyre
Holmes
Moore
Morrison
Tetek
Meite
Rinhomota
Aruruna
Laurent
Puscas
Joao
Mcnulty
Aruruna
Swift
Ejaria
Melvin-Lambert
Bristow
Samuels
Abbey
Azeez
Dorsett
Sackey

If Azeez has not started a game yet I think he will start on the right tomorrow so will qualify as another one.

I have updated after today so we have 24 players with at least 1 first team appearance. So officially we can’t sign anyone unless someone leaves.

You have Aruruna down twice on that list.

[Stranded]

Didn’t someone in the thread say that if we loan someone it doesn’t make any difference? Otherwise pretty sure we’d have shipped a load of u23 to our friendly non league mates like Bath and Maidenhead

Surprised we haven’t also paid McNulty off if that would make a difference

Even more stupid then, if we shift a player out for a season so saves a wage but we can't bring in a loanee or free agent as a replacement esp. as they can only be 6 month loans or 1 year deals.